Busy

The shop has been busy lately. Well, busy for me. I've had FOUR orders for my tooth fairy pillows in the last week. And while this isn't a sewing finish, it is a big finish for me...

Three of the four final designs have been approved, so now I'm just waiting on yummy fabrics to arrive so I can get started. I have to say that these little tooth fairy pillows are such a love of mine! They are always so fun, and there are so many possibilities with them, never do the same one twice. The knight one I did over the summer just made me giddy! I can't wait to see these four come together.

More Christmas finishes

Sudoku Quilt:

Quilted and bound, wrapped and mailed.

Dreamcatcher:

Wrapped and delivered
Inspired by this dreamcatcher and this dreamcatcher

Easy messenger bag:

Following this tutorial

Pocket bag:
Following this tutorial

Christmas finishes

Sudoku quilt:

 This was a fast and easy quilt. The hardest part was solving the sudoku puzzle that I based the quilt layout on. And then I had to remember which fabric corresponded with which number. So I made a chart:

 Made life so much easier.
Now I debating whether or not to add a wide, cream border to the sides. Right now it is a small lap quilt, but borders would make it a decent lap quilt. So still trying to decide if I want to call the top finished now and get to work quilting, or if I want to add that bit of length and width to it. What do you think?

I finished this quilt last night. A friend gave me the top, which was still in the middle of assembly when she inherited it. I just squared it up and added the block with the initial.

 It goes back to the friend for her son, R, tonight. Hope she likes it!

Final finish of the week goes to two CTR capes that I finished yesterday:

WHEW! Sewing with an infant around is really difficult! Only another week of sewing before I need to have the quilt and a bag done for Christmas gifts to extended family. When I get back from my sister's wedding I'll finish my kids' gifts. I hope.

BIG project crossed off

So my biggest project of the year got crossed off my list:

I turned this....

 .... into this. :)

Little P arrived October 18th at 12:32 a.m. He weighed 8 lbs 6 oz, and we were so glad he came out hollering! I've been enjoying a long babymoon, but I'm really getting back to work now. I've got two weeks to get a bunch of Christmas stuff done, but I'm not going to pressure myself because, let's face it, not a lot of work gets done with a newborn around. They are just such fun to cuddle with! ;)

They liked it!!

Got this letter in my Etsy inbox:

Hi Caroline,
 

I just wanted to let you know that we got the pillow in the mail today...and both Jack and I LOVE it!!! Thank you so much for making such a keepsake for us. It is exactly what I was looking for. It is very obvious that a lot of work went into this, and it is just beautiful! I loved that you put the family crest on the shield..this is truly a work of art. Thank you again!!! I have one more little boy and will be ordering again from you as he approaches the age where he needs a tooth pillow ;-)

Enjoy your summer!

M

 I'm just so glad they liked Jack's pillow! Made my day to get that news. :)

Knights and Dragons pillow

I really love doing custom pieces for my Etsy customers. There are some very imaginative and creative people out there, and I have so much fun creating keepsakes that are as fun as they are.

I have to say, that little knight was the MOST complicated felt character I've done. I thought the pirate was complex, but the knight had so many tiny pieces to him that I had to start and stop several times to makes sure I was putting him together correctly. Putting the felt characters together is sort of like building a puzzle backwards. I have to start from the bottom layer up. I always take a picture of the character "assembled" before I start sewing so that I can come back and look at it to make sure I'm getting all of the pieces on correctly!

I think this one turned out really cute! I had originally planned on giving the dragon felt flames, but the name panel wouldn't fit the felt. Instead I did the running stitch flames, I think it turned out pretty well. At least I'm satisfied, we'll see what Jack thinks! I hope he likes it. :)

Dress

I had some leftover fabric from making myself a couple of maxi skirts so I decided to make my daughter and her dolly matching dresses. I drafted a bodice top on my own, gathered a panel to fit the top, then attached it to the back panel that I had shirred across the top. Then I followed a tutorial to get the braided straps.

She and I both like the dress enough that I'd like to make another one in a regular cotton instead of a jersey knit. This dress is perfect for goofing around in, but a nicer one would be great, too. And she loves that her dolly matches her and that she can easily get the dress on by herself (to an independent 2-year-old that is a HUGE plus).

I'll get a better picture soon and post some close-ups of the dress. She wouldn't let me get too close with the camera the other day. ;)