The much anticipated updates!!!

Alright everyone, I hope y'all are bearing with me and my lack of posting. I've been pretty busy, and haven't been able to sew or post much.

First of all, we had much anticipated company come in over the weekend. One of the cousins has written a couple of books and currently has one published. The one that is published is a choose your own path book about being A Courier for Stonewall Jackson. Anyway, he was holding a few book signings here locally. (Shame on those of you that knew about it, and didn't come:) )

Then, we had the 4-H bread baking contest last night. I placed first, but I was the only one in my grade so it wasn't very satisifying. (I guess it has been a long time since I've posted, since "E" is hanging over my shoulder gasping!) I also entered my Death by Chocolate desert (brownies, cool whip, chocolate pudding, and chocolate bar). I was competing with 7th-12th graders with that one, but it didn't place at all. It is really good though. The layering got kind of messed up, so I think that affected it.

So, I haven't had much time to sew or anything lately, and I feel incredibly unproductive.

I did FINALLY finish the baby blanket I've been working on. It is two layers of flannel sewn together, and then crocheted around. It took FOREVER!!! I made it with the intention of selling it if it turned out nicely, but I put so much time into it, I may just keep it! I'm thinking about starting a hope chest, and will put it in there. I also have some baby booties (they're blue) around here somewhere. I got some really strange looks when I made the mistake of working on those out in public! There's a tutorial here: Sew Chic Blog.

I also finished a little notebook cover. You put one of those little flip open notebooks in the pocket on the left, and a pen in the middle, and something in the pocket on the right. I also made those from a tutorial. It looks better in person. The front is quilted a little bit.

Skirt

Rachel recently made a very nice baby blue skirt, however, I am not at home right now, so I don't have pictures, but I'll see what I can do when we get home. She drafted it herself out of another white skirt that she likes. Also, yesterday she finished her baby blanket she's been working on. It is a double layer pink flannel blanket that she has sewn around, then she went and crocheted "shells" on the edge. Get back to you later..... sourpatch

Quilt Backing Fabric

Hello all, this is sourpatch!

This is the fabric that Rachel bought for the back of her quilt. It's feminine, yet not too girly, if there is such a thing. The print is flowers, assorted blue flowers and butterfly's to be exact. She is still to get batting to finish the quilt. So right now, the project is on hold.

Right now, as I type, she is making a baby blue pleated skirt to wear in the spring and summer time. She copied the pattern off of one of her store bought white skirts. I'll post pictures when it's done. Signing off ~ sourpatch

Denim Quilt Top

I finished my quilt top! And yes, those are real, working pockets! Now, if I can just decide what to back it with, and how to quilt it! Argghhhh, I'm so indecisive! I'm standing up holding it, and with the bottom touching the floor, the quilt is about 5.5 feet tall! It's really only a lap quilt, but it's big!

If I stitch fast enough, does it count as aerobic exercise? ~Author Unknown

Homemade Pin Cushion

This is yet another craft that Rachel has completed. It is a pincushion. Basically, it's a stuff circle, then you put thread around it, and sew a button in the middle. It was pretty easy for her. The botton picture is the back of it.

She also almost completed a blue jean quilt, but she wants to post about it....

Denim Quilt

My first full size quilt! Alright, so it's just a quilt top. Okay, it's not even a whole quilt top, but it will be! I cut up about 5 or 6 old pairs of jeans. (If anyone has jeans they're going to through out, let me know) I made six inch blocks and sewed them together into an almost top. I kept the pockets by the way! :) Soooo, the question is this, do I put a bandana fabric on the back and quilt(that means stitch a design through all the layers) stars an maybe cowboy boots and hats? Or, do I put a pink backing on and quilt flowers on the front? I will not be quilting something in every block. Let me know what you think of those ideas, and if you have any others, let me know.

Scarves and pincushions and tissue holders, oh my!

Alrighty, another post that's actually written by Rachel! Yay! I made a pincushion (it's a flower), but I can't find the pattern link right now. It didn't take very long and I made it out of some of my precious scraps from my apron. It's flannel on the bottom. The white thing with rose buds (Looks like strawberries to me, but believe me, it's rose buds) is a cover for a pack of tissues. The blue fuzzy thing is a scarf, I couldn't get a full picture of it, I got that eyelash (fuzzy stuff) yarn for $.50 at a garage sale. I also got the blue baby yarn for the same price. I LOVE garage sales! Up next: eye glass case for dad and some more drooling over quilts others have made. :)