Kids Quilts

final dimensions: 40x45 each

White strips are 6.5" starting
blocks were 4.5x6.5" starting

Found inspiration from a couple quilts I have on my pinterest quilt board. I wanted these to be the same pattern as one another (for fluidity in look and quick cutting, etc. All the numbers were the same.)

Everything was from my stash. Just trying to bust through so I can get some new fabric and inspiration.

I'm happy with them. I think they are cute and simple. Also, it looks nice to me that they actually look like they have a kids room, you know, instead of just beds and mish-mash blankets, etc.

Christmas Quilt (gift)

final dimensions: something like 65x50 or something. Don't quite remember.

I went through a couple different designs for this quilt. In the end, it all ended up being a little changed even after the final design because some of my middle section fabrics were a tad bit smaller than I initially thought. You can see this when it was pinned before I quilted and cut it down.

Straight line quilting again. I think most of my quilts will be this way because of the designs I do. Eventually I'd like to do more intricate designs for the tops where getting them professionally quilted would be great, but I'm still learning, so quilting them myself is preferable.

Everything was from my stash except the backing and binding (which were the same fabric that I bought 40% off at nuttall's. Score. I reallllly liked it). I learned on this quilt that my local shop (not joanns) sells batting by the yard. SO much less expensive. Has changed my aspirations for quilting because of this monetary change, to be sure! yay!

I think my sister-in-law really liked it. I hope she did. I was really pleased with it and was happy to have done so well and to be able to give it as a gift.

French Window Quilt

finished dimensions: 58x78

yellow blocks are approx. 8.5"
little blue are 2"
white sashing between is 2"

did straight line quilting (not too good at free motion yet) which i think works really nicely.
pretty happy with the choice for the binding fabric, but would have liked the have the same fabric as the little blue squares.

used warm and natural batting instead of the super fluffy thick stuff i've used before. Makes a HUGE difference. So many fewer puckers on the back. (There are still some, but definitely not like the ones before).

I learned a lot on this quilt, so I consider it a success. Plus, its pretty. :)

from the race day

I just found these images and realized I never put them up! Sorry! This was a great day! So glad you invited us to come.

a quilt for my brother

our high school's colors are orange, white and blue.

i thought i compensated enough for the pinwheel to be the same size.

Apparently not.

as march steadily approaches

I'm realizing I'm getting to the dregs of my canning from last summer. I have:

one quart of peaces

one 8oz peach jam

one 8 oz plum jam

2 pints salsa

5.5 pints applesauce

I still have quite a bit of freezer jam.

I made peach, raspberry peach, raspberry, strawberry and blackberry. Freezer peach is awful, and the raspberry peach is similar, just not so great. But blackberry and raspberry were our definitely favorites for the freezer, and we LOVED the cooked peach. I figured I'd just make ALL of it, then be able to actually compare. So this summer, I know what I'll be making jamwise.... though I do want to try currant and apricot this year, not gonna lie. :)

earrings

I am finally getting around to putting my stock of earrings up for sale. I first sold these at the 2010 Avenues Street Fair and really LOVE wearing them.

skirts

I'm starting to get hooked on skirts. I also recently figured out how to line the inside which gives them a much more finished look. I'll post a couple more when they're out of the wash.

work in progress

i won these blocks from a giveaway online by another quilter.
this is what i'm working on right now. i've sewn the blocks into rows, now i just need to sew the rows together and bind.

finished: under the sea brick quilt

Finished up the brick quilt. Thank you, Jasmine for showing me how to use that adhesive. I'm hooked!

This was made with all remnants or "as-is" fabric. I got the three pieces on the top from the remnants at joann's, then the back and binding was a twin sheet from ikea (that was 2.79 in their as-is section). The batting was from my stash, so overall I think I spent less than $10 making this little quilt. The quilting pattern was something Jasmine showed me. I this it is more boyish being straight lines instead of puzzle piece style.

I hope my friend's little boy like this!

finished size: 37"x43"

butternut squash soup

I tried this recipe from Our Best Bites and have loved it ever since. I look forward to the fall and winter because I know I can make this soup in abundance. The original is here, but here are my notes for what I do:

I use a whole lotta butternut squash. Probably double what they say. And therefore more chicken stock. I also use the biggest potato I can find, which translates to about 3 medium potatoes.

Sigh. This stuff is the BEST.

granola

3/4 C brown sugar
2/3 C canola oil
2/3 C honey
5 C rolled oats
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
*nuts, seeds, flax
**dry fruit

In a large pot on med-high heat boil: oil, brown sugar and honey. In separate bowl combine dry ingredients and then add wet ingredients from pot. In a thin layer, spread onto a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.
Cook at 375 degrees for 10-11 minutes.
*Add nuts, seeds, flax (any dry ingredients) with the dry ingredients.
**Add dry fruit after baking (though, I didn't and it seemed to turn out fine).
Eat it with yogurt and other fresh fruit, with milk, or alone!

Inspiration

I think the quilts for christmas presents that I'll made this year will be this pattern because it looks lovely, but is simple. I was only planning on making three this year (for christmas presents) but if this is as easy as I think it will be, I think I can do more! Minimal piecing but overall fun look that is nice.

baby shower gift

my friend Laura is having a baby boy. All my scraps and current projects are purple, so I picked some things out of my stash and enlisted the help of my sister to cut and iron. I'm doing a brick quilt ( amy butler has the starting points). I saw it first on Creative Chicks and thought it looked so great! I've amended it to be about 40x40. This is the first layout. I have since made the lines askew so all points don't line up. The shower is on saturday.

Any suggestions on how to quilt it? I was thinking diagonal lines (simple), but bc this isn't squares I think it will look odd. Sigh. What to do.

A Fail to Learn From

After our last visit, since you taught me how to attach my darning/stippling foot, I decided to just START since everyone (rightfully so) says you need tons of practice. This piece, just some simple piecing that I practiced outline quilting on, was what I practiced on for stippling.



Other than looking like there is no design, its not awful, right? Wrong. Check out the back:



Looks like I have some practice to do (and a lot more reading up).

Astrid's play kitchen

I'd been wanting to buy a play kitchen for Astrid since she was about a year and a half, but the cost of a wood kitchen always prevented me from getting one for her. That was, until I found tons of inspiring DIY kitchens online, all using repurposed nightstands or cabinets from the thriftstore.

The total cost for this kitchen was about $45.

Quilt Tops to Finish

Here are two quilt tops I need to finish up this year. These are not included as part of my goal to sew two quilts this year. This is just finishing up loose ends.

This one measures 79"x39". It is half of a larger quilt top that was sewn but I did the seams on one side smaller unknowingly, so when I put it together I realized that it was ruined. I think If I do some borders I can salvage the top. Not my best work. It is long and lean, so I have to do something to the sides, but will need to do something to the top and bottom and well or it will look funnier than it already does.



This one was a pleasant surprise. This is the stage I found it in at my parents. I made it 6 years ago probably, I just need to practice my quilting skills and be done with this one! It is approx crib sized.

More Purple Scraps

Finishing up the purple scraps, and like we talked about, I'm going to be sewing the pinwheels. I'm not sure if I'll sew any sashing or borders.

First Star

Trying to use up all those purple scraps I have!

I started with 4.5" squares, cut them on a 45° angle. so overall this isn't especially large.

If I do some borders it can be a girl's baby blanket, or if I just bind it can be a centerpiece for the table (or a end table). I'm mainly just making it to practice quilting on. Which do you think I should do? I don't know anyone who is due with a girl right now.

fresh and light hummus

Here's that hummus recipe that I brought over yesterday. I used a 15.5 oz can of garbanzo beans, one extra Tbsp of lemon juice and the reserved liquid from the beans instead of water (per the comments in the reviews on epicurious). It was super easy and I really liked it.