Blogger's Quilt Festival - Fall 2010

I am very excited to be joining in on the Blogger's Quilt Festival hosted by Amy's Creative Side!

Thank you for coming to visit and learn more about my quilt. I hope you enjoy it!

It was very easy for me to choose the quilt I wanted to post about because it's the only quilt larger than a mini that I've finished! lol

It also happens to be the very first quilt I've ever made.

So here it is, Folks!

"The Baby Quilt"

Here's a little more about this quilt:

This quilt is special to me in a couple of ways besides it being the first quilt I've every made. It's the very first thing that I made when learning to sew.

You see I BADLY wanted to learn to sew but alas and alack I had no machine. So the Lord blessed me with a friend who bought me my first sewing machine! I was so thankful for her generosity (especially since the machine was a Bernina!!). She says it was more out of selfishness for herself in buying me my Bernina because she was going to teach me how to sew. She didn't want to worry about the hassle of figuring out a cheapy machine (which I would have bought if left to my own unknowing devices) while teaching me how to create with it.

The very first class I took was a beginner quilting class taught by my friend. For the class she chose a simple quilt pattern made from Charm Packs.

This quilt went with me on my journey in learning about my machine: threading it, bobbins, and seam allowances. And all the things that go along with creating something lovely: pressing, rotary cutters, and let's not forget the seam ripper! I enjoyed every minute and worked on it any chance I could get. Ahhh, memories!

The choice of fabric in my quilt was based on what charm packs were on sale at my local fabric store, Silly Babies by Moda. I thought they were perfect since the purpose of this quilt was to be something for my kids to snuggle under on Family Movie night. Which comes to the 2nd reason this quilt is special.

It's a quilt that will keep my kids warm and it will get a lot of love!

I like this picture of The Baby Quilt best because it's doing what it was made for, being snuggled under!!

Thank you for visiting! Now go see all the other gorgeous quilts that are being shown in the Blogger's Quilt Festival!

Tears and Triumphs (In One Project!)

It started like a dream turned into a nightmare but it all turned out ok in the end.

I wanted to make myself an Over the Shoulder Bag for our next family trip to Disneyland. I found the perfect tutorial on Noodlehead. I picked out some fabric from my stash and got to work early one Wednesday morning (we were going to Dland on Thursday). All was going well. I had to start and stop numerous times stretching this project out into an all day affair. It even went into the night and early the next morning!

I wanted a bag that would be sturdy so I decided (my first mistake) to line the interior and exterior fabrics with fusible fleece. It sure is sturdy! I didn't realize my mistake until I tried to attatch the straps with grommets as the pattern states. AFTER I cut holes in my strap AND my bag did I discover that grommets don't work on 4 layers of fabric on the seam and 2 layers of fusible fleece and a layer of heavyweight interfacing.

It was 3 AM and I was pounding so hard my grommet tool GOT STUCK!! I tugged and tugged but alas all that came loose was the strap through the hole in my bag. Now what was I supposed to do?! I had worked literally ALL DAY and NIGHT on this bag I didn't want to just toss it aside.

I cut the strap above the 2nd hole and re top stitched it. I then sewed (with much difficulty) the straps onto the bag, covering up the giant holes in the side. I learned why she used grommets to attatch her straps. Sewing them was very tricky.

After that was done and I was admiring my work I discovered that while in my zealous pounding I POUNDED A HOLE IN THE FRONT OF MY BAG! UGH! What else could go wrong!

I covered up the outside hole with some fabric I used Heat N Bond with and cut out a flower but it looked more like a splat. Didn't last long though at Dland. Need to recover it. Any suggestions?

The inside hole I left alone.

I did learn alot in making this bag. It was the first time I made a lining zipper pocket! Should have used a smaller zipper but it works!

On a quicker, happier (and definitely cuter due to the model!) note I quickly and successfully made a Sippy Cup Leash for the baby in between my bag making drama. It worked great! No more sippy cups on the filthy ground a million times a day! Or left behind while walking through crowds when it gets dropped from little hands. It worked great in the car seat too! Gonna make another so this one can stay in the car.

Any sewing disasters happening in your world lately?

My Life Verse

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Isaiah 41:10

Have A Wonderful Sunday!

Quilting Bee

I joined a quilting bee. It's entitled the Moody Blues Bee because the quilt blocks we'll be making are all about blue! Which is awesome for me because I LOVE BLUE! I am joining in a little late but you can see what the rest of the group has already made by visiting the Moody Blues Bee Flickr Group.

A giveaway!

Awesome giveaway going on over at Little Blue Bell!

Do you love scarves?

I sure do!! I didn't really have any to wear but I sure loved how they looked on other people! Especially my sister who is a fashion queen!

Don't you just love this scarf!! Hurry and buy it here before I give in and buy it myself!

In A Round Scarf

And how about this scarf?

Bunchy Scarf

So very cute!

I was able to make my own of each of these! I purchased two ePatterns from Meg of Brassy Apple. Each pattern, the Bunchy Scarves eBook and the Brassy Neck Scarves eBook, contain 10 scarves to make and they were only $6.95/pattern!

I immediately got to work and made myself one scarf from each eBook.

First was the In A Round Scarf.

I didn't even have to cut any fabric! I had a piece of knit that was already the right size (and the right color) for the job! It was super easy to make.

Next I decided I needed a Bunchy Scarf.

Again, super easy to make! (Just don't let innocent looking babies pull on it right after making it. It will break the thread and you'll have to resew it just minutes after finishing it.)

Innocent Looking Baby

The next scarf I would like to make is the Shredded In A Round from the Brassy Neck Scarves ePattern. Sorry I couldn't find a pic to share of it but trust me, it's very cute! (But not as cute as that innocent baby!)

I've gotten compliments each time I've worn one of these scarves out of the house. Yes, I wear them at home when no one will see me but the kids because I like to be as my 7 year old would say, "Ooh! So fashion, Mama!"

These are definitely going on my To Make list for Christmas gifts!

Just wanted to say Thank You to Meg for letting me use her photos in my blog post!

Go! Baby Go!

Ok, corny title I know but how else could I share with you that I WON AN ACCUQUILT GO!

WOOHOO! *kermit arms*

I owe it all to Fabrics N Quilts! They were hosting the giveaway on their blog and it was sponsored by Accuquilt.

It seemed like forever but finally my Go! arrived.

I was so excited! Even though I was in the midst of preparing for dinner guests I tore open the box to show it off to my husband. lol

On a sad note I haven't been able to play with it yet. =( On inspection I discovered that the handle was flush with the cutter and was leaving marks when rotated. I called Accuquilt and they are sending out a replacement handle with instructions on how to replace it. It should be here in a couple of days.

I guess I'll have to start saving up to buy some more dies to go with my new toy!

Candle Mat Swap

I joined my first swap and I'm excited about it! The Quilting Gallery is hosting this swap and we are all making a candle mat from the same pattern just using different fabrics according to our partner's wishes.

My partner wasn't very specific just that she wanted to be able to keep it out all the time so I decided on a Fandango Charm Pack.

I found this lovely on sale at Hip Fabric. I loved how they sell Fat Quarters as well! You can choose to buy just a Fat Quarter from the fabrics that they carry! This worked out PERFECTLY for me since I needed a Fat Quarter for the Candle Mat.

I was finally able to start on mine today. After a lot of changing around charms to decide on their placement I started cutting and sewing. Here's my progress so far:

(Oh, you're wondering what that corner of a box possibly could be in the photo? Well, you'll just have to wait 'til tomorrow to find out!)

As you can see my top is almost done. After I got all those little pieces sewn together did the idea hit me, "Wouldn't those look so cute as wonky strips!" I really want to make this over again so I can make them wonky. Oh well, I may have enough to make another. =)

There are some really cute Candle Mats popping up on the Candle Mat Swaps Flickr Group. Stop by and take a look!