Wreaths

I made these wreaths following a pattern on the Moda Bakeshop website.  They each use a honeybun and a wire wreath frame.  I hang them on the glass door to our patio.

Here is my fall wreath:

Here is my winter wreath:

Here is my spring wreath:

Here is my summer wreath:

Cameron's Quilt

I made this quilt in 2008 for my best friend, Michael's first baby.  I really like how it turned out.  It was a great pattern....very fun. It was quilted by Patched Works in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Quilt-Fest 2009 - The Milwaukee Quilt

During January 2009, my mom visited me for a week in Milwaukee.  We had originally planned on spending the time in Chicago, but it snowed so much that we could not leave Milwaukee.  I had just started working on this quilt and we decided to get more fabric and each make a quilt.  This started our annual quilting week where we made identical quilts.  It has turned out to be so much fun - mom and I have such a great time quilting together.

The pattern is from my favorite book, 101 Fabulous Rotary-Cut Quilts.  I love this book, but wished it had directions for all sizes of quilts (e.g. baby, throw, queen).  The fabric is from Joanne's...big mistake!  I swear the green stretches so much that it must have spandex in it.  We learned two valuable lessons with this quilt, (1) buy good fabric, and (2) invest in a good machine.  We now both own Viking Emerald machines, although this quilt was made using a $100 Singer I had purchased at Walmart.

This picture shows the backing, and two borders.  My mom has already finished her quilt, but mine is still in individual blocks.  My goal is to complete thsi quilt and the Quilt-Fest 2010 quilt before next year's week of quilting (hopefully)!

Kitchen Aprons

Last Christmas my mom and I made these cooking aprons.  The pattern is from the book More Retro Aprons, but turned out to be pretty challenging and very time consuming.  It took us two days to make the aprons - I spent most of the time just making the ruffles.  However, we had a great time workingn together they turned out so good....almost too good to actually use!

Ribbons Blanket

I made this small blanket for a friend from college who had a baby girl last year.  The blanket is made from a charm pack from Moda and a fuzzy, dimply backing.  I put satin ribbons all around the edges for baby's fingers.  The idea came from the companie Taggies which has all kinds of blankets featuring ribbons (although my version is much cheaper).

Easter Eggs

I made these fabric-covered easter eggs based on a pattern from the Moda Bake Shop (see http://www.modabakeshop.com/2010/03/bunny-eggs.html).  I used a honeybun from Moda and sprayed them with lacquer when they were finished for a shine.  It was such a fun project and another great way to use up those honeybun scraps!  I would highly recommend.

Pillowcase Challenge

I recently participated in a pillowcase challenge for the Seattle Children's Hospital sponsored by Over The Rainbow quilt shop.  I made four pillowcases using the free pattern from YouCanMakeThis.com.

They turned out great - I love the puppy dog ones!

Here is a PDF of the pattern - enjoy!

Pillowcase Challenge Directions - PDF

Kortney's Baby Shower

My sister is expecting a little boy this November.  I am throwing her a big ol' baby shower this July in Omaha, Nebraska.  I have been busy with the details and just finished up the party favors (Burt's Bees lip gloss).

It should be a great time - I cannot wait!

Quilt-Fest 2010: The Green Quilt

My mom visited this May for a week of quilting.  We get together each year for a week of quilting, quilting, and more quilting.  The tradition started a few years ago when my mom was visiting me in Milwaukee.  We had originally planned on spending the week in Chicago, but got snowed in.  I had been working on a new quilt, and we decided to get more fabric and each make a quilt. And the tradition was born - now each year we make identical quilts.

This year we used a monochromatic kit from Patched Works in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  The pattern is called In and Out by Blue Underground.  The kit included all the fabric, except for the backing.

Here is my mom laying out all of her squares with the help of my cat, Sylvia.  I have yet to finish my squares....I will keep you posted!

My Very First Quilt

This is my very first quilt.  I stared it during Christmas break of my freshman year at college and believe it was finished in 2002.  What improvements I have made since this quilt - it was cut using a scissors and I only had a hand-drawn pattern.  I purchased the material at Joanne's in Ames, Iowa.  I remember cutting squares until I ran out of fabric...it ended it being a pretty good sized quilt, considering the lack of planning!

The quilt was long-arm quilted by Donna Putnam in Dow City, Iowa who had a machine for her own personal use. Although the fabric colors would not be my first choice again, I love this quilt and use it everyday while watching TV.

Blue Bow Tie Quilt

I made this quilt sometime between 2002 and 2006 for my boyfriend at the time (now, my husband).  This quilt is using a bow tie pattern I found years ago on the internet.  I made two of these quilts - one for my husband and one for my grandpa.  The pattern was really easy...the challenge was finding enough blue fabrics in the small town where we lived. If I were to do it again, I would stick with either cream or white accent colors, but not both.

I originally tied the quilt, but had it long-arm quilted by Patched Works in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2009.  I would love to try the pattern again someday...assuming I could find that piece of paper with the pattern on it...

Quilting Aprons

A couple of years ago, I brought home a project to complete with my mom over the Christmas holiday.  It was a kit for quilting aprons from Patched Works in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  All of the ladies who work at Patched Works wear these cute aprons.  Unfortunately, this project was so difficult!  It took us two or three days to complete just two aprons.  There were times when we would die laughing because we couldn't figure out which fabric was for which part of the apron, or where to sew on the pockets...it was hilarious.

Even with the challenges, the finished product is very handy.  I cannot help smiling when I think about what a difficult time we had completing it.  I remember my dad after finally finishing them saying, "those sure took you a long time"....touche, dad, touche.

Tote Bag

I recently made a tote bag using a pattern from Quilts Illustrated by Penny Sturges.  This pattern is so easy to use - I would highly recommend the project for any skill level.  I have always struggled with "3D" projects, versus two-dimensional quilts, but had no problem with this pattern.  Obviously, I cannot say enough good things about it!

The fabric I selected was Urban Couture by Basic Grey for Moda. My favorite fabric turned out to be the inside lining, so I may have to make another bag featuring that fabric.

I have yet to decide if I am going to give it as a gift or keep it for myself...either way I am pretty proud of it!

True 1/4 Inch Seam Allowance

The Harrison Family Has Grown by Two Feet!

I recently finished up a quilt for my friends Cath and Michael who are expecting a little girl this fall.  At the time, I didn't know the gender so the quilt is mainly greens.  The pattern is called Emma by Me and My Sister Designs.  The pattern uses only one charm pack - I used Friends and Flowers by Mary Engelbreit for Moda - and is super simple. The quilt only took me one afternoon to complete.  The backing is a fishy pattern...my favorite part of the quilt.

Right now the quilt is being long-arm quilted at Sew Delightful in Tuscaloosa.  However, it will be 9-10 weeks before it is done....which is crazy!  I should have quilted it on my own machine...

Quilt for Kids - Round I

I finished up two quilts for the Quilts for Kids program.  I was very impressed with the fabric selections...the quilts turned out so cute. I encourage you to try a kit or two...

I machine quilted them on my Viking Emerald 203 - it was my first time using the walking foot and it turned out great.