Christmas in [almost] April

This past weekend I finished up a Christmas project I started last December.  Its progress was interrupted, joyfully, by the birth of my third daughter, but I just never got around to completing it until now.  And it turned out so much better than I expected.  I am going to make it into a pattern and use Erin Michaels's "Santa's Little Helper" fabric that I put on preorder already at Over the Rainbow.  I can't wait to get it!!!

I also started a new quilt for our bedroom.  I am making it with these fabrics:

And here is the first block I've finished:

Also, I have bought fabric SIX times in the past two weeks!!!!!!!!!!  So, when I got an email from the Fat Quarter Shop advertising 20% off all Kona solid orders, I thought my credit card would spontaneously combust!  Luckily, they don't have Kona in ash--I'd buy a whole bolt of it!  For a chance to win some fabric and not break the bank, Kaelin over at The Plaid Scottie is giving away some Michael Miller Ta Dots.

Tiered Skirt

Last fall I saw a new quilting book at the library and inside were some non-quilted patterns.  Turns out, I really liked some of them, including this one...a skirt for a little girl sizeable for ages 3 through 8.  I had seen this cute Heidi Grace fabric on clearance at Joanns, a couple of coordinating prints, so I scooped a few up to make both my kids matching skirts.   They turned out pretty well and even the flower applique looks great after washing.  I didn't blanket or satin stitch like I normally do, just ran a running stitch about a 1/4 inch from the edges and they have a soft, fluffy look after washing and drying.  Now I have been requested to make some custom poodle skirts!



Preschool Auction Quilt

It's hard to quilt with three kids aged five and under at home all day...and only tbe 16 week old still sleeps at all during the day!  None of my kids were ever good nappers, stopping around 18 months.  Oh well.  I have two little assistants upstairs in my sewing room with me and--no kidding--I sew on a Pottery Barn kids' table and sit in a kid-sized chair.  That way everyone can sit together and no one is left out. 

Here's what we finished up today:

We used polyester batting which is kind of new to me.  I prefer Warm & White and plan to ask for a roll for Mother's Day:)

It was also kind of difficult to do the quilting as the paint would kind of "stick" to any surface making it hard to move freely.  Other than that, it was a fun project. 

Kindle Sleeve and Giveaways

My friend Robyn's birthday is tomorrow.  Her loving husband bought her a Kindle, so I followed Jera's pattern found  here and it turned out great!  She is a teacher and her favorite color is red, so I used some fabrics from my stash that combined apples and red.  It's lined with some cute (and cheap) Joanns flannel owl fabric.

Also, there are two great giveaways found here:
http://www.spunsugarquilt.com/2011/03/pot-ogold-giveaway.html

and

http://theplaidscottie.blogspot.com/2011/03/blogiversary-giveaway-2.html?showComment=1299984296339#c8107725968012159595

Good luck!  And thanks, Fabric Junkie!

New Pillows

Once I made the pillow covers with the Alexander Henry Farmdale prints, I realized that my original calculation of 5 inches of solid around the center was indeed correct, and I shouldn't have cut each 5 inch strip into 2.5 inches like I thought!!!  These pillows turned out 12x12 instead of 14x14 as I planned.  After a quick phone call to my local Joanns to find out if they carry the 12x12 pillow insert as advertised online (they don't), I decided this would be a great time to teach my daughter how to use my sewing machine.  She machine stitched two 12x12 muslin pillows in about a half hour (it would have only taken me 5 minutes, but that's no fun!), we stuffed them with fiberfill, and then stitched the opening closed, and VOILA!--two beautiful pillows to give to Grammy for Mother's Day.  Now my duaghter is planning a daddy-sized pillow for her dad!

Just finished up this cute baby quilt in the nick of time: 

I think it will look great draped over the carseat or in the stroller.  It took no time at all to whip up the quilt top.  I quilted in the ditch around each inner block and then I did Xs all the way across on point.  I left blue thread in the bobbin so you can see the quilting on the back, which is a super soft brown flannel.  It's bound with Connecting Threads Lifesaver in chocolate.  Since the baby lives in California, I just used a another layer of cream colored flannel for the batting.  The quilt is lightweight and has a nice drape.  Love it! 

Feeling better...

That stomach bug I mentioned before?  Landed me in the hospital getting IV fluids.  Breastfeeding and dehydration don't mix.  After some liquid infusion and some prescription medicine, I am well on my way to recovery!  Today is the first time I got a chance to work on anything since the weekend.  I whipped up another pillow front and basted both of them in preparation for quilting.  The Kona aqua looks great with the chocolate chicken fabric, but my husband prefers the more sedate ash gray pillow front.  I hope to get these quilted and on the couch tonight!

I also worked on some itty bitty hair clippies for the upcoming holidays St. Patrick's Day and Easter.  I found this glitter ribbon at Michaels a couple weeks ago and they turned out really pretty.  My oldest wore the blue one to ballet last night and got lots of compliments. 

 And, amazingly, I pieced and basted a baby quilt top yesterday, too.  One of my husband's oldest friends [finally] had a baby.  I'll post a photo of the quilt when I get the chance.