Scrap Attack

Eeeeek!  A big orangish spider scurried out of my scrap basket when I was sorting through it to find scraps to make this mini.

I literally used all scraps (except the border and binding) for this project.  Even the back was technically a scrap—an old yellow linen shirt of mine from back when I worked that I hadn’t worn in years.

It was fun picking out scraps for this project.  I tried to find mostly 30’s repro fabric, but a few are solids or more contemporary (like the orange pot). 

I had a lot of problems making this mini.  I am going to hang it in my sewing room, but in a corner and I hope no one ever inspects it up close.  

The inspiration came from this magazine cover and I just kind of winged it.  I am linking this mini up to the Festival of Scrappiness at Stitched in Color.  Good luck to everyone who entered!!!

Thank you, Tanya!!! And Little Forest Quilt Along

I received my swap package in the mail yesterday.  In it was a beautiful handbag, a box of pins which I can definitely use, and a little zipper pouch.  Everything was so lovely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And color coordinated!  My husband really likes the houndstooth check on the bag.  And I love the butterflies on the pouch.  Thank you, Tanya!  I loved being a part of this swap and can't wait to do another in the future.

I have joined another quilt along, too.  It's called the Little Forest Quilt Along and information for it can be found here. 

The Little Forest Quilt Along quilt is really modern looking.  There is a Little Forest Quilt Along group on Flickr and it seems like many people have chosen bright, non-green colors for their trees.  From what I gather from the pattern on the Purl Bee website, it was originally a very small wallhanging, but I am hoping to make it into a lap size quilt for the couch this winter.  But this picture here from the Little Forest Quilt Along looks much bigger than the original on the Purl Bee.   Here are the fabrics I selected.

They are from Connnecting Threads and are currently for sale right now.  Here is a close up of some of my favorites.  I love the red flowers the best.

30's reproductions are my favorite fabrics, but I don't normally like the traditional 30's style quilt patterns.  I think this will be a nice marriage between 30's inspired and modern.  Is anyone else doing the Little Forest Quilt Along?

Table Runner for Preschool Auction

Bea, my oldest daughter, and I just finished up sewing a table runner for her preschool's annual spring auction.  I was planning a reprisal of the popular Easter bunny table runner, but I gave one of those to the charter school so I decided to do something different.  For Valentine's Day I gave Bea a set of Farmer John's fruit and vegetable fat quarters I bought at the local quilt shop.  She is now 5 and wants to (and is ready to) learn to sew.  So, we made our first project together:

The binding is finally sewn on and it looks great!  She is itching to make another one.  If I could just get the baby to stay asleep when I lay her down we could get a lot done around here.  It's kind of hard to operate the sewing machine with a baby on your shoulder:)

When Bea first showed an interest in sewing we went to Michael's and picked up one of the American Doll crafts they carry:

With this one you sew both a big and small owl plush stuffed animal (one for yourself and one for your doll).  Bea doesn't know diddly about American Dolls, but she was all over this sewing project and made the little one for her baby sister Veronica.  I highly recommend this product!  The box says for ages 8 and up, but anyone 5 or older with an adult to help read the directions and provide guidance could do it.  The only thing I didn't really like were that all the stitches were already prepunched so you'd know where to insert the needle.  I'm not sure if they were necessary, and my little girl got frustrated a lot when she couldn't get it "exactly" right.  But, all in all, it was a perfect first project and I'm sure lots of little girls out there would love to make these.  Plus--you can use the 40 or 50% off Michaels coupons on it!  It doesn't get much better than that.  It'll run you about 10 bucks with a coupon.

When I was at my LQS I picked up some fat quarters for myself, too.  They are from Eleanor Burns's Victory Garden collection that came out a couple years ago.  I know they are intended to be more patriotic than Eastery, but I will be using them for the Easter bunny tablerunners I mentioned.  I think the stars will add just the right amount of whimsy.  Notice there is one 30's repro on top---I couldn't resist!  30's repros are my major weakness!