Long time, no blog~lots to show

 First things first- these adorable little animals were what I received in the FLiPS pincushion swap, from my friend Pattiann aka bouncypoodle at Flickr!  She made me 2 amazing creatures, a bunny with a hexagon carrot and a cat that looks a lot like our Murphy!  Bun-Bun and Murph-Murph are enjoying life with us now, and I just love them!

We have a long driveway!

Time for a rest....

...and a tickle-attack!

We left a light on for them! 

Made with German mohair and fully jointed, they are very special!

I took some time while the Bitty swap group was in hiatus to make a few things for me.  

A little tote for a travel sized iron-

  It unfolds to become an ironing mat-

 ...and it is pretty, too!  Fun little project, this pattern comes in 3 sizes!  It's by Sisters Common Thread

 Then since I liked that so much, I kept going- I made a whole matching set.  Yes, I love things that match and I love to make stuff like this.  I made an insulated cover for my little Clover stick iron, a tote to put it in, a small ironing pad for it, and a little tote with an attached lid for the tools and burn cream, ha!  :)

 The big tote- inside...

 ...filled, mostly...

Late addition- a tote for my swiveling rotary mat and ruler...

The zipper makes it easier to get in and out...

That's a lot of 1" squares!

 The tool tote, attached lid...

 Like the other pieces in this set, I had no pattern for this, just made it up as I went along.  The girls at Flickr really liked it a lot so I'm about to post a tutorial for it so you can make your own.

Inside-

We took the summer off but now the Bitties are back- this month, Weather.  I made a beautiful day. 

 And there's a tutorial out there for this little sewing kit- I made it longer and used 2 elastics to hold it closed. It uses plastic canvas inside, very clever!
 Here's the tute for this...  it's by "UK lass in US".

So that's what I've been doing, in addition to helping take care of my Mum.  Next up- my tutorial for that little tote with the attached lid!

Disaster waiting to happen- with your iron!

 I don't usually give any cleaning advice, like I don't give cooking advice, since I don't feel qualified, LOL, but I had to pass this along- beware of what is lurking in your iron!

I was pressing something when this mark appeared out of nowhere, on the muslin that I have lying on the towel that is my current ironing board cover.  Feeble, I know, but it works.  

What the heck is that mark?  That is what it looked like after I touched it.  It's like soot, but it's not soot.  It's LINT!  Soft, fluffy lint and the only place it could have come from is ..... that iron!

 See all that, in between the sole and body?  Horrors!  It must come out!  

Obviously, I never look in there. 

 It's not real noticeable, unless you're looking down the crack.

 Here's what I used- paintbrush was a dud, the chenille stem worked great and the canned air finished it off nicely. 

I got more marks on the muslin while doing this, too, which made me mad because I was being really careful.  That stuff is sneaky, it spreads like crazy (don't sneeze!) and makes stains that are darn near impossible to get out.  A Tide pen is handy if you do have a disaster, though.

 

I strongly encourage all you quilters to check your iron because if it's happening in mine, it will happen in anyone's.  Good luck, be careful!  Oh, P.S.- this stuff accumulates inside your sewing machine, too and can and will fall out at THE most inopportune moments, while you are sewing on something white!  Another good reason to keep your machine maintained and cleaned and oiled.  :)