Well

I was going to go upstairs to take some pictures of some of the new pillows I made for the girls' room and this is what I found. Probably a bit more accurate of the past couple of days. This little one and I haven't been feeling too well. She disappeared after lunch upstairs, and I guess was tired. Nothing like napping on the floor with some new pillows, your favorite blankie, a paci, and dressed up like a little princess from Mexico.

I finished another little kitty pillow and a valance for their room. Now I just need to jazz up their bookcase and quilt Juliana's quilt. I keep putting it off. Quilting kills my arms and back. How do you all do it without feeling achy for days afterwards? Plus, I still don't know how I want to quilt it. Hopefully, I will have pictures of their room up by next Monday. It really has been fun to see it all come together.

The beginning...

I have actually been a busy little bee of late. I just don't have a ton of completed projects to show. I am working on the girls' room currently. I have done a lot of rearranging and adorning of sorts. When I first saw Darla I knew that it was perfect for my girls. I got this fabric last summer on clearance. Wahoo. Can't beat sales! This is Felicity's quilt. I actually just used leftover fabric from Juliana's quilt top (which is still incomplete) and used the strips and leftover patchwork.

I liked the contrast of the horizontal stripes with the vertical lines of the quilting. I quilted these about one inch apart. I thought it would take no time at all. I was wrong. I think next time I will quilt 2" or 3" apart and "fill in" if I think it needs more.

I used Red Pepper Quilts' method for applying the binding and wowza...love it! Not a big fan of hand sewing, but with her method you can't see the machine sewing from the top and only the back, so it still has a bit of the feel of the binding having been sewn on by hand. I found that I actually had an easier time sewing it on by not pinning it. When I was pinning it kept bunching up on me for some reason. Anyway, I just used a white solid for the back, but you can see the quilting better from this side, and I like the simplicity of it.

I am currently working on Juliana's quilt, some curtains, and some pillows to complete their room.

My Folklore Bag

My local quilt shop was having a sale. Can't resist a sale. I some of the Authentic line and knew I needed some for a new bag. I wanted a tote, and I wanted pleats. I started browsing for ideas online and in my stash, and nothing was exactly what I was looking for. We spent an evening at Barnes and Noble and had a couple of hot little gift cards in our hands. I spotted the "One Yard Wonders" book and put it in my stack. This book is chock full of different patterns. Some of them more interesting than others, of course. There are a lot of child and baby oriented patterns, but I like that. I have little kids. The bag patterns look solid and not just your basic totes and messenger bag patterns. It definitely has a nice variety of small patterns that would make great gifts, and a lot of them don't even need a whole yard. Anyway, it was the Folklore Bag that really caught my eye. The pattern went together well. I didn't like how she had you attach the top, so I did it my way and my new Authentic bag was born.... In fact, I like it so much I ordered more and hoping that soon my new Authentic quilt will be born. *grin*

Happy New Year!

Wow. Can you believe it? A new year. Last year was a full one for us and very blessed. Kurt took the CA bar, got a job, we bought a house, moved across country, and we are having another baby. Plus, all the sewing adventures of this year. My little shop has been a fun little adventure. I tackled my first quilt. I got a serger and wrote an article about it for Sew Mama Sew. I learned how to use a walking foot, ruffler foot, and darning foot (for free motion quilting). Sometimes all you need to do is reflect on the past year to realize just how much has happened. Today is also our anniversary. We have been married five years, and I can't imagine a better person to start each of my new years with than my husband. I truly am blessed.

Here are my two big Christmas projects that I tackled.


Christmas Eve before the Vigil Mass

I made the Village Frock by Sugar City for the girls' Christmas dresses. I used a red suiting material. I liked how it flowed, but I admit it made binding it tricky at parts and hard to press. The pattern is well put together and not too difficult. The neck is probably the hardest part. It just takes time with all the gathering. This is a pretty short dress. It was long enough for Juliana but the size two for Felicity barely covers her little bum. I had a feeling it was short, but I was in a rush. Never a good idea to put off a project until the day it needs to be done. :0) I want to try the shirt version next.

Christmas Day- Opening Presents!

I also made some pettiskirts as one of the girls' presents. They both loved them, especially Felicity. She says all her dress up clothes make her look like "Cindewewwa" (aka Cinderella). This is her "Cindewewwa" skirt. I admit...this was a bit of a daunting task. All the cutting and the sewing of yards and yards of chiffon. The first one took me five hours of just sewing. However, the second went much, much faster. I used this pattern from my shop. She has some great directions for making use of your ruffler foot, and I have to say I don't know if I would make one of these without one or at least a gathering foot. It really eliminates a lot of steps. I can't imagine trying to gather all those yards of ruffles by hand.

First Dance Recital

Juliana had her first dance recital last week. She has only been in the class for a couple of months. She did so well, and I was so proud of her. I decided last minute to make her a Christmas-y skirt instead of having her wear a red one she already owned. She loved it. I made a matching one for Felicity too, and they have both worn them a few times this past week.

After the recital the girls got to meet Santa Claus. It went infinitely better than last year, when Felicity screamed and Juliana was too shy to look at Santa. This year Juliana hopped onto his lap and told him immediately what she wanted before he could even say hello. Felicity, on the other hand, refused to move her head from that position. She did not want to look at Santa.

Here is an up close shot of the skirt. I used some red and white Casey Scroll fabric that I have had forever that I originally intended for something else. I used this pattern from Zozo Bug Baby. I have made this skirt several times, and I love how easy it is. Everyone loves the apron, and I made this apron with green on one side and red on the other. That way when Christmas is over it won't look so much like a Christmas skirt as a red and white skirt.

I have been working on the girls' Christmas dresses using this pattern. I am mostly finished with one, and hopefully will get the other started today. I am also making some pettiskirts for the girls for Christmas. Wowza. Those take more time than I thought. I have to borrow my mom's machine as she has a ruffler foot, and it makes it go by so much faster. I don't think I would attempt one of these without one. I also have made some Jane Market Bags as some gifts and have a few more to go. Nothing like waiting to the last minute! Hope you all have your Christmas sewing under way and wrapped up soon!

Baby Quilt

I have been so inspired by Crazy Mom Quilts with all the quilts that she makes from scraps and had a lot of fun participating in her first scrappy nine patch quilt-a-long. So I made another scrappy quilt for a baby. It is made entirely from scraps front and back except for the binding which is some Jennifer Paganelli Flower Power. I inserted some bigger pieces of fabric and kind of wished I just made a few more scrappy blocks instead, but this is only my third quilt, right?

This is my first time doing free motion on a quilt. It was hard! It definitely got easier as I went along, but I am glad I didn't try anything bigger than a baby quilt for the first time. I just did some little swirly things because whenever I have practiced stippling it just looks funky to me. I was really impressed with how the quilt just looked different though once I washed it.

I used some Amy Butler Love for the back from leftovers from some pillowcases I made. Love, love this line of fabric.

Also, the winner of the giveaway is Duff! Congratulations! I sent you an email, so please send me your address! Thanks to all who participated!

Christmas Giveaway!

Janelle Wind's new Audrey bag pattern!

I am taking part of Sew Mama Sew's giveaway! Welcome and Merry Christmas! I know, I know...I haven't posted in forever. I think moving across country while pregnant took it out of me. Yes, we are expecting #3 sometime in May! And...it is a boy! My husband is happy. Anyway, my energy levels are slowly creeping back, and I should be posting more and sewing more! I just finished a baby quilt today, and it turned out so cute!

On to the giveaway....
I am giving away TWO patterns to one lucky winner, the Audrey bag by Janelle Wind and Rudy by Melly and Me! Just run over to my shop and take a looksie. I am having a big sale. FREE SHIPPING and lots of patterns are discounted, so check the sale section. Then leave a comment and let me know what your favorite pattern is and what kind of patterns you buy mostly. Clothing for kids, for you, quilts, bags, etc? Don't forget to leave your email address, so I can contact you if you win! The giveaway closes Dec 6th around 8 PM PST. NOW CLOSED! THANKS! Winner announced tomorrow!

Melly and Me's Rudy!