Felted Wool Pillow

I have had these sweaters laying around for some time, that I didn't know what to do with. For starters, they didn't fit me any more. They were pre-baby sweaters, and there's just no way they're ever gonna' fit my body ever again. LOL Add that to a couple happy moth holes, and these were perfect candidates for a new project I wanted to try--felted wool.

So, I felted the sweaters (which anyone with a washer and dryer can easily do), then couldn't figure out WHAT to do with them. After staring at them for a full week, wondering what the perfect project would be...after all, I loved these sweaters and wanted to keep them around, the whole reason I hadn't thrown them out in the first place...I decided to cut them apart and make a throw pillow for my bed. I love it! I kept the little (now much SMALLER) pocket on the front of my lighter sweater as an accent for the pillow, and it's just so darn CUTE! I love love love it! And soooo soft and comfy to prop up on while on the computer or reading a book or something. Happy, happy, happy! I also love the fabric I chose for the backing. It's various fairy tale words: "Happily ever after," "Once upon a time," "Fee Fi Fo Fum," and the like. :) Too cute, and perfect for a sleepy time throw pillow. :) And it will look just so darling with my new quilt when I get it finished. :)

Quilt pieced...finally...

I've had this fabric waiting to be put into a quilt since probably last spring. It's been a while, for sure. But it's always something ELSE that has to get done first, a gift for someone, an order for etsy. Something. But I FINALLY got around to piecing this lovely quilt to go on my bed...now it's actually supposed to be a large throw for the foot of my (Queen size) bed...I often get cold when hubby is not, so I need something to pull over MY side of the bed. BUT, it ended up being actually a full-size quilt which will still serve the same purpose, but will also work for a guest bed or something down the road.

The first task was deciding on a pattern. As it was going to be on OUR bed, I was trying to pick something hubby would like, as well as me. Which is tough, let me tell you. We're both very picky...and in two totally different directions sometimes. LOL He's probably not overly thrilled with the mermaids, but as it wasn't pink or flowers or something, I think he'll deal with it nicely enough. :) And orange IS my favorite color, and one he likes as well. So, I picked out four or five patterns I liked, and let him pick of those. He chose this one, which is fine by me, as it was easy and quick to piece together, if not cut. (For cutting, there were lots of 7/8" and stuff like that, which I hate having to cut. But it went smoothly enough.)

And after two days of sewing (and potty training, and making meals, and snacks, and being interrupted about a thousand times an hour...) here it is. I hope to sandwich it either tonight before bed, or tomorrow night. I've learned sandwiching (and pin basting) doesn't work well with little ones running around. LOL I plan on hand quilting it, though, so it will be a few weeks before it gets to grace my bed...probably just in time for it to be warm enough that I don't need it...but isn't that how it works? :)

DIY Dish

I love this program, the DIY Dish. They are a very talented pair of sisters, who tell all sorts of ideas for craft projects, all of them easy enough even for someone new to crafting. This one, the Valentine one, shows some awesome ways to use Therm-o-web, a product I've loved for years, though I'd never known about the fabric laminating film, to make things like wipe-off bibs (yes!) and placemats that your kids won't ruin in one meal. :) Definately gonna' have to try that! Also, there's a cool giveaway at the end. Let's keep our fingers crossed for me, huh? LOL

Christmas Presents

Here's some presents I made for Little Bit for Christmas. One is her quilt, which I freehanded appliqued. I wanted to do fall images, and I absolutely fell in LOVE with this fabric a while back. I thought it was very "HER". But she didn't have a quilt that I had made her, except for a Halloween quilt, so it was time she had her own. I didn't quilt before she was born, so she didn't get a baby quilt like the boys did. And then they got their new farm quilt this Christmas, too, so she needed one as well. I think it turned out nicely.

The other is a little kitty doll, that we have lovingly named Kit. It's from the Wee Wonderfuls pattern for Kit, Louise, and Chloe, but with the adjustments to make it into a cat from the free tutorial by Sew Liberated. Because, just like her nieces, my daughter is soooo a stuffed animal girl and not really into dolls that much. I made her a little quilt for her kitty, too, that works with her doll bed my father made her last Christmas. I used the scraps leftover from her quilt, as I did for the cat's clothes, too. She is made from cashmere wool suiting with hand dyed wool for the eyes. And the best part, she was made ENTIRELY from scraps and leftovers--clothes, quilt, body (even stuffing), even the little drawstring bag to keep the clothes in. EVERYTHING was leftovers, so she was totally free!!! I love projects like that, when you can take your scraps and turn it into something so lovely. :) Just makes me feel like I accomplished something cool all the more! (Oh, and all the clothes coordinate, so she can mix and match the shirts and dresses. And I added a little snap to the cat's head to let her change out little bows. My daughter liked that feature. :) )