And we're back!

I kinda forgot this thing existed.  But I signed myself up for another sewing class (actually 2) so here we are.  I have actually gotten a few things done this past year.

I love making towels for new babies.  These were for an old friend from high school who had twins last summer.

Used the hooded baby towel and washcloth tutorial at The Purl Bee

Dress pattern from Made
Elastic thread is really cool stuff!

I love this hat from Oliver + S; I'm going to have to make her another one this summer
I added snaps to the strap so she couldn't pull it off and an extra inch to the brim

high chair cover made with PUL

Finally made cushions for the rocking chair in the babies room!  (We've been sitting on very flat pillows)
I used this tutorial to figure out how to do "gussets."

I'm going to try to keep up with this a bit better, and do a better job documenting projects.  I really struggle to remember to take pictures of the process, but the end result is better than nothing!  The classes I'm taking are Curves over at Stitched in Color and Sewing with Knits with Whipstitch (I took Essential Sewing through Whipstitch last year).  Obviously I'm feeling a bit ambitious; we'll just have to see how it goes!

More Essential Sewing

This about wraps up the projects for my sewing class. There are a few I haven't photographed (or maybe just one?) and one I haven't finished yet.


Machine applique:

A skirt for me - made without a pattern

And a pillow, put in a zipper and make the piping around the outside.  Some much needed color in our very red and yellow world

the one she's allowed to touch

Using the fabrics from the brown bear quilt, I made this stacked coins quilt and my mother-in-law quilted it for me.  The piecing took about 5 minutes.  It was great!  I followed the directions found here.  I love how it turned out - simple but vibrant, lots for her to look at.  AND it was finished before she arrived.

Tool roll-up

Another project for my class.  I left an empty space cause I'm hoping for the 8 in Gingher shears someday.  I'm learning lots of techniques for how to do things pretty instead of just doing them.  I'm also cutting into fabric from my stash that I generally stare at wondering what to do with it.  So that's fun.

More from my sewing class.

time to live up to its name

for a long time, i have had grand ideas about making quilts based on books, especially children's books, hence the blog name.  but i haven't really put the idea into practice for a while.  one of the books i always wanted to do is this one: brown bear, brown bear by eric carle.  i actually bought the fabric and took the above picture a year ago; i was already pregnant but didn't know it yet.  when i found out, i figured this was the perfect quilt to do for my own baby.



now a year has gone by and what has become of that beautiful pile of fabric (moda marbles by the way)?

8 down, 1 to go!  each one is my own design, copied pretty much directly from the book, and hand appliqued.  all that is left is the blue horse (which i like to say would have gotten done if she hadn't decided to come a week early).  and then i will put it together and hand quilt it. sorry about the crummy photography.  i should work on that.  

 i decided while i was working on this that she'd probably never be allowed to touch it because so much of it is hand work.  so i made her another one with the help of my mother-in-law.  i'll post about that one soon.

essential sewing

I am taking a sewing class called Essential Sewing! It's on-line which is the only way to go at this point in my life. Check out my teacher's blog: Whipstitch.  I kinda know how to to sew stuff other than quilts, but it's like when I took beginning quilting several years after I started quilting.  It's amazing how much you find out you don't know as well as building confidence for what I do know.  Plus it's fun and it's a great outlet for me right now.  There is no pressure and I can do it in little bits and pieces when the baby is sleeping.  (Or sometimes she hangs out in the sewing room with me).  It's fun to see what everyone else is making too and we can comment and ask questions.  Below is what I've made so far - a napkin and a tote.  I'm supposed to be working on a tool roll-up but I screwed up making bias tape.  I think I have it figured out now but I haven't had the chance to get back to it.

Getting back on the blogging horse

Lots has happened since I last posted here.  Not only did I bind the Maine quilt, I had a baby and quit my job to stay home with her full-time!  I had quaint visions of sewing more.  I even signed up for an on-line class.  I'm kinda staying caught up with that, which inspired me to get back to this blog.  I'm told that someday we'll all sleep more and maybe that will mean I sew more.  Here's hoping!


the aforementioned 31 feet of binding

all done, sadly terrible lighting but it's what I got.  I love it.