Workout

Whoever thought sewing was a relaxing, quiet, NONAEROBIC activity...never tried to shove a queen-sized quilt around in a regular sized sewing machine. I'm just saying...

Pics to come when I can find the camera charger...

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? :)

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. :) )

The boys' quilts

Here are the pics of the boys' quilts for Christmas. They are hand quilted in the center panel and tied around the borders, largely because I couldn't figure out what I wanted to do with the borders. :) But I really liked how they turned out, and I think the boys will love the ties to mess with. :) The backing is made out of soft flannel...cozy and warm, just right for the weather lately! I only have to finish the binding on one, and I'm nearly finished with Little Bit's, too. (which looks nothing like these). I just started the binding tonight. Pics to come soon!