Monogrammed Burlap {Tree Skirt}

 I have wanted this burlap skirt completed for the longest time.

Our family room tree has transitioned over the years into what I call a rustic "country" look.

 But I have to tell you my secret.

It isn't a typical tree skirt. It's actually a rectangle!

I bought a large burlap tablecloth for a party and never used it.  I thought about cutting it into a tree skirt, but realized when I hustled it under the tree, that I liked it with the fluffy layers.  I started by adding the monogram to the front center.

 

I added the red and white striped binding around the two short sides and one long side. 

 When I got to the back long side, I just ended the binding by folding the end in, stitching it closed.

I am soooo happy with it!

My only regret?  That I make sure that a seam ended right on the center front.  

Oh well...can't win them all!!!!

Pink Rodeo Rider {Quilt}

Back in January, I made some baby quilts with Rodeo Rider fabric by Riley Blake fabrics.

 For no real good reason other than I wanted an excuse to play with the rodeo fabrics!

I convinced myself that I could give them as gifts or sell them to some Texan friends. 

 I really loved the colors,  and if anyone knows me well, my favorite thing to do when we lived in Houston was to go to the Rodeo!

 I love the gorgeous Shannon Fabrics, Rosette minky backing. It wasn't a perfect match to the front pink, but it was leftover stash and I just love it for baby quilts.

And the paisley binding again.  I still have some of this leftover and am tempted to make myself another Rodeo quilt for myself to have up in the studio!!

I gave the Baby Rodeo Star to a friend in June. 

 And wouldn't you know it?  Just as I was going to post this one for sale, I got a request for a baby quilt commission from another friend. I was happy to make her a new one, but she loved the girl version I had already made and asked that I monogram it. 

I love how the simple monogram made it shine!

Quilt Stats:

Measures: 36" square

Pattern: Blooming Bliss by Fat Quarter Shop

Fabric: Rodeo Rider by Riley Blake 

Thread: Omni Thread Natural White by Superior Threads 

Quilted: Freemotion meandering on HQ Avante

Ironically, Button ended up needing a blanket to take to school for "rest time" this year, so the boy Rodeo Rider quilt found an owner too!  He wouldn't take his precious "Buddy" blanket because it had to be left there, so he asked me if I had one or if I could make one.  I forgot to take a picture of the embroidered quilt label I made before he took it in. Next time it comes home for a wash, I will do so!!

Tree Quilt {School Auction Quilt}

"Like branches of a tree our lives might grow in different directions, yet our roots remain as one"

This quilt started out super easy but ended up being the most time consuming "little" quilt I quite possibly have ever made. 

I was approached by the auction chair from Button's school to see if I could take all the fabric that the kids tissued dyed and make a tree quilt.  The fourth graders dyed theirs very multicolored and the kindergartners and preschoolers did greens, blues and yellows. 

She envisioned a tree with birds and leaves with their names on them. I told her it would be "easy" to design bird and leaf appliqués in my embroidery software. I may now regret that word choice. 

I, first, pulled out my trusty ole freezer paper and started sketching a tree. I ironed it on back of some textured brown fabric that I had in my stash. I then, awkwardly, cut it out and appliquéd it on some Kona white background. 

And then. It hit me. What I thought were only a handful of green fabrics were more going to be more leaves than my spindly tree could handle. There were 20-ish pre-k 3 and 4 year olds, but 30 kindergartners!!!!!

Thankfully, I quickly came up with the idea that I could use the Kindergarten green blocks as border and started piecing them. 

Then I laid out my paper samples of birds and leaves laid out for size and placement.

 I embroidered. And embroidered. And hooped. And unhooped. And embroidered. And snipped stabilizer. Hooped. And embroidered. Not to mention a few thread color changes. 

What I thought would be a few hours slowly and excruciatingly became....

36 hours. 

Thirty-six. 

HOURS. 

  After that?  Quilting was easy peasy. I used a flannel plaid green from my stash for backing since it was a wall hanging.  

Quilting in negative space white what is now one of my favorite fillers. I happened to have some old green dyed muslin in my stash for binding.  The fabric was from my JJ's pre-K4 class auction quilt I made in 2006. 

How's that for a full circle?

Leaf quilting in the border seemed appropriate and is one of the first free motion quilting patterns I perfected on my domestic machine. 

I had to do some fun wood grain quilting on the tree trunk and branches. 

And of course, I'm a firm believer in labels. I made a label that I printed.

 I love putting clip art that reflects the top and a good quote or poem. 

Quilt Stats:

Measures: 36"x 48"

Pattern: none

Fabric:  Brown, kona white, tissue dyed by kids

Thread: Omnithread Bright White, So Fine Variegated Green by Superior Threads

Quilted: Freemotion on HQ Avante

**important note: this quilt cannot be washed!  The dye WILL disappear!***

 Despite the incredible amount of time it took, it was worth all the work. Stewardship isn't just about money, but time and talents. And I'm always eager to share all three with my boys' Catholic schools. 

Quilt Label Fun

I think quilt labels are so important. I've been going through my blankets and quilts in our house and know that I have labels on the ones I have made. However, I also have some quilts that were handed down to us.  Especially this one from my husband's great grandmother without labels.

I know there is a story. But what story? I know bits and pieces about her, but are they true? Was this quilt actually made by her?  Don't get me wrong, I believe my in-laws, but it sure would be nice to know what year it was made. Who was it for?  

That is why I always make sure I make a quilt label. My attempts have improved over the years from pieces of muslin with sharpies to things like this to printed fabric to embroiderd labels. 

I'm always trying to find a unique quilt label because I despise a big blob on something that I've worked so hard on!

For these labels, I designed an embroidered puzzle appliqué.  I had already quilted the tops so I couldn't put them on my embroidery machine. 

Instead, I skipped the appliqué part and embroidered it out on a piece of solid fabric.

Then I cut around the puzzle leaving 1/4 inch around the satin stitching.  I did some hand stitching and needle turned them under! 

I'm pretty happy with the results and they blend into the backings pattern!  

But first, I need to add the binding on Tristan's quilt. 

I Promise

On this day, December 31st, 2013, I promise to NEVER, EVER use the phrase

"All the things I didn't get done".

EVER.

Why do I promise this? I found myself saying to people in passing "Oh, I just didn't get THIS done."  Or I said "I wish I had gotten THAT done".


 It occurred to me one day to say, "I DID get all of THESE done."

Twenty-One Finished Quilts
(the last three aren't posted yet)

1. Turtle Applique  2. Giant Star  3. Spiders and Webs, part deaux  4. Primarily Sean's  5. Tumbleweed  6. Gabe in the Hat  7.  Triplet Lattice 8. Trick or Treat 9.  Blush and Bashful  10. Christmas Star  11. Charlie's Whale Song  12.  Pajama Party  13.  Stars and Stripes  14.  Gramm's Garden Party  15.  Pop's Crossing  16. Sorrento  17.  Minecraft Slime  18.  Quirky but Solid

Three Group Quilts

(contributed blocks, pieced two, and quilted all three)

1.  Hugs for Rebecca  2. Imagination (Do.Good Stitches)  3. Shuffle the Deck (Do. Good Stitches)

Four Mini/Doll Quilts

             1. Hexi Doll Crib Set  2.  Butterfly Kiss mini  3.  Sewing Studio  4.  Memory Doll Quilt

Six Tutorials

1.  Snowflake Row (Winter Wonderland Round Robin Quilt)  2.  Something Folded Block (Something New QAL)  3.  Card Trick Block  4.  Starstrip Block  5. Rip 'n Sew Pillow                    6. Leaf Potholder

23 Bee Blocks
(21 for do. good stitches and 2 for Hugs for Rebecca)

Other Various Sewing and Embroidery Projects

(this is not all...just ones I took pictures of)

1. Manicure Set (swap) 2. Marquette Throw Pillow  3. Teen boy pillows  4. Puppy Love  5.  Embroidered T-shirt Pockets  6.  Beach Bum Art  7.  Needlepoint Cross  8.  Makeup/Cosmetic bag (swap)  9.  Coasters  10.  Dining Room Window Treatments  11.  Spider Applique Shirt  12.  Christmas Pajama Bags  13.  Embroidered Burp Rags  14.  Quilted Bible Cover  15.  Hexagogo Go Faster Box Bag  16. Scrap bins

Works In Progress?
Two quilt tops that need to be quilted and several bins filled with fabrics designated for future quilts.  But I'm no longer going to complain.  By documenting my year, I managed to see that what I didn't do?  Will always be in the back of my mind.  However, I should always be focused on what I DID do!

I will continue to be centered on home and hearth this New Year. 
How about you?  Did you get more or less done this year?

WIP Wednesday: Flashback

Remember last week when I was Off the Grid?

Not much is that different.  I did finish a set of burp rags that a friend asked me to make.

I have been tinkering with this block again.

Almost done!!!

Maybe I will even have it done by this afternoon?

Or maybe not??!?!?

 I have a million things I need and want to do!!

Off the Grid

Ever feel like you literally fell off the blogging planet?

I feel like my blog is weeping for me and I am just abusing it with neglect.

My week of sewing started out going well.

Toy bags for Button using the Clear Toy Storage tutorial from Make It & Love it.

A little button bag for Button's nesting bowl buttons.
Say that 10 times fast.

I also finished all the remaining Teacher Mug Rugs.

Just in time for the last day of school.

But I didn't find the energy to blog about htem.
Instead, I've been hanging out with the boys since they have been out of school.

Made an ugly cake for one of the boys birthdays (so bad I don't have photographic evidence).
  Ran errands. Ran to dentist/doctor appts.

And I officially learned to knit.  This is a 21x21 inch project.

I started longarming a quilt which I am in love with.

Looks good on top..but my bobbin tension is horrible on the back.  Unpicking time.
 Equates to ignoring time.


I've also fiddled.
I started a sewing studio block.

 I thought it was a foundation pieced pattern, but it is a freezer paper pieced project.  So nw I have to figure out what I am going to do now. 
So I quit.


I've had some embroidery foibles since Thursday.

The embroidery turned out, but the burp rag pattern was way too skinny!

 Last night, I walked away, the tension issues I was having made me crazy.

So I am just going to knit and pray I find some motivation.

Quitting is usually not in my vocabulary.  So maybe we can call it a break?
I took a break from sewing and blogging?

I feel motivation stirring a bit.  But how to take advantage?
I figured I would get back on the blogging wagon.
Maybe catch up on two months worth of blog reading?

What gets you going when you are in a slump?