Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Fabric Wreath


I used this tutorial to make a fabric wreath. I've been working on it the past couple of days in small spurts of time. I found it hard to sit very long and tie all those fabric strips on the wreath. It is hard on your fingers!


I followed the general tutorial directions but didn't use a honey bun. I pulled fall-looking scraps from my scrap bin and cut them into 2x5in strips. I ended up not cutting enough fabric and didn't have enough to go around my fourth wire on the outside so I stopped at the third. I used a couple different types of fabric in order to give it more depth and texture.


I love the way it turned out. Things I would do different next time are cut more fabric and not use thick pieces of fabric because they were hard to tie.



I've got one more wreath and I plan to do that one in Christmas fabric. These are tedious and I hate tedious things. However, I love the look of these so much. So, looks win. I'm secretly hoping I can find more of these wreaths at yard sales or clearance  so I can make a few more for other holidays/seasons.


Saturday, September 25, 2010

Yard Sales Finds

I did pretty good this weekend at the yard sales after having two to three horrible weekends in a row of bad sales. 


From top of the photo: eembroidered Pillow case with purple flowers. It has no stains and is in great condition. I may use it for crafting for I may just use it as a pillow case! It was $0.10. Next to it is an embroidered hankerchief with yellow flowers. It is also in great condition and I got it for $0.10 also. I got the litter box liners for $0.10 and was ecstatic when I found the wire wreath forms! I needed those for an upcoming project and was putting off buying them at the store. I am so happy I found them for $1 for both! You can also see the blue/green goblet I got up in the corner. Here is a better look:



Isn't it cute? It was only $0.50. I like how the top of it looks dipped in a different color.



I got these old cloth feed sacks and I'm not totally sure what I'm going to do with them. I couldn't pass them up at $0.25 each. They had a pile of them but these were the ones that looked the best. I may frame them or do some kind of quilty thing.



The framed picture is actually an oil painting. It looks old and is framed very nicely. I'm going to clean it up and hang it in my living room. I got it for $0.50 The other items are cards. There is a whole set of Christmas cards with envies and a set of variety cards with envies. I got those for $1 each box. 

I'd say I did pretty good!


Thursday, September 23, 2010

Christmas Table Runner

I finished my Christmas table runner today! I used four disappearing nine-patch blocks with five inch squares.

I don't know why this photo is all wonky. Blogger has a new photo uploader and it is weird!

It is quilted with free motion stars. 


I had to put some birds in my table runner because my dining room is my bird room. So, here are the precious little Christmas cardinals!




On to the next project!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Pot Holders & A Work in Progress






I have been sewing like crazy the past couple of days. I've been working on various Christmas gifts and a few things for myself. When I went upstairs the other day to look for some fabric for said projects, I found this:
I had to snap a picture! Cricket is his name and he turned 17 this year.


I needed some new potholders so I found a tutorial and made these:



You can find the oven mitt tutorial I used here. I really liked the shape of the mitt and went through dozens of potholder tutorials to find this one. There is also a fingertip mitt but I didn't make one of those. I didn't think I would use it very much.


The potholder pattern I made up. It is just two 9 inch fabric squares, 3 layers of batting, binding and a loop.




I've got plenty of sewing left to do before the holidays! I'm working on these blocks and will post about what I made from them soon!

Friday, September 17, 2010

Christmas Tree Skirt #2

I finished the Christmas tree skirt I told you about that I didn't know how it would quilt right because of the ripples and it not laying flat. Well, after I made the quilt sandwich and pinned it I was feeling a bit more confident about it. Here it is all pinned:


You can see how it laid a bit more flat for me after I pinned a lot. I quilted it in large meandering waves so I wouldn't get any puckers on the top from the slight ripples. It worked! I didn't have any major quilting issues! (Unless you count when I sewed over a safety pin and broke my needle. I have got to stop doing that!)




I bound it with a cute red stripe that looks like a candy cane! I think it really set the skirt off.







P.S. I had to make a short trip to my favorite sewing store because they were having another great sale. I got three rolls of 80/20 batting; two crib size and one twin. I got got one yard each of some batiks they had on clearance. I have some beginning visions of a beautiful batik quilt. I also had to grab some machine needles since I keep breaking them!



I can't wait to use this under the white Christmas tree!






Saturday, September 11, 2010

Sampler Quilt

I finished the Sampler Quilt from Amy's Quilt Along! I LOVE it!!! I can't even express to you how proud I am of this quilt. I had plans ever since I saw examples of beautiful sampler quilts at various quilt shows and exhibits. I knew I wanted to use soft colors and vintage fabrics. I also knew I wanted to quilt each square true to its layout.


When Amy was having a sampler quilt along I knew my opportunity had arrived. Amy always has great tutorials and easy to follow instructions with lots of pictures. I knew it would be challenging for me but I had confidence I could get through it. Well, I think I not only got through it, but I succeeded greatly at achieving my goal.


This quilt looks just like I wanted it to. I used a 100% cotton batting instead of a poly blend I normally use. It gave the quilt a great weight and antique feeling. It quilted beautifully. I just love the way this quilt feels. It is so soft and reminds of laying under my grandmother's quilts.






This is my favorite quilt I have made thus far. I also have overcome many of my quilting fears like half-square-triangles, matching up seams, and straight-line-quilting. I really feel like I can do anything quilting wise now as long as I take it low and slow and give it my best shot. Thank you to Amy for having this awesome quilt along and doing a great job!








I LOVE this quilt!!!



Friday, September 10, 2010

Christmas Time's a' Comin'

I waited patiently for Hancock Fabric's upcoming sale and I finally got to go today!

I stocked up on some Christmas prints ($2.81 per yd). I want to make a quilt with country Christmas prints so I got some of those to add to my stash. I also stocked up on some solids as they were also on sale ($1.81 per yd).


I didn't plan on getting any flannel but I browsed it because it was on sale ($2.81 per yd). I found these two prints that I have just the right project for. They are so soft!


I also got some thread on sale. I had a wonderful peaceful time shopping by myself and browsing all of the quilting books. Something about roaming the isles of fabric just sooth my soul! Everyone there seems to be so happy too!
My next post will be my finished Sampler Quilt for the QAL. I'm working on the binding now!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Stitch and Turn

stitch, stitch, stitch...turn, shove, push....stitch, stitch, stitch... turn, shove....

That is what I have been doing today.

It sure is slow going quilting this sampler quilt but I wanted it quilted this way to make it a true old-fashioned sampler.

I hope I can finish it in a few days. I am really enjoying quilting it though. When I finish each block I like to look at it and check out the back. I think the quilt will be equally as pretty on the back.

Four blocks down, 12 to go!