This Weeks Works

It's been almost a week since I've posted anything!  It's not because I haven't been busy working on projects.  I actually finished a quilt last week, but the weather hasn't cooperated for decent pictures so I haven't managed a post regarding it.  Here's a sneak peak though...

I'm quite excited about this one.  It's cheerful and makes me happy.  Hopefully by mid-week I'll be able to get some decent pictures and share the full project with you.

I've also been doing some knitting the past few days.  These will be some fingerless gloves for another niece.  I'm using yet another free pattern I found on www.ravelry.com.  What a wonderful site!

And last but not least, I've been playing with fabric, trying to decide what to use for my next quilt.  This one has been a bit trickier.  You see the recipients have decided to be surprised by the gender of the child. In a way, I'm a little jealous of them.  I don't know that I can ever be flexible enough to NOT find out.  I like to plan, people!  This whole not finding out business does make it trickier to decide what materials to use in their quilt.  I think I'm about ready to start it though.

It's going to include shades of blue, red, green, orange, and yellow and I'll use the Zig Zag quilt pattern from Cluck Cluck Sew.  I'm super excited to try this one out.

Oh, and over the past few weeks, I've tried machine quilting my Log Cabin quilt again.  Still ain't happening.  This puppy is about to be taken to someone with long arm quilting capabilities.  I hate admitting defeat...

Hopefully this week I'll be able to show you some finished products!  How about you?  Have you had lots of time to work on lovely projects lately?

Sweetwater Reuinion Fabric

So I am crushing on this line of fabric in a major way!  I just ordered a charm pack and a bundle of 12 FQs of Sweetwater's Reunion from Pink Chalk Fabric and it came in the mail today.  I LOVE IT!!!  If I could, I would order a yard of every print in the line.  Have you seen this line?  It's so fun and such beautiful colors!

The problem with ordering the charm pack is it exposed me to some of the prints I wasn't aware of before.  So if any of you have an extra $125 lying around feel free to order me the fat quarter bundle from the Fat Quarter Shop.  :)  I won't complain.  If only I were one of those amazing quilters that get sent fabric for free to promote it and try it out.  Someday!

Seriously though, have any of you ever crushed on a line of fabric like this before?

(This is not a sponsored post.  Just me sharing one of my fabric loves!)

An Addiction…A Fabric Addiction

I have an addiction.  Not to a harmful substance or a dangerous habit.  Well, I guess this addiction could wreak havoc on the bank account.  It’s an addiction to fabric.  I can’t stop buying it and accumulating it.   When I receive a JoAnns coupon in the mail it burns a hole in my pocket like a kid with $10.  It’s even worse when I get a double dose of coupons through mail AND email.  My local quilt shop, Village Dry Goods, is constantly beckoning to me.

It started innocent enough.   Nine months ago when I decided to do my first quilt I purchased the required amount of fabric.  Then here and there I would attempt other projects – a skirt for me, a reversible bag, a dress for my little one – and I would hit the fabric store again.  But slowly through the months I found myself picking up a fat quarter here, a remnant there.  They were small amounts, so it was no big deal.  But the desire to buy those small amounts grew.  I found myself buying quarter cuts of a whole line at quilt shops.  I didn’t have any particular projects in mind, I just knew that I loved the material and that I wanted to do SOMETHING with it.

About a month ago I was in my sewing room organizing my material.  I was folding it ever so nicely, putting into drawers, and arranging it by color.  As I was doing this I was praying that my husband wouldn’t come find me, but of course he did.  As he watched me fold some of the material I said, “You weren’t supposed to see this.”  “See what?”  “I think I have a problem, I keep buying material.” He looked around then said, “Don’t worry, it can’t compete with my bullets.  You don’t have a problem, yet.”  Then he smiled and left the room.

I should mention.  My husband isn’t some crazed person hiding from the government in the mountains with his weapons.  He grew up participating in recreational shooting with his dad and brothers.  He is now in the Army and still enjoys shooting.  For him a day shooting targets in the desert is like a day on the golf course to other men.  So his comment about bullets, was an affirmation that he is okay with my addiction.  He gets it.  Kind of.

I love my hubby.  And my fabric.

Amy Butler's Reversible Everyday Shopper

Earlier this year as I began to get braver about sewing I decided I wanted to make myself a church bag.  I had come to the conclusion that I needed something BIG.  Not  your everyday big, but B.I.G!  I wanted it to be able to hold toys, snacks, diapers, wipes, a changing mat, piano music (I play the piano for our kids classes at church), and crochet projects (I have some down time while playing the piano).  My friend pointed me in the direction of Amy Butler's Reversible Everyday Shopper pattern.

Amy Butler Bag

When I went fabric shopping for it I couldn't decide between two different fabric combos.  So what did I do?  I bought both.  And what does that mean?  Several yards of unused fabric were added to my stash because I didn't make two bags. :)  Oh well!  I was so new to sewing when I sewed this.  When I saw that it required interfacing I wasn't sure what to even look for in the store.  Thank heavens for helpful ladies in quilt shops!

The pattern was fairly simple, and I became so focused on it I didn't want to stop until it was finished.  Of course I had to stop every now and then since my daughter did need some diaper changes and to be fed.  She also enjoyed rolling around on the fabric as I was trying to cut it.

Here it is in all of it's glory.  Right now it is holding a changing mat, several diapers, wipes, a check book, a box of crayons, a board book, a binder full of piano music, a beanie baby bear, a magazine, a little bag full of toys, a freezer bag for a sippy cup, and much more!  And look, the contents aren't even spilling over the top. :)  I'd say it fits the bill as a BIG bag.

Embroidery Hoop Christmas

One day I plan on using embroidery hoops to decorate my little girls room, so I've been picking them up at second hand stores whenever I see them.  I came upon my stash in a closet a while ago and started brainstorming how I could use them for Christmas decorations, and here's what I came up with.

Meet Mr. Snowman

Different sizes of embroidery hoops, circles, winter...a snowman, of course!  I think the hat is my favorite part.  I used a cashew can, and a random plastic lid I found in my cupboard.  I cut them both in half and covered them in felt.  I think he's got personality!  My little one definitely likes him. :)

Add some buttons, pom poms, a felt nose, and ta-da!

Fabric Snowflakes

At first I thought it would be cool to have just the snowflakes stretched through the hoop with no background.  Then I decided that would be a nightmare to make work, so I settled on some contrasting  material to put them on.

I found that using starch on the material helped.  It also helped to place some pins in it to keep it folded while I was cutting the snowflake.  I would also recommend using THIN material.  It gets to be a lot to cut through after you fold it several times.  You can find TONS of templates and ideas for cutting snowflakes online.  I decided to use some of the six point patters that I found.

I used some spray on fabric glue to put them on the background.  It worked great!  Some parts of my snowflakes weren't staying together because I cut too far, but I was still able to use them.  Once I glued them on you couldn't tell some of the snowflakes were in pieces.

I think I want to add some sort of garland around them to make them look more finished, but I haven't gotten to that yet.