A Sweet Baby Girl Quilt

This Kinder Layer Cake of fabric by Windham Fabrics turned out to make the perfect quilt for our Kinder teacher who just had her first baby. I figured new mom received plenty of "baby things" so it was fun to make a bright and happy quilt her new daughter could use as toddler and beyond.

It measures 46"x53", so easy enough for her to drag around as she grows into it.

 

I used a bright flannel backing and love the checked green binding.

 I had my daughter make me this quilt label and easily added it to the quilt with a zig-zag stitch.

  

And of course, my ABC-123 pantograph put the finishing touches on it don't ya think!

This was a fun one to make.

With smiles, Val:)

Five and Dime Quilt Finish

I decided to finish this "five and dime" quilt with no border and can't help but think it will make the perfect baby quilt for a little girl. It finishes at 33" x 55"...just right for a crib don't ya think.

I love it's black binding and red with tiny white polka-dot backing.

And though it's hard to see, I used a Lazy Daisy pantograph to add to it's charm.

It's always a good feeling to empty your stash to build one's stash of baby gifts isn't it!?

Annnddd to squeak in one more finish for 2016! Yippee!!!

WIP: Five and Dime Quilt

 I'm stash busting...and found this quick pattern to help me do just that!

Take a layer cake (the dime: 10") and a charm pack (the nickel: 5")

Center the 5" charm square on top of a 10" square; pin in place. 

Stitch about 1/8"from raw edges of the charm squares.

Pattern from Kansas Troubles Quilters; A Moda Precut Pattern

Next, cut the layered 10" block into fourths to make (4) 5" square segments. 

Mix up the squares and sew back together. 

No need to worry about matching the edges...it's scrappy!!!

This week will find me sewing this into a flimsy and deciding on the border.

What do ya think? A solid stop border with those cute 2" squares??

Thanks for stopping by...as I'm still thinking about what to do.

Tomorrow's theme is: MITTENS

Four Patch Baby Blanket

Soooo I tried that layer cake pattern I highlighted for our Tuesday Archives Four Patch Linky.

Okay....first, it was quick. I had this little quilt top finished in three hours and I love how scrappy cute it came out.  But then I found myself  "all charged up" to just get it done. I thought: "Oh man, I'll have this made into a little throw blanket by the end of the day." I was envisioning something between a receiving blanket and a quilt. So proud to be trying something new, I pieced some leftover red minky from my stash (this is not the new part btw), threw on my Quilting Queen Cape and boldly ventured forward as I decided to just quilt the top and back together without any batting. Easy Peasy. "I was going to have this one done in no time!" I thought...

Measures 36" x 42"

HAHAHAHA! Oh that Quilting Queen Cape disintegrated pretty quick! Envision quilt falling to ground as rivet breaks on long-arm frame, midway through row one of pantograph. Hour later, I return from quit ladies house with new part. Frame fixed. Quilt reloaded. I restart confident I can still create "my quilt in a day!" HAAHAHAHAA!! Half way through second of only three rows of a panatograph I might add, long-arm stops working all of sudden. Need a new power cord. Have to wait till next day for new one. Anyone else seeing Murphy's Law coming into action here?? LOL!!

Funny, as I sit here writing this post, no quilting queen cape in sight, I am grateful that my "mission" was still accomplished.   I mean, I really  do like the "weight" of the blanket. Since I didn't use batting, it "feels" like a blanket that will definitely be cozy soft for wrapping a wee baby in...just like a receiving blanket. But, it's more wrinkly than I really like. The red minky came up through the stitches...I'm thinking this is because there was no batting??  I think the quilting may have been too dense and now in reflection,  probably just a stitch in the ditch between the squares would have been fine. But, it all came out in the wash and there was no color run!! YEAH! As I tell my students (Note: they are only seven), we learn what we like and don't like, by trying new things. So, Okay, okay,  my simple, "make a quilt in a day" didn't happen but I learned that I like my flannel receiving blankets just fine and my quilts made with batting. Oh! and I don't need that Quilting Queen Cape.  Time certainly is not wasted when lessons are learned and our strengths are reaffirmed. Besides, this will make a cute baby gift for a co-worker or school auction basket. So it'a a win-win. Lucky for me:

I'm sure I'll feel rejuvenated after a walk with my buddy. Thanks for sharing my adventure with me.

Tuesday Archives #121: Four Patch Quilts (+Tutorial)

Hello! Hello! And...Happy Tuesday Archives. 

The linky party that let's you rejuvenate OLD blogging posts.

This week's theme is: FOUR PATCH Quilts

Here's an easy four patch quilt pattern I found that is a little bit more "wonky" than your tradition pattern. But, Oh how I love the results! And I seriously think this can be finished in the matter of a few hours....just the break I need from my humongous queen size quilt I've been making.

Click HERE to hop over to the Moda Bake Shop for the pattern. 

In fact, I have this Lori Holt layer cake just waiting to be made into a quilt.

Summersville Finish

Another fabric line I fell in love with about a year and half ago, was this Summersville fabric line.

So I bought a layer cake. Well last week while I was going through my pre-cuts, I dusted this one off  and cut into it using this Snuggly Layer Cake Pattern. (Another quick and easy pattern) 

And, since I'm stash busting right now...I used a simple black I had for the back and binding.

Mine finished 39" x  54".

I quilted it with a simple Bubble pantograph using white thread.

It kinda reminds me of kids playing with bubbles during a hot summer afternoon.

Well, I think that completes my list. Whoot Whoo!!!

Jelly rolls and layer cakes sure are pretty to have laying around aren't they?

 But! I'm glad I finally cut into them and now how some cute quilts to cuddle under. 

Thank for stopping by!

Everytime you link and share here at Tuesday Archives you will be entered you into a monthly drawing for a $15.00 Gift Certificate to: (pretty cool huh!)

Winners will be announced the first Tuesday of every month! Thanks for stopping by!

Simple Baby Quilt

Sometimes simple is nice.

While cleaning and sorting through my fabric I came across some layer cakes I bought atleast a year ago. I just liked the fabric. (I know, who does that!?!?) So I decided to get them sewn up. Today I'll highlight this adorable Riley Blake Dress-Up Days Layer Cake:

This measures 47"x47".

I'm glad I didn't make this quilt harder than it needed to be. I just sewed the blocks together, quilted it together with this soft purple flannel on the back and added some cute orange polka-dot binding. (The binding isn't sewn down. I like to hand sew my binding and so am saving this stitching for Fall when my productivity in the studio drops and the weather is cooler.) But don't ya just love how  flannel seems to "puff" and really accentuate the quilting here? 

This was my first time using this Lazy Dazy Pantograph and I really like it. Also, for the first time, I used a different colored thread on the front and back. I used a variegated lavender thread on the front and a dark purple thread on the back...it all came out great! (Whew!)

Makes me smile to think of the Sweet Dreams that are in store for a special one-year 

old little girl I have in mind for this quilty hug.

Everytime you link and share here at Tuesday Archives you will be entered you into a monthly drawing for a $15.00 Gift Certificate to: (pretty cool huh!)

Winners will be announced the first Tuesday of every month! Thanks for stopping by!

ALYofF Dec. Layer Cake Finish

Woot Woo! With the continued help of my buddy Jackson, I get to share one more finish for 2014. This time I think the cold really had him wound up, as he kept running all over my quilt as I tried to take pictures! I finally picked him up and said: "stay". 

(I think you can tell by the look in his eyes he got in trouble! LOL! ) 

During our Tuesday Archives Layer Cake Linky, there where a lot of layer cake patterns to choose from as I set out to create a quilt from an Aneela Hoey Cherry Christmas layer cake for my December ALYofF goal. I chose to use this Spinning Pinwheels pattern from Shannon at Modern Tradition Quilts.

 I did modify the sashing, but I just love the BIG  pinwheels in this pattern:

And though I didn't get a good picture of the quilting, as my fingers were getting very cold and I couldn't even think of turning the quilt over as Jackson continued to crazy run and jump around me, I do want to make a personal note that I used a pantograph called: Christmas Cookies. It's very whimsical with trees, snowmen, candy canes, gingerbread men, snowflakes, and hearts dancing across the quilt.

  And here it awaits. I love it's cute little red backing and candy caned stripped binding all pressed, clipped and ready to be stitiched. I'm over the moon happy, as I have family gathering from afar at our house for the week as we come together to celebrate Christmas/New Years. I can't wait to sit next to the fireplace stitiching and visiting with my mom as she knits, the kids as they chill and the grandson as he gets into everything and his mom gets to chase him not me! LOL!

I hope the holiday season finds you surrounded by the love & comfort of friends and family. We've been blessed with a white Christmas and safe family travels. Tomorrow's Tuesday Archives theme is Log Cabins. I hope you'll stop by! Until then, I'm linking up my final finish with everyone else at ALYofF and a few other parties listed on my linky page.

With Smiles,

Val:)

ALYofF Dec.Goal/Layer Cake Quilt

Wahooo!!! For all us ALYofF participants....it's almost time to celebrate! We have made it to month number twelve!!! Admittably, I bought this Aneela Hoey Cherry Christmas layer cake, the backing and border material two years ago!! (Hey...it was on clearance and how could a fabric loving girl like myself resist??) So with that said, I want to finally get this all made into a cozy winter quilt. I'm still checking out all the links at this week's Tuesday Archives Layer Cake's posts. But I'm close to picking my pattern and plan to cut into this yummy layer cake this weekend!

Nothing better than sewing while it's cold outside! But I do wonder, if  you're able to fit in any sewing during this busy time of year?? If so, when?
My big sew day is Sunday...as my husband works and I don't.
 I then then busy myself during the week with hand stitching in the evenings after work.

Off to link up with everyone else at:

Thanks for stopping by!

With smiles!

Val:)

Tuesday Archives #39: Layer Cake Quilts

Welcome to the linky party that let's you rejuvenate your old quilting/sewing posts! 

(Santa has our list of upcoming December themes ready! Check over in my sidebar.)

LAYER CAKE QUILTS

If ya ask me, the only thing a little, itty bit better than a quilty layer cake we can eat.

...is one we can make into a quilt! Especially because I have this Chistmas Layer Cake just waiting to be made into a cozy winter quilt for around the fire:

ALYofF July Beach Houses Quilt Finish

Nothing says summer better than Beach Houses:

Quilted with flip flops and seashells:

I was really pleased with how well my rows of quilting lined up:

The quilting looks cute on the back too:

Since I enjoy sewing my binding by hand, I'll spend the evenings during the next week sewing it down. But I sure do love how this green polka-dot binding perfectly matches the green polka-dot shorts in the backing (as seen easily in the print above.)

My DH gave me the sweetest compliment this morning when he said:
"I think this one is my favorite so far."

I have to agree. If my daughter's were young this would go right on one of their beds. 

But for now it will be used for summer picnics and fun. 

A few Quilt Stats:

 Fabric: Lucy Crab Shack Layer Cake/Backing

Pattern: Suburbs from Cluck Cluck Sew

Size: Throw: 63"x73"
As I said here, for my July ALYofF I wanted to created something using my Lucy's Crab Shack layer cake. I had fun making this one and love how it came out! I'm off to link up and even more fun, see what everyone else has created this month at:

Thanks for stopping by.
With Smiles!

Val:)