-pillow talk swap 8-

I finished my pillow!  I have to say that I really enjoyed making this.  I felt I had a vision for how this pillow was going to turn out, but sometimes my visions are flops.  I kept fretting over the background and whether I should put the dresden off center or not.  I am pleased with the overall effect though, and I have high hopes my partner will like this.

For the back of the pillow I used a coordinating print to the background of the front and made a simple envelope closure.

I kept the quilting on this pillow simple with random diagonal lines.  It already felt busy, and I didn't want to add more "busy-ness". ;0)  The pillow is 20" x 20".

Of course, as I was taking pictures, Josiah thought I wanted to take pictures of him.

Really, how I could I not?  Cutest little face ever.

-a mini complete!-

I finished my little mini quilt for The Fab Little Quilt swap over on Flickr.  I admit when I saw my partner's mosaic I was filled with anxiety.  She had picked such amazing pieces filled with details.  I didn't know what in the world I could make.  So, I started browsing through my copy of Cathy Gaubert's Doll Quilt Book.  In fact, this quilt is one of the featured minis on the cover!  It really suited so many of my partner's requests and likes.  I didn't change much.

This little quilt features fun bright colors, raw edge applique and some embroidery.  I definitely think my favorite part is the house with the birdie on top.  

Overall, I am pleased with how it turned out.  The pattern was relatively easy to follow.  The only thing that I did not like was that this quilt required 1/2" seam allowances.  I had already started cutting before I realized this, but I recommend adjusting it to 1/4" seam allowances.  There was quite a bit of bulk.  I also like to use single fold binding for small quilts and mug rugs. I have been a convert ever since reading this little tutorial.  

Lucky for me, I finished this just in time to enter it into Jennifer's Modern Mini Quilt contest!  There are some amazing prizes and lots of amazing entries!  I am getting this in just in time!  *whew*

-crunch time!-

I don't think I need say more than "stomach flu" for you all to understand what kind of week this has been.  Throw in some random colds and rashes, and I am very ready for something better to happen!  The week wasn't all bad though.  Sukie hosted a Secret Santa Swap over on Twitter, and I got my package the other day from Kate over at Needle and Spatula!  She really spoiled me.  The book is awesome!  I wanted to immediately go to my scrap bin and start putting something together.  She also made me a cute little needle book and zip pouch.  Plus, homemade caramels!  I never make candy, so I was super impressed!

It is getting down to crunch time for Christmas gifts.  I purposely did not put much on my list and thank goodness I didn't.  I cut out a couple of zip clutches yesterday to make to put in gift cards for teachers and the husband's secretary.  

The only big thing on my list is finishing this quilt.  I am showing this one off at the modern quilt guild meeting back in October.  I just need to add a couple of borders, and I would really like to get this sent off to it's rightful owners.  How is your list looking?  Are you ready?

Also, AnneMarie over at Gen X Quilters was kind enough to feature me today on her blog, so go check it out!  I got to meet her at The Sewing Summit, and as she said we bonded over our pregnancies.  She is super sweet, and it was fun to get to chat with her a bit!

-pillows-

 I am finally getting around to showing the finished pillow I made for The Pillow Talk Swap.  I had a really hard time getting a good angle for this pillow for some reason.  Every angle just looked slightly off to me...ah well.  My partner for this swap is definitely a fun, cheery type person, so I went with something bright and scrappy.  For these blocks I used this template that I found via Flickr.  I love making things from my scraps.  I love hunting through and finding fun little pieces of fabric that bring back memories from past projects.  This block was perfect as well for some of those odd shaped pieces I have held on to.

Overall, I was pleased with how the pillow turned out, but I think I wouldn't have used variegated thread for the quilting.  For some reason, it ended up looking just a bit sloppy to me.  This pillow isn't the biggest.  It only came out to about 16", but sometimes it is nice to have a smaller pillow- I hope!  I added some turquoise piping around the edges, which I liked for the "pop" factor.  

For the back I just did a simple envelope closure with bright sunburst fabric I have had in my stash for awhile.

Last week I also received my super awesome pillow from fionapoppy!  This pillow is full of fun, simple details that really just make it something special.  I love it!  Plus, now I have a pillow to go along with my Authentic quilt!  

  

I love how she added the little "Make Life Beautiful" quote into that one square.  

Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!  The temperature here has dropped twenty degrees, and I can finally say that fall is here!  Yay!

A Birthday

Someone special had their sixth birthday this week, and it has been quite a busy week.  She has been telling anyone and everyone that she is now six, waiting for the appropriate ooohhhs and aaaahhhs.  I made her a rainbow cake, but don't examine closely.  Cake making is definitely not my specialty.  I also made her the cute little jumper dress made out of Sarah Jane's adorable new line.  I didn't get any good photos of it, so I will try to come back later this week with some better pictures.

A couple of days later was the big birthday bash with friends.  Seventeen little girls came dressed up in the in their finest wear to partake in a tea party.  It was crazy, but they had so much fun!  This was the best picture I got of this event.  Clearly, I can not host and take pictures at the same time. ;0)

My sewing has been much slower of late. but I did join in on the latest round of the Pillow Talk Swap.  I have a fun partner who seems to like color.  I finally decided on a direction! Scrappy and X's.

Hope you are all enjoying the start of fall!  It is actually not in the 90s or 100s today!  Yay!

Doll Quilt Swap- Received!

Yesterday, I sent off my little quilt for the Doll Quilt Swap and later in the afternoon I received mine in the mail!  Jessy was my partner and sent me this awesome little quilt!  I just love the colors she used, and I am excited to find the perfect spot to hang it.  

She also sent me a Gathered Clutch.  This is a tutorial I have had on my very, very long "to make" list, but haven't gotten around to yet.  I think I might make this my gym clutch, as it seems to be perfect size for keys and phone.  I also just have to say that I love Flickr swaps.  Seriously, I have always received such lovely packages, and it is so much fun to receive things made by others.  Plus, the people who run them have always done such a great job organizing and making sure everyone gets their package.

Also, I am guest posting today over at Sara's blog, Sew Sweetness!  (She really is so sweet. ;0p)  My post is about basic patchwork!

Some Swatch Books!

(First off, I missed Finish It Up! Friday!  Where is my head?  I am so sorry! Since there are only two days left in the challenge I am going to switch it to Monday to show you all my progress over the whole challenge!  So come back Monday to let us know how the challenge went!  What would you do differently?  Are you pleased with the progress you made?)

On to a little project...

I made these little Swatch Book covers!  I used the Keyka Lou pattern that I bought last week.  I have been working on so many quilty projects lately that I forgot how fast a simple sewing project can be!  I had so much fun making these!

I made this little owl one for my partner in the Doll Quilt Swap as a little extra, and I put them upside down!  Boo!  I didn't notice until it was all nicely sewn together.  Hopefully, my partner won't mind. *bangs head against wall*

I thought that while I was making one that I might as well make a couple of extra ones.  This one I made out of some ticking. 

  

I love the simple look of this one.

This one is bright and citrusy!

These little notebooks are perfect for using as a swatch Book (just staple your little fabric samples inside!), grocery lists, or any other notes you like to keep handy.

The first two I have put up in my Etsy shop!  I can't remember the last time I made anything for the shop!  I still also have a few patterns left in the shop at 50 % off from my pattern selling days if you are interested in taking a peek!

Happy weekend!  

Mini Red Cross Quilt- Complete!

I completed my little Greek Cross quilt for the Doll Quilt Swap.  I am pleased with how it turned out, and I hope partner will be happy with it as well.  For the binding I used a graph paper fabric.  I was thinking of using red, but I thought it was going to be too bold and went for softer instead.   

When I first posted the top and asked for quilting suggestions, I had a number of people suggest hand quilting.  I really go excited by the idea and even went out and bought some Pearl thread.  However, I sat down to start one night, and I decided against it.  I just wasn't feeling it.  So I took some pretty variegated blue thread and machine quilted around the crosses and diamonds instead.  It is subtle, and I think suits the strong pattern.

I did, however, do some hand stitching around the label.  I used a note book paper fabric for the label and then stamped on my little message.  

Now I just have to wait for the mailing date!  *fingers crossed*

Mini Red Cross Quilt

I finished the top for my doll quilt for the Doll Quilt Swap.  I made one block just to test this idea, and once I started there was no going back!  I haven't worked on anything else!  

I had all sorts of ideas going for this swap.  It was driving me crazy.  I was falling asleep thinking of what I should do.  Last week I made the Greek Cross block in the Summer Sampler Series Quilt-a-long.  It was such a fun, easy block, and I loved the big simple cross.  My partner in this swap seems to have a love for crosses, and so finally I had a plan!  

I shrunk this block down to five inches unfinished, so this little quilt should end up about 13 1/2 inches when it is all done!  Teeny.  I had originally planned to have the different red crosses all spread out, but the big red dot crosses stood out so much.  So, I lined them up and was more pleased with this layout.  This little quiltie has a few little quirks too it.  However, my partner strikes me as someone who likes things just a bit "off". 

 So here is where I need help...I don't know how to quilt it!  I don't want to do anything that will distract from the crosses.  So maybe I will just do some outline quilting of the crosses and diamonds?  What do you think?

Piles of Fabric and a New Iron!

So I joined in this round of the Doll Quilt Swap for the first time!  I have watched many rounds go by, and even though I love swaps through Flickr this one has always intimidated me.  There are so many fabulous little quilts that come from this swap.  It just felt like too much pressure!  However, this round they are changing it up a little. The quilts in this round are supposed to be a real "doll quilt", so a mini of what a big quilt would look like.  It sounded fun, so I put my name in the lottery!  I got my partner, and I have been stalking and thinking.  I came up with this combo (I might add a couple others to this.), which I hope she likes!

The husband and I got away a bit this weekend alone for the first time in almost two years!  It was so nice.  He even let me stop into a fabric store.  Fabric Town USA...sounds so...glamorous, right?  There was lots of fun eclectic stuff, and the staff was really fun as well.  I started going through the clearance rack and found some Katie Jump Rope for only $5.99 a yard!  I am thinking these will make great fall pillows.

I also got a new iron!  So exciting...I know.  My old iron was almost seven years old, and it just wasn't cutting it anymore.  This one has been heavenly so far.  I remembered reading this review a couple of years ago at Pink Chalk.  The price was right, so I went for it.  Looking good so far!  I forgot what it felt like to use an iron that actually has steam!

Thank you!

Thank you so much for the wonderful response to the Finish It Up!  Challenge.  I have already found lots of new blogs to follow, and it is fun to see what everyone is working on!  Here are some of the projects in the Flickr group.  If you haven't joined in the challenge yet, please feel free to do so at anytime over the summer!

1. WIP, 2. Hex Quilt for Finish it up!, 3. DSCN1939, 4. Scrappy Spider Web, 5. rainbow WIP, 6. Final Block for Embroider Bee, 7. Jane Market Bag, 8. Murph and the blocks, 9. Completed "Dream Big" top, 10. HR Munki Munki log cabin - for me!, 11. I'm stuck and need quilting ideas, 12. Climbling Jacob's Ladder

I also received my bag from The Goodie Bag Swap this weekend.  I received this big, lovely bag from Amanda over at A Crafty Fox!  I asked for something neutral and large, and she did just that!  Plus, she sent me some amazing scraps and a charm pack!

I love this side detail of the bag!

I also received this pouch from the Pretty Little Pouch Swap last month, but never posted about it here on the blog.  My partner for this swap was Chickenjulie, who was actually my partner last year in the Scrappy Mug Rug Swap.  She was the one I made this mug rug for.  So funny how what comes around, goes around!      She made this zakka inspired pouch that has a laminate lining!  It has such lovely details and right now I am using it store my embroidery floss.

Convertible Bag Complete!

I finally finished my bag for The Goodie Bag Swap!  *whew*  I have never cut it so close in a swap before.  I had plans on getting it done last week, but after my after my wrist got hurt I took some time off sewing.  Luckily, it is healing really well, although it still hurts to move it in some directions.  Then we had a big family reunion this weekend, but we got home yesterday afternoon, the baby napped, and I put this bag together lickety split.

I did switch it up a bit from my first version.  I realized my first was way too tall and took off about two and half inches for this one.  I made the adjustable strap two sided to add some more contrast, and I lengthened the tabs on the side of the bag, so that they went all the way down the side.

The overall construction of this bag is very simple, so I tried to add lots of fun details.  I used (fake) leather for the bottom.  I added rivets to both the long and short straps.  My mom got me this fun tool called the Crop-a-dile for my birthday which made putting in the rivets much easier. It is supposed to work for snaps and eyelets as well!  I also added some teal piping to the top edge, which I think adds just the right amount of color.

For the shorter handles I used some leather straps.  I found that on the first version I made of this that I use the shorter straps almost just as much as I use the longer adjustable strap.  It really is convenient to just grab the shorter handles when you are jumping out of the car and use the longer strap for when I am carrying it around for a long period.

On the inside I put in a zipper pocket, a large outer pocket, a magnetic snap, and a key fob.  Both the outside and inside fabrics are some of my favorites from Anna Maria Horner's home dec line, Drawing Room.  Here is hoping this bag is what my partner wanted!

I am still considering making this my first pattern, but I am concerned that maybe it is too simple?  What do you think?

Linking up with Quilt Story for Fabric Tuesday and Tea Rose Home Wednesday Link Party!

Meg's Super Simple Summer Mug Rug

The Bakersfield Modern Quilt Guild had its first swap!  We decided to swap mug rugs with the theme of "Summer".  I had all sort of plans to make something ah-mazing.  I just didn't know what, and for some reason inspiration just never struck.  So finally I just picked up some of my leftover Dream On scraps and sat down at the sewing machine.

I was inspired by Jeni's Scrappy Stack Mug Rug, which she has a tutorial for here.  Although, I used fewer strips and made them a little bigger.

I used this fun green floral print for the back. I love how the quilting turned out on this one!  Quilting is so much fun on little things like this.  As simple as it was, I do love how it turned out!  

The mug rug I received was made by Nancy.  Anyone who reads my blog is aware of my daughters' obsessions with rainbows, and kites have been on Juliana's mind as well of late.  So it was just perfect for them!

Here is the group with all their newly swapped mug rugs!

The weekend is here!  I love short four day weeks!  My weekend is going to be full of BBQs, dance rehearsals, sewing, and family!  Hope you have a good weekend planned as well!

Linking up to Amy's Sew and Tell!