Three Quilts

Just starting to quilt. All my kids are grown, married and with kids so I found that I wanted to try quilting. I'm hooked. I love it. I made my first one last year with my daughter Nicole . We had lots of fun doing it together. This fall I've made two quilts. I made this Christmas quilt from a couple of Riley Blake's Santa's Workshop stakers from an idea from Missouri Quilt Companies you tube video. I also took her two classes on Craftsy Quilting Quickly I and II. I just love her style of teaching, so laid back and so fun. I did the backs of the Christmas quilt and the floral quilt adding a strip from left over blocks to add interest to the back. One the halloween quilt I just started throwing all kinds of scraps together for a crazy mixed up back. I hand cut the word BOO from black minky and zig zagged it to the back. I love them all and I'm learning more and more as I go.

I love the picture of my grandson William looking over the top of the quilt. He's so cute. My cats of course have to jump on the quilts the minute you put them down. I still need to bind the Halloween quilt but just not sure what color to use.

McCalls 6559 Maxi Dress

I bought this McCalls pattern 6559 for Judy who is expecting in September because she wanted a maxi dress to wear during her pregnancy. But it was a hit with all the girls so I've made one with sleeves for Sharon, the green/black/white print for Megan and I have three more cut out to make. It's such an easy dress to put together. I used contrasting binding or ribbing in lieu of turning under 5/8" at neck and armholes. I also added a simple belt for the waist or under the bust for preggers Judy. I'll put up the other pictures as they are finished. It's a fairly loose fit in the waist but somewhat fitted in bust and hip area. All the fabrics are from fabric.com bought sometime in the past couple of years. Here's a picture of Judy at thier party to announce boy or girl. They took envelope from doctors office to Krogers and gave them the box and asked them to fill it with blue ballons if it said boy or pink ballons if it said girl. It was so fun when they opened the box at the party to see thier excited faces when the blue ballons came out. Our fourth grandson, but it's been 7 granddaughters since grandson number three almost nine years ago. We are ready for a boy. Picture of Mr. Finnegan just because he likes to get in the middle of everything.

McCall's 6510 Lace Circle Top

I made Judy this quick and easy bright olive green stretch lace circle/poncho style top McCalls 6510. She just loves this style shirt. I added a couple of inches of length and didn't finish the edges since they wouldn't ravel. She's happy with it. I used a solid knit for the neckline turned to the inside.

Shamrock Tea Lights Embroidery

These are from Embroidery Garden the are the Easter/Spring Tea Lights. I love these little decorations. The grandkids get a kick out of them.

I'm so excited about the new online class being offered on Craftsy by Susan Khalje called The Couture Dress. I love her books, loved her old TV show and I'm thrilled about this class. I hope it encourages other well known teachers to do the same. Not everyone can travel or afford to go to classes. I've already started watching and it's amazing. I got it half price from clicking on this link from the blog Frabjous Fashion. http://frabjous-fashion.blogspot.com/2012/01/couture-dress-class-by-susan-khalje.html

EG Valentine Tealights- Emboidery

I bought these embroidery files from Embroidery Garden

and for once may them up instead of just buying them and thinking about making them. They are super fast and easy. Just use felt and no stabilizer. I had fun making them. You put battery operated tealights in them and they glo. Can't wait for the grandkids to see them.

Ottobre 6/2011 Dora Dress & McCalls6457 Leggings

Found this crazy wild colored Dora Fleece at Hancocks and Sophie loves Dora and Owls so couldn't resist. I made the dress from left over leopard fleece to see if it fit and if Momma liked it. She liked it but it was way to short so I added 2 1/2" to the length. It's a little long but Momma was happy and didn't want me to shorten it. It's a little warm for our mild Texas winters but it's good for the ocassional cold days. It goes together easily. The leggings and hat are from McCall's 6457. The leggings run loose fitting and they are way to long in the crotch depth. I cut off about an 1 1/2" on the front and 2" in the rear and could have done with a little more. I sewed the hat with 1/4" seams in lieu of 5/8" seams since large heads run rampant in our family. Glad I did because it wasn't falling off that's for sure. While the fabrics a little wild for my taste. Sophie loved the material even if she did hate trying it on since it wasn't cold at all the day we made her try it on. I like the shape of the dress and will make it again in a lighter weight fabric.