I'm Not Bored Yet

So much is going on here each and every day. My sister is traveling in Ireland right now, there is construction happening in the back yard, and I am painting parts of the inside of the house. The painting is winding down, which makes me happy. On days that I paint, I don't always get to sew.

When it comes to sewing, the list is endless and seems to grow more quickly than I can finish things and cross them off. Part of that is due to the fact that I am now sewing clothing, as well as quilts. That was my first sewing love, really. I hate shopping for clothes. If I sew some, I don't have to shop!

Last week I made a few things for the kiddos. Sewing in a smaller scale is fun and much faster. Now I am sewing for me. I will show that off in my next post. But for now, some quilty goodness.

 This is the top of a pillow for Miss N. I need to quilt it up and attach a back to it. It matches the baby quilt I made for her when she was born. I really love that raindrop fabric!

 This little wall hanging is one I started back in NC. This is for my middle daughter. She requested some small quilts she could hang as art in her house. This is in some fabrics that she chose from my stash. I have a whole box of her choices to work with. This is the first.

 Straight line quilting in the background behind the leaves, curlicues in the borders and hand quilting with pearl cotton on the leaves themselves. A bit of everything.

And for the back, this print that has sat in my stash since it was released. I would have to look at the date, but I am guessing 2012. It is the bottlecap print from Going Coastal by Emily Harrik. I never could figure out how to use it. So that is what I have been doing this week. Have a great weekend.

WIP Wednesday with a Giveaway

I saw this adorable goldfish fabric on Cluck Cluck Sew a few weeks back and I knew that it was the perfect focus fabric for a baby quilt. I had been wanting something just like this. So I went on line and found it.  I did my fabric pull, but then waited for inspiration. I love Allison's Juice Boxes Quilt, but I didn't want to just copy it. (She has a pattern available for it.) Then, it finally came to me...Economy Quilt Blocks.

 I decided to put the goldfish in the center of all the blocks to make it cohesive. I added a couple of greys to tone it down a bit. I will need 25 of these to make my quilt. They finish at about 8 inches.

 I got the specific measurements from Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts. I wanted the blocks to be big enough to really see the goldfish.

 I am happy to finally use a bit of this print from the Going Coastal line that I have had like forever. I had forgotten how much I loved it.

 This is going to be a great baby quilt. And I love making these block so much, I might just have to make another one in some other fabrics when this is done.

                                          I love this one...

And this one...the Squared Elements are navy, although they look almost black here. When I get the top together I can take it outside and get a better picture in natural light.

Now, about that giveaway...I have a book that I loved reading that I would really like to share with someone.  A few weeks ago I won a copy of this...

I have enjoyed it immensely, but I am not one to keep a book that I wouldn't read again. And I do love to share a good read.  So if you would like to win this very gently used copy of Nancy Zieman's book, just leave me a comment and tell me to put your name in the draw. That's it. I will pick a winner next Sunday, March 30. Due to postage rates this is only open to US readers this time.  Hope you all have a great week. Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced. Also linking to Fort Worth Fabric Frenzy Friday.

Survived Thanksgiving Week

I have missed being here, but when you work in a grocery store, Thanksgiving week is one of the busiest of the year.  I hope everyone had a great holiday.  Now that last week is done, I hope for more time to sew and show you what I'm working on.

Since a lot of it is Christmas related, it will be challenging to find things I can show, but there will be some.  I have one today that I can show, because even though it is a gift, my 5 year old grandson doesn't read my blog, so it's okay.

Have you seen the blog Sew Can She?  It is awesome!  It is filled with tutorials for things, not just quilts, but bags, clothes and lots more.  I found it, or maybe it found me, I don't remember, but it was this summer.  This is the first thing I have made from the tutorials on the site.

 It is a cushion for sitting and watching TV or sitting and reading or just flopping on.  The tutorial has it made from home dec weight fabric, but since I had none of that and I really wanted to use this cute stuff, I used a layer of muslin underneath for added strength.

 I love this print and thought it would be just perfect for a 5 year old boy.  What do you think?

 I used smaller pieces for the sides.  These are all left from a quilt I am making for another grandson.  The tutorial has you purchase ready made piping trim.  I made my own and it was really simple.  I had some soft, thin-ish clothesline rope...at least that was what it was sold as...and I cut strips of the blue starfish print from the Going Coastal line.  You can buy cording to make piping at Joann's.  I think it was the perfect addition.  I was able to make this without buying anything but the filling, which I got with a 50% off coupon at Joann's.

It even has a handle for carrying.  If you want to make one of these, it's pretty easy.  I recommend you don't skip the piping as it really makes it look finished and really, it's very easy to use, whether you make it or buy it.

I am working on another one for my other grandson, using Castle Peeps I still had in my stash and a small piece of Kona in an orange color for the piping.  I will be back soon with pictures of that one.

Have a great Sunday.

Wordless Wednesday