Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Finished Vintage Sheet Quilt

I love it, I love it, I love it.  It’s so soft and cuddly.  I’m sure it will become the favorite curl up with a good book/movie quilt.  My husband is not such a fan.  He looks at it and says “They’re used sheets.”  Funny man.  But, that’s alright.  I love it enough for the both of us!

Amazingly, I found a king size sheet on Etsy that matched one of my favorite sheets I used on the front.  I had enough for the backing and binding.  Yeah!  I love it, I love it, I love it.

Vintage Sheet Quilt

Vintage sheet quilt rolledVintage Sheet Quilt close-up

I tried a loopy heart pattern on this quilt and I quite like the results.  You can kind of see it in this picture….  Did I mention how soft and cuddly it is??

Stormy

Monday, April 25, 2011

Our long long kept secret

Once upon a time, my younger sister had this idea for all the sisters (four) and all the sister-in-laws (2) to make a quilt for my mom’s birthday.  This wasn’t just an ordinary quilt, but a stitchery quilt. Lots and lots of stitching.  So, two of my sisters went and picked out the fabrics, divided up the pattern and everybody set out to do their part of the quilt.  Once the individual parts were pieced and stitched,  all was to be sent to me to put together, quilt and bind.  Tadah!  Mom is overjoyed and we are all happy with ourselves for being so sneaky and surprising her so much…..  That was the plan…..

Two years later (really) after people forgot about it, lost parts of it (sorry), babies were born (time off had to be taken) and general “I’ll really get to it” comments.  (Although, to be fair there were some shining stars who did their parts quickly  and well …. take a bow sisters-in-law….).  And, mom actually getting the pattern and almost starting it (enter lots of lying and half truths to get her to stop) we finished.  YEAH!!!  I’m so excited to show it off! It really is hard to keep a secret that long.

Over the River Quilt

Over the River Quilt 2

I think it turned out great and I’m so happy she finally got her birthday present.  Happy Birthday Mom!

Stormy

Easter Outfits 2011

I hope everybody had a fabulous Easter!  We did!  We all fell asleep exhausted after a long but great day.  I know you are probably sick of all my Easter outfit posts, and I promise this is the last one (‘til next year) since they are done!  The kids all looked so cute and pinchable in their new Easter duds, I have to show off with a picture.

Easter Outfits

I love how they turned out this year.  I like the mix up of each kid wearing a different pattern, but still coordinating.  Fun Fun….

Anyway,  my goal today is to clean up all the Easter after math and quilt!   Yes, I get to quilt again.  I’m just about finished with my sheet quilt.  Photos to come very soon…..

Stormy

Friday, April 22, 2011

Finished stitchery sachets

I was a little disappointed when I went to the store and couldn’t find any rick rack that I liked for my sachets.  But, I did find a cute ruffle sold by the yard.  I brought it home and sewed it on and it looked awful!  Way too bulky.  So, I ripped and ripped then trimmed all the extra stuff off and sewed it on again.  It still didn’t turn out as clean looking as the rick rack in the magazine, but I liked it.  I also found some awesome potpourri called Coconut Citrus to stuff them with.  Love ‘em!  My toddler loves them so much, she finds wherever I have put them and carries them around with her.  I believe she thinks they are yummy smelling baby doll pillows. 

Sachet stitcheries

I enjoyed stitching the embroidery so much, I may have to try something else soon.

Stormy

Monday, April 18, 2011

Easter Outfits of Years Gone By

I’m in a quilting time out.  This time of year every year quilting comes to a screeching halt while Easter dresses take full precedence.  I am really struggling this year.  My girls are getting older and I can’t really do the matchy matchy thing anymore.  So, this year I have picked out different patterns for each of the kids.  But, it’s slow going.  Two and a half down, one and a half (and a tie) to go.  Since I have not done anything else to post about, I thought it might be kinda fun to take a look back at some of the other Easter outfits I have made.  I totally understand if you have no interest whatsoever in this post.  Hopefully, I will have something more interesting to read about soon.  But, it is a fun trip down memory lane for me…..

Easter Outfits 2010
Easter Outfits 2009
Easter Outfits 2008
Easter Outfits 2007
Easter Outfits 2006
Easter Outfits 2005

I know it’s always cuter when it’s your own kids, but these pictures sure made me laugh!  I used to get upset when the kids weren’t smiling perfectly or looking right at the camera, but looking back, the character shots are always my favorite!  They help me remember what munchkins they were.

Stormy

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Yes, another birthday purse….

Next week, my youngest little angel turns two.  The last two birthday purses were such huge hits, I had to make another.  Since, spring is in the air and Easter is looming around the corner, I’m in the mood for spring colors!  This fabric reminds me so much of an Easter Egg, It seemed the perfect fit. 

Birthday Purse 3

Birthday Purse close up 3

Now, I just need to fill it with mini stuffed animals and wrap it up! I can’t wait to give it to her.

Stormy

Monday, April 11, 2011

It’s almost Easter…

It’s that time of year when I have to put away my quilting and other sewing projects and start Easter sewing.  It’s a little difficult for me since I love quilting but not so much sewing clothing.  But, I love the the cute little girls running around in cute little matching Easter outfits so much, I can’t help myself.  This year I am starting with some great Easter looking fabrics like this….

Easter Dress Fabric

I am going to make some cute little somethings like this……

Dress Pattern

and this……

Skirt Pattern

I may even throw in a tie or two.  Wish me luck!

Stormy

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Everything is turning green!

I haven’t been doing as much sewing this week.  I have been enjoying spring though!  Here on the desert side of Texas, we get early blooming, but late greening.  Translation:  it takes forever for our grass and some of our bushes to green up.  But, it’s starting to happen!  I’m in the gardening mood and just bought a bunch of herbs to plant out back.  I’m super excited to have peppermint, lemon mint, and chocolate mint along with some cooking herbs.  Let’s all hope I can keep them alive!  (I tend to get disinterested in the great outdoors when the thermometer hits high 90’s the end of May.)  Anyhoo, for those of you who are still getting snow (crazy!!), I hope you enjoy my spring in Texas pictures.

GeraniumsCute flowers on bush
Rosebudtomato plants
Sammie mowing the lawnplum tree
My daughter is such a big help.  She is already learning how to mow the lawn!  She loves to be outside as often and as long as possible

Stormy

Sunday, April 3, 2011

My Conference Weekend Project

Growing up, I would always watch my mom doing some kind of project during the LDS conference weekend.  Usually it was crocheting some sort of afghan.  She would always get a huge portion of her afghan finished. Who wouldn’t?  It’s 8 hours of sitting in front of the television listening to all the great talks.  What else is there to do?   So, as I got a little older, I started my own  conference weekend projects.  I’ve crocheted ponchos and afghans, done some stitchery work, scrapbooked, you name it….  This year I was going to do something different.  My mom had recently taught me how to knit.  (Which I’m super excited about!)  I bought the yarn and the knitting needles a couple of weeks ago.  My first scarf was anxiously awaiting to be made.   Sigh.  That was before I got into a big hurry with my rotary cutter.  Ouch!  Sliced my index finger pretty good.  Then, I decided to trim my monster palm tree. (We’re talking 8 inch long sharp, hard needles.)  Even wearing thick gloves, I suffered nicks and cuts all over my fingers and arms.  I discovered knitting was not all that fun with all my cuts and scrapes.  I needed to find a new project.  Luckily, just a few days ago my “American Patchwork & Quilting” magazine came in the mail. YEAH!!  Inside was a pattern for these adorable sachet stitcheries.  I found my project! And, I had everything I needed without having to run to the store.  So, here is what I got done yesterday.  Hopefully, I’ll be finished with the remaining two stitcheries today……..

Sweet Sachet Stitchery
Cottage stitchery
I started pulling out fabrics I could use on the back of my sachets and found these…..
Cottage Fabrics
Aren’t they lovely?  They are from waaaaay back when I first started quilting.  The lines are “Faded Memories” by 3 Sisters and “Poetry” by April Cornell.  Makes me want to make something!   But, not until I quilt my last 4 quilts.  Really.  They’ll have to wait a little longer.  Sigh

Stormy

Saturday, April 2, 2011

I can’t help myself

Did I say that I wasn’t going to piece another top?  Silly me.  I really couldn’t help myself.  There were a few problems I had to resolve before I could start quilting my last few projects.  My housework was done, my baby was sleeping, I had done my daily exercise, and I had even spent an hour in my yard weeding!  What else was I supposed to do?  So, here is yet another quilt top I have finished, adding to the very large pile of  “tops to be quilted”.  I promise I will start finishing quilts very soon. 

This beauty is made from the “Vintage Groove” line by Adorn It.  I used the pattern “Modern Rose Garden”.  Too cute.

Modern Rose Garden pattern

Should I even bother saying it’s one of my favorites?  It does match the style of my house much more then my last few quilts.  I’m a bit excited to finish it.  I’m running out of places to display my quilts.  Any ideas??

Stormy