Tote Bag #1 - If I Didn't Knit

First of all, I should mention there is a swear word on the bag, so anyone sensitive to language don't look at the picture.  I posted this image on a quilting forum and they deleted it because it was vulgar.   Go figure. 

A little history... I met Peggy through my friend Judi.  Peggy is Judi's best friend and as a reader of the blog you might remember Judi is a dear friend of mine, and the one that got me into quilting.  Over the holidays I saw a tote bag Peggy made that I absolutely loved.  I got the pattern but by the time I got around to using it the holidays were over. 

I had some fabric of cats playing in a basket with balls of yarn; when I found it I knew I was going to use it for my friend Renee who has two grey tabby cats and she knits.  In fact, she is the best darn knitter I know.  She makes amazing, beautiful stuff!  I decided to make that fabric into the Crabapple Hill tote bag and change the Christmas center into a panel that goes with it. 

I found some clip art, added the text, and traced it onto my center panel fabric.  From there I colored the picture with Crayola Crayons, heat set the color, then hand stitched along my tracing lines and made the bag.  My husband, who is incredibly clever, came up with the phrase on the bag since I was struggling with something funny to put on there.  I finished it off with Swarovski crystals for the eyes, nose, and to dot the I's.

I hope you like it Renee!

Merry Merry Snowman - Block 2

I'm about to pick up block 7 from Pacific Fabrics, and I just finished block 2.  Whew, this was a lot of work.  Many hours went into this one little block.  Putting the background together went fast - well, once I quit making cutting mistakes anyway.  :) 

Each block comes with just enough of the fabrics needed to make it.  For the upper light colored fleur-de-lis, I cut that piece a 1/2" too small on one side.  I went to the fabric store for a new piece of fabric, and cut that one with the fleur-de-lis' going the wrong direction!  Aye!  Instead of driving back to the store, I cut that piece in half and pieced it so they went the right way. 

The reindeer (ear, tail, antlers), bird, sleigh, snowmen, present, scarves, sign, purse, hats are all applique.  There were many evenings watching tv hand embroidering snowman arms, reins, purse strap, noses, eyes, and sign text.  For this block I learned how to do a slip stitch and chain stitch.  Thank goodness for YouTube video tutorials!

Now, on to block 3....................

Bunny for Baby - Quilt #6

My first commissioned quilt!  Ok, so the job came from my Mom, but it gave me good practice in turning someone else's vision into reality.  Fortunately she was very open to my thoughts and gave me a lot of creative freedom. 

Rayma recently had her first baby.  Her family and my family have been friends for so long, I call Rayma's mom auntie.  We all live in different states, and haven't seen each other in many years, but my mom is still very close with all of Rayma's family.  Mom wanted a special and unique gift that Rayma and Harper could treasure forever. 

The blanket measures approximately 30" x 40".  It includes applique, hand embroidery, and machine quilting.  This was my first time machine quilting anything other than stitch in the ditch.  My machine doesn't do it well, but I made it work.  :)

To make this quilt:

• Cut six 10.5" x 10.5" squares, cut one 30.5" x 20.5" rectangle for the center.  Sew two strips of three squares each.  Attach one strip on either side of the rectangle.
• Find a bunny and flower applique drawing (I like Google images), choose your fabrics then trace and applique.  Attach baby rick rack.
• Use a button for the bunny nose and hand embroider the mouth and whiskers.  The eyes are a 6 strand french knot.  Hand embroider the baby name and birthdate onto the flower applique.  (I typed it on the computer to give me a font so I wouldn't have to rely on my handwriting, then traced it.)
• Make your quilt sandwich, stitch around the bunny, stitch in the ditch on each of the squares at top and bottom.
• Go to Google images and find different flower drawings. Print them on card stock, cut out and use as a template to draw the flowers (using disppearing ink) onto the blanket. Machine (or hand) quilt.

You will need:
3 fabrics for the top and bottom squares
1 fabric for the center rectangle
Fabrics for the bunny, flower and leaf
Fabrics for the backing and binding (I used the bunny fabric as backing and binding - it was perfect, and we had a lot of it)
Batting
Button
Matching DMC embroidery floss
Matching thread colors for quilting

The quilt top goes together pretty quick since it's six larger pieces.... everything else takes more time.  It was a labor of love and I really enjoyed watching this one come together!

~ Enjoy ~

Quilt #5 - Allie's blanket

A friend of mine was having a baby girl and I wanted to make a blanket baby Allie could grow into.  With that in mind, when my friend Dionne and I went shopping we looked for girlie fabrics, not necessarily nursery patterns.  Also, I didn't know what colors my friend would be choosing for Allie's room so I went with a mix.  The back is done in a nice light green flannel.  Also on the back, I made hearts using two of the fabrics from the blanket and hand embroidered Allie's name and birthdate, then appliqued it on.  Since the blanket was finished before she was born I had to hand stitch the applique.  Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of the hearts.  Next time.  :)