My turn

I've finally decided that it's my turn to make a quilt for myself or rather, our master bedroom.  After much debating, I started working on a "Square Dance" pattern using blues and greens with pops of red and yellow.  I want it to be bright and admittedly, I am having trouble with layout and fabrics.  The square dance block calls for lots of different patterns/colors.  So, I'm overwhelmed.  After piecing about half the blocks of white centers, I'm now integrating white blocks with different color centers.  Work in progress.

Curvy Pinwheels

I recently made a baby quilt with curvy pinwheels in which I GAVE THE GIFT WITHOUT TAKING A PHOTO OF IT!  I'm so disappointed.  I guess I could ask my friend to take a pic of it and send it to me however I know what it's like to have a newborn.  Ugh!  It was so adorable.  I used the same fabrics that I used in Lily's quilt.  I also made coordinating onesies, burp cloths and a bib of oranges and pinks.  So so sweet.

Babies, Babies, Babies

I'm in the throes of making baby gifts!  The gifts below are for a sweet little baby boy who was born last week.  His nursery is decorated in red, gray and black with elephants.  I decided to mix it up a bit with greens and blues.  The burp cloths were my go-to when Ella was a newborn as were the onesies so I'm getting these out asap so the new mom will have them handy.  I love the bib pattern because it's larger and really is more useful when babies get to the age where they actually need to wear them.  Next up, baby gifts for a Christmas baby girl. 

Lily's Quilt

My niece is turning 14 this month and requested that I make her a quilt with bright oranges.  So I did.  Introducing Lily's Quilt.

A new passion... Scrapbooking

I fell in love with scrapbooking years ago before they had all the fancy packages at Michael's and other stores.  Before the stickers, cut outs, stamps, dies, etc.  Back in the day - mid to late 90s, I would use paper, magazines, ticket stubs, souvenirs, postcards, and articles.  Now, I'm completely overwhelmed by all that's available and my old school scrapbooking just isn't going to make the cut.  So, I headed out to Michael's and began with a fresh slate album.  I passed on the premade kits and settled on some stickers, letters, and packet of cards that have quotes about babies (see 3 months below).  I wanted to do something authentic and well, me.  Packages and kits just seem so commercial.  The theme of the first album (the one below) is Ella's first six months.  What an undertaking.  I printed all of the photos we had taken of her at Walmart (9 cents each) and began the arduous task of sorting them by date.  How old was Ella here?  and here?  Finally, I got them identified so that I could begin developing a theme which I decided would be month by month so I could see her grow all over again.  It was such a blessing to do the scrapbook.  I love it.  There's nothing like flipping through an album.  I look at it much more than I do going through photos on my computer or phone.  The album just begs to be read so I read it.  I laugh.  I tear up.  I touch her sweet sleepy face.  And I can't wait to share it with her.

Sew Easy Pajama Pants

I learned how to sew pajama pants!  I was skeptical when I signed up for the class at my local quilt store, Valli & Kim.  I kept having flashbacks from my home economics class in high school in which I attempted pants with a elastic waistband.  Super small waist, extra wide hips.  Not so this time.  The instructor used the Sew Easy Pajama Pants pattern by Taylor Made Designs. I highly recommend this pattern and the class too if you're close to Dripping Springs.  I love my PJs!

Mommy and Me Pillowcase Top and Dress

Love love love!!  I purchased the pattern from whimsycouture on ETSY.  The instructions were  pretty easy to follow especially considering that I have really basic sewing skills.  The dress for Ella is still a little too big but I can't wait until we have our Mommy and Me photo op!

T-shirt dresses

I recently purchased "Sew Pretty T-Shirt Dresses" which features over 25 patterns for dresses using "t-shirts" instead of sewing a bodice.  I love the book - lots of inspiration in there that I would never think of on my own.  I made one for daughter using a plain t-shirt and fabric that I had on hand.  It was so easy and turned out REALLY cute.  Now, she has to grow into it.  I can't wait to make more.  Oh please, let my girl be a girly girl - at least for a couple of years.

Bibs and more bibs

Lots of babies are being born around here so I've been busy making bibs.  I decided to go for a bigger bib that would be in use longer than the smallish newborn bibs that I made for my daughter.  I also decided to use snaps - with the snap tool.  I love the results.  The snaps really jazz up the bib giving it more of an upscale boutique feel but getting them on was quite a problem.  I think it took me longer to figure it out then to actually make the bib!  I also went through a lot of snaps which was frustrating because they are expensive.  Nonetheless, I love them!  Just need a better solution...

Teething or Nursing Necklace

I love this necklace!  I have received so many compliments on it and it is so simple to make especially if use this pattern from "BEFFIE48" on ETSY.  Her patterns are super easy to follow.  In fact, the first quilt I ever made was using her Rag Quilt pattern.  I've made two necklaces - one for myself (and Ella) and one as a baby gift for a friend.  I used hello kitty fabric so that both the baby could enjoy playing with it when being held by her mom or big sister and big sister would enjoy it too because, well, it's hello kitty.

Happy Mother's Day

I celebrated my first Mother's Day with Ella by sewing a sweet little dress (pictured) for her.  So far, I've only made one clothing item, pajama bottoms, in a class where the instructor worked with me from start to finish.  Here, I purchased an old school Simplicity pattern and did it completely on my own without ever having used or even read an "old school" pattern.  It was quite an ordeal and very time consuming.  I spent a lot of time looking up sewing terms and reading and rereading the instructions several times.  But, I did it!  And I love the dress and especially the smiles.  Miss Ella kept grabbing it and pulling it up to kick her legs so now I need to sew a diaper cover to match!  

Another Work In Progress

I finally began working on my sweet daughter's quilt for her crib.  Hopefully she won't be out of the crib before I finish it.  I'm using the Buggy Sue & Walter pattern by Zan Taylor Designs which incorporates a lot of applique.  I was making excellent progress until my ZigZag stitch setting went out on me.  So, the "work" is no longer "in progress".  Don't you hate when that happens!  I miss my machine and the small bursts of time I utilized to express my "creativity" ahem "boredom" when Ella is sleeping or bouncing happily while watching me sew.  Hopefully, I will be re-inspired when I get my machine back.  For now, I will use my time to read and then obsess over which fabric to use for the border.  In case you can't tell from this AWFUL iPhone pic, the color palette is reds, pinks, and a little black.  I love that it's girly but not too babyish.  Hopefully this little quilt will stand the test of time for my little one and carry her through her toddler years.

Oh Deer, A Work in Progress

I began this quilt just shortly after finishing "Let's Play".  I bought a couple of OH DEER by Momo for Moda Fabrics charm packs and some yardage for the back but I'm undecided as to how big it should be, who it's for, should I add a border or just leave as is.  I think it would be a charming baby quilt but then look at our bedroom, and think maybe it will be for us this time.  And so on and so forth.  I will probably just press pause for now and pick it up again when I'm inspired.  I do like how the plus signs (+) came together and the colors.  Ella also supervised the pinning and sewing of the rows.  She's a real trooper.

Let's Play!

I finally finished it! I started this gift project several months ago for a dear friend's little toddler boy but parenthood took over and I had to put it down for the last few months. It felt great to be sewing again and I finished it in record time with Miss Ella watching from her bouncer. She was such a sweetheart letting mommy work in 30 minute increments! I call this quilt "Let's Play" because it features all the things that little boys love to play with - helicopters, cars, dinosaurs, robots. It will also be fun to play I SPY with this one at bedtime. I didn't use a pattern. Instead, I just let it organically come together with rows of 5inch squares and 2inch white sashing. I used the big red dots as outside "Side" borders and the binding is green fabric with red dots. The back is primary color dots on a background and I quilted it with horizontal and vertical "in the ditch" lines using red, green and blue thread on the back and white on the front. I loved how it turned out and especially enjoyed the bear hug and thanks I received from my sweet and gracious friend!

QuiltCon 2013

Miss Ella was a hit at QuiltCon!  It was her very first quilt convention (and mine too).  She cooed and gurgled at all the ladies and was a real gem in the exhibit hall while Mommy participated in a few craft projects - zipper bracelet and door hanger.  We had to have our picture taken at the Moda BakeShop and scored some amazing Red Riding Hood fabric and other pinks and reds for Miss Ella's quilt.  We also were fascinated by the quilt displays.  Amazing work.