She's cute!

Here's my first little ladybug. I had some trouble with the french knot eyes so I am going to practice a few more before the next one. I like how quirky she looks but I think they'll get a little better as I make more.

I am back from the beautiful beaches and sun and it was so fun. The kids loved the ocean and being with all the family so much. I loved being around my little 9 month old niece seeing all the amazing things she is going through and learning every day. Of course it is hard to come back to rainy cold Portland but today is beautiful, sunny, there is green everywhere and I am reminded why I love it here so much!

Big news from the week away, besides my son turning 9, is that little Karsyn was born! She is happy, healthy, and her parents are doing well, although I am sure are a little tired.

Now it's time for me to get my butt in gear and start embroidering to finish Karsyn's quilt. I had a helpful talk with my friend Bianca who has recently discovered embroidery and has been creating amazing things, thank you Bianca! The quilt originally calls for you to embroider these cats on the stairs doing all sorts of things. I have come up with a similar style of ladybugs by doing some sketches yesterday but I am having a hard time coming up with a variety of poses for them. They seem a little limiting if anyone has ideas I would love to hear them. Today I will be starting on a few and I'll put up my first efforts soon.

Creative Mom

Aloha!

I finished sewing together the front of the quilt and am ready to embroidery but more of that in the next post because tomorrow I am off to Hawaii! For all of you that live in Portland I am sorry but the weather here has sucked lately and I was just sick for 4 days so I am needing the sun.

I will be back refreshed and energized!!!

Creative Mom

Piecing it Together

I cut out all the rectangles and wanted to share a trick I learned from the book. You can use it anytime you are sewing lots of small pieces together that are not connected. For this quilt you start by sewing together the rectangles end to end to form the rows. The trick I learned is to sew together the pieces without cutting the thread in between each set then when you are done you can just snip the thread between each one. If you look closely you can see the thread.

Now I have all of the rows done and I will start sewing those together tomorrow.

Unfortunately I woke up sick today which is not helping anything. It's a busy week and we are going to Hawaii on Saturday, I will not be sick for the trip! I have started all my herbs and remedies and the humidifier is bubbling beside my bed. I can't be sick I can't be sick....

Creative Mom

I cleaned my studio in preparation for the new quilt, it was pretty trashed. Every time I clean up after a project ends I get so happy. It is the best feeling and I think the studio is the only place in the house I enjoy cleaning! So I have my clean tidy space, my new chair, new music, and I am ready to work on the next quilt YAY!

The Stair-Crazy quilt was designed by Dorie Blaigdell Schwarz

The quilt I am starting will be out of order from my original plan for the 5 quilts.This one would have been the last quilt as this was for the baby that is due the latest. Because I have already missed the birth for baby number 4 I want to have this one done for the birth of Karsyn. She will be my husband's newest niece and his younger brothers 1st baby. I choose the Stair-Crazy quilt because it's a little more traditional, which I haven't tried, but with the cute embroidery and little twist is added and I can personalize it with the nursery's theme which is all ladybugs. I have already started cutting the 115 plus 3 x 7 1/2" rectangles that I will need. Pictures to come soon.

Creative Mom

p.s. Thank you Mo and B for the gift of music!

Happy New Year!

How could it be 2010?! It has been a busy winter so far and the New Year really has snuck up on me. This year was rung in with a gathering of family and a few friends that was fun and festive and really made me appreciate that we have wonderful people in our lives. For the first time our children, 5 and 8, stayed awake until midnight. Having them with us when the clock struck 12 made the New Year seem more promising just because so many things are still so new to them. I look forward to their year as much as my own and maybe more.

My personal goals for 2010 begin with this project and I am looking forward to seeing where it takes me. The start of the year brings the start of a new quilt, I finished Cecilia's yesterday!

It was the most challenging yet but I love how it turned out.

I have already been to the fabric store for the next, quilt #4 out of 5, and can't wait to get started.

Creative Mom