mass production

Just a plain boring thing, a reversible tissue box cover, but made in fabrics that will make me happy seeing them scattered around the house. The orange/light blue one  is going to a friend’s house for a housewarming gift. Next project will also be mass produced.

today was brought by the letter m

M is for madeleines, especially those embroidered on linen.

And M is also for monkey, made from cuddly fleece. He’s not completely symmetrical but I’m fine with it, because he’s got a cute expression. Abby loved him (or possesive, I’m not sure), she got mad when I took him away to take some pictures.

sew connected – may

I’m waaay overdue for my Sew Connected block, so this one is for Tine. It’s a disappearing nine patch (sort of), if you notice the mini four patch in the middle is all the same.

quiet

Things have been quiet around here because I broke the last machine needle that I have on hand. I blame some thick fleece that I was sewing to make this. Crap! I am waiting until Sunday to go to JoAnn’s to pick up some fresh needle just because they’re having sales on other boring supplies that I need: rotary cutter blade and interfacings, woo-hoo!

But before that tragedy, I did get to sew all the triangles for this quilt and trim all the dog ear corners. I’m still holding on with the pressing because I hate hate hate pressing.

So, I’ve been doing some embroidery on linen. A nice quiet thing to do and I can do it everywhere, front porch, back patio, dining table, couch, even standing up in the yard watching Abby play. It’s finished now but, again I hate to do the ironing so no photos yet.

Lastly, is anyone interested to do some fabric swapping? I have fat quarters of these to swap with other Flea Market Fancy prints or some Heather Ross’ older prints. Let me know!

2+2 blouse + other things

Another Oliver + S pattern, which I don’t have so much to rave about this one, just because the front gathers were giving me a lot of trouble. I’m still not satisfied with it. At least it’s pretty when you don’t look inside, and the sleeves are perfect. Lovely rounded shape and no puckers at all!

I used Heather Ross’ West Hill for the main fabric and 30’s print for the trim. Accidentally, this is the same combo as Kit’s outfit. The main fabric is the undersuit (which you couldn’t see) and the trim is the dress. Now that I saw it with the jumper, that might be the perfect fabric for the bottom. I am still undecided though, make the matching pleated skirt or the Puppet Show shorts. I made a pair for Abby last year and although the main part still fits, sadly her thighs have outgrown the leg hole. And it’s made from linen that has gotten soft now after all the laundry. I’m sad to see that one go (keepsake box, of course, not the throwawaypile!)

Here’s more Heather Ross, double gauze Far Far Away collection that is oh so soft… I originally intended to stash them indefinitely for upcoming summer clothes for Abby (dare I say for the next five summers?). But then I see it with her in person and some of them are just too orange for her colorings. So maybe I will get a super special quilt out of it, something like this maybe? Of course I don’t have that much variety, so maybe just big chunks of fabric sewn together. Well, that’s saved up for another day. I already have plans for another quilt.

A zigzag quilt from a fat quarter set that I got from SewMamaSew. I left out one piece of fat quarter because it’s already a zigzag print and added a vintage linen fat quarter and a half yard of lime green Kona Cotton to make it bigger. The cutting part is done and I’m itching to sew it but I have to finish this stack first! Good motivation, huh?

every day in may – the finale

First, happy birthday to my girl who turned two on Saturday!

And these are the sights of the small corner of our front door. The two are final products for May, framed Echino fabric and a nine-patch doorstop. I just need to add a small table between the two and it would be perfect, sigh…

the winner is…

… my neighbour in Columbus, twopeasinapoddesigns! She said,

I am oh so very very far away from you…by like 30 minutes. I’m from Columbus : ).

My grandfather always gave my Dad elephants for gifts and said it was because an elephant never forgets. Sweet.

My favorite project at the moment is clothing for me and my kids. I just got a new serger so I’m enjoying the new toy.

Thanks for such a unique giveaway.

Cogratulations and I will email you to get your address. I’d also like to thank all the wonderful commenters, all 328 of them. I had fun reading it and finding new wonderful blogs!

every day in may – 27

Today is the Giveaway Day over at SewMamaSew. So here you go…

This is Peanut the Elephant from Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts. He’s cute and cuddly and looking for a new home. I might just have to wrestle it out from Abby’s hands to send it to you!

And here’s the other goodies: a fat quarter of Alexander Henry’s elephants, a fat quarter of Ikea’s fairy tale fabric, a little more than half a yard of nursery print fabric, and a little piece of Japanese fabric of gray elephants.

For fun, please say where you are and what is your favorite craft project at the moment when you comment. I’ll leave it open until Sunday evening, and this giveaway is open to US participants only. I’ll announce the winner on Monday morning. Good luck!

every day in may – 13 through 26

Whew, I have been gone for so long! The main reason is my camera cable is missing, and what’s the fun in posting without photos? Then it magically showed up yesterday so we can get on with the regular programming. I did finish a lot of stuff and start a few others which most likely won’t be finished in time for May.

The first one is an embroidered kimono for baby boy’s coming home outfit. Then it’s Kit with her undersuit (not shown, obviously) and dress. She is wearing Olive’s jumper because it fits nicely. Then a quilt from this book. The top was finished last year but I’m just too lazy to make the quilt sandwich, baste, and quilt it. I finally got the kick to finish it and it’s done in one day! Whoever thought? The binding is still half way done, though.

On the second row, we start with a dress for Abby’s birthday party. A nice blue floral with tiny bit of linen and no sign of pink anywhere, thank you. I made size 12-18 months and it fits her perfectly. Abby is a petite girl. Then it’s Peanut the elephant’s butt. He is intended for SewMamaSew’s Giveaway Day. I’ll also dig up some elephant themed goodies from my stash to go along with him. Finally it’s a birthday banner from here! I made it in gender neutral colors so it can be used by every member of the family. It is quite a bother to cut those freezer paper stencils but I was able to finish it in one sitting during Abby’s nap.

Well, I think that’s all of the finished things. Other things that’s on the works are two sets of embroidery, SewConnected’s block for May, and a doorstop. And lots and lots of cooking to do for Abby’s party on Saturday!

every day in may – 12

Yesterday’s task was an easy one: pick out fabrics for June, my month for the Sew Connected 2. I want something in green and grey and this is what I came up with from my stash. There’s solids, two prints from my precious Flea Market Fancy stash, some other prints, and small scraps. There’s also those embroidery floss, I plan to do some embroidery to be  included in the finished blocks.