Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Custom Baby Sets - WIP

Hi there!



I couldn't wait until these were finished to share what I'm up to today.  I'm making some darling receiving blankets AND bib/burp cloth sets!

The first two receiving blankets will be for my customer's first grandbaby.  He is such a sweet, little guy who coo's and smiles when you talk to him.  <3  These are the fabrics I'll be using for him.



The rest of the order is for her twin grandsons who are still cooking in their mama.  I love, love, love orders for twins, because of the challenge of finding "matching but different".

Here's what we're doing.  They are getting 2 receiving blankets that will match from this.


Then I found these adorable teal and grey fabrics for the bib and burp cloth sets.  I'm going to piece the bibs with both fabrics, but I'll reverse the fabric placement...so they'll be the same, but different!  I haven't decided whether I'll piece the burp cloths yet.  That will be a surprise. ;)


I'll have them all finished and posted for you on Friday when I'll be hosting this week's Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday Linky party!! Yay!

If you've never joined us for TGIFF, I encourage you head over to the main site and bookmark them, so you don't miss each week's party.  It's a great way to meet new bloggers and show off your own finishes!  I would LOVE to see you here on Friday. <3

In the meantime, have an awesome day!

~Summer

Monday, January 30, 2017

Farm Girl Vintage Quilt Along - Week 5

We've made it a full month!  This week's block is just lovely.  It's called the Butter Churn Block.  <3

I thought the large, outside star was the perfect place to feature pretty florals.


I'm really enjoying this quilt along, because I'm learning new techniques, which can be challenging but so satisfying when it all comes out right in the end.

Here are all the blocks so far...


Thanks for stopping by!  

Have an awesome day!

~Summer


I'm linking up today with Main Crush Monday and Making Monday!

Saturday, January 28, 2017

Mini Quilt Potholders!

I may have found a new love.  I just can't stop thinking about making more.  I'm talking about these super fun mini-quilt potholders!


They are SO much fun.  It's the satisfaction of designing and making a quilt, but the completion is so quick...I may be addicted.  I already have another ready for binding and fabric pulled for more.

With these first three, I played around with different ways of finishing.  For the first one, I quilted the top and back separately, the put it together by putting right sides together, sewing around the edges (leaving a small opening), then turning it out and topstitching.  It's so pretty, and it feels like a pillow.

Here's the front:


Here's the back:


For the second one, I quilted all four layers (top, back, batting, and Insul Bright) together, then machine bound it.  I'm pretty comfortable machine binding and stop stitching, but this was challenging due to the thickness.  It shifted a lot, so I definitely need more practice, but I do think it's darling.  <3



For the third, I wanted to make one with no border and free motion quilting.  So, I used 2.5" squares to make little hourglass blocks, then meandered across the top.  For binding, I attached it to the top with my machine, then hand-stitched it down on the back.  It has a much cleaner look to the binding.



Have you made mini-quilt potholders before?  Do you love them as much as I do?  Let me know in the comments!

Have an awesome day!

~Summer


Today, I've linked up with TGIFF, and Finish It Up Friday!

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Farm Girl Vintage Quilt Along - Week 4

Every week, I'm loving this quilt more and more.

This week, we did Block #4 - Baking Day.  It has been so fun seeing the different fabrics everyone has chosen for their bowls and spoons.  I knew right away that I wanted my large bowl to be grey.



This block was a breeze after the star and chick blocks from the last two weeks.  I'm really happy with how well Flea Market Fancy is working into these.



4 down - 44 to go!


Have an awesome day!

~Summer

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Farm Girl Vintage Quilt Along - Week 3

It's week 3 of the quilt along, and I made my first animal!  It's the adorable Chick Block.  <3


I'm having a lot of fun finally playing with my Flea Market Fancy fabrics.  After looking at lots of layouts this week, I've decided that I'm going to make a king size quilt for MY bed!  Oh yeah, my bed!  Yay!  I've never made my own quilt for my bed...I've used one I made from a block swap, so 95% of the blocks were not mine.

Here are the blocks I have so far:


I'm already in love with it. <3 <3 <3


Thanks for stopping by!  Have a blessed day.  

~Summer


I linked up today with:

Sew Fresh Quilts

Friday, January 13, 2017

Finished - Repurposed Table Runner Set

I'm so happy to share this project today.  This is a neat one.  My friend and customer brought me a bag full of the fabric from her grandmother's chair.  The goal was to repurpose the fabric into items that the family could put out to remember her.

Here's one of the pieces I had to work with:



After looking at the fabric, we decided on 2 hanging potholders and table runner.

Here are the pot holders...


I used leftover strips of the chair fabric to make the hanging loops.  I also used a 10" square as the backing, then folded it over as the binding.

I had some fun free motion quilting each of them.  I did a scrolling, swirly design to reflect the swirls in the fabric.



The table runner was slightly trickier, because I had to design a pattern around the available fabric, making sure to cut away any stained or warped fabric.

I've had the Irish Chain on my mind...you know the way the "chains" flow through the quilt and around the blocks?  With that in mind...this is what I came up with.


I had a stack of fabrics in my stash that just coordinated beautifully with the original fabric.  I wanted there to be motion in the pattern, so the eyes are drawn across it.


I really enjoyed quilting this too.  I did an wide meandering on the large blocks, then swirls on the borders.  I'm really pleased with how it came out.


I'm honored that I was able to complete this project, and I hope that the recipients love it and think of grandma when they see it.  <3

Thanks so much for stopping by!

~Summer

I'm linking up today with TGIFF, Finish It Up Friday, and


Monday, January 9, 2017

Farm Girl Vintage Sew Along - Week 2

I have a confession...it's only week 2 of this sew along and I'm already in love with this quilt!  I am so so glad I saved my Flea Market Fancy...I think I may even make this big enough for my bed.  <3

Here is the Week 2 Block - Autumn Star...isn't it gorgeous?  I'd love to see a whole quilt with just this block.


I'm having fun mixing the prints with solids.

Here's what I have so far:


Next week's block is a chick...I can't wait!  I've already starting picking fabrics.

Thanks for stopping by!!

~Summer

Monday, January 2, 2017

Farm Girl Vintage Sew Along - Week 1

Hello!  Happy Monday and Happy New Year to you!!  I'm starting my new year by joining the lovely ladies at the Missouri Star Quilt Co Forums in the Farm Girl Vintage Sew Along!  If you join us, I'd love to see your blocks!

This is our week 1 block - Apron Strings.

I fretted quite a bit about fabric.  I wasn't happy with my random scraps, and I thought about ordering some fat quarts...then it hit me...I have a huge stack of Flea Market Fancy, plus coordinating solids!  I've been holding onto these gorgeous fabrics for the perfect project to come along...and I think this is it!


All of the blocks have instructions to make either a 6" or 12" block.  I've decided to tackle the 12" blocks to end up with a decent sized quilt in the end.


I'm looking forward to expanding my skill set this year, and I really think this sew along will help!  I'll be sure to share my blocks as I finish them. :)

Have a really great day!

~Summer