Bottled Rainbow Begins

I have jumped in to participate in the Bottled Rainbow Quiltalong at Stitched in Color (you can click the link in my sidebar to see how to join in).  I bought these pretty fat quarters before Christmas when they were on sale from Connected Threads.  Luckily, the fat quarter bundle had all the colors I needed except for two and I managed to find them in my stash.  Here they are all laid out on my living room floor.



Then I started sorting my scraps onto the matching colors.  Lots of my scraps did not have one dominant color, so I set those aside.  I found out that although I have lots of scraps, I do not really have these exact colors.  Some of the colors I did really well on (bright green, dark green, blue, and the bright pink-no surprise, really) but some of the colors I didn’t have much at all.  I decided to include fat quarters and that helped.
Then I dug into a few of my charm squares packs and I was a little happier (okay, I know that those are technically not scraps but it is better than going out and buying more fabric, right?).  I am sure if I go upstairs and check, I can add some more yardage to the piles but that can wait.  I signed up for the scrap swap at Sew Sara so I am hoping I will get a few more scraps in the colors I need.
I seem to be low on the petal pink, cerise, indigo, and tangerine.  I will have to be on the lookout!

Meanwhile, I guess I need to pick up the living room!

I am linking up to Canoe Ridge's Sew Modern Monday and That Girl's Stitchin' Weekend!

I was featured!

Well, this is a first for me: my blog was featured by Jill over at Creating My Way to Success!  I linked up my pillows on her Round Tuit party and she kindly picked out my pillows to feature.  So exciting!  Thank you Jill!

Scrap Swap!

I am joining the Scrap Swap at Sew Sara! The idea is to get lots of pieces of scraps to use in new projects. You fill up an envelope (or two or five) and she will match us up with other swappers by March 21st. None of the scaps can be under 3 inches. There is a rainbow scrap quiltalong going on that I want to try so this will give me a variety to put in the quilt. It is called the Bottled Rainbow Quilt at Stitched in Color if you want to check it out.

Snow day sewing!

We had snow again in Maryland.  No school means I get to stay home and sew.  I got some little items made for my granddaughter (hope they fit). 


 

 My daughter requested more bibs.  I have a few more cut out, including one with a pieced heart.  I used some fleece for the back and did not put any batting in these two.

I will make more dresses (so cute!) and I cut out a few more.  This design uses bias tape and a shoulder overlap (no zipper).  I think I will try it with a non-knit skirt attached to a knit bodice.  I am hoping to find a cute t-shirt to re-use.  Our fabric stores do not carry very many knits and the ones they do carry are pretty expensive.  It only uses a tiny bit to make a baby’s dress so I’ll be on the look out for a good print on a t-shirt.

The jumpsuit took me long enough that I am not very likely to make more of them.  I put some elastic in the little hat to help it stay on.

Hope you had a good snow day!


I linked up to a few linky parties this week including Someday Crafts Whatever Wednesday, Just a Girl, Can I get a Whoop Whoop,
and Sugar and Spice.


Speaking of Can I get a Whoop Whoop, Sarah from Confessions of a Fabric Addict is having a great fabric giveaway along with her weekly linky party.  Head on over and leave a comment to join in on the fun.

iPad cover

I got an iPad and I love it!  So much fun!  I especially love my Flipboard application that lets me flip through Facebook, Flickr, and my google reader updates.  The colors look so deep and clear on the iPad.  Keeps me happy for an hour or two.

I took my iPad on the airplane to California and so I needed a cover so I could safely put it in the airport security bins so I quickly sewed a few blocks together and quilted them, sewed up the sides and added the ribbon. 

Tada!  My sweet daughter mailed these pictures to me.  Thanks Cara!

Christmas in February!

     Just in case you weren’t already aware, Christmas is coming!  I was sewing myself silly in December in an attempt to have a semi-homemade Christmas this year.  Some of my family is far, far away and I was hoping to send them some Christmas cheer.  I only managed to get the presents partly done by Christmas but I finally mailed them last week.  On the bright side, it will be quite a surprise and more special because there won’t be any other presents to distract them, right? 
I ended up making 11 pillows this year, two table runners, five pairs of pj pants, several shirts for the baby, one zipper pouch, and nine keychain wristlets.  I didn’t get pictures of everything (of course!). 
I read an excellent post about a woman who has documented all of her quilts since the late 70’s (Tessa from Fabric Therapy.  Go check it out.  Awesome, right?).  I started quilting in 1980 and I have a few pictures of some of the sewing I did back then but most of my quilts have been given away (and loved, I am sure).  I am hoping to get some pictures from some of my family and I will post them if I do. 
I do have pictures of some of the pillows I made.

I tried out some different quilting designs on each one.  I amuse myself when I can!

Free Pieced Potholders

I went a little crazy and made a ton of these.  I love piecing with my scraps of bright fabrics, especially the polka dots!  I used a layer of regular batting and a layer of Insulbrite so they are usable.  I gave some away for Christmas and I still have a few waiting to be gifted.  I enjoyed practicing free motion quilting on such small projects.  Lots of fun!

I am linking up to Sarah's Whoop Whoop! Party at Confessions of a Fabric Addict. Click over to see what everyone is doing.