Skill Building Commencing

So, for some crazy reason, I decided to join another BOM over at Pile O' Fabric. It's a skill builder which is perfect, and beyond that, it is a quilt as you go, which is even more awesome! The only problem is that I'm a little torn about starting it. I have soooo much on my plate, but at the same time these things are a really nice escape for me. Since it is a free block of the month I figure I will, at the very least, read all the instructions, try out a couple of new techniques, and then go from there.

Knowing that I needed a butt load (yes, that is the technical term) of fabric for this quilt along, I stopped at my local JoAnn's since they are getting ready to close at the end of the month. Their  sales were crazy-- nearly all their fabrics were 75% off-- so I took some time to find some stuff that worked. I honestly can't decide if I love or hate my selections, and I suspect I won't be able to tell until after I start assembling, but at least if I hate it the fabric didn't set me back too much... :o)

Here are my selections. I'd love to hear what people think... for better or worse!

A project in motion

I mentioned a while ago that I would be working on a quilt for Diva's school auction. I'd like to take a moment to tell you a little about it.

Every year Diva's school hosts an auction/dinner-dance to raise funds, with both live and silent items. The very last item to be auctioned off during the live auction is the annual quilt. The blocks of the quilt are drawn by some of the middle-schoolers, and then interpreted into fabric by parents, grandparents, staff, and friends of the school. Usually between 18 and 24 children's artwork is selected for the quilt. The quilt brings in anywhere between $7,000 and $22,000 for the school. Pretty redonkulous, right?!

When I arrived at the first auction meeting, I learned two key things that threw me into a panic. 1) Our theme for the event, and thus the quilt, was the Kentucky Derby, and 2) I was a co-chair of the quilt committee which meant that the responsibility of making this thing happen was up to me and one other woman (who doesn't really sew but takes care of the logistical part of the project). Crap. My first year in the school as a parent and probably the hardest topic for a quilt... ever. And so began the project in motion.

We set up a day in November for the 5th-8th graders to draw and, quite frankly, were blown away by their artwork. Their horses and scenes were amazingly impressive, and I don't even mean just for their age. We selected 30 kids artwork to appear on the quilt and came up with an amazing design. We would create a center panel which would feature 13 of the kid's drawings appliqued on-- horses running around a track-- and the rest would create a border around that center panel. It looked great on paper and everyone loved it. There was only one hitch. From speaking with the (only) 10 volunteers who agreed to help us, we had a lot of people who did not feel comfortable with a challenging design. Unfortunately we categorized 80% of the designs as having "medium" to "extremely hard" difficulty levels. Crap. We needed to scrap the idea and come up with a new one.

 I decided to think waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyy outside the box. The quilts are always appliqued and embroidered and/or embellished, but with the horses I just didn't see how that was going to be possible. Being somewhat of a techie, I came up with a radical idea. I just hoped the school staff, auction/dinner-dance chairperson, and live auction chairperson liked it. I proposed printing the kids artwork directly onto fabric and then just embroidering and embellishing them without any applique whatsoever. I got some fabric, and did a sample to show them. Everyone liked the idea, though we do need to make some improvements.

Now its just a matter of figuring out the logistics and making it happen. At this point, many of the pictures have been painted with watercolor by one of the high school students. My next step is to take the finished (now) paintings to the printer to have them transferred onto fabric, then rally some more volunteers! The auction is not happening until the end of April, but I'm hoping to have the quilt wrapped up by the end of March.

I'll post progress updates as we go.

Two firsts in the New Year

On New Year's Eve I finally got the fabric for the play lap quilt I planned to make for my bff's son's birthday this weekend! Not knowing what my week would hold (Diva's got walking pneumonia and Little Loo had a fierce cold) I dove right in on New Year's Day, and I'm pleased to say that I even managed to finish it today! I thought I would take this opportunity to do my first tutorial too. It's not the most amazing tutorial, but I hope it gets the job done. Feel free to ask any questions. I hope you enjoy.

I started out with a yard of Road Work by Evenspor which I picked up on Spoonflower.com. Since I wanted the play mat to be small and compactable (is that even a word?) for traveling I cut the yard in half to 36"x 21". I then cut my sashing (Get your kicks at Route 66 Signs- RED) to 3" strips (2- 21"x3" and 2- 42"x3"). Sew the sashings to the main panel, starting with the short sides.

That's the top. Pretty cinchy!

Next I layered the top with some batting and a backing fabric (mine was Hot Rods Ride Again Cars- Green). I left the batting and backing slightly bigger in case there was some shifting during quilting. I used the roads to quilt the fabric, following along every stretch of the highway. It created this wonderful effect where the roads seemed to pop away from the grass-- very cool. 

After everything was quilted I trimmed away the excess batting and backing fabric. Next was the binding. I used this great Lollipop binding from Lollipops Designer Binding. I wish I could tell you which one it was, but they no longer seem to have it, and I can't recall the name.

Next it was time to create the bag. Using the same fabric as the backing (since you want the bag to match when it is all folded up) and a complimentary fabric (could be the same as the sashing, or a different contrasting color) cut both fabrics to the following dimensions. You'll have to bear with me since I didn't get any usable pictures for this part...

Once the fabric is cut, with right sides facing, sew along the outer edge leaving a 3" opening in the center of the bottom side. Turn that right side out and with the contrasting fabric out, make the corners of the bag by bringing the two 3" sides together so that they form one edge. Sew that edge together, and repeat on the other side. I found it to be easier sewing from the outer edge (ie: where the circles are) inward, but that might just be me.

Next we are going to make the straps. Using the sashing fabric (or contrasting fabric) cut 3.5"x22", fold in half with right sides together and sew along two of the sides, leaving one short side open so you can turn this out. Make two of these.

Attach one strap to the semi-finished bag with it's ends spaced about 7" apart, and extending about an 1.5" down. We'll wait to attach the other strap to the quilt once the bag is attached to be sure spacing is well matched.

Next attach the bag to the back of the quilt, matching sides together, in one corner of the quilt. Sew along the sides and bottom, leaving the top open. Next, add the second strap to the back of the quilt, equal in location to the strap on the bag. It might help to fold down the top edge of the bag and use that as a guideline. Be sure to use complimentary thread, or translucent thread, for these two steps so that you will not notice these seems as much. Then that's it. You're done!

Fold up and take with you, or open out and enjoy!

2012 Recap

All in all, 2012 has been a great year. We've had so many wonderful things happen this year, which was quite the change from last year. Here's a recap of all the things I made over the year. I hope I don't miss any!!

January: With a new baby on the way, a changing pad was first on my list of projects for the new year.

February: Nothing completed, but this is the month I started my very first quilt-- a play quilt for my then-baby on the way.

March: My very first quilt, and boy was I hooked!

April: Diva's 3rd birthday cake. Cinderella of course.

May: I finished this one just in the nick of time! My second quilt. I even designed it myself.

Here is the other thing I made in May-- the most important thing to make the list. Little Loo.

June: In June I started my first quilt along. Although I haven't finished the top yet, all but one of the blocks are done and it should be relatively quick to put it together. My plan is to donate it once I finish it. Here are my finished blocks thus far-- minus one that was completed after I took the picture.

 July: My menu calendar. Can I just say that I love this thing. It works so great.

 August: This quilt and pillow set was for Diva's nap box at school.

September: Little Loo's Christening Cake. 100% made by me.

 

October: We may not have been able to use them until November, but I finished them in October! My Rapunzel and Pascal.

 November: Between Sandy and my machine issues I wasn't able to complete anything in the month of November... :(

December: This is the paper doll lap quilt I did for my bff's daughter's birthday in early January. I had hoped to completer her son's gift( they are twins) by the end of this month, but seeing how his fabric hasn't even arrived yet, I don't think that will be happening!! I just hope I can get it done by the first weekend in January! Yikes.

Looking back on the list I am actually really impressed with all that I was able to get done-- especially with a preschooler and a newborn! I am so excited for what 2013 will hold. Already on the list is that lap play quilt for my bff's son (once the fabric arrives!!), at least three cakes (for my mother in January, Diva in April and for Little Loo's 1st in May), a new nap quilt for September, Halloween costumes for October, maybe a couple of other homemade gifts for little ones I know, a crinkle quilt for a new baby, the quilt for Diva's school auction (I promise more is coming on that soon-- it's very exciting!), and I hope to check out and try the Free motion quilt along too.

Thanks for joining me this year. I hope you come back and visit often, and please leave some love... I love to know that someone is out there! 

I'm Back!

After some serious Halloween burnout and disappointment I am back to sewing and am very happy to announce that I have finished a play quilt for an absolutely adorable soon to be 4 year old. When I saw this paper doll fabric months ago I knew I had to have it! I decided it was perfect for my BFF's daughter's birthday. Incidentally, my BFF has twins, so for her son I'll be making something along the same lines... as soon as the fabric arrives! Pictures to follow for that project.

I decided to make a play quilt for the floor. It's small enough for travel and has a handy dandy matching bag so all of the pieces stay together. The outfits are backing with fusible interfacing so the clothes stick to the dolls even when you pick up the quilt to show mom and dad.

Here are the dolls all dressed up in some of their many outfits.