Itty Bitty Hello Kitty

It's not finished yet, I am quilting it now. But I wanted to show you something I have been working on for a few months now. When I made the Hello Kitty quilt for my daughter, my oldest daughter had just had a baby girl after two boys. She loved the Hello Kitty quilt and wanted one for baby N, but not a big one and she asked me if I could do a small one to use as a wall hanging.

Now, I liked the quilt, but I never thought I wanted to make another one, especially a smaller one. But...I began to think about it. After awhile I decided to try it and not tell her until I saw if I could follow it through.

 N's signature color, according to my daughter, is purple. So the same quilt, with a purple border this time. The other difference is that instead of cutting 2.5 inch squares that finish at 2 inches, I cut 1.5 inch squares that finish at 1 inch. Itty bitty squares...1,296 itty bitty squares actually.

 And then I added another border around it to frame it, and also because I have special quilting planned for the border.

The most fun in making this is finding scraps to use for all these squares. Many are left over from the larger quilt, and many are cut from scraps, charm squares and the last bits and bobs of very old fabrics, particularly the purple ones. This quilt will finish at about 40 inches square. I will be back with more photos when it is done. Have a lovely weekend and talk to you soon. Linking up to Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts.

Color My World

Well, that was the title of a song that was very popular when I was in high school. Any kids growing up in the 70's know it. Anyhow, this is my last post on my crayon project, I think. I have finished all four of the crayons to gift to the grands for Christmas and I don't know who will love them more, me or their mom or the kiddos.

 Remember Pea Green who change his name to Esteban the Magnificent? Guy has self esteem.

 Here are the other three colors hanging on the design wall, waiting for their paint to dry. The black band and the faces are paint and fabric marker.

     A big pile of arms and legs on the sewing table, waiting to be attached.

 Esteban meets orange, who seems to be complaining about something. Esteban is happy though.

 The gang, all together in a chair. They all have such different personalities, don't they?

 Yellow is saying "Here I am, looking bright and I am the color of the sun!" Orange does not agree. He thinks he is the true color of the sun.

 And as they bicker over that, Purple seems to have his own issues. He doesn't look happy with either of them.

But Esteban loves them all. The reason for choosing these particular colors out of the whole book is because they are the kids favorite colors. Esteban, because he is so sweet. Have a great weekend. Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts.

Color Me Happy

My only finish for this week is these fun crayons. I got the pattern from Chelise Patterson. If you have never read the books, you need to. They are hilarious.

 This one is my favorite. Pea Green changes his name to Esteban the Magnificent.

 He wears a little yellow cape. Here he is sitting in my sewing room, suppressing a giggle. I might need to make one of these for me to keep. These will be for my grandchildren.

I am also making orange and yellow, who argue about which one of them is the true color of the sun. And purple, because my daughter says that is N's signature color. More pictures soon. Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts. Have a great weekend.

Oh, You Beautiful Doll

My Friday finish is not a quilt this week. It's a doll. Actually two dolls. And since baby N can't read, I can post this, her Christmas gift, now.

 Ever since N was born, the only granddaughter, I have wanted to make her a doll. I went searching for a doll pattern that spoke to my heart. Then, Cori of Creativity Amongst Chaos came up with this one. She and Madame Samm, partners in crime, started making and posting pictures of many versions.

 My heart was stolen. The pattern makes a 9 inch doll, so tiny and so cute. Once I finished her, I knew I wanted one a wee bit larger for N. So I enlarged the pattern to 150% and the doll in purple was born.

 Their sweet faces are reminiscent of my own beloved Raggedy Ann. But this dolly sits up all by herself! I love the way she came together.

And here, they look like sisters. I hope N will love them. I love them. I think I might have to make one more to keep me company after these two go to live at N's house. The pattern is available at the Paper Ladies site on Cori's blog. Happy weekend friends. Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts.

Summer Solstice Finish

Finally, this beautiful quilt is done. Completely done. I started it in the Quilt along with Melissa at Happy Quilting. I kept up with all the piecing and then used a quilt as you go method to quilt each of the 40 inch blocks. I joined them together and then the project stalled for a bit.

This past week I began pushing forward again to finish this. It is such a large quilt! I quilted the sections where the blocks joined together. Then I had to quilt the border strips and attach them. Then backing, more quilting to anchor the backing and bind.

The backing is Rhoda Ruth in a 108 inch width. I love being able to use one big piece like that.

          It's kind of like having two quilts in one.

 The whole time as I was sewing the backing on I kept thinking what would I use for binding? I didn't want grey, I wanted it to show. I didn't buy enough of the backing, but that would have been great.

 Then I looked over at the shelf of fabrics and this was right on top! I loved it. It has lots of the colors in the quilt and the bit of green. But then I thought maybe not. I finally gave in and just went for it.

      And I think it looks good from both sides. I love a good stripe for binding.

This is one big quilt. but I truly love the way it turned out. Many thanks to Melissa for a great quilt along. Not done by the end of summer, but finished before the Winter Solstice! Talk to you soon.