WIP Wednesday - folding fabric

I have a real problem when it comes to getting my laundry off the couch and in to whichever drawer or cabinet it may belong to.  Normally, it sits for quite some time until I begrudgingly fold them, and hope that I can beg Jay to put them away for me.  It all goes back to my childhood... From the time I was eight years old, I did virtually all the folding for my family, until I left for college.  If you know anything about high school boys, you know... that's a lot of clothes.

Anyway.

The kind of folding I've been working on this week isn't that kind.

I have stored my fabric in plastic totes.  The trouble with those plastic totes is that, in order to not have to climb in to the closet to get them... I leave them out.  Then, digging through all the fabric to find what I'm looking for... well, that wasn't always easy either.  So after promising my husband over and over that the fabric all over the house situation could be improved, he went and picked up a new (to me) hutch from my mom's storage shed.

And I've got four totes down, with a couple more to go.  

Here it is...

On the top I put my "blenders" -- sorted pretty much by color.  The top shelves have the 1/2 yards (or whatever is cut to the WOF), the bottom shelf has my neutrals, solids, and fat quarter size pieces (far right are my French General pieces too).

I'm making "mini bolts" for the bottom shelves.

I started earlier today, after the UPS man brought my comic book boards (yes, I do like French General).

And then we went swimming (because swimming, while pregnant, feels SO good I can't even say)...

So these neutrals are still waiting for me.

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In other news...

32 weeks tomorrow.

Linking to Lee's  

Speaking of Lee -- She has entered a beautiful fabric in a contest... You should go vote for her here.  

This is her fabric swatch... so cute methinks.

Speaking of contests... I entered my niece's quilt in Riley Blake's "Cruisin'" contest... You can see it here, and vote for me in a couple days, should you be so moved. :)

(I'll do a full post then, but it really turned out cute).

I made a cream pie last week.

and put strawberries on it.

Thank you for all the love on maybe baby boy's quilt  (and the belly too).  I really need to find me some energy to get that one, and this one all finished!  Steiger decided to break his water at 38 weeks... which gives me 6 weeks to go!  Eeps!

maybe baby boy's quilt top (and belly thoughts/laughs)

I got it done!  (and I really do have Rapunzel to thank... Mommy's five or more potty trips/night mean Mommy needs a nap when Steiger is napping)

Now I need to get myself to JoAnn's, coupon in hand, and buy more batting.  I had 24 yards that are now gone. I *might* have some scraps big enough to finish it though, but I'm pretty sure I used all the baby size ones... (plus I need batting for baby's first quilt)

I'm really glad I cut it up (you can see how it looked before in that link), but I think I'm going to leave the blocks uncut for Steiger's new bed quilt.  Thank you again to Kelly for the inspiration and cutting dimensions. :)

I decided to add a small border in a Steely blue Moda Crossweave... just because I thought it was pretty, and I didn't want the girl quilt to be bigger than the boy quilt.

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And now for a few belly thoughts -- 

It has started again.  When I was pregnant with Steiger, I got the comments, 

"Oh, you must be due any day now."  I started lying to people and saying, "yep," after I saw the horrified faces when I replied that I still had a couple months to go.

I even got congratulated on twins AT A BABY STORE OF ALL PLACES!!!

So far, it's the Grandmas (Great-Grandmas for the babies) who have been making the comments...

My own Grandma - "Well I just don't know how you're going to keep growing for two more months; you are huge already."

The Grandma-in-law (while we were getting pics) - "Just don't let her turn sideways..."

still in my jammies this morning

:)

My favorite comments were from when I was pregnant with Steiger, and I was picking up some Chinese takeout for Jay...

(this must be read with a Chinese accent)

"Oh, you must be ready to have baby very soon."

"No, not until April."

"Oh... twins."

"No, just one."

"Well I think Daddy is a very big man then."

:)

(really, I think I'm just short, and baby has nowhere to go but out -- thankfully though, I don't get baby under my ribs; that doesn't sound comfortable)

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It felt good to get the quilt top done for (maybe) Baby Boy.  I'm doing my best to prepare for baby's arrival, but unlike with Steiger, there is no room to get ready (baby will be with us and then Steiger and baby will share a room until we move), and things like that.  The pregnancy has been going quite well (for which I'm grateful)... but making this quilt top was kind of emotional for me.  I know it is partially because it is coinciding with the stage in pregnancy where daily life starts to get harder, but I also think it's starting to become more real to me that we're having another baby.  I've been increasingly aware that my Steiger is getting bigger, and life for us will be changing, but also that I will be the one having this baby!  I vacillate between feeling indifferent, excited, and terrified (tell me that's normal).

I am thankful because I have a wonderful midwife I'm working with this time... someone who understands that preparing to have a baby, especially with a hopeful VBAC, involves more than collecting urine, weighing you, and measuring the tummy.  I am grateful she will be on my side when the time comes for baby to come... but I am still pretty nervous about the whole thing.  We previous c-section mamas have different things to navigate while preparing for baby's arrival, especially while living in an area where all the local hospitals "ban" babies from coming out of a vagina.  Labor involves so many unknowns at this point, including where we will be (hospital isn't the friendliest place with aforementioned ban).

This afternoon I'm off to a prenatal yoga class... because Steiger's difficulty with coming out had to do with his position, this will help me move to get that baby turned the right way.  I'm looking forward to everything about it except for the drive (remember, we live out in farm land.).  

I'm feeling quite introspective... anyway...and just praying for a healthy baby with, hopefully, a complication free entry in to the world.  God willing...

Finally inspired - for a baby boy

Two nights ago, during potty trip number three or four, while I lay awake waiting for this little one to settle in (I've got a wiggler in there), I was suddenly inspired for how to make the quilt if this baby is a boy (as Daddy strongly believes).

I had an idea a while back, but I wasn't quite settled on it... and Steiger really liked the little trains and helicopters, so I was going to make a quilt for him.  My intention was to then make two matching quilts, but then if this baby is a girl, Steiger would have two matching quilts... so I procrastinated.

And I'm glad I did.

I started with the little dogs from Aneela's Pips (I love those little doggies), and added fabric from there in a palette of aqua, steel blue, gray, red, and chocolate brown.



Kelly provided the motivation and measurements, and I got the blocks done last night and today (Steiger has taken a liking to the movie Tangled which I may or may not have taken advantage of this morning)...

I really like them.



Now you just need to talk me in to cutting them up!



That definitely was a productive middle of the night potty break.

Baby #2's first quilt top

I finished (minus trimming up the sides) baby #2's "Hospital" quilt while we were on vacation this week.

And since it's been so quiet around here, I decided to show you now rather than wait for it to be all the way finished.

This was the stack of fabric I started with:


A bunch of equilateral triangles later (cut at 60 degree angle on 4 1/2" wide strips),
and this is my quilt for baby number two... whether there is a little he or she growing in there.

I'll give you more beach pictures soon, but we sure did enjoy our family time and cool weather.

And we've passed 29 weeks... if this baby comes when Steiger came, that means I've got just under 9 to go...

(For inquiring minds -- 29 weeks with Steiger)

WIP Wednesday - accessorizing

It's been busy around here!

First off, I finished my niece's big girl bed quilt.  It was a chore for sure!  I have to give a special thanks to my friend Amanda for all the help letting me use her machine to quilt it.

I won't show the whole thing yet, because my sister-in-law (and brother and nieces) are coming this Friday... and I want her to be a little bit surprised. :)

But I've been working on accessorizing the quilt.

So far, I've got a pillow case (think I'll do another, but with some white fabric and a pretty band), some scallops for bunting (need to crank out a few more), and a little throw pillow.

The pillow cover I made last night.

Steiger really likes the quilt, and tells me to take his picture whenever it's on the ground.

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I've made some progress on my "Hospital" quilt.  

And I still need a design wall.

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Finally, I'm working on accessorizing myself a little. 

I'm cursing cutting interfacing for this Birdie Sling bag currently.

I just love that Joel Dewberry Damask.

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Report: 

Finished: "If it's a girl quilt"

- Niece's big girl quilt

Others in progress - 

- Triangle "Hospital" quilt ( more piecing done)

- "If it's a boy" quilt for baby and coordinating one for Steiger (piecing blocks) - nothing new, must prioritize (Steiger carries around the fabric and tells me to make him his quilt often)

- Pickledish  (6 of 20 blocks done - hoping to make it King-sized) - stalled

- Chubby Stars (1/5 of the top is done; many of the blocks are made - I'm taking this one with me on vacation to work on!) - still going to take it on vacation!

- French General Schnibbles (needs borders - it's bigger than in that link) - stalled

- Nicey Jane squares (needs backing, quilting, and binding) - might pull this one out this week, but I need to buy batting, so we'll see

- Divas quilt (debating whether to make this any bigger) - stalled

- Breakfast at Tiffany's Rob Peter (already basted!) - will undoubtedly quilt soon

- Christmas quilt (debating a border, and needs backing)

- Boy version of Libby's quilt for Bake Shop - top is pieced!

Linking to Lee's!

Dear baby... if you're a girl...

...then this will be your quilt.

And if you are a girl, I will love watching you work to hold your head up, and look at those stars...

And I will love seeing you snuggle in all its softness.

And drag it all around the house (your big brother is getting a head start - you might have to fight him off).

I loved making this for you little one... if it is yours 

(and if you're a boy, I'm keeping it, because I love it). 

Your daddy is sure you're a boy... just as sure as I was about your brother...

We've made it to the final trimester!  And even though it's still not really real to me that there will actually be another kiddo in our house, you are showing proof of yourself. :)  

(Here's what your brother looked like at week 26)

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Specs for my bloggy friends - 

Pattern: Swoon by Thimble Blossoms (love this pattern)

Fabric: Modern Meadow with City Weekend, Farmdale with Hideaway, Katie Jump Rope with DS quilts, and Meadowsweet 2 with Sunkissed.  

Binding: DS quilts tile

Quilting (my favorite I've done so far) - a cross hatch at one inch intervals.  I didn't plan it, but it makes an almost perfect grid all over the whole quilt -- evenly dividing the blocks and the quadrants... that was a happy, unplanned coincidence.

WIP Wednesday - so sweet...

 ... it'll make your teeth hurt. :)

(SHARON - DON'T READ!)

I'm posting this early, because I can never seem to get my act together ON Wednesday to post (at least, not as often as I'd like).

Here we go -

Biggest project right now is my niece Molly's big girl bed quilt.  I showed a little preview before, and I apologize for the poor lighting for these (it was too late in the day), but here is the completed quilt top.
  I made it for a double bed, and the plan was to have the blocks sit on the bed top, with the white frame on the edge, and border for the drop.  Trouble is -- it's a high drop, and I added a couple inches all around to account for shrinkage (I never pre-wash)... this quilt top currently measures 89" x 106" !!  I lost my JoAnn's coupon which I need to pick up batting, but I'm got a plan for the backing in place, and a coupon ready for the 10th.  This needs to be done by the 15th (and I'll be seeing the midnight Harry Potter, so really, it has to be done on the 14th).

After completing this top, I needed something more size manageable. 

I pulled out my "If it's a girl quilt top," 

Pieced the backing, and got the quilting done yesterday and this morning (I was declaring my independence from big quilts)...

Here's a little preview of the quilting... I just need to pick out my binding fabric.

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Others in progress - 

- Triangle "Hospital" quilt (piecing)

- "If it's a boy" quilt for baby and coordinating one for Steiger (piecing blocks)

- Pickledish  (6 of 20 blocks done - hoping to make it King-sized)

- Chubby Stars (1/5 of the top is done; many of the blocks are made - I'm taking this one with me on vacation to work on!)

- French General Schnibbles (needs borders - it's bigger than in that link)

- Nicey Jane squares (needs backing, quilting, and binding)

- Divas quilt (debating whether to make this any bigger)

- Breakfast at Tiffany's Rob Peter (already basted!)

- Christmas quilt (debating a border, and needs backing)

- Boy version of Libby's quilt for Bake Shop

Linking to Lee's WIP Wednesday (as soon as tomorrow comes). :)

I think I've got enough to keep me busy for a while!