The finished big brother quilt

It's finally done.

I think it took so long because I wanted to do the quilting myself. Not on my home machine, or by hand but using a long arm. In february I took a class at the Quilt Haus and it was great. So then I rented some time to practice and it was an unmitigated disaster.

It took awhile to get up the courage to try another class. The sweet 16 handi quilter. It's a long arm but not on rails, you move the quilt versus moving the machine. I loved it. So I rented some time and did the Wonky Heart Quilt, and once could manage, I rented some more time to finished the Big Brother Quilt.

Here's the finished piece.

While quilting

the quilt pattern

My Signature

The big brother with his big brother quilt

It's not even a twin size quilt, it misses the mark by a foot, but still it was too large for the handi-quilter. Just too much quilt mass to move around. But as I had already basted it, and was wary of the 24' machine, I went with it. I made up my own pattern, I like it. I was bored with the idea of a basic wandering path.

Still, I like it, and I like quilting. We'll see if I'll try it again.

The Wonky Heart Quilt

I recently finished a baby quilt for my new niece Nora. I had found some large gingham check fabric at a Walmart that still sold fabric one day. I had thought I would make Lucy a dress in it but never got around to it. I decided to instead, do another quilt.

My attempt was to piece a large heart, and then long arm quilt it with a wandering heart pattern. It didn't quite work out as well as I wanted, I had to improvise a lot more than I was expecting, and the heart got mishapen and the edges never matched up.

There fore it became the "Wonky Heart".

Wonky Heart Quilt

Here's how I started.

Ugh, curves. Why did I cut them in curves!?

Re-working the set up

None of the slices matched up because C*RVES, are always a bad idea when you are pressed for time and sloppy. So to disguise the lack of matching (see left side) I reworked some slices to fit and then added sashing between all the slices.

The Greek Flag re-imagined by Strawberry Shortcake.

I then spray basted the layers together (huge sticky mess on my nasty vinyl floors) and rented some time on the Sweet 16 long arm quilter at The Quilt Haus in New Braunfels. I wasn't terribly satisfied with the final quilt top, but I had come up with a neat wandering heart stitch I wanted to try out. I'm in a heart phase I think.

I like the pattern!!!!!

Gee, I love large scale gingham.

Finished with my sweetheart trying it out.

 

 

My son using it as a cape

I even tried mitred corners on the binding, which went horribly awry.

Now, onto  finally quilting the big brother quilt which is way overdue. (I finished the quilt top in October of last year)

Until then....Ruth

Bow Bag

I had gotten a cute bag from Etsy a few years ago. (you can buy it here)

It was cute, but much too large for my needs. I had been thinking of making a purse with a bow for awhile and had collected a nice little cache of photos for inspiration.

 

So then I went ahead and did some sketches for my BOW BAG.

 Yes, they DO look quite sketchy. Because sketches are just that. Badly drawn ideas. Or at least mine are. If I wanted to do a nice technical drawing or illustration I would never had gotten around to making he actual bag.

I decided on a version of the one I checked off, and a version of the top right one. I changed fabrics, patterns and whether or not to add a bow at least twice.

But after what seemed like forever here's my finished purse. Due to my being a lazy bum, I didn't do a tutorial, or even take pictures for those of you who'd like to make your own. So sorry.

I have pockets on the outside and inside, because originally, the yellow polkadot was going to be just the lining on this fabric below. And the fabric of the bow.

But it just got too busy. So, I said, forget the chevrons, for now, and just use the polka dot. I'm glad that I did.

Now, onto the next project.

Ruth

And where's my Bezier Pen Tool!!!

http://youtu.be/Jexqp-MK0pI



That's all well and good, but WHERE IS MY BEZIER PEN TOOL!!!!

4 years old and the happiest place on Earth

For my son's 4th birthday we were thinking of taking him to "The Happiest Place on Earth." AKA, Disney World.

Since he has a tendency to get excited and run faster than me...I had the genius idea of making matching T-shirts in a loud color for all of us, so we can spot each other.

Here's my minimalist idea for what our Family T-shirts should look like.

I think it's cute.

I think it would be perfect.

Pearl Bracelet charm pack quilt

Hello,

I finished a small baby quilt for my neice Evelyn as a thank you for the adorable pictures her Father J.Bell took of my little one a month ago.

Here's the finished piece.

In progress

After quilting

I really like it. It finished only about 2"x3", which is perfect for a little carry along, play on the floor, love on little "wooby" quilt.

Ruth

J.Bell Photography session 3 month old

About a week before my daughter turned 4 months a very talented photographer did a session with her......J. Bell Newborn/family photographer extraordinaire.

He's a pretty neat dude it only took about an hour, maybe because she was happy, maybe because the juju all aligned. He's done family photo's of us before and well, lots more since he made the very smart choice of marrying my sister.

He didn't ask me to promote his business, but I felt like it because I really loved the pictures. It's an easy process, very little crying, and the babies behaved too.


Here's a few peeks at some great shots he did for us.

Gosh Darn, I sure do make some cute babies.

Well, I guess Sarge helped.

,Ruth