Mommy Brain

So I used to think of myself as a decently intelligent person. I have a college degree, I worked for years before kids. Then, yesterday, I realized I may not actually be that smart.

The big queen size quilt I'm working on for a dear friend just called out to be worked on the other afternoon during the kids' naps. So, I sat myself down at the sewing machine with about 6 yards of 108" muslin and enough cotton batting to wrap a horse (I know, strange analogy...but it works). Then I realize after a bit that I'm sweating while quilting. Nobody ever told me I could burn calories quilting!

I take a look out on the patio and realize that it's 110 degrees (yes, One Hundred And Ten) on the patio outside!! Holy cow. No wonder I was hot. Moral of the story: not as smart as I once thought I was.



Here is how the quilt is progressing...

Here are my horizontal lines about 6" apart. These are the stitches to stabilize the whole quilt (20 lines total), and then I'll go back through with 3 or 4 lines of stitches between each set of lines. Does that make sense??

You'll notice my purple disappearing marker lines running across the fabric. Fortunately, my friend said she and her hubby aren't looking for precision, they just don't want anything "flowery." I can handle that. Pin It

Christmas in...August

So I had been feeling a little compulsive because I officially finished my first Christmas gift last week. Not wanting to out myself as a crazy woman, I didn't post about it.

But, let's be honest, it takes a heck of a lot more time to make gifts than buy them...especially with 2 kids running around. And, now I know I'm not alone because Jessica over at http://ohsohappytogether.blogspot.com/ has posted a Christmas gift as well. How funny is it that a total stranger's crafting makes me feel more content in mine?

So, enough chatter. Here's the quilt that is going to a beloved who doesn't read my blog (so it's safe to post it!).

the front

the back

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Like I need another craft...

Inspired by my incredibly crafty friend, Allison, I just recently started making cards. We have a wedding coming up, a friend's brithday, and I need to send a thank you note, so this afternoon I broke out the card/scrapbooking supplies (same thing in my house). My toddler helped out and even made his own.

I just love when a Mommy craft can become a Mommy & Me craft.

And, I must admit, his is way cuter than mine are.
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Quilts and Dogs do not go together...

You're probably wondering why I have a picture of a big, goofy dog on my craft blog...

Well, it's our dog Duke and he is just about the greatest dog ever. However, he does not make quilting easy since he sheds like a beast and seems to think that any textile items laid on the floor are specifically set out for his lounging pleasure. There is no good way to spread out a queen size quilt sandwich on the floor for basting when said floor has dog hair all over it. So, before I can lay out the quilt I have to put the dog out and bring in the hazmat team. OK, so that's a bit of an exaggeration, but it takes a serious amount of cleaning to get my family room (the only place with enough floor space to lay out a queen size quilt) to quilt-ready status.

All this is is to say that I have been putting off a quilt I promised to make for a friend for their master bedroom...because of the dog. It's entirely white on both sides. And, clearly, our dog is very very black. One hair even will show through the muslin against the batting so I've got to be very very careful.

Oh, and if you were wondering what this much batting and fabric look like after basting, here it is. :) I've never made a quilt this big and the bulk of it is a little daunting...

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Craft Therapy

I truly believe that crafting can be incredibly therapeutic and have often told people that sewing is my therapy. Well, it turns out I have a new (unbelievable!) favorite: hand-stitching quilt binding.

I will be the first to admit that I have long thought that people who chose to hand-stitch the binding around the edge of their quilt are 100% certifiably, what can they possibly be thinking, ship 'em off now, crazy. Seriously, why would you do something that tedious by hand when we've got perfectly good sewing machines that can do the job in, oh, about half an hour?

Now I know why.

First, the look of it is amazing - like some little elfin creature magically applied it and you can't see a stitch anywhere. Second, it is wonderfully comforting in a very odd way to plop down on the couch with a pile of quilt on your lap and create these little invisible stitches that hold together this work of love that you've poured so much time and energy into.

The only kink in my nirvana is the tendinitis in my hands...so it may take me several months to hand stitch the binding, but it will gain me lots and lots of relaxation from my slow labor.

You most likely think I'm nuts, but you have been warned. Don't try it because you might get hooked. Pin It

Oh, how I love baby gifts!

I just love giving baby gifts! For a friend who is due in a matter of weeks, I made a custom diaper bag (designed as I went, no pattern, because I have no patience to search one out). I also made a little something for her sweet 2 year old who will soon be a big sister. If I was a really good blogger (with way more free time than I have), I would write up a tutorial for this little baby. Alas, that did not happen.

Regardless, here is the diaper bag in all its glory. It is made with a 100% cotton print (no idea who makes it, sorry), fusible fleece to give it some body, and an magnetic snap closure.

The inside is a complimentary green duck cloth (super durable!), which I love. I made sure to put 2 cup/bottle pockets inside, along with 2 pockets for diapers and wipes, and 2 pockets for Mommy's things. The only thing I wish I had included are exterior pockets, which were always a huge help to me on a diaper bag so I didn't have to dig for absolutely everything...on the next bag I make.

And, because I just can't help myself, I had to make a matching changing pad and burp cloth.

And, for the final touch, a chalkcloth roll-up to go for her sweet 2 year old.
I did chalkcloth and oilcloth wrong sides together, bound with black bias binding (you might recognize it from my placemats...), and added a tie made from the same binding.

There's even a little pocket for the girl who needs chalk on the go. Might just have to make some for my boys now...
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Summer Jammies

I've been really wanting a pretty little nightgown for these summer evenings, and really not wanting to buy one. Months and months ago, I found this great silky fabric which had a border print perfect for the hem. I cut out the main pattern pieces for the nightie in Chic & Simple Sewing...and then walked away. I just wasn't convinced it would be flattering so I shelved it.

Last week, I decided to make something of it so I ignored the original pattern instructions and sewed clear elastic (if you've never used it before, you must try it out - it's like this...learned about it from my cloth diaper making days and love it!) to the inside of the top hem as well as about 8" down from the top to create the gather at the bustline. Then I attached straps (made from the border print on the fabric). I have to say I'm pretty happy with it. And it fulfills my most important criteria for jammies: comfy.

I'm thinking something similar could be accomplished easily by using two squares of fabric about 25" x 25." I'll have to try that and report back... Pin It

Ah, Summer...

I will miss summer this year. It hasn't been too hot, and the kids are at fun ages. Another thing that's been wonderful is all the yummy things my husband and oldest have grown in the garden. The other night, my man was grilling fish and had the idea to raid all the tomatoes from the plants as a side. I cut them up (yellow pear, cherry, and a medium size kind that I can't remember the name of...sorry, honey), sliced up some homegrown basil that we had out back, drizzled a little olive oil over them, and sprinkled them with a dash of salt and pepper. They were so pretty that I just couldn't resist taking a picture (and so yummy that they didn't last long). So geeky of me. Pin It

I Sold A Quilt!

So, let's be honest, I didn't open an etsy shop to make a bunch of money and it will never be my cash cow (just not enough free time in the universe with my little ones), and the joy of gift-giving far overshadows selling for me (never been much of a capitalist, I guess).

But, I cannot even describe the thrill I get when someone else loves what I made enough to buy it. I could just hug the woman who bought my Heather Ross quilt today, for example!!

This is not supposed to be a "Hey! Look at me because I sold a quilt!" post. It's supposed to be a "Can you believe someone loved it like I do??" post...I hope it comes across right. You just never know with the typed word.

But, all that is to say that I hope you have something to celebrate today, too! Pin It

Sweet Little Camera Case

Another gift I got to make recently was a camera case for my sister's birthday. It's very similar in construction to the GPS pouch I made. The best part was that I didn't have dimensions for her camera and just eyeballed it based on what I could remember about her camera. And it fit perfectly! I just love when I get lucky like that.

I should really try to throw together a quick tutorial on how to make these little pouches... You can make them any size to fit any gadget. They're a new favorite for me. :) Pin It

Placemats and Napkins...quick tutorial

So, I'm really trying to hand-make all the gifts we give and I recently had another excuse to make something new: my youngest cousin is getting married and the bridal shower is today. To be completely honest, I had no idea what to make her, but my mom gave me the idea for table linens and here is the matching set of placemats and napkins.

I love using cloth napkins and placemats in our house, but have never made my own. This was the perfect excuse to try it out. You'll see that it's really not that hard to make them and it saves money by not buying store bought linens, and by not buying paper napkins at all.

Before I get started, you should know that I didn't follow any specific pattern and I often plan as I go. So this tutorial is not an exact science, by any means. But if it inspires someone else, great!

You'll need approximately 1 1/2 yards of placemat fabric (Fabric A), 1 yard of napkin fabric (Fabric B), and 4 packs of extra wide bias binding for 4 placemats and 4 napkins.

I started with the napkins...First I folded Fabric B in half, matching the selvages. Then I cut a 17"x17" square at the folded side (bottom right square in the picture). After cutting the square, cut along the fold so you have 2 identical 17" squares.

The left over strips on the left were used to embellish the placemats later.


The napkins were beyond easy. Just fold all sides over 1/4" inch, then fold over 1/4" again and iron. I used the techniques from this tutorial for the mitered corners and they turned out great.

Next come the placemats. I cut 2 rectangles (16" x 21 1/2") of Fabric A for each of the placemats. The size is entirely up to you - I just chose this because I liked the proportions. (Skip the following steps on embellishing for even quicker placemats...just put two rectangles wrong sides together and skip to the binding)

Now take your "leftover" strips of Fabric B and fold the long edges over about 1/2" and iron.


Place one strip (right side up) on top of one piece of Fabric A (also right side up). Trim off the excess length and stitch vertically along the edges using a 1/4" seam allowance.

Take your embellished placemat rectangle and place it wrong sides together with a non-embellished piece of Fabric A. Edge stitch with a 1/4" seam allowance around all 4 sides.

Finally, apply your bias binding to the edge of your placemats, mitering the corners as you go.

And, ta-da! You now have a one-of-a-kind set to give away or enjoy every day. Pin It