April 27, 2014

I made a cute little baby doll carrier for my niece. They sparkly pink fabric is a remnant from a dress of my mother.


I had quite a bit left of the sparkly pink so I made a stuffed rabbit too.

Bunny still needs an embroidered nose.

 I got all those tiny pieces cut out for the Captain Aust block and chose all my hand dyed fabric (which I purchased, I do very little dying). 

I pulled out all my favorite applique threads: Mettler silk-finish 100% cotton.

I even made a bit of progress sewing tonight.

April 24, 2014

Shoes! I made three shoe blocks for a block exhange at guild today.

A fun little Mary Jane. I cut the pre-fused black with pinking shears to create easy ridges, and added white French knots.

Next is a funky platform, dedicated to Alexander McQueen.

And lastly, a classic from the 70's: the platform with a goldfish in the heel.

I won two additional blocks.  Here's Terri's fabulous cowboy boot:

And Margy's very original birkenstock (birkenblock?).

This block is three dimensional, with working straps and buckles. How amazing is that!

April 22, 2014

I needed to see some progress today on my long-term applique project.

This photo doesn't include the one I'm currently working on. I have three completely done, and five in progress. Out of 25.

I'm actually setting Baltimore garden aside for a short while. I'm starting a block from the Captain Aust quilt, to donate to a fundraiser for the Baltimore applique society. You can see completed blocks here as they are donated.

Here's my kit in the ever-useful ziploc bag.

I traced all the teeny pieces last night, and here's the pattern on my black background.

April 20, 2014

Baltimore Garden block A2, Mary Ann's Mum Garden. Obviously still need to finish the flowers.

I have started block A3, Amelia's Rose Bush.

April 19, 2014

Finishing a custom bag for a friend.

Making all the parts.

I'm very proud of this lined pocket. I only had to rip it all apart three times.

Front and back are different. Each side has a front pocket.

April 6, 2014

Working on Pat Sloan's Little Blue Bird Pattern.

The pattern called for the half square triangles  to go this direction...

But I decided I like them this way.

I'm auditioning other fabrics for more borders.

April 5, 2014

Machine applique class with Pat Sloan today!

The background I prepped before class:

I learned a lot, despite having done quite a bit of machine applique. Pat's a great teacher and such a sweet person.

April 3, 2014

Working on a vest for my friend Lee. We're swapping handmade gifts.

Improvisational piecing, not something I do a ton of. I made a pattern from one of her existing vests.

Panels sewn together and quilted. 

My seven year old took a photo of me quilting.

 front

back

Edged with bias binding. Just need to sew down the binding on the inside, figure out some sort of closure.