More T Shirts

I've said before that we have way too many t-shirts.

And these quilts are addictive. So simple to make once you get the hang of it! Here's my latest:

And the back...using bits of the backs of the shirts.

The best explanation of how to do this that I've found is here at Maiden Jane. No batting to fuss with, no binding...just the fun parts :)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

So, I made some Christmas placemats. Mostly, I wanted to practice my quilting, so I made each one like its own tiny quilt, binding and all.

I tried out a different pattern on each one.

It was a fun project. I made some matching trivet/potholder things out of scraps too.

In the pictures, they don't look quite square...but they are, I promise :) Although I think my camera has something on the lens...

In any case, happy Christmastime!

Monsters, monsters everywhere!

I mentioned in an earlier post that I am loving this book.

So, I've made a few monsters.

 I have also mentioned in earlier posts that I have waaaay too much yarn. So, these guys helped me cut down on my stash.

 Perfect for Halloween! Very scary. Or very cuddly. I can't decide.

Rufio dressed up as a bat for Halloween.

A vampire bat!

Hubby and I had to get in on the fun too, of course.

We also had fun decorating cupcakes, but they were mostly pretty ugly.Oh well, it's the thought that counts, right?

Happy Halloween!

Blogger's Quilt Festival

Today I am linking up to the Blogger's Quilt Festival at Amy's Creative Side. She has an amazing collection of quilts on display, submitted by hundreds of bloggers. Stop by and be inspired!

For my contribution to the festival, I want to talk about my favorite quilt I've made so far. I originally blogged about it here.

First of all, I love scrappy quilts. I love how the randomness of a million different fabrics comes together to create something that, amazingly, looks planned.

From a distance, they look like simple colored blocks. When you look close up, though, you see something new every time.

This was one of the first quilts I ever made, so I learned a lot from the process! It was the first time I had ever tried paper piecing, which was really fun. Thinking about this project makes me want to try it again!

 This quilt is also special to me because I made it as a gift for a very special lady. Growing up, she was like my second mom, and I gave her this quilt as a thank-you gift because last year, when I got married, she hosted a beautiful bridal shower for me. 

So, that's the story of my favorite quilt. Thanks for stopping by, and be sure to check out the other quilts showcased at the quilt festival!

Housewarming

My brother is in the process of buying his first home, so I made him a few little goodies to make it more friendly. Since I'm pretty sure he has no interest in my sewing blog, I'll post them here :)

coasters and a potholder - scrappy goodness!

 I'm pretty sure he owns neither coasters nor potholders, so hopefully these will fill a need.


While I was making coasters, I put together these brown ones as well - I really like this fabric :)

Possibly the coolest thing I have ever made...

Simple things amuse simple minds...and I think this toy is amazing :)

I bought this kit at a local shop called Knits and Bolts while I was up in Vermont. They had a sample of this toy by the register and I was mesmerized by it. It was actually easier to put together than I had thought, although the whole thing is finished with invisible thread from the outside. I have discovered that I do not like invisible thread.

I'm not sure the pictures can do it justice, but here goes:

The whole thing can be opened and closed different ways so that you get different fabrics on the outside. I just think it would be lots of fun for a kid to play with! Especially if you picked different i-spy type fabrics :)

Back to School, Back to School...

Even as a teacher, my favorite part of back to school is new school supplies. Fresh pencils and pens, cute notebooks and folders...it makes the whole process a little nicer.

So, I've whipped up a few things to ease the process...

Scottie dogs!

Green is my favorite color :)

For these ones, I used a tutorial here. The way she installs her zippers is different from how I usually do it, and I think it maybe came out a little neater than usual.

I made a larger pouch as well, following instructions here.Currently it is holding my embroidery supplies.

Enjoy the rest of summer, and be safe - Irene is coming!

Crafting on the go

Since I have been away from home since mid-June, I have been working on some very portable projects in what little spare time I have. This spring I was inspired by this adorable quilt and this cute mug rug to do some hexagons...so I started with this...

And then I cut and basted and stitched...

and voila!
Not finished yet, since I will wait for home and a sewing machine...but I am hoping to make some pretty things to brighten up our home.

Scrap Happy

Today is a beautiful day in Middlebury, Vermont.

Last week, as I was leaving church, there was a box in the front yard labeled "Free to a good home". Since I like free things, I took a peek.

Scraps!!!

None of the pieces are very big, but there are some really cute ones. 

Since I am still working on my scrappy quilt, I took them home to become part of my collection.

Then, today, I took a stroll downtown to check out the fundraising "Peasant Market" at the local church. There, I found...

 More scraps!!!

　All this scrappy goodness for $3.

Just look at those little scottie dogs!!!

And, because I am a sucker for all things handmade...

 Some pretty hand embroidered place mats and napkins.

A few years ago I would never have thought I could get so excited about a few scraps!

Inspiration

I'm often inspired by my friend Carole Ann at Connect the Dots Crafts. She is creative, talented, and generally awesome.
Last year, while I was visiting, I saw some super cool things she had made, which she blogged about here. See those trees? AMAZING, right? So I asked her to teach me how to piece hexagons, which she did. And then, I completely copied her idea. Check it out!

It looks lopsided in the picture, but I promise it's not actually like that :) I bound it up like a little quilt, and as soon as I can get the hubby to break out a hammer and nails, I'll hang it on the wall.
Thanks, Carole Ann!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

My mom, all fancied up for my wedding!

 In honor of Mother's Day, of course I had to do some crafting. I made a few of these... (tutorial here) So cute, and so easy!

Tiny covered notebooks

 One of these... (tutorial  here) because my mom has a pocketbook full of cards...

Loyalty card holder

 And some of these! (tutorial here) My mom has a blackberry, but she is notoriously bad about leaving it places. I thought maybe if she could attach it to her keys, she might be able to keep track of it :)

Cute little pouch

 Finally, for my mom and grandmas, some sugar scrub. I have to admit, I was skeptical about this concept at first, but this stuff is AWESOME. Even my hubby loves it, because he comes home with gross rough hands and likes to smooth it all away! Tutorial here.

Sugar Scrub

To all the moms out there - Happy Mother's Day! Hope you have been having a relaxing day!