Two August projects: Forest Animals Baby Quilt and Wedding Veil

My niece had a baby shower on September 1st and requested a forest animal quilt.  Of course I was happy to do it!

I found a cute panel with the animal blocks and since there were 4 (actually 8, but each had a duplicate) I thought a 9 patch would be the way to go.  I was in a rush (as usual) and my mind was whirring and thinking what to create??  While it's horrible to have the pressure of a deadline, it seems I need that pressure to stimulate my creativity!

You can barely see the panel above and this is coordinating fabric, which I didn't end up using so still need to make an accessory with it.

When I went into the quilt store (Quilt Expressions, Boise, ID) I asked for ideas and the clerk gave me this pattern called The 5 minute quilt block (or something like that).  It really would've been a pretty quick quilt had I used that coordinating fabric for these blocks but instead wanted to make some forest blocks, each with their own forest animal.  Here is an owl.

I made a block with the lighter color blue sky but it really needed a dark sky to contrast with the moon, so I remade it with a dark sky, even though it sort of doesn't match the other blocks.

Here we have a braying deer behind a pine tree and a frolicking bunny.

I love the little fox cubs in the den.  And you can see I made the trees with the upside down flying geese, like the ones in the coordinating fabric.

And a bear over on the mountain.  

The blocks all sewn together.

And all quilted.  you can't really tell but I quilted a pine tree, moose, deer, bear pantograph that looks pretty neat.

Here you can see some details of the pantograph.

All complete laying by the pool at my niece's in laws lovely home, where they had the shower.  My niece said her husband loved this gift best of all!

Here is the free pattern I got at Quilt Expressions in Boise

My coworker, Jen had been preparing for her wedding for a year.  A couple months before the day, I asked about her dress and veil.  She said she wasn't going to have a veil because they were expensive and she couldn't find one she liked anyway.

  I told her I could make one for her.  She picked a very simple style, just a big circle of tulle and I sewed a trim along the bottom to finish it off.  She looks beautiful!

Linked up with Connie Kresin's Linky Tuesday

Birthday Gift Needle Book

We joined some neighbors last night to celebrate a birthday.

Needlebook filled with snips, needles, pins, and some cute sewing charms.

It's so pleasant to get together and enjoy some cake and conversation!

This beautiful cake was made by another very talented neighbor.  Aren't those rosettes gorgeous!

I met the birthday girl a couple years ago before either of us moved into our neighborhood and we were both delighted to discover our common interest in sewing.  She has since taken up quilting (and sometimes jokingly blames me) and it's so fun to stop by to see each other's projects.

Linking up with Busy Hands Quilts

Happy 5th of July! Update: Toppers Completed

The tag was added to the front with personal details and washing instructions on the back.

These patriotic items have been in the works since May.

The firework fabric almost sparkles like real fireworks

This block is from a Spectacular Star Table Runner free tutorial from Lindsey Weight at The Fort Worth Fabric Studio Blog.  She truly has so many beautiful and wonderful tutorials that I plan to make someday!

I was going to make the Spectacular Star Table Runner but then decided to add triangle borders and make multiple table toppers or wall hangings to share.

Pattern revision notes for future reference.

Make all the units as shown below and lay out into this configuration and sew together.  The center of the star is a 3 1/2" square.  

To make the corner units:  First make (8) Half Square Triangles (hst's).  Place the red and white 2 1/2" squares right sides together.  Sew around the perimeter and then cut diagonally twice.  Press open and square up to 2".  Sew the bow tie block by sewing the HSTs with the 2" squares as shown.  Square up to 3 1/2".  Then sew the borders on as shown above in previous photo.

Make 4 flying geese.  Cut (1) 4 1/4" square and Cut (4) 2 1/2" squares.  Draw a diagonal line on each 2 1/2" square.  Use the flying geese no waste method here.

Make 4 of these units.  Cut (4) 2 5/8" centers and to create a square in a square, Cut (4) of the two colors 2 1/2" squares and then cut in half diagonally.  Sew triangles to each side of white square as shown. Square up the unit to be 3 1/2"

After sewing all the units together, square up the unfinished block to 12 1/2"

Linking up with Two Chicks and a Mom's Funtastic Friday; Confessions of a Fabric Addict's Whoop, Whoop Friday; and Sew Fresh Quilts, Lets Bee Social; and Linking up with Busy Hands Quilts

Teddy's Coca Cola Attire

My friend got Teddy, a labradoodle or is it a golden doodle?? for her birthday.  We've exchanged gifts for years and sometimes like to make homemade gifts for each other and so I looked for some tutorials to make accessories for Teddy.

Teddy looks very cool sitting there in the shade with his scarf and leash!

Here are the links to the tutorials I used: leash from She Can Sew  And a scarf from Gleeful Things. 

The leash is charm square friendly and I used a strip from and old pair of jeans for the interfacing which gave it just the right amount of thickness and body.  I got the swivel toggle hook from Home Depot for around $3

Linking up with Two Chicks and a Mom's Funtastic Friday; Confessions of a Fabric Addict's Whoop, Whoop Friday; and Sew Fresh Quilts, Lets Bee Social

First Little Granddaughter

While my daughter was laboring, my husband and I were assigned to care for Sammy and Molly,  the Chihuahua and lab.

Sewing supplies were in tow and pink fabrics were laid about in the nursery.

 The decision to sew pink hour glasses blocks was made.

Now to add some borders and pink satin blanket binding. 

Baby Audrey Renae arrived on the first day of summer. 

Starry, Starry Night

Working on some gifts for a friends daughter who recently graduated . 

She loves Vincent Van Gogh' s Starry Night painting.

Pillow case with starry night fabric cuff.  Used this 15 minute pillow case tutorial,  although it was probably closer to an hour.  Note: when she says to trim to 20 x 28 inches,  I trimmed mine  21 x 28 1/2". I did the French seams and am very happy with how it turned out. 

Center lone star block for quilt. 

Other  star blocks to circle round the lone star.  

Purple Topper almost Complete

Finished up the quilting on this topper that's been in the works for a few years.  Now to get it bound!  The dollar store flowers look so nice with it!

I drew some pencil lines to follow in the triangle borders.

I did some freemotion swirls and leaves in the purple square borders and an X in the floral centers.

I did some ditch stitching and orange peel curves around each green hour glass section.

I'm happy with how it turned out.

Purple Irish Chain for Kate

Kate is 8 and she loves purple!

By the lilac bush this morning.  Purple on the green grass is so pretty!

 

The finished size is about 66 x 76". 

The backing is lavender gingham flannel.

I started making these little labels written by hand and a little embellishments and sewing into the binding.   On the back is my name, date ,and washing instructions .

 

After a few pick outs, I got the hang of using a ruler to make straight diagonal lines. 

The borders are filled with feathers and swirls. 

Quilting in process .

Here are a few cutting instructions. 

The 9 patches are made with 2 1/2" squares.   Each 9 patch and alternating cream block are is 6 1/2" unfinished .

The 8" stars in the corner are made using Amy's tutorial here.