Super Hip Rag Quilt

And now, a word from my non-sponsor...

Ever since I started making quilts, I have used the blue painter's tape for basting.  You know, taping the back onto the floor then poking a gazillion pins in the top to keep all the layers together. 

Well I have recently been quite um...unhappy... with the results.  It *may* have had something to do with the fact that I paid like 4 cents for a roll of the blue stuff.  But NOW!  Now GREEN is the new blue.  I found some Frog Tape (quite spendy) but it worked like a charm. 

Especially if you're using it on chenille, flannel, or right infront of the AC vent where the air just keeps blowing the tape to smitherines.  I heart Frog Tape.  Now if I could just get paid for that little bit...

 My latest commissioned quilt was this super hip 'n funky rag quilt.  It's for a baby girl but you can't tell.  And that's cool.  Because if baby girl gets a baby brother someday... no need to pack up the quilt.  And that is what every quilt-maker wants - lots of usage. 

So I started the usage train with my own baby perched atop. 

I just love this color combination.  So unexpected (for me!).  Very bright and happy. 
I feel like these are the kinds of quilts that make sewing and quilting cool.  Because, you know, some people think it's not. 

Some might think I take too many pictures of my baby on quilts.

 Including the baby. 

 But isn't that what babies are for?

 Taking close-ups of adorable wrist-rolls and tiny toes?

Yeah, I thought so.

Science + Quilts

An update on the homemade soft scrub:
     Don't fill your container all the way to the top.  A fun science experiment with baking soda - yes.  Cleaning it off of the hardwood floors in the closet where it was kept - not as fun.  Give it a little breathing room when you fill your container with the magic potion.

The Yo Gabba Gabba quilt is complete and on it's way to the birthday girl!   I know I've said it a bajillion times but this quilt was so. much. fun.  Incase you couldn't tell by my profile picture, I love rainbow quilts!

And a stripey bias-cut binding.  YAY!  The only thing I wish I had more time for on this quilt was hand quilting in the rainbow colors around each block.  That would have made me keep it instead of sending it to the owner so I guess that's a good thing.

(Random off-topic rant - what is up with blogger?  All of my pictures look blurry and dark and I'm getting emails about people not being able to comment.  Sorry for the fuzzy images and disabled comments.  Hopefully it is fixed soon.)

Moving on, a lovely shabby chic rag quilt for a looooovely customer.  I wish we could have a big Etsy reunion with clients.  It's amazing the friendships that form just over chatting about quilts and babies.  I have had the privilege of meeting some of the nicest people under the sun.  To think that God opened up this avenue for me with a needle and thread is really unbelieveable.  

The soon-to-be mama is decorating her daughter's nursery with a shabby chic style and incorporating antique tea cups.  How adorable would that be?!   And why didn't I think of that!  Anyway I found the most perfect embroidery pattern by Catherine over at Bumpkin Bears & Friends on Etsy.  It's a cute little bunny peeking out of a stack of teacups.  So a very simple label turned into a 7" square on the back of the quilt.  I sewed and snipped it in a rag-style to match the front. 

I really hope your summer is lots of fun.  One of my favorite things about summer time as a mama is letting the girls stay up late, catching lightning bugs, and drinking lemonade.  They truly love the simple things which I am very grateful for.  These days are so wonderful, I am so blessed.

A Banner Day

Another Independence Day Parade!  I love this neighborhood and the sense of community on this day.  See that Lady Liberty down there in the right hand corner?  Where else are you going to get that?!  And yep, The Banner made it's second appearance.  I got a little nervous the day before when I couldn't remember where I stored it from last year... and the rods to hold it.  But it all worked out, thank goodness!

Another memory rag quilt has been made.  This one for a bridal shower gift.  The gift-giver asked the bride and groom questions about each other (first meeting, when they fell in love, future as parents,etc) and also included pictures with their answers.  FUN!  The fabric was Gypsy Bandana which was a great color combo to work with.  Love them blues and greens!

Today we replenished the faux-soft-scrubbing cleaner.   Remember my resolution for 2011 was to make my own laundry detergent?  A friend and I did just that and more back in February.  I have to make more of it but this was even easier and my bathroom is way gross. 

Frosting you say?  Great, as soon as you put the camera down I'll be chowing down on this stuff.

It's a hazy, hot, and humid day today so we are in for most of the time.  The kiddies really liked helping with this one.  I love this finished product and use it all the time.  I basically dump a box of baking soda in a 4-cup bowl, add some detergent and stir until it's a frosting-like consistency.

 Once you get the desired gooy consistency and have successfully washed out your toddler's mouth, spoon it into a safe place (where it won't be mistaken as frosting in the future).  I use a mason jar and make sure the lid is screwed on crazy tight.

Now go clean your bathroom!

Whew, I have to get one blog post in this month by the skin of my teeth!

Yikes, between a totally adorable two-month-old and beautifully sunny Ohio days, blogging has been happening a lot in my mind. You know, talking to myself. I do have a lot of quilting deadlines right now as well which is not good for the "lazy days of summer" bit. But I am so thankful for family and friends who are helping with the kiddos and sewing. God continues to bless me and watch me go crazy at the same time.

Speaking of going crazy, a lovely young mama contacted me about making a quilt to remind her little girl of Yo Gabba Gabba. This sweet woman picked out the perfect fabrics to evoke such a strong feeling of the show. The bright colors, the bold stripes, and some spectacular Spoonflower fabrics really do the trick. (Do you see those awesome glasses?!)

Not many clients dump a ton of gorgeous fabric on my doorstep and tell me "be creative, I trust you". This has been so much fun to play with. I love bright rainbow colors and free-spirited wonky log cabin blocks. Really having fun finishing this quilt up and will post the finished product soon. (ish)

If you sew and you love summer I highly recommend making a picnic blanket. I take it everywhere with us and use it almost every single day. OR if you need an easy but thoughtful useable gift - totally do the picnic blanket. Our neighbors just got married and I have theirs in the works. They want to have a ton of kids right away (my kind of people!) so hopefully they will be cool with a picnic blanket as a wedding gift.

My super ornery two-year-old eating her 19th piece of watermelon that day. If you wear blue polka dots around me, you can get away with pretty much anything. Just sayin'.

You have no idea how much restraint I am exercising with just one baby picture. Here he is with his grandfather, or Nonno, that he was named after. He has the funniest old man look on his face which I find completely adorable (of course).

And finally a picture of a pillow I did recently. I love these. Hoping to start up on some boy themed pillows. Now that I have my incredible little man I am noticing how few things are out there for him. Finally I can over-indulge in blue and green. And dogs. And vespas. Oooh have I found the most adorable vespa fabric!

Boys are great! Especially when it comes to sewing. God really knew what he was doing when he gave me my sweet baby boy. I admit there was a bit of sadness at not having another girl. But really, what's not to love about frogs and snails and puppy dog tails? Looking forward to lots of new projects for the baby man.

Blogger's Quilt Festival

1. I had a baby!

2. He's super cute!

3. Here's my quilt for Blogger's Quilt Festival. Can you find the baby in the middle? :)

I talked about making this quilt for a client-turned-really good friend from NYC in my last post. Her due date was the day after mine but she delivered a week or so before me. Which was actually great because it gave me time to finish up her quilt in time for Mother's Day. I think every mom should have a quilt for Mother's Day. Which means I should probably start now to get one out to MY mama for next year. Ahem...

Make sure you stop by Amy's blog and check out the oodles of fantastic quilts on parade!

Quilts, no baby

Well, being officially 5 days overdue is good for one thing and one thing only... getting quilts done. I much prefer to be snuggling with a tiny little person right now but sewing is a lovely distraction.

I was recently contacted by my NYC twin. Not really a twin but we are living parallel lives. She has two girls and was due with her 3rd baby the day after I was due with my 3rd. Except she actually HAD her baby and I'm still waiting. Did I mention I'm still waiting to give birth?

Anyway she wanted a special quilt to accomodate a family of 5 for picnics and such. So we came up with this. It came together really fast and with lots of love. Because when you feel a special connection to the person you're making it for, you just want it to be perfect. Just waiting on the label and then attach the binding and then it's off to baby Brody.

My other current project is a rag quilt for little girl who is about to turn 1. This is one creative family!

Lots of pictures and messages of love. It only makes me feel bad that I haven't done anything nearly as meaningful for my own children. Someday, my loves! Thankfully I have very imaginative and creative clients that give me lots of inspiration.

Well I guess I'm signing off until baby comes. It will come. That's what they tell me, no one has been pregnant forever. Until then have a blessed Easter season. He has risen! He has risen indeed! Hallelujah!

A winner!

Random.org has chosen #4, The Knapps, for the CSN Giveaway. Double congratulations to you as you commented on a baby on the way!! Hooray! I'll be sending you an email with the info.

Speaking of babies, I HOPEFULLY will be also joining the baby club (again) soon. Due date is approaching and we are all a-twitter here. Well, mostly just me and hubs.

I am so tickled I got to make some more Love pillow covers. Funny it was exactly a year ago that I did the tutorial with Amy Butler's Love fabric.

My oldest turned 5 (FIVE?!) this week. So no one told me teenage drama would start at 5. I'm going to keep blaming the no sleep situation and hope it will soon pass. However we did have a lovely time at the "birthday house" as she calls it. Being 39 weeks pregnant we kept it very low key. MIL brought pasta, I made some pulled pork BBQ and dad grilled out some chicken sausage brat things. I'm all for simple but nice.

AND I met my goal of completing this quilt before baby came. A sweety of a client commisssioned me to make this for her daughter's birthday on the same day as my daughters! Well I'll be... It did have silks in the front which did not survive the washing and drying process. Probably would have done ok if it were a regular quilt but as a rag quilt it did not work out. So I had to undo the entire - YES, I said entire - quilt to pull out the 17 silk squares. Substituted them with regular cotton fabric and we're back on track. The velvet is still on the back which I pray will wash well and last for lifetimes.

Congrats, The Knapps! Happy Birthday to my little girl and the velvet birthday girl! Blessings all around!