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!

 

WIP Wednesday: Caught in a Bind

Well, I was not as productive over the weekend as I had hoped.

 

Much of my Saturday was spent visiting this sweet little girl:

My sister and brother-in-law welcomed little Willow Grace into the world on January 26th.

It's so exciting to think my little girl and her cousin are only 9 weeks apart.

Hoping that they will be as close as their mommy's are!

 

My Sunday was spent with sick kiddos... again. We can't seem to catch a break.

First the stomach flu, now the cough.

Looking forward to the end of the sick season!

 

Anyway....

Let's talk sewing!

My WIP this week is my Valentines quilt.

It's all quilted and I just need to get the binding hand stitched to the back.

If I can get my act together, maybe I could possibly have a Friday Finish!

 

I was getting quite envious of every one's Block of the Month projects- and then I came across this Mystery BOM that is being offered by Riley Blake's blog.

The month of January featured a 12" chevron block:

The blog features a video tutorial for block construction... So take notes ;)

My plan was to construct the block out of things I had in my stash.... but, (as usual) the glitter cotton solids caught my eye... and I had to buy a yard of each. I think they work quite well in creating the ombre effect in this block.

 

My Scrappy Stash QAL still waits patiently for me to finish quilting her...

 

I did play around with a few things for the babies in my life:

I made up this sweet pair of shoes for my #2 for Friday's 'Go Red for Women' and Valentine's day.

(I did use my stash for this)

 

And I made up a pair of headbands for the new baby.

These were seriously fun... and quite addictive.

My sweet #2 was the obliging model :)

 

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

I'm linking up with Lee for WIP Wednesday 

 



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!)

 

 

 

 

 

WIP Wednesday... And a finish!



Maternity leave is slowly ticking away. I only opted to take 6 weeks (not counting the 2 weeks for bed rest), so on Friday, I will officially be half way done. Bummer. I am really enjoying being home all day with my little ones, and this is causing me to rethink how much I really like my 9-5 (No weekends, No holidays) desk job, and if I really want to go back to 12-hour shifts at the hospital.

First off, the baby needed a stocking. In the frenzy of bed rest and the new baby, my sewing space became a disaster area/catch-all.

So in order to make the stocking, I had to organize first:

We have built-in cutouts surrounding our basement, making it a perfect place to store my stash. Half of this fabric was sitting in a laundry basket from when we had juggled bedrooms in prep for the baby. I love that it's sitting out now! When I was folding and organizing it, I was so inspired for a ton of new projects! So many ideas... so little time.

Organizing opened up plenty of space for my little guy to help me out:

This kid loves to play in my scraps!

I made the baby's stocking to follow suite of her brother's stocking that I made for his first Christmas last year. I have a Simplicity pattern (#4842) that I use for the base of the stocking, then I kind of just improvise from there. 

I used the fabric line Bella! by Amanda Murphy for Blend for the outer stocking and cuff. The applique is Nancy's Holiday favorites by Nancy Halvorsen for Bernatex. The lining was something I pulled out of my stash... most likely from JoAnn's.

I quilted the stocking with feathers... my favorite. It felt so good to do a little machine quilting. That is one of my favorite parts of putting a quilt together. Makes me itch to finish my Scrappy Stash QAL quilt!

I was able to get it finished today...

...because someone decided to sleep so sweetly:

 

So I've hung the stockings, but need to find another command strip for the dog's stocking...

...or I could try one of the idea's I've seen on Pinterest! I have become so addicted to that site. I downloaded the app on my phone while I was on bed rest, and have been hooked since!

Usually, things are much more festive around my house this time of year. I love decorating for Christmas. With the baby, I'm happy that the tree is up, and that she has a stocking!

 

Now for my WIP's:

In the spirit of using what I have around the house and saving money, (Maternity leave over X-mas is no fun financially) I am making my own Christmas cards.

I have my prototype made:

I feel like it needs a little something else... some kind of embellishment, like glitter or ribbon (luckily, I have plenty of both in my crafty cabinets).

And my Scrappy Stash QAL quilt still hangs on my design wall. I sit and look at it longingly, waiting for a chance to work on it...

And for the fist time in a while...

I'm linking up with Lee for WIP Wednesday! 



 

Have a great afternoon everyone!

I Made it Through November!

Hello my friends!

November was a CrAzY month!

Let's start from where we left off:

Just in time to get my Scrappy Stash QAL quilt finished, Pre-ecclampsia reared it's ugly head, and I found myself on bed rest. Because my sewing area is in the basement and sitting straight upright raised my blood pressure, I had zero sewing machine time. My quilt still hangs on my design wall, waiting patiently for me to find it again.

 

Sounds like a great time for hand stitching, right? Bed rest left me somewhat anxious/blue and completely uninspired. So very little hand stitching was completed. I did, however, finish the top of my EPP table runner.

After a week, I dusted off my crochet hooks and yarn and got busy! Suddenly my inspiration was back, and I made more than enough little hats and flowers for my sweet #2, and of course my #1 got a hat, scarf, and mittens.

The Friday after Thanksgiving marked 37 weeks for #2 - and my induction. On November 23, we welcomed our sweet Mikaelah Grace into the world at 6 pounds, and 19 1/2 inches.

Now, we are all trying to get used to our 'new normal.' I'm working on some Christmas gifts for family and friends.

I have lots of ideas, but trying to find time between sewing and snuggles has been difficult - because snuggles always trumps sewing!

  

I hope you all have a wonderful afternoon!

 

*Please excuse the lack of editing on my photos: The fact that I got a blog entry written is a major feat in itself :)

Sunday Snippets!

Just snippets of the weekend tonight.

What a wonderful weekend it was!

My sisters came to visit.

I had a great balance of productivity and relaxation.

I found this little guy at a craft show Saturday morning. I completely fell in love with this vintage planter turned pin cushion.

What a fabulous idea! 

I had the opportunity to sit and work on some hand stitching. Hoping to finish this project before Thanksgiving!

My camera died before I could get to my design wall... BUT the quilt top for my scrappy stash QAL is assembled.

I took my freezer paper and drew out my wonky geese paper piecing that will be bordering my log cabins.

 I cannot wait to get this finished!

I haven't been this excited about a project in such a long time!

Have a wonderful evening everyone!

WIP Wednesday: I've returned!

After my little week and a half break, I've finally returned!

A crazy work week, a cold, and this whole 8 months pregnant thing can really put a damper on my blogging!

My WIP continues to be my Scrappy Quilt Along. All of my blocks are assembled, and I have sketched out a layout. I am determined to use my stash for this whole quilt. I wanted to stick with a modern theme- so I picked a gray mottled piece that I had buried in there.

The fabric makes me think of granite, with black and gold flecks. I'm not quite sold on it - so I flipped the fabric over and got a mostly solid gray with light black flecks.

I WELCOME your thoughts and opinions on this!! 

 My mom and her 'quilting cronies' - a more traditional quilting bunch- prefer the front of the fabric.

 I just can't decide...

Then I tried my hand at machine paper piecing. I have an idea for the outer border of this quilt - so I played around with some wax paper and scraps:

 It was really easy, but I have a hard time keeping the grain right.

Are any of you experienced with machine paper piecing? Is grain something I should worry about when doing this?

My little guy automatically adopted the above piece as his own. He had an absolute meltdown when mommy took her flying geese back. (Life is hard when you are 14 months old.)

So, because this piece was practice, I Made a pillow for him:

 Of course, now that I made him a pillow, he hasn't looked twice at it...

 

I also got a package of 7" zippers... will be great for Christmas goodies!

 Check out Zipit for some awesome prices and selections on zippers. They were awesome to work with!

My sisters, mom, and I had our craft show this weekend:

 I made a stack of burp cloths and took my schnibbles and created pom-pons out of them.

 Unfortunately, the shoppers were not in the market for burp cloths on Saturday...

Everything I made was from my stash - so I did not count out of pocket expenses.

The table split 4 ways was $5 per person.

My grand total profit was -$3.

There will always be other craft shows :)

 

Anyway, we had a fun little Halloween. No trick-or-treating this year...

Next year, when mommy is not 8 mos. pregnant, we will all have fun trick-or-treating!

I'm linking up with Lee for WIP Wednesday: 



 

And with Sachiko's Link Party:

  And I made it through Blogtoberfest!  

 

Have a great Halloween Night my friends!