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.

WIP Wednesday-Busy, Busy

Lots going on over here these days. So many projects, but I just can't seem to help myself. Lots of starts and a few finishes every couple of weeks. Not bad. Starting on some holiday sewing too. Here's what's up.

 Got a bunch of pieces cut out for holiday table runner. This is from a Warm Wishes bundle by Red Rooster fabrics. I won a $30 gift card to Ms Apple Heart's Etsy shop and this was what I chose.  This is the Etsy shop run by Madame Samm of Sew We Quilt. Pop over and check it out. Lots of great things, and the proceeds are going to help her assistant with college expenses. A win-win for all.

 Next, I have started the cuttin of pieces for the Fair Isle quilt sew along with Lee at Freshly Pieced. It doesn't start until tomorrow, but with all these pieces to cut out, I need all the extra time I can get. Can't wait to get sewing on this one.

 I have 2 of the 4 rows put together, pressed and on a hanger for J's new quilt. I hope to get this quilt top finished by next week. The goal is to get it quilted and ready for J when he comes for Thanksgiving. I need deadlines people. They keep me moving. Projects without deadlines languish around here.

 A couple of trick or treat bags for V and B. I did J's and took it to him a couple of weeks ago when I went to visit and drop off the Fall Wedding quilt to my daughter and her hubby.

 And while I was there, she asked if I could fix the binding on this quilt She made it in sewing class, way back in 1999. For some reason we mad a single fold binding and for a quilt that is loved and used as much as this one is, that was the wrong decision.

 I found enough of this in my stash to make a new double fold binding so I will be working on this too. Also with a Thanksgiving deadline so it can go back home with her.

 The sewing on the edges where the binding was are very irregular and the batting is so very thin now. I told my husband I think the fabric weighs more than the batting does for sure.

I do love seeing these older fabrics. I remember when we went to choose them. I had hoped I had another quilter in the family, but nope. This is the only quilt she ever made. She doesn't really like to sew. Oh, well. Hope your week is as productive as mine is shaping up to be. Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced.

My Turn to Wake Up to Kona

I have been very eager for this day to arrive. I am loving this hop so much. When Madam Samm announced this one, I thought "YES!" It was the excuse I needed to be able to make a project using all Kona Solids. When she posted the pictures of the bundles of Sunrise and Sunset, I knew I was in love with the Sunrise. Maybe because I am a morning person. But anyway. I began to get the beginning of an idea from that first day. I ordered a Kona Sunrise jelly roll and so my project began.

The first thing I did, after looking at the beauty, and of course unrolling it, was to sew all the strips together in the order they were rolled. This is the result. Then, I knew I wanted to put one small silhouette on it, but what should it be? I turned over many possibilities in my head.  And settled on this:

Now this next part is lots of pictures...

 I quilted the sun's rays from the center up. I quilted wisps of wind by the dandelion and a few hills near the bottom in the green grass.

Carolina blue sky.

Bound in grey.

 This last picture is Sunrise Sunset, after it slid right down the rock! I hope you enjoyed my quilt. I have a couple more ideas to try with Kona jelly rolls, once I am off this fabric fast.  Many many thanks to Madam Samm and Carol for this wonderful hop. I can't gush enough about what a great job they both do.  Now hop on to see my fellow Kona sewists.

January 20

More Stars in Comanche

Buzzing and Bumbling

Quilting Quietly

Grammie Q’s

The Quilted Cat

The Quilting Queen Online

Lauraluvsloons

                                                                Sew Incredibly Crazy

I'm Putting My Stamp on It!

Welcome to my day on the stamp blog hop. Sew many thanks to Madame Samm of Sew We Quilt and Thearica of Pig Tales and Quilts for being such great cheerleaders for us. This has been such a fun hop. I love the ones that are sew different like this. Sew here we go.  I immediately wanted to do something rainbow, since I love rainbows.  The first thing I did was sew some strips together for a background.

 Then I had to think of something to applique onto it. I stared at it for several days before I thought of this...my car. I love my little yellow VW beetle. So I found a line drawing of one on line and used it to make my applique.

 There is no particular reason I chose 5 cents for the stamp price. It just came to me. I used my wavy rotary cutting blade to get the white edging for the stamp.

 In retrospect, I should have lined the beetle so you can't see the stripes behind the car. Oh well...

 And after I fused everything on the stamp, I stitched around all the car parts with yellow thread for the body and grey thread for the wheels and windows.

There you have it, my stamp. I love it so much, but I am going to send it to my sister-in-law, Sally. She too has a yellow beetle that she loves and yellow is also her favorite color. So off to Vermont it goes.  If you are keeping track, this is post 199, so my next post will be 200 and will have a special giveaway. Look for it on Friday.

Now go and visit all the other lovely stamp makers today.

July 2

Sew and Sow Farm 

fishkopp

Scraps of Life

Meadowbrook

Katie and Kwilts 

Em's Scrap Bag  

GrammieQ's

How ART you?

BumbleberryStitches

A Stitch in Time

Today, It's for the Birds

I have been so enjoying this blog hop. I really wanted to be a part of it, as I just love birds. We have lots of bird feeders in our yard and I can just sit and watch for hours.  A great big THANK YOU to Madame Samm for coming up with this great idea and another to Mary for being such a great cheerleader and helping us to stay organized.

When I first though of my idea for a project, it just popped into my head, pretty much the way it turned out.

 I knew I wanted to do raw edge applique birds and I wanted them to be 4 different ones, sitting on a branch. I drew templates for the birds and just free cut the branches. They sat that way on my table for days while I tried to decide what else to do with them.

 I love the cardinal and the bluebird. I had never seen a bluebird until I move to NC. The color of them is indescribable. We have lots of cardinals in our yard as well.

 The little grey is my attempt at a robin and the yellow one reminds me of the finches that come to one of our feeders. So bright and beautiful. After I got the details on the birds, I decided to add a few leaves to the branches. Then I quilted all over swirls.

 The back is a last chunk of a leaf print I bought about 8 years ago. Perfect! I wasn't sure this was such a great effort, but the more I look at it, the more I like it. I am going to California in a few weeks to visit my sisters and I think this is a perfect gift for my youngest sister. She paints beautiful birdhouses. So to my other sis who reads this blog: Sshhhhhh, it's a surprise.

Thank you for stopping by today. Now fly off to visit all the other wonderful ladies and see their projects. I know you will love them all.

Friday, May 10

http://ssparrowinflight.blogspot.com

http://Hillvalleyquilter.blogspot.se

http://mcsqrd.blogspot.com

http://loveitsewit.blogspot.com

http://piecepeacenc.blogspot.com

http://grammieq.blogspot.com

http://meadowbrook-Kristen.blogspot.com

http://scrapbook-ChickADoodle.blogspot.com

www.craftyshenanigans.blogspot.co.uk

http://Stitchingbythebeach.blogspot.com

www.thebusybeequiltshop.blogspot.com

http://morestarsincomanche.blogspot.com

http://lesquilts.blogspot.ca

http://suebeesworld.blogspot.com

http://mtnmommy2.blogspot.com

www.thatlookslikeitneedsstitches.blogspot.com

http://www.freshcutquilts.com

Have a great day!

It's All About Me

Time now for another fabulous blog hop cooked up by Madame Samm and cheered on by our wonderful cheerleader, Marlene.  This is a fun one, folks.  Amy Bradley came up with this fun pattern and we all are going to make it our own.  Each one will be similar, yet different and individual.

Here is my lady:

 I have to smile whenever I see her.  She just cracks me up with her crazy hair and her know-it-all stance.  I had to make her dress yellow.  Anyone who knows me knows it is my favorite color. Even my car is yellow.

 I tried to do the words on top on the machine, but I didn't think it showed up too well, so I ended up hand stitching with embroidery floss.  Her glasses are red, because mine are a sort of metallic red. That was my hubby's idea and the shape is more like mine as well.  The grey streak in front of her hair is again, just like mine.  My hair is also short and kinda crazy.

 When I got to the pin cushion, I had this piece of fabric with the little bird and it was just right.  I used beads for the pin heads.

 The blanket stitch on my machine was new to me.  Never used it before.  Luckily I started on the dress and got my confidence going.  The letters were much harder to do because of all the turns. It actually looks better here in the photo.

 I also gave her beads for earrings, since I also were earrings most of the time.  I used only fabric and embellishments I had on hand.  Then, I decided to make her into a little pillow.  I love how it seemed to give her even more personality.

                This bright  and crazy strip seemed just right for the back.

And here she is again, in all her glory.  Thanks for stopping by to visit.  Please be sure to go visit all the other blogs and see how everyone else has interpreted this gal.  Here is the list of today's blogs:

Tuesday, February 19

Just Let Me Quilt

Sunshine Quilting

Spoilt Dog Quilts

Karen at That Other Blog

Grammie Q

Gracie Oliver Arts

Marjorie's Busy Corner

SnippetsNScraps

Sowing Stitches

Pigtales and Quilts