My Dad’s Quilt

Back in July my Dad was in a pretty bad motorcycle accident. Luckily he is alive but sadly he is still a bit broken and still not back at work. After his accident he would basically make me feel guilty every time I saw him by asking me where his quilt was since my Mom had gotten one while she was in the hospital only a few months prior. (you can read see hers here if you want.) Anyhow every time I would respond with oh sure Dad I will make you a 6” quilt to keep your toes warm. We would tease each other that is just how we roll in our family. In October I finally decided I would make my Dad his quilt after he landed himself in the hospital for a unwelcomed stay once again. Now he even had more leverage being there twice I guess. My brother pitched in a little cash and I went fabric shopping!

So I made him his quilt for Christmas. He didn’t know about it. We surprised him!  Well at first he unwrapped a blu-ray telling him to go to the laundry room where his 6” quilt was waiting for him…

He started laughing so hard. He was thrilled with his little mug rug. He even said that would have been good enough but wasn’t willing to give his actual quilt up to my brother. Afterwards I unrolled his big quilt for him. I used the Vintage pattern from the Simply Retro by Camille Roskelley book. I did not add the additional borders (My Dad is not the tallest guy, ssshhhhh). This quilt measures at approx. 60” by 80”.

My Dad has a thing for sailboats. So I had to add a sailboat block. I think that it turned out well. I used the lovely Tula Pink Salt Water line in the blue color way with a few Kona solids thrown in. I paired it was Kona ash and the binding is the anchor print. I couldn’t really make a block with that print because it blended so much but luckily I found yardage on sale for binding! I quilted it on the angle stopping at the sailboat block. I stitched around the sailboat which was easier said than done with my sewing machine.

 

Needless to say my Dad is very happy with his quilt! I am super glad that I made the time to make it for him even though Miss L thought I should be making her quilt instead. Hers is on the list.

 

Happy New Year to all my lovely blog friends! I hope we all have a few fun me projects planned for the new year!

Swoon Pillow

It is so nice to be inspired by those around you. I saw this lovely Christmas swoon pillow on Instagram and thought it was the perfect way to test the block. I have a stack of fabric just waiting to made into a swoon quilt but I was a little nervous. I was given a little push and encouragement to make a pillow. Since I was done my Christmas sewing for others I thought I would make a little something for me!

I did a little digging in “my fabric” and found some lovely Amy Butler Daisy Chain FQs I recently got from a destash on IG. I paired it with Kona snow hopefully dirty fingers will keep their distance! I love how pretty it is :)

I have to say that the block itself is easy to make it just takes forever!!!! (so the that stack will become a swoon quilt eventually! Yay!) This pillow is reduced in size from the original pattern by Thimble and Blossom. The pillow measures at about 18” with the border. I had a small spool of pink variegated Aurifil thread in Mako 12 weight so I decided to do a little hand quilting.  The fussy cut of the medallion print makes me happy!

I love how it turned out! The colors even look perfect with my new chairs that we recently bought for our living room. Yes we finally bought a couch and chairs. The couch is still being made but I am super excited about it!

linking to finish it up friday

WIP and a little finish

December is the month of lots of sewing but not much blogging. Some of my family read my blog so their projects are off limits for blogging at the moment…

I can show you some little things I have been up too though. I am taking part in the Doll Quilt Swap on Flickr, which I am super super excited about! I snooped and then snooped some more and then came up with a cross stitched fox for my partner. I was lacking some orange but some lovely ladies helped me out with some extras! I love this community! Here is a progress shot. I am hoping he will be very handsome!

 

I still have a lot of blocks to sew but so far so good ;) I used Pile O’Fabrics cross-stitch block tutorial but it is a little modified because I needed the blocks a little smaller. I am trying to figure out his ear tips and eye though. Should the eyes be the same print? how about his ears? hmmmm. What do you think?

My little finish is some sweet dumpling pouches. I decided to give Quilt As You Go a try! I have to say that QAYG is a lot of fun. I thought these would make a great “just because” gifts. Although I had to “fix” up one (darn a couple little holes caused by unpicking. I put the zip in upside down, oops) so my sister is getting my damaged goods ;)

I really enjoyed making these. You can find the pattern for these here. I used the harder pattern which is about 4” along the bottom.

Linking to WiP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced and Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Orbit Quilt Finished!

So the quilt is done! I made all of my finish goals. I got it done for last saturday to post on IG for the #westwoodacresgiveaway (which I happened to win and won this awesome bundle from Amanda, so excited! You should check out her shop), I got it done before Jason’s birthday and before the VMQG meeting!  I was not able to show it there because we ran out of time. That is alright because we were all amazed with seeing all the beautiful and awesome neon cotton couture challenge projects. You can check out the challenge pieces here at the VMQG Flickr group! And of course I got it done before the end of the month for my a Lovely Year of Finishes goal.

Anyhow this quilt was made for my brother. The pattern is found at LRstitched and is called Orbit. This is a Quilt Along pattern from earlier in the year. I really enjoyed making this quilt. The pattern includes an awesome coloring sheet to help with planning, cutting and sewing. I was surprised on how quickly it went together! I quilted this quilt in straight lines.

 

I used a variety of prints that I collected based on the colors on the center Robert Kaufmann race car print. The solid I used was Kona charcoal. The backing was the IKEA texted print with a strip of leftovers on the side since it wasn’t quite wide enough. I also added a strip to the top and bottom to add a little length for a tall boy.

  

He is happy with his quilt and is now teasing all my other siblings that he has a quilt and they don’t. (I am the oldest of six kids so I may be making some more sibling quilts) He is an awesome guy who helps my parents, our siblings and me out however he can. I am glad I was able to make him this Thank you quilt and that he is my brother!

linking to Needle and Thread Thursday, Finish it up Friday and A Lovely Year of Finishes

Folk Modern

I love the line Folk Modern by Ellen Luckett Baker that came out a few months ago especially the gray and yellow combo but resisted buying some! But I finally had an excuse to buy some since a friend and I are swapping some handmade goodies. (I can’t knit and she can) She asked for a tote and gave me a few color combo options. I knew exactly what fabric to buy when she said gray and yellow!

I hadn’t actually made the 241 tote in the proper size only smaller for my girls (here and here) It is such a great sew! Awesome pattern too. I paired it with some Robert Kaufman Putty Linen and some Art Gallery fabric for the lining.

I also made a matching Pocket Clutch. You can find the pattern here at Michelle Patterns. I think that is makes the perfect chap stick and small hand cream pouch for in your purse.

Put them together and they are the perfect combination!

linking to Finish it up Friday

November Goal

I am making a quilt for my brother. He is a pretty awesome guy. He has helped me with tiling in my home and also has helped a lot supporting my parents since my Dad is still not working because of his motorcycle accident. It has been a frustrating year for our family but through it all we can always count on each other. This quilt is a Thank-you for all that he does!

I had finished this quilt top early last month and have been waiting to be inspired on how I am going to quilt it. I think I have decided to do straight line quilting horizontally in a dark gray thread. I hope it will be quick since I have quite a few projects to finish before the end of the year. 

This pattern is called Orbit. You can find it over at LRstitched right here. It is an awesome quilt along pattern. I would highly recommend it!  Since this is a guy quilt I did add some length to the top and the bottom. You don’t want your toes to get cold!

I even have the back all ready to go too. Now to get basting and quilting!

The goal I am setting from myself is to have this quilted by the end of the month. I would love to have it quilted for show and tell at the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild meeting on the 18th but we will see if time and my children will allow that, lol.

linking to November: Lovely Year of Finishes ~ Goal Setting Party at Fiber of all Sorts

A Bunch of Crosses

I have been on a roll in the past little while with sewing projects from my books. This time I was feeling a little down and needed a pick me up, a “selfish sewing” project! I decided to make a pillow for our living room with the few Amy Butler Cameo prints that I had. I pulled out Pillow Pop and found Katy’s pattern for “a bunch of crosses” happened to required the exact number of prints that I had. So I went with it. So glad that I did.

I have to say that I haven’t made a 2.5” patchwork project yet. It was a little finicky but completely worth it! I am glad that I had seen and read a lot of tips on matching up seams on such little squares. I really enjoyed making this pillow. I love how green and pretty it is! I quilted in straight lines with a light silver Aurifil thread #2600 which blended perfectly.

That blue print reminds me of my Grandma. She use to live in a house with a sitting room in the front entry. It was called the blue room. She had wall paper with drawings of people in blue, blue carpet, couches with blue flowers…I think you get the idea. I use to have piano lessons in that room. Oh the memories.

This pillow measures at about 20” It is sitting on our loaner couch right now… we really need to go buy a couch! A comfy couch! I do look forward to making a few more Amy Butler pillows with some of my pretty fabric stash. I sure missed out on a few lines though since I have come late to the quilting scene, lol. Oh well.

linking to Needle and Thread Thursday and Finish up Friday

Blogger’s Quilt Festival Fall 2013

I am excited to share my Lilly Belle quilt for this blogger's quilt festival. I started this quilt back in January and finished the top within days then it sat and I struggled with how I was going to quilt it. I finally worked up the courage to free motion quilt it with some encouragement of others. Finishing it in July! I used a pattern designed by Faith at Fresh Lemon Quilts but modified it slightly by switching the directions of the “waves” and making it bigger!

 

I free motion quilted it only on the solid in a back and forth pattern. I was super proud that I struggled through this quilt. It is far from perfect but it is mine.

 

This quilt measures at about 60” by 75”. There are 8 prints from the Lilly Belle collection by Bari J. plus one Tula Pink called Sprout from Parisville and one Amy Butler called Martini in mustard from Midwest Modern. The solid is Kona Bone. It is quilted in Aurifil #2026 which matches perfectly! The binding is Joel Dewberry’s herringbone print. Backing is a Henry Glass quilt backing print.

 

We even took my quilt on our family picture shoot last week. I am so happy that I was able to have a homemade quilt that I made in our pictures! I love my family and I love the fact that I can wrap them in my love. I am so glad that I started quilting almost two years ago. It has been a incredible journey so far!

Linking to the Blogger’s Festival. You should go check it out! Mine is in the home machine quilted category.

Test run

My daughter has asked me to make her a bigger quilt. She fell in love with a Fat quarter bundle I had ordered. I decided to test the On the Whim block (a Thimble and Blossom pattern found here) before cutting into the fat quarters. There was some  leftover fabrics (Beechwood Park) from Miss L’s bird quilt so I decided to use that.

 

The solid is Kona Silver. It is such a nice color!

We even had enough for the back, Yay! I really need to go get the right size of pillow form! At the moment we some pillows in there as a temporary fix. Miss L really wanted to use it while cuddling on the couch. Apparently I have been asked to make more pillows. They are for sure on the list!

This block came together pretty nicely. There were some whether to trim or not to trim the pieces of the blocks but Megan helped me out since she has a lovely finished quilt top! I am hoping that I will be able to meet up some the the seams a little better on Miss L’s big quilt but I think that no one will notice but me I am sure, lol.

Linking to Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation and Finish it up Friday at crazy mom quilts

A Sliced Four Patch Quilt

Guess what?! I actually used one of my quilting books again! Some days I am accused of not using them. When I bought  Modern Designs for Classic Quilts I really wanted to try the sliced four patch quilt pattern. So when I found out that a friend was having a baby soon I thought it was a perfect chance to make it!  (Especially since she was so sweet to me when I was having my first baby!)

This quilt reminded me of my very first quilt that I started, a disappearing nine patch. (which sat on the rocking chair and now keeps me warmer on my side of the bed until I get my chopsticks quilt made) Making this baby quilt helped me see how much I have grown and learned since April 2012. That I can actually call myself a quilter, lol. That matching points do get me excited!

Although the book said to square these off at 10.5 inches that was not possible. Perhaps my seams weren’t scant enough. (I do use a 1/4” foot.) I squared them off at 10” instead. Leaving this quilt to measure at an approx. 37.5” square

It is backed in some more dots! I think that this quilt has a dot and transportation theme to it! You will see some more of these fabrics in another quilt soon!

I hope that this quilt sees a lot of tummy time and cuddle time. I am super thrilled with how it turned out. (So is my husband. I love it when he likes what I make!) Plus it was fun to make!

Linking to Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation and Finish it up Friday at crazy mom quilts.

a rosette needle book

Last year I made my Mom a small needle book and AMH wild flower pincushion for her birthday. This year she “suggested” I make her a large needle book in the same fabrics if I had them. Since her birthday is at the end of November I am totally ahead of schedule!

I made the “Rosette Needle Book” by Tasha Bruecher from her book hexa go-go. I love this book! So inspiring! One day I will start a big quilt but for now I am sticking to smaller projects. I had a hard time deciding on the middle of the rosette but then I found a little scrap with the word “stitch” from Memoir to fussy cut. I thought it was fitting for a needle book.

This needle book can keep quite a few needles. It measures at 5 3/4” by 4 1/2” with four pages within! I love that there is a pocket in here! I keep extra needle packs and my bees wax in mine!

In case you were wondering my Mom’s favourite color is pink, lol.

Linking to Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story

Ipad case with pocket

A while back I was watching my nephews for my sister in law. She had brought her new Ipad wrapped in magazines. I said to her you know I could make you a case…

We talked and she asked if it could be big enough to have a pocket to slip paper in to it. So I must say I was happy to see this tutorial  by Valerie for a tablet case appear on Ellison Lane Back To School free pattern series. Thanks ladies! It was perfect for my needs! Well my SILs…

The size was awesome for an outside pocket! The paper fit perfectly! So she can slip her papers in there while meeting with clients in the midst of designing some fabulous architecture piece! She is one talented lady.

I managed to use pieces and strips left over from her Science Fair quilt that I made for her and her husband for all the design and help they put into our house. The lining is a mix of random fabrics.

 

This is a great pattern. It took longer because of the piecing but it was totally worth it! If you are looking for a bigger pouch this is a nice sew!

linking to finish up friday over at crazy mom quilts

Winner and WIP

Thanks for all the sweet comments! Mr. Random picked  RobotMomSews! Congrats!

Plus I have to announce I have finally started a big quilt again. It feels nice to have a quilt in progress. I am finally making my brothers quilt! I am using the LRstitched quilt along pattern she did last February called Orbit. So far it is coming together quickly and I should have it done with plenty of time to spare before my brothers birthday! (I am also making this as a thank-you for tiling part of my house and soon to be kitchen back splash… Love him!)

Now to find the time to press and square those HSTs!

Thank-you and giveaway :)

I just wanted to say thank-you to everyone who reads and comments on my blog new and old because this past year has been really tough. Last September I lost my Grandma suddenly. Plus in the following months my uncle had a major brain aneurysm forever changing his life, my mom broke her hip, Miss L broke her arm and lastly my Dad going missing by trying to kill himself in a  motorcycle accident, UGH. It has taken a lot out of me. I haven’t really said anything much on here but if you look at the amount of projects I made this year compared to others you could say that I drowned my sorrows and worries into fabrics. Creating and learning new things. Your comments encouraged me and helped me. You put a smile on my face when I just felt like crying. I never thought that I would make blog/sewing friends but over the past year I have! Near and faraway. I have to give a shout out to the sweet quilting/sewing community on IG too!

Back to my Grandma. Throughout my life my grandma taught me so many things. I remember her just sitting and showing me how to carefully shade with pencil crayons. I remember her trying to teach me how to cross stitch. I remember making tons of cookies with her. Laughing, crying, just being me, I could go on… lol. I have so many things that are part of me because of her and I miss her dearly!

I often made her things as gifts growing up. My last handmade gift that I made for her was after she had passed. While we were going through her things I came across a hankie carefully folded in a jewelry box. It must have been special but no one really knew why. It was suggested that I embroider her initial on this hankie to put in her hands in the casket. I was hesitant. Emotionally raw but during the few days prior to her funeral I did it. I used her colors. I felt her love. I later slipped it into her hand, that was hard.

Here is what I stitched for her on her hankie. I am finally able to write about it and share it with you!

I am grateful for all the little things that remind me of her. My oldest daughter is named after her too. (Well her middle name that is.) I have a home video of her holding Miss L and saying how proud she was that her first great grand daughter was named after her. It is precious to me. Look how little Miss L was, four and a half years passed by really quickly! Sorry for being sappy but it has to happen once and a while. I think that my Grandma would be proud of me and all that I do. Well I know it. I am forever blessed that she is my Grandma!

If you are still around I would love to offer up some goodies as part of this thank-you. I have four fat quarters of some Waterfront prints. All you have to do is make a comment telling me how you follow my blog or if you are a follower of mine from IG that is cool too, just let me know! (If you are a non reply blogger please leave your email address!)

I will close this giveaway by Wednesday the 25th . Thanks again for all the love and support!

*****Giveaway is now closed! Thanks for all your sweet comments!*****

Mermaid dolls

A while back Miss L asked me to make her doll pajamas so that day we set off to do so. I mentioned to her that she is lucky that her Mom knows how to sew because not all Moms do. She responded with “Why?” I tried to explain it to her that some people know how to do things others don’t. Sewing seems to be just part of her. She always is digging in my scraps trying to come up with something to make.

Anyhow this past week I went to my first Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild meet with my new sewing buddy Christina! It was awesome. I had been on a search locally for the Summer 2013 addition of Stitch and the lovely Michelle brought her copy to the meet to lend it to me. So nice! The next day Miss L was going through it and feel deeply in love with the mermaid doll.

For the next few days I was asked “are we making my mermaid doll yet?” I finally gave in yesterday morning. We printed out the pattern and picked out fabric. We of course needed to make two!

I made these mermaids between yesterday and this morning. They are very pleased!

One of the reasons I sew is to make these two happy! I love being able to create for them and  teach them. Of course sewing makes me happy too!

Linking to Finish it up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts