Go Ahead, Try It

Have you tried free-motion quilting yet?  Is fear holding you back?  Go ahead and try it!  You really can’t mess it up!  As I was moving the fabric to and fro, that is what occurred to me with this last quilt.  It is not prim and proper !  It’s all over the place.  Running here and there.  Twisting, turning, changing it’s direction.  And that is pretty much exactly me.  A perfect fit!

Ah -but let’s say that you are a person who doesn’t like mess or chaos.  You want things just so.  Precise and perfect.  Yep, I know a handful of you too.  Well, I still believe you should try this technique as an exercise in character.    

 It’s not perfect. I know that. There are imperfections.  But I am not entering it into any huge quilting contests. It’s for my little boy. Who loves it a lot. And his Mama made it for him – which makes it even more special to him.  And besides, aren’t the imperfections one of the things that make handmade so much more meaningful than manufactured?

 

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You’ll see this quilt again in Taylor’s room when I finish it. 
(It’s soooo close!  I have to find time this week to get it done!)
A quilt should be worth more than one blog anyway.    
And just to re-empahsize, dear husband, free-motion quilting is NOT cheating.

Fabric: Amy Schimler’s Animal Party and Forest Fun
Pattern: FREE download from Robert Kaufman

 

By the way, I also know some of you that are stuck at making your first quilt top.  Pick out a simple design for your first quilt. (Pre-cuts really simplify things.)  Then send it off to to be quilted.  My point is try to overcome the hurdle that is blocking your way.  Figure out a way to jump over it and take off running.  Even if that hurdle has nothing to do with sewing.    

And now I must go hang shelves!  Until next time…..

Weekend Plans

What are your plans this weekend?

I will be sewing backpacks and pillows.
Haley needs them for kindergarten.
The pillow is going to be made out of Lila Tueller’s newest line

Santornini

She always has such fun designs!
I keep thinking I’ll decorate Haley’s room with one of Lila’s lines.

But first is Taylor’s room.
His Animal Party Quilt is finished.

I love it.
I wanted to show you pictures of it IN his completed room
That is why I haven’t shared it yet.

I decided I should also sew something for myself again.
Maybe this weekend, maybe not.
I’m thinking of a skirt from one of the new Spellbound prints.

Spellbound

I especially love the Chalky Silhouettes print.
It would make a lovely skirt.
And a bag.
I probably need a new bag.
I’m getting bored with my current selection.

 

So what are your plans this weekend?

Kids Christmas PJs

My list of “have to’s” is getting shorter and shorter!  The jammies for Christmas Eve are done. 

I’m debating putting an applique onto Kyle’s shirt.  It’s not on my “have to” list – so I doubt it will get done before Christmas.  I stopped by JoAnn’s for some elastic and that cute transportation knit just happened to fall in my cart.      Lucky for me, it’s perfect for my little guy!   Pictures of them in their jammies in one week!

********ONE WEEK UNTIL CHRISTMAS********

(in case you didn’t realize!)

Matching Game

Alright – I just had a quick break from today’s scheduled events and was reading the hundred million blogs that I subscribe to -  Did you see the Michael Miller Blog today? (maybe you read Stardust Shoes) Now I know what I am doing with these fabrics! – maybe tonight – maybe tomorrow.  I’ll post again when I’m finished!

Woodland Friends Fabric – from Timeless Treasures

Animals Gone Wild Fabric – from Robert Kaufman

Isn’t it fun?!?!?! AND anyone could do this! (Even you, Kari!  You know Tate would love this little game!!!) If you don’t know how to sew, you could just make the matching squares and forget about the drawstring bag. Then tie a ribbon around the set. Ta Da! Great gift for little kids!!!!