A Little Bit of Christmas in January

This evening I decided it was about time I updated my blog. I love reading about all the projects and happenings in blogland, but seem to put off posting about my own. Funny how that works. :)

After the rush of sewing orders in November and early December, my family and I enjoyed the holidays in a lovely (warm!!!) place. We had a marvelous time visiting family, and we also spent quite a lot of time relaxing and enjoying ourselves. The sun did it's work and has rejuvenated us for the new year.

Over the last several weeks I was able to finish knitting two sweaters for me, begin a sweater for our little one on the way, and start a purse. Yes, I'm attempting to knit a purse. I'm still trying to decide if I'll keep it or sell it. I think I'll wait until it's finished before I determine if it is even 'sell' worthy :). Pictures will follow when (a) I am satisfied with the blocking and fit & (b) I remember to ask my hubby to take a few pictures. No more taking photos in the mirror - I just can't get it to work!

One of the projects that has been in my 'to finish' pile is a Christmas quilt I started two years ago (yipes, I can't believe it was that long ago!). I bought it as a kit since I was new to quilting. I cut the fabric, stitched up the quilt top, but got nervous when it came to the actual quilting and binding. So, I put it off until I could take a class. Well, it was year before I took a binding class, but boy was it worth it! I pull those directions out every time I bind a quilt. I'm so nervous I'll cut a strip the wrong way or mix up a mitered corner.

I finished the class and even sewed up the binding, but once Christmas passed, I lost the motivation to hand-stitch the binding. Back on the 'to finish' pile it went. Even though we were away for Christmas this year, I was determined to finish my Christmas quilt. I almost took it with me on vacation so I could finish it and add a little Christmas decor to our rental condo. But I decided it was not worth the effort or expense (baggage is not so cheap on the plane these days!).



During our first full day back home I finished the quilt. My pregnant body was a bit annoyed that I spent one day traveling and the next rushing around the house like a mad person trying to recuperate from vacation. (Isn't it funny how we seem to need a day or two to recover from vacation???) In between tackling loads of laundry I tackled the quilt. By the end of the day it was complete and already part of the decor. (Did you notice my loverly bench?! Definitely a keeper. Sorry all you fans of the bench, I don't think I'll be parting with it anytime soon :))



[I took these photos this evening. Yes, that means my Christmas decorations are still up. Is that weird? Apparently I put off finishing quilts AND taking down holiday decor.]

A scarf AND a hat...in one!

I decided I was in need of a break from sewing for Christmas. I've had the idea for this project in my head for a while. All the materials I needed were on hand, so I decided to give it a go!

While this is my own design, I got the idea from this blog. I can't remember why I decided a giraffe variation would be cute, but that's what it ended up being. Now I have ideas for making these scarf/hats in different animals too. Wouldn't a monkey be cute? Or really any animal with cute ears? If you have any ideas I'd love to hear them!


This could be a new 'thing' for me. Too bad I'm a little late for Christmas, but maybe I can whip up a few for January, since that's when it really starts getting chilly around here.

Giveaway at "Simplify"

Sorry about the short notice, but Camille at "Simplify" is giving away a quilt!!! You get to pick the Thimble Blossoms pattern, and she'll make it for you or send you the kit (if you prefer to quilt yourself). This is an amazing prize, and it's being drawn for tomorrow. So hurry over!

http://camilleroskelley.typepad.com/simplify/2008/11/feeling-lucky.html?cid=140190076#comment-140190076

One Down, Four to Go...I Think...

I just finished this custom order apron. My friend gave me an idea of what she wanted, and I went from there. She knew she wanted solid black for the main part of the apron. She also thought pink and polka dots would look cute, but was willing to let me see what I could find. Well, I found the perfect pink and black polka dot fabric for her. I think she's going to be thrilled, because I was having trouble finding the 'just right' fabric for her.



I changed my apron design up a bit to allow for adjustments around the neck. Since this apron will be a gift, I wanted to make sure it would fit the 'giftee'. I also think the two bows in the back make it look extra cutesy. I also added knots where the black and pink fabrics meet around the neck. The knots seem to finish the apron off as well as make the fabric transition a little more clean.



I hope she likes it!

All these apron orders for Christmas keep reminding me about my own Christmas shopping...or lack there of...

To Do List:
Finish aprons (by Christmas)
Finish Christmas shopping (by Christmas)

Custom Baby Items - Finished!

I finally finished a custom order for a stroller quilt, matching stroller bag and a change pad cover. These are all for the same friend who had me make the pink and brown crib quilt.





She wanted the stroller bag to fit a water bottle and a few small baby items. I used plastic canvas between the layers to keep it nice and sturdy.



The water bottle compartment has an elastic band since water bottles seem to vary in size. I also thought if she's jogging the band will help keep her water bottle in the compartment :). The other compartment just has a flap to keep things inside and dry.



All the snaps are reinforced with plastic canvas. I've never made anything like this before, so I wanted to make sure the snaps could handle the weight of a water bottle.



I also made her a change pad cover to match her crib quilt. I used just about every scrap of fabric to make this cover. I hope she's happy with how everything turned out!

Better than nothing!!!

So, it turns out the camera that needs to go in for 'repairs' just needs a good cleaning. Well, I don't mind a few specks on my photos if you don't! Hopefully I can get it cleaned this weekend, but for now, this will do.

I am excited to show you my latest project - Mary Jane slippers! I picked up this pattern last week at Quilt Essentials great sale. It's a pattern for 'Ballet Slippers', and you can make basic slippers or add cute straps (i.e. Mary Janes, cris-cross straps, and pretty ribbon straps). I've needed slippers for so long, but I was waiting for something cutesy. As soon as I saw the pattern I knew I wanted Mary Jane slippers :).




I love the little tab on the back - such a cute detail!



I've also been working on a custom order quilt. My friend (who ordered the pink crib quilt in previous posts), also requested a stroller quilt. With the fall weather coming upon us, she wanted something to bundle her baby in while they go out for crisp fall walks. She picked out the two main fabrics and the fuzzy backing and gave me free reign with the design. How trusting of her! :) After I made a few of the quilt blocks I realized it was going to be a bit busy, so I purchased the gray fabric to break it up a bit. I hope she likes it!


The quilt is actually a nine patch, but it's hard to tell from the photo :).

I'm disappointed I can't show you the quilt I finished or the apron I made for my sister-in-law, but I was camera-less and the projects are now out the door to their 'new owners'. At least I was able to post a couple of pictures and give a quick update. Hopefully, more projects will be finished soon!

Sewin', but nothin' showin' for it

I recently finished the pink baby quilt as well as a few smaller baby items, but alas, I have no camera to take pictures of them :(. Hubby needs the camera for work while his is being repaired, so it may be a little while before I can capture my projects on film again.

I have a bunch of projects in the works, though. I'm excited to share them, so hopefully my camera is back soon! I'm just about finished a fall coat for myself, I'm about to start quilting a quilt I started a year ago, and then I have a bunch of custom order aprons that need to be finished before Christmas. It doesn't seem like much now that I'm writing it out, but I really want to get these projects finished in the next two months. Actually, if we're talking Christmastime, I have a Christmas quilt that I started last winter that just needs the binding hand-stitched. So there's another one that needs doing for the holidays. Lots to do, but it's oh so much fun!

I read other blogs and I'm amazed how much sewing they can crank out in such a short period of time. On the very odd day I can finish a project in one sitting, but that is very rare! I usually have 3 or 4 projects going at one time, and they usually take me about a month or two to complete (unless it's a quilt, that could take several months...or in my case...a year...). :)

I think one reason I'm having a tough time finishing projects lately is I'm sleeping a lot more these days. I usually get a lot of sewing done while Peanut sleeps, but seem to be sleeping when he sleeps. At night I seem to be vegging - knitting, sometimes reading, and sometimes tidying up depending on my energy level - or dropping off to sleep again. Hmmmmm, I wonder if expecting a baby has anything to do with that...

:)