Crafting! Ready, Set, Go!

Ahhh...with the end of classes, I can finally agree that summer is nigh and let the crafting recommence! I have so many spectacular plans for the next coming months, mostly planning for FONDUE FEST! A cozy little festival towards the end of summer where plenty of crafty and foodie-type vendors set up shop and hope it doesn't rain. I'll be selling my QLBs (quilt-like objects) and other various hand-crafted goods alongside good, long-time friends, a knitter and a painter.

I've kept myself busy over the past semester so as not to get rusty. Enjoy my collection entitled, "Crafts to Keep My Sanity."

Here's a dog sweater that I made for a pooch much smaller than mine.

A Dwarf Beard for my dear cousin who is a lot larger than the model in the picture.

 Two matching chef hats for two cute little crazies.

A handy knitting bag for a friend, with pockets!

 A headband for a darling little lovely.

 A quilt for ME!

 Some cutie little rosies whose destinies are yet to be determined.

 Tiny market/lunch/book bag.

A Wheel of Fortune purse with an ever-so-darling lining. I may write a blog post dedicated to how much I love this little purse.

A Pinterest attempt - key chain headphone case, needs perfecting.

 The cutest little potholder you've ever seen!

WIP - Hand quilting my husband's great-grandma's Dresden quilt. This thing might be older than my grandma, very cool. Observe how my helper snoozes on the job.

WIP - My knitting! I'm making the Color Affection shawl and it is taking a very long time. I love this pattern and enjoy the lengthy garter stitch rows. Will be sad to see this one finished.









I'm looking forward to another fantastic summer of creation! May you find inspiration and offer any criticism necessary from and towards my work!

Project complete and Baby booties

Hooray!!! I am so happy I have finished a project that was started before my first son was even in the picture. 

I began this quilt by sewing three 3" strips together and cutting the new strips into blocks. Then, I intended to arrange the blocks so that there were blue and brown "steps" but for some reason I must have had a brain fart and couldn't accomplish this. I began quilting it as my first hand quilting project but had apparently not yet learned how to hide my knots within the batting layer. I now have two knots on the top side of every strip throughout the middle of the quilt. When I picked it back up again I knew I wouldn't sell this one but rather finish it for my own conscience and keep it as a reminder if how far I've come.

I also tried out a new pattern for baby booties. It was a free pattern and I will need to look through my history to figure out which one it was, but I'm not a fan. The sizing is pretty small, and I think it could use more fabric on top. Hoping to have around 10 pairs by September, as well as some baby girl hair accessories. 

I've also gotten a backing for Taine's Quilt. It's a beautiful polka dot batik. I used warm 'n' natural batting which is a very thin, yet also very warm cotton batting. I'm hand quilting large diamonds through the pinwheels and may try my hand at free motion quilting on the inside of the diamonds. 

Ava Claire Designs and The Riverside Trilogy

I'd like to take a moment to showcase a couple of friends of mine who are a couple sources of inspiration for me. I can appreciate the time and effort these ladies put into their work and love seeing the new things they come up with.

Ava Claire Designs is run by Teresa Apel-Heinz. She creates exquisite pieces by hand that are both stunning and conversation-worthy. Here is one of my favorites from her collection. Head on over and 'like' her page to keep updated on all of her new, beautiful and creative designs.

If you're a fan of a hot and steamy romance, check out author Brooke Cumberland's The Riverside Trilogy. If you are a Kindle owner, follow Drake and Molly's escapades from Kitchen Affairs to the newest, Kitchen Scandals to be released July 1, 2013. 'Like' her page to keep updated on fantastic giveaways and news on everything from swag to autographed copies.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BYD1CWM

Practice makes perfect...

I haven't had the time lately to go out and buy new supplies for new projects so I'm a little at a stand-still. I have been working on some of my scrap bin, though. I started a new tote, a bit taller than the past few. It's called Anchors Away! because of the lovely anchor fabric I featured on it. I'd like a matching lining and so it will be until my next trip to the fabric store before I can finish it. 

I've also been quilting my strippy quilt...I think the reason it's taking me so long is that I'm just not in love with it. It's an old project that I didn't give the time and patience it deserves as I was still learning when I began it. I'm about 2/3 done with it and would like to see the binding on by the end of the week. 

Two of the things I've been practicing with are a feather block  from Anna Marie Horner (http://www.annamariahorner.com/Feather.Bed.Quilt.pdf) and also a couple blocks of a Winding Ways quilt to test out my template.