Quilt Sandwich

I was having trouble sandwiching the three layers together, but a wonderful quilting mentor suggested I tape the bottom to the floor for stability and it worked great. I had to move furniture out of the way to have a large enough space, but it was so much easier that way.

I didn't like all the light colored fabric on the two sides, so I cut most of it off, and added the square line down the side. I think it's going to look much nicer that way.

I've started quilting it, with suggestions from my mentor, and it's going along pretty well. I'm doing it on my old fashioned sewing machine, which is a little tricky, but taking my time and holding things steady is key. Periodically, I wind up having to go back and redo a spot because I didn't hold it tight enough and a tiny fold developed. I know it's not going to be perfect, but that's something  I can fix. Crooked lines... J will just have to like them.

Name Decor

For LeLe's first shower, Chelle had a banner with Little Man's name on it and owls on the end. LeLe wanted to use it in the nursery, and I already had a long frame that was collecting dust. Unfortunately, the letter and owls wouldn't all fit, so we improvised....

I reverse painted his name on the glass. Printed it out on the computer, taped it to the back and drew it out with a sharpie. Then turned it over and painted it with regular craft paint. It took several coats to make it solid. Then I took some fabric and hot glued it to the backing, and glued the owls in place. The frame was originally blue, and I painted it as well.   It turned out pretty nice for being free.

Still working on J's quilt. Having trouble "sandwiching" the top, fleece and bottom together, but got a good tip from a friend and I'll try that. I also decided I didn't like all the solid fabric on the sides, so I cut some of it off, and used leftover pieces to make a strip to go down the sides. No pic yet, but I'll keep you posted.

So Far So Good

Here is block number six for J's quilt.

And....drum roll please........

TA DAAAAA!

The quilt top is finished.

No, it's not symmetrical. No, the blocks are not the same. But it's unique and I created it as I went. I would have liked to used something a little darker for the side panels, but went with what I had intead of purchasing more fabric.

Now, I think the hard part begins. Or another hard part begins. I have to find fabric to back it and I'm thinking a sheet will do. The demensions at this moment in time are 99x82, but that will change when I finish the edges. I just have to find the right color sheet. Then I have to figure out how to handle all the bulk on my sewing machine to quilt it. I sure hope it works, because if I have to give up and do it by hand, it's gonna take a very long time.

Latest Projects

The final project for Little Man's room....(I think) An odds and ends caddy to hang on the end of the bed. It will hold diapers, wipes, powder, etc. Hopefully it will be easy access for LeLe when she's taking care of baby boy.

  My first attempt at this was a failure. I tried to follow a commercial pattern and the instructions were absolute Greek. I tried several times to figure them out, and gave up. Or so I thought. It kept hanging around in my head until I had no choice but to try again. Only this time, I did it all on my own without a pattern. Funny how it's easier that way for some reason.

The other project I tackled was recovering an old footstool. It was in excellent shape, but the vinyl top did not fit my style.

I considered what fabric to use for a few weeks, but there was one in Walmart that caught my eye every time I visited the fabric department. I didn't know if it would go with my current colors, but finally gave up and bought it anyway.

It actually did match my bedroom colors, and I like it so much, I'm considering replacing my shams and curtains with it.  The stool turned out perfect as far as I'm concerned.

Old Idea

When we first purchased our home, I was looking for inexpensive ways to decorate. We love to browse antique and collectibles shops, and in the back of one, where they had all the junk interesting items, something caught my eye. Someone had cut decorative iron porch supports (can't think of exactly what they are called) into two short pieces. I thought to myself they would be perfect for hanging over doors.

We have two halls in our house due to a split floor plan, and they were perfect for both hall entrances. They were of course dirty and needed lots of work. I cleaned them up, painted them creamy white and then took some watered down brown acrylic paint and "washed" them. I wiped off the excess, and it was almost just like a glaze or stain.  

I still love them. You could also turn them length wise and hang them on each side of the doorway, or a painting. You could even hang them together, one a little higher than the other. The possibilities are endless.

Owl on The Wall

I've posted this on facebook, but decided to go ahead and post it here as well.
This weekend, while LeLe was on a short trip, I painted a mural on Little Man's wall. She searched the interwebs and this is the one she liked the best.

The crib will go directly under the tree and here's hoping baby likes it. After two days of standing on a ladder, I'd hate to think we had to take it off. *grin*

Also while she was gone, I hung the window treatments, and moved the glider rocker into the room. She'll have to post pictures of that, because I forgot to take any. 

In other news, niece was very happy with Bryce's gifts, (see this post) but her husband was tickled to death with the burp cloths made out of sports fabric. (see this post) I was relieved they were pleased, because you just never know if someone likes handmade items.

Whoooo Are You?

Who who...who who.... Can you hear Roger Daughtry? :P Had to do that folks, sorry.
This little thing popped into my head one night when I couldn't sleep.

So, I got up to draw him before he left me. I was determined to create something with this graphic and thought on it for quite some time. A quilt? Nah, not right now. An applique for a shirt? Maybe in a little while. Ah Ha! A pillow.

Everything I used was left over scraps. The circle fabric is from an owl pillow I made early on for Little Man, and I also used some of it to make burp cloths and bibs. That small amount of fabric went further than I ever thought it would.  The cream is just a thick muslin that came from the hoard of fabric my Mom gave me a while back. The pillow itself is leftover fabric from covering the chair cushions. 

Now LeLe has a little fashionable support for her back when she is rocking our baby to sleep.