Sewing for Baby

I been neglecting my blog, which needs some major tweaking 

(which I don't know how to do) and instead been sewing for a new little angel due to arrive in a few weeks. Yes, I am Gamma and Meema to two precious little ones and about to be blessed with a third little one.  

Being Gamma and a quilter, I of coarse wanted to get right to making quilts 

for the new baby, but first she, ( yes, she is a she ) needed a few other things.  Amanda, our daughter showed me this photo of baby bedding.

Isn't it pretty?  We decided we could probably make something similar,
so we went off to the fabric store and to our surprise found very
similar fabrics.

I forgot to take a photo BEFORE I started sewing ; )
What do you think, a bit less pink, but pretty similar?



All six bumpers.

There is piping on top and zippers on the bottom just
in case a washing is needed.




Here is the finished bumpers and skirt together. They just need a pink sheet between them.
I'm sure everything will be much prettier in the crib, instead of leaning against my purple walls.

Next was the nursing cover, and since I've made several of these
it went together pretty quickly. Amanda picked the fabric.

Then a snuggly, made with Eden by Lila Tueller, from a giveaway I won
last year.  I used the Snuggler pattern by Lotta Jonsdotter and
lined it with pale pink flannel. It turned out adorable.

Last was some contoured changing pad covers. I made three with the pink minky. I have to say I did not enjoy sewing the minky. I had a bit of trouble, but noticed that the washed minky was fine, it was the unwashed that gave me a hard time. Note to self for next time.

Well, baby is due to arrive soon and I still need to get started on hats, and shoes and dresses and bibs and toys and........oh yea, quilts.  Oh no, I'm really behind!

Bee Block

I've joined a couple of online quilt bees.  I should have focused on the long sewing list of things for the new baby coming, but I participated in an online round robin bee years ago, before blogs, and I just couldn't stop myself! So, when Sew Fresh Fabrics started their bee, I  joined in, which lead to joining two more (their sort of addicting).

I want to share this block for Beth from Sew Scrappy Sew Happy Bee because its a little different. Instead of oohing and aahing over the fabric that arrives for the month, then playing with it. The "fabric" for this block arrived in small pieces, scraps really, and I needed to make the fabric. Fun, but oh my, what if I mess up. I read the instructions, thought about it and re-read the instructions for a couple days, then cleared a working space and got right to it.

Beth asked that we all make her block based on the Simple Insanity quilt from Chawne. Basically strips of scraps are sewn together, then those are re-cut and sewn back together to make a "new fabric". I was so afraid of wasting even the smallest scrap that I played with the layout for quite a while. In the end I laid all the scraps of similar length together. 

Sewed them in long strips, then re-cut.

These strips will be sewn log cabin style to make "new fabric".

Here is the back of the "new fabric" with lots and lots of seams.

 

And here is the new fabric. It's so pretty. I love it!

This new fabric was then cut in strips to complete the requested block. Some of the pieces are really, really small. It turned out to be 10 X 12 and I had barely enough fabric, even with the six scraps I added.  Can you find them Beth?

Here is the finished block. 

It measures 13.5 X 13.5

I love how this block turned out and I so enjoyed making it, that I'd like to make several more for a quilt of my own. It was time consuming, so I'll add this quilt to my to do wish list for the future. 

For inquiring minds - an online quilt bee is a group of sewers/quilters that take turns making blocks for each other.  The person assigned to that month sends fabric, directions and specific requests of what he or she would like the block to be. The recipients complete and return the blocks to the owners.  Fun, fun!

February

The first of the year is always busy for us. 

We have five birthdays within the first two months. 

We've already celebrated three and although we don't live near each other, 

we managed to get together to celebrate which is always really nice. 

I made the littlest birthday boy a BIG breakfast.

His breakfast included 6 donuts, 2 cinnamon rolls, 

2 pop tarts, 2 waffles, 2 pancakes, 2 sausage, 2 bacon and 2 eggs.

Yes, two of everything but.... there just had to be half a dozen donuts.

A boy needs a selection!

Aren't these just adorable? So fun to make and I think he really liked them. I'll have to get started on lunch next, then dinner, then start all over again for the my granddaughter's second birthday. 

Besides birthdays and felt food, I've joined a couple of quilt bees and a swap. I can't wait to get started, but most won't start until March. One that started this month is Sew Fresh Fabrics Charity Bee using some of their scraps. A quilt for Project Linus will be made from each of the blocks created and sent back. One for a boy and one for a girl. Here is the block I made for the boy quilt.

Whooo's Drivin?

The other Bee fabrics should start arriving soon and even though the next month looks pretty busy, I'm looking forward to getting started.  February, keeping busy with family and fabrics, what could be better?

A Wee One Needs......

Look at this, isn't it sweet? 

A precious new little wee one, needs a warm head,

and we can't forget about his BIG brother.

I didn't forget about the BIG sister, 

I just forgot to take a picture, something I tend to do and need to work on.

Next time........ for sure!

Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll

Did you notice the button for Roll, Roll Cotton Boll in my side bar? 

It's been there awhile but I didn't mention it because I am a bit behind.  

It is a Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt along that started in November. 

I love everything Bonnie does so even though it was the holidays 

I dug through my stash and joined in. 

Right before the "mystery" was revealed I started to be concerned about the color combinations and all the "ugly" fabrics I was using. There were red and white/cream combos, pink and brown combos and green and cream combos. How was the red going to fit in?

Anyway, I plugged along, I was in too deep and I trust Bonnie.

I love the revealed mystery.  I am so glad I continued on.

I am still far behind. I will finish up these 30 blocks. All the red needs to surround the pink and brown centers.

Still missing, 60 string blocks. I love the look, but am not sure I will make them, that's right I have NOT made them yet. I would like to come up with some other block alternative. I've never been a string block kinda gal and I have very, very few light colored fabrics. 

 

Before I have a chance to be "creative" I will have to file this project as WIP because their is a wonderful little boy about to turn three and he needs some felt food for his birthday! 

I've already gotten off to a small start. Don't these look yummy?

Welcome 2011

Christmas has come and gone, my favorite time of year. 

I was so enjoying the season, I didn't have time to blog, 

but I will share this little stocking I knit. Isn't it cute? 

The pattern is from Little Cotton Rabbits. 

I'm a fairly new knitter, but it knit up so easily. 

Happy New Year!

Now we're on to 2011. Resolutions? I've never been 

a resolution kind of gal. 

I do tend to reflect and enjoy the freshness and possibilities 

of new beginnings at the first of the year. 

This year I'm wondering, 

why at the first of the year only? Why not look to new beginnings 

or a freshness to each new month, or each new week, 

or even each new morning?

I'm going to try to focus on the possibilities in smaller increments of time. 

I am so blessed. I just want to be more aware of God's moment by moment presence in my life, whether I'm busy and there is a whirlwind around me or I'm sitting still....just be aware. 

I want to focus on God's faithfulness 

and attention to details, His consistency.

I have a few goals regarding quilting....to finish the flimsies I have. Only two quilts I've made live among my family. Sad I know. I am hoping to fix that this year. I've pieced several quilts, but I always get stuck at the quilting stage. I have a small machine,  its hard to manage a large quilt, I don't practice enough & I'm a perfectionist. There I said it! I will quilt quilts because after all, whats important is that the quilt surrounds the recipient with warmth and love. It doesn't matter that the stitches aren't perfect. So I'm putting perfectionism aside and finishing those quilts!

Dr. Suess Giveaway

Dawn's quilt corner is doing a cool give away.  Head on over to her blog and check it out.