August 26, 2012

Remembering and Celebrating

I have spent every waking available moment working on Dolly quilts. I have a deadline, which I rather like. It's nice to be able to plan a project and plan the project's completion too. However, in the rush to complete and deliver these tiny quilts on time, I sometimes get away from the reason I like to sew: because it's fun! So when my son's birthday approached, I decided to get back to my roots and make him something FUN!


My son loves owls, he had a dream about owls when he was very little and the image stuck, so one King Owl stuffie pillow was in order.

And, since I got so much flack for making 4 other boys' capes and not a cape for my own boy, I made him a cape (with some nifty pleats around the collar).





Now is the part when I gush about my little guy. He is a very loving person first and foremost. He will pause any activity and run across the room to give me a kiss, if I ask for one. His imagination amazes me and he can turn a bottle cap into a magic flying convertible airplane with ruffles edges for better flying power. Um, Wow. He is very passionate and he can fly completely off the handle screaming and yelling, and this can happen anywhere, even at the library. He is active, strong, and energetic and he is on the go from morning till night. He falls asleep completely exhausted, sprawled out in his bed. I feel honored to be his Mom, watching in awe as he grows up.






Happy birthday, Dear Boy!





August 18, 2012

Pint-sized Quilts


What I would give to be a dolly right now! I would be looking at crawling into one cozy, colorful  dolly bed, that's for sure! Cutie's dear Aunt is letting me contribute some dolly quilts to her booth at the upcoming dolly show in October. I have to work swiftly, and these micro-sized shapes are quite challenging.
 But, nonetheless, my creative juices never turn off and I press on. Here's what I have so far (all works in progress).


First (below) is a complete quilt top, rail fence design with white boarder. Christmas fabric, yes, inspired by the upcoming season, and the perfect gift for your Dolly.



Next, red and white pinwheels. Talk about tough-to-get-those-1/2-inch-triangles-to-line up-good-grief. The rose fabric is the backing.

I do have fingers-crossed that the finished quilt will be bitchen tho. Just imagine a slick bright boarder around the edge to clean it all up.


Third, this one got started yesterday, will be a nine patch design with soft, light pink fabrics. The fabrics are below. L-R: the striped boarder, the back (soft meadow scene) and the little stack of 3 pinks on the right will make up the nine patch, along with Kona white. 

 Here are the first 3 squares.

 Lastly, this stack will be - I'm thinking - a triangle design of some sort (but not pinwheels!). I am very excited to cut into these lovely vintage florals.
I'll keep you posted on my progress! Happy Quilting!

August 11, 2012

house pictures


What follows is a photo album of our new house. It's a lot of pictures from the outside of the house, mainly the backyard. We spend a great deal of time outside in the yard and it feels like an extension of the house itself. We moved in, oh, about 2 minutes after it closed, back in May. The first few nights were like tent camping and then slowly, furniture, kitchen supplies, and decor made their way in. The kids have adjusted really well and they love it here. We feel extremely blessed to have this home and land be the center of our daily life.




Lots of room to RUN!












A neighborhood visitor (confession: I gave him some tuna and begged him to stay)