Whims And Fancies

Around this time every year, I go home to the Sierra mountains.  I was neither born there, nor did I grow up there, but that’s where I find myself most at home.  This year was no different.

When my friend Ruth talked about snowshoeing, I wanted to try it out on my birthday.  So my husband and I rented a pair each and hiked approximately 2.5 miles on a perfectly gorgeous day in the snow.  Now I am back, recharged and ready for the next few months!

 A few weeks earlier, I talked about this Winter Rose paper piecing block and the little pouch I made for a friend.  Now that she has received them, I can talk a bit more about the swap.  The same friend Ruth, who unknowingly instigates many ideas in my head (see the idea of snowshoeing as the most recent example!), is the recipient of the package.  She is a fabulous paper-piecer herself and she made this heart for me with her own pattern!  Isn’t it just gorgeous?!!

Before I went off to the mountains, I managed to sew a little coin pouch with a pattern I got from Craftsy.  This was an exercise to spread my wings a little bit, away from paper piecing and in preparation for another blog hop.

The pattern was very easy to follow and sew.  The trickiest part was to keep the fabric tucked into the frame while going around the corners.  After a few repeats of sewing, putting it away, looking at it in disgruntlement and ripping it apart,  I managed to get a result I was happy with.  I figured out that I need to use a thicker interfacing to make it a bit more plush next time.  I had two 5″ charm pieces which I used for the front and back.  I wish I could find a brushed silver frame, but the antique gold worked well enough paired with the inside fabric.

Now I am off to sew another block for the music quilt.
Happy Sewing!
-Soma