Someone in this house is turning 30 today. I borrowed a wonderful idea from
Maggie Mason and came up with 30 little gifts to give him for his birthday.
I wrapped them all in craft paper with bright ribbons and they do make quite a display. Peter was very surprised to see them all this morning. Finding/buying/making and wrapping all those presents has been taking up a lot of my time lately. I also put together a happy birthday banner - it's the same fabric as the
stroller blankie because when Pete saw that he said it was the perfect color of blue.
Happy birthday, sweetie, I hope it's a great one!
Labels: crafts, family, sewing
I'm having to wait to finish the binding since the puppy is already putting the quilt to good use...
Labels: quilting, sewing, wip
We are headed to Colorado tomorrow for a family ski trip and I wanted one more hat for our little man. About five minutes and a few seams led me to this little fleece number.
And what a willing model Benjamin is these days! He certainly hams it up for the camera. I can't believe how much he's changed in three short months.
Labels: family, quick fix, sewing
One of the gifts Ben received was a small quilt, about 24"x36", with a fuzzy back. It is the perfect size to tuck around him in the carseat or stroller, and I have gotten so much use out of it! I can also see him easily dragging it around as a security blankie when he gets older. So when I needed a gift for a baby shower, that's the first thing I thought of!
The size makes it a great way to try out a little bit more time-consuming piecing, so I used the directions that
Quilt Dad posted on
Moda Bake Shop for the sliced up 9-patch block. My dimensions are different to give me a 11.5" block (3.5" squares for the 9-patch, 2"x5" and 2"x6" for the strips).
The fabric is Riley Blake and was really fun to work with, I love the colors! I splurged and backed it in pale blue minky. There's no batting so it's very soft and cuddly. And can I just say that my seams matched up on this quilt better than any I've made before. I got quite a thrill from that.
I had planned to try stippling on this because I thought the size would make it very manageable but I was short on time and didn't want to risk messing up. I also used the monogram feature on my Janome for the first time for the label. I probably won't do this too often but it's nice to know it will work in a pinch!
At a small 24"x36", is it still okay to call this my first finished quilt of 2010?
Labels: 2010 Quilts, quilting, sewing
I guess posting my goals online really helped with my motivation!
I've already finished the circle quilt top, trimmed the Red Barn quilt and cut the binding, and I have the Feeling Stitchy swap buttons planned and on the hoop.
It's a good thing I have this strong start - we are going on a ski trip at the end of the month and it is amazing to me how quickly that will be here. Planning and packing seems to be a lot more complicated when you throw a 3-month-old into the mix!
Labels: quilting, sewing, swaps, wip
I feel like I have a new appreciation for the expression "time flies" now that I am watching my baby grow. It is hard to believe my little boy is already two months old! The days go by so quickly, and I never do everything I think I can accomplish looking ahead each morning.
For example, I only have a few seams left on the
circle quilt but these strips have been sitting here for over a week waiting to get sewn together.
I also got the
Red Barn quilt back from the quilters and it is waiting to be trimmed and bound. Of course, everything that was stored in the nursery is now stored in the guest room where this quilt will live, so I have a little work to do to make the bed ready for its new covering!
To give me a little more crafting motivation - to get back on the horse, so to speak - I joined the
button swap at
Feeling Stitchy. I can't wait to get to work!
In the spirit of looking ahead, I think I will post some March goals. I am keeping them quite simple, because my to do list often gets filled with baby snuggles - and laundry! - instead of sewing time.
March Goals:
1. Buttons for swap - finished and mailed on time!
2. Finish circle quilt top.
3. Bind Red Barn quilt.
4. Pick up guest room enough to make the bed!
Administrative Note: I've upgraded to threaded comments! From now on I will be replying in the comments, and it will show up tied to the original comment on that post. If you include your email when you comment I believe you should be notified that I've replied. Hopefully it works smoothly!Labels: monthly goals, quilting, sewing, swaps, wip
This is a project from December... I made this big kid hooded towel for my nephew for Christmas using
these instructions.
There are lots of tutorials out there but this resulted in my favorite hood. The towel is just from Target, and I added a monogram on the back.
My sister was kind enough to send along these action shots. I think he likes it!
Labels: sewing
Ben is taking naps pretty well in his crib now, so I find myself with my hands free and able to spend some time in my craft room!
After some much needed straightening up, I got back to work on the
circle quilt for Ben's room. I can't wait to get this quilt done! Of course, this is never far from my side:
(We love
our monitor, by the way, if you happen to be in the market...)
Labels: quilting, sewing, wip
Working on a couple Christmas presents behind the scenes. Looking forward to sharing after they're gifted!
Labels: jewelry, sewing, wip
When I saw this pile of points before I started assembling the towels, I wondered just what I was getting myself into, making 22 of these towels!
But they went together fairly quickly.
Just in the nick of time - I'm packing everything up and shipping it out tomorrow. I definitely seem to work better with a deadline!
Thanks
Jodi for the awesome
tutorial!
Labels: sewing
One of our work holiday parties has an ornament exchange and of course I wanted to make something. Last year I made a
felt star and wanted to step it up a little. I love this little trio of birdies! From Last Minute Patchwork Gifts, with an added beaded dangle. My tiny-pieces sewing definitely needs some work. Next time I might do this out of felt and hand sew instead!
Labels: sewing
Happy Thanksgiving!!
I am off to spend the day with family and friends but wanted to share really quickly - I did manage to finish this little table runner for my centerpiece.
Inspired by
this quilt by John at
Quilt Dad. It's reversible, so I can use it for Christmas, too (but that picture came out blurry, I'll try after dinner). I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!
Labels: quilting, sewing
I told you I'd be boring you with circle quilt updates! All the circles and squares are cut and arranged. Now it's on to assembly!
Labels: quilting, sewing, wip
The rainbow sherbet quilt is done!
I love this quilt so much. I wanted to keep the design simple because the fabrics are so bright and happy on their own.
I've discovered a better balance of relying on my walking foot versus pinning that has drastically improved my piecing accuracy - I figured this out while making the 9-patch blocks for AmandaJean's quilt-along. This is a big step for me!
To preserve the white border I just did a white binding. I was going to do a pieced binding but I am using this same fabric for the circle quilt and need all my scraps!
Sentimental label. I couldn't help it!
Labels: 2009 Quilts, quilting, sewing
This is a little more difficult than I anticipated. Luckily, I am taking
Liz's suggestion to do raw edges on the circles so perfect cuts aren't as critical. I am so excited to see this quilt start to come together... I'm sure you'll get sick of the in progress shots so I'll try to keep myself under control!
Labels: quilting, sewing, wip
For the back of the Red Barn quilt I decided to do something bright and a little surprising. My husband said "that's kind of weird." I'm still pleased - I hope it comes out like I picture it, it's definitely bright!!
Labels: quilting, sewing, wip
The Rainbow Sherbet quilt top is basted! Since this is going to be a lap quilt instead of a bed quilt, I'm quilting it to fleece, of course. I wanted a pale orange fleece but ended up with this blue, which I still love. I don't think I'll be able to wait until the baby arrives to cuddle under it. I promise this is the last tease of this quilt, I won't torture you with it again until it's done! (My iPhone sneaked into the picture - I play books on it while I'm working on basting, helps with motivation!)
Labels: quilting, sewing, wip
I finished the Red Barn top! Last night I had an appointment with
Karen for a long arm consultation to quilt this. I can't wait to see it! I've never gotten a quilt professionally quilted before, I think it's going to be fantastic.
Labels: quilting, sewing, wip
I finally have all my blocks arranged for the original Red Barn quilt along. Slow? Yes. Worth it? I have no doubt it will be. My new quilt wall made this so easy. It wasn't quite big enough to arrange all the blocks, but only two rows short - not bad!
Labels: quilting, sewing, wip
For my birthday last weekend my mom surprised me with this gorgeous little gadget. I love it so much.
I've been wanting a point-and-shoot for ages, a "pocket camera" as I call it, and I think encouraging me to take pictures of her new grandbaby was all the excuse my mom needed to fulfill my wish.
Of course it needed a little case. I made this up as I went, resulting in a failed first attempt that was too narrow. It's just a long quilted rectangle, then I sewed up the sides and added a button and loop to close it. The wrist strap sticks out the side for carrying. It isn't exactly what I pictured but I needed something quick for a trip and this will do in a pinch!
Labels: sewing
Another set of burp rags using some Sweetpea by Moe3 that's been in my stash for a while. I love the grey/green/yellow focal fabric:
I have done decently well not buying new fabric lately but I'm wanting to make some room on my shelves for all the delicious lines I'm seeing in reports from Quilt Market!
Labels: sewing
The three QBB quilts are done just in time for delivery at the Quilt Show! The fact that it took me a year (since last Quilt Show) to get my act together and make these quilts is a little embarassing. (Especially when I see AmandaJean's amazing
Quilts of Valor project.)
Quilting is probably my favorite activity right now but I am certainly not very quick to produce completed quilts. Oh well, it still feels good to finish this project.
I'm sharing these in the order I made the tops. The first one up there I just took the fabric samples, arranged them on the floor (my "design wall") and filled in the gaps with my stash.
For the 2nd and 3rd, I got progressively more creative. I think the red, white, and blue quilt is my favorite, but the salmon and teal is a close second. I love thinking of the Ethiopian children cuddling under these on cold winter nights! Thanks again to Carolyn for quilting, Karen for trimming them up and running them all over town, and my mom for donating batting, backing, and time to do the binding. Go team!
Labels: 2009 Quilts, quilting, sewing
My grandma's everyday bag is finally on its way to her.
She always leaves the specifics to me, but just wanted a smaller bag she could hook over her wrist for her essentials, and she loves things that are colorful. I think this fits the bill! It's a lot like the
auction bag but I cut each square to 3 3/4" instead of the 5" charm pack squares to make it smaller.
Lining is fun green polka dots. Outer fabric is Eden by Kathy Hall - I haven't been able to find it online anywhere, sorry to those who asked!
Labels: bags, sewing
This once a week posting is really not my intention. The crafting is happening, the photos are even happening, but making it to a published blog post seems to be the missing step...
Over the weekend I did get a good amount of time in my sewing room. The strips for the Red Barn quilt along are slowly being pieced together and I'm getting my
sewing chair back. I have about five more sets of strips to sew together, then cut all the blocks. I'm a little worried about arranging all these for the top. Any suggestions for arranging a queen-sized quilt without a quilt wall?? I don't think I have any floor space big enough!
Labels: quilting, sewing, wip
The QBB quilts are quilted! And gorgeous. Carolyn did an amazing job. I got the binding machine-sewn on this weekend and my mom will hand-sew two and I'll do one. They should be easily done in time for my mother-in-law to deliver to the Quilt Show next week. I love this teamwork approach to quilting!
Labels: quilting, sewing, wip
Thanks for all the book recommendations yesterday! In addition to reading the "classic" Interview with a Vampire, I spent a little time in my sewing room.
I made some progress on the piecing for the
Rainbow Sherbet quilt top. We're not actually going to have a twin bed in the nursery after all (the room is too small) but this will make a great cuddle blankie in the rocker. Finishing this top was on my
September Goals list, needless to say it isn't finished on time!
I also got started on my Grandma's handbag, another unfinished September goal... My grandma always requests colorful fabrics, I think these fit the bill! After the bright Sherbet quilt fabrics, I'm loving the more muted colors.
Monthly GoalsHard to believe another month has gone by! My October list is primarily finishing up my September goals...
1. Finish Gma's handbag.
2. Bind and label QBB quilts.
3. Finish Rainbow Sherbet quilt - top, quilting, binding, the works!
4. Finish Red Barn quilt top.
September Goals:
1. Family Projects - Karyn's necklace & Gma's handbag.
2. Three quilt tops for Quilts Beyond Borders.
3. Red Barn quilt-along quilt top done. Nope.
4. Rainbow sherbet quilt top done. Nope.Let's see if I can do a little better this month!
Labels: monthly goals, quilting, sewing, wip
