October NuBees Blocks

I just wrapped up my second month in the NuBees block swap on Flickr.  I chose the popular Red and Aqua color combination. And it must really be popular because half of our hive chose it.  I had a hard time deciding on a block to make this month. I just wasn't feeling all that inspired... until I saw these blocks.  I checked out this tutorial and got to cutting.  Luckily I own the drunkards path Accuquilt die (even though my husband had to shave some plastic off the sides to make it fit in my Sizzix Big Shot). I might have been a little crazy when I decided to sew that many curved pieces. Luckily i had a special sewing weekend in Winston Salem and was able to knock out most of these blocks during that trip. Having a good friend to sew with makes it go by much faster. More on that trip a little later.

Spiderweb Baby Quilt

One of my best friends is expecting a baby boy any day now. I have had this quilt done for a little while now but I just delivered it at her baby shower recently. It was awfully nice to have this finished early and to not be rushing to meet a deadline. I love the way this turned out. I went back and forth a few times trying to decide to whether to use green, gray, or both for the solid areas.
The piecing for this quilt tok me a little longer than I expected.  I machine quilted it in straight diagonal lines.
The mom to be loved it and that is what really matters.

My first block swap

I was so excited when I found the block swap group NuBees.  I had

been looking for a bee or swap group to join but there isnt much available to first timers. These are the blocks that I made for my hive members. The block pattern is from 100 Blocks but I cant remember if it is Vol 2 or Vol 3. This was a fun block to make but I drove myself nuts trying to match up points. I had to rip out and redo a lot of seems and they still arent perfect.

Farmer's wife quilt along

I have joined my very first quilt-A-long!  I joined in late so I have a lot of catching up to do, but I have made 5 blocks since getting my book on sunday so I feel like I will be able to do it. 
Check out the Flickr group to see what everyone is making.

Here are my blocks so far

Quilts for my nephews

These two quilts have been in the works for a while now but they have both been delivered totheir recipients now.  One was made for my 4 year old nephew B and the other for my 2 month old nephew.

The dr. seuss quilt was made using mostly the dr. seuss fabrics with a couple of solids and a coordinating print from joanns.  I usedthe accuquilt drunkards path die in my sizzix to cut most of the pieces.  The design is my own, no pattern was used. This one ia hand quilted by my mom and myself.

The baby quilt was made using the kaleidoscope pattern from Cluck Cluck Sew. This one was machine quilted.  I really love this one but I need some better pictures.

Father's Day

I have a pretty awesome dad. Among others we share two strong interests: Michigan football and music. As always though I procrastinated on a father's day gift. When my mom mentioned that he had been carrying his lunch to work in a lunch box in a dollar store lunch bag that had been used so many times the Velcro had worn out and he was using a rubberband to hold it shut, I knew that I would make him a new lunch bag.

I did a little research and found out about Instul-bright, an insulated batting. Luckily my local Joann's had some in stock.

Using some navy and gold solids and some yellow prints from my stash I made this...

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

Ziggy

It's been a long time in the making.and honestly it has been 90% complete for quite some time. I jus couldnt get motivated to sew on the last little bit of binding. But I finally sucked it up and got it done.
I used the free pattern Folk Dance from Anna Maria Horner. You can find this pattern on her website.
http://www.annamariahorner.com/make.html

All of the fabrics used are thrifted. With the exception of two that were cut from dresses I already owned. Most of these fabrics were shirts but a couple were skirts, pillow cases, and curtains. The binding was cut from a thrifted shirt and the backing is a thrifted sheet. For the quilting I simply stitched in the ditch which created a nice zigzag pattern on the back. This was also my first experience machine quilting. I borrowed my mom's walking foot which I don't think she has used once since buying it. (She would much rather quilt by hand.)

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

Crafty Feast Success

I survived Crafty Feast 2011! This isn't to say that it wasn't a wonderful and well organized event, but the weather just was not on our side. However despite the downpours and strong winds a good number of people still came out, and it was what I would personally consider a success. Especially since it was my first show.

Here are some pics of my tent. That adorable baby was my first customer. She is so cute in one of my patchwork bibs.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

completed Sewing

I know that I am terrible about updating here. There has been a lot of sewing happening lately. Up until the end of last week it all has been clothes. But then I just seemed to lose my motivation. Everytime I would lay out my fabric and start getting ready to cut out a pattern I just couldn't do it. So I am taking a little break and shifting my attention to quilts. I have been frequenting the goodwill clearance center on Sunday when everything is half off and have built up quite a collection of cotton prints. Several of them are becoming a quilt right now and I can't wait to work on it some more.

As for the clothes I had been sewing here are some pictures of a few of the completed pieces.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

My Sewing Space Part I

So to start the new year off right I spent some time last weekend getting my sewing room cleaned up. I snapped a few pics to share.

Storage for patterns up top and thread and other supplies below.


Fabric stack on shelves inside the closet. In the boxes up top are all of my thrift store finds sorted by pattern/type/etc.


Bulletin board covered in a cheap scrap of fabric.

Peg board for more supplies and my newly purchased serger.

Ironing board storage and my wall decorations.