Quilted Wall Hanging

I wanted to design a wall hanging for my new grand daughter.  

Looking through my fabric stash, I found a really cute Japanese print.  I thought it would be perfect to design the wall hanging around.

This is the print, shown in two photos.

I drafted up a design with tons of calculations, and was set to go.

I framed the print in white and chose seven colors to match the print. Then  I made half square triangles and sewed them all the way around. I sewed another white border to make the colors pop.

I'm sorry for the lack of photo cropping but I'm not using my personal computer for a couple of weeks.

I sewed a red border, a print, and another red border with blue squares in each corner.  

It was difficult choosing fabric for the printed pink border, the color value had to be just right.  I wanted the print and the triangles to be the focal point.  

I found a great piece of pink fabric in my stash that worked perfectly for the back.

I outline quilted the prints with white thread.

I used a free motion quilting foot for the curvy areas.

I quilted little flower designs in the white areas.

I did a lot of machine quilting and I am happy with the look.

I like the crinkly look on the back!

I can see the sun and the clouds and the triangles :)

I made the binding from each of the colors used in the triangles.

I made two times as much as I needed, so I will just keep the rest for a mini quilt.

I sewed the binding on by machine.

Then I sewed the binding by hand on the back of the quilt.

The colors in the quilted wall hanging match the throw carpet in the  baby's bedroom.  The quilt measures 30" long and 36" wide.

Minky Blanket Tutorial

I have a few things that I make for each grandchild when they are born.  I make them a baby quilt, a quilted wall hanging, and an heirloom blessing gown/outfit.  

I asked my daughter in law what type of quilt she would like for her  baby.  She said she preferred soft ones rather than quilted ones.  I went to www.fabric.com and looked at their vast assortment of minky fabric.  I chose two pinks, one for the front and one for the back.  I thought I would try something different and add a shag trim.  I also bought some flannel from JoAnn's to put in the middle.  I read that it helps stabilize the slippery minky fabric.

I pinned the flannel to the wrong side of one of the minky pieces, and machine basted all four sides.  

I forgot to mention that I cut the two pieces of minky fabric 33"X42".

I cut the shag minky seven inches wide.  I cut 3 strips and sewed them together to make one long strip.

Be warned, when the shag minky is cut, it sheds more than a Pekingese dog!  See what I mean?

After picking up most of the shedding shag, the rest is hard to get rid of....it sticks to the cutting board so I had to get the vaccum cleaner out.  I really didn't care that it was so messy because I think the results were worth it.

I sewed the shag minky to the pink minky, right sides together.

When I reached the corner, I folded a large pleat in the shag to allow for ease.  The minky is so shaggy that even if you do make a mistake, it will never show.

I sewed the second piece of pink minky to the shag minky, right sides together, again folding pleats into the corners. This time, I left an opening about 8 to 10 inches long. 

Then I turned the blanket right side out.

There is still an opening where I turned the blanket.

Where the opening in the blanket is, I folded the l/2" seam allowance in, and topstitched the opening closed.

I continued the topstitching all around the blanket, making sure I didn't sew over any shaggy pieces of fluff on the top side or the under side.  I kept making sweeps with my hand on the underside to make sure that there weren't any pieces of shag in the way as I sewed my way around the blanket.

I folded the blanket in half so you could see the two prints.

Don't you just love the fringe?  

It ripples as it moves :)

With the shag border, the blanket measures about 36"X45".

Here's a close up of the "ripply" shaggy minky.

Here is Kylie Violet (4 days old), wrapped up in her new blanket.

The blanket can even hold two little girls, Kylie's two year old sister, Neo!

Neo loves her new baby sister!

This is my son Addison, with Neo and Kylie wrapped up in her new minky blanket.

This is my daughter Vanessa and her niece Kylie in the new blanket.  I guess I have given you almost every scenario I can think of with Kylie in her minky blanket.  

Thanks for letting me share and I hope you have enjoyed my tutorial.

A New Grandchild

My son and daughter in law just had a new baby and I am staying with them to help with the transition.  I am helping look after 2 year old Neo and also helping with the household chores.

Neo has the most beautiful hair, little tight ringlets all over her head.

When it is wet, you can see that it's really long!

Neo's new sister was born this morning, so we went to the hospital so that they could meet each other for the first time :)

It's a beautiful thing when a child sees their new sibling for the first time!

Neo was happy to see her mom too..... I love this photo, because it shows the bond that Neo and her mom Mabulane have with each other.  In the forefront is Neo's new little sister who she will have to begin sharing her mom with.

Yes, mother and daughter missed each other after spending their first night apart from each other.

Mabulane had a wonderful birthing experience, I was so happy for her!  

My son Addison and his daughters, a magical moment.....

Kylie Violet

7 lbs. 4 oz.

21" long

A sleeping angel, and look at her hair!!!

Travel Pillow

I made another travel pillow, I just love choosing the fabric combos.

This pillow is for a young nineteen year old girl who has been called to serve an 18 month church mission in Oslo, Norway. 
 The pillow comes in handy when you are on a plane, a train, a car, you get the picture :)

My son who is in Brazil, says that it is his favorite thing that he has with him!  I love to hear that, ha ha!!!

I thought of this girl and her personality and her love of Anthropologie, and thought that she might like "vintage" looking fabrics.  These are the three prints I chose.

I have been saving this vintage print for the perfect project.

The background is a cream, and it was hard to get contrasting prints to match.  These pins are my favorite!  They are extra fine by Clover.

Topstitching the ruffle isn't only functional, but it provides a nice, finished look.

What goes better with cherries, than polka dots?

I hope that whenever Nicole looks at this pillow, she will be reminded of her warm and cozy memories of her childhood, hence the vintage print. 

The cherry print ruffle reminds me of the song, "Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries", sung by Ethel Merman in 1931.

Life is just a bowl of cherries;

Don't make it serious;

Life's too mysterious;

You work, you save, you worry so.

But you can't take your dough when you go, go, go.

So keep repeating it's the berries;

The strongest oak must fall.

The sweet things in life

To you were just loaned.

So how can you lose what you've never owned?

Life is just a bowl of cherries,

So live and laugh at it all.

Life should be fun and not taken too seriously :)

I made some other travel pillows and posted about them here.

I wrote a tutorial for the travel pillow here.

If you decide to make a pillow, I would love to see photos!

Chalkboard Platter

Have you missed me?  I hope so, because I have missed you ♥

I recently discovered chalkboard spray paint.

You can purchase it at Walmart, Michaels and hardware stores.

I showed you how I changed my ugly, outdated angel picture into a cute chalkboard here.

This is how it looked during the holidays.

My son wrote his favorite scripture at the top and I won't erase it until he comes home in 16 months!

I saw a silver (not genuine) tray that had chalkboard paint in the center.  I purchased a circular one at the store since I wasn't able to find any rectangle ones.  It was difficult to tape, I had to tear off pieces.

I sprayed one coat of chalkboard paint onto the surface.

I painted in the backyard, so the trees are reflected on the platter.

The paint dries really fast.  I determined that the platter needed a second coat of spray.

The blue paint tape came off really easily.  I wrote a message on the platter and the gift was ready. I really liked the message that I had written on my large chalkboard.  I just wrote it smaller :)

I was so anxious to wrap the platter up that I forgot to take a photo.

This platter could hang on the wall or sit on an easel on the counter.

You could write the daily menu, write reminders of things to do, write a love note to your husband or family member, use it as a memo board and leave notes on it, or write a seasonal message.

The possibilities are endless.

 Now go buy some chalkboard paint and have some fun!

The Spirit of Christmas

The Spirit of Christmas

By the magical light of a small Christmas candle

A little old man tries to carefully handle

The small porcelain manger which serves as a bed

For the wee Baby Jesus to lay down His head.

In wonder he brings the manger up to his view,

Smiles at the baby and whispers, "I love you!

I love you for bringing this season of joy,

I love you for growing to a man from a boy;

For being our light and leading the way,

For being the spirit which makes Christmas Day!

You've been my mentor, my model, my hero and guide,

Please continue to help me and stay by my side.

I've tried to follow your teachings and give as you gave,

Reminding all to be kind and that it's wise to behave.

Help me to serve others and bring them your light,

Especially the children, please bless them tonight!

Some have so very little, scarce food for their table,

You know how it feels - you were born in a stable!

Bless all their mothers and fathers with a knowledge that's sure,

The best gift they can give is their love, strong and pure.

That's the Spirit of Christmas when all's said and done,

God's gift of love, that came as His Son!"

Then back to His mother the child is returned

The Nativity glows as the candle is burned.

In a wink the little old man slips quietly away

Some say he goes up the chimney and climbs in a sleigh.

Whatever the case, His mission is clear -

Give unto others, bringing love and good cheer.

He flies into the night and bids us adieu

Doing for others what Jesus would do!

Greg Olsen - 2009