Sadie's Quilt

In an effort to have all my needs-to-be-done-soon projects out of the way before Baby H got here I spend most of my nights sewing for hours.  Amazingly enough I was able to get them all done!!  WooHoo!

One of the projects was this little number for our new niece Sadie. 

I fell in love with these Bubblegum Basics fabrics when I first saw them and still do even though they are a couple years old.

This notebook was my inspiration for the quilt...

 I thought about making this quilt with just three colors like the notebook but decided to go with the BB fabrics because they are just so bright and cheery (and because I still have a bunch and need to work through them)!

For the back I inserted a strip of randomly pieced together scraps.  I love it.

What I would do differently...stitch all my quilting lines in the same direction.  I went back and forth and that created a sort of gathered look that I wish wasn't there.  We stitch and learn, right!?

I had originally planned to do a back and forth meandering stitch like I used in this quilt but for some reason my machine kept bunching up the thread in the back.  I didn't realize this until I was probably a quarter of the way finished with the quilting.  So I spent almost 10 hours unpicking the darn thing.  Not sure what the problem was.  I tried changing threads and tension but nothing worked.  So I switched out my stippling foot for my walking foot and did straight lines.

I think it turned out just fine.  

He's here!

 Here it is...the prego picture I promised.  Had I given it any forethought I might have done my hair and put on makeup.  But seeing as the sun was going down, my husband was coming in from work, and I was 39 weeks pregnant and expecting this little baby ANY DAY!! I figured that moment was as good as any. 

I never know how to pose for these pictures.  No matter where I place my hands on my bulging belly it always feels awkward.  So why not make it look meaningfully awkward, right!?  Insert photo of weird-pose-with-hands-on-the-sides...

All my babies have either been early or arrived the day before the due date so going over a whole 3 DAYS was torture!  (I know, some go over by a couple weeks--bless your sweet patient souls...and stretching skin!)

But he did, indeed, finally come!  Sweet Baby H is the most chill baby I have had yet.  He sleeps through four older siblings running/screaming/laughing through the house.  I haven't had one do that yet.

He was born just before Thanksgiving so the two of us spend our holiday cuddled up with each other while daddy and the older kiddos spent the day with family and yummy food.  Although I love family and yummy food, I would definitely say I got the better end of the deal spending the day with this little dude.

tutorial, quilted halloween table runner

I know Halloween is only a week away but I wanted to share this quick and simple table topper with you.

Really this design would work for any holiday or everyday table runner.  I cut the printed pieces from fat quarters and the white and grey from 44" wide fabric.  

For the front you will need...

From each printed fat quarter cut:

1- 2 1/2" x 22" strip 

1- 3 1/2" x 22" strip 

Of dark border fabric cut:

2- 2 1/2" x 8" strips 

3- 2 1/2" x 18" strips

2- 2 1/2" x 22" strips

4- 2 1/2" squares

Of white fabric you will need:

2- 1 1/2" x width of fabric strips

To get started...

Stitch the white fabric to each side of the 2 1/2" grey squares.  Press the seams.  Then stitch the white fabric to the top and bottom of these same grey squares.  Again, press your seams!

I forgot to take a picture of this next step, but stitch a 2 1/2" printed fabric to the right side of your block. Press the seam and cut.  Then stitch the remaining part of that printed fabric to the bottom of the block, as shown.  Press and trim to give it a clean edge.

Now do the same with the 3 1/2" printed piece to the left side...

and top also.  Be sure to press the seams.

At this point I decided to chop my finished block down a little.  I cut the sides with the narrower strips down to 2" from the white border.

Using those two sides as a guide I made the block 8" square.

Decide how you want your blocks laid out.  Stitch the two 8" grey pieces as shown below.  Press your seams.

Next, stitch the three 18" grey strips as shown below, STARTING with the one in the middle!  Press your seams and trim the end of the strips.

Finally, stitch on the two 22" grey strips to the top and bottom.  Press your seams and trim the ends.  And there you have it!  

Just sandwich, quilt, and bind it!

I'm not a fan of spiders.  At all!  But I sure like them in these fun halloween prints!

I also made another table runner but used only three blocks.  I really like how these both turned out!!

Enjoy!!!

WIP...Sadie's Quilt

All pinned and ready to be quilted!!  

(This fabric is Bubblegum Basics by Quilt Soup for Henry Glass.  Absolutely cheerful and long out of print.)

I just need to go get some white thread.  Who runs out of white thread, I mean really!?!

One problem...I just realized I used Heavy Duty wonder-under to apply the circles.  Dang!  It is pretty stiff.  I'm hoping it will soften with plenty of use.  After all, who wants to wrap a stiff quilt around a sweet little baby?

beautiful wood and metal table

I really want to make one of these...

Unfortunately I don't have any real woodworking experience (other than the boot-remover-thing I made in the eighth grade) and by the look of this lovely creation there is lots and lots of cutting and glueing that would be involved.  Especially considering that I would want it to be like 40"x96".   That's not overyly hopeful is it?  :)  The grain look is actually individual pieces of wood glued together...BEAUTIFUL!!

However, my husband does have some experience and my Jake-in-law has a wood shop.  I think as long as I don't ask for his help (when I showed him this pic he specifically said, "don't ask for my help"--lol, your hilariously honest!) I might convince him to let us use the wood shop.

(I have been carrying this image around with me on my phone for a while and for the life of me can't remember where I found it.  I have been searching online for it but just can't find it.  I want to give credit where credit is due, but alas,  I just can't find you again beautiful table.  So sorry!)

colorful personality

Red, orange, purple, pink...  Her personality is just as colorful as her choice of clothing/accessories!

school boys

Kiddo #2 started school this year.

These two have adjusted well to ruling the roost!

I caught them like this while making breakfast the other morning.  Such a sweet quiet moment!

too tired to think of a title

I haven't managed to get much sewing done lately.  I have been busy and am completely worn out by the time I get the kiddos in bed.

This little stack of American Jane is from my two most recent WIPs...both of which long to be finished.

I have managed, however, to can and freeze peaches, dehydrate prunes, peaches and apples, and make sauce from the above named fruits for homemade fruit leather.  

I'm thinking I might add some raspberries, bananas or oj for variety.  I don't know, we'll see.

I have also been baking up this sweet little bun...

I'm 33 weeks now.  I know, most people mention this sort of thing much earlier, but if you haven't noticed I have sadly neglected this blog.  If you are real lucky (or perhaps not) I will see if I can get a belly pic.  However, I must warn you that there isn't a whole lot that is cute about this baby-#5-belly.

The image is of its head (just so you have an idea of what you are looking at).  If you were to draw a line horizontally through the middle and look at the bottom half, the large white roundish area in the center is its cheek; with the nose and mouth just to the left.

Just above this imaginary line are its fists covering its eyes.

Can you see...anything but mooshed black and white?  It took me a minute.

I refer to it as an..."it" because we are not sure what this sweet little bundle will be.  I love a good baby gender surprise!

I tell you, each pregnancy gets a little more painful pre- and post-delivery.  I don't look forward to the nursing pains!  Also, I have been enjoying the company of Braxton Hicks since about 24 weeks.  This is the first time I have had regular contractions so early.  They are just beginning to be painful.  Not labor-painful but enough that I have found myself labor-breathing through some of them.

Since morning sickness has left me I have been surprised at how quickly it has all gone.  And I only have seven weeks left...possibly less because I have only had one baby wait full term.

So much to get done in such a short time!

Better get crackin'!!

Half-Squares

Here is the finished quilt that I showed a peek of earlier. I love these Arcadia fabrics and am so happy with how this turned out.

First Day of School

Miss you already big guy!

she gets it from her daddy

We have got major talent busting at the seams over here.  Just look...

I walked in to the living room to find her carefully placing the puzzle pieces between her toes.

I can't get enough of those striped shorts...goodwill for < $1.  She wears them all the time.


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Silly Swimmers

We have been swimming quite a bit this summer.  It has been so nice!  These two silly bugs HATED it at first.  Actually "hated" would be an understatement.  They would literally run in the opposite direction as soon as I pried them out of the van.  Thankfully the persistence paid off.  Now they ask to go wimming almost every day.

Someone referred to them as 'the twins' the other day.  It was strange to hear it that way.  Despite their obvious similarities they are so individual and uniquely their own.  I don't really think of them as twins.

They are absolutely adorable, that's what they are!


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Fabric Play

I have been playing with these beautiful fabrics for the past few days.  SOOO close to showing you!  Can't wait.

(Arcadia by Sanae for Moda)

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Bonus discount for my readers!!

I currently have a Christmas in July sale going on over in my shop. I have reduced the price on my countdown chains by 50%!!!

As a little bonus to my readers I am offering all of you FREE SHIPPING (on countdown chains only)!
I won't be offering Countdown Chains in my shop anymore starting August 1 so run over and get yourself one!!

To get your free shipping enter code FREECIJSHIPPING at checkout.
Now hurry on over and check them out!

frozenknickers.etsy.com
(I will add pictures and a fancy invisible link this evening when I can get on my computer. For now you get this because I can't figure it out on my phone)
Have a great weekend!!!

Edited: Here you go... the post is now filled with pictures and invisible links (just click on the underlined words).

Drats!!!

The shelf in our fridge slipped right between my fingers as I was putting it into the sink to wash.  Grrraaahhhhh!!!  So frustrating.  My hubby just said, "don't worry, it's not like we have to buy a whole new fridge."  Perspective.  Thank you!

Mini Scrap Quilt

E and N really wanted to help me sew something.  I had a little stack of tiny scraps I had been holding on to for just this type of project.  They enjoyed the foot pedal while I fed the fabrics.  However, the first time I stopped to press and cut they got sidetracked and were out of there.  

Thing 1 and Thing 2 were napping so I took advantage of the opportunity and kept going!  Considering the size of this quilt it didn't take me long to finish.  I had planned on it being 20"x24" finished but somewhere along the way my math skills took a nap and it finished off at 17"x18".  I know!

I haven't decided whether or not to sell it because, well... look at it... its adorable! It might find a permanent residence above my sewing machine.  Not sure.

Oh well, I still love it!!  It had been a while since I used a meandering stitch.  I had thought about straight lines but there were so many seams on such a little quilt that I wanted to make it look a little softer.  Hopefully that worked.

A simple pieced back.  

I love the fabrics in this line!  Its Arcadia for Moda.  Unfortunately it is out of print, but thankfully I have a little stash of it that I like to draw from every now-and-than.

lots of binding!

I had been planning to take off last week for a girl's getaway with a bunch of the ladies on my husbands side of the family.  Unfortunately babysitting fell through and my little people got sick.

In anticipation of a relaxing getaway I whipped up these two quilts (you can see them in my shop) with the intention of binding them during a little down time.  That would have been nice, but I got to sit by my hubby while I finished them instead, which is always my favorite.

Here he is looking awfully sneaky behind that quilt.  I used prints from two Heather Bailey lines; Bijoux and Nicey Jane.  I pieced the back using some of the scraps.  I like how it turned out.  I still need to come up with a name for this quilt.

I do have a name for this quilt though--Building Blocks.  I love, LOVE this quilt!  That red square is a bit of Heather Bailey also, along with some black and cream.

I really like the quilting on this.  Basically I just followed the seam lines which sort of frames the squares.

I also have patterns for both of these quilts in my shop right now.

look, don't touch

 I decided canned items are like uncut fabrics.  They look so stinkin pretty there on the shelf that I don't want to cut into them, I would rather just stare for a while and enjoy the perfect-ness.  However, it isn't until you pop off that lid that you really begin to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

And so it is with fabric...

Even when I have cut into them I like to refold and put them back in their place; all pretty and neat.