New year, new projects

My middle daughter, Maili, is expecting a baby in May and I asked her what she wanted me to make her and the little one. She said to make her whatever was in the box for Kate, her sister-in-law, and mother of those cute little twin girls. One main thing she liked was the rainbow blanket.

It's a stroller blanket and is a free pattern on Lion Brand Yarns website.

I also have to make burp cloths, receiving blankets, a quilt, change pads, sweaters and I guess whatever else I come across and have time for.

My quilting buddy Judy and I get together a couple of times a year - she lives in a different city about an hour and a half away. We usually attend a quilt show or some other quilt related function. It is at these times that I have been known to suggest we do a challenge. It started with a black and white theme when we both bought some charm squares at the Creative Sewing and Needlework Festival many years ago. On the way home we came up with some 'rules' or guidelines. Judy, of course, finished her quilt way before I did. We are also still making paper-pieced North American animals and exchanging those. It's my turn and once again, I am behind. There is an African themed quilt that she has also completed but mine is just in the creating-in-my-head stage. I will get to it soon, I hope. In the meantime, the last thing we decided on was to make a quilt together using batiks. Once again, when we attended the Creative Sewing and Needlework Festival (I know it goes by a different name but my mind is slow to change) and it was there that we found some batik fat quarters that were on sale. I had shown Judy the pattern that I thought we should do. I was thinking that Judy could stretch herself and enter the 'Modern Quilt' world - just a little. The pattern is Camille Roskelley's "Framed" from her book, Simply Retro. Judy thought at the time that it needed a border so we shall see what she comes up with.

Here's the beginning of mine. We bought several batik fat quarters (10, I think), cut each of them in half and then added our own. The pattern calls for 25 squares. Judy was happy to comply since she said she had a collection of batiks but had never found the right project in which to use them. I'm sure Judy is finished her quilt by now. I haven't spoken to her since before Christmas. Her guild is having a quilt show in May and I think this was one of the quilts she wanted to finish to put into the show. Judy gets her quilts quilted by a long armer and I hand quilt so it will be a while before this one is finished by me.

 These five are some of my favourite fabrics. I had all of the 25 blocks set aside but I'm finding that I am revising my selection.

Little boys and toys

I wanted to get a photo of the boys wearing their aprons. As anyone who knows little ones, they don't stand still for long so here they are, watching cartoons. It didn't last long. Patric took off shortly after this photo was taken.

 

 I bought two of these just after Christmas when everything went on sale. This was the reason the boys had to have their aprons on.

Here's Luc's. He was neater with putting the candies on.

Patric was doing well decorating his gingerbread man until he noticed that his brother was eating some of the candies. That's when the eating began and the decorating  - not so much. Note the green icing on his fingers.

I was lucky enough to spend a bit of time yesterday in my sewing room making this puppet. It's a free pattern from Martha Stewart's web site. The dog itself is made by a Canadian company Cate and Levi using felted sweaters. I have a lot of different coloured fleece so that's what I used along with flannel for the ears.

I searched for a pattern like this one because I figured that it would be easier for little hands to use than the kind of puppet that had arms.

Once I figured out the instructions (there is a video but it's not that detailed), it was easy to make. I used buttons for the eyes since I have so many buttons in my stash.

I even had time today to make a cat.

I like the books about Pete the Cat so I modelled this puppet after him.

I'm hoping that these will amuse the little boys when they travel homeward on Sunday since it's an all day journey involving two airplanes.

New project(s)

I'm itchin' to do some stitchin'. There are books on tape waiting for me but I just don't have the time right now to get into the sewing room to create.

This is the reason I have had no time. Luc and his brother came for a visit with their mom, our eldest daughter Laila and our youngest daughter, Ayla came all the way from Ireland. Ayla wanted to meet the twin babies and spend some time with these little boys. On the 17th of January, we had our second Christmas but this time with all of my children and all of the grandchildren. It was an ordinary Saturday to everyone else but to us, it felt just like the real Christmas. The menu was exactly the same, the little boys opened their stockings and the adults opened their Secret Santa gifts. In the afternoon, before the turkey, we went for a walk and it really did feel just like Christmas. My son Mark even mentioned that he wondered if some stores were open the next day - thinking it was going to be Boxing Day.
The boys are wearing the pajamas I made. They were supposed to be wrapped up and put under the tree but when their flight touched down, they were on the plane (after leaving an hour later than scheduled) but their luggage did not make it. Since they were supposed to go up north to visit the other set of grandparents, they needed clothes to wear so some presents were given to them early.

 I did manage to finish up these little drawstring bags with the leftover Thomas fabric. Thanks to Mary Anne of Magpies Mumblings for the suggestion. They were already cut and partially put together so it didn't take long to make the casing and thread the ribbon through.

I still have to finish sewing a sweater together. All I have left are the side seams so I am hoping to get to that today.

On Sunday, everyone goes home and my dishwasher will no longer be running once a day (or more.) That is my gauge for happiness since I know some of my family, if not all, have come home.

So, the new projects will have to wait until next week.

Another pair and some finds

Pajamas for Patric.

Perhaps another pair of pajamas?

Most of these pieces are pure wool and about a metre or more in length. Believe it or not, it's not that easy to find these days. Almost all the wool that I looked for a couple of years ago was a blend. The dark green on the right is a felt and the blue print is 2 metres of cotton. This whole lot cost me just $15.00 at Value Village on seniors' day. I didn't want to buy anymore fabric but I just couldn't pass up the wool. There are two little boys and two little girls that may need some new clothes in the future.

On a side note: Did you Canadians know that Fabricland no longer carries Simplicity patterns? It's been about a year now, I was told by the staff at one Fabricland. That was my most favourite pattern company. The patterns were easy to use, easy to read, easy to understand and easy to put together. The fit was good too. I have no idea where I can purchase Simplicity patterns now - other than online at higher prices and then there's shipping....

More sewing

A pair of pajamas - size 4. Big enough for Luc to grow into. He has blue eyes like his daddy so that's why I chose the blue for him.

More flannel. More baby blankets.

Now, I'm off to cut another pair of pjs - this time for Patric. Same fabric, different colour.