Monday Made: Tea Wallets

Good morning Blogger friends! It's a new day and a new week. I've kind of lost track of how many weeks we have been sheltering in, but does it really matter? Jimmy and I are both doing fine and making progress around the house and with projects. I do believe staying home and staying in as much as possible has made a lot of difference in our state. Not everyone feels that way. Our governor is starting to work on some plans for opening up the state but she is being cautious and I am in agreement.
So weeks ago, one of my Tasha Tudor friends Niki, contacted me and asked if I would be willing to make 12 little tea wallets for her. She is giving her sister a garden party birthday this summer and wanted tea wallets as party favors. Niki lives in Florida and has the most beautiful garden I have ever seen. She is so sweet and has sent me kind words and little gifts over the years when I was recovering. She asked me this way before the virus, and I was just kind of down. It was such a blessing to get the special order! It just was a jump start for the winter blahs. I thought I would be working on them when I went to my quilt retreat in April but that was rescheduled to June and just this weekend, it has been canceled until next April. Such is life.

 I went thought my fabric stash and of course, I had all the pink and green floral fabric I needed. It's fun to go shopping in your own sewing room, especially when all the craft stores and fabric stores are closed due to the virus. Don't they know that sewing is essential...lol

I do have a funny story. I have had this little pattern for over 20 years. I have copies of it. Do you think I could find the pattern? I spent several days looking for it. I am pretty organized and it was driving me crazy. I like this one as it has a little quilt block in the center. Well, I went over to my storage unit (close to home) and found it right on top in a tub of fabric. Don't ask...I just did a happy dance and said a little thank you prayer!

It was so fun to choose the fabrics. That's one of my favorite things to do when starting projects.

Lots of pieces waiting to go together! there are 12 pieces for each tea wallet. On of my friends said I was crazy to so such a detailed little project. I didn't think so and I know Kiki will love them.

You can see the progress in this photo. Oh, I was having so much fun.

The next step....all lined up after being sewn together. I thought they needed something in the center.

I dug out my charms! I had 8 little teapots. They are 1/2 charms so they would work. I got on Etsy and found a vender here in the USA who could send me 6 more quickly. They are very inexpensive. They arrived in just a few days. YEAH!

This is the inside of the tea wallets. They can actually hold 4 tea packets.

I added 2 tea packets...STASH tea from Oregon. There is room for Niki to add 2 more of her own choice is she wishes.

This is my very first tea wallet I made about 20 years ago. My sewing room is decorated in Mary Engelbreit colors and fabrics. I carry this in my sewing basket where ever I go.

I enjoyed the project so much and I enjoyed doing this post. Sewing and fabric makes me happy. I pray you have a good week ahead and find a little fun and joy this week. 

Delectable Mountain Cloth

When I was in Vermont last month, my Tasha Tudor friends wanted to take me to a very specials fabric store. I have been hearing about this shoppe...The Delectable Mountain Cloth...store since my first trip back in 2007. Oh, it is an amazing fabric store, unlike anything I have ever seen! I spent quite some time there and could have stayed even longer! It was like walking into a dream...so pretty and filled with so many delightful fabrics.

This is how they displayed their buttons. So much to look at!

 A shot at the magic of it all.

This is the owner and her helper. The owner was such a kick and very helpful. The shop has a great appeal for doll makers. Beautiful silks and taffetas.

Don't you just love all the hats? Wonderful.

A lot of the fabric is on rolled bolts.

I was drawn to the flat folds as it was easier to mix and match the fabrics.

This is my little stash from Vermont. I wish you could really see how beautiful these fabrics are. I am hoping to make some doll clothes.

The fabrics were pretty expensive, but so worth every penny.

Future doll clothes...I am hoping! 

Gathering Fabric on my New England Trip

I am a total fabric nut! I love fabric...vintage fabric, new fabric, recycled fabric, estate sale fabric, antique store fabric...you name it,! I can assure you that i am going to look at it and probably be tempted to rescue it or buy it and just take it home with me. I adore fabric.

A year ago, my friend Melinda talked with me about making her A is for Annabelle quilt. She has been so kind to me, so I decided to offer to make her quilt for her when I was visiting again this year. She agreed to send it home with me and I hope to work on it this winter. The fabrics were made by the RJR fabric company for the Tasha Tudor family. The sweet fabrics are just darling. I missed getting a kit for myself, but I have been buying fabric when I can find it, so I hope to make my own quilt in the future. I actually have an idea roaming around in my head.

This is a close up of the a quilt that someone posted on Pinterest of the quilt. Pretty cute.

This is what the finished quilt will look like using the kit. It should be fun and I don't think it will be too hard. Yes, I do have a BIG winter project ahead. Yeah....

When I was shopping at the Rookery, the Tasha tudor gift store, I asked if they had any fabric. They had a bit upstairs, but I had to wait for all the shoppers to be checked out before they could take me upstairs to look at what they had in stock. I was happy to wait. This is what I was able to get! Not all of it is from the A is for Annabelle collection, but I bought what I liked.

 As Jim and I traveled on through Vermont after the Tasha Tudor event, we stopped at the Norton House quilt shop. I did get to stop there last year and it was the only quilt shop I got to go to on our trip. I couldn't resist a variety of fall fabric...another weakness. This is a beautiful fat quarter packet I bought.

I was really excited to find this pattern. I have been looking for a cute pillow pattern that would allow me to use a vintage or new embroidered center. This is perfect!

 I found a neat printed set to do some embroidery work in turkey red...great for a small wall hanging, pillows or small quilt.

I also found this cute little pattern for Ms Mouse. I just liked it and thought it would be a fun project.

We visited a lot of antique shops on our trip too and I found these two coordinating fabrics in a dollar bin. They aren't old, but I just liked the colors and the print.

I found this piece of fabric at the same shop...just so Deerfield!

 One of the antique shop had this lovely set of vintage quilt blocks, all sewn by hand. I always want to rescue quilt blocks. The colors are too cool.

I also love little dolly quilts. This little charmer just jumped into my arms.  I do love this time period too.

This is a little pillow sham made during the 30's or 40's. It's a Dresden plate, sewn on with a black blanket stitch. Theses fabrics make me happy!

So as you can see, I found a nice assortment of fabric on my trip. I think I should be set for awhile.

Don't forge to pop over to the my friend Heather's blog if you are interested in Tasha Tudor. Her button is on my sidebar.