Ballerinas

The fabric for the first pillow order finally arrived (from JAPAN!!!), so I've gotten busy and been sewing on this pillow the last couple of days.

I had a ton leftover so I whipped together a drawstring bag for my daughter:

She just started a ballet class for kids under 3 and I decided she needed a bag to keep all of her stuff in so it wouldn't get scattered about her closet. (I think I need to do the same thing for my son in karate, so I should whip another one together soon... After I've finished the pillows!) She loves it, but more importantly her shoes, tights, leotard, and skirt haven't traveled around the house. Mission accomplished! :D

P's quilt

 I've used this pattern so many times now that I can whip this quilt together in three hours. INCLUDING the tying. And especially after finally figuring out a trick that made piecing so much easier. See, it uses the same concept as the scrappy trip around the world quilts that everyone is doing, only it is ten strips wide. Produces a nice sized crib quilt. And I think my little P likes it...

Like I said, this is a pattern I know well. It is the same pattern I used on his cousin's quilt last year, but I've also used this for his older brother and sister's baby quilts, another cousin, and seven other friends' baby quilts. So this is the TWELTH quilt I've made with this same pattern. I keep trying to branch out when it comes to baby quilts, too. I've got a ton on my Pinterest board that I'd love to try out, but I always come back to this simple pattern every time there is a new baby in the family. And each one is well loved! My older son's quilt needs some MAJOR repair work done. As in I really need to take the back off of the quilt and re-back and re-tie the whole thing so it doesn't fall apart! Maybe I'll do that as a surprise one day while he's at school. But then again, won't it lose some of its love? We'll see. :)

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. :)