Linda's Magic Workshop - Linda Britt Design

 Getting ready to leave Yesterday was a red letter birding day!   Peter and I went to Willow Lake, Prescott AZ to see if indeed over 100 American White Pelicans were visiting.   We could see a large white mass at the edge of the lake as we parked, took out our cameras, tripods, binoculars and the scope!   We were armed and ready! It’s a short rocky walk to the water’s edge and we were not the only humans looking.   We walked as close as we dared without alarming them and set up the equipment.   As the sun warmed the pelicans, they started swimming toward the center of the lake and eventually took flight.   It was mesmerizing to see them ride the thermals as they flew to their next destination.   1st section of panarama 2nd section of panarama 3rd section of panarama Swimming to the center of the lake Riding the thermals

 Finished Vest! My new vest is finished! And I love the way it turned out.  After quilting the diagonal lines (and yes, I had to take out stitches and redo a few times), I quilted the vertical and horizontal straight lines.  Now the fabric looks a little like pieces were sewn together.   Quilting Finished  My old vest looks better on the inside than the outside!  I cut the shoulder seams apart and decided that I could use it as a pattern and not do side seams.  I made bias strips to finish all the raw edges.  I machine stitched them on the right side of the fabric and hand stitched them in place on the back side for a nice finish. The inside of the old vest used as a pattern This is the back of the vest.  I'm so pleased that the hemline is straight and the finished edges are good.  Back of finished vest  It has been years since I made buttonholes.  I have to admit that I used language that my mother would not have approved during the buttonhole section!  Then

Think about that one piece of clothing that is your absolute favorite.   What would you do if it were thread bare from wearing it and you could not find another even after combing the internet for days?   I have a vest that I love.   It is silky, lightly quilted, made of several colors and patterns, fits perfectly, looked good with denim or slacks.   Sounds perfect doesn’t it?   Well, I’ve worn it to shreds and want another.   I decided to make one.    First I bought a sack of silk sari strips and thought I would sew them together and then quilt them.   That sack sat and still sits in my closet.   I place the 1” to 3” strips on the table, looked at them and thought “Not in this lifetime”.    Thankfully I went to a fabric store in San Diego and found silky fabric that I love.   It is colorful and looks like blocks of different fabrics sewn together.   I bought it.   My friend, Luana, went with me to Joann’s to buy light weight iron-on pellon and light weight interfaci