Tuesday, February 27, 2018

2018 Preschool Wall Hanging


The Baby Room's Wall Hanging has paint stamped feet and hands on it.  Very sweet.  Thankfully, it's a small piece and I plan to have it bordered and quilted by noon today. 



Tomorrow I am delivering Mary's quilt to her.  She's renovating her home from Hurricane Harvey's devastation so it will be exciting to see the work that's been done so far.  It's going to be a long remodeling job but she has a good spirit about the project.

March, which is quickly approaching, will be dominated by commissioned work.  Today I am meeting a gentleman who is raising his nephew.  His sister died from Lupus and he's asked me to sew a quilt from her clothes for his comfort.  I met him at one of the art markets and he contacted me last week.

Gene insists the art markets are good publicity and networking opportunities even if I don't sell any real merchandise on the day of the show.  I'm still on the fence.  They truly are a serious amount of  work.  And, it's disheartening to go home empty handed with the eternal hope that someone will call who took a card.  But, I may feel differently when the weather changes.

I also picked up 3 t-shirt quilts from neighbors when I posted my services on the neighborhood website.  And, I have a friend's mother's vintage cross stitch piece to quilt. 

I'm planning to refill my etsy shop with items from last summer's art markets. I'd like to introduce some new items, including patchwork jacket kits.

Yep, March is going to be a stacked up kinda month!  Thank you Lord for your blessings!

***

Tropical Tree of Life
2010
Private Collection
Spring TX

now residing in its new home
I am thrilled! 

Monday, February 26, 2018

Sunday Thrifting

It rained most of Sunday & I was up most of Saturday night with restless dogs unsure about the storms.  Therefore, I didn't try anything too brain strenuous on Sunday.  That means wandering around the thrift store looking for treasures.  My favorite thrift store is having their annual ½ off winter sale so the line to the register was the longest I have ever seen.  In the end, it was worth the wait.

I came home with 10 sweatshirts.  I am developing a jacket sewing kit idea and need some blanks for experimenting.


I spied these fun jeans while combing the racks with Gene for work pants.  They are so wonderful with all the textures.  I anticipate sewing a long duster styled coat for myself from the legs.
I've been pinning 'patched clothes' to my Pinterest boards.  I've got the itch!





This custom embroidered jacket leaped into my basket.  It was an absolute steal at $5.75.  I'll be thinking long and hard about what to do with the skull.



My great helper! 
He was thrilled to find a few pairs of Dickies work jeans for a couple of bucks.

***

Delicate Skull
Embroidered 2017
Private Collection
Houston TX

Saturday, February 24, 2018

Pink Feminine Quilt








I love everything about this quilt.  It was fun tapping into my inner feminine girl while working on it.  I've missed her but I'm thankful she is returning. 
It's a thank you gift for a friend who has been so generous towards me through the years.  

***

One of the crosses from the huge collection adorning the walls
 at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church. 

Friday, February 23, 2018

Boro Patch & Raw Edge Shawl: Finish




Not sure I can cut this yet! 

***

One of the crosses from the huge collection at 
Memorial Drive United Methodist Church
Houston TX

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Boro Patch & Raw Edge Shawl: Progress






I'm down to the last section to stitch this shawl into reality.  While it was off the longarm, I tried it on as a shawl and it is too wide and too stiff.  Even though I used a thin batting, I may need to find a thinner one (if I plan to sew other scarves as shawls).  I thought about slicing it into 2 narrow shawls or scarves but I think I will sew it into a jacket instead.  Houston can be very cold indoors in the summer with the air conditioning blasting.  I often need a little jacket. 

I found this heavy cotton sundress at the thrift store I plan to turn into a nice gathered skirt.  Together I think they will be just perfect!  If not, I'm sure something else will show up.


***


One of the crosses from the huge collection at 
Memorial Drive United Methodist Church
Houston TX

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Delivering the 1st Houston Street Quilt


This happened on Sunday afternoon:

As I was coming home from the thrift store this afternoon, I saw Ruben the homeless man who stays near my neighborhood. I've been watching for him and I had his quilt in my SUV. I knew he stayed near the thrift store area so I was happy to see him. I pulled into the HEB parking lot and jumped out of my SUV. He had stopped by the parking lot entrance waiting for me.
I told him I saw him a few weeks ago and had sewn a quilt for him. Would he accept it? 
He told me he would so I gave it to him. But, first we took a second to look at it. I told him I had used heavy fabrics so it would last. He told me he lives at the nearby park.
He put it under his arm and picked up his bag of collected cans and walked away.
I went in HEB and cried.



Gene and I have gathered some clothes into one of the patchwork totebags I sewed.  We're going out this evening to find Ruben and deliver them to him.  

***


One of the crosses from the huge collection adorning the walls at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church. 

Monday, February 19, 2018

2018 Preschool Quilt ready to quilt


This turned out cute!  It's going on the longarm today. 

I have a busy week staring at me.  Two days of contract (organizing) work with repeat clients & then I hope to get some patchwork clothes started for the upcoming local markets and my etsy shop.  I took advantage of some markdowns at the thrift store this weekend so now I have a nice group of items to use.  

My Poshmark Store:  Debra's Closet is up and ready!  Do stop by.  I'll be stocking it with really nice items I find while searching the Houston thrift stores.   I do have some vintage clothes from a client in there too.  They are adorable but they are sizes 2 & 4.  :-)  Feel free to ask about any items.  

***

Preschool Quilt
2016
Houston TX
Private Collection

Saturday, February 17, 2018

2018 Preschool Quilt




I've lost count but I think this is the 7th year I've sewn an auction quilt for my friend's preschool.

Here's one from a previous year.


They are always so cute! 

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Valentines


From My Valentine

He said:  These are as soft and pink as your complexion. 

Melt.

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Eye Infection


So this happened Monday morning. 
 I thought I had some kind of goober on my contact all day Sunday.  I kept trying to clean them.  It turns out the goober was my left eye.  An eye infection.  Unfortunately, my eyes are corrected for near and far vision & my left eye is my near vision eye.  Yesterday I couldn't read a thing.  The ointment is definitely helping.  Today the pain is gone and I can see enough to type. 

There go my weekly plans.  

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Memorial Scarf




The daughter from the Plaid Memorial quilt told me her mom is having a hard time with her husband’s death. I sewed some little shirt scraps for the ends of this scarf for her. Maybe it will bring her some comfort.



Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Plaid Quilt: Embroidered Sayings Border

The embroidered says frame the quilt center marvelously! They are the Hug the Dad is giving his family.





***


Shirt Squares
2015
Private Collection
Houston TX
©Debra L. Dixon