Friday {Old} Finishes!

It's been a while since my last post . . . I think that last one is hard for me to look at, so I've been avoiding my blogger page.


Things have also been busy lately . . . with the warmer temperatures, I've been getting the kid out more. We've gone to . . .

the Dallas Arboretum,

the Dallas Zoo, 

and now we have gymnastics every week.

The only problem is that by the time nap/sewing time comes around, I'm pretty pooped too! So my sewing and blogging time is down a bit, but I'll try to be better for y'all.


But I have been working on things!

Mother's Day was last weekend, so I made my mom an Anna Maria Horner Art Student Tote.

(I'll dedicate a whole post to this one; it was hard but definitely worth it!)

We (S & A & myself) made my MIL some yard art.

S & A built and painted the frames, and I made the stencils.

She worked HARD!

Both moms loved their haul!

The day before Mother's Day was S's 30th birthday. Among other things, I decided that 30 deserves a quilt!

I haven't gotten any great photos of it, and I'm still working on the "perfect" label, but I'll get on it and show y'all as soon as I can!

I've also been working on a St. Louis 16 Patch for a picnic quilt. (The fabric is Picnic Pals by Penguin & Fish. Just too perfect, isn't it?)

I ADORE this fabric! Remember when I did some embroidery for Alyssa at Penguin and Fish? She sent me a fat quarter bundle as a thank you, and I can't wait to finish this up!

Just look at this chipmunk and turtle. Too cute, right?!?!

Tomorrow I'll be at Saturday Sew for our Dallas Modern Quilt Guild, and I hope to finish the blocks (and maybe piece the top!).

Next week I'll be taking Miss A to see my parents in Lubbock. We'll be flying, and I've decided I need a new bag to take with me . . . so we'll see if I get it done in time!

See ya!
EL

Do you have an Aunt Bonnie?

(This post was really hard to write. I've been trying to for a week or so now. There's a lot left unsaid. I can't write it.)

Because you need one. Go find one. Aunt Bonnies make awesome lemon/blueberry pound cake. They have the most infectious smile and laugh. They brighten the entire room when they walk in. They are one of the few family members who will sit and listen to you talk about quilts for hours. (And actually be interested!)

But of all the Aunt Bonnies out there, mine is the best. Not only is she an amazing woman, she's a survivor. Years ago, she beat breast cancer. And I mean BEAT IT! She is a warrior.

The problem is, cancer sucks. Late last year, she had to start chemo again. A month or so ago, they stopped it. The damned cancer is in her liver . . . 

The quilting is large and loopy. A few months ago she cracked a few ribs under a heavy blanket. Evidently chemo makes your bones brittle, so I wanted to make it as light as possible. On recomendations from my amazing DMQG friends, I used a wool batting that is super warm, but light.

I need to show her how much I love her. This is the only thing I can do.

Stats:

           Block: String Heart Block tutorial by Don't Call Me Betsy

           Block & Binding fabric: Dolce by Tanya Whelan

           Background: Kona Sky

           Backing: something Robert Kaufman . . . it's been in my stash so long I'm not sure anymore

           Batting: Quilters Dream Wool

           Size: appx. 60"x40"

All pictures are pre-wash.

See ya.
EL

Guild Swap and a Baby Finish . . .

So . . . I'm just going to ignore the fact that I'm behind on blogging and forget the promises of things to show you . . . and just dive into my post! ;)

I did finish the baby receiving blanket for our friend.

It's Anna Maria Horner's Field Study Cell Structure voile, Robert Kaufman Solid Pink flannel, and Joel Dewberry's Notting Hill square petals for the binding (all bought at Fabric Worm).

I put my initials and the year on the back like last time . . .

Yes, my 13 sucks, but I really don't care! It was late and curves are hard! ;)

Moving on.

Tonight is the meeting for our Dallas Modern Quilt Guild!  We have a swap this time; last month we all brought a gallon bag of scraps to swap out with people. I included a little "thank you" pincushion for my partner.

Pincushion from tutorial found on Pinterest.

We brought their bag home and made something for their kitchen.

My bag of scraps!

I got Miss Shannon, and she requested a hot pad and an apron (a fancy, entertaining one).

I hope she likes what I did!

"Fancy Apron" - no pattern, tried to copy one my Great-grandma made!

Miss A modeling . . . because you didn't want to see it around my waist! (Notice the teapot!)

I made hot pads from a tutorial off of the Purl Bee and an oven mitt from a tutorial from Pickup Some Creativity. (Seriously, what did we do before Pinterest?) 

Hot Pad #1

Hot Pad #2

Hot Pad #3

Look at that fussy cutting . . . total accident, but totally adorable if I do say so myself!

Oven Mitt

Hot Pad #4 with mitt openings

Shannon seriously gave me some awesome scraps! I had some binding issues yesterday, but muscled through! It's not the best, but I hope she likes them!

I can't wait for tonight!

See Ya!

EL

WIP Wednesday

So, I was going to post this last week, but things got crazy and I didn't  have time . . .  the funny thing is, I couldn't tell you what I did that made it so crazy! That seems to be happening to me more and more lately, I feel like I run and run, but I have nothing to show for it except a dirty house and a hungry kid!

Maybe that's why I like to quilt . . . at the end, I have something tangible to show for the work I've done!

Anyway . . . off the soap box, and onto the WIPs!

I'm working on a little something for the DMQG swap next week! I'll tell you all about it after the meeting!

I'm about to start on a little string block (these paper squares are 3.5").

This will soon become a pillow for my bed! I plan on using I'm A Ginger Monkey's pillow tutorial to make sure it's pretty!  (I got this extra Hope Valley fabric from my friend Lisa's big destash!)

These strips will hopefully be a pillow for Miss A's bed.

There are things afoot for Mother's Day! (Sorry, I love to say afoot! I'm a Doyle fan!)

I'm *this* close to finishing another receiving blanket! All I need to do is add my sign and wash it! Then it's off for a new baby!

I've whipped up the top for S's birthday quilt. It's the Modern Cross Kit from Pink Chalk Fabrics. It's not long enough for the hubster to stretch out under, so I'll be adding some borders before I finish it!

Hopefully, I'll have something finished to show you on Friday, or at least have a plan for some finishes to tell you about!

See ya!

EL

Progress

More washing and ironing . . .

More cutting and sorting . . .

Auditioning fabrics . . .

And Ernst is home! Hopefully I'll have some time to sew tomorrow and Sunday!  Maybe then I'll have some actual finishes for you!

Cross your fingers!
EL

WIP Wednesday

Right now, everything is a WIP! Ernst is still at the spa, so I'm getting random stuff done.

There's been washing . . .

 And ironing . . .

and cutting! (My favorite part! :)

I've also done some organizing, and I have a LOT of WIPs and Wish-Lists!

My main focus this  month will be Mother's Day gifts for my mom and MIL, and a 30th birthday quilt for my hubby!

(This is a screen shot of the quilt from the Pink Chalk Fabric website.)

I'm doing this Modern Cross for him from Pink Chalk Designs (out of the book We Love Color). It's an amazing book! So pretty and inspiring!

Hoping to get that fabric washed, ironed & cut this weekend!

Hope you're getting stuff done this week, too!

See ya!
EL

Happy Easter!

Hope yours was as much fun as a confetti egg on the head! :)

See ya!

EL