OWLS

OK so I have a little bit of a problem...I love Owls. I don't know what it is but I just can't get enough of them.

This little guy in on the front of my bag...the bag isn't finished yet...because I'm not even sure how too finish it, I guess that will happen when you go off an idea instead of a pattern.

I'm thinking of putting some felt on front to make it look like trees and putting red buttons in them so it will look like apples...but I guess we'll see.

I'll post more as I get more done ^_^

Preparing for a baby...shower

I've been home in OZ for only a few days and my sister and I have already started working on the invites etc for the baby shower.

This is what we have so far...

Thank You (concept)
Invite

I don't know what it is but at the moment I'm really into Owls. Maybe they are just cute who knows.

Finally Finished!

I am happy to announce that this very afternoon I finished my first quilt!

My loving hubby was nice enough to hold it up for me while I used my bad photo skills to show you all how nice my bad quilting skills look...lol.

It's 36 x 36 (or there-abouts)

Close up

I ended up using a few different fabrics then I had planned on but it's all part of the process. The border is satin, and I used some fleece neutral fleece that I wasn't planning on but I personally think it looks AWESOME.

I also have an update on my next quilt. Once again the fantastic Renee is mentoring me through the process but this is what I have so far.

FrontBack

It's called a 'Quilt as you go' quilt. Once I have as many squares as I want for whatever it is I'm making I will trim them all up and sew them all together. Originally this square was 2 plain circles but once they are cut down the middle and stitched together they make this cool pattern. The circles on the front side is a combination of 2 of 3 different sized circles that will be made from different colours of materials.

I am thinking of doing 3 x 6 mat (9 1/2 x 9 1/2 squares) to use as a change pad or something, but I'm still undecided.

I have to mention that Renee gave me the material for this whole project and including some of her hand dyed fabrics to use for the circles (and they are so beautiful). I am so grateful for the time and effort she has given to teach me and the love I know has gone into these fabrics. So ultimately I will dedicate this quilting project to her.

Needless to say I'm really excited about this new project, because it gives you a lot of free rain (?) on the stitching and the fabric etc. When this one is done I would like to try it again with a different shape. Renee's quilt (my inspiration for this project) was made in Autumn colours and used 3 different leaf shapes. But like Renee says 'I will let the fabric inspire me' so lets hope I find something wicked cool before I finish this one so I have some time to work on my attack plan.

Rosalie

Today has not been what I had planned it to be. But that doesn't mean good things can't happen. So my good thing for the day was that I made our little girl's first scrap book page. I know the picture isn't that great but you should be able to see most of the important bits.

Quillow

"A quillow is a quilt with a pillow pouch attached. When folded, it looks like a pillow; when fully unfolded it is a quilt to keep you warm with a pouch for your feet.

I mentioned in my first post that my original inspiration for sewing was because of a Quillow that I was going to make with my Tante. Well after months of waiting I am actually going to post pictures of it.

Front

Back

Pillow Form

It was a tonne of fun to make and sewing machine malfunctions aside only took a day ^_^

I found some good instructions on the web (http://www.capitalquilts.com/freeproject/makeaquillow.pdf) should anyone out there like to give it a try ^_^ and don't worry if your not great with sewing just give it a go and see what happens!

Good dreams and better ideas.

Ok. So since I started quilting I've become a little obsessed...to say the least. I think we can classify dreaming about it obsessed. But it's not all bad, getting into this is helping me realize I can be more thrifty. So I've been trying to think up ideas of things I can make for my baby in progress. Here are some of my ideas so far let me know if you can think of any others...keeping in mind I'm new at this and don't even have real quilting/sewing supplies yet.

• Washcloths/Face Washers


• Burp-cloths


• Pincushions...that I was going to use as toys instead.

I also thought I would try my hand at those cool taggie blankets, the ones that cost a fortune in the stores. Here is my first attempt:

This side has the sweet Canadian print fabric that inspired me to do my quilt.

The other side has some cool waffle print fabric I had left over from my quilt. The ribbon I wrangled from my mother-in-laws scrap booking supplies ^_^

All very good ideas, however, when you are trying to be thrifty it can be very had to get any of them done. So I'm using the left over quilting material and a few old shirts.

There's a first for everything!

On a warm sunny afternoon here in Canada my mother-in-law and I took a trip to the fabric store. Officially I was there to find material for a Quillow my Tante and I were going to make together but as per usual I got a little sidetracked...

This was the result. I blame it on the people who make children's fabric too cute! Either way I decided that I needed to make a baby quilt. At the time I didn't know what I was having so we tried to make it gender neutral.

So now that I had material and I knew I wanted a baby quilt all I had to do is figure out how in the heck I was going to do that, considering I couldn't even sew in a straight line.

What to do...I called my RS President who happens to be my Visiting Teacher and is known in our ward for being a pro quilter with 30 odd years of experience. Jackpot...she agreed to teach me how to do it. I designed the pattern myself and began the long process.

It was a difficult process and I struggled a lot to try and sew in a straight line, but it's almost done! SO EXCITED!!! At the moment all that is left is the border...so when I finish next Monday I will make sure to add a picture.