Pillow Talk

Thanks for joining me here at my blog for some pillow talk! Yes, today is my day to share my version of the Holiday Lane Pillow. 

 Before I do, however, I must send out thanks to  Madame Samm at Sew We Quilt for the amazing ideas that keep us coming back, Pauline from Quilt n Queen, our hostess for the Holiday Lane Hop who kept us organized, and Jill Findley from Jillily Studios for her fantastic pillow design. 

When I first saw the Holiday Pillow design, I knew that I wanted to take part in this hop. Since I have been trying to limit my fabric purchases and create out of my stash, I had a bit of a challenge searching through my stash for just the right fabrics. 

I found some scraps left over from a Christmas quilt I made several years ago. I added some additional fabrics in similar muted tones. I found a cream colored  Christmas fabric that looked like snow swirling to use as the background fabric and added some creamy white wool for the snow. Once the hard part was finished...the creating began!

I added some additional embellishments...beading on one of the trees, some Christmas lights on some roofs and window, embroidered and beaded a wreath, more windows and a little button doorknob. 

This pillow is much larger than I originally though but I really like it. Here it is with the coordinating quilt. 

I hope you enjoyed your time here! Please join me in visiting the others on the Holiday Lane Hop today!

Tuesday November 27

Cindy's Crafty Creations

Woolie Mammoth

Lily Patch Quilts

Insanity Defense

Ginger Snaps Quilts

quiltingbydawn

Scrapbook-Chickadoodle

Mama Spark's World

Marla's Crafts

Annie Oak Designs

Count it *all* Joy

Stitching by the Lake

A Stitch in Time

A little bit of knitting

I have been doing a bit of knitting lately. I came across this very cute and easy to do knitting pattern for a little sweater for a newborn baby. I knitted one in pink and one in blue. I really don't have anyone in particular in mind to gift them to even though I do know quite a few babies arriving soon. 

They were just fun to knit and very cute and soft!

Edit: Here is the pattern.

I also knitted this hat and scarf set for a 5 year old boy. One of the schools I teach at adopts some families for Christmas and this was one of the items on the wish list. 

I also knitted this bandana cowl pattern. It will keep me warm in the winter!

I have continued crocheting around fleece to make blankets and finished one more baby blanket, one lap size and a good size throw. You can see one here. One will be gifted, one donated and the other may stay here for the winter.

Come back tomorrow for my turn on Holiday Lane!Edit:http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/puerperium-cardigan

Catching up and FNSI

Work has been very busy most of the fall so I haven't spent as much time as I usually do in my sewing room. 

So I took a little time off of Blog Hops to do some catching up. 

I had fallen behind in both the Craftsy BOM and the BOM with Quilt Story. 

For the FNSI, I made these 2 blocks that I will use in place of the April Craftsy BOM blocks. 

Disappearing 4-patch

Disappearing 9-patch

The April blocks were supposed to be English Paper Piecing. Since I am already have a long term paper piecing project in process, I decided not to do those blocks and replaced the blocks in the quilt with these. They are the last of the blocks I needed to make!

After sewing the blocks, I started knitting this scarf.

This will be a scarf, hat, and mitten set that will be donated for a 5 year old boy. One of the schools that I work at adopts families for Christmas and this was one of the needs. The pattern is very easy and goes fairly quickly. 

 Between Hops, I managed to complete these Craftsy BOM blocks.

October blocks were paper piecing.

September blocks were curved piecing.

I am now working on sashing and the borders!

I also worked on the BOM with Quilt Story blocks. 

October was Pinwheel. 

November is Log Cabin. 

Each month has a theme but you could choose any block that fits the theme. My blocks are also half the size...measuring 6". I do have a plan...hope it turns out like I envision in my head. 

I have the week off for Thanksgiving Holiday! I hope to get a few more things done as well as joining in the fun of the Holiday Lane Pillow Blog Hop! It starts on Wednesday! Check here for the schedule.

Something new, something old and...

Let's start with something old! Remember this? 

I wasn't sure how to quilt it since there was large negative spaces. So I set it aside while I worked on projects for the Leafs Me Happy and Wicked Blog Hops. But it was time to get moving on it since the baby shower for my nephew's baby is this coming weekend!

 I decided on a template pattern that fit nicely in the pieced blocks as well as filled the negative space. I also choose a border pattern that coordinated. 

I FMQ in yellow thread to bring out the yellow in the blocks and gingham border. I'm very pleased with how this quilt turned out...simple and sweet...Cute as a Button!

Click on the picture of a closer look at the quilting.

I made the binding from a pink polka dotted fabric from my stash.

Something new that I have been working on is a cute fleece baby blanket with crochet edges. I thought this was a nice change from the fleece blankets with the tied fringe that have been popular for sometime. 

I first saw this on Pinterest. After doing a bit of research, I order a skip stitch blade from the Skip Stitch store. Once I received it in the mail, I followed the easy video instructions and made this cute baby fleece blanket. 

I love how this finishes...it is so soft and cuddly. This will be a present for another nephew and his wife, expecting their 2nd child. See the cute Just Ducky label I added. On the back side I embroidered my name and the year.

I'm crocheting another one in yellow. It was so fun and easy to do.

And finally, I have been working on some quilt blocks for those affected by Hurricane Sandy. Erin at My Patchwork Life is asking for help by making 12" disappearing 4 patch blocks. These are easy to make and she has a great tutorial on her blog. She is asking for blocks made from a multi-color FLORAL and a coordinating fabric that provides good contrast to the floral and reads as a solid. I just searched through my stash and came up with these. 

Seven blocks made in no time at all! If you are interested in helping, stop by Erin's blog.