I managed to ignore a good portion of the housework this week in favor of some fun sewing projects. I've started a new quilt for our bed.  I've had a fabric stack set aside to make a bear paw quilt for our bed for over a year now.

Then Dana from Old Red Barn started up a little scrappy bear paw quilt along over on instagram.  It was just the kickstart I needed.

I'm planning to do one special accent paw in each block so I spent some time this week working on some of those.

Lulu's friend has a birthday coming up so she chose the fabric and I did the stitching on this very dear deer.  The pattern is from Issue 2 of Love Patchwork and Quilting.  (one of the cutest quilting and stitching magazines around)

I was also lucky enough to get a request from Anna of Noodlehead to try out her new road trip case pattern.  I'm already thinking about what fabrics I will use on my next one.

I love the button and loop closure.

There are two pocket options.  I chose the four pocket version with flaps.

I'm filling mine with some of my hand piecing supplies.

It was my first time working with vinyl.  I was nervous because I have heard so much over the years about how it can get stuck on presser feet while you are stitching, but I used my walking foot and it was a breeze!  I have to admit, I did get over confident and think that I could machine finish the binding.  A skill I've never been able to master and managed to get some stitches on the vinyl.  In the end, I couldn't take the sloppy stitching lines so I picked them out and finished it by hand.  I was left with some tiny holes in the vinyl, but I think they are less distracting than the line of stitching so I'm happy.

Thankfully this one wasn't a gift so I was able to accept my mistake and stitch on.  Well, again I have to admit first I ate a handful of chocolate covered almonds and then I stitched on.  I think those tiny holes might be a little reminder of how important it is to slow down and finish a project the right way.

Sometimes stubbornness just gets in the way doesn't it?

I'm working like a madman to make a deadline, because next week is my stop in Sew Sweetness's Tula Pink Sew along. I'm also getting ready for my trip to Sewing Summit.  I've managed to finish some travel handmade projects.

I've made a few of these Noodlehead zipper pouches.

Lulu promptly stole the blue deer bag so I made another one in my favorite paris print to keep my hand sewing supplies together.

I'm especially happy with how the two different colorways matched up.

Both kids have grown out of the their pajamas.

 I made pants for Cj.  (Simplicity 2290)

lulu pjs

These are the tops from Lulu's set.  (McCall's M6239)

I still need to make my skirt.  I have done a muslin of the pattern so I'm hoping the actual skirt will come together quickly.

To add to the fun, both our modem and router gave out on us this week.  I always feel a bit like I have conquered the world when I solve those sorts of techy issues, but now it's back to hand quilting.