A special first birthday quilt

A sweet first birthday quilt for our rainbow quilt. It ended up being a few months late but he didn't mind. I used a lot of my favorite Sarah Jane fabrics, even fussy cutting a few squares. She designs the sweetest childhood fabrics and I use them sparingly because they are my favorite.

Quilt stats:

Pattern - Scrappy Summer by Cluck Cluck Sew in a crib size 

Fabrics - scrappy mix with lots of Sarah Jane, Dear Stella, Sweetwater

A Christmas quilt

 I got this quilt done in time for Christmas as a gift for my boys. I fell in love with the Treehouse Club fabric collection from Sweetwater Fabrics. Such a cute collection for boys with all the tools. I made it extra snuggly by putting a teal minky on the back. Jennifer at Farm Fresh Stitches did the quilting and I just love the tool pattern she found.

Quilt stats

Pattern - Double slice layer cake with 2 additional borders

Fabric - The Treehouse Club by Sweetwater Fabrics for Moda (top + binding)

    teal minky, 90" wide (backing)

Quilting - "Tool Time" pattern, stitched by Jennifer Reed of Farm Fresh Stitches

A Wedding Signature Quilt

I haven't been doing much sewing lately. I have two babies under 2 that keep me very busy. But I had to dust off my sewing machine for this special occasion.

My husband's youngest brother recently got married and my gift to them was a guestbook quilt. I tossed around quite a few patterns in my mind but I finally decided on a pattern by Thimble Blossoms. I got the idea for using the labels on the back from another quilter. I thought it would make for a great reversible quilt.

Photo by Marion McClellan

Photo by Marion McClellan

Quilted by Marion McClellan of My Quilt Diet
Pattern: On A Whim by Thimble Blossoms
DMC # 3802
Fabric:

• Hazel Plum by Fig Tree & Co. for Moda
• Glimmer solids in Champagne by Cloud 9 Fabrics
• Bella solids in Fig Tree Cream by Moda
• Quilter's Linen in Smoke by Robert Kaufman
• Souvenir Labels in Pearl (#13740-11) by French General for Moda

2017 goals

2016 was an interesting year. With a cross country move and then unpacking there wasn't much quilting done. And when we found out we were expecting, well everything got put on the back burner while I trudged through morning sickness. The two quilts that did get finished were done prior to the move and the backing for Alex's quilt was prepped and batting purchased, but I never got around to actually quilting it.

Here's a look at my 2016 goals:
1. Alex's twin size
2. Dad's jelly roll race DONE!
3. Feed Company BOM DONE!
4. Gavin's quilt
5. Logan's quilt
6. Winterberry stars (top)

So things got moved from one year's to do list to another. ;) I hope 2017 will be more productive but with a newborn, I'm not counting on it. That's why I'm trying to get as much done as I can before baby arrives. The top 3 quilts are for one of my friends, her boys have been waiting years for their quilts and she recently lost her daughter. I thought getting all 3 done at the same time would make for some happy mail for them. I'm planning on sewing up the new baby's crib bedding since I haven't found anything I like in the stores. It wouldn't be anything fancy, just simple patchwork if anything. There's two quilt tops that I hope to finish piecing (I'll get them quilted later) along with Alex's quilt actually being quilted and binding done. And the advent calendar is practically done, it just needs embroidery and the pockets attached.

Here's what I hope to accomplish in 2017:
1. Gavin's quilt
2. Logan's quilt
3. Jillian's memory quilt
4. Crib bedding
5. Treehouse Club (top)
6. Winterberry stars (top)
7. Christmas advent calendar
8. Alex's twin quilt

So there we have it. Let's see if I actually get it all done. I'll be documenting it on Instagram if you're interested. :)

Countdown to Christmas

I recently finished up a Christmas advent calendar for my niece. Using the same pattern as my Thanksgiving countdown, I used fabric from two collections for a bright and cheerful Christmas version.

I added a red mini pom-pom trim below the numbers for a fun effect, although I didn't take into account how difficult it would be to sew on. Lots of slow sewing to make sure it was securely attached.

For the holly leaves I used scraps and the same buttons from my niece's cherry dress.

The binding was a perfect last minute find at my local quilt shop. Silly me didn't get binding fabric when I bought the other fabrics, but this bias stripe in red and aqua from the Hello Darling collection was the perfect finishing touch. It reminds me of striped Christmas candy. :)

Pattern: Quilted Advent Calendar by Sew Sweet Violet (altered for larger pockets)
Fabric:

• Multi color snowflakes: The Cookie Exchange by Sweetwater for Moda
• All others: North Woods by Kate Spain for Moda
  
• Background: Mochi Dot Unbleached Linen by Moda (#32911-11)
• Backing: North Woods by Kate Spain for Moda
• Binding: Hello Darling by Bonnie & Camille for Moda

Embroidery Floss: DMC 321
1/2" white cotton twill tape and red mini pom-pom trim found at Joann's
Stamp set and fabric ink: found at Hobby Lobby (use a coupon!)

September Cottage

I finished this cute little cottage schoolhouse on Friday. I'm so excited that it's done, it is so cute.

I saw another stitcher had changed the cottage to an old fashioned schoolhouse and I fell in love. That is what made me want to start this project.

I changed up some colors as well and switched up the borders. The same stitcher who changed the cottage also did the ABC123 which I loved but then I thought what's a schoolhouse without books? So I added some tiny bookshelves and books for the bottom border.

I also decided to add a second color for the apples, to add some subtle dimension. I darkened the roof color and switched out the darker brown in the basket to match the roof.

It turned out so cute, I'm very pleased with it. The whole piece is starting to take shape. The next cottage I'm going to work on will be July, which will go on the other side of August.

Changes:
- Changed the cottage (obviously) to a schoolhouse
- Roof and basket uses 433
- Omitted floating flowers around month name
- Secondary apple color is 347
- Bookshelves uses 920, 825, 552, 986, 581, 351, 728, 433 and 3829 for back stitch/details


Pattern: Cottages of the Month by Country Cottage Needleworks
Fabric: 14 count Aida in Vintage Country Mocha found at 123stitch.com
Threads: all DMC

You can see my progress through the cottage of the month series here

In Everything Give Thanks

I decided this year I wanted to find a fun way to teach my son about gratitude. I remembered seeing a countdown calendar with activity cards a few years ago and thought that would be perfect. And then I saw this pattern with patchwork pockets and I fell in love. Patchwork has my heart, it's my favorite.

I had to enlarge the pockets a bit to get the cards to fit and I also made the rows have 5 pockets each (that was a boo boo on my part, but I went with it). Of course I changed the embroidery to reflect the holiday and I also added a rod pocket on the back for hanging. The muslin I used ended up having a more open weave so I backed it with interfacing to help stabilize it better. 

Now that I've made one I think I got all the kinks worked out. I plan on making a Christmas version for both my son and my niece, so you will be seeing more of this cute pattern.

Pattern: Quilted Advent Calendar by Sew Sweet Violet
Activity Cards:  Thanksgiving Countdown Cards by Everyday Celebrations
Fabric:

• Cream cherries: Unknown designer (found in my local quilt shop's scrap bin)
• Taupe pumpkins: Home for the Harvest by Heather Mulder Peterson for Henry Glass
• All others: Welcome Fall by Deb Strain for Moda
• Background: muslin found at Hobby Lobby
• Stabilizer: Shape-Flex SF101 by Pellon
• Backing + binding: Postcards from the Lodge by Pela Studios for Windham Fabrics

Embroidery Floss: DMC 498, 729, 367, 920, and 898
1/2" wide cotton twill tape found here (color: natural)
Stamp set and fabric ink: found at Hobby Lobby (use a coupon!)