My Spare Time

Rainbows and Peace Signs

2011-12-18T14:06:00.000-06:00

This is the third Christmas gift quilt I'd planned for this year, and I am proud to say that I got them all done and in the mail by the first of December. Being due with baby #2 in early December proved to be great motivation!

All three quilts ended up using mostly Riley Blake fabrics. This one is mostly Feeling Groovy, since the recipient loves peace signs and pink. Perfect!

I absolutely love the rainbow binding. Definitely my favorite part of the quilt. The design is inspired by this quilt on Ashley's site. I get so much inspiration from her! I do hope all three of these quilts get a lot of use and are well-loved...

Quilting for Boys

2011-12-15T14:00:00.000-06:00

Why do I have so much more trouble designing masculine quilts?

In the end, I am quite happy with this one. Most of the fabric is Riley Blake, All Star 2, and I kept the design really simple.

I just did straight-line quilting for the first time in a while. I love how it compliments the simplicity of the quilt design. It is backed in chocolate fleece.

This is the 2nd of three Christmas gifts, and I hope it is well loved!

Tree Skirt

2011-12-13T13:51:00.003-06:00

Just a quick picture of the tree skirt I sent my sister and her family as an early Christmas present. The main skirt is green wool felt, with Alexander Henry Christmas owls as a border. The lining is a striped home dec fabric, though if I had it to do over again I would choose something that wasn't directional. I started out following this tutorial from Amy Butler, but since the owl fabric was also directional, I had to improvise. Overall I'm quite pleased with the final product!

Faux Bento Quilt

2011-11-14T06:43:00.003-06:00

This quilt is a Christmas present, but I'm pretty sure the recipient has no idea I even have a blog, so hopefully it is safe to share it. I love this quilt!

You might recognize the design, I used this tutorial from Ashley. The tutorial was perfect, but I'll admit the quilt top took a little longer to come together than I had planned.

I did meandering quilting, in a variegated green thread, though the quilt top is so busy you can't really tell the thread changes color.

Winter makes for tough quilt photos, ugh.

The back is chocolate fleece, and there is an in-binding label. Still loving doing the label that way. Now I have two more Christmas present quilts basted and ready to quilt; I need to get them done soon in case this baby makes an early arrival!

G&T Quilt

2011-09-05T12:13:00.000-05:00

Some friends of ours got married... last September! So this quilt is either a very late wedding present or a slightly early anniversary present. In fact, looking back, I posted some progress on this quilt last October so it's been a long time coming.

Fabric is all Hope Valley by Denise Schmidt, with sashing in Kona Snow. The sashing is only 1" finished, just to set off the blocks. I really love this simple way to highlight a beautiful fabric collection.

Quilting is free motion directly to chocolate fleece, since these are fellow Houston folks who need air conditioning blankies, not heavy winter blankies.

And of course an in-binding label. This is totally my go-to label right now. It preserves some identification and timing for the quilt without putting a big label anywhere on it. I hope the happy couple gets some good use out of this blankie!

My Chevrons

2011-09-03T10:57:00.001-05:00

I think in my very sporadic recent blogging, I've neglected to mention that we're expecting baby #2! I'm due in early December, so the clock is starting to tick. We are so excited!

A dear friend of mine is due about two weeks after me, and her first baby shower is this afternoon. I plan to make her a lap size quilt that matches her nursery for snuggling in the glider, but won't have that ready for a while. I took last Monday off to relax and sew, and on a whim, started this little chevron quilt for her. I love the colors, I think they really go with her style. She doesn't know if she's having a boy or girl, but I think this will work for both!

The pattern is inspired by this post on Allison's blog Cluck Cluck Sew. Fabric is some Heather Bailey, some Amy Butler, some Sandi Henderson, etc, all from my stash. I straight-line quilted it for a change, and added some light bamboo batting instead of quilting directly to the minky back.

Since I just folded the minky around to the front as the binding, I had to come up with a new label plan, so I sewed this little guy in there. You see the hearts most of the time, but if you flip it back, it's got my name and the date.

I wanted a little more for her shower gift, so I got this diaper caddy she wanted and filled it with useful changing table goodies and almost a dozen embellished burp rags. I hope she and Baby C love it!!

Katy's Quilt

2011-08-14T14:15:00.003-05:00

I finally made my sister a proper quilt! I made her one back in 2005 that I won't even link to - it wasn't really pieced or quilted, just big pieces of fabric attached to a fleece backing. I had no idea what I was doing.

I was much happier to send her this one! It is almost all Kona solids, with one striped red print in there if you look closely. It is quilted to chocolate brown fleece and the binding is mostly the stripey red fabric except where I embroidered the label.

It is free-motion quilted in kind of a boxy pattern you might be able to see in the detail shot. The pattern is inspired by one of the ones shown in my City Quilts book, though there isn't a pattern for it and I had to make up my own measurements.

It is super snuggly and it goes very well in their modern style ranch house, if I do say so myself!

Patchwork Bibs

2011-08-05T13:56:00.000-05:00

I had a couple baby presents to send recently but wasn't quite up for a full-blown quilting project.

Here is what I came up with instead - patchwork bibs!

These were so fun to make, and combined with a couple coordinating outfits (these are from BabyGap) and Skwish (best baby toy ever!), I think it makes a pretty nice gift.

Aidan's Elephants

2011-07-24T14:18:00.004-05:00

Adam (recipient of this quilt back in January of 2009) has a little brother! I think Aidan's quilt is one of my best-executed quilts so far. Great accuracy on the blocks, fun quilting, nice drape... I love quilting, and know the folks who receive them don't normally notice execution errors, but it's fun to get better and better with practice!

However, having said that about the execution, if you look closely you will notice one slight execution error! I say it gives it character. (There's a note on the photo on Flickr if you can't spot the mistake.)

Backing is chocolate minky, with lightweight bamboo batting.

For the record, I finished and gifted this one back in early June...

Birdie Blankie

2011-07-23T14:16:00.000-05:00

Proof that I am still sewing, just not posting - a little birdie stroller blankie I made back in April.

Finally!

2011-04-04T19:46:00.002-05:00

I finally used some of the 9-patch blocks from AmandaJean's 9-patch-along back in... May? of 2009? Yikes. That's a downside to having a blog, I can see just how long some projects sit on my shelf in ziplock bags.

Anyway! I used some of the blocks to make this little baby quilt for a friend's new baby girl. I have definitely ramped down the effort in my blog photos - I'm feeling lucky to just get these online for posterity. This is so soft and cuddly, I can't wait to deliver it (and meet the new sweet girl!).

Elephant Escape

2011-02-25T10:32:00.004-06:00

A friend is having a baby soon and commissioned this quilt with this fabric that matches the nursery bedding and curtains.

Some of it is upholstery weight so I was a little nervous about how that would work, but I am so in love with the final quilt. It's hard to see in the photos, but I quilted each block in a square spiral. My uncle said it looked like the elephants were going to jail but we decided it would be nicer if they were escaping from the zoo, so I'm calling this quilt Elephant Escape!

The backing is minky dot and the batting is thin bamboo, giving this quilt a wonderful drape. It will be so snuggly for a new baby!

The binding is mostly white with a polka dot section where I did the in-binding label. I hope Graham, due to arrive in just over a week, likes his elephant quilt!

Twirly Skirt

2011-01-20T11:31:00.001-06:00

Having a baby girl in the family is so much fun. I finally have an excuse to make all the cute little girl projects I've bookmarked over the years!

This is another little ruffle skirt, but I tried to downsize it for an infant. I think it's still a little big, but we'll call it growing room! The shirt and leggings are from Old Navy - not a project I'm ready to tackle yet!

Charlie's Library Bag

2011-01-19T14:39:00.001-06:00

I couldn't resist giving my nephew Charlie several new books for Christmas, so of course he needed a new book bag to carry them all in! He loves picking out books at the library, so I thought this would be useful to carry his library books.

All the fabric was in my stash - it feels good to be trying to use some of it. The pattern is a slightly downsized market bag with a patch pocket.

I don't know how much enthusiasm a three-year-old can have for a bag, but I sure like it!

Maggie's New Sheet

2011-01-18T20:32:00.003-06:00

A while back I posted a fitted sheet I made to coordinate with my niece's black and white (and green) nursery. Well, once she was born and known to be a girl, I thought she needed a girly sheet, too.

This is snuggly flannel and so cute, I think. I also made one in black and white gingham.

Now Maggie doesn't have to sleep on any uncoordinated crib sheets!

Quite a Set

2011-01-04T11:27:00.000-06:00

I thought it would be fun to give my sister this set of earrings, almost every color of the rainbow! Peter pointed out that I'm putting myself out of business, but I know she'll still have requests.

To Market

2010-12-31T11:28:00.001-06:00

As a tangible gift to go along with some sweets for family, I assembly-lined these Market Totes.

I used Alicia's awesome pattern and they came together perfectly. I love box pleats! I will be using them a lot in the future, I can tell.

It was so fun to pick out the fabrics for these, and a great stash buster. I hope the recipients get a lot of use out of them.

Seven Years in the Making

2010-12-30T11:28:00.003-06:00

When Peter and I got married, I bought two cross stitch stocking kits. I finished Pete's stocking this morning, five days after Christmas, just seven Christmases after we got married.

Now, to be clear, I have definitely not worked on it that whole time.

In fact, added all together, it probably only took a few months of evenings to finish.

But it was definitely a labor of love, and I am so proud of how it turned out! Merry Christmas, Peter, I'm glad you finally have a homemade stocking!

Grandma's Quilt

2010-12-24T10:15:00.003-06:00

As you can tell, blogging has moved way down my priority list. Between Ben, work, life, actually having time to sew... something had to go. I do still plan on posting my finished projects, but that's as much for my own benefit as anything. I like having a record of what I've done, and I do often go back to reference past projects.

These photos are evidence that I don't think much these days about what to blog - I took this quilt all the way to California for my grandma and never took any photos of it. Thanks so much to my grandfather for the pictures.

I love how this quilt turned out, and my grandma was so pleased with it. It goes perfectly in their house, and though she won't give up the first quilt I made for her, I think she'll get a lot of use out of it.

Inspired by this pillow on Moda Bakeshop.

Smart Change

2010-10-29T16:27:00.000-05:00

I originally started cutting up khaki colored sashing for this quilt because I was feeling too dependent on my white sashing. I am so glad I switched to white! I think it looks so fresh and pretty. This will be a finished quilt top soon, I hope!

Cute Scarf, Crummy Photo

2010-10-26T18:21:00.003-05:00

One of my mom's birthday presents was a ruffle scarf I made using the awesome tutorial from Dana's site. I love how it turned out - considering I think it looks pretty adorable even in the nighttime/fluorescent lights/iPhone photo!

Clever Grandma

2010-10-24T16:19:00.000-05:00

Grandma noticed that Ben was dragging around the feet of his slightly-too-big pajamas while playing before bedtime so she devised this ingenious solution. She just sewed a little loop of elastic to fit around his ankle and hold up the pajama legs.

No more dragging pajamas! Thanks, Grandma!

Log Cabining

2010-10-22T18:18:00.000-05:00

What is it about Moda precuts that is so irresistible?

This jelly roll along with a "leftovers" strip pack I picked up a while ago from Fat Quarter Shop are turning in to some improv log-cabin-ish blocks.

So much fun!

Pineapple Shuttles?

2010-10-16T09:09:00.003-05:00

Betsy's stroller blankie is finished, about two hours before the shower! I am quite good at pushing things to the last minute. Betsy is a friend I met back when I was working in the space program so I couldn't resist this fabric. Can you see what's going on here??

Space shuttles collecting pineapples!! Who comes up with this stuff?

Next Up

2010-10-07T19:32:00.000-05:00

I am back at the cutting table. I have three quilts in progress! It's hard to pick which one to work on when I get time to sew. One is going to be from Denyse Schmidt's Hope Valley, which I love to death, but the others are a lot of fun, too. I don't normally work with novelty prints but those space shuttles are cracking me up. Good motivation to keep working!

Winner!

2010-10-05T18:31:00.000-05:00

Sorry I forgot to announce this earlier... Congratulations to Sarah C! You have won the 6th anniversary giveaway. I left a comment on your blog, too, so get back to me with your address! Thanks to everyone who commented!

Back to Goals

2010-10-01T21:18:00.002-05:00

I needed a spot to do some jewelry repairs and keep an eye on the little guy (my sewing room is definitely not baby-proof), but I think the kitty resented my use of his favorite napping spot!

October is my favorite month for many reasons - fall, cooler weather, Halloween, my birthday... I liked my monthly goals but fell off the wagon a little. I am definitely not as productive as I used to be, but I'm tired of giving late gifts, and as you can see, these all have a deadline!)

October Goals:
1. Top for wedding quilt (wedding was 9/18).
2. To-be-revealed birthday gift for my mom (birthday is 10/14).
3. Baby shower present (shower is 10/18).

Six Years - Giveaway!!

2010-09-29T10:47:00.000-05:00

Close on the heels of my first wedding anniversary, I had the great idea to start a craft blog. This past year has been a little quiet around these parts, but it is so great to be able to pop in and share things in this little community. Getting emails from folks like Wendy letting me know that I inspire people is about the coolest thing ever. I started this blog six years ago so my sister in Virginia could see my projects, that's it. And it opened up such a world of new ideas! Sappy, I know, but thanks for making this blogging community such a great place to belong.

If you want a chance to win that pile of fabric - scraps from all my recent projects including big pieces of Anna Maria Horner Good Folks, Red Letter Day and Heather Bailey Nicey Jane - leave a comment. International entries welcome if you're willing to pay for shipping. Random drawing will be Sunday at 8pm CST.

Seven Years

2010-09-27T14:51:00.000-05:00

Happy anniversary to my guy - we got married on the sixth anniversary of our first date so we have been together thirteen years now. In just a few more years we will have been together longer than we haven't. This seventh year of marriage brought us our beautiful baby boy, making it the best year yet, and we know each year is just going to get better. We are so blessed!

For Pins

2010-09-25T15:45:00.001-05:00

I have been offering quite belated birthday gifts this year to family and friends. Can I blame it on the baby? This little gift is no exception, for my mother-in-law whose birthday was earlier this month.

She sews all the time, often away from home or in different rooms in her house, so I thought this little pincushion (pdf) from Sew, Mama, Sew would get a lot of use.

Even better, I got to use some of my favorite Nicey Jane scraps since most of the fabric pieces are small! The tutorial is very clear and this came together quickly - just pay attention to the seam allowances because they change often throughout the directions!

Bonus Burpies

2010-09-21T20:04:00.000-05:00

I had a little extra fabric from the hex quilt so in the interest of not increasing my scrap piles, I made a few burp rags to go along with the quilt. I used a method even simpler than my burprag tutorial.

I had 6" strips of the fabric left so I just cut them down to 14.5" wide. I pressed over both long edges and one short edge a generous 1/4". Then I laid the fabric right side down across one end of the burp rag and ironed over the last short edge so it was the right width for the rag. Or I ironed in a generous 1/4", whichever was the greater amount. (I hope that makes sense.)

Then I flipped the fabric over, wrong side down, and pressed and pinned it across the end of the rag. I did a simple straight stitch close to the edge with white thread in my bobbin and, in this case, blue thread in my needle. Voila! Embellished burp rags! I did all six in less than 30 minutes, I think. And I might like the result even better than doing it my old way!

Finished Hex's

2010-09-19T09:50:00.003-05:00

I finished the hexagon quilt! I put the final stitches in the binding this morning, just in time to wrap it up for the baby shower at 2pm today. Nothing like working with a deadline!

I had a really hard time deciding how to quilt it. I have been loving free motion quilting lately but everything I thought of seemed like it would take away from the design. So I went with parallel straight lines about 2" apart - along the edges of the big and little hexagons. I really love how it looks.

The binding is mostly stripes with a little 2D tiny zoo. (Click through to the picture of the quilt above on flickr for the rest of the fabrics.) I incorporated the label into the binding again; I really love this simple way to include a label.

I hope Baby Isaac, who will be joining the world in just a few short weeks, loves this quilt as much as I do!

Inspired

2010-09-13T09:28:00.000-05:00

I got the nicest email from Wendy the other day. She doesn't have a blog of her own and wanted to let me know that she was inspired by my New Wave quilt to make one herself.

Can you believe this is her first quilt? I absolutely love it. The colors are perfect and her piecing is beautiful.

I love the pieced back. And even cuter is her quilt model, Wally!

Thank you so much for sending me these pictures, Wendy!

Lifesaver

2010-09-10T08:51:00.001-05:00

Can I just say that the 1/4" foot on my machine is a lifesaver when it comes to piecing these hexagons? My piecing is by no means perfect, but to have this many seams come together even this closely is a miracle!

I'm so glad I practiced on that pillow ages ago or I believe these would never turn out right.

Birthday Skirt

2010-09-04T08:41:00.002-05:00

We have a birthday party to go to for a two-year-old little girl today and I found an adorable set of magnetic wooden paper dolls as a gift. I wanted to include something handmade, of course, so Dana's Market Skirt tutorial was perfect.

I think I need to get my serger back from my mother-in-law to make these projects easier.

Ben said he was man enough to model the skirt, and I swear he's almost as big as the 2-year-old birthday girl!

Welcome, Margaret Kate!

2010-09-01T08:09:00.001-05:00

Please join me in a warm welcome to my new niece, Margaret Kate. My sister was due on August 22, but I totally guaranteed she'd deliver late by booking tickets to visit on August 27th.

Luckily for this anxious aunt, Maggie was born happy and healthy on August 25th, just in the nick of time. I am so blessed to get to meet her so early!

I am also glad I was able to finish her quilt in time to bring along. It coordinates with the nursery linens and will be a great play mat and maybe some day a toddler bed blanket.

The quilting is free-motion, the batting is thin bamboo batting, and the backing is almost as fun as the front!

I think my favorite part is the binding - both the stripes and the incorporated label. I hope Maggie grows to love it as much as I do!

Back Soon

2010-08-27T11:47:00.000-05:00

I have a string of posts planned for the next week or two to hopefully keep the cobwebs from creeping back in around here. For now, though, I'd better get back to my pile of laundry and packing - amazing how much stuff is needed for a 3-day trip with an 8-month-old!

Waiting for Me

2010-08-25T10:37:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to get back to work on this project planned out on my design wall. It is currently on the back burner while I hand-sew the binding on this quilt. It has to travel with me this weekend when I go to meet my new niece or nephew!

Dusting Off

2010-08-23T19:42:00.000-05:00

It may not look like much, but I thought this fitted crib sheet might be worth dusting off the blogger posting template! It's just so amazing to finish something these days, and by the deadline I'd set myself, too. I used this tutorial and I think it's going to work great. I would just say to be sure to sew your casing for the elastic big enough for your safety pin so you don't have to rip stitches as you're threading the elastic... Learned that one the hard way!

Almost Perfect

2010-07-21T15:32:00.004-05:00

One thing that is tough about diaper bags is I can't really tell if it's going to be good until I actually load it up with Ben's stuff. This one is almost perfect. I started and finished this bag in one day, which is a miracle in itself!

What I like about this bag: the fabric, the patchwork, the fleece interfacing, the ric-rac trim on the pocket. What I don't like: it needs to be taller, I should have done solid straps, the pockets inside are too loose.

The squares were all 5x5" before sewing them together; there isn't any fusible interfacing, just a layer of fleece between the outside and the lining. Since this bag is so close to what I've been wanting, you'll probably see another slightly tweaked version up here soon!

Almost There

2010-07-06T18:02:00.001-05:00

Since I took this photo I have added the rest of the sashing. Now to get this sucker basted! I'll probably refrain from any more progress shots until I can get the quilt to my sister so it's not totally spoiled, faithful blog reader that she is. Hi, Katy!

Close but Not Quite

2010-07-04T21:50:00.003-05:00

Happy 4th of July to everyone in the States! A funny thing about this year is that we actually went to a Canada Day party on Thursday but had no special plans to celebrate America's birthday. The baby is in bed, and we can see some fireworks from our back windows, and that's about all the celebrating we were up for this year.

I did finally finish the paintings for the nursery. They are definitely an amateur attempt but I am happy with them. I'll probably take them down for some touchups but am not in a hurry. It was fun to try something new! After these were in progress I saw this and this and wanted to totally start over. I guess I still could!

I actually spent a good amount of time in my craft room today since my little man enjoys rolling around on the floor and playing while I sew. Keeping him on a blanket is a challenge - I tell my husband it's not that I have a problem with Ben being on the carpet, just that you never know when he's going to urp up some milk or peas and a quilt is easier to wash than the rug!

Now that I'm back at work I'm going to try really hard to keep my goals for July reasonable:
1. Finish the quilt for my sister's new baby.
2. Make the throw pillow for the nursery glider - my back needs it!
3. Get the fabric cut for my next baby quilt (super excited about this one!)

June Goals:
1. Finish Ben's circle quilt.
2. Quilt top for my sister's new baby. Only a little sashing left...
3. Throw pillow for nursery glider. Nope.
4. Nursery artwork. Done!

On the Wall

2010-06-24T11:07:00.002-05:00

I almost feel like this should be it's own blog category, it seems like I always have the next project up on the quilt wall! This black/white/green plan is for my sister's new baby. The black and white fabrics are all Michael Miller, I really love them!

Playing with Jersey

2010-06-22T14:55:00.003-05:00

I found two cute shirts at Old Navy for $4 each and knew I'd be able to use them for some of the cute projects I've been seeing online these days.

The pink one is now largely a failed attempt at a Warhol Dress. Nothing wrong with the pattern, just my attempts to sew jersey. Instead I made a couple embellished onesies:

The blue one is cute but definitely a beginner's attempt. I really love the pink one. Heavily inspired by this shirt refashion, seen on Cluck Cluck Sew.

Posting has been pretty light and will probably get worse - I start back to work full time next Thursday and have been frantically trying to finish up some things I had planned for my leave. Amazing how time flies. Following me is probably the best way to find out when I figure out how to be a mom, an engineer, a crafter, and a blogger all at the same time! I know it can be done!!

Ben's Quilt

2010-06-12T10:54:00.001-05:00

Ben's quilt is finished!

I followed the directions for the circle quilt posted by Wonderful Life but left the edges raw on the circles for fun texture.

The quilting is straight lines between the blocks with a free-motion spiral in each circle. It is backed with fleece with a pieced binding. I couldn't be happier with how this quilt turned out!!

Trying Something New

2010-06-10T13:48:00.000-05:00

The paint is out and the work is started for Ben's nursery artwork. I might actually get this done eventually! Though since I've never painted anything on canvas I am skeptical about how it will look when I'm done...

It's About Time

2010-06-03T10:38:00.001-05:00

After many months languishing in my to-do pile, Ben's circle quilt is basted and on the machine! Of course I started sewing with the wrong color thread in the bobbin and have to spend some quality time with my stitch ripper, but I won't let a little thing like that discourage me!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-06-02T12:47:00.003-05:00

My Last Month

2010-06-01T09:25:00.003-05:00

Today is the first day of June, and that means my last month home with Ben has begun! I am so blessed to have six months off with my new little boy, but in a way I think it is making it even harder to think about going back to work. I am tempted to have an ambitious list of projects to finish for June since it is my last month at home, but I know I'll want to spend a lot of time just cuddling and playing with Ben, so I tried to keep it tame.

June Goals:
1. Finish Ben's circle quilt.
2. Quilt top for my sister's new baby.
3. Throw pillow for nursery glider.
4. Nursery artwork.
Not actually that tame when I write it out...

May Goals:
1. Finish the stroller blankie I put on hold.
2. Clean up guest room.
3. Finish wedding embroidery. Just barely! See above...
4. Nursery artwork. Nope.
5. Throw pillow for guest room.

Finishing Touch

2010-05-27T21:18:00.000-05:00

My hexagon experiment is a finished pillow!

I love how this came out. The quilting was so fun - loops radiating out from the center of the hexagon.

The back is simple in case I want something not so busy. For the quilting I just played around and did some blocky spirals. They took a while but really add to the large blank areas, I think.

This definitely helps motivate me to finish decorating this room!

Red Barn in Place!

2010-05-25T21:18:00.000-05:00

The guest room still needs a lot of work (and a coat of paint), but at least it has a pretty quilt on the bed. I went through a few moments of doubt that this quilt would end up being too busy, but since it's pretty much the only thing going on in the room, I think it works. The majority of the work on this quilt was done last fall, including long arm quilting by Karen that looks fabulous. The binding and label took far too long but the important thing is that it's finished and in place!

Quilt Festival

2010-05-23T10:25:00.000-05:00

Thank you so much to Amy for hosting the 2010 Blogger's Quilt Festival! I am having so much fun looking through everyone's favorite quilts, especially browsing the Flickr pool.

I had a really tough time deciding which quilt to share, but my thoughts kept coming back to this pink quilt I made about a year and a half ago. It was the first time I'd really just pulled together fabrics from my stash for an idea in my head and it actually came out the way I pictured it!

In truth, whatever quilt I am working on or have just finished is usually my favorite. I am always trying something new or figuring out a better way to do something. I think that's what keeps it so exciting to me!

For example, my sister and I have been discussing the quilt for her new little one on the way, and it is literally all I can think about, I am so excited. I have finished less than 20 quilts in the three years I've been quilting, but I can't wait to watch that number rise.

Handmade for Ben

2010-05-22T11:18:00.000-05:00

I wanted to show off some of the wonderful things friends and family have made for Benjamin.

We receieved so many beautiful quilts. They are perfect for cuddling with and playing around on the floor. Now that Ben is rolling over whenever he gets the chance, I put him down on the floor a lot more often, so I have a quilt on the floor in just about every room in the house! It seems so much nicer than putting him on the (pet hair-ridden) carpet. The orange quilt on the right is my very own stroller blankie, from our friend Kate, which started me on my stroller blankie craze!

This quilt is from Peter's Aunt Jan. Isn't it so bright and cheerful?

I had to highlight this quilt from Peter's Aunt Martha. She and my mother-in-law made it in one day last Thanksgiving, and they actually had to make the top twice! There was a seam-allowance mishap on the first try, so they made the whole thing again. Now that's dedication; I am so impressed and thankful. The colors are perfect in the nursery!

My friend Jeanine from high school sent us this "baby" sign; another perfect match for the nursery!

We also received a home-sewn shopping cart seat cover, two nursing covers, a portable changing pad, some personalized onesies, and many embellished burp rags. I had no idea how many burp rags I'd go through in a day; it is so nice to have a pretty stash. We are so appreciative of all our generous friends and family that took time to make things for Benjamin!

Winner Winner!

2010-05-21T09:55:00.001-05:00

Thanks to everyone who entered my May Giveaway! I'm always impressed by the number of people who click through from Sew Mama Sew. Some of the sites I visited had over 1000 comments!

Okay, I'll get to the point... The random number generator chose... #91!

Congratulations, Candy, check your inbox for an email!

Again, thanks to everyone who entered. I hope some of you stick around - it's nice to know I'm not always just talking to myself!

Playing Around

2010-05-20T13:33:00.003-05:00

...with my new triangle ruler. I have plans to do a full quilt of hexagons but wanted a little practice first!

Today is the last day to enter my May Giveaway! Just leave a comment on this post.

What Next?

2010-05-19T08:26:00.000-05:00

1. Baby quilt, 2. quilt festival!!!!!!, 3. Finished coin quilt top "Lemonade", 4. { geometric squares quilt }, 5. Pink Squares in Squares Baby Quilt, 6. Nine Patch Quilt - Amy Butler Blogged, 7. Zig Zag Quilt - 2008, 8. Eliza Quilt Coins, 9. SLice and Dice Baby Quilt

I'm itching to start another quilt so I thought I would round up a little inspiration to help me decide where to start. Have you seen any special quilts lately you'd like to share?

Don't miss your chance to enter my May Giveaway! Just leave a comment on this post.

Giveaway Day!

2010-05-17T06:50:00.003-05:00

Happy May Giveaway Day! Welcome to those of you finding your way over from Sew, Mama, Sew!

The timing of Giveaway Day is perfect - I was already planning a giveaway to thank everyone for putting up with all the changes that have been going on around here, and now even more people will have a chance to win!

I am giving away this baby quilt, 28"x36" and backed in minky, more info here, plus a Liberty for Target clipboard, file folder set, and journal.

Just leave a comment by Thursday 5/20 at 9pm CST to be entered. If you want, tell me about your current favorite craft blog! Winner will be chosen by the random number generator. Non-U.S. entries welcome but you'll have to pay for shipping. Good luck!

Couldn't Resist

2010-05-15T08:51:00.003-05:00

Even though this wasn't a May Goal, I couldn't resist making another baby blankie. I have so many friends having babies soon, and although this quilt has a different destiny, it is good practice!

The pattern is Oh Fransson's New Wave Quilt. Fabric is a little Amy Butler, a little Anna Maria, and some coordinates from my stash, backed with pink minky dots. Size is 28"x35".

I'm kind of excited about the quilting on this one - I don't know if you can see it, but I did little loops to follow the waves and I really like how it came out. Have you seen this site? If you're at all interested in free-motion quilting, it is so inspirational. Thanks, Kristin, for sending me the link.

If you're interested in what the fate of this quilt will be, be sure to stop back by Monday! I think you'll be pleased!

Making Progress

2010-05-14T14:43:00.000-05:00

Slowly but surely making progress on the latest wedding sampler.

On the Wall

2010-05-13T17:10:00.000-05:00

... Oh, Fransson's New Wave quilt.

More Stash Busting

2010-05-11T14:55:00.001-05:00

This baby blankie is made with fabric that has been in my stash for ages, Daisy Chain in Blush by Amy Butler. It feels so good to see this fabric in a finished product; I need to remember this feeling in the future when I hesitate to cut up my "special" fabric.

The pattern is inspired by this quilt I bookmarked ages ago on Etsy. It took doing John's sliced up 9-patch for my first stroller blankie to figure out how to piece it.

Other stats are very similar to my other stroller blankies - size is 26x26", backing is minky. I don't think I've mentioned this before, but I'm binding these by just folding the minky around to the front and machine-stitching it. I find hand-stitching minky really difficult so traditional binding would just be too much of a pain.

My label is actually a little straighter, and my stippling is improving! I have so many friends having babies right now, I have plenty of excuses to make these mini-quilts!

Nursery Tour

2010-05-06T10:04:00.004-05:00

I have a couple more projects to finish for the nursery but I decided it's time to get some pictures taken anyway. Who knows when I'll get a chance to make some artwork for above the changing table! I'm a lot closer to finishing the crib quilt, but no need to wait for that either. First, a reminder of where we started:

And here we are now:

The changing table is the dresser that started out in my sister's nursery. It has been painted several times, went to college with me, and has been living in our guest room. This is a pretty small room (~9x10'), but it doesn't feel cramped and there is room (as shown!) for Ben to play on the floor.

The bookshelf also came from college (it's the black one in the "before" picture); my mom painted it and the dresser a beautiful blue. I don't think they will be extremely durable but they are fantastic for a baby's room. The alphabet print is by Petit Collage, my sister and brother-in-law sent it and I love it. The lamp was in my husband's nursery.

My mother-in-law sewed the valance and crib bumper (which is currently wrapped under the mattress as a pseudo crib skirt). Who knows how long it would have taken me to finish those projects; having a willing and able mother-in-law is a blessing!

As I mentioned above, I have a plan for some artwork for above the changing table (a May goal!), and the crib quilt is almost done. I am so happy with Ben's cheerful, colorful nursery!

Note: Comments are working. Comments from the old address have been migrated. Thanks for your patience!!

Very Belated

2010-05-04T09:25:00.000-05:00

We went to a beautiful wedding last March, as in March of 2009, for my husband's cousin, and I never made them a wedding gift. When we were in Colorado for our ski trip I was able to get a good start on a little doodle sampler for them, and finished it up and finally got it framed.

I think they will like it - they had a beautifully colorful wedding, including the bride in an orange wedding dress. They are both musicians (Jen is a professional opera singer) so I think the quote is especially appropriate. It is nice to have this done!

For Baby Charlotte

2010-05-02T09:04:00.000-05:00

This baby blankie is actually not the one from my April goals, because I got an invitation to a baby shower and needed to switch gears a little.

But I do love it, and as I mentioned, it is probably the fastest I have used fabric that I would typically hoard. Of course, I used less than half of it, so that made it easier to cut.

Fabric is Nicey Jane by Heather Bailey. Pattern is inspired by this quilt of the day on Sew, Mama, Sew. Size is 24" x 32", backed with minky.

Can you see the quilting? Free motion! Go me!! This was such a risk, my first real free motion quilting project on such nice fabrics. But I love how it came out. The stitching is definitely not even and there are some wonky places, but I am happy with it for my first try. I think my new machine made it a lot easier than the first time I tried. I will definitely be doing more in the future!

Finally, the label. It is crooked. I cannot seem to sew my labels on straight. I used this idea from Lady Harvatine and I love how it looks! One of these days I'll figure out how to sew it on straight.

Happy May! My goals for the month might look a little familiar...
1. Finish the stroller blankie I put on hold.
2. Clean up guest room.
3. Finish wedding embroidery.
4. Nursery artwork.
5. Throw pillow for guest room.

April Goals:
1. Stroller blankie for a new little girl. Did the one above instead!
2. Finish binding Red Barn quilt and clean up guest room. Binding is done, guest room is a mess.
3. Wedding embroidery for some friends that got married in March. Started!
4. Artwork for above Ben's changing table. Supplies are ready...

Wow this is a long post, but I wanted to address some technical difficulties - I don't know why comments aren't working and I don't know why my posts are in italics. Working on it! If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email me at sarah(at)themikkelsens(dot)net. Thanks for your patience!

Stitching Away

2010-04-30T12:47:00.001-05:00

I'll probably jinx it by saying so, but Ben goes to bed pretty easily around 8pm. One last feeding and he's out for the night. So that leaves me some sewing time in the evening, and hand-stitching is nice because then I can hang out with Peter, too. This wedding present is an unfinished April goal, but at least it's on the hoop!

A New Record

2010-04-28T11:37:00.004-05:00

Normally when I buy fabric it sits in my cupboard for ages before I get up the nerve to cut it up. So the fact that this Heather Bailey arrived just last month and is already on its way to being a new stroller blankie is nothing short of a miracle!

I hope everyone was able to follow the blog move over to my new address. It's not ideal - as one commenter mentioned, I would really rather publish myself using moveable type or something, but the blog would die if I had to try to figure something like that out right now, so this will work in the mean time. Thanks for your patience!

New Web Address

2010-04-27T12:43:00.002-05:00

Since blogger is no longer doing FTP publishing, my blog is now located at http://sdmikke.blogspot.com/. You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://sdmikke.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default.

Big Day

2010-04-23T12:08:00.003-05:00

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!

Red Barn on Hold

2010-04-13T08:11:00.001-05:00

I'm having to wait to finish the binding since the puppy is already putting the quilt to good use...

A Bit Belated

2010-04-09T08:07:00.003-05:00

On our ski trip last week we were lucky enough to get to celebrate our niece and nephew's 11th birthday with them! To save on luggage room I didn't bring their gifts along, so they are going to be a bit belated. I got an adorable cross-stitch kit for my niece (this one) because she loves crafting, and made these little covered button hair accessories. The purple pair are hairbands and the little flowers are bobby pins. These were so fun and quick to make up! Definitely more of these in my future.

Also a bit belated, my goals for April:
1. Stroller blankie for a new little girl.
2. Finish binding Red Barn quilt and clean up guest room. (March fail!)
3. Wedding embroidery for some friends that got married in March.
4. Artwork for above Ben's changing table.

Considering how crummy I did on my March goals these might be extra ambitious!!

March Goals:
1. Buttons for swap - finished and mailed on time!
2. Finish circle quilt top.
3. Bind Red Barn quilt. About half done with hand-sewing.
4. Pick up guest room enough to make the bed! Not done!!

Willing Model

2010-03-26T18:12:00.002-05:00

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.

Stroller Blankie

2010-03-19T09:54:00.003-05:00

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?

Doodle Buttons

2010-03-17T08:53:00.002-05:00

I finished my buttons for the Feeling Stitchy swap and they are going in the mail on time! I am just a little bit amazed that I didn't drop the ball on this.

I am very happy with how they came out. I love the doodle stitching I see on flickr (like this or this) and thought I'd try that for these buttons.

A little bit of fabric (didn't make the photo), some floss, sweets, and the buttons, on their way to Sophie in England!

Flats Weather

2010-03-14T09:46:00.003-05:00

New $10 flats and weather warm enough to wear them with a dress. I love spring!

Up soon - I finished my swap buttons! My package will actually be going out on time. I have to admit I'm slightly amazed!

Edited to add after several requests: I got the flats last week at Target, I'm sure they're still there!

Off to a Good Start

2010-03-07T07:44:00.004-06:00

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!

March Already

2010-03-02T08:57:00.003-06:00

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!

Personalized

2010-02-15T09:49:00.000-06:00

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!

Back at It

2010-02-11T15:29:00.002-06:00

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...)

Start Small

2010-02-03T17:37:00.000-06:00

I made sugar cookies yesterday, and felt such a sense of accomplishment. It just felt so frivolous! It wasn't laundry, or baby-related, or necessary for nourishing me and my husband (i.e. dinner). I'm also working on repairing a bag for a friend - the magnetic snap on the exterior pocket started to rip out! I have to say this is definitely the most well-used bag I've made, a true test to my construction integrity! And I just got word my Red Barn quilt is ready at the quilter's, so I can't wait to pick that up and get the binding on. Big plans, with a small start...

Due Today

2010-01-20T17:28:00.002-06:00

Today is Benjamin's due date, and his 3 week birthday. I feel so lucky to have had these three weeks with him. Today was a really good day. For the first time I was able to see that I will be able to get things done in the days to come, that there will be a time that I can care for Ben and still take care of things around the house - maybe even have time to do a little sewing.

Thank you for all your wonderful comments on our baby boy. We are over the moon. The blog will still be quiet for a little longer but I do plan to return. I have many projects in the works and am looking forward to getting back in front of my sewing machine!

Welcoming the New Year

2010-01-03T12:03:00.004-06:00

Benjamin Arthur
Born December 30th, 2009 at 9:59pm
7lb 6.1oz 21.5"

Three weeks early but doing wonderfully. We are so happy to be home with our little boy. As you can imagine, posting will be light as we settle in. I hope everyone had as wonderful an end to 2009 as we did.

Two Thirds

2009-12-28T13:05:00.001-06:00

I estimate I am about 2/3 done with this stocking now... As long as I don't put it away again, I can pretty much guarantee it will be ready for Christmas 2010!

Dragonflies

2009-12-27T16:02:00.001-06:00

Well, that week flew by. In addition to working on a few Christmas presents, I made some progress on the circle quilt and the stocking... I hope you and yours had as nice a holiday as we did! This is one of the gifts I made for my mom. Can I just say how much I admire the nice jewelry stores on Etsy and their awesome photography? I had the hardest time getting a decent picture of this necklace.

My mom has always liked dragonflies. So when I heard from my sister that Mom wanted a dragonfly necklace, I knew I had to try to make her one myself! I found several dragonfly pendants I loved at Dimestore Emporium and used my bead stash to make her this necklace. She loves it!

Behind the Scenes

2009-12-16T15:29:00.002-06:00

Working on a couple Christmas presents behind the scenes. Looking forward to sharing after they're gifted!

Pointy Towels

2009-12-13T13:34:00.001-06:00

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!

Stitching Away

2009-12-10T21:24:00.000-06:00

In addition to making decent progress on my December goals, I am making a dent in the stocking cross stitch, also. It is so satisfying to see the scene emerge on the blank cloth...

Quickie Ornaments

2009-12-09T20:33:00.000-06:00

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!

One Christmas Project Done!

2009-12-07T18:25:00.003-06:00

I made vanilla extract tonight! It was crazy easy. I got the vanilla beans on Amazon (these), the bottles from Specialty Bottle (these), and just some normal vodka. Two beans per bottle, sliced lengthwise and then in half to fit in the bottle, top off with vodka, and voila! Labels and cute tags will be added this weekend.

Keeping Me Busy

2009-12-02T20:27:00.000-06:00

My pile of addressed Christmas cards, waiting to be stuffed with our letter and stamped. Holiday stamps and new return address still on their way in the mail.

Monthly Goals
I say this every month, but I can't believe it's already December. The month of Christmas. The month before I meet my baby. Crazy!
1. Finish crib circle quilt.
2. Christmas presents - not making a ton this year but have a few plans.
3. Finish nursery - I'm full term Christmas week!

November Goals:
1. Rainbow Sherbet Quilt
2. Finish circle crib quilt. Um, nope.
3. Bind Red Barn quilt when it comes back from the quilters. Not back yet...
4. ~~Do prep work for my Christmas gift project.~~

Grateful

2009-11-26T15:11:00.001-06:00

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!

Preparing

2009-11-25T18:27:00.000-06:00

Working on the table runner. Making cranberry relish. Prepping sweet potatoes. Thawing beans. I can't wait for dinner tomorrow!

More WIP's

2009-11-24T17:34:00.000-06:00

Rather than joining Jacquie's push to finish WIP's, I keep coming up with more. I'm working on a table runner for our Thanksgiving table and doodling for a long overdue wedding sampler. The flowers are part of my fall decorations, hopefully everything will be cozy for our feast on Thursday!

Circle Progess

2009-11-19T09:48:00.002-06:00

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!

Christmas Prep

2009-11-18T12:43:00.002-06:00

I stocked up on some cute Christmas towels at Target this weekend in preparation of making many of these adorable towels for family and friends. It will be fun to put some of my stashed Christmas fabric to good use!

Couch Time

2009-11-17T17:46:00.001-06:00

It is getting harder and harder to motivate myself to get off the couch and go into my sewing room. When is this fabled nesting supposed to happen? With all the motivation to finish projects and deep clean? Haven't experienced that yet. Instead I've just been propping my feet up and resting my cross stitch frame on my big belly and stitching. Books on my iPhone make this especially enjoyable. I still don't think I'll be finishing this stocking by this Christmas, but maybe I'll surprise myself!

Rainbow Sherbet!

2009-11-13T20:47:00.001-06:00

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!

TV Work

2009-11-12T22:54:00.000-06:00

I always have good intentions to work on a hand-stitching project while watching TV in the evenings, yet it never seems to happen. Finally I'm doing better, since I have several projects in the works. I'm slowly growing my granny square blankie - I made some progress on the plane to and from my conference last month. I'm also planning to get back out the cross-stitch stockings I've had kits for since my husband and I got married. I guess they won't be done by this Christmas, either...

Smells Like Thanksgiving

2009-11-11T18:49:00.001-06:00

Our church dinner group met on Sunday night for a mini Thanksgiving dinner - turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and so on. I volunteered to bring an apple pie.

I used my mom's pie crust recipe, and a ton of apples. My mom actually came over to help make it, which was fun. I was lucky enough to have a few leftover pieces - they won't hold up long to my current appetite. Don't you wish they'd invented scratch-and-sniff computer monitors?

Pie Crust
- Mix in a bowl 4 cups flour and 1/2 tsp salt.
- Cut in 3/4c shortening - I used half butter and half coconut oil shortening.
- Lightly mix in 5-6 tbsp cold water depending on the humidity (more humid = less water).
- Knead the dough just until it holds together.
This is enough for top and bottom pie crusts - break in half and roll out with a rolling pin. If you use a flexible mat to roll on you can kind of fold up the pie crust to transfer it to the pie plate more easily.

Just add a ton of peeled and sliced apples mixed with sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, cut a bunch of vent holes and sprinkle with more cinnamon-sugar. Bake at 425F for 30 minutes, then lower to 350F for 15-20 minutes until juices are bubbling out of your vents. Let sit for 3-4 hours.

We cut the fruit up before making the crust so that some of the juice came out of the apples, this way your apples don't all sink leaving you a big air gap between your fruit and your top pie crust. We also sprinkled a little flour in the bottom of the pie before adding the apples to help thicken up the juices during baking. Delicious!

More Color

2009-11-10T16:17:00.000-06:00

My mom finished painting the changing table and bookshelf for the nursery, so we actually have some furniture in the baby's room. I showed you the orange walls and you know about the bright fabric. I can't wait to see the whole room come together. We're getting there!

Cutting Circles

2009-11-06T10:46:00.000-06:00

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!