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My New Christmas Stocking (197)

Sew for this Christmas I received something that is sew special it came right from my mom’s heart and stitching soul, just for me…she said she’s been working on it for approx 3 years…You have to know my Mum, when she says she’s working on something she isn’t just working on that, she’s making 25 aprons, 15 pie totes, 30 sets of pot holders, 100 pinwheel tree ornaments, half a dozen pin cushions and sew much more, plus she’s working on several block of the month projects and whatever else she feels like starting because she wants new fabric to cut up!! She’s serious about sewing, stitching and quilting!! Her passion is in her very skin…now I know where I get it from, thanks sew much MUM!!

Here’s what she made for me…I cried it’s sew beautiful!

my favourite part: 

how about the cutest cat you ever did see 🙂

Until next time, say happy and creative with this tip:

Looking at Quilting books, magazines, even quilts hanging at a show can help you develop an eye for colour and design.

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Baby Quilt for Zachary, Pin Cushions, Tig (entry 44)

Finally I can show you guys what I’ve been working so much on…you’ve seen the colour of the fabrics but how about a slight recap. These were just miscellaneous fabrics in my stash. Once I saw these colours I absolutely fell in love with them mind you, I’m really into lime green and brown these days.

After pulling many books out of my over flowing shelf and spending the good part of a sunny afternoon thumbing through them I found a few that I liked parts of but not the entire quilt for him. I always like to make quilts and projects unique. So after consulting 🙂 with my DH we came up with a ‘Kite’ theme…I searched the internet looking for a cute design and found nothing, can you believe that?

I’m working on my own pattern now and I will eventually kit this and it will be available in our store.

On the weekend, when I revealed it at the Baby Shower for Zach, Diane loved it amongst all of the other gals present. I will have the back completed today and I’ll baste it at our ‘Quilt til You Wilt’ day tomorrow and then I’ll start on the machine quilting.

Without further adieu here’s ‘Kites for Kids’ quilt by Valerie.

I’ve made two more Friendship bags and practiced my machine quilting for when I start Zach’s quilt.

Circles…I even wrote my name

 

Squares, which I thought turned out rather interesting.

I shouldn’t reveal who these bags are for or the colours as these will be for friends, family or my guild exchanges (let’s just keep all of you guessing, shall we). These arn’t quite done yet, but close and boy they will brighten up any dining room table, sewing machine table and to take fabric shopping 🙂

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I’m still working on my tuffets aka pin cushions.

I started making some mini ones, what do you think?

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Here’s Tig sitting by my machine, just hanging out. She’s such a little cutie!!

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I’m working on gifts for my nephews and nieces (nephews are cut out, nieces: have the stuff need to get it cut out for tomorrow), Aunts, MIL, Step-Mom, Mom, Dad, FIL, Sisters, SIL, Nanie (DH’s Grandma) and more people that should be on the list but not sure what to do for them yet.

As I sit here and write, I’m looking out my studio window and there is big, white crisp flakes of snow falling, finally the Christmas season is upon us and now I can start decorating my house for the holidays.

Until next time, have a great creative weekend everyone, Valerie

 

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Zach’s Quilt, Tuffets, Ramekin Pin Cushions (entry 39)

Hi everyone,  I have a couple things I hope to share with you today.  First, I’m still working like crazy on this baby quilt for Zach & his Mom, Diane.  It’s close to being done.  I just have the last border to add and another 124 pieces to be sewn together… yikes!!  I have the back all washed and ready for piecing and I must say, it’s adorable in chocolate browns, lime greens and all those polka dots.  I’m thinking of piecing it like a large 9 patch or something similar.

Here’s an idea of what the border will look like (this is prior to sewing it together and prior to cutting away the bulk with the connector corners).  What do you think?

 

 

Now the the Second thing : )  I’ve completed a couple of my tuffets from the Schnibbles pattern I blogged about earlier.

Tuffet one is Courthouse steps

Tuffet two is strip pieced.

I really enjoyed making these Tuffets as I learned a new technique called foundation piecing.  This is where you have a piece of muslin or something similar (I used muslin) and sew the pieces to it.  You can of course do this as a paper pieced option – but I personally like to do what the pattern calls for first, then make my personal adjustments on the second go around.  I look forward to making many more of these fun little things in the future.

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Oh, okay… there is three: )  I couldn’t resist sharing these next little colourful cuties with you.  These were made by my Mum who is so creative and finds the neatest things to make and sell in her craft fairs around Christmas.  They are called Ramekin Pin Cushions and did they turn out so fabulous.

If you are interested in purchasing ($9CAD) some of these, please let me know as they would make perfect gifts for your sewing and quilting friends.

Blue glass ramekin’s finished size about 3″ diameter.

So cute Mum and thanks for sharing:)

Hopefully by next’s weeks blog entry, I will be able to finally show you the results of Zach’s quilt as I’m hosting the baby shower for him and presenting it to Diane at that time.  I will however, still need to quilt and bind it, but the majority of the top will be finished, Yay!

Until next time, have a great weekend…Valerie