Needle types

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One of my fave bloggers, Nichole from Nichole in Real Life, posted the other day about sewing needles. It drew a lot of educational comments, including one from Leah about a needles co-op she uses on Yahoo. You can get a pack of 100 Organ needles for around $10! I felt I definitely had to share about the co-op -- they're taking orders through May 30, so hurry over and place your order.

On to the real reason for this post: what type of needles do you use? I had one person comment that she uses 80/12 needles for absolutely everything. I make everything from bags to quilts to baby gifts, so I use an 11 for light piecing to a 16 for topstitching and piecing heavy layers. Should I get a pack of 80/12's only and use them for everything? Decisions decisions!

What do you use and why?

Giveaway

Be sure to go check out my girl Jill at The Good Life for Less and help her celebrate her 1 year blogiversary! She puts together the most amazing outfits with that effortless quality about them. She's giving away one of these great wardrobe consults, so don't forget to enter!

Quilt Crush

Half Square Triangles Quilt

Originally uploaded by Red Pepper Quilts

This is the quilt that made me want to learn half-square triangles. Um, not that I have yet or anything, but it's on my to-do list. I just love how perfectly symmetrical they all are and how the blues and reds just dance with each other.

This quilt comes from none other than Rita over at Red Pepper Quilts. I can easily say that at least 75% of my fave quilts on Flickr come from her photostream. She's quite the talent and is truly a quilty inspiration. Go pay her a visit and help her celebrate her 1 year blog anniversary.

Before & After: Ironing Board

I am super excited about this little remodel. I couldn't stand the sight of this yucky old cover any longer and decided to do something about it.

Here is the before of the standard-issue and horribly scorched original cover. I confess I added the piles of Nicey Jane to the picture to make it seem just a touch less yucky...did it work?

And here is the fabulous after! I love it! It's so fresh and bright...quite an improvement. I lined it with muslin and installed a drawstring to make it nice and tight. Now I think the only thing missing is a layer of cotton batting and some Insul-Bright for the heat to upgrade the padding.

This is how it will look most of the time propped up in the closet when it's not in use. So much better!

love SewLoveFabrics

You'd think I was getting paid for these, but I promise I'm not. I just like to give credit where credit is due. I loved my order from SewLoveFabrics. It arrived in a protective plastic bag, with its little bundle tied with a fabric string and a couple of super cute charm squares thrown in. Nothing like a surprise freebie with an order to make a girl smile. Thanks Ruth! :)

Sunday Workday

Inspired to start on my Spring to Finish list for the Tallgrass Prairie Studio challenge, I sat down last Sunday to work on some pretty new bags that have been shooting me guilt-inducing looks since I started them last August(!). I had 4 of them that were about halfway done, so it was a nice way to dip my toe into the pool, so to speak.

Here are the 2 handbags that were waiting for lining, pockets, and straps.

Here they are all pinned up and almost ready for their hand-baggy lives!

And here is the happy little handbag family! Mommy and Daddy tote bags in the back, with brother and sister down in front. Don't they look so happy?!

What have you been working on?