My First Quilt Along

Ever since I did that first taggie quilt a few months back I got bitten by a little quilting bug. I began following some blogs, I made another quilt for my sister-in-law who is pregnant with number 2 (post about that coming as soon as she gets me a couple of photos. I CANNOT believe I didn't take any photos of it!!!), I bought some fabric that I loved for when I find out someone else is pregnant (I just adore the fabric for children!), and I even went to a quilt show in Lancaster, PA with another quilter I know. Anyway, as I was reading one of the blogs that I follow (http://quilterinthecloset.blogspot.com/), Jen mentioned she was doing a beginner's quilt along. After checking it out, I decided it seemed manageable and not too time consuming... after all I did have a baby 3 weeks ago! I have ordered my fabrics and am looking forward to them coming in so I can get started.

Here's what I chose:

blocks in: Puttin on the Ritz by Moda

Boarders, sashings and backing in: Ooh La La by Moda

For more info on this quilt along (it runs through September) check out The Quilting Gallery.

A Cake Fit for a Princess!

 

Once my three year old settled on a theme for her birthday party, the design for the cake was a no brainer! This Cinderella cake used an actual Cinderella doll that was covered in fondant. I won't lie, this cake was a total pain in the butt. The fondant for the skirt needed to be done in advance so that it would harden and still keep that flowing feel to it. Unfortunately it kept cracking every time I tried to take it off the mold though, and I ended up forming the skirt portion 3 times... good thing I started a month ahead of time! Under the fondant, the entire skirt portion of the dress was edible yellow cake with a strawberry cream cheese filling and buttercream frosting. My little princess loved her little princess!

A Baby Taggie Quilt

With the upcoming arrival of my 2nd child, I was inspired to work on something just for her. When I found this pattern I was in love. As my first quilt, I liked that it was fairly simple... or at least appeared to be. None of those daunting triangles or crazy appliques to worry about, but yet it was still different. The initial quilt was designed by Katie Hennagir of Katie Hennagir Designs and I bought it and the fabric at baywindowquiltshop.com.

 The finished quilt.

The back (before quilting).

The quilt was so much fun to work on, and I can't believe how relaxing I found the whole process. In fact, I liked it so much that I just kept adding to it, making it a bit bigger and adding some extra embellishments. All in all, it took me about 3 weeks to finish it and I absolutely adore it. To the design I added the three boarders to the outside of the quilt top and the two boarders to the backing. It allowed me to increase the size of the quilt a hair for when baby really starts rolling around! The finished quilt is now 42 inches square.

Introduction

So, I guess it would be best to introduce myself. My name is Jaime and I'm a twenty-something stay-at-home mom. I enjoying making things with my hands and I just can't seem to live my life without some creative tendency trying to force it's way out of me.

I've also had the pleasure of growing up with a mom who, at least in my eyes, could do everything-- a Jackie of all trades, if you will. She has been both a hairdresser and a florist, professionally. She decorated my birthday cakes as a child, and has a flare for throwing perfectly put-together parties. She's even made a Halloween costume or two for me... and all my life I've wanted to be just like her.

Before I had my daughter, Diva, I was an avid dancer. It was, and still is, my passion. But I no longer seem to have the time, means, or muscle tone to follow that dream, and have since been on a quest to find a new passion-- or at least something to help release the bubbling cauldron of creativity inside of me. And I want to be to my daughter, what my mother is to me.

I hope you enjoy this blog. Be inspired. Try something new... what have you got to lose!

As a side note, I have pre-dated some blog entries to account for projects I have done prior to starting this blog. Feel free to check them out too.

Baby Changing Pads

 So, can I just tell you that i Love, LOve, LOVE this tutorial by Jill of Homemade by Jill. I've made two already, and know I'm going to make a bunch more. They are perfect for new moms and baby showers... and I'm thinking about making one in smaller scale for my daughter to change her baby dolls on too! The tutorial is so easy to follow, even for a novice sewer like myself. And they come out just so darn cute!

The one thing that I really love about these is that the inside calls for a laminated fabric. I took it one step further and purchased that sparkley vinyl fabric that you might use to upholster a 50's style bar stool. It wipes down so nicely which is perfect for those special occasions when things get a little out of hand. The fabric is a little expensive, but well worth it.