Diamond Quilt

Yay for another finished baby project!  I'm definitely in the nesting stage washing dozens of onesies, a bazillion baby socks, getting the nursery in order, and working frantically to make everything I want to for these two bundles of joy.

About six months ago I posted about the Zig Zag Quilt I had made.  Sure I intended to give it as a gift, but I just couldn't part with it.  I promise I tried!!  I even had my husband pick it up from the house one day and bring it to me when I thought we were going to see the lucky recipients.  He brought me the wrong quilt.  I think that was a sign.

Now that I have TWO babies on the way, I'm grateful I already had this one made so I could focus on making just one more and focus on the many other projects on my agenda.

Sister Quilts

I decided I didn't want to make the same quilt, but something complimentary to the Zig Zag Quilt.  So I started with some adorable polka dot and neutral alphabet fabrics.  I made the same amount of Half Square Triangles as the Zig Zag Quilt.  I then played around with the squares, coming up with half a dozen different designs.  It was difficult to choose a winner!

Eventually, after some Facebook votes I settled on this diamond design.  I'm happy with my decision and love how these two quilts go together.

I backed this one with cozy flannel, just as I did the Zig Zag Quilt.

For the quilting I stuck with the same idea of just quilting in the white squares.  After playing with a few quilting designs I decided to go with the double diamond.  I love the look on the front and back.

I tried something different with the quilting.  I wanted the thread to blend in on both sides, but I was quilting on white on top, and red on the bottom.  Yikes!  So I used red for my bobbin thread and white for my main thread.  I don't know why this has never occurred to me before!  I love how it worked out!

My ever faithful helper.

 Now on to baby dresses, afghans, receiving blankets....you get the picture.

Zig Zag Quilt

Finally a finished project!!  It feels like it's been forever!  It's a pretty dang cute one too, if I might say so.

The pattern is from Cluck Cluck Sew.  Love that site.  And I decided to go with the scrappy look.  I'm tempted to make me one of these with just polka dot patterns...

The little one wanted to get in on the action.

This is a fairly simple pattern to put together, and it's a great pay off.  I decided to quilt five lines in the white, following the zig zag pattern.  It made for a cute back!!  It was also pretty quick to quilt.  Of course all of the lines aren't perfectly straight, but you'd have to stare close to see that.  So, stop staring!!

I wanted this to be extra cozy as it's going to a little one so I backed it with flannel.  So snuggly!

Remember the start of this one.  This picture is a pile of the materials I started with.  I was playing with different patterns, hues, etc.  This one is going to a family who aren't finding out the gender of their baby so I to steer clear of flower patterns and anything too girlie. 

Gotta add my label!!

It will be hard to say good bye to this one, but hopefully they'll cherish is and their little babe will get plenty of play time on it!

Works in Progress - 5.23

Here goes again!  Many projects started, none completed. :)  I know I'm not alone in this!

I did make some progress on my bear cocoon.  I'm working on the oval that will be then belly.  Then on to the hat!!

Nothing to report on refinishing this children's bench.  I still need to take the metal pieces to my father-in-law to clean them up with the sand blaster.

I haven't done anything else with my Zig Zag Quilt Top either.  I'm debating whether to use quilting cotton or flannel for the back...

I have however, made lots of progress on my bookshelf ladder.

I cut out the shelves...

Primed everything...

And added the first coat of light blue paint to it today.  One more coat and then I can do the final assembly.  Yay!!

Painting today was somewhat frustrating though as I had 2-year-old hands helping and feet walking on my project.  It's what I get for trying to paint with my little one awake!  Lesson learned.

And that one petal of my Retro Flower quilt block from last week has now become a whole flower!  Yay!

And look!  I even got a second one done today!  More frustration though as my sewing machine and I were not getting along.  In 40 minutes I only managed to sew two 3 1/2 inch long seams successfully.  ARGH!  :)  It's okay though.  I'm in the market for a new machine.  Any suggestions?

Works in Progress

Here are some of my projects I am currently working on.  Maybe one day I learn to finish a few before I start 10 more...

These first two are of a children's bench my mom gave me.  I've taken it apart, and sanded and stained the wood slats.  I just need to take the medal parts over to my father-in-laws so I can sand blast them to clean them up.  Then I'll put it back together and it will no longer be a work in progress!

This will be a ladder bookshelf.  It's my own design and if all goes well I'll create a tutorial for it.  I need to make the shelves, paint and prime everything, and then I can finish putting it together.

I have had a bunch of fabric from the Dandelion Daydream line forever.  When I say the Retro Flowers Quilt pattern I finally knew what I wanted to do with the fabric!  Sadly, this is all I have done.  Only one petal.  Just 63 petals to go!  I also used Dandelion Daydream for this apron.

This is my current crochet project.  I almost always have a crochet or knitting project going.  This will be a baby bear cocoon and will have a matching hat.

And finally, my zig zag quilt top.  This is going to be a gift for some friends who are not finding out the gender of their baby.  Love this design as it works for a boy or girl!  I may have to make me one...

Color Wheel Quilt

It's been a while, but here's another project from my Curves class taught by Rachel of Stitched in Color.  The very last projects were celebratory quilts - what a great idea!  This post should mean I've completed at least one project from every week of the class.  Yay!

My emotions with this quilt went from excited, to unsure and feeling a little circus-y (yes, I realize that's not a real word), to hopeful, to loving it!!

When I first started picking out materials from my stash for this quilt I thought I would be giving it away.  It looks like the family that was going to be on the receiving end of this one is going to be getting something else.  I don't think I can part with this cheerful quilt.

This curves were definitely precise curves, meaning there was a concave and convex cut that had to match up (with the seam allowance) and be sewn carefully.  Yes there was some unpicking, but it was worth it.

My husband and I tried to take pictures of this one last week,
but the wind was not cooperating!

I debated quilting patterns.  My first idea was to sew circles in the color wedges and lines (like rays emitting from the circle) on the white.  Then I was worried there would be too much stop and starting.  So then I resigned myself to sewing just the straight line rays.  THEN I convinced myself to sew just the circles.  There was still quite a bit of stopping and starting, but I figured to go for it anyway.  I think this quilt is going to spend the first part of it's life hanging in my sewing room as a decoration anyway so it will be saved from constant washing for a while.  See the circle in the very middle.  I think I sewed and re-sewed it at least 5 times...  Sadly, my first attempt was my best.






















I even love the back.  I love the dark blue.  Sometimes it's fun to not have enough of one color for the back, because then you get to be creative all over again on the same quilt.  See my little tag on the side.  I made it using this tutorial.  So easy.

I hope it added a little sunshine to your day!  I know it did mine!

Check out the other projects from the Curves Class!

Scallop Bunting

Bibs

Quilt Cards

Rainbow Road Table Runner

Clam Shell Pillow

Drunkard's Path Hot Pads

Spring Book Cover