kirstencan

Ultra fast baby quilt

Wednesday I brought dinner to someone in our neighborhood who had just had a baby girl.  I really really wanted to bring something handmade as a gift (I knew this particular mom would appreciate that), but time and energy were extremely short on this particular day.

But anyway, I very quickly (and quite shoddily) made up a small baby quilt from vintage sheets. 

I really love how the prints coordinate.  In fact, had I spent a little more time on it, I would really love this little blanket.  Just two squares of the sheets, cotton batting in between, and dotted bias-tape to bind (not proper quilt binding technique).  I sewed threw the quilt a few times randomly to quilt it. 

I am a little embarrassed by this wonky blanket, but it is SO soft, and I think rather sweet - especially rolled up with a couple more surprises in it.

Happy weekend!  Are you making anything?  Me, I think I need to clean out my craft closet so I can get to more of my projects!

Quick, to the Craft Closet!

I've not been able to get much sewing done lately - just not in the right mood, I guess.  But it felt good making those baby shoes.  Quite good, actually.

Time to get sewing again.  I only have... what, 3 quilts in progress?

One evening last week two of the kids were at a neighbors, and one was hanging with Aaron downstairs.  I could sew!  Quick, to the Craft Closet!

I whipped out these two blocks for my wonky/scrappy log cabin quilt.  Because I usually make two at a time.

(I think that one on the left might be my fave block yet).

Check the kids.  Still good?  Cool. 
Two more blocks, then!

And after they went to bed I made two more - because I realized that I only needed two more!

 

Ahh, the feeling of accomplishment!

So now I need to get some chocolate brown Kona cotton to put them all together with - I may do a no-binding flip and topstitch technique on this one.  Because sometimes the thought of binding just kills any quilting desire I've got.

And just cause I want to anyway.

Christmas Quilt!

Woo hoo!  I finally finished the Christmas quilt that I pieced last year.  That is a good feeling.

I found the Santa fabric two years ago actually, at Joann's.  I love the storybook quality to it, and that it has some pink and aqua in it, as pink seems to be creeping into some of our Christmas decorations, and I just love aqua. I'd bought some of this fabric to make Monkey a Christmas pillowcase, and then went back for more (technically, I asked my mom to go get some more for me - she lives a lot closer to the fabric store! But I paid her back!). 

I made 8" blocks with the Santa fabric, alternating with 4-patch blocks made from my stash.  Some Christmas-y, some not so much.  I just made the whole thing up as I went along.  The quilting is very simple - straight lines through the 4-patches and outlining on the larger blocks.  The border is quilted like this one that I made for my brother's family.

Monkey snuck under the quilt while I was trying to get a decent photo of it (impossible).  They all love it.

For some reason, a quilt is an especially appropriate thing to make around Christmas, and I'm glad I made it while my kids are still little.  Or little enough. It's just a little lap quilt, but perfect for snuggling up to read Christmas stories or watch a Christmas movie together.

Another project checked off my list - and I'm thoroughly enjoying this one.

More Blocks

I've made a few more scrappy blocks.
They're too fun to make.

I'm thinking that I'll either sew them together with no sashing, or a really wide brown sashing.  Here's a rough idea of it with the first eight blocks:

The brown would be a lot wider than that, but I'm liking the idea so far.
You can see all the blocks in more detail here.

I'm not just working on my scraps, though.  I finally pieced the top of a little quilt for someone (guess who? :) that I've had cut for months.

It feels good to get stuff done.

De-Scrapping

Last summer I was loving watching the scrappy log cabins come together - especially Kirsty's.  This summer I'm ready.  I have a ton of scraps.  A. Ton.  Ridiculous, really.  Time to use them up!  And as I love scrappy quilts and love log cabin blocks, this is the perfect way.

So far I've made 3 blocks - they go together so fast!  They are 8" squares.

This was the first one.  I like that it's a little wonky, but mostly square-ish.

With number two, I chose to not start with a square, so as to make it more wonky.  But I'm not liking it as well as I thought.  I might make one more similar to this so it won't be lonely, but that's it.

Number three. 

I was thinking it would be fun to have a little of the Amy Butler lotus in each of them, and a little of the blue Amy Butler that I have just a little of - but I think I won't have enough of that one.  Also I want at least one vintage piece in each block.  Other than that, I'm grabbing random scraps.

And loving it.   I love scrappy quilts.  I love how much there is to look at, and remembering what I've used each piece for.  Good stuff.

'Cause it's not like I have 3 quilts in progress (one for like 7 years! Doh!) and a few more waiting in piles or anything.  No sir. 

Given

For my SIL's Christmas gift, a little tote:

I love this vintage fabric - I've used it once before and one of these days I'll make a bag for myself out of it.  It's kind of thicker, ribbed, and yummy.

For my brother and his wife - scrappy quilted pillows.

You can't go wrong with the Japanese tree fabric, in my opinion.
I'm not as happy with the Matroshka one - the color combo + lame free motion quilting.  And the backs are not ideal, by any means.  But oh well.

At least some of my gifts were handmade, right? :)

Grandma's Pillow

A Christmas present I can show you - as I'm fairly sure Aaron's 96 year old grandmother doesn't read my blog.  :)

A quick quilted pillow cover - made from pieces found in my scrap box. 

You'll notice a scrap from my skirt - and most of the rest is from Kris and Jenn's quilt.

Very quick, but I like the results - hopefully she will as well.

Halloween Quilt

We got out our Halloween Stuff this week - including the Halloween quilt I made.  The kids like it - wonkiness and all.  Trust me, there is some serious uneven-ness going on here - but that's okay, it's fitting for Halloween, right?

This was mostly-quilted with a walking-foot that I didn't realize was broken.  Not ideal.

The fabric is this witch stuff I picked up at Joann's a couple years ago.  I liked the witches and the little bits of purple.

Because purple is a magical color and completely appropriate for Halloween... and Christmas.

The back and binding are black with skeletons.  One thing I should have done was use a black bobbin for the quilting - but I didn't realize until it was too late.  Oh well.

I like how it kind of looks like witches flying outside of windows.  The pattern (I used one!) is from the Quiltmaker's Gift book.

I'm realizing now that the quilt looks much bigger than it is - it's quite small, actually.  Barely lap size.  But it's fun to have around the living room.

Nine-Patch Quilt #2

This may look a lot like the other nine-patch quilt, but it's actually quite a bit different (PLEASE don't look at the corners that I had to trim off). 

I pieced it last summer, realized I should have added another column, shrugged, and left it to hand quilt in the winter.  Yeah, that didn't happen. 

It's been folded on my quilt rack for a year, and I really like it, flaws and all.

I picked out the quilting from the 5 squares I actually did, and machine quilted it this week.  Really simple.

This quilt is for my mom.

My mom rocks. She helps us so much - this is a very small token of our thanks.

So I'll give my mom this quilt when she comes up today ... to help me paint Monkey's room...

Making Me Happy

Things making me smile today:

Georgia O'Keefe magnet and the official gum and mints from the Art Institute of Chicago.  (My parents just got back from a trip there and I am insanely jealous).

Apparently the gum is for the artistic at heart.

I don't know about that, but I like it!  I feel more cultured while I freshen my breath!

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Here's a peek of a Christmas quilt top I finished, which I'm digging - I'll show it to you in December when it will be (hopefully) done.

And the Halloween quilt I started ... in 2004 is finally done!  Hooray for finished projects!  Now I'm all set for October.

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The way Princess turns the doll chairs on her doll table when it's time to vacuum.  Or at night.  I don't know why, but it cracks me up.

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The kids have been sick - getting better, thank you, but the first day that Princess came down with it she brought out her Stitchettes pillow and snuggled up in the new Nine-patch quilt.  It's good to see them used, isn't it?  That's what quilts are for.

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Also:  planning on seeing Miss Potter (finally!) and the Order of the Phoenix (finally) this weekend - woo hoo!

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What's making you happy today?