In Case You're Wondering What's Next...

Brynwood Needleworks - Wooly Critters Pattern by Brandywine Design

 

Can you believe that I was almost a little sad to have completed my butterfly? I actually was a bit melancholy. But, on to the next UFO, and this one will be fun, too!

 

I have the dark border fabric chosen, and just need to pull the wools I'll be using all around that border. After I get back home from taking Handsome to physical therapy, I'm going to choose the colors I want to use, based on the colors I chose for the completed blocks. Then, I'll set up the parts and pieces in anticipation of stitching them all to the ground fabric. It'll be nice to sit at random moments and slow stitch the last parts of this quilt.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Primitive Gatherings Flannels for a Chenille Four-Patch Quilt

 

Sit & Sew with the Primitive Gatherings' ladies is March 17th this month. In January, I was telling them about my favorite quick quilt pattern called a Chenille Four-Patch quilt. It was actually the first "real" pieced quilt I ever made, and it's still my favorite. It's soft and snuggly and perfect for a quick power nap in the afternoon.

 

It just happened that the day I talked about it, Lisa B. had given each of us a Farmhouse Gatherings flannel pack that was custom cut for her shop. I think they're comparable to half size layer cake cuts. (6.5" x 10"). These fabrics are wonderfully soft, and would be just the thing I'd choose to make an updated nap quilt. Before I left town, I stopped at the shop and chose the backing fabric to coordinate with the fabrics we were given.

So, before I go to our March Sit & Sew I want to put together a new Farmhouse Gatherings Chenille Four-Patch. It won't take long at all to assemble, and I'll only do a criss-cross of straight line quilting to finish it. 

These are the projects I'd like to move to the "Complete" pile this month. At this rate, I may even be able to add another project, but I don't want to get ahead of myself. First things first.

NOTE: Thank you so much to everyone who left a comment on yesterday's post. I promise I'll reply to every one of you. You were all so wonderful to me about my butterfly. I'm truly humbled and grateful that you all cared to leave a note for me. Be sure to check back on yesterday's comments page by tonight to read my replies to your messages. xoxo

 

The Captain and Chenille...

 This post has absolutely nothing to do with music or the military,

but I couldn't resist using "The Captain" in my title. I know...lame. 

I just couldn't help myself.  This is about "chenille", though.

I thought I'd show you my assortment of chenille bedspread scraps.

I collected these over a period of time, and I've been saving them for

future projects. I have no idea what I'm going to do with them yet. I didn't

cut up old bedspreads myself, but they are salvaged parts, and I do have

a few "cutters" myself. I just have a hard time taking a scissors to them.

 Some pieces are larger, and some are smaller, but all of them are pretty.

You can see all the colors - and the patterns are just as varied.

 These pinks remind me of snuggly baby girls. They're so soft and sweet.

I made this jacket for our younger granddaughter two years ago from

some of my scraps. It was just adorable on her. Perhaps I should make

a few more for the Brynwood Boutique? I love working on children's 

clothing, and chenille seems to make for really sweet outfits.

I might just have to add more girly chenille jackets to my "To Do" List

after I finish all the projects I already have lined up. I could be fun!

How do you feel about chenille?

Memory Lane Monday - Warm Hugs...

This is a picture of the first "real" quilt I ever made. It's a chenille four-patch quilt made from shirting fabric, chenille and flannel. I made it in September of 2004. It's still one of my most favorite quilts to cuddle under.

You can see that it's not large enough to cover the top of our quilt guest bed, and I had enough blocks left over to quilt a couple of pillow shams, too. Great for napping, I tell ya!

When shopping with my daughter-in-law last week, I came across a fat quarter assortment of...flannels! I knew right away why I wanted them. Right! A new four-patch quilt. I'm going to use chenille for the large blocks again, and I'll have enough fabric to make a larger quilt. I might even make two new shams to match.

The last piece of fabric in the pack is the same fabric I'll be using for the back of the quilt.

I know this is a little different for my Memory Lane Monday posts, but I chose to write about my first quilt for a couple of reasons. One is that I want you to know that I've only seriously quilted since 2004. Even then, I didn't make another quilt for a year or so. After that I was hooked.

Reason Two is because I wanted to give you a break from my old family photos and share a project from my past. I've always sewn, but this was the beginning of my obsession with quilts...those warm hugs on chilly nights.

Thanks for sharing a more contemporary Memory Lane Monday with me. If you have a story you'd like to share on your blog, you can link your post below.

Wreath by gigigibson on Etsy

Don't forget to take time to remember why you're off work today, and say thanks for the commitment and sacrifices of the men and women of our Armed Forces...past and present...this Memorial Day.

Fezzik Friday - 25 Weeks...

Hi, Everyone! It's me again. It took nearly TEN weeks, but I finally did it! I won over Miss Kes. I'm exceedingly proud of myself. I was starting to think I smelled funny or something. Every time I'd walk into a room and try to be friendly with her, she'd get up and leave the room.

When she got sick, I was a really good dog and let her know that I was concerned about her. I think that was our turning point. After her stitches came out, she started to pay a little more attention to me.

Two nights ago, she let me sleep with her. It was my first night out of the kennel all night, too. Mom was really happy with me. I just slept on this blanket next to Mom's side of the bed and made little woofy noises every now and then, so she knew I was still there (and not roaming around the house getting into trouble).
Yesterday, Kes and I even had a wrestling match. Who knew that horsing around with a Labrador could be so much darn fun? We were at it so long that we both took a nap when we were finished playing. This could be habit forming.
I found out something else I like doing this week, too. Dad was working in the yard, trimming up some of the grass. When he was finished he got out this thing. It's makes a lot of noise and blows air out the pointy end. If I stand right in front of it, my fur blows and I look like a show dog! We even played a little game. I'd stand in front of it for a little while, and then I run around and come back for more. I'm really starting to like this place. Mom and Dad (and now, Kes) really are my family now. I guess I'm just their kinda guy.
Mom asked if I'd share just a little of my Friday post space to show you the project that she finished yesterday. I watched as she worked on this, and I'd like to tell you - she really can make cool things with old bedspreads!
This is the back of it. She says it's going to be a Christmas present for a special little girl. I think that little girl is going to like it, don't you?

One last thing...
Today is Mom's Birthday!
I made her a present.
It's in the yard.
(Sorry. Kes told me to write that.)
Happy Birthday, Mom.
Love,
Fezzik (and Kes)

Elves In The Studio...

The Dolphin Island quilt is completely finished. It's ready to ship when it comes time to package up and send our Christmas gifts off to their destinations. I've set my projects completion date for December 13th. That will leave plenty of time for all of our gifts to arrive on time to the special people on our list.

"X" marks the spot!

Yesterday, I started (and nearly finished) my next project. These are the fabrics I chose...one chenille cutter bedspread, and cotton soft, yellow floral cotton fabric.

I'd like to assure you that the "cutter" bedspreads came to me with tears or damage. I just can't bring myself to ruin a perfectly good item, so I'm going to be selling three of my vintage chenille bedspreads next week. I'll tell you more about that in a future post.
This is a detail of my current project. It was actually all assembled by 5 pm. You can see pins in the areas where I'll need to topstitch. I "fussy cut" the motifs, so they would be placed where I wanted them on the bodice front and back of this garment.
Once I topstitch the facing edges, I'll sew the sleeve lining to the sleeves, sew on my covered buttons, and then finish by hemming the bottom. I'll finish this one today.
Apparently, all the hustle and bustle of elves in the studio was a little too much for a corgi to bear. My supervisor decided to go on break. Hmmm. Sleeping on the job. No bonus kibbles tonight! (Just kidding. How can I deny this face?)

Let The Celebrating Begin...

Just look at all these beautiful faces! These are my pals at Books a Million. (Krisann was absent, and sorry for cutting you off the image, Linda!) When I arrived last night (Dolphin Island quilt in hand), they had a card and box of chocolates waiting for me.

Let the Birthday celebration
officially begin!!!

My friend, Ellen, also gifted me with her well-used, hand crafted collection of doilies and dresser scarves. She made each one of them, and they'll be treasured by me for a long, long time. Sorry I can't say the same for the chocolates!

Thank you, girls, for my gifts and your sweet card. You really surprised me! They thought they were pretty clever, remembering that I like to stretch out my partying for at least a week each year! ((My pal, Tammy, reads my blog, so she was actually the ring leader!) You're just the best, Tammy!

I finished binding Dolphin Island last night, so I can move another project from the To Do List to the Completed List. My chenille project is next. I'll share photos tomorrow.

Making A List...

It's time to start working on my Christmas sewing list. It's not as extensive as it was last year, so I should have an easy coast to get my projects done by my self-imposed December 13th deadline.

Chenille bedspreads (cutters), which will become something warm and sweet. One might even appear in my Etsy shop if I have time after all of my own projects have been wrapped.
Gorgeous blues with an ocean theme to become a cozy quilt for a special young person in our lives. It won't be too large, and I'll machine quilt it myself.

Now that the queen size Lavender Dreams quilt has been completed, I'm confident that finishing the rest of my projects on time will be easy peasy. Care to follow this year's journey?

My Sugar And Spice Project...

Today, I'd like to give you a couple of hints about my next project. I'm working on my own pattern - my own design - and the completed items will be for sale on my website. I'm really having fun putting this together, and these are just the first steps.

A little bit vintage, a little bit "granny", a little bit sugar and spice, and a whole, big helping of girly! Are you getting the picture? Are you even a bit curious? Do you think you have an idea what I'm working on?

I'll be showing more components in the upcoming days. All will be revealed before you know it! Now if you're local and you've heard any scuttlebutt about this...pu-leezzzz don't spill the beans yet.

I'll be in the studio working on my creations and I'll be back soon with more hints...