Growing

I'm ready for borders on my Project Pure quilt.  I'm thinking brown?  Suggestions?  I know I want to do brown minkee on the back.

I'll definitely be making this pattern again!  The question is how much sewing I'll be able to do once the little one comes.  I'm definitely growing!!  Here's Hank with a paw on the baby.  I wonder how much the baby can hear him purring.

Pure + Orange = love!

My guild is having its first challenge using a charm pack of Moda's "Pure".  Well I decided to bend the rules a bit and use two packs (shhh....don't tell anyone).  I met up with Julie for dinner on Tue to pick up my packs and we had such a great time chatting and catching up!  She even had a present for me!! A tote bag and a charm pack of Collections for a Cause-Hope.  Thank you Julie!

I've been itching to make a whirlygiggle quilt and found the perfect tutorial (thanks Katie!) over at Quilting on Turtle Hill.  Off I went to the quilt shop and came home with a surprising  fabric.  I must be really wanting fall, because I came home with orange and I'm loving it!

I've made 16 blocks- here's a peak at one of them:

My poor snowbound blocks are falling behind!

I also realized I never posted pictures of Karen's blocks!  They are so pretty- thank you so much!

Off to watch Project Runway~

Robbery, ultrasounds, and quilts- oh my!

Things have been at a quilty stand still over the past week.

First my next door neighbor's house was broken into and she was robbed.  We live in a suburban area and this took us all by surprise.  Luckily, she wasn't home and they only took jewelry, but I've felt disturbed ever since.  My husband and I were home at the time of the robbery.

Then I went for my 22 week ultrasound.  Everything is fine with the baby, but they found that I have placenta previa- a condition where the placenta covers part of the cervix.  Luckily, in my case, it is only a partial coverage and I was told that 90% of the time it will resolve.  In the meantime, I'm to watch for any bleeding and am on "pelvic rest" which means I can't lift more than 20# or do anything strenuous.  I go for another ultrasound in one month to monitor the situation.  Things could be soooo much worse, but I feel very nervous about things.  At least 90% is about the best odds you can get. 

So I've only done a little sewing.  Someone I used to work with commissioned me to make a baby quilt for her sister.  She told me she wanted dogs and that she "is sure" that her sister is having a girl, but they haven't found out the sex.  She didn't want to shop so I went out on the hunt for fabrics.  Everything was pink or blue.  Now if you're not sure, you would think pink would be the wrong choice right? So this is what I came home with:

I sent a picture to her of the fabrics and didn't hear back.  So I went on to make the quilt top.

Then I heard back from her in a nice email tactfully telling me that she wanted something more girly. Ugh.  She didn't know I had made the quilt top, and I want her to be happy with the quilt, but why would you want pink fabrics if you're not 100% sure???  So I told her I would just wait until the baby is born in a few weeks and then we can either re-shop or keep the fabrics.  If its a girl I'll save this quilt as a gift or donate it. Lesson learned!

After that, I didn't feel too quilty, but  today I felt the urge to hand quilt and got out "fireside chat"- my oldest UFO! It was supposed to be fall colors for last fall.  Well, hopefully it will be done for this fall! hahah!  We'll see :)

A whole mess of stuff

Its horrible when technology turns against you!  Keep your fingers crossed for me that my computer stays working. 

I received more of my blocks and some goodies.  They're gorgeous!

First the postman delivered Marsha's blocks and a little ornament.  Beautiful!

Then I got Mary's blocks, more embroidery thread baggies, and a magazine.  I am so touched at her thoughtfulness!! 

And then came Ann's blocks, a magazine and chocolates.  Do you think there are any chocolates left? :)

Thank you all so much!!


This week I hit the halfway mark of the pregnancy and I'm enjoying the 2nd trimester and the return of my energy!  I finally finished up the baby's quilt.  The minkee did not appreciate being quilted so its a little wonky, but its so delightfully soft that I'm OK with it. 

Hank is still unaware that it is not for him. 

I also made a nursing pillow "boppy" look-a-like.  (Also from the book Simple Sewing Projects for Baby by Lotta Jansdotter).

Which Hank also thinks is for him

Poor guy,  if only he knew how much things are going to change!!

I LOVE the flannel fabric from Riley Blake.  I've been eying her latest line, Colorful Christmas, for a baby Christmas quilt. 

Other randomness just for fun- I've been  in baking mode.  These cranberry orange scones with orange glaze by Ina Garten are DELICIOUS!  It could be that I'm just hungry all the time now, but I really thought they were yummy.  Who's coming over for breakfast? :)

Now I'm off to eat some more of these, drink my one cup of decaf a week, and catch up on all your blogs!

Baby hats galore/Vacation Days 3&4

Today's the last day of my mini vacation.  Don't you just hate the Sunday afternoon blues? 

I've been sewing up a storm and have some more little hats to share.  Oh and all these projects have all been from the book Simple Sewing Projects for Baby by Lotta Jansdotter.  I have really enjoyed this book with Lotta's easy to follow patterns. 


First another elf hat to match the snuggler:

Then another kitty hat (this one's my favorite):

And a matching rattle with a bell inside:

Now I think I'm spent!

Baby sewing mania/ Vacation days 2 &3

I've been swimming in fleece, chenille, and baby fun.  The baby quilt is basted and then I made some projects

First up is this elf hat:

Then I made the kitty hat:

And this is my favorite- a swaddler modeled by my childhood teddy bear, Snowbell:

I'm thinking tomorrow I'm going to make another elf hat with the yellow chenille.  I also picked up some zebra print fleece that I haven't decided what to do with yet.

It feels so nice to be doing all this sewing! :)

Summer Vacation Days 1 & 1.5

My hubby and I have been very productive on our first day and a half off of work.

Yesterday he worked on patching the various holes in the wall left by the electrician while I moved my sewing supplies from the baby room closet to the hall closet.  I'm really pleased with the result and am wondering why I didn't do this ages ago.  A while back I stopped sewing in the sewing room/now baby room and migrated to the dining room table.  Lots of space and I wasn't isolated.  So now everything's much more convenient.

You can't see from the photo, but there are two shelves above the baker's rack.  Now I just need to figure out what to do with the stuff I moved from the hall closet. hahah!

Then this morning I made my pot holder/oven mitt from the book One-Yard Wonders for the next Philly Modern Quilt Guild meeting on Monday.  I'm not sure I'll be able to attend any other meetings since the time was switched to one of the evenings I work.  :(

Here it is next to the apron I made last summer.  And here's a close up with the lining:

I just love that Alexander Henry print!

Yesterday I ran out to my local quilt shop to get some batting for the baby quilt.  While I was there I found this cute fleece and decided it needed to come home with me.

Next up on the to do list is to make a cute little baby hat from the book Simple Sewing for Baby that I had checked out from the library.

One of these days I'll get the baby quilt basted!