Rag Quilt

 My first, and probably last, rag quilt.  Cutting it out and sewing were super fast, but I found clipping the edges to be too time consuming.  If I was going to spend that much time, I'd rather work on something more detailed.  I am happy with the results, though.  I used some of Amy Butlers home dec fabrics with some pink chenille and a turquoise sweater, along with some basics.

We use it for tea party picnics a lot.

Anna dress for Sophia

Thanks to Anna Maria Horner for inspiring me with this fabric.  The "Square Dance" fabric in berry looks like vintage hankies...My Favorite!  I like to make these little wrap dresses using the corners of hankies for the bodice.

For the bottom of this dress, I just cut a long rectangle and gather it into the bodice. 

One of the perks of making children's clothes is you can get away with no zippers.  I usually make the back of Sophia's dresses a couple in inches wider and cinch it with elastic.  I can always adjust the elastic when she gets bigger to make it last longer.

Birdie Pillow

My living room needed a little brightening up, so I made this pillow. I feel like it has a little Japanese influence.  For the birdcage, I traced my drawing right onto the muslin.  Then I cut out 1/4 inch strips of the red fabric and did a tiny zig zag stitch along the edges.

I am entering it into the Bloggers Pillow Party contest hosted by Rachel at Stitched in Color.

Work in Progress

This quilt has a little bit of everything, embroidered trim from a 70's night gown, a vintage dish towel, silk lining from a 50's dress, the Leaf Stripe fabric from the Echino line from Japanese designer Etsuko Furuya, and a couple of fabrics from Anna Maria Horner's Garden Party line. 

I am posting this while it's still in progress because I decided to hand quilt it with embroidery thread, and it may take years for me to complete.  

Chalkboard Menu

I looked online for a chalkboard menu, but only found one I liked for $180.  This window had been sitting in garage for years.  $20 in chalkboard paint later, I have my chalkboard menu!  Notice that my son James added some items to the grocery list in the bottom right corner.  Bunch of candy, marshmallows.... I don't think so.   

I have been on a healthy cooking kick, which requires a little more planning ahead.  I have to start soaking rice and beans the night before and make sure I have things like homemade chicken broth and bread when I need them.  This weekly menu has helped me keep up.

Kathy's Quilt

This quilt was a gift for my mother-in-law.  She has been hinting that she would like one for at least 4 years now.  And I kept planning to make one, but Christmas creeps up so quickly each year.  This year I bought the fabric in January and started work on it right away.  I was still finishing it just days before Christmas. 

I used lots of Joel Dewberry's Deer Valley collection, although I can never stick to just one designer.

This was my first time using my handy free motion quilting foot.  I traced the outline of the flowers on the border of the quilt only.  It was a great way to get used to the foot because I had the design right there to trace.  The rest of the quilt I stitched in the ditch. 

Super Hero Capes

I made these capes for James and Luke for Christmas, as part of my campaign to make as many homemade gifts as possible this year.  

They are lined with a very soft, furry fabric.  They are always stealing Sophia's baby blanket in the car to cuddle up with.  So this was my attempt to kill two birds with one stone.

Why?

Why do I continue to try to make pie crust when it always turns out like this?  I will tell you why, because people like my mother-in-law are constantly telling me how easy it is and they can't image why anyone would ever buy one.  Well, not anymore, I promised myself I would never make another homemade pie crust again.

Homemade Gifts- A necklace for Mom

This year I tried to make as many Christmas gifts as possible.  Here is a necklace I made for my mom out of things I had in my craft stash...vintage buttons, yoyos from past projects, beads, lace, and bits from old necklaces.  I knew I was keeping that stuff for a reason.