T-Shirt Quilt: CAC Swimmer

Stadium Blanket: Adventure Fan

Stadium Blanket: Aces with Flags

Stadium Blanket: Aces Swim Club Whitt

T-Shirt Quilt: Highlands Ranch Poms

This quilt included a great deal of hand sewn badges. 

These dance uniforms were completely reworked to create a quilt panel.  

This quilt's finished size is larger than "brag blanket" and includes a double ruffle. 

Knitted by Katrine

A dear friend of mine is going to start listing a few of her knitted items and original knitting patterns on my Etsy site. So, those of you who know me and know I don't knit, don't you worry... she DOES.

Watch for these in the shop and also the appliqued tea towels I made to match them. A great gift set for teacher, don't you think?

I Heart Babies

When I get word of a baby on the way, I get so excited. So for my dear friend Netti, her third child was reason for much planning and designing. I created a diaper bag with messenger bag styling.


The modern fabric inspired me to create one large compartment for all of her big items, I think her wish list included baby stuff, a laptop, and scriptures. Additional exterior pockets circle around the front and sides for organizing small items. These gusseted pockets can easily store mobile phones, drink bottles, diapers and wipes. And larger patch pocket under the flap is big enough for a file folder, magazine, changing pad, or even an extra set of clothes. A small fob and ring under the flap keep keys within reach (or pacifier), but out of sight.


The tough cotton webbing shoulder strap is long enough for across the body styling but also short enough for over the shoulder ease. The flap secures in place with a button and elastic closure and is enhanced with a stylish raw edge appliqué. This new, original design is available for custom order on my etsy site, if you want one too. But I'll try to get a few on there before the holiday season.

Felt Easter Chair Backers

So, I made a few of these -- along with every crafter on God's green Earth -- last Spring. They were promptly snatched up at a Spring show I had. But now, I'm thinking about doing another set and wanted to look back and see what I liked and didn't like.

I think I would prefer -- in my own home -- non-holiday specific bags. Not discreet bags for each holiday. Particularly for Easter, we do baskets. (But these bunnies are adorable -- and might find themselves in another project like a quilt.) I also think I'd prefer to line these with a simple cotton... just to improve the shape of the bag and to add more color.

I also am not sure about the buttons. But, I want to think through how a tie would work. Any suggestions out there? I could use any advice. I'm also wondering about size. This is a pretty big bag, could accomodate a large coloring book, plus crayons/markers/coloring pencils. And I'm not sure I want to encourage that much toy giving at every small holiday. (I'm a scrooge.)

Quilt: Black and White and Girl All Over

I finished another quilt. This one is a little baby blanket. I kinda made up the pattern after seeing something in a magazine. If you want to know how I made it, just leave a comment and I can send you specifics. I tried mixing fabrics that were both traditional and modern. So there are some midcentry modern and some depression area (reproduction). Also, gotta have the good 'ol polka dots. The label on the back is a combination of satin stitch on the machine and hand embroidery.

This one is for another one of those fabulous nieces. Only 8 more quilts to go -- unless of course we get more babies in the family. Who should I make one for, next?

Quilt: Little Birdie

Once upon 7 p.m. on a Wednesday night I heard a little bird calling to me from the fabric bin. It said, make a quilt and make it fast and hand deliver it in -- another state -- on Friday morning.

And, so I did.





So, to recap. I started hand stitching the blocks with embroidery on Wednesday as I listened to Twilight on the iPod. On Thursday I packed, chased my boys, and cut all the blocks. Then -- with the boys -- I arranged the blocks to our liking. About 7 p.m. on Thursday I started chain stitching those bad boys together. Then came the layering and quilting. I used an undulating pattern of trace and space with 1/2 inch, 1 inch, and 2 inch distances. By 1 a.m. (on Friday) I gave up on the binding with only 1/4 of it finished. I packed a needle and thread and a handful of buttons.

My flight departed at 6 a.m. and I landed with quilt in bag at 8:15. Throughout the next 24 hours I sticked a bit more on the binding and sewed the buttons on just before midnight on Saturday night. Phew! and Voila!

People Always Ask Me...

From time to time folks ask me to repair school uniforms. I'm not really a tailor so I stay away from major repairs, but for friends and neighbors I don't mind it. Next question... how much?

Here's a list of some of the repairs I do, and what I charge.

Move or sew on buttons $1.50 each

Take in skirt waist $12.50

Hem skirt $12.50

Elasticize a waistband on skirt or pants $20 (includes elastic)

Taper legs of pants (2 seams) $12

Taper legs of pants (4 seams) $20

Hem pants $8.50

Attach badges or emblems $2.50 each

Fix zippers $20

And that my friends is just about all I'll do.

Summer Swap: Summer Holiday Sunset

OK OK OK OK... I've been such a slacker -- I guess that's summer for ya.
I got this phenomenal quilt in the mail from Leah at Pugglelogic. (We both participated in the Four Seasons Quilt Swap). She also sent along some goodies for me -- a fabric that represents her homeland of Australia and some gorgeous embroidery floss skeins. I am so grateful to her for putting such thought into this little art piece. She -- like me -- is a stay-at-home mom with young children. So I know the kind of effort it requires to first get to the sewing machine, let alone create something with zing.

The sunset she has created is peaceful and warm. Her stitching is great and I love how closely the quilting comes together in parts. It's really perfect. She also used a technique of laying another layer of fabric -- almost like a two-sided flange -- onto the quilt to create surf. The dimension is just right (without getting all fussy). To me it just says, "Can I bring you another zombie?"

I don't know how she did it, but she created something that resonates with me and my personality.

Thank you Leah! You're a gem.

Summer Swap: Lone Tree

I'm returning to the tree theme this season for the Four Seasons Quilt Swap. Sadly, this might be my last quilt in this swap. I'm just getting so busy. I don't know if I can continue.

This quilt is not quite done. Still needs the hard stuff, quilting, binding, washing, mailing, etc. But I should make the deadline. In fact, I've got to get it in the mail this week as we are traveling a great deal of July. Wish me luck.

I'll talk more about the choices when I send it off and I know the partner has it. Otherwise, might give away too much. (The label is blurred to conceal her identity -- well, there you go, I'm not sewing for the one guy in the group.) I did hand embroider the label and learned that I loathe embroidery on black fabric. Maybe if I could find a better way to mark the fabric I'd try it again. I do like the contrast.

Spring Quilt Exchange: It's Here

OK... Just as I was starting to feel like my spring was getting ruined -- first lots of torrential rain, now everyone in the house is sick -- this little darling showed up. I was so excited I opened it at the mailbox (which is about a block from my actual house). When I saw just the edge of it I knew which one it was -- as I'd been lurking the flikr group like a hawk -- and gave a little yelp of joy.
It's got raw edge aplique and tons of quilting. A really fantastic piece. The embellishments are the perfect proportion and the colors are so cheery. I could not be happier. Well, maybe if it was like King size I might be happier. It's so bright and marries modern with vintage.
Perhaps my favorite feature is the label. The artist used baby necklace beads. So stinking original. I love them.
I hung it in the entry to our kitchen where all the world -- at least the part of the world that comes to my home -- can see it. As soon as I did my 3yol said, "I like it. It's really cool!"
So, cheers to the artist, Nikki, who I know worked very hard on this little thing. It was a challenge for her as she has little kids, too. I know only too well the stress of that. Thank you!

For Baby: Truck Pillow

My baby's room has been a true struggle for me to decorate. I waited so long with my first baby that when I got around to picking colors and themes he was old enough (almost 2) to start telling me what he wanted. Well, this baby, doesn't talk as much even though he's only a few months behind where his brother was when his brother picked... drum roll, please... John Deere.
But this baby is obsessed with cars. And I was smitten by a line in the Cars movie by Mater, "What's wrong with rusty old cars." So, that's what happened, I found some rusty looking cars stuff and painted the room the same color as rust. But the bedding has been a challenge.

Finally I just decided to draw a truck, cut it out of "wool" flannel, and stitch it together. I'm glad I did. I was attempting to kinda match the pillowcases I had found on clearance at Pottery Barn for Kids (seen in the background), but I wanted to make it look even older. I say "wool" because that is what it was called at the fabric store in Indiana, but when I touched it with a hot iron it immediately melted onto my iron. Wow, that was a joyful moment. Anyone know who to clean melted acrylic off iron?
I opted for raw edge applique because I love it. But I find now that it's finished that the boys might like playing with this pillow so I probably should have picked something a bit more sturdy. Oh well. I can always make another.
In addition to the truck pillow I also painted this dumb little initial. I'm not a great distress painter or anything. But I like that it adds to the charm of the room. Now to find some old license plates. I have an idea for the valance.

Winter Goddess: Four Seasons Quilt Swap

This is my winter installment for the Four Seasons Quilt Swap. I can't speak too much about why I came to this design, yet. But it has a lot to do with the swap partner. The pattern is original, and so is the fabric. It measures about 17" by 20". Which might be a little outside the swaps guidelines but the fabric was speaking to me
The trees were first snipped out of black fabric. A little like cutting a paper snowflake -- nightmare. Then I satin stitched them down. The quilting pattern is meant to resemble winds and the way in which they blow new seasons, spirits, fairies, whatever, into our lives.
I've yet to finish the label. The swap label requirements are HUGE. So, I'm working on making it as small as possible while still meeting all the requirements. I'll place it directly over the blue stripe on back. The title of the quilt is Winter Goddess, I think. If something else strikes my fancy, might change it. Must sew all night to get that label done, want to get it in the mail tomorrow.
Cheers.
PS -- if anyone out there from the swap is lurking... I'm including a note with the quilt explaining the inspirations. So, if it's yours, you'll know why. Or perhaps you already do...

Hospitality Bag, a.k.a. Wine Tote

Thou shall not show up empty handed.
We've been invited to a friend's house for Thanksgiving dinner. We have a food assignment, but I wanted to show the hostess how much we appreciated the hospitality. So, this little wine tote was born.
Officially it's a cluster. Seriously, I was trying to dream up the pattern and sew it at the same time. Bad, bad, bad idea. It has WAY to much interfacing in it. It actually crinkles, and it is pictured standing it up by itself.
But for a wine tote, all in all a fair effort (finished it in less than 2 hours. I carries two wine bottles -- the BIG ones -- and could probably carry about $100 worth of groceries.
Also, pineapples are a sign of hospitality. But wouldn't this be cuter as a festive marg mix bag?!?