Tacos tonight and the chipmunks are back!

Made this Black Bean Salad for tonight's Taco dinner. Got the recipe from Pinterest: http://homecooking.about.com/od/blackbeansrecipes/r/Black-Bean-Salad-Recipe-blsalad82.htm

I can prepare at my kitchen counter and look out the window to view the bird feeders. The chipmunks have come out of hibernation and this one was filling her cheeks! They must be hungry after all that sleeping. The lake is still ice-covered but the temps are warning up!

Have a great weekend!

Had a basic bag class today but no one showed up, so I just sewed this bag by myself. The fabric is leftovers from a pillow I made for a friend a few years ago, the button is from my Grandma Diver's button box. This will be on it's way to Nevada for my Cowgirl sister!

Finally finished the Travel Sewing Kit. Good pattern to use up scraps of my vintage tablecloths for the outside and other scraps for the inside, too! Here's the link to the Tutorial: http://lotsofpinkhere.blogspot.com/2011/10/12-gifts-of-christmas-blog-hop.html

Scrappy bag in progress

The 2 sides of a bag in progress...scrappy, quilt-as-you-go. I think it's fun!

So, I finished up this tote today- another great vintage tablecloth! I think it will be perfect for Farmer's Market tote! It is now for sale in the Green Lake Town Square Corner Store, Green Lake WI. It has been turned into an Artist's Co-op and you can see my spot above. We have the Grand Opening this Saturday along with the indoor Farmer's Market, too! Can't wait!

Recent projects...

A few of the projects lately...I'm mostly sewing curtains for the Green Lake Town Square Ballroom- panels of crinkled poly- very full of static electricity- may hair may be curly by the time I am done- haha! It's boring sewing but  I am glad to do this for this great community place.
You can see it here: http://www.greenlaketownsquare.com/
I'm ready to get back to fun sewing!!!

So, I have joined a group on Flickr- the Gypsy Wife Quilt- A -Long. Here is the link to the pattern:

http://jenkingwelldesigns.blogspot.com/. I thought this would be a fun project that would help use up the large amount of scraps I have. I just started with whatever tickled my fancy! I guess I am into the happy, bright fabrics now- maybe the time of the year has something to do with this?

Anyway- I am all caught up and it was fun making these blocks! This will be one bright, happy quilt when it is finished.

A blast from the past! Had these blocks and some scraps in a bag. The center of the blocks are red-work chickens...I went through a major "chicken-phase" when we lived on our farm from 1991-1998 and maybe a bit beyond that, too. Anyway, we live on a lake now and the chickens just don't fit it, but I feel the need to finish this! Used some of the scraps to finish around the center block, got them all put together and now need to add some borders. I have NO idea what I will do with it once it is finished- maybe I could do an on-line "auction"? The piecing around the chickens is paper-pieced. The Pattern is "Redwork Chickens" by DuAnn's Designs, Eagle ID (copyright 1999) I made this smaller than the original- it has 12 blocks- I only did 5.

Got this top finished at our yearly Quilt Retreat. It is the "My Guy" pattern from Weeks and Ringle for my son Kevan. He picked the colors. Now to find a backing and get it to my quilter!

Front and back of the travel tote for my daughter Kelsey. The pattern is "Laurel's Travel Tote" by The Quilted Closet- my version. The flowered fabric is from a vintage tablecloth she picked from my stash. I used a toile for the inside- also from my stash!

Finished this simple table-runner using scraps form my Halloween box. The tree needed it's own runner.

new Red Thimble Studio!

My new studio at the Green Lake Town Square (http://www.greenlaketownsquare.com/) Once I decide on regular hours I will post them, for now it's hit or miss! I do have products for sale and will also be teaching classes and taking custom orders. 

Projects for today

Naked toaster

 OK-the toaster needs a cover and I need to decide on a wall color- can you tell the difference between the 2 colors behind the toaster? haha

Finishing up a bag for my daughter- she embroidered the front- it's so cute!

Kelsey embroidered this bag- I'm finishing it up now: sides, lining and handles. I'll post nother pic when it is done. I have to get back to work- she needs it by Friday.

Front inside

Front inside
Originally uploaded by redthimble.

Front-Portfolio cover for my daughter

Front-Portfolio cover for my daughter
Originally uploaded by redthimble.

Studio make-over

North wall

Where will all this go???

West wall- fabric area- I'll get another white cubicle for fabric storage

So- after taking Lois Hallock's Studio Design class I am re-arranging my studio for a more efficient work space. It's a grueling task! Everything has to be moved, everything has to have a place in the most efficient spot. I have too much stuff and will have to get rid of even more than I thought- I don't have enough time left in this life to make things out of the stuff I have! It's crazy! This has taken most of the day and I'm not near the finish!
Anybody want to come shop in my mess????

Mug Rugs

Mug Rugs
Originally uploaded by redthimble.

Fun mug rugs from frog fabric and scraps...they will be given away to some special people.

Quilt Retreat 2013

 This was the year of the UFO's and mini quilts for me! The redwork project will be a pillow for a friend, the 2 table-runners were partially done for MANY years and are now ready to be quilted, the 2 small mini quilts are new and the zippered bag is new, too- made for my husband as a toiletry bag for his travels. It felt so good to get some of these projects completed (at least this stage of completion). Now to decide how to quilt everything!

I also tried this pattern from Primitive Gatherings (http://primitivegatherings.us/shop/) It was a bit putzy but fun and a great way to use up scraps. Next time I will not use the border fabric for the pinwheels- they blend in too much!

2012 Christmas Tree

Our Christmas tree this year- a Frazier Fir, nice and skinny. The close-up is of my 2 favorite ornaments made from my children's drawings when they were very young- I copied them onto fusible paper that was then backed on fabric and ironed on to a felt background....love them!

Christmas Gifts 2012

Christmas Gifts 2012 003
Originally uploaded by redthimble.

A close-up of the table-runner- I love the deer in the fabrics!

Christmas Gifts 2012

Christmas Gifts 2012 002
Originally uploaded by redthimble.

Been sewing a lot! This is an easy table-runner pattern I bought at a local quilt shop in Ripon WI- Bungalow Quilting and Yarn. The white fabric is actually a bit metallic and shiny- adds a nice sparkle that you cannot see in the picture. This piece is traveling to Germany...