Hand quilting

I believe Jen W. asked about hand quilting and here is a wonderful tutorial with plenty of pics by my favorite designer, Anna Maria Horner. The only thing I would add is - if you don't want to use the heavier embroidery thread, you can use quilting thread, not regular thread. Quilting thread is heavier, stiffer than regular thread. I do love the idea of using embroidery thread though. Did you notice the quilt she was working on?

itty bitty baby dress

I made an itty bitty baby dress this weekend with fabric donated to my stash by Michelle (thanks!). It's a super simple pattern and makes a great last minute gift (it goes together in less than 3 hours). The pattern is free and available online. I can't wait to see it on my little summer baby.

New project!

I ordered a bunch of new fabric from etsy, this is Anne Marie Horner fabric. I just adore her designs. Her blog is here. If you click on her shop link, you'll be able to see the pattern.

I've been sewing off an on the last few weekends (getting very sidetracked by my two online courses) and this is how far I am today:

Another Tote Bag

When I went to pick up my quilt, I bought this pattern for a pieced tote bag. It uses charm squares which you can buy already cut. Or you can cut your own, of course. There are so many great tote bag patterns out there! Here's a link to the site: http://www.quiltsillustrated.com/shop/Quiltsillustrated-Patterns/p/ps016-Charm-Party-Tote-Pattern.htm

Label Woes!

Picked up my quilt from Quilt Play on Tuesday. It looks grand! She used silver thread, which was quite troublesome. But she persevered! Unfortunately, when she gave the quilt a final press, the ink on my quilt label ran and smeared - most of it is not even legible! The quilter offered to make me another label that's embroidered. Very nice! And I will take her up on it.

Now I just have to decide two things: how to attach the new label over the old one now that all the quilting is done. And how to get the rest of the ink out so that it won't continue to run and bleed all over the finished quilt the first time I wash it.

After talking it over with Michelle and Holly today, I've decided to try a damp washcloth first. Then a washcloth with saturated with a stain or laundry prewash product if plain water doesn't work. Holly thought it was that I have an ink jet printer rather than a laser.

Label makers, Beware!

New blog and projects

I really wanted to make this quilt with all of you but quickly ran out of time with school and work. I know I will do it, I'm just not sure when. I have been doing some quick sewing projects though. Right now I'm working on creating a pattern for an elephant toy - which is on design #2 at the moment after a fiasco with design number one that made the butt gigantic, even for an elephant.

I also created a new blog that's located at http://thentherewasyou.wordpress.com. It has ultrasound pictures posted under the "baby" category as well as some of my completed crafty projects under the "crafts" category.

Dreaming

Now that I have all my squares sewn together and occasionally thinking about what I'm going to back it with - I'm on to other things like finishing my shawl (yes, it'll be done by summer), finishing my neice's birthday cardigan, and the beginning of contemplating our next project.

What do you all think about doing a market bag? Like this. Or, we could do pillowcases like I mentioned before. Or, do you want to take the summer off? Inquiring minds want to know. I think our next meeting is in April so we have lots of time yet.


Totally non-quilt related, have you seen Lands End Canvas?