Block for Regina

This block is for Regina, a brilliant artist and wonderful person.  Her specifics were Kona Black and something circular.  I do wish that the background batik was a pink, but I am also happy to have this ready to mail.  I am very excited to see how her quilt turns out.

Entrelac Cowl

Last Wednesday my glass class was canceled due to lack of oxygen, so I found my way to a supply store instead... I walked away with Rosemary Drysdale's Entrelac: The Essential Guide to Interlace Knitting.

Now, I have finally used the yarns that I got in England three years ago!  I created this cowl from the basic instruction on how to enterlac.   I am hooked on knitting again, which I did not think would happen anytime soon.

Soft Purple Hat with Bumble

 This yarn had been in 'work in progress' state for maybe two years... I finally faced the facts and re-purposed this yarn into a lovely hat.

At first, giving up on the other project was hard, but now I am quite pleased to have actually finished something.  This yarn is so soft and delicately warm that it makes quite a lovely hat.

Notre Dame Party Shirt

Many university do not make licensed fabric for school spirit items. They do make t-shirts though...

Celebrating R-E-S-P-E-C-T

 
Queen Aretha has the right idea about getting things done!

A good friend gave me this great motivator- many thanks.

 I keep it by my work station and just added that frame. I painted it just a bit to brighten it up and make it look a bit regal.

Trip Around the World: A Country Quilt Block Travelogue

 My friend, Anita, has put together this lovely book!  I have not gotten my copy in my hands yet... but I did get to see many of the incredible blocks in person.  

Also, I may have contributed a couple blocks myself... 

Hopefully, you will get a chance to enjoy the lovely blocks and get some great inspiration from the book.  I know I have already.

Here is the Amazon Page for those interested. 

The profits will benefit the Georgia Quilt Project.

Yum

The Buns are enjoying their night time greens and living out the sign I am working on. I really was not planning on sharing this project, but they are just so cute!

 I have always had a habit of collecting and relocating fruit stickers to different notebooks or what not.  This project is just an attempt at getting some clutter/compulsions under control. Wookie is blocking most of the sticker progress, but I would prefer to see him more anyway.

Bunny Recieving Blankets

This little bunny keeps appearing in my work.  Here he is on a little blanket for my neighbors!  My next door neighbors are expecting a little girl at the end of this month.

   My excitement for them spilled into my sewing room...  This first blanket with the bunny and the white on white polka-dots has yellow flannel on the other side.

This second blanket has bunnies on the flannel with a lovely yellow cotton.  For the rounded edges, I use one of those clear plastic CD's that comes on the stack of blanks as a template.  My friend, Sheila, pointed out they were perfect.  Then I stitch them together right sides together, turn and then stitch them around.  Basic sewing, but lots of good wishes for the new life that will be wrapped in the warmth.

Under Construction- Rabbit Roads

This is the first section made of my Rabbit Roads project.  My little lop, Nutmeg, refuses to walk on the slippery tile floor in our current house or maybe she thinks it is all lava...  I don't blame her for not enjoying the ice skating feel and would like to give her a traveling system around the house.  Preferably an easily washable and changeable system.   Enter the Rabbit Roads Construction Project. 

The Roads are strips (like toy train tracks) that will be linkable by buttons or snaps.  I have crocheted this first portion from recycle t-shirts.  I would do a row with my right hand, then back the other direction with my left.  I am not sure if this is how you are supposed to do this but it was working for me just fine.  So far Nutmeg seems to approve.  She made it to the rug island!

Feb BOM from Raspberry Rabbits

Here is the Feb block!  Michelle May's post is here.  I am really enjoying actually posting and participating in an online BOM- especially with the rabbit theme. Wookie kept investigating my stitches while I worked on this block.

Hopefully, I can keep up this trend of actually finishing the blocks going. Honestly, I am pretty worried about next month... moving again and I worry that my fabric & supplies may be out of reach.  A bridge we will just have to cross on the 15th!

OK, I think the bright blue background might just work out.  I am not sure the sashing yet, but I am alright with not worrying about that now.

Thanks again to Shell, the designer, and Harrington and Hannah her inspiration!

Skirt to Apron

We found this skirt in the fall of 2005 at a second hand store. Lovely and made very well by hand.  Unfortunately too high waist-ed and uncomfortable for the Cutie that wanted to make good use of it.  'Fear not,' quoth the seamstress...

 Almost immediately (after washing it) I reconstructed it into an apron.  I removed the back panel and made it into a bodice piece.
However when it came to the straps and ties, I froze.  I even presented it as a almost finished present... It was stuck like this until now... Feb 2012!  Oh my my my... Was it even worth the wait?  Not really and life does tend to interrupt.  Finishing it only took about 20 minutes.

 Here is to another project finished and ready to actually be mailed to the Cutie that it was owed to so long ago...

Shelia's Sampler

I learned how to hand quilt from the most wonderful teacher.  She presented the history of quilting with examples, taught technique with guided practice, and allowed trials of all sorts of quilting tools available.  The class was wonderful.  As expected, the classmates were all joys to be with too.

When the class was over, the teacher had a sampler wonderfully prepared for each of us to continue our practice with.  She had drawn this entire pattern and had the sandwich prepared.  I took it home and started right away.  Then I worked on The Spider-Man Baby Quilt with my newly found hand quilting skill.  After a bit of a time lapse, I am thrilled to have this piece finished. It demonstrates my humble beginnings and progress to smaller stitches.

Made Feb 2010-Jan 2012!

My Crazy 2011-12

This piece was inspired by a challenge: Make a crazy quilt about Jan 2011-12, include some hand stitching, and the spider web element.  My past year definitely inspires craziness.

The top is made entirely from scraps mailed to my mom by a wonderful friend.  The back, binding and batting all from my Lady E.  I also had the joy of making most of it- including all the wonderful embroideries- at Lady E's!  I am always amazed by how much more fun I have and how much better my sewing is when in her Company.  I am a very lucky girl.

This is my first project started and finished in the year 2012!

Jan BOM from Raspberry Rabbits

OK so in the past I have not shown 'work in progress.' This is because I planned on using this blog as more of a catalog of my finished work, but I have decide to change that for this Rabbit BOM. My inspiring friend, Patty, encourages me to show more of my process- so I will take her advice.

Here is the The Raspberry Rabbits original post on the block. I really enjoy Michelle May's blog as she shows her work and her adorable employees and have been looking forward to this BOM.

However, I find I have the best success with finishing projects when I use colors I pick and personalize it a little bit more... Nutmeg and Wookie would be pretty upset if I did not make them the focus of my blocks.  In place of the lovelies Hannah and Harrington, you can see my little half lop and full lop in the block instead.   Also, I am using plain quilting cottons.   I am very excited to see the blocks to come and if I regret using a bright blue background...

Tea Pot Mat

The title does not have that ring that 'mug rug' has but oh well.

This sweet little mat was made from scraps given to me by a special lady at a retreat.  She has taught me so much about working with fabric and quilting.  I am very lucky to hear her voice in my head advising me on the best method as I stitch along.

I believe she would be please with the continuous binding used here, as this is just one small skill she taught me. 

Country Cool Napkins (Part 4)

These are the final two napkins of the set.  They have been finished for some time now, I just had not gotten around to photographing them until now.