I Won!!

For the first time ever, I won a giveaway online! I couldn't believe it when I got an email saying I won the second book bundle on The Fat Quarter Shop' blog. It's an awesome stack of five quilting books. I can't wait to break it open after the girls go to bed!

Progress on the Florida Quilt

Home sick today...my fever broke so i am doing a little chain piecing for my mother-in-law's quilt.

More Handmade Gifts

I made a bunch of handmade gifts this year...here are a few more!

First, a snowman table runner with yo-yo and snowflake button details. I made two of these, for two of my aunts.

Next, I made two zipper pouches. The neon green & pink one was for my Goddaughter, and the one with the Gypsy Caravan fabrics was for my older daughter's Godmother. I modified a tutorial to make both versions. (http://www.noodle-head.com/2010/04/gathered-clutch-tutorial.html?m=1)

Finally, when we saw the Nutcracker this year, my cousin, who is also my younger daughter's Godmother, admired the signed pointe shoes. So I snuck away during intermission to buy her a pair. Then, since she happens to be obsessed with mustaches, I made her a pointe shoe bag with an appliqued mustache for her own pointe shoes. She loved both!!

I'm so happy with how everything turned out!

Christmas Gift

I drew my sister-in-law's name in our polyanna this year, and she was so excited. She's been wanting a quilted table runner for her dining room table. She didn't want it to be Christmasy, and she loves rich colors like purple, red, and gold. So I selected some pieces from a Come Together layer cake, and my local quilt shop had a bit of the purple yardage left. I used that for the border, backing, and binding. The blocks ended up being about 12.5" and I used the two-color star tutorial from Fresh Lemons Quilts (http://www.freshlemonsquilts.com/?p=1709).

I would have liked to quilt it more (maybe some small stippling in the cream background only), but I ran out of time before Christmas! Oh well, she loved it anyway. I'm really happy with how it turned out, too!

Christmas Pillowcases

I sewed for the second time since going back to work!! A quick project...a Grinchy Christmas pillowcase for each of my girls! Hopefully all of my other Christmas sewing projects will get done tomorrow!

A New Stocking

Since going back to work a few weeks ago, I've only completed one very important project... A new stocking for our new Bug! Our Elfie even tested it out for her! ; )

I have a few Christmas gifts to make, so hopefully I will be able to squeeze in some sewing time soon!

My Blogger's Quilt Festival Entry!

 

I am so excited about my first-ever entry into the Blogger's Quilt Festival!  I first saw the festival in the springtime, and I enjoyed reading about everyone's creation. I am thrilled to be joining in this time around.

I made this quilt this summer, while waiting for our new little one to arrive, using this recipe from the Moda Bake Shop. The recipe uses a layer cake to make two baby quilts. Kate Spain's Good Fortune line had caught my eye, however, I only needed one quilt, and I didn't want to use some of the prints that were predominantly orange. So I went to a local quilt shop that had yardage of the line in stock, and had fat quarters cut in the prints that I wanted. We decided to use my favorite print (also the quilt backing) as the basis for her nursery. My husband painted it a beautiful shade if periwinkle, one of my favorite colors.

I really wanted to make my little girl a special quilt before she arrived. I learned how to quilt while I was on maternity leave with my older daughter, so I didn't make any special quilts the last time I was pregnant. I also wanted to make something that featured her name, since she is named after my grandmother who passed in 2010. I machine appliqued her name and a dragonfly, to echo the dragonflies in the fabrics.

I quilted it on my machine, using an all-over meandering/stipple in lavender to match the center section. Here you can see her name and the dragonfly applique ...

...and here I am, basting it at 8.5 months pregnant!

 

We are currently using the quilt in her room, and each month, I am taking her picture on her name quilt to document her growth. That will be fun to look back at when she is older!

Quilt Stats:

Finished Size: approximately 40"x40"

Special Techniques: machine applique

Quilted by: me!

Best Category: baby quilt