Birthday Gift

My BFF is celebrating a milestone birthday next month.  We normally don't exchange gifts but I thought it would be fun to make her something in celebration.  She mentioned that she could use a beach bag.  Oh I can handle that.  I made one for myself a few years ago.

She wanted it squish-able since they are going on vacation in a couple of months and can stick it in the luggage and it won't take up any room.  I made the strip bag from the Fast & Furious Quilting As You Go book by Gudrun Erla.  It's a lickety split bag to make.  I used a Sakura Park jelly roll and some Riley Blake tone on tone dots for the lining.  My BFF loves cherry blossoms so the fabric choice is fitting.  Maybe a bit "too pretty" for the beach or pool-side but I think she will love it.

It needs to be boxed up and wrapped and put into the mail.

Enjoy your day!
Jen :)

Darling Quilts

I have made it my goal for 2013 to clean off my banister of all my quilt tops.  They make a nice decoration; hanging up there but enough is enough.  One of these days, I will take a picture of how I store my quilt tops.  They are "in my face" every day.

Since my goal is to get them off the banister and into usable form, I sent my first 3 that were ready (meaning I had backing for them but just too lazy to assemble said backing) to Jill.  She did her quilty magic and I got them back this week.  They are wonderful!

I sent 2 lap quilts and a table runner.  I machined on the binding for the table runner last night so I could use it ASAP.  Love it.

Here are the 2 lap quilts.  One for me and one for Amelia.

Amelia's

Mine

The next that will be leaving are my pinwheel quilt and a Christmas gift for my in-laws.  I'm on a roll!

Thank you Jill!  You did a fantastic job and I can't wait to use them once I get the bindings on.

Enjoy your day!
Jen  :)

Hugs and Kisses

Happy Valentine's Day!

Give all your loved ones an extra hug and kiss today.  :)

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Natalia

About a month ago, I was asked if I could make a few pillows for some little ones as birthday gifts.  Me being a slacker got the first one done over the blizzard snow-in to be delivered this coming Saturday.

This one is for Natalia:

I like it. I hope the recipient feels the same.  I have to do another for Natalia's little sister Lilly and one for a boy (Anthony).  The one for the boy stumps me because I don't have any boy fabrics.  I guess some fabric shopping is in order.  Oh darn.  ;)

Enjoy your day!
Jen  :)

Blizzard Weekend Crafts

Mother Nature has a evil sense of humor.  We got a major snowstorm over the weekend.  A blizzard actually.  At my house, 2 1/2 feet of snow.  On the shoreline, up to 40" of the white stuff was dumped.  Snow started Friday morning and ended Saturday mid-morning.  Roads were shut down.  Needless to say, we've been house bound for the last few days.  I guess Mother Nature felt that she needed to make up for the lack of snow that didn't happen last Winter.  Of course, LAST winter is when we could have used the extra $$$ for Disney.  Chris hasn't been home very much the last few days.  He's plowing again for some businesses and condo complexes so he's been off doing that.

I gave in and had to get out of the house today.  Ran some errands and took Amelia out to lunch.  We were out for a couple of hours.  It was nice.  Don't know if she will have school again tomorrow.  While the main state roads are pretty clear, the banks of snow along the roadway make it very difficult to see the traffic and the town/side roads are terrible.  Mine included.

To help pass the time on Friday, we did a Valentine's Day craft. Now you may know (because I've said it often), I don't really decorate for the "off" holidays. Christmas is pretty much it over here and that's only a decorated tree and maybe another do-dad here and there. But I thought it would be fun to do something in red and pink for Love.

Last year? Year before?  I can't remember, Melissa posted about a very fun ribbon loop wreath for Halloween.  Oh it was so cute.  I hunted down a few of the tutorials and even went out and bought loads of ribbon and a wreath.  And it still sits undecorated today.  But that will soon change!  I gathered up supplies to make one for Valentine's Day and here is our version.

Isn't it cute?? There are lots of tutorials out there and different techniques. After studying the different ways of creating the loops, I went the hot glue gun route. While sewing the loops together and then gluing them on the wreath seemed faster, I didn't care for the overall 'flat' look of the ribbons on the wreath. I really liked the more fuller, rounder feel. So out came my glue gun and much swearing. I tried not to burn myself but with hot glue it never fails not to happen.  I took my wreath one step further and made curliques out of the 3/8" ribbons and stuck them in, here and there to help fill in the holes.  I'm very happy with it and already planning my Easter ribbon wreath and then another for late Spring/Summer.  And of course a Christmas one but I have time for that.

Enjoy the rest of your day!
Jen :)

Love to Be Mine

Sweetwater's Label Crew for February; too cute!  I don't have many Valentine themed fabrics hanging around and what I do have wasn't enough so a trip to my LQS was in order.  Unfortunately, they too didn't have a big selection but I picked up 4 that coordinated and set off to work.

Over-sized mug rugs. Punk picked "Be Mine" so I'm left with "Love".  My heart has a bit of a straight edge at the top.  Not sure what happened there.  I'll be bringing it to work for the month of February. I have no idea what Punk is going to do with hers. I'm sure it will end up somewhere and I will rescue it and put it in my sewing room for safe keeping. The Label Crew project for March is another one I will be doing as soon as it comes out. It's featuring their newest line "Noteworthy". I can't wait to get it!

Enjoy your day!
Jen :)