Summer Recap

Well, it's been awhile since I have blogged. My apologies if you have missed me!

So I have a little recap of what I have been up to this summer.

I'll start with my finish for the store sample:

 

The pattern for this quilt ended up being super easy to put together. I had a ton of leftovers, So I used some to piece the back:

 

I also added a close-up of the quilting from the back. I did this on my own machine here at home. I did an allover feathering design. This is always my favorite free-motion design:

 

This quilt has already made it back home to me. According to my aunt, the pattern and fabric sold out right after they put this quilt up in the store.

How cool is that?

 

I also put together a cute summer bag:

 

This is the 'Pinafore Bag' by Me and My Sister Designs. I made this out of some Amy Butlers that I had stashed away. It was not easy to cut into this yardage, but I loved the end result. This bag is awesome- it's cute enough to go anywhere, and it will fit all sorts of baby paraphernalia!

 

This next quilt is my Bohemian Kaleidoscopes:

I finished this in June for the wedding of my husband's cousin.

 His cousin had told me that they had an "Eclectic Bohemian" feel to their home. I have always wanted to try a kaleidoscope quilt, and felt like that this would be perfect for a Bohemian scrappy quilt.

I loved this quilt. I ended up pulling out ALOT of my Kaffe Fasset and Amy Butler prints for this.

The red border with the 'exploding' kaleidoscopes were a last minute decision, because it just needed 'something.' - It really did give it that special something that it needed.

Like I said, I loved it, and so did my husband. (He didn't want to give it away)

The newly-weds loved it!

My only regret is that I didn't get a better pic. The above pic was taken in a hurry with my cell phone as we were packing up the babies to drive out to Massachusetts.

(That was an experience - an almost 2 year old and a 6 month old on an 11 hr trip...)

 

And I have been making clothes for the kids:

These are a pair of pajamas for my little man. Little projects like these help to keep things fresh and interesting.

Like they say, "Variety is the spice of life."

 

This next one is a quilt 3 years in the making:

I started this quilt in the summer of 2010. It was my first attempt at applique.

I loved pairing the colors together for the flip flops. They are all outlined in black button-hole stitches (by machine).

This has been sitting in my finish piles for the last 3 years, because I didn't know how it was going to be quilted. It's amazing how things change in 3 years.

3 years ago, I was not confident in my machine quilting abilities, and did not want to quilt this quilt for fear of screwing up something I loved so much.

I was able to use my mom's long arm for this quilt- I ended up quilting the black background prints in bubbles and did little loops in the pink sashing. The green border has a palm leaf sort of motif going on.

Here is a shot of the back:

 

Can't wait to use this on the beach next weekend. Both the kids love this quilt. My little man has been 'trying on' each of the flip flops.

So funny.

Have a wonderful afternoon everyone.

It is great to see you all again!



One last finsh for March

So, last we spoke I was knee deep in a sewing blitz...

I got her finished just in time to give to Ruby on her last day of work.

I even hand stitched the binding.

I quilted the cream borders with feathers. The printed centers with swirls.

The espresso sashing, I quilted with a back and forth design.

I tossed her in the washer and dryer before I gifted it.

So these texture shots were taken at about ten o'clock at night...

With my not-so-fabulous dining room lighting.

I found this darling mint chocolate polka dot for $4/yd on clearance.

I took a few left over scraps and created a label for the bottom corner.

Ruby loved it.

And I loved giving her a gift from my heart.

 

Things have been quiet on my blog...

but there has been good reason:

Spring has finally returned!

 

Have a wonderful night everyone!

 

 

 

 

Hear Me Roar!

My mom always used the phrase, "I am woman, hear me roar!" when she was pretty proud of herself.

 

Well, I'm feeling pretty proud...

I had this bad boy on my machine tonight:

Quilting on my little sewing blitz quilt is officially finished. Tonight. Woo hoo!

 

This leads me to a random question for the evening...

What is your favorite part about the quilting process from that first rotary slice to the last stitch in the binding?

 

Mine?

I live for the moment when I can take my quilted quilt and cut the rough edges away.

There is just something about that glorious clean edge and the feeling of accomplishment.

 

While I'm asking random questions- what do you do with your "warm-up" or practice pieces?

Mine are piling up around here, and I'm not quite sure what to do with them...

 

But of course, my favorite part of quilting leads to my least favorite part of quilting...

cutting threads.

Yuck.

 

I did try something new on this quilt.

I had heard or read somewhere that one should zig-zag the raw edges of their quilt down before quilting.

I have to say, this really didn't work for me.

I got about 18 inches down the first side of my quilt and gave up.

Things were bunching up and it seemed like more of a hassle than a help.

 

Does anyone else do this?

Do you find it helpful?

 

More to come on this quilt.

 

Have a wonderful evening!

 

 

Another Friday Finish!

Say What?!

That's right, for the second Friday in a row, I have a finish to share.

(We might want to mark this on the calendar, it's not going to happen again for a while- lol)

This is my quilt that I made with the Scrappy Stash Quilt Along hosted by Jennifer at Ellison Lane Quilts last fall.

I had a strong start with this quilt - and was working hard to have it finished in time to be part of the link party. But, being 8 months pregnant at the time, I developed complications that kept me on bed rest until the birth of my #2- weeks after the QAL was finished.

So even though I was not eligible to win any of the fabulous prizes that were handed out, I still ended up with this fabulous quilt.

This backing did give me a little grief. See that 5 inch strip along the right side? One should always make sure her math is correct and that the backing is wide enough for the quilt top- BEFORE she spray bastes it together. :)

I step back and look at this quilt and am so happy with its outcome.

This quilt was made 100% from my stash. The gray solid was actually a 90's mottled black and gold print that my mom handed down to me.

 I am so happy that I flipped this around and used the back - gives a much more modern feel, for sure!

 

This is also my first attempt at machine paper piecing. I drafted my wonky flying geese on freezer paper- it was WAY easier than I thought it would be.

I even figured out the math to make the triangles to set my log cabin blocks on point

 (All you need is Google and a Calculator)

I guess I feel that this quilt is a sign of growth for me as a quilter. And the finish is a sign that I can find some balance between my busy young family and sewing time.

 

I did back and forth quilting lines within the log cabin blocks. With the geese border, I wanted to create a sense of movement, so I added what I felt was a "breezy"quilting design.

I just love this luscious texture that I got after the washer and dryer.

 

I also have a confession: This is the first time I've ever used a cotton batting. I can totally see and feel the difference, and love the results.

 

Have I used the word 'love' alot in this post?

Guess that's why Melly + Quilts = Love.

I hope you all have a wonderful day!

 

I'm linking up with Pat Sloan for Show and Tell Thursday and with Quokka Quilts for TGIFF!

 

Out of Focus

I simply cannot focus on one project at a time right now.

 

I have started quilting my Scrappy Stash QAL quilt:

I got through one bobbin of my quilting, and had to give in to the stomach flu.

 (I was trying to ignore it.)

 I knew it was coming...

My son brought it home and gave it to my husband and then he gave it to me.

(Even though I had emptied half a can of Lysol around the house and washed my hands incessantly.) Thankfully the baby didn't catch it!

But anyway... That's where my SSQAL quilt has stayed... one bobbin in.

Then, I had the opportunity to use my mom's Long arm last weekend. Because my SSQAL was sitting on my machine, I pulled a top out of my WIP pile and took the kids up to Grandma's.

 Long arm quilting at my mom's is wonderful. I get to quilt [mostly] uninterrupted and grandma gets time with the babies. 

I made this stack and whack top back in the winter of 2011. I quilted each of the strips within the block alternating between bubbles and hills.

If I can get this bound, it might make it up on the wall for Valentine's Day.

 

And of course, spending time in blog land is a HUGE distraction to my current sewing To-do list.

Do you ever get caught in the chain reaction of posts and tutorials and pictures and such?

It all started with falling in love with Tessa's ruffly skirt.

So I started to look for a ruffly skirt tutorial.

(I found one)

But... then I found the sweetest handmade baby shoes!

So I went in search for a tutorial for that.

(I found one)

I loosely followed the pattern and came up with these:

These are slightly small for my little one (who is already 2 mos old... can you believe it?).

These are more or less a prototype... I didn't like the way the pattern had me assemble the shoes.

The next pair will be much better.

Sewing these tiny shoes make me think of wanting to make Barbie clothes when I was about 7.

I begged my grandma to let me make 'real' Barbie clothes from a pattern

 (My homemade barbie clothes consisted of scraps held together with safety pins).

She told me I wouldn't like the tiny seams...

You were right, Grandma, tiny seams aren't much fun.

 

My sister is expecting a baby girl- and is due on the 30th of this month (so any time, now).

I'm thinking a pair of shoes and a ruffly skirt and maybe even a flowery headband are in order for my sweet new niece.

 

Maybe even matching outfits for our little girls?

 

See... there I go again, losing focus!

 

So on the list for the weekend:

 

Binding

Quilting

Outfits.

 

(and maybe a visit to see the new baby)

 

I hope everyone has a very wonderful and productive weekend!!

 

(They are just getting so big!)