Saturday, March 21, 2015

Under the Sea Mini Quilt

Finished Size is 17.5 x 18.5 to fit her nightstand.
 
I designed this quilt to....
 
1. Match her newly painted room but not too matchy
2. Cover her nightstand that I have yet to freshen it's paint
3. Get her involved in the design process
4. Make her what she likes
 
I also wanted to try a technique that I haven't seen anyone else do... use regular old craft stamps and washable  stamping ink as an embroidery pattern.
 
 
I gave her probably too many color options to choose from but she really wants and "all blue" room with any matching mermaid colors (I interpret that as watercolor pastels). 
 
I was happy with the fabric choices except for the binding... it's not as matching as I'd like but still very pretty.  My little mermaid chose the embroidery images and floss colors.   
 
 
I'm happiest with the octopus and his French knot tentacles.  I love making French knots and had the most fun with this little guy. I started with a two strand and thought the knots were too big so I switched to one strand and I was super happy I did.
 
 
I tried to coax her into a light coral for the fish and a greener blue for the whale.  But she didn't budge.  I decided to give the fish a darker face to brighten him up but the whale and octopus got a grayer face.
 
 
Look how great it looks with the lamp I'm refinishing.  That turtle was once a lady bug that I had to fill, prime and paint.  She loves the sea creatures.
 
 
 
I used a super light pink fabric that was once her baby sheets.  Great color but stretchy.  I can tell I'm improving because although it's a little wonky, it's not awkward and that didn't throw my finished size off at all.   Last year this time, it would have been ugly.  I stitched in the ditch and gave a few extra machine quilted straight lines.  I did ok.  I would have liked more quilting so I should have thought more about how I was going to quilt it during my design.  These were the best corners I've made as it didn't take me long to pin the miters or stitch them closed and both came out very well.
 
Overall... my little mermaid is very happy, I had lots of fun and it came out pretty good.
 
Yay.

Monday, November 10, 2014

Simple Trick or Treat Bag

We had a fox and Spiderman for Halloween.

I made the sweet fox a bag for all of her sweet treats.

Fox Bag Stitches

Sturdy for treats.
Big enough for books.
A bag that maybe even a boy could use.



The bag is 10x13 finished.
I embroidered the eyes after I cut out the pieces

Fox Bag Front


Attached the head and tail on the length of the fabric. Sandwiched outside, innerfacing, inside, handle and keychain loop. Topstitched ends together to make a loop.   Overedge stiched wrong sides together.  Turned right side out.   Pressed.

Fox Bag Inside


The back... of course.

Fox Bag Back


The Fox and Her Bag

The Sweet Fox


And the cutest Spider peaking from behind the bushes.









Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Pumpkin Tic Tac Toe

A certain store I frequent had a cute pumpkin tic tac toe game that I thought would be fun for our Halloween party.

I wanted to be pretty and functional for the game and as décor. 


Pumpkin Tic Tac Toe Front



Here is the back.

Pumpkin Tic Tac Toe Back

I love it.