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...

:)

Quiltin' Away!

It's been a little while since I posted last, but that doesn't mean I haven't been sewing! In fact, I have several sewing projects that need doing in the next month, so you should be seeing more pics in the future. But right now I'm working a custom order for a baby quilt.

The expectant mom and I got together and talked about what she wanted. She was open to patterns, but liked the one I made for Peanut. She also mentioned that when her girls were babies they loved cuddling anything warm and soft. She was willing to buy the fabric herself and have me do the quilting, so that's what we did! While she was at the fabric store she found a gorgeous waffle weave fabric and some great brown microfleece for the backing. She did an amazing job picking out the fabrics. Her little baby girl is going to love it!

It's not finished yet, but here are some progress pics:

Finished squares!


More squares


The top is finished and now it's time for pinning the batting and backing.


Baby is going to love the soft pink border fabric!

Cutesy Apron

I just finished this apron for a friend. It's an apron pattern I designed and have made a few times. I had one of my aprons for sale at a fair, but my friend didn't like all the pink in the fabric :). So we managed to find a cute fabric in green. (There is a little pit of pink on the cupcakes, but she still approved. :)) I love cupcake fabric! This fabric is by Robert Kaufman and it was great to work with.

Originally the apron was going to be all the same fabric. But I found a lovely coordinating fabric in my stash in brown and green polka dots. I thought it would break up the busy-ness of the cupcake fabric too. I hope she likes it!




Peanut walked by and gave me a 'leg hug' :).


Close-up of the fabric.


Close-up of the gathers and big top-stitching.

A Giveaway!

Penny at "Sew Take a Hike" is having a lovely giveaway. She is passing on a thrifted gingham apron, a cherry bag, a copy of Cook's Country, some CUTE fabric and more! Go check it out and leave a comment here to enter. Enjoy!

It's been a while!

Wow, I just realized how long it's been since I've updated my blog! Sorry! I haven't been up to much in the way of sewing lately. The weather has been amazing and Peanut loves to be outdoors. We spend one or two days a week at the beach and the rest of the time we're in the backyard or neighborhood park. William loves the sand and I soak up a little sun (30 minutes immediately followed by sunblock). :)

I started a knitting project last week that I hope to have finished by fall. If any of you are still curious about the 'mystery' crochet project, it's still in the works. It's on hold for a little while, but I hope to have it finished in the next month or two as well. I've just always wanted to learn how to knit and I found a great sweater pattern that looks complicated, but is actually fairly easy (so far...). The hardest part is keeping track of which row I'm on in the pattern! I started keeping track with a sticky note, which has been has been a big help :). Aren't sticky notes great?! I had to learn a few new stitches for increasing and decreasing, but Google and YouTube have been extremely helpful. I've finished two pieces and I'm almost finished the third. Once it actually starts to look like something I'll post a picture.

I hope you're enjoying the summer too!

A Chain of Giving

I'm a fan of reusing and recycling. I have a tough time throwing things away when I think they could have a new and better purpose. I try not to be a junk hog, but I do hang onto things that I think could have 'a second life'. If I can't find a purpose for it, then at least I can donate to a local thrift store or give things away.

This past week I was the happy (Happy HAPPY!) receipient of a chain of giving. This may be a little tricky to follow: My friend's grandma's neighbor is moving and decided to down-size her fabric/craft supply. She asked her neighbor (my friend's grandma) if she wanted the stuff or if she knew of someone who could put it to good use. My friend's grandma accepted the stuff and decided to pass it along. I'm not exactly sure what happened next. From what I understand 'Grandma' was talking to here daughter (my friend's mom) and mentioned the craft supplies. My friend's mom thought of me and so I got a call a couple days ago to come pick up some free stuff!!! 'Grandma' called it 'craft supplies' on the phone, so I didn't really know what I was going to get. But I love all things crafty, so I readily and greatfully set-up a pick up time.


Peanut and I made the trip to see my friend's grandparents. We had a lovely visit. Peanut ate some freshly picked peas straight from the pod - he thought it was pretty cool :). I was able to poke through one of the boxes a little, and I was thrilled that 'craft supplies' meant fabric. Woohoo! I couldn't wait to get home and dig through everything.

Well, I got home, put Peanut to bed, and got to work...well, more like 'play' :). I couldn't believe what I found! There wasn't just fabric - there were tons of different kinds of trims and ribbons, a Tupperware full of buttons, some lace, finished collars, and - perhaps the most exciting find - some vintage patterns! Not only were there some cute patterns, I found an amazing apron pattern - I can't wait to try it! I've been looking for a vintage-ish apron pattern for my sister-in-law. I actually gasped when I saw the pattern because it is perfect. Yay!
The icing on the cake is that for the price of a little gas I was able to get all these wonderful treasures. Now I just need to think of some projects 'worthy' of all these great things. I'd love to get some ideas from you. Thanks for reading!