Snapshots Quilt

I finally finished my Snapshots quilt from Fat Quarter Shop's quilt along!

I just needed to finish the bottom three blocks, frame them all in red, and add the sashing.

I've really enjoyed making this quilt.

All of the fabric is Bonnie and Camille, by Moda fabric.

I used many different lines and loved matching up the colors and prints.

I'll show you another photo when the quilt is machine quilted and bound.

It's always so great to finish a WIP!

Fancy Forest is quilted!

I machine quilted and sewed the binding on my Fancy Forest quilt, by Elizabeth Hartman.

I was thinking about different ways I could machine quilt this little quilt for my 13th grandchild, baby Jacob.

I saw this wood design and really loved it!

I watched a few tutorials on how to create the free motion look, did some practice drawing with pen and paper, and was set to go.

I was nervous to start for fear I'd ruin the quilt, but luckily, I didn't ruin it :)

Here is a closeup of the quilting.

To tell you the truth, it wasn't that hard, but my neck got very stiff hunched over the sewing machine for hours.

It probably took about 5 hours of quilting, and a lot of thread!

I used a light gray Aurifil thread.

I backed the quilt with a really soft steel blue minky.

The nap makes the fabric look like it has different shades of color.

The minky fabric melts into the stitches, it has a great effect!

I really want to keep this quilt....but no, I made it for Jacob :)

I hope he falls in love with it and rubs the softness while he sucks his little thumb!

Lol!!!

Appleicious, Quilty Fun!

I've had these fabrics chosen, and the squares for the apples cut, sitting on a design board on my floor in the corner, for 2 l/2 years!!!

I have been so busy sewing blessing gowns and baby quilts and birthday and Christmas gifts for grandchildren, traveling to visit family, and just plain life!

I've had some time lately and have been finishing my WIPs.

I picked this project up from the floor and it literally had a layer or two of dust on it, lol!

I've loved this quilt since I first saw it, I even have a Pinterest board dedicated to it.

It really didn't take long to sew up these little apples.

It's funny how your fabric taste changes over the years. 

I may not have chosen some of these prints or colors if I was making the quilt today.
I probably would have added some Cotton and Steel!

I still like them though....

My favorite apples are Honeycrisp and Pink Lady. 

I also love Golden Delicious, and Granny Smith for salads.

That's why I included a lot of pinks, yellows and greens :)

Ta Da!!!

My own little appleicious quilt!

I'm going to machine quilt it myself, but probably won't be able to  until the new year.

I love Moda dots, with the white background and the colored dots.

This background is in gray dots, and surprisingly, it didn't take as long as I thought it would, to sew the borders together.

I'm so happy with my little quilt!

Lots of Lori Holt's prints, some of Pam Kitty's, and other random prints that I love.

Do you notice the little blue leaf?

It's my red and aqua apple :)

Farm Girl Vintage, Farm Fresh

I went to Lori Holt's Farm Girl Vintage Retreat last summer, exclusively for a specific group of Instagram friends.

Lori told us what color to bring for the background and the sashing, for the surprise quilt that she designed for us.

The surprise quilt was called "Farm Fresh", and we all oohed and aahed over it!!!

While everyone else was cutting and sewing their fruit, veggies and canning jars, I was cutting and sewing my farm fresh banner.

I would have chosen fabric with more contrast if I had seen the quilt first, but I'm still happy with the results.

Our retreat was held at a fabric shop, so there was plenty of fabric to choose from!

I quickly decided that I would make 4 cans of fruit, 4 cans of vegetables, and a can of honey.

I cut and sewed my 6" blocks of produce, and then took my little blocks to the fabric shop to see what colors and prints would make them pop!

The other day, I finished sewing the tablecloth, and my quilt top was finished!

As I stand back and look at my finished quilt top, I really love all the color combinations.

It's bright and happy!

While I was admiring my quilt, I realized one thing....

Peas aren't orange, tomatoes aren't yellow, corn isn't green, carrots aren't blue, etc.

Look at it this way, my canning jars are opaque, they're candy to the eye!

I'm not really sure how I'm going to use this quilt...maybe there will be a country fair sometime soon, where I can display my beautiful quilt.

Maybe I should enter it in next year's California State Fair :)

Fancy Forest by Elizabeth Hartman

I've been wanting to make Elizabeth Hartman's "Fancy Forest" quilt for a while now.

I made the baby quilt, which is just one quadrant of the full size quilt.

The little animals are so cute!

I love the process of choosing fabric and prints, it's one of my favorite parts of making a quilt.
 I was able to use the fabric from my stash, except for the background fabric and the black for the eyes and noses.

This is Hazel Hedgehog.

This is Mr. Fancy Fox.

I especially love the 3D looking fabric in this one :)

These are fireflies.

There were a lot of little pieces!

This is Bunny :)

This is Mr. Owl, I hope he doesn't scare the baby, lol!

This is a thistle blossom.

This is my finished quilt.  

I'm going to put minky on the back and quilt it myself.

Search for Elizabeth Hartman's quilt online, there are some really pretty ones out there!

By the way, my friend Joni sent this to me.

It's so true!!!

Cute little Needlebooks

I've made a few of these needle books, I really love them!

You can see them here, here, here, here, here and here.

This is the coolest one I've ever made!

Sometimes when I design a project, I try to force myself to think outside the box.

This is one of those times....the "afro girl" is Cotton and Steel fabric.

The little cherry in the bottom left corner is so adorable :)

You can find the tutorial for this needlebook from Amy Sinibaldi, on my Pinterest board here.

The back has 12 little 1" finished squares.

I tried to "peek a boo" interesting little prints.

I think the yellow hand stitching really compliments the little prints.

I used an unusual pointed antique button for the closure.

I used wool felt for the inside and embellished it with buttons, pins, ribbon, lace and linen.

Here's the second needlebook I made last week.

I use this little Japanese print a lot, I think it's so cute!

I added a sparkly Riley Blake button.

The inside has pale yellow wool felt and I added lot of colorful ribbon and buttons.

These little books aren't difficult to make, but there's a lot of little things to sew on them, so they're a little time consuming.

I think they make a great gift for someone you really, really like :)

I definitely need to make one for myself one of these days!

Little Red

Have you heard of the fabric line "Little Red" by Moda?

I have a "thing" for Little Red Riding Hood, so I think it's fabulous!

The fabric line comes with a panel, and you can find it at one of my favorite etsy shops, stitchesngiggles4u.

I just cut along the dotted lines and made this adorable little doll, her skirt and cape.  

The little quilt is two sided, and so is the pillow.

Isn't the big bad wolf a scream?

I made this little set for my darling little grand daughter who is turning 3 years old.

I also made Lucy Jane this cute little quilt as you go tote bag.

I used all sorts of cute little pieces of fabric from my scrappy stash.

 I bought the pattern from my favorite quilt shop, Pine Needles.

Sandra Workman, the designer, is the owner of Pine Needles, and 

she designs a lot of cute patterns and fabric :)

Lucy Jane really liked her doll and bag, she's a pretty fancy little girl!

We were on our way to get her ears pierced for her birthday, so she was a little too preoccupied to smile....ha ha!!!