Pink Quilt

 I fell in love with this pattern, you can read about it here. I decided to blow it up 100% and this is how the court house step quilt pattern looks like on a larger scale. Nice, huh?

I bought a kona cotton jelly roll, and used 4 of their pinks, I was looking for an ombré look. I think I did achieve it. For the backing I used a beautiful multicolor print from Timless treasures fabrics.

I am also very excited to share that I am getting so much better at this free motion quilting stuff! I had a lot of fun quilting it with minimal frustration, and an acceptable outcome.

I have been holding back on posting it because I was waiting to get good pictures. I just like it so much. It will be hard to see it go. I know some cute little girl will be loving this pretty soon! and that helps. 

Photos by: Lady Di (Diana Curiel)

Rag doll

This is Vania and her mom, just a few days before her first birthday. I made her a doll that looks like her. Her mom had put Vania's hair up on a bunt once and I thought it was the most adorable fashionista baby girl on the block. So, for her doll I wanted to show that beautiful hair. Also, I bought her a pretty dress and took it from their to match the doll. 

Spoonflower is the website in which I was able to print this doll. They had a tutorial and some sample dolls you can tweak around or change completely with my basic photoshop knowledge.

Cut it up and sew it together.

I added a skirt.

I am in love with this project! Are you?

Eva Bebe

Well, I had one more baby girl to quilt for. I was so fascinated with the easy simple quilt tutorial I mentioned before here, that I decided on this quilt to be just that, it ended up being 42" by 42". I also added a name using the applique technique, since I was such an expert by then (sorry no picture, this was before the blog).

Add caption

I went all crazy on the Free Motion Quilting. Took a deep breath and started sewing spirals everywhere without a care. They idea is I have to just free motion quilt, go for it and hope to get better. We all know I am a beginner, so no surprises on the outcome. Overall I found it fun, and noticed some improvement towards the end. Four needles and three spools of thread later, here is a close-up of the FMQ design.

Baby shoes

Sooooo cute! 

Pattern from CurbyCouture.com 

Aria's Quilt

Another baby quilt for another adorable baby girl, Aria.

This quilt I made using the log cabin pattern. I added applique to this one too in the attempt to master the skill. No free motion quilting on this one, only wavy lines all around.

Front

I randomly stumbled upon a tutorial for using scraps. I figured I had so much fabric left I could use it for the backing. The idea is you cut out all your scraps 2.5 inches wide and then sew them all into a big long strap, cut in half and then sew those two together, cut in half and sew...and keep going until you have the size you'd like. You can just go to the link here to and get a better idea of what I am talking about.
And this is how the backing for baby Aria's quilt turned out.

Back

To make a log cabin block you sew on a spiral like pattern. Start by sewing the center, a 3.5" square and a 3.5" x 2.0" with a 1/4 inch seam, you will have a 5" piece, to this you add a 5.0" x 2.0"...keep adding according to the size needed.

This is how a prepared the project. Cut out all the pieces, then arrange them in the order they will be needed and label them. 

Both Aria and her mom really loved the quilt which fills my heart with joy. I want them to love it and enjoy using it as much as I love and enjoyed sewing it.

Vania's quilt

Vania is the daughter of a  friend from my teen years. Look at that smile and those curls, how can I not be inspired to create something amazing for this little angel.

I made Vania's quilt last fall, using a free pattern given to me at my local quilt shop's monthly meeting.

The pattern is called mirror mirror designed by Georgette Dell'Orco. The pattern can be purchased at Cozy Quilt Shop. 

I used a fat quarter bundle of spring floral print and 1.5 yards of a white kona cotton solids for the backing.

The quilt top turned out beautiful! but there is much to be said about my attempts of free motion quilting.

Front

Back

FMQ

At the time I was experimenting not only with free motion quilting, but also learning about appliqué. I learned about Pellon Wonder-Under, a fusible interfacing that makes fabric fusible. Note to self, letters must be cut out in a mirror image, so when they are transferred they are correct. I did not notice this until my mother, the teacher at heart, called me out on my dyslexic mistake. oops!

How to appliqué letters

I first printed out the letters I needed in a 100 size font straight from word. Then, I traced them on the fusible interfacing sheet and cut them out. Once the letters where cut out I fused them to pieces of fabric on the wrong side using an iron. Finally I cut out the fabric to the shape of the fused letter and then fused it to the backing of my quilt. Once all letters where attached I gave it a finished look using the zig-zag stitch.

Courthouse steps quilt

as a throw

Using all the layer cake fabrics I gathered on the quilt shop hop I decided to make a quilt. I had seen a tutorial on blue is bleu's blog that I really wanted to try. It seemed very neat and blew my mind trying to figure it out. Her tutorial is to make the hourglass steps pillow,  a two tone square and only the fabric in that square matches, but another great quilter I follow, Rachel Wooden Spoon,  made some adjustments and made it so it wasn't an hour glass block, but a courthouse step quilt. I just couldn't wrap my head around it, it took me several days to finally be brave enough to cut the fabric. I decided to make a paper version to guide me on sizes and quantity while cutting.

measurements and paper sample

Once it was all cut up and organized, the fun part began sewing it all on my new machine! my precious! Cutting took about 4 hours, and sewing up each block took about 20 - 25 mins per block depending on how tired I was and what distractions were around. Basting usually is quicker it may have taken a bit less than an hour, quilting took three hours and hand binding another three. For a grand fun total of approximately  20 hrs. It turned out beautiful! I love it!

Here it is with some ideas on uses.

as a couch decoration

as a picnic quilt

Baby quilt
A swaddled Kiko (this is my baby)

foot of the bed
as a foot warmer and decoration accent

wall decoration

It is up on my etsy shop if anyone is interested on purchasing it.

Weekend Projects

This weekend all I wanted to do was sew! I have many projects that need to be finished and so many new ones in my head that must get started. I thought I would just sew to my hearts content, but I forget how much prepping is involved before being able to sew, measuring cutting, ironing, interfacing...and of course a run to the quilt store. With all the prepping, the house wife duties of cooking, cleaning and multiple dog walks, I didn't accomplish as much as I wished for. Oh! but things were made. 

Take a peak. It is all lovely!

Duffle Bag. 

DONE!
Weeks ago I had posted the progress of this bag. I finished the handles over the weekend and now it is finally done and ready to be used (I just realized it needs a label). I really hope you understand the big deal handles are. It is a lot of work and my old machine did not make it easy on me. I love my new Juki! It is a true working horse.

I love pink and orange together!

Sew Pretty!

Handles!

Not a good picture at all, but what it's trying to say is that it is sewing through...
4 layers of fabric with interfacing,
raw edges folded, so 8 layers,
2 layers of fabric
1 layer of thick batting

Total 11 layers sewn like a breeze

Courthouse Steps Quilt

Making fast progress. I finished the quilt top and even got a chance to baste and quilt. It is now ready with the binding waiting to be sewn. 

Nephew number two

Nephew number two just had a birthday and I was planning to make him a quilt, when I found this in one of my boxes. I made this quilt top long ago, when nephew number one was a child and loved planets and space. I forgot about it and never finished it, now he is the cutest attempt of a teenager and this no longer fits his interests. Now he insists I make him a rockstar tablet cover. 

I basted and quilted this weekend. Dreading the binding. This is a bigger quilt. 

Cargo Duffle

I started making my own gym bag. It will be extremely lovely!!! It has pockets and it stiff and I am playing around with the idea of adding a yoga mat holder. If only the mail man would come with the fabrics I am missing. 

Cutting, labeling, and pockets were made. Went around all over San Diego in search for snap buttons, such a waste of precious possible sewing time. I am telling you I wish I could sew more! I can't get enough!

This that you see was 4 hours worth of work

This morning I added the snap buttons, it took 45 minutes! I just always chase projects with challenges to learn more, and to broaden my skills but I also frustrate myself because I am so excited about this gym bag I want to finish it NOW! I can't wait to sit and quilt and piece it together. Aside from learning to sew I am also learning patience.

You must be thinking, what is she talking about! She did a lot of work on one weekend. You should know I have a problem! I can't get enough!

Off I go. 

Happy sewing time :)