Broadbents Modern Quilt Group

I got an email about a month ago that my local quilt shop was starting a modern quilting group.  I waffled over it for several days, really wanting to join, but seeing we have so many things going on already, I just wasn't sure I should try and fit it in.  But I am so glad I did.  The first meeting was in August.  We got scrap packs to make a strip quilt.  This is what I made:

I think it looks like steps and like how its turned out so far.  I have a backing that is orange with flowers and butterflies.  I am quilting it with a large stipple and throwing in some butterflies for good measure.  I haven't decided on a binding yet.  I will bring it to the next meeting and see if anyone has any suggestions.  The background is a solid called woodland I believe.  It looks a little gray in the picture, but in real life it's a pretty warm color.  I am using variegated thread for the quilting.

The Loot!

Every year just before labor day Quilts Etc. in Sandy as a huge clearing out kind of sale.  The sale runs for three days and they supposedly bring out new stuff everyday.  I have only ever made it to one day-so I can't verify that information.  I don't want to subject my kids to that much fabric shopping, seems like I would be pressing my luck.  This year I put Tessa in the wrap and Sophie held my hand.  She behaved so well!  Ladies were complementing her left and right about how good she was being.  She's my most mischievous-so I was pleasantly surprised.  Tessa slept almost the whole time.  The top row are all 3.99 fabrics.  A few years ago they had a lot for 1.99 and 2.99.  No such luck any more.  The bottom are Kate Spain fabrics and they were half off.  I always leave knowing I could pick out so much more but I try and restrain myself.  It's a great time to get some backings, you can't beat the price.  The one thing I was looking for were solids, I didn't see any.  Maybe they put those out on the other days....

Itty Bitty Pants

I have noticed that my newest addition has an abundance of onesies and tops, but not a lot of pants or bottoms to match.  I wanted to whip up a quick pair for her, but didn't have a lot of time. I had some baby cord on hand that a dear friend brought me back from Germany a few year ago.

  The pants barely took any fabric and turned out so cute.  I want to make a lot more, I love that they only take about a half an hour from start to finish.  And with all my kids clothes that I make, I just use a scrap of fabric to make a tag so we can all tell which is the back and which is the front.

 

I plan on making a few more of these soon.  Especially when I want to sew but don't have a lot of time and still want to feel a sense of accomplishment.

Pillow Case Nightgowns

Last year I brought home a stack of pillow cases from my grandmothers house.  They were all made by my great grandmother Violet Green, isn't that a great name.  There were so many, I knew I wanted to use some to make something.  A month or so ago I came across a tutorial on Sew, Mama, Sew making pillow cases into nightgowns and knew I had hit the jackpot.  So I picked out three sets of pillowcases and got to work.  I used muslin for most of the tops as the pillow case didn't really have enough fabric for the largest size.  I also used a white quilting fabric with stars for the blue set.  The girls are thrilled.  These nightgowns feel cool and comfy on them and they have been wearing them every night since they got them.  I love that I can hand them down and that the girls are wearing something their great great grandmother and I made. 

Art Gallery Quilt

I have had an art gallery sugar charm pack for quite some time.  In the interest of not taking everyone to the fabric store, and using stuff from my stash, I have been really focusing on easy projects I can quickly do.  I love to sew and it relaxes me greatly, but it's summer and I have all these kids to play with, so in order to have the best of both worlds, easy and fast projects are the way to go.  I have a small quilt I made about seven years ago for my oldest.  It is the perfect size to fit in the pack and play, or to lay a small baby on.  I decided I wanted another for Tessa, and this charm pack was perfect.  I also added some hot pink minkee.  My niece has a blanket with textures that she loves, so I thought maybe Tessa would like that too. 

                          

I really only had a little minkee, so it is just in the middle.  The fabrics are bright and cheery and the whole quilt measures 35" square. 

 I quilted an all over stipple.  I love the back, I almost considered making it into a bag instead.  I only had a yard, so not much is left over.  I had a stripe for the binding and decided to do it on the bias just to be sure I remembered how.  Sometimes when you don't use a skill you lose it, and I could tell I hadn't made bias binding in a long time.  But I love stripes on the bias, it really makes a difference.

Gratuitous baby shot, she wasn't thrilled about being on the wood floor I don't think.

Burp Rags

If you have a baby that spits up at all, you know the value of a good burp rag.  I have had two babies that spit up a little and two that spit up a lot.  I wash burp rags more than anything else.  I decided to make a few pretty ones as they will be my fashion accessory for the time being.  They are all made of scraps from other projects, which was nice.  I am terrible at utilizing my scraps and making these motivated me to try and think of a few scrap projects. Suggestions are welcome if you have any great scrap ideas as well.

Top row: Russian Nesting dolls by Hallmark, Blush by Moda, unknown.

Bottom row: Pop Garden by Heather Bailey, Chocolate lollipop by Anna Maria Horner, Westhill by Heather Ross

Neptune Finish

I took my time getting this quilt done.  I really only worked on it in little spurts, it takes me a while to get back in a sewing groove after I have a baby.  Anyway, here is the finished product, I really love how it turned out. 

 

 The pattern is from Moda Bake Shop.  I did add a few inches around the outer border that aren't in the pattern on the website. I know the sashing looks white, but it isn't.  It has an almost taupe shade to it. I quilted it in what reminds me of ripples in water, but in a non concentric design.  The backing is Neptune also with a strip down the middle.