Minecraft Quilt

I received a request recently to make a Mr. StampyCat Minecraft quilt for a customer's 12 year old daughter.  Not having ever played or even seen Minecraft I was a little hesitant at first.  How would I even know what it was supposed to look like? I did some quick research and realized it was a perfect opportunity for me.  I had been wanting to make a pixelated quilt for quite some time and this was the perfect chance.  A twin bed-sized quilt of Mr. StampyCat.  

Obviously I accepted.  It was such a fun process! I really enjoyed the idea of pixelated quilting.  I am already overwhelmed with ideas for making more pixelated quilts.  Super Mario Brothers, TMNT, Star Trek, Doctor Who, Firefly... and yes, I am a complete sci-fi nerd.  

All finished! I quilted it in straight horizontal lines to keep it loose and soft.  I also wanted the quilting to be understated and minimal so it didn't steal any attention from the quilt itself.  I'm very pleased with it.  I have quite a bit of extra fabric leftover and am actually contemplating making another one.  Not soon though.  I've got lots of other projects on my list first.

The back.  Isn't that bird fabric just gorgeous! I love it.  I wish I had a reason to buy some for myself.

I'll leave you with this.  All rolled up.  I do love rolled quilt photos.  I'll be back soon to post about the Halloween quilt I have in the works.

The Forgotten Spring

I guess in the flurry of planting seeds, preparing soil and playing in the sunny weather I forgot to journal about most of our spring and summer (summer post coming soon).

 A picture of the peas in their first few weeks.  They went strong for about a month or so and are tapering off now, due to the very hot days we've been having around here I think. 

And my gorgeous zucchini flowering and producing these wonderfully tender and flavorful veggies for our table.  First year I've grown zucchini and I have to tell you, I'm smitten.  Completely smitten.  I love them so!

And my tulips! I planted tulips for the first time this year and they all bloomed.  Unfortunately I enjoyed them so much I forgot to take any pictures of them, save for this poor lonely fellow who hung on by himself for a good long haul.  I do love tulips.

And this little boy.  Oh my... He has completely stolen my heart.  He's such a happy and sweet little guy.  Doted on completely by the entire family.  He is growing too fast for this mama.  Walking and "talking" all day long.  I love his sweet little baby babble and his pudgy little feet carefully (and sometimes not so carefully) plodding all over the house.

I did manage to do some sewing recently.  This cool stack is destined to become 4.5" squares for a king size bed quilt.  When we get the house built we plan to have a king sized bed in our master bedroom.  It seems to be a favorite place for everyone to congregate in the early morning or late evening for stories, snuggles and the occasional tickle fight.  I'm still working out exactly which pattern I want to use for the quilt but I know I'll need 4.5" squares so cutting on these lovely fabrics has begun.  

More later!

A Bit of Sewing and Some Knitting

So, I finally managed to get iPhoto to cooperate with me.  Turns out I had a few 10,000 too many photos for it to keep up with.  Oops.  I'm slowly working on weeding through my photos and in return, iPhoto has begun to work again (albeit slowly).  

Regardless of how slowly it's working though, I jumped at the chance to get these photos uploaded so I could share them.  

I made a whole set (8 or 9 I think) of these mug rugs/oversized coasters  one afternoon with a pile of scraps that had been sitting out on my sewing table for too long.  It was either that or sort and put away and I'm not a fan of putting fabric away.

The middle coaster is my favorite so far.  I love the center square with the feather and the teal background.  Makes me smile.  I bound them all in the black polka dot print.  To be honest, I had a large amount of it leftover from another project and was feeling lazy so I used it.  I'm so glad I did! I love it! I think it frames the rugs perfectly and draws attention to the beautiful fabrics.

I do have more of these finished but just didn't get a photo of all of them.  And the scraps? It doesn't look like I used any of them.  *sigh* I guess I'll have to make a table runner or something.  Or a mini quilt for the wall next to my sewing machine.  Or a whole bunch more mug rugs.  Anything to keep me from the dreaded task of putting fabric away.  Besides, it's too pretty to put away.

This little sweater (it actually looks much smaller than it is) was a gift for a very dear friend's baby girl.  I love knitting for little one's so this was such fun to make.  It uses super bulky weight yarn so it knits up so quickly and is wonderfully warm and snuggly (perfect for my Alaskan friends).  This was taken before blocking so it wouldn't lay smooth and I'm sorry to say I didn't get any more photos of it.

The knit blanket was a gift for Nephew.  I blocked it out in the sunshine the day before he was born and then quickly packed it up so we could start the 2 hour drive to meet him.

This photo of it all folded up is a more accurate depiction of the color.  It's called "marine" and while I can't remember which brand of yarn it is I know I got it from KnitPicks and it's a worsted weight.  The pattern I used was also from KnitPicks.  It was a downloadable pattern and I believe it's called "Welcome".  It makes the perfect size blanket to snuggle a little baby up in.  My sister-in-law says it's her favorite blanket to use for Nephew.  That makes me happy.

And the gnome hat I knit for my little Wiggles.  This was taken a few months ago and man has that kid grown since then, but the hat still fits.  I loved making this hat so much that I made a matching one for Nephew (they're only 8 months apart) and several in different colors for baby shower gifts.

This little guy just melts my heart every day.  He really is the sweetest little boy and he's so happy.  All the time.  Seriously.  I'm so lucky.  I've had 3 babies and they were all such happy little babies but this guy, he takes the cake.

Really though, when you have 2 older brothers who absolutely adore you and shower you with attention and love all day long, how could you not be happy? Oh, and, by the way, he's laying on the quilt I made him.  Love that quilt (and that boy)!

Another sweater I made for my Alaskan friends little girl.  I actually made two of these.  The other is just the same except the body is striped with the cream and a hot pink.  I managed to not get any photos of the other one.  Nuts.  I've got to do a better job at taking photos of all the cool stuff I make. I was working with a self-imposed deadline looming over me though so I was distracted.  I used organic cotton for the sweater and some sweet metal vintage buttons my mother-in-law gave me a little while back.  Worked perfectly for both of these sweaters.

And speaking of my mother-in-law, this is the mug rug I made for her.  She gave me the fish fabric and a few pieces of orange and turquoise and I pulled in the grey and a few of my own scraps to coordinate and fill it out.  I have to say this is one of my favorite mug rugs ever.  I love the colors and the sweet little fish, Splashy and Spooky, just make me smile.

I noticed after finishing this that the binding matches up almost perfectly (the orange and blue) and I did not even plan it so score! I finished it up with about 2" of fabric left after binding.  Don't think I could have planned that better.

 Since I had so much fun making the mug rug for my mother-in-law, I dug out my tiny scrappy bits of the same fish fabric and made this one for myself.  I just love it! I can't figure out how I want to quilt it yet so he's just hanging out next to my sewing machine for now, keeping me company.

Bjorn looks a little lonely though so I'll have to make him a friend soon.  Helen was giving him those big fishy eyes last week so we'll see.

That's all I got for now folks!

A Project List update

So I was looking over my project list for everything I'd like to finish or complete this year... There's a lot on this list... Most of it is not going to get finished (or started).  Having a 10 month old and his two older brothers under foot all day and homeschooling seems to eat into my sewing time a lot. 

With this in mind I thought it would be a good idea to update my list.  It's more for me than anything else, but I thought it might be fun to list it here.



I want to list my current UFO's (unfinished objects) on this blog so that I have a list to look back on, add to, remind myself and hopefully keep myself accountable to finishing.  I've separated them all into categories to make it easier to find and account for them.  This list includes both the things I've already begun and never finished and the stuff I want/need to start.
QUILTING

1. Finish HST Christmas Countdown quilt for my bed (Have to wait on this one since we will be getting a King size bed when we move).

2. Get the backing pieced for my AMH Stacks quilt (and then quilt it)

3. Put the binding on the 1974 quilt and list for sale

4. Bind the quilt mom made for me and I quilted

5. Finish piecing Jake's Star Trek quilt 



KIDS STUFF

1. Make taggie blankie for Ronan

2. Quilt and bind the 1/2 dozen baby quilt tops just hanging in my closet. (I did get them all quilted but haven't had time to bind yet).

3. Attempt to make some fabric blocks with scraps.  The small child will love them.

4. Make pillowcases for the boys in the new Super Hero theme (After talking with husband we decided to wait until we move into the new house to do any decorating for their room).

5. Make sheets for R's crib (While I still want to do this, we found a set at IKEA for cheap so this will probably never happen now and I'm okay with that).

6. Make bumper pads for R's crib


SMALL ITEMS

1. Quilt and bind the stack of patchwork mug rugs just sitting on a shelf, waiting to be finished. (Yay! I did it!).
2. Make a lot (read tons) of reusable unpaper towels.  Some for me, some for mom.  Probably some for friends.  Maybe even some for the shop.  

3. Make several sets of napkins for Christmas gifts in 2014

4. Make I Spy placemats for the boys lunchtime  Decided to wait until we move and make a matching scrappy set for everyone).

5. Put the binding on A and O's doggie mug rugs

6. Finish piecing the Christmas pillow covers (and then shove into a bin until 2014) (This is crossed off because I have no earthly idea where these pillow covers went to).

7. Make autumn pillow covers

8. Make the Thanksgiving pillow cover with the fabric I bought just for that purpose

9. Make scrappy patchwork square place mats for family ("i spy" style)  (After we move).

10. reusable nursing pads (my current ones put the disappearing socks to shame) (No longer nursing).

11. Scrappy dish towels (at least some for me.  some for others would be awesome too).



FOR THE SHOP

1. Flannel receiving blankets

2. Reusable wipes

3. burp cloth sets

4. Taggie blankets

5. knit monsters, birds and animals

6. Stroller quilts

7. reusable nursing pads


KNITTING

1. Monster Chunks (some for friends baby gifts and some for the shop)

2. Little Birdies (friends and shop)

3. Knit City Shawl for myself

4. Creme Brûlée sweater for R (I tried. The pattern doesn't like me).

5. New mittens for O

6. Mittens for myself

7. Mittens for Dad

8. New sweaters for A and O (Finished Odin's sweater.  Not sure I'll make one for Aiden.  He said the last one was too scratchy).

9. Neck warmer for my Love

10. Baby blanket for Nephew who's coming soon!  Finished!

11. knit toy balls for R and Nephew

12. knit Christmas light strands for next year

13. knit Christmas bulbs for tree and for next years gifts

14. Knit mini pine trees for next years decor

15. Knit mini pumpkins and acorns for fall decor

A Quilt for my Granny

This quilt is very dear to me.  It was cut and pieced by my mom and quilted and bound by myself.  We made it together for my sweet Granny.  

 It was intended to be a Christmas gift for her, but the holidays were so busy with all the other making I had to do I set it aside and told my mom I'd get it finished and sent after Christmas. 

I managed to finish it last week and got it sent off to her.  It was actually perfect timing as she had been very sick over Christmas and was in the hospital for a while. 

My mom said she called and told her she opened the box while my Grampa was gone and was all snuggled up in it.  I'm so glad to have finished this for her.  I have a smile on my face thinking of her sitting in her favorite easy chair with this quilt draped over her legs.

Here's a close up of the quilting I did on it.  A new design to me but I had fun with it.  I have to be real though.  I completely dislike that you can see the quilting so much on the back.  Maybe it's more that you can see the thread color, not so much the quilting.  I know I'm being ridiculous about it, but it's just one of those personal quirks.  I don't like seeing quilting on the back.  

It looks wonderful on the front and everyone else that's seen it loves how the back looks so I'm not going to let it bother me.  I'm going to take the advice I often give my kids and "get over it". 

Anyway, it's finished.  It's lovely.  And it's in my Granny's hands.  I can't count this as a finish for 2014 though because I didn't actually make it.  I just quilted it.  

First Finish for 2014 & Fabric Fast Update

I made up this taggie blanket for a friend who is having her first girl in a few months.  She is emphasizing the princess theme and wouldn't you know it, I had this piece of princess fabric sitting right there.  Actually, all three of the fabrics in this were sitting together from a fat quarter stash builder set I'd purchased (don't worry, it was before I started my fabric fast).  

I have been collecting pretty ribbons for some time now and was thrilled to find a use for them.  I think I'll be making several more of these little taggie blankets.  Not only were they a breeze to whip up but they use a lot of my ribbon! 

The back is a soft pink minky.  I've had a bolt of this sitting around for a long time - like a few years - so I was pleased to use some more of that up.  I hope my friend loves it!

This little princess in glasses is my favorite! She's so adorable!

A List of Projects for 2014

I want to list my current UFO's (unfinished objects) on this blog so that I have a list to look back on, add to, remind myself and hopefully keep myself accountable to finishing.  I've separated them all into categories to make it easier to find and account for them.  This list includes both the things I've already begun and never finished and the stuff I want/need to start.

QUILTING

1. Finish HST Christmas Countdown quilt for my bed

2. Get the backing pieced for my AMH Stacks quilt (and then quilt it)

3. Put the binding on the 1974 quilt and list for sale

4. Bind the quilt mom made for me and I quilted

5. Make a quilt for a dear friend using the jelly rolls from my MIL

6. Finish piecing Jake's Star Trek quilt 

7. Make myself a scrappy disappearing 9-patch quilt with bright fun colors

8. Make a quilt for my Aunt C's Christmas in 2014

9. Navy & Red quilt for our bed



KIDS STUFF

1. Make flannel receiving blankets for all the babies that have recently been and are soon to be spawned

2. Make taggie blankie for Ronan

3. Make fabric crinkle toys for Ronan and my friends offspring

4. Quilt and bind the 1/2 dozen baby quilt tops just hanging in my closet.

5. Attempt to make some fabric blocks with scraps.  The small child will love them.

6. Make pillowcases for the boys in the new Super Hero theme

7. Make Super Hero curtains for boys room

8. Make sheets for R's crib

9. Make bumper pads for R's crib

10. Make pants for R


SMALL ITEMS

1. Quilt and bind the stack of patchwork mug rugs just sitting on a shelf, waiting to be finished.

2. Make a lot (read tons) of reusable unpaper towels.  Some for me, some for mom.  Probably some for friends.  Maybe even some for the shop.

3. Make several sets of napkins for Christmas gifts in 2014

4. Make I Spy placemats for the boys lunchtime 

5. Put the binding on A and O's doggie mug rugs

6. Finish piecing the Christmas pillow covers (and then shove into a bin until 2014)

7. Make autumn pillow covers

8. Make the Thanksgiving pillow cover with the fabric I bought just for that purpose

9. Make scrappy patchwork square place mats for family ("i spy" style)

10. reusable nursing pads (my current ones put the disappearing socks to shame)

11. Scrappy dish towels (at least some for me.  some for others would be awesome too).



FOR THE SHOP

1. Flannel receiving blankets

2. Reusable wipes

3. burp cloth sets

4. crinkle toys

5. Taggie blankets

6. knit monsters, birds and animals

7. Stroller quilts

8. reusable nursing pads


KNITTING

1. Monster Chunks (some for friends baby gifts and some for the shop)

2. Little Birdies (friends and shop)

3. Knit City Shawl for myself

4. Creme Brûlée sweater for R

5. New mittens for O

6. Mittens for myself

7. Mittens for Dad

8. New sweaters for A and O

9. Neck warmer for my Love

10. Baby blanket for Nephew who's coming soon!

11. knit toy balls for R and Nephew

12. knit Christmas light strands for next year

13. knit Christmas bulbs for tree and for next years gifts

14. Knit mini pine trees for next years decor

15. Knit mini pumpkins and acorns for fall decor


Wow.  That's a lot of stuff to make… I have no illusions that I will get all of this stuff done this year.  If I even manage to get 1/4 of it finished this year, I'll be one happy girl.

Fabric Fast & Intervention

So, in a few days I will begin a fabric fast for 6 months.  Yes, I know… I'm about to go crazy thinking of all the gorgeous lines coming out in a few months that I will not be able to purchase! sigh It will be good great for me though.  If you could see my stash you would be embarrassed for me.  It fills a closet, an armoire, shelves in my bedroom and has begun to take over my garage.  I need help.  Lots of help.  And support.  So I have joined together with a group of like-minded people to help me out, give encouragement and keep me from going insane when all those beautiful new fabrics start popping up everywhere.  

Here's the rules for Fabriholics Anonymous

GOALS:

- To use the Stash I already have! (well I bought it because I liked it right? So… I should use it!)

- Finish UFOs without distraction by shifting to other new beautiful fabric. (I have so, so many UFO's.  They must be dealt with and either sold in my shop or gifted to lucky friends and family or I could actually make something for myself for a change).

- Stop the insanity of constantly buying the latest and greatest fabric.  (There's no sense buying this beautiful fabric and then letting it collect dust on a shelf.  The world deserves to see these fabrics in all their glory).

- Save the $$$ I spend on stashing.  (Really, seriously.  This is a good enough reason by itself to do this fast.  We are saving for our new house and I'm a huge suck on the fundage right now. Just being real!)

- Destash the fabrics that I realize I am never going to use. (I have already begun this actually a few months ago and have given away so much. Still doesn't look like it.)

FABRIC FAST RULES:

1) No fabric purchases for 6 months beginning January 1, 2014.  (I get heart palpitations just reading this!) 

2) At 6 months reevaluate status and decide whether to keep going for full year.  Evaluation July 1, 2014.  (I can already say without question I am going to continue this fast the entire year.  I just have too much! But … I am going to evaluate what I used/made the most during the first 6 months and decide if I need anything to continue. I'm also allowing myself a few splurges on July 1st for any fabrics I've been completely lusting over these next 6 months.)

3) Create a UFO list and complete them!  (God I do not look forward to this list.  It will be epic.)

4) Exceptions

• Backing: purchasing a backing to finish a quilt top is permissible.  However, attempting to use fabric in your possession for a backing is preferable.
• Books and Magazine purchases are allowed as they are not fabric.  Notions acceptable too.
• Swap Fabric: if hosting/participating in a swap you are permitted to buy fabric to execute swap duties, but you may not join a swap simply for the sake of being able to buy fabric!
• Items for Shop: if you are making an item for a client and need certain fabric to execute it correctly then that is a major exception - who can blame you? But, stash should be consulted first!

Wish me luck! I'm off to buy more fabric! (What? I've got 2 more days!).

For anyone looking to join this group or follow along with all of us, here's the link.

it's been so long

wow! it's been almost a month since i've blogged! i have been meaning to log in here and share what's going on but it's been so busy!

this little sweetie turned 3 months old! can't believe it.  i really can't.  he's just so getting big too fast for me.


we also went to the coast for a week long vacation (which was wonderful and much needed).

this made me smile.  in our room one morning at the resort.  daddy and little man drinking their breakfast.

and these cupcakes from a local cupcake shop were amazing! truly.  we stopped there twice and it was pure heaven each time.  maple bacon chocolate cupcakes, triple chocolate ganache, root beer float (with little straws!), pb&j, boston creme pie... seriously, there was not enough time to try them all, but try i did.  as many as possible.  oh yes, and let's not forget peanut butter and chocolate.  just kill me now!

the boys on the sand dunes.  they had so much fun running around on the beach.  they and their dad took their RC racing cars and they all had a blast racing their cars around on the beach and sand dunes. it was so much fun and very relaxing.  we had some family join us for a bit while we were there.  it's always so much fun to have family or friends come visit for awhile.  we are going back again next year - at least once - it was so much fun.

 in quilting news, i'm working on a custom quilt for a customer.  it's a surprise for her in-laws 50th anniversary and all the blocks are being made by friends and family. i'm going to be piecing the blocks together and quilting and binding it.  possibly it was the wrong time of year to take on this project (since it's like, super close to Christmas!) but i really wanted to be a part of such a special event. i mean, 50 years together! that's pretty amazing.   i'll have pictures soon.  i just started receiving some of the blocks and plan to start sewing them together today.  this has to be finished soon so i really can't wait for all the blocks to arrive.  i'm going to start sewing short rows together and then if more blocks arrive soon i can easily add them in.

that's all for now! more soon.

Scrumptious Table Runner

i did get some time at the machine to finish this little beauty yesterday.  it's not a color combo that i traditionally go for so it was actually kind of fun to break out of my box for a bit.  

fabric line used is Scrumptious by bonnie and camille.  i used 2 of the new mini charm packs moda has started making (a collection of coordinating 2.5" squares for those that don't know).

isn't it great!?! i really like the bright spring colors.  i think it would make a wonderful christmas gift for someone.

and that red polka dot binding? love! i may have to purchase more.  soon.  it's from bonnie and camille's happy go lucky collection.  

it's in the shop if anyone's interested.

that's all i have for today.  we leave this morning for a trip to Long Beach.  out of the 5 of us, 3 are sick (me included) so it should be an eventful trip.

hope you have a great week!

Life

 Not as much sewing has been happening around these parts lately.  We've been too busy enjoying the end of summer and loving on a new baby.  A new baby that is almost 3 months old now! I can hardly believe so much time has passed since this little bundle was first placed in my arms.  He's such a happy guy.  He always has a smile for everyone (though he keeps his best smiles for his favorite people).  

At 2 months.  I just love this little guy!

A bit of sewing I managed to do one night while everyone was asleep.  I have it quilted now and am waiting for the binding to arrive in the mail.  I'll post more pics once it's finished.  This one is destined for the shop.

The tiniest of frogs found in our front yard.  We have a lot of frogs around our house and outside in the garden.  I love hearing them croak at all hours of the day and night and the boys sure do love catching them.

A stack of fabric I picked up from JoAnn's a few weeks ago and forgot to share.  Not sure what it will be yet.  I'm thinking the bottom fabric (red poppies on a white text background) will become some placemats with a red border (pictured right above).  I ended up buying the last of the poppy fabric.  Love it!

Playing with a set of new knees just like the ones they put in Jake's moms knees last month.  He was really interested in how the new knees worked and how everything went together.  Benefits of having a grampa that works at the hospital.  He got to see and play with a pair of metal knee joints.

And building.  So much building happening.  With Duplos, legos, wood blocks, stuffed animals, rocks, acorns, old boxes destined for the recycle bin.  These kids love to build.  I am always finding little "creations" (as we refer to them) around the house.  On the floor (and most certainly exactly where you're going to step because why would they be anywhere else?), on counters (right where you just cleaned so you could start making dinner), on the couch (in the very spot that you sit down to nurse the baby every single day, many times a day) and scattered all over their bedroom.

I don't mind so much though.  They're learning and developing skills and it cleans easily enough.  These are the little moments that I cherish.  I love seeing their minds at work and their hands busy.  And really, at such a young tender age, is there anything more important than learning through play? I think not.

And I tell you what, just since this summer this boy has blossomed. He's picked up on writing pretty well all on his own, without any interference, which is exactly how it should be I feel.  His penmanship is great!  He was so proud of himself for reading the sentences and figuring out the word needed all by himself.  And I was too.  He's a pretty amazing little boy.  'Course I think all three of them are and I'm a little biased.

And one more pic of this little sweetheart.  Just because he's so little and smells so sweet and we all can't get enough of him around here.

So that's life these past few weeks for us.  I will hopefully have some more sewing pics to share soon.  I did manage to get a few more small things pieced together last week but no pictures yet.
Hope you're having a great beginning to fall!