Snorkel Baby Quilt

This sweet quilt is made with the Snorkel fabric line designed by Cosmo Cricket.

 I am quite pleased as all my corners match up!  The quilting by Miss Regina Carter is lovely.  I made continuous tubular binding and really slowed myself down so the corners have the loveliest miters.  I am very proud of every stitch I put into this piece.

The binding fabric (also seen on the stripe down the back of the quilt) has a great effect when cut on the bias and I really think it gives it a lovely finish.

Oval Bunny Rag Rug

I made this little rag rug from my old t-shirts. It is the first thing I have ever really crocheted. To be honest, it is pretty poorly made and does not lay flat at all.


Hopefully, there will only be improvements in my future rag rugs.   Although my audience is not complaining, that is really the joy of making things for your pets!

(Isn't Nutmeg the cutest model ever!  She actually works for food and refuses to starve herself too.)

Country Cool Napkins (Part 3)

Special Traveler Kit

One of my favorite things to create is a Field Guide for different locations as I travel and explore.  Although I do not share the insides directly here, this is my overall set up that I use when I travel. In the past, I simply used a plastic bag, but now I do believe I will upgrade myself to a quilted pouch as well...

This travel kit was made for a special lady in my life that is a great supporter to my creative side as well.  Actually, quite a few years ago she got me the fabric I used to make it too! 

Country Cool Napkins (Part 2)

Panda Lunch Sack

This sack will hold perfect bamboo snacks!

Similar in style to other lunch bags that I have made, but a little different too.  The pink fabric continues on the inside as well. I enjoy the variations that are possible with a good basic design.

Hopefully its new owner will find it sweet and enjoyable too.

Country Cool Napkins (part 1)

    Recently, I was in Austin at this lovely  store, Ginger's Needlearts and Framing.  I got a set of  Jenny Hart's Sublime Stitching Embroidery Patterns.  After much debate, I went for the Country Cool set.

    Here are the first two that I have made.  For the napkin part, I got a two pack of the Aunt Martha's Flour Sack Dish Towels, which are giant!   I cut each of them into four napkins and hemmed them up.  Now, they are lovely sized napkins.

A Party Shirt

Look I added a new page: AF Party Shirts, to meet your party shirt needs.

Editing a dress shirt was a new challenge for me as I have stayed far away from making clothes in the past.  Now I have discovered that sewing clothes is not as hard as I had thought.  I watched some videos online about setting in seams, got out my trusty seam ripper and got to work... and viola a lovely festive shirt.

Alright so the fabrics are maybe a bit funny together, but the shirt owner chose them and they really fit- if you know the guy.

I was also very lucky and able to borrow a serger from a dear quilting friend.  This was wonderful, as I did not want to invest in one only to find out that I really dislike clothes making all together. 

Texas Blocks

I have relocated recently and these blocks are in honor of that move.  My new little group of quilters here are making a group quilt of applique blocks that represent Texas and the southwest on this given background fabric.  I am so happy to have more quilters in my life, so participating was high on my priority list. 

 
   This first block is of a prickly pear cactus, which actually grow in Georgia too!  A batik helps to texture the cactus and the zigzag stitch helps to show the thorns.  A few French knot flowers and some ground back stitch help to make it complete.

The state flower of Texas is the Blue Bonnet, although the real leaves I believe are different.   These two block were made with Lady E. this past Thursday and it was wonderful!   After not being able to sew together for some time this was such a treat.  So many laughs, ideas, and the most tasty tea of all time, but more than anything a caring friend that inspires me to sew my best.  Thank you, Lady E. 

Made 8th of September 2011.

Recycled Sisters

These two little ladies were made from an Indygo Junction pattern designed by Leslie McCabe.  I love using recycled materials and especially wool.  I remember wearing all four of the sweaters used to make them.  For their faces I needled punch felted the nose, whites of the eyes and ear parts my self to get the color and texture I wanted. 

The Blue Sister has a batik back and the Green Sister has Kaffe's Millefore for her back. The outfits were a first for me, as I had not actually sewn doll clothes before.  They are all around sweet and quite charming. 

Finished the 10th of October 2010- during sweater weather...

Love You to the MOON!

This pillow was made to be a nightly reminder to a very dear person in my life that I love them to the MOON (and back like a mol of times). 

The fabric (other than the ribbon frame) is all soft, reused t-shirts. I personally wore that Yellow Submarine shirt out as a young(er) thang.  I did not use interfacing for this because I really wanted the softness- and I made it before I was introduced to Woven Fusible... many moons ago.

I added this side view so that you can see the dark side of the moon is on the back, of course.  The Sea of Tranquility happens when you either put your head on it or arms around it.  Made with love Summer of 2007...

Woven Scarf

This scarf looks like real 'fruit of the loom' to me with all the bright colors. Barb Originals was at the Sewing Expo this past March, with a few handmade triangle looms. These are brilliant because you create the warp and waft at the same time! Barb was also very encouraging to me as a young weaver, which is always appreciated.

Needless to say I got hooked fast and here is my first scarf from it, felted with all the triangles whip-stitched together. Also with the triangles and variegated yarn there was a wonderful lattice effect achieved.

E.w00t's Lunch Sack

This little bag is another Zakka Sewing inspired piece. My friend and favorite graphic designer (see my banner) picked out Amy Butler's Modern Martini for her bento box bag. I had been putting off calculating this project, but of course once I just did it the bag was made in no time at all.

Now time for some tasty food and it will be complete!

Sue Spargo Lavendar Bird

This little bird is from Sue Spargo's book 15 3-Hour Mini-Projects. It was a fun little project and smells great with the lavender inside!

I used a Kaffe shot cotton for the body and interfaced it with woven fusible to make the little guy more durable.

Headphones Rewrapped

I may be old fashion, but I just cannot handle the ear bud headphones. I really like (for everyday and careless use) the ones that come with the foam that is -until the foam all falls apart...

While waiting for a plane, I made two rectangles with the stockinette stitch. Then used a trusty yarn needle to help secure them into place, giving a new life to my headphones. Now I use them as ear muffs even when I am not listening to music!

Made fall of 2009.

My Zakka Lunch Sack

This lunch sack was inspired by Zakka Sewing by Therese Laskey (Abrams Books, 2008). I loved the beauty and functionality of the projects in the book. The projects really helped me to realize that I would like to surround myself with lovely little things I had actually custom made for my life. So- here is the start and tribute to that notion.

The outside blue fabric is a solid from the Gee's Bend collection. I love the worn texture of these solids so much.

I made this during a weeklong ice-in, but did not finish it until this past weekend... I have been using and enjoying my sack regardless. The bag was only missing the cord or drawstring. My good friend and accomplice, Lady E, showed me how to wrap a cord and turn it a couple months ago and this first attempt was quite nice if I may say so.

Hooty and Tweet

The little cuties are Hooty and Tweet from the pattern by Melly and Me. They were quite fun to make and I learned a good bit in the process.

They were a gift for one of my best friends that is like the Hooty to my Tweet... or maybe the other way around.
I really like that Kaffe stripe for the legs too.

Pterosaur Mini Quilt

This winged creature is embroidered from a iron-on pattern found at a Maryland Goodwill. I really like the Quilter's Linen line for embroidery work.
Then I framed it with batiks and quilted both machine and then by hand with pearl cotton.

I had a good time with this creature and will have to make him some friends soon...

Completed (so far) in Jan of 2011...

Air Force Star

This lovely quilted pillow is the first item I ever made with the foundation paper piecing technique. I really enjoy this process and have many plans for using it in the future!

It is a brilliant original design by Marcia Hohn. The pattern can be found: http://www.quilterscache.com/A/AirForceStarBlock.html .



I quilted the back as well and used an 'invisible' zipper along one side. I really enjoyed making this block and turning it into a pillow. Pillows this size are what I call 'knee pillows.' They are prefect for side sleepers.

 
(I think) I made it in May of 2009 as a graduation/ commissioning gift.

A Small Request

This little quilt was made for a quilting challenge. It provided great inspiration to have limited fabric and time. I hand stitched the words and hand appliqued the circles.

Made with big wishes in about a week, finished February 27, 2011.

Cat in the Hat Quilt

Look at the cute 1 month old! Then look at that lovely quilt! I think wonky blocks and Dr. Seuss belong together- he may have invented them. The quilt top seemed to just fall into place for me- and I enjoyed ever stitch along the way!

I used mainly the Robert Kaufman Cat in the Hat line but then added in some blenders that worked with the multicolor stripe.

I wish you could see a close up on the quilting, by Ms. Regina Carter- it complements the blocks perfectly.

Made with love 20 Feb 2011.

Cat for Pepita!

This sweet little kitty is from Kaffe Fasset's book Quilt Road (2005) the pattern by Keiko Goke. I made mine a little sweeter in the face, with a lot more patchwork... and then my sewing friend, Lady E., suggest that I quilt it too so of course I did! Lady E. made that knock out collar with the fish and peace sign. I really think that detail really makes it.

It was made specially for my good friend Pepita- (world class photographer and floor quilt maker/teacher if you need one...). It was very fun to make something for another crafter and she was definitely thrilled.



This cutie was actually made Feb of 2011- just last month!

Spider-Man Baby Quilt

This little guy is on a lovely Spider-man baby quilt that was made just for him! The web-slinger is hand quilted and then the webs were machine quilted. Most importantly the baby was well made with a high cuteness factor!!!

The Spider-Man is a panel, which was great to practice hand quilting. I had just taken a class in Feb of 2010 from an expert hand quilter- Shelia B. This project was very slow at first but hand quilting does just feel so soft that it is worth the time!


Made with love in May of 2010.

Block for Ellen

This block was for a friend's group quilt with the requirements that there was some red and a flower. I made templates from a Black Eyed Susan flower photo and then appliqued it all by hand. This was my first attempt at hand applique and I think it work out all right.

She has made a beautiful quilt from them all already!!!

Size is 6.5" square.

Finished 8 Oct 2010