Wedding Quilt!

Man. Didn't think that I would be back did ya? We'll I'm not going to share an excuse. I just got lazy and haven't wanted to sit at the computer. Do I have lots of things to blog about? DUH! But it's time and the desire to do so. I have missed this space and am excited to be back!

Last month my hubbies brother got married. As per tradition I, with the help of Emma and Darin made the couple a quilt. They didn't really have a home style that they described to me, so I went with a patriotic theme. Darin and Emma each sewed a seam in the quilt so it was a family project.

Darin and Emma were both in the wedding. I attempted to get Emma to nap early because the wedding was at 3pm, smack in the middle of her naptime. After and hour and a half of screaming she finally fell asleep for 45 minutes!!! AHHHHH! In my head this was going to be a disaster. She had never walked down an aisle before, nor had she done so in front of over 100 people she didn't know. I was praying that she wouldn't meltdown right there in the middle of the church! Once the ceremony started, the ring bearer grabbed her hand and she walked straight down that aisle and back up after the ceremony without any fear or tears. It was the CUTEST thing ever! Damn camera wouldn't focus and I missed the shot! Oh photographer I'd like to see these photos!!!!

Once at the reception she ate, and mingled with the rest of the family. Danced with mommy, daddy and grandma and even gave up some cash for the money dance and danced with her uncle Ryan. She made it through most of the reception and crashed out on my chest. She was such a champ and it was such a good day! I love going to weddings with my hubby. It reminds me of our wedding day and I just want to go back and celebrate that day all over!

I will be better about posting blogs from now on! I promise!!!! I have lots to recap over the last 5 months!!!!

DIY Drag Along

Before Emma arrived I had these vast plans of making a million little items for her. I planned parties and her nursery, but my energy and time fell by the wayside and she arrived with not a thing made by her mommy. I was quite sad. I had started a diaper bag, but it never got finished, and it still sits at my parents waiting for velcro and snaps.....such is the life of a parent.

A couple of months ago we were at my parent's house and we went into my mom's quilt store. I was in utter amazement by the adorable fabrics that the owner stocks her shelves with and quickly fell in love with some pink and teal graphic fabric to make a small little blanket for Miss Emma, or a "Drag Along." A mini blanket that can be taken in the car or just to snuggle with. At the same time I bought
the fabric for this quilt I also made her. Honestly my child didn't need another blanket, but mommy needed to make her something and that's where this little project came into play. Read below for instructions on how to make this adorable little carry along blanket

What You'll Need:
(9) 8.5"x 8.5" squares of fabric
(1) 25"x 25" square for backing (Minky)
(4) yards Rick Rack

Directions:
1. Ideally you want to have a minimum of (5) different fabrics for this project. Layout your fabric until you have a pattern you like. If you want to have custom embroidery done, start with that first. I chose to right set my embroidery on my center fabric. Since my baby girl's nickname is my "lil birdie" that's what I went with for my added touch. Sew your 9 squares together into (3) rows of three and then sew each row together until you have completed your blanket top. Make sure to press your fabric seams to one side to nest your seams easier.

2. Flip your blanket top and minky fabric so that right sides are together. Round your corners using a round tool or whatever you have on hand (a bowl works nice.)  Pin your ric rac so that the center falls on the edge of your fabric top. Place your minky right sides together on your fabric top and pin in place.

3. Sew a 1/4" seam around the entire edge, leaving a 4-6" opening for turning. Turn your project and press your seams flat. Pin your turning opening inside 1/4" and sew a 1/4" top seam around the entire blanket.

4. Place your baby on it and admire your work! Completed blanket size 24"x 24"

See, she really did need another blanket, just so I could take that cute photo of her! Love my lil birdie! Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below! Original pattern by Suzanne Zingg.

Custom Quilt for Baby Emma

This child is going to be a blanket baby just like her momma and daddy. With the amount of blankets that she received at her baby shower you would have thought that I would have decided to make her something else. I was feeling guilty that I never made her anything but I couldn't figure out something to make her that she didn't already have being store bought or made from my family. I had started a diaper bag, that has yet to be finished, but will be similar to this bag I made for my dear friend's son Aidan. That will be her overnight bag and I will post that when I have it completed.....seriously it just needs snaps and velcro and its done.

So that left me with making her a blanket. She didn't need another one, but I needed to make her one and especially one with her name on it. I took to Pinterest and found this pattern. I was in love and made it my mission to make this quilt!

Here's how to make it:

What You'll Need:
(4) Fat Quarters
1 yard white fabric per quilt for the center
1-1/4 to 1/2 yard fabric per quilt for backing (We had to piece the back because the original pattern said 1 yard and it wasn't enough
1/2 yard fabric per quilt for binding
Batting
Heat N Bond Lite
Colored thread for applique

Directions:

1. Cut the fat quarters you want to use for the border so that they are 5″ x 10″. You will need a total of (14)  5″ x 10″ blocks.

2. Sew (4) 5″ x 10″ pieces together along the short sides. Press & set aside. Repeat.

3. Sew (3) 5″ x 10″ pieces together along the short sides. Press & set aside. Repeat.

4. Cut your white fabric to 29 3/4″ x 29 1/2″

 

 

5. Sew one of the 3 block strips to the 29 1/2″ side of the white fabric. Repeat by sewing the other 3 block strip to the other side. Press.
6. Sew the 4 block strips to the other 2 sides of the white block. Press. Trim off excess if necessary.
7. Quilt as desired.

8. I used my mom's Cricut machine to find a font I liked. I also liked the idea of having all the letters lowercase. Trace the letters backwards onto the slick side of a piece of Heat n Bond Lite. Cut out roughly and iron onto wrong side of fabric. Cut out. 

9. Iron onto fabric according to directions. Hand stitch around all the letters.

Simple, straightforward and absolutely adorable. She loves to lie on it during tummy time, or nap in her pack and play with it!

If your interested in seeing the original head on over to Polka Dot Chair and give her a shout.

DIY Quilted Carseat Canopy

Does it feel like it's been forever since I posted a DIY? It does to me since every time I go to write a post some of them say to me...."when is it my turn?" I haven't posted this yet because I was kicking myself for not taking more progress photos, but since I didn't I'll have to get away with simple text instruction. I know....POO! Text is no fun, but I at least took SOME progress photo's so the main part is at least easily figured out!

What You'll Need:
(6) Fat Quarter's in various patterns
1/2 yard fabric for backing, sashings/borders and straps (shown in blue plaid)
Sew on Velcro
Pins

Fabric Cuts:
Cut (12) 11"x 9.5" squares out of your various fat quarters
Cut (8) 1.5"x 9.5" Strips out of your sashing fabric (blue plaid)
Cut (3) 1.5"x 34.5" strips out of your sashing fabric (blue plaid)
Cut (2) 1.25"x 39.5" strips out of your sashing fabric for the left and right sides (blue plaid)
Cut (2) 1.25"x 36" strips out of your sashing fabric for the top and bottom (blue plaid)
Cut (1)  36"x 41" square out of your sashing fabric for the back (blue plaid)
Cut (4) 8"x 3" strips out of your sashing fabric for the straps (blue plaid)

Note: Not all fabrics pictured were used for this project

Directions:
1. Lay out your 11"x 9.5" squares and 1.5"x 9.5" strips until you get a pattern you like. Sew a 1/4" seam end to end of the squares and strips until you get 4 long strips. Press your seams to one side.

2. Take your (3) 1.5"x 34" sashing strips and attach them using a 1/4" seam along the long ends of the body strips you made in step one, leaving the top and bottom free. Press your seams to one side.

3. Take your (2) 1.25"x 39.5" top and bottom strips and attach them to the top and bottom of your main body. Press your seams to one side.

4. Take your (2) 1.25"x 36" side strips and attach them to each side of your main body. When your finished your top should look like the below photo. Press your seams to one side.

5. Take your backing fabric and place it right sides together to the front quilted piece and pin around the sides. Sew a 1/4" seam around the entire perimeter leaving a 6" opening for turning. Clip your corners, turn right side out and press.

6. Turn in your opening 1/4", pin and top stitch a 1/4" seam along the perimeter closing your opening and leaving a nice finished edge.

7. Now its time for the straps. Take (2) of your 8"x 3" strips and place them right sides together. Sew a 1/4" seam along one short end and both long ends, leaving one short end open. Clip your corners, turn and press. Turn in your open end 1/4", pin, and top stitch around the entire edge closing your opening. Repeat with the other two strips.

8. Cut a 2.5" strip of your sew on velcro onto the one end of the back and front of the strap to create a loop. See main photo

9. I centered my straps along the long center sashing strip and on each small sashing strip. Fold your strip in half long ways and sew several back and forth lines to secure it to the canopy.

I hope this all makes sense. I know text directions don't help as much as pictures, but if you have any questions please don't hesitate to comment or email me! It was just too cute to not post a tutorial of. I realized I made this the week I found out I was preggers so my brain was a little pre-occupied and forgot to take photos. Oopsie.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Happy crafting!

Heirloom Quilts

Michelle/Tami 2013

If you have been following me for sometime then you know all about the heirloom quilts that my family makes. If not here's what we are up to. When my Great Grandmother passed away, she left a couple of quilts unfinished. My grandmother and her sisters thought that it would be nice to finish these quilts and give them to their brothers as gifts as a reminder of their mother. This then sparked an idea. Why not make heirloom quilts for our whole family. We have such a large family that its really special to have women from our whole family, across our country making blocks and then they are assembled and given to each person. To me this idea was really special. Each block is embroidered with the person's name that way the receiver knows who made each and every one. We have been doing this since late 2008. It started out with my grandmother's siblings and now we are working on all of their children and eventually getting to the next generation. (me and my cousins)

However, over the last 5 years of making blocks, (I only have block photos from 2011 and up) it seems like the desire to continue this tradition has waned in some members of the family. We still have many more quilts to make and we are moving at a glacial speed. It seems like some people have lost the idea behind why we do this. I understand when life gets in the way, and coordinating 30+ women to sew together blocks is difficult. But honestly, making time to sit down for one hour to make a block, for a quilt that might mean a whole lot to a person isn't that much to ask. While looking through my grandmother's photo's of finished quilts I realized something. Two of the receiver's have passed away already from cancer....one in their 50's and one in their 40's. One of them was also a quilter. This realization comes with a heavy heart to me, as I have had  3 family member pass away from cancer in the last four years. These quilts, in my opinion, are even more important when you think about it in those terms. A way to get all of your family together to make something truly special, like a family tree in a blanket.

I just thought that I would share with you the photo's of the blocks that I have completed and a couple of the finished quilts (I hope to get more photos of the completed quilts soon) I would also like to pass along this idea to all my crafty readers. I think this is a really special idea and hope that it can become a tradition in more families!

Uncle Frank

Uncle Joe

Uncle Steve (Passed 2009)

Nick

Nick (Beatles Theme) 2012

Nick (Beatles Theme) 2012

Aunt Rita 2011

Aunt Josie 2011

Heather 2012

Uncle Donnie 2012

Uncle Donnie 2012

Shannon 2012 (Passed 2013)

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Swimming in things I want to do, oh and Happy 11th Anniversary!

AHHHH! I need to stay off Pinterest and Craftgawker! There are so many cute things to make! The votes are in on the quilt to make for my hubby. By overwhelming popular vote, ok I got about 15 votes, and of course blessing from the receiver himself.....drumroll........

The Hope Valley quilt! Yayayayaya! I really like this one a lot! I thought that it might be complicated and since the link to the Esty store is completely sold out of the pattern I think I am just gonna have to wing this one! Now to shop for fabrics and get busy!

Our friend has also requested some more photo edits from me to complete his loft space. You may remember I did several comic book style prints for him months ago, and he has requested I do a couple more.

AND! I found this great little crochet pillow tutorial! So cute! And since I have leftover yarn from my Christmas gifts this will become the perfect project to add to our bedroom pillow cover collection. Slowly but surely I will recover all the pillows in our home! Haha! Who wouldn't want to make this bad boy?

Well enough chatting and it's time to get crafting! Well after our anniversary dinner! Today marks the 11th anniversary of the hubby and My's first date! I cannot believe it's been 11 years! I love him more as each day passes! Happy Anniversary to the LOVE of my life! I wouldn't be the person I am today without you! Love Love Love!!!!

Our First Vacation in 2002!

Quilting for the Man in my life

Many moons ago when quilting was new and fresh in our household. My hubby uttered the words that should never be uttered to a crafter EVER. "We don't need anymore blankets!" Seriously that statement left this blanket baby with a little sad face. So I went on my merry way, making quilts for gifts and finding new things to do as well. Check out my All Things Crafty tab above to see many things that I have done.

So, it came as a shock to me when just last week he said to me, "When are you gonna make me a quilt?" I was taken aback and said to him that I would gladly make him a one, thinking to myself all the really great and fun patterns that I have seen over the years. I am not a traditional quilter and really like bold patterns and non-traditional fabrics. Well seeing this as a new project I went to work looking for some fabrics to buy online. He did say to me, "Well I can go with you to shop for fabrics....." uh.....really?!?! That statement will never EVER be made again, so I thought I might just take it upon myself to find some great fabrics.

This seemly easy task, is made a little harder to the fact that my hubby doesn't really have any one hobby. He likes a great many of things. So I went looking online to find some of the manliest material I could. In a short while I was able to come up with the above patterns, but still feel the need to go in a store and kick some tires. Check out my Pinterest page for links to all the fabrics. So now that we have some idea of the fabrics, now to choose a pattern. I have found some really great ones thanks to Pinterest and need some opinions. Here are my top choices, now I know that some patterns require quieter fabric also. Please help me out by voting in the comments for your fav!

Hope Valley Quilt

Plus Quilt

Modern Block

Ascend Quilt

A craft blast from the past!

I know, it seems like this is becoming a craft blog. I assure you its not. I am just trying to go through and document all of the crafting I have done in the past two years, plus the quilts that I had done previous to blogging. Although my life isn't all about crafting, it is something that I truly love to do! The hubs may have been a little frustrated with it at first, now he understands my need to stay busy, and I think truly appreciates all the things that I create! While updating my All Things Crafty tab up top I realized that I missed some really cute and fun quilts that I had made some years ago, as well as a camera strap cover that I did last year, and a Bachelorette party menu also! While the quilts and the menu don't have a tutorial to go with them, I still thought that I would share them with you to see some of the other things I have done. Also I will post a link for the camera strap to the tutorial that I used! Enjoy!

This is the one and only quilt I have made for myself. It came as a kit that I bought at a quilt show with my mom in Ontario. We went for the day and perused all the fabrics that were to be seen. I also got fabrics for the first quilt I ever made for our dear friends The Anthony's wedding in April of 2008. Since then there has been a little disaster with this quilt as our puppy, when she was a puppy thought that it was a chew toy and gnawed a nice hole in the borders. It's really fun and funky with little kittens riding scooters and Eiffle Towers with brown and pink graphic prints! I still love it. Hopefully I can fix it! My mom also made me a tote bag out of the left over fabrics too! Oh and those little tootsies at the bottom are D's!

This quilt was made for our other dear friends the Roben's for their wedding in June of 2009. It's a little throw quilt and it was made entirely out of scrap fabric. I made it in one day with my mom's help and when it was done it had a little Americana feel to it! Again the toes belong to D! Haha

This one is another wedding quilt. For our friends the Ransdall's in May of 2010. This one was also made out of scrap fabrics and it went really well in their Tuscan inspired home with the warm reds and golds!

Please excuse the poor photo. I took this with my blackberry, when I had one, since my nice camera was the subject of the photo! I made this really cute camera strap cover. Priddy Creations had a wonderful tutorial on how to make this simple slip cover for your camera strap to show it a little personality. There was some errors in cutting that made me have to create more than one of these babies, but it was still fun and super simple! Not the most masculine of fabrics as the hubby uses this camera too, but he doesn't mind!

And finally something not sewing related. For a friends bachelorette party I whipped up some cute menu's in Photoshop, glued them to some black card stock and added a little bling bling! The idea was to make all the names be wedding related. These babies went on the table at the restaurant where we ate in San Luis Obispo. We had a great weekend dressed in purple attire, ate great food, wine tasted and all around shenanigans were had!!

Green and Purple Batik Flag Quilt

As most of my readers know, I love to make quilts for special occasions. Mostly weddings, because it's something that the happy couple can snuggle under on cool days. This time I decided that the recipient, my dearest best friend, needed to receive one for a special birthday. We all are turning 30 this year......UGH! But at least mine is still a ways away. Considering this person has been in my life for over  12 years and in D's life for over a quarter of a century it seemed only fitting that he get a special blanket all to himself.

Months ago, knowing that his favorite color is green, asked what other colors he liked. I couldn't make a solid green quilt....well I could, but I thought that it could use some other colors. He told me greys, teals, purples. Pretty much anything in the cool family except navy. So I went to work shopping around for fabrics trying to go through all of my scraps seeing if I had enough to make the quilt from In Color Order. She had a great tutorial on this awesome pattern, albeit, a little short with some of the fabrics and I had to add additional fabric in the center blocks. I used batiks and a solid grey background fabric, with a fun overall green on the back. I think it turned out great and my bestie really loved it!

Fabrics Selections

Block Layouts

You will need:
12 print fat quarters
2-1/4 to 2-1/2 yards of background fabric (depending on your fabric width)
4 yards of backing fabric
2 yards of  90" wide batting
1/2 yard of binding (I used the scraps from my fat quarters)
Coordinating thread
Pencil, erasable marker or chalk liner
General sewing/quilting supplies

You can follow the directions listed in her tutorial here. I just listed the fabric and tool requirements cause I needed to adjust mine to make it work! I hope you enjoy her tutorial as much as I did!

Happy 30th Birthday! Love You!

The back embroidery!