WIP Wednesday: Cousin's Weekender

This one has been done for a while, but I needed to get it delivered in time for Christmas. My cousin sent it to her mom for Christmas, so it was a secret until now.

She chose all the fabric and I just put it together.

Which got me to thinking: would people pay to have someone else make them a patchwork Weekender bag? I've done so many now I might be able to do it in my sleep!

Checking this girl off my 4QFAL list. Just a few more things to finish!

Fabric Tuesday: Two Embroidered Minis

The first is the Seed Packet Mini from my 4QFAL list. I embroidered this ages ago, then set them aside and wondered off and on how to finish them, and to whom they should go. The receiver is still a secret, but I did finally finish it and quilt it. A bit puffy, but as a wall hanging it should be fine.

The second is a set of embroideries from a Doily pattern (I think?) that I also finished many moons ago. Like, my eldest child was my ONLY child at the time. So 10ish years ago. Yikes!

The embroidery patterns are all by Crabapple Hill Studios, although I couldn't find these specific patterns to link to. If you're interested in them, I could dig mine out and send them to you directly.

Fabric Tuesday: Olaf Coloring Wallet

One of the little girls I'm sewing for this Christmas LOVES Olaf and she loves to color, so I've got a Olaf coloring wallet all stitched up. I used the zipped case tutorial, with a little modification (bias binding around the edges).

Hope she loves it!

Checking this one off the 4QFAL list. Getting closer!

Friday Finish: Elizabeth Oven Mitts

I'm a bit picky about my oven mitts. Not a fan of the hand-style - the ones where the thumb is on the side of the fingers. I prefer the thumb where I put it when I get stuff out of the oven - like a puppet!

I just read that. Did it even make sense? I've got a cold and my brain is so fuzzy right now. I hope you get me on this one.

I use this tutorial every single time, because 1. Hi, it's free and 2. It's perfect.

They turned out pretty great, and as an extra, I made a composition book cover for the receiver to record recipes in, if she wants to do that. Oh, comp book tutorial is here.

Checking these off the 4QFAL list. 

Fabric Tuesday: Mermaid Tails turned One-Hour Baskets

I tried to sew some mermaid tails, but my Serger chose to be difficult. I had to figure something else out for this swap, and so I went with a Little Mermaid one hour basket (I used this free pattern). They're pretty handy to have around, and my little girl loves to put books in hers, which is why I made two.

I don't know, can I check this one off the 4QFAL list? I didn't make the tails, technically, there are mermaid tails ON them. I'll let the ladies in charge decide that one.

Friday Finish: Scrumptious Swoon Quilt!

It's SO cliche to say I love this quilt. So I won't. Much. Okay, I won't. You can say it for me, if you want.

Here's where you learn more about my quilting OCD. I absolutely will not make quilt blocks where directional fabrics, or patterned ones (plaids, stripes, etc.) will be pieced together and not match. Won't happen.

Hence the solid fabrics in each block. Solids and florals. None of the dots or stripes in this line (saved the red bias stripe for my binding!). Some of my favorite blocks:

The original pattern only called for 9 blocks. But since when did I make the "smaller" version of a quilt? Even though the original isn't all that small, I wanted it bigger. Plus, I couldn't narrow down my fabric choices. Probably more of that.

Quilted in loopdy-loops (hey, I'm REALLY good at them by now - only 1.5 hours to quilt!) and bound in red bias stripe. And ready for a wash, then on my bed.

Checking this gorgeous girl off my 4QFAL list.

Wednesday Finish: Christmas Tree Mini

There are times when things just turn out spectacularly well. And this mini is one of them. Being ever so humble. But I love this wall hanging. I want one for my house.

I used this O Christmas Tree quilt pattern and it's just gorgeous. I used some Solstice scraps, plus a charm pack. It went together really quickly, and I backed it with some cocoa cups.

Winging it's way to my swap partner, and checking this gorgeous girl off the 4QFAL list.

Fabric Tuesday: Fall Table Runner

As Halloween is obviously over, it was time to switch out the runner on my piano.

It was love at first sight with this fabric line: Home for Harvest by Anka's Treasures. And I just went ahead and purchased the kit for this runner. Fabulous customer service, by the way. Really courteous and responsive, which I like but don't always receive.

It's her Ribbon Runner pattern, and I love it! Turned out really well, and looks right at home with my owls, leaf and flower birds and pumpkin.

Checking this one off the 4QFAL list.

Friday Finish: Easy as Cake Christmas Quilt

I wish I could say this is my last flimsy from my last house. Sadly, no, it's not. I think there's still one more.

Definitely one more. No, two.

I'll stop counting.

This one I tried quilting on my machine. The last FMQing I did on my machine before we moved. Ahem, 2.5 years ago. Yeah. I'm lame.

I had serious tension issues, and have been picking it out when I remember I need to pick it out. And now it's quilted and will go back to Seattle with the husband so he can stay warm this winter. Because I already have eleventy billion Christmas quilts.

Backed in cherry red Minky and bound with a fun red check.

Checking this one off the 4QFAL list.

Friday Finish: SMS Mini

Here's my little schpeal on swaps. Just my two cents on the whole thing. A little advice, if you will.

1. Please, don't sign up for a swap if you aren't active on Instagram, or Pinterest, or at least a blog. If you just join IG in order to join a swap, it makes things difficult for the person assigned to you. It's hard to personalize things, even extras, if we've got nothing to go on.
2. Fill out your form. Answer the questions. "I don't know" is not an answer. "Not sure" is not an answer. Be specific. No one wants to sound greedy, but when the questionnaire asks what notions you like, say what you like. Needles, pins, dumplings, seam ripper, scissors, candy, no candy, embroidery floss, whatever. But answer the dang question!

Okay. I'm done. On to the finish!

Wasn't entirely sure what my partner would like (yeah, she inspired that little lecture!), but she said she liked bright colors. This is what I came up with.

The swap had to be made from 75% stash. This was 100% stash, actually. Leftover bits from this quilt. I didn't have a lot to go on, so I did my best with what I had.

Checking this one off the 4QFAL list.

Friday Finish: Spider Web Quilt

I don't often do this, get a holiday quilt done in time for the holiday. First time for everything, right?

I used this tutorial from Moda Bake Shop, but I made mine bigger (did you expect anything else?).

Backed it with purple Minky. Quilted it with loops and swirls and bats (those were fun) and bound with black polka dots.

Checking this one off the 4QFAL list. Yay for a finish!

Wednesday Finish: Halloween Bags

I like fun little swaps like this one. We all signed up to make a Halloween version of Jeni Baker's lined drawstring bag, then fill it with goodies. I won't give away the goodies part, but here were the four I made. I couldn't decide, initially, which one I'd like best.

In the end, I'm sending off the cute purple and black one. I'll do a fun little care package with the others.

Checking these off my 4QFAL list. A small finish, but a fun one.

4QFAL: The Final Push!

Okay. It's time to get serious.

The list:
Alpine Wonderland On A Whim

Spider Web Quilt (in time for Halloween, please!)

Scrumptious Swoon

Easy as Cake Christmas quilt

The smaller stuff:
Cousin's Weekender

Temple Bag

Wonder Woman Purse

Eloise Wallet for me


Fall Table Runner

Jingle Table Runner

Christmas Tree Mini

SMS Mini

Halloween Drawstring Bags

Elizabeth Oven Mitts

Doll Clothes


Mermaid Tails


Doll Clothes Suitcase


Olaf Crayon Wallets

Seed Packet Wall Hanging

Five Hobbes Softies