March Block of the Month

Soren has asked for this quilt when it is done, which makes me so happy.  The Target Star Wars Clone Wars comforter on his bed is super cool, but I think the polyester fabric is scratchy.  And if nothing else (competently made, for example), at least it will be soft!

This is the "Liberated Basket" from Collaborative Quilting.

Jason's Upcycled Cashmere Sweaters - Part 1

Stella is modeling the latest in cashmere sweat gear!  Her headband was once the lovely v-neck of one of Jason's now obsolete sweaters, soon to be a baby blanket.  Note the pile of cashmere fuzz to the left of her chair on the floor... 

The blanket itself will be made of the felted sweaters in 5 inch squares (as seen next to Soren to the left, 74 squares or so, 2 X 3 feet, two sided).  I pass the sewing baton on to one of Jason's other crafty friends now, but I'm happy I got to do the cutting!


I have to say it did pain me at first to maim all of those cashmiracles, but in the end I think this will be a much better life for those sweaters than them sitting in mothballs while he basks in Middle East heat.

Stella's Tab Topped Curtain!

I really could not be more pleased with how this project came out - thanks to Fiona, disasters were averted and a bunch of quilting fabric and flannel became a nice new window covering for our little Stell.   I used a nice web tutorial from here http://www.purlbee.com/lovely-lined-curtains/, but had to amend it a little with Fi's help.    As with beading, I am learning that even when in a rush, it is better to rip out messed up work than try to hide it later.  Sigh.

Here is the window, during the day.  The yellow band glows a little in the sun and looks like a nightlight at dusk! 

My dad painted a picture to the right of the window, as he does for all new Petersen kids.  The cow loosely is based on a cool pop up book my mom found at the library. 

February's Block - Liberated Shoo Fly

Again, it seems a little premature to liberate myself from a discipline I have not yet acquired... but here is installment 2 in our Block of the Month exercize.  I've decided to go "all in" and turn these into a real bed quilt at the end, an owly quilt!

 

I had a hard time with getting this block to end up at 12 and a 1/2 inches, so I had to add borders which look a little more liberated than I'd like, so I may re-do this if I get a chance.   Here it is on my bulletin board next to its January neighbor Owly.

Pouches everywhere...

I sewed the day away today, and have started mass producing these nifty little zip pouches.  Who knows where they will end up, but I am so pleased with the online tutorial (http://flossieteacakes.blogspot.com/2009/05/lined-zippered-pouch-make-up-bag.html)  that got me to the point where I can whip these professional looking little guys out in a heartbeat.  Zipper, I am your master.  Bow before me.

The fabric comes from the quilt shop in Grayslake:

http://www.quiltplayshop.com/

Not Shayna's Bag

I made this bag for my drop-dead gorgeous 13 year old neice.  Of course, I neglected to ask her mom whether she likes bags, or carries them.  I was just all into this blue and brown motif that she carries on about, and being pleased with myself for finding good fabric, on I went.  Well, now it is not Shanyna's bag, it could be yours!
 

The snap-cover is hand bead bezeled around labradorite, which changes colors in different lights.  The seed beeds in the bezel are from my most recent trip to NY.  The browner more mod fabric is from the Renegade Art Fair this past summer, and the paisley is from Fiona's stash.

Soren wanted to go all out this Valentine's Day - fabric hearts tied with yarn around pieces of candy from his very own stash!