Trick or Treat!

This week has seen me burning the midnight oil (as well as the 1 and 2 am oil!) in making Halloween costumes for my guys.  My oldest wanted to be a penguin and the youngest picked a winged-bat-creature-superhero-type-costume that had to be the most obnoxious pattern ever made.  So even though I did not make the hood or the belt, the shiny purple wings and the mask just made his day.  When he came down Halloween morning, and I had him try it on for the first time, he refused to take it off.  Needless to say, he went to pre-school in his costume ’cause I wasn’t fighting to get it off!

The only thing missing are the dalmation boots he wore trick-or-treating!

 

Curve-tastic Quilting!

In May, I will be teaching another class at Maplewood Quilts using my own technique developed in the Turtle Tracks Quilt.  In preparing for this class, I made a sample for the shop to display and I am very pleased with how it came out.  Inside, I am jumping up and down since this quilt (eventually) will me all MINE.  How many of us who craft can honestly say you have sewn something for yourself and not given it away?

Tammie, the shop owner, wants to keep the quilt on display and take it to the different shows she will be vending at to drum up interest for the class and possibly another one this fall depending upon demand.  How cool is that?!

Here are some photos of the quilt and one in progress shot.  I did not get any really good shots as it needed to get out the door as soon as it was done.  In fact, the binding is merely basted on – not properly sewn at all!  I only had about 1 week to get it done.  I am amazed it even got as far as it did!

 

Obese Bunnies

A couple of weeks ago I discovered a pattern for the cutest “Bunny Stuffies” on Kwoozy, a really neat etsy shop and blog.  In need of a gift for my niece and a friend’s little girl, I decided to give them a whirl. 

I chose to use some fleece scraps for the belly and ears which had an interesting side effect.  The fleece is stretchy and when the bunnies were stuffed, they were quite chubby!  I think it makes them charming and a lot of fun.  Did you know that you can juggle them?  My oldest saw them and fell in love.  I had to promise him that I would make him one before I could get them out of the house.

As an additional present (and why I had scraps of fleece), I also made my niece a little winter hat.  It’s a very simple pattern I created a couple of years ago for my boys with great success.   Isn’t she the cutest?!

 

Quilted Children’s Art Bags

After seeing a post for a little crayons and paper art pad for children, I came up with the idea for an art bag.  One side would have slots for markers and the other would have slots for crayons and a pouch for miscellaneous stuff.  The inside of the bag would be perfect for a couple of coloring books. 

I figured it would be a fairly easy project to whip together for all the kiddies in my life who need presents.  And while it is easy, the first one took a lot longer than I had anticipated since I was making up the pattern as I went along.  I think the other 7 will go more quickly now that I have some of the kinks ironed out.

First I made 2 panels a couple inches bigger than the coloring book.  I quilted them onto some batting and no backing.  Next, I made a 5″x8″ pocket with an iron on Velcro closure.  Man, I LOVE iron on Velcro!!  Then I took a strip of material which, when folded in half, was a little shorter than a crayon.  This I sewed along the bottom of one of the panels using a zipper foot and crayons as guides.  On the back panel I did the same thing but sized it up for markers.

Next, I made some handles and sewed a lining into the bag.  Turned it all right sides out, closed the turning hole in the lining, and ran a stitch around the lip of the bag to keep everything in place.  Here is a shot of the finished bag. 

This was a good project since it used up scraps I had left over from making pajamas for my 2 boys and batting I had trimmed off past quilts.

 Now I need to make 7 more! 

 

Two More Quilted Bags!

With each new bag, I have been trying little variations in the pattern.  Here is the second bag, which will be an exchange gift for my husband’s work, and on it I did a smaller band across the top.  I wanted to see what it would do the proportion of the bag and I think it works well.  I really like the chickens that I fussy cut for the border – unifies the whole theme.

Here is a shot of the bottom.  It is really cool how the points all meet up.

The third bag is the one I made for The Nanna.  Yes, we do call her “The Nanna”.  It somehow seems to fit – she was a WWII bride from England, has very upright posture and a formidable bosom, teaches aerobics and Tai Chi.  The Nanna is in her eighties and I want to be like her when I grow up!  Anyway, I think the bag will look good with her jacket I made.  I will tuck some yummy soaps and scented candles I got from Whisper Hill Soaps inside for her.

And here is a final shot of all three together.  Now to see if I can get another one done tonight!