Little Doll Aprons

I will occasionally gift a handmade doll clothes item to girls at the schools I work at.  Here is another apron, which I have fun making.

Borrowed my daughters doll for a model

Having my apron pattern be reversible or double sided gives a nice finished look 

Made my young friend Emma a reversible apron for her American Girl Doll, finally!  It took a little longer than it should have, but I am happy with the end result. I needed to add a little extra ric rac as the recipe mentions fermenting alcohol when talking about sugar as a part of this fabrics design, so I just covered that up sneakily, hahahaha!  Naturally I recieved a squeal of delight and a huge hug!

Pillowcases for fun

Another pillowcase for Kirstin

This is a two sided variation for Kirstin.  On previous pillowcases I did not use the walking foot, as shown here in this collage. It really makes a difference when sewing thru so many layers of fabric. 

Now I need to get back to Alaina's lapquilt, which is being made from some matching scientific fabric in a large hexagon style. I have been avoiding sandwiching it together! It is time.

Invisible Zipper Pillow for the kids

Kirstin was looking at pictures last night and told me that I had posted the picture of the poof I had them for their apartment, exactly one year ago today. How funny I made the kid a matching floor pillow today, of all days. I think I did a pretty good job with the invisible zipper, once I figured it out. I will definately thake more pillows with them.

Whale of a Totebag

When I make a bag, I like to use something old, something new and here I even used something new, you could almost say something borrowed, but really the whale material was something gifted to me.

Whale tote, summer 2015

Red fabric, leftover from one of Kirstin's halloween costumes.

Blue mesh net was new waiting to be used, bought at Pacific Fabrics.

Red strapping, bought at Pacific Fabrics yesterday.

Blue material, I believe given to me from my friend Sheryl.

Whale material, a gift from my friend Cathie.

Small whale and fish fabric, bought at Keepsake Cottage Quilt and Fabric Shop this summer.

Red and Blue bias tape, well I am buying that stuff all the time!

Gifted to a friend who is on to a new employment journey

This bag actually has 10 pockets. Since I was using scraps of material, that is what decided the size of this tote bag. I tried something new with the binding tape, I would like to find a way to make that work a little better, but not complaining. I can't wait to hear how it works out for Trihn and her 4 year old son Calvin.  I hope they have lots of fun this summer and I wish her well wherever her career takes her to.

Craftiness

Summer allows for a little craftiness.  Finishing a project is even better, not only for me, but the recipient too, Kirstin looks great wrapped up in her quilt.

Alaina took photos of the new little boat sails I made up last week, reversible even. I have to say I really love how they turned out, and I go back and forth between which side I like best.

Kirstin and I picked out all these patterns for a colorful design over a year ago.  I think the black accents make it fun.

This is the largest quilt I have made and it wraps my kiddo up just perfect.

Kirstin holding up her finished quilt!

The backing looks great too.

This is the first time I have allowed myself to machine stitch the binding on

Created a Doll Apron Pattern

My first go at designing a doll apron pattern.

Once I get this pattern fine tuned, I am afraid I might just make up a dozen more aprons. All the different fabric in my stash is shouting from their boxes, Pick Me! Pick Me Next! 

My second go is reversible, the other side is below

I used double fold bias binding tape, so easy. The ric-rac was a nice touch. Next one will get a pocket.

I wonder how easy a matching oven mitt might be?

I am thinking this apron might be just the right surprise for the student at school whose older sister is battling cancer. Her sister loves to make cupcakes just like her mom.

Update: Ahmie left us on Sunday morning, age 14. My heart hurts.

Sewing doll clothes - again.

Yes! Sewing doll clothes - again!

I just love how these swimsuits turn out!  Not the easiest material to sew on, but I just keep at it.

Last of the swimsuit fabric I got from my mothernlaw

A couple of students at school will benefit.  Next is a pink dress for a student who could use a surprise! I might just make a pair of scrubs for her doll too?

I finished a project, okay, with some help

The first 2 weeks of 2015 were crazy.  The 3rd week felt much better.  I finished a project even. One of those things called a ufo, as in unfinished object.  I will miss it, but I can always visit the chair at it's new home. Not sure how many homes this chair had been in before I found it on a street corner in Ballard with a sad little Free sign on it a couple years ago. It is actually quite comfortable now with it's new cushion. My first box pillow, I am quite proud of it I must add. It sewed up quite easily, and the foam that I had cut for it by Pacific Fabrics fits perfectly.  I am still not sure how I pulled it off!

With the reversible cushion

My husband helped me recover it again.

The box cushion has 2 different patterns

Next, I am taking my Gramma to Blaine tomorrow. We are going to celebrate a wonderful woman, Norma, who lived so gracefully to be one month shy of 108, no, that is not a typo. Kind, caring, smart, inspiring, is an incomplete list.  Norma even drove her car at age 95 to renew her drivers license in a town about 20 minutes south, even on the freeway too, got home and said, 5 more years! Going to miss that woman! She inspired our strawberry freezer jam our family all enjoys so much! Mmmmmm

A Special Day at Ferryland Lighthouse

An absolutely beautiful wedding between 2 beautiful people.  They shared their special day with their close friends and family and how lucky one of those people happens to be me.  In anticipation of this special day I made them an art quilt to remember their day.  I taught myself new techniques, borrowed ideas and supplies and made something quite special.

my first art quilt

Arriving to Ferryland Lighthouse was so exciting to see it in person after creating the quilt from a photo.  Kirstin something along the lines of it is like walking in the quilt, and it was like the quilt came to life in front of our eyes. By the time we left the sky had blued up just like the quilt sky too! What a beautiful place, complete with whales passing by during the ceremony even.  A magical day I will carry around in my heart.

Finally visited a quilt show

Quilters Anonymous held their quilt show at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds this weekend, a wonderful variety of handmade loveliness!   It was great to spend time with my friends outside of work, even if one was volunteering the event, we borrowed her quite a few times, I also got to meet her long time friend, guess what, another quilter!

I am gathering ideas for a few projects I have started in my head and this was the  perfect place to see techniques done up close. Even ideas I could never had thought up, ever.

Sometimes you need a little rest, and then maybe a little more

Paper Pieced Hexagon's Wild

Hand sewing. Paper piecing. Using creativity to find peace.  I miss my dog. Oh, I have a cat in my lap as I type this, and the cats do greet us when we get home, but they are cats, not the same. I yell less, or was that my form of barking back?  I actually have vacuumed up food (and a lot less hair of course). I really still don't like to say his name yet, but he said goodbye and let me know he was happy and okay and he also did help me wake up on time one morning recently too, nice to know he checks in, what a good boy.

Tucker's last bath, with Nini trying to keep him warm

Not only sewing, but sleeping and Pinterest and 3 seasons of Downton Abbey later, I think I am over my bout of bronchitis, check that off my bucket list, I better never have that again, ever! Just waiting to kick the last of this headcold thing, blech. When it is time to rest, life gives you the opportunities you might say. So my heart heals with time to rest.

Valentine paper pieced hexagons coming together.

We've also had to say goodbye to Great Uncle Bill.  What a kind man from another generation. His service has been arranged to include a Naval Tribute, as appropriate for he served over 30 years for our country.

I thought I would cheer my Gramma up, as now she has lost another brother and also the father of her children lately, a visit to her old friend Norma was in order.  Kirstin even got some more freeway driving practice before her driving test, which she passed, no problem! Now a car?

Norma 3 years ago at 104!

So Norma turned 107 last week!  She is also a very kind lady.  I like to think of her as sort of a mother figure for Gramma, and nothing better than a hug from someone special.  Norma was thrilled with the visit and we also brought her a little surprise.

1878

This is her Grandparents marriage license from Lehigh County, Iowa 1878!  We framed it with UV protective glass for her to have out and she can share with her family, there are still quite a few of them left in town. In fact, while visiting Norma, I got to meet cousin Claudia, who knew of me thru another cousin Katy, who I have yet to meet other than thru email, but we have been working on their family tree together.  Again, funny how life works isn't it? Claudia remembered my Gramma from years ago, and was happy to see her again.  My Gramma married into a really neat family, and they are one reason why I enjoy genealogy and family history so much. I really can't wait to see what is in their box of photos!  I do love that life continues to give you things to look forward to.  I end with, Newfoundland...and a Way To Go Hawks!

Material stash coin purses

My first batch of coin purses.

Little surprises to view inside.

Just had to put chocolate coins in these, can't give a purse without money in it, right?

I am thinking to incorporate at least one zipper in these to make them official 'coin'  purses
.
These are more of a 3 pocket credit/gift card purse really.

A strap that could be tucked into the back pocket when not in use too would make them more versatile.

Super soccer ball

I got to sew up a soccer ball for Sam.  I hadn't made one since middle school.  Well I have gotta say, fabric choices today are outta this world.  Perfect stash buster.  20 hexagons and a dozen pentagons.  I am going to have to make more, which color next?

Book bags galore

Here is something I have been working on.  I designed and have sewn up 56 book bags so far for Cascade K-8.  I had fun working out the bugs and I am thinking I should add my easy sew pattern to my blog, hmm.

Summerwear out of nowhere

    

Another drizzly day, perfect for downsizing my knit fabric stash. Who knew less than an hour later I would have new nightshirt all zig-zagged up? The light blue and white striped fabric just created its own design, although it required me to get dressed as I chose to trace around the nightgown I was still in, stitch up the sides and top, then rolled under the hems and done. Now just need that warm weather to arrive.

Light blue and white stripes are so cute!