What I discovered this morning: an artist and fruitcake

I was busy getting stuff ready for Jay's lunch when I noticed Steiger was no longer pushing his "chugga-chugga."

















Naturally, I looked about.  He didn't answer, or come crawling out around the corner immediately, and  he wasn't standing in his favorite window.  I quickly discovered him tucked between the chair and couch.  Doing this...

It's the basket where I keep all my quilting magazines and patterns.  I've been trying to get a few minutes to draw out a design idea (that's my graph-paper tablet), so the pencil and paper were sitting on top.  He knew just what to do with them!  (clever little man)

I also had a box of fruitcake delivered to me!  It's for my next modabakeshop project!!! :) 

Christmas can't come too early, can it?

Help me decide! Which poppies?

I need to make a valance for the freshly painted bathroom.

I'll probably add a stripe to the top or bottom, but one of these 2 fabrics, Poppy by Laura Gunn, will make the majority of the valance.

So do I go with the green on green look?  With the aqua dots and pinky-red roses?

Or, my favorite of the line... the gray, with spicier red?

The paint is called "Aloe Vera," and is almost the color of honeydew.  Very fresh.

Thoughts?

I'm leaning toward the green, because I like the idea of putting aqua in there, and I wouldn't have to take back all the towels I bought at TJ Maxx.

Busy, busy, busy...

I've got a couple things going on...

But drawing quilting lines...

or cutting out shapes...

is no easy task.  Not when other certain little people also have a lot going on.

Like organizing the cupboards...

or helping Elli keep a watch out...

or trying a new green brow color... (it's aptly named 'guacamole')

Or just following Mom around everywhere she goes.  And then looking this cute.

Steiger's quilt is finished!

Steiger's quilt, started way back when is done!

We love it.

Natalia quilted circles all over it; I'm so glad I sent it to her.  I wanted to quilt it myself, but with the minky backing, I was nervous.

Here it is!

Fabrics are mostly Forest Fun by Amy Schimler for Robert Kaufman.  Backing is by Amy Schimler, in minky.  Sashing is Kona chocolate.  Binding is from Animal Party by Amy Schimler, and done on the bias.  Model Steiger is almost a year old!

Notes for newbies - hand quilting tutorial

The center appliqué section of my (soon to be coming) modabakeshop tutorial calls for hand quilting. 

It was the first time I'd ever tried it.  I hope this helps save you some trial and error!


Anna Maria Horner recently posted a tutorial on hand-quilting.  I wish this had been done before I started; her tutorial is excellent, and also a great resource.


(Click on the pictures to read the text)

Hiding the knot:

Quilting along:

Hiding the ending knot:

When you fail to hide the knot:

So pretty at the end. :)

A few final thoughts:

- You need an embroidery needle, but it will save your fingers if you use a smaller, rather than larger one.  I'd use the smallest size you can find that will fit the thread.

- A thimble helps

- Most quilters would tell you to use a hoop; I didn't.

- The thread here is Perle cotton No. 8 in assorted coordinating colors.  I found mine here.

- Hand quilting is great to have on hand when the baby falls asleep in the car and you don't want to wake him, or you want to sit in front of the TV and still do something.

Notes for newbies - Oz bricks appliqué tutorial

As mentioned in my (soon to be coming) modabakeshop tutorial, Natalia has a great tutorial on starch appliqué.

If you prefer to use fusible, these notes might be helpful to you.  I used this tutorial by Elizabeth Hartman (from Oh Fransson!) to learn initially.

I use freezer paper to stabilize the back, Heat 'n Bond lite as my fusible webbing, and a fabric pencil to trace when necessary.

I hope you find these helpful!

Click on the pictures to read the text.

Fusible method:

Starch method:

After placing a towel on your ironing board, starch the heck out of the base and pieces to appliqué.

Pin or glue your piece pieces down, and straight, blanket, or free-motion stitch down.  

For the name, I like to use the blanket stitch.  

Adding letters is simple if you're using the starch method.

Simply print and cut out, trace on to solid fabric (don't forget to check right vs. wrong side if you're using a non-solid fabric)

Cut out, and sew on.

Really not as scary as it seems. 

I haven't forgotten you Davi!

It will be late and will have to be sent to you via mail or the next time I visit, but I've started.