March craftiness

I've been so busy coordinating content for the VMQG blog, I've been once again neglecting my personal blog. There might also be some guilt (and therefore blog posting procrastination) around not making a lot of progress on my Library Project selections. Heh.

I seriously think I might have a case of crafter's ADD, because ... oooh, shiny new thing/book/cool idea on instagram/blog post/guild challenge.

The VMQG has started doing book reviews, which I'm organizing.  We've gotten some really fabulous books from both Martingale and Stash, and we have about a dozen guild members on the review team.

I'm reviewing this really cute book called Kitchen Stitches, which is a curated collection of patterns for things like placemats, table runners, tea cozies, pot holders, and more.   My review will be posted to the VMQG blog in the next few weeks, but first I want to finish off a project set from the book.  I completely fell in love with the "Circle Blooms" tea cozy and placemat set designed by Amy Struckmeyer.  She blogs at form*work.

The set uses a reverse applique method, which is something I've never done before and, if I'm honest, the thought of any applique at all makes me nervous.  The tea cozy was too perfect not to attempt, though, and the instructions were so fabulous that it not only came out perfectly, but was completely stress free!  I made mine out of some very fine black corduroy, and I put an extra layer of batting in to help keep my morning tea hot. I also added about an inch of width so it would accommodate my pot.

Amy's tea cozy from Kitchen Stitches

My version

I still need to finish up the matching placemats and then the review of the book will be posted here and on the VMQG blog.

The VMQG also had a chance to participate in the Riley Blake Basics fabric challenge.  Each member of our guild received a fat-eighth of 6 lovely Riley Blake fabrics, with the instructions to make a quilted item.  Usually I'm pretty good about working on challenges far in advance of the completion deadline, but this one... I started 2 days before it was due.

I'd been wanting to try a wonky log-cabin technique using a shape other than a square or rectangle, and this seemed like a perfect group of fabrics to use for that.  I added in some matching solids I had in my stash and quickly stitched up a 22" block.  

You can never have too many cushions on your couch, so after the block was done, I made a quilt sandwich and then pondered how to quilt it.

"I know," I thought.  "Seeing as this is due at the guild meeting the day after tomorrow, I'll quilt this thing in the most time-consuming method possible! A complicated pattern of nesting lines 1/4" apart!" Great idea, brain.  Once I'd visualized this quilting idea, there was no way for me to quilt it any other way.  A couple late nights followed.

Tah Dah!

It did get done, though. In time for the meeting too.

Looks great on my couch and R told me a bunch of times how much she likes it.

Ok this blog post is getting epically long, which I guess is what happens when you don't update for a month.  

Quick wrap up on 2 more finishes.  My very sweet Aunt and Uncle did something amazing for me this past month that really helped out in a tight situation.  As did my mom, and she's already been thanked profusely and there may be a surprise for her in the future as well. :)

I stitched up this cutie-pie "home sweet home" cross stitch for them and mailed it off.  Here's a link to andwabisabi's etsy page for the pattern, if any of you are interested. My Aunt and Uncle loved it and have it sitting right on their coffee table. 

My friends (and former Paper Moon band-mates) had a beautiful baby girl named Sadie a couple weeks ago.  New baby = baby quilt, right?


This was made from a Riley Blake layer cake I skived off my mom (she offered!) some left over Kona Snow jelly roll strips and a bit of fabric from my stash.  The pattern is from the Moda Bake shop and is from Cynthia Lammon of Hyacinth Quilt Design.

Lastly, my girl has definitely inherited the crafting gene from me and her grandma.  She asked for and got her very own sewing machine this past Christmas (A Janome MyStyle), which she is thrilled with. She had a quilting lesson from grandma a few weeks ago during spring break.

R has a small bedroom with a tall ceiling, so she has one of those nifty loft beds where you can put a desk underneath.  She had a small desk under there that was really only big enough for her laptop. BUT! We were at Ikea this past weekend and they had the shelf and desk attachments for her bed on sale for $20.  $20!  Done and done.  She now has a lovely huge workspace and is thrilled that she has a place where she can leave her sewing machine permanently set up.  Just like mom, she says. <3

Until next time, which hopefully won't be a month from now.  *shiftyeyes*

xoxo
Heather