Blankets Galore

I am really enjoying making patchwork and minky blankets. It is really so rewarding and each one is different. My husband and I trekked out to downtown LA to buy a ton of minky. It is really hard to see what color it is online. There are no good sources locally, so everything is online- which is fine with me! I have such creative customers- always willing to work things out, be kind to what stash I have. Each blanket is a labor of love- truly!! My son told me the other day that I was in love with fabric. Kids are so intuitive sometimes. I was commenting on his boy favorites and saying "How could you love playing airsoft?"- I don't get the whole gun thing. He said that was better than loving fabric- ha! Fabric won't hurt you! I hope to get lots of blanket orders so I can order more minky and fabric that I love!!

Darla Chronicles

Here is my Darla quilt ready to quilt. I say "my" quilt, but it is actually for a customer and I know I will be so sad to see it get mailed out. I feel like each project is a part of me and it is hard to part with it. The good news is that I know it is going to a good home of a fellow Darla lover. My daughter has already had me start to plan one for her room, but she wants it as a summer blanket with minky on the back. I would like to try it to see if I can make one that big without "tying" it together. Work study is what I will tell my husband! He always says, "Do we really need another blanket?" Of course we do! :)

I have been really pleased with the way it has turned out so far. I keep thinking of the verse God gave me, "The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands" Deuteronomy 2:7, and can't help but feel that way with this quilt. Sometimes I look at it and say "Wow, it all lines up!" or "It's the exact measured size I need!". I keep surprising myself with each step. Good thing, though, because how could I send this to someone feeling frustrated with it. I know there will be flaws, but I'm human! My sewing mentor, Pam, once said, "If you don't notice the mistake if you were on a galloping horse, don't worry about it." Okay, I can handle that, then!! I can't wait to start today!

What to do with scraps? Well, I decided to make a wall hanging for my daughter's room using raw-edge applique. I confess I would get frustrated if I did it it the traditional way, so I can get a quicker gratification with this method. I also entered it into a contest from sewmamasew's blog
http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/index.php?paged=2. I feel like I accomplished 2 things: using up my stash and scraps and make my daughter happy!

So Many New Fabrics, So Little Time!!

I have been getting new fabric almost every day. Some for special orders, some I just have to have! Check out my flickr site to see all the new postings:

http://flickr.com/photos/sewfunbymonique

We are getting ready for Easter this weekend and I will be doing dinner for my family. We are looking forward to a nice, warm, family day. It is supposed to be 75 degrees here in CA. PERFECT! Have a blessed Easter!

Flower Power Weekend

I spent the weekend making many things from Jennifer Paganelli's Flower Power fabrics. Those colors are so amazing to work with. Even my husband liked the colors! I made a random patchwork purse, baby blanket, doll blanket and onesie. I am going to make one for myself with all the scraps. The random patchwork is my favorite to sew. I decide on the overall dimensions and then just start piecing to create the width and length I need. It is a great way to use scraps. Usually I have a focus fabric that has all the colors I want to use and then build from there. No 2 purses come out the same. I really enjoy quilting it. It is a manageable size, unlike my queen duvet I recently finished. I have posted pictures on my flickr site. A link to it is on the sidebar. I listed a red & pink random patchwork in my store on friday because I sold the pink and brown one earlier this week.

Darla Fabrics

I have had a few orders lately requesting Tanya Whelan's Darla fabrics. I just love them! They look vintage and fresh and I love the different patterns within the colors- check, damask, floral, toile, small floral- really pretty. I have enjoyed every minute sewing with these fabrics. The quality is wonderful, too. I'm thankful I still have more orders to fill and can still work with them!

Finally Done!

I have finally finished my bedroom quilted duvet. Yes, it was lots of work especially since it was hand quilted almost every night for the last few months. It really is one great memory. I enjoyed the relaxing time by the fire while my family and I watched old tv shows like "Combat" & "Get Smart". Sometimes Holly and I got to sneak in a decorating show here and there. Mostly, it was family time. I stitched everyone's initial on their own square, so they love to look for their letter. It turned out better than I thought and it gave me directions for my curtains. I don't know how many fabrics I used, but I know it was LOTS. I love scrappy quilts, I love combining fabrics, it was a labor of love. Hopefully, other people in my family will remember me by this. If not, my husband and I will stay warm and cozy under it for hopefully many years to come. He even likes it! Bonus!