Monday, February 28, 2011

SewSara's Scrap Swap!

How cool is this?  Sara is hosting a scrap swap, where you send in one (or more!) envelope(s) of scraps and in return you get as many envelopes as you send out!  I know my scrap stash could use a shake-up, and this sounds like fun!  If you want in, click on the button to sign up by March 4! 

SewSara

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Completed Doll Quilt Swap Quilt

This was a really fun challenge for me.  My partner for Doll Quilt Swap 10 likes modern fabric used in traditional designs.  I'd never done a true traditional quilt pattern before, so I was excited to try it.  I got a Quilt Block-A-Day calendar for Christmas, so I poked through there and found a star pattern I liked.  The pattern called for smaller squares to make a small block, but I used charm squares to make it wall-hanging size.  It finished up at about 24" square after I put the border on.

I'm really happy with how it turned out and I have quite a crush on half-square triangles now!  They're so versatile!


I also used a walking foot for the first time to quilt it.  I am in LOVE with that thing and cannot wait until I get a proper machine so I can invest in one of my very own.  For now I have to wait anxiously for time in the sewing classroom to use the machines there!  This won't go in the mail until March 15th, and I still want to put together a few extras to go with it.  Hope you like it, partner!

Saturday, February 26, 2011

My New (Old) Etsy Shop!

Yes, it's true, I've thrown my hat into the Etsy ring.  I opened a shop a couple of years ago to sell my hand-embroidered things, mostly baby clothes.  I love embroidery but I had a newborn and the custom work stressed me out- I much prefer to just make stock and put it out there.  


So, a while ago I made these tooth fairy pockets for my nephews.  They're just like the ones my Great Aunt Eunice made for me and my siblings, and I always thought they were just perfect.  They are like small blankets with a pocket, so they're very easy for the tooth fairy to slip out from under a sleeping child's head to replace the tooth with a surprise.  I posted a picture of my nephews' pockets on Facebook and bunches of friends said they wanted some too.  My oldest daughter has lost two teeth now and many of my friends have kids the same age, so I decided to go ahead and make up a few and put them in there and see what happens!  I've sold one so far, and I like not worrying about customs- I just make them up with fabric that I like and hope that someone will come along who likes them too! 



I'd love it if you'd take a look, and if you know someone approaching tooth-losing age, share the link with their tooth fairy!

Friday, February 25, 2011

Cough... Wheeze... I'm still here!

Wow, February really was not fun at all!  I think I've lived in this frozen tundra long enough to determine that if I could just sleep through February my whole year would be much better.  It's dark, it's cold, the snow is brown and gross, and I'm just completely over winter.  My whole family has had a cold we just can't shake, and for me it turned into strep throat, a sinus infection, and my first antibiotics prescription in nearly 20 years! 

But enough about that, March is coming SOON and even though I know we're in for at least a few more snowfalls, there will also be those few warm days that are just enough to give me hope that it won't be winter forever.  It won't, right?  Please?

I did do some sewing while I've been away from my poor neglected blog.  I completed three mug rugs for the mug rug swap.  The first one just didn't turn out quite up to my standards, although I love the idea and will someday do it again.  I think that one was just a victim of me not having the right tools- namely a walking foot.  The back has some puckers I just couldn't let slide.  And I wasn't exactly going for wonky lines, but my persnickety machine was in a wonky mood.  I do love the patchwork, it's like an I-Spy of my favorite fabrics.


So that one lives here now, and this is what actually went in the mail to my partner.  Two mug rugs and some 5" squares of fabric.  I made the rainbow-y one first and then remembered that my partner isn't wild about green!  The green was pretty prominent, so I made another just to be safe.  The white background one is inspired by the "Little Bits" quilt in Joelle Hoverson's Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts. I hope she likes them!


I also already received my mug rug and goodies from Kandra.   She sent a bright and cheery mug (which I've kept filled with sore throat tea), a hair clip for my kiddo and of course a beautiful mug rug! I don't think I said this in my "likes" for the swap, but I have an English degree and am a voracious reader, so the fabric with words on it is so perfect for me!  Sorry for the dark pic, it's the darn cloudy Wisconsin weather.  But having a rainbow right here by my keyboard is very nice!  Thank you Kandra!