A Finished Quilt (finally!)

This quilt has been a long time coming!  Most of the blocks were finished last May/June.  I started out making squares in squares with varying widths of strips.  My plan was to cut all the blocks up and "bento" them back together.  I guess I sort of got a bit lazy and also like the way the blocks looked slashed in half.  I kept some of the blocks as squares and sewed them together.  I quilted half of it in November and the other half in December.  Binding was sewn on in January some time.  And, since we also got rid of our cable box in January, there was no hand-sewing-while-tv-watching going on, so it took until a few weeks ago to finish stiching the binding down on the back. 

  It's been on the couch.

Most of the prints are from Hope Valley by Denyse Schmidt.  The solids are all Kona except for the taupe color which is a Kaffe Fassett Shot cotton. 

The back is AMH Flannel.  Flannel for a quilt back is awesome.  This print went so well with the colors from the front!   Quilted all over stipple.

:)
Raven

Another Figure 8 Scarf

I wear these two figure 8 scarves way way way too much, especially considering I live in Southern California.  I just love them though....and Santa Barbara is known for our June Gloom.....it literally is foggy all day.  So another new scarf was totally justified :)

This one was made with some mustard velveteen and my most favorite voile from the Innocent Crush line by AMH.  I love how it came out and I love the big blue roses.  As much as I love the bright ones, I love this one for how mellow it is.

I can't say that mustard is a fabulous color for me.....but I love it anyway.

I made it closer to 14" wide rather than 18"    It's also longer than the first two(kits ordered from AMH).  No, that's wrong.  It's not longer, but the thinner width makes it not as bunch-y.  It SEEMS longer :)

Happy Saturday!

KCWC: Just a tad late......

Ah.....life.  Sure can getcha sometimes. I'm not surprised I missed May.....but sewing/crafting sure helps to keep things moving along, doesn't it??

So, this blue/brown number was supposed to be Lila's birthday dress(March) but no dice.  It's the Pretty as a Picture dress from AMH  Handmade Beginnings book.  Flower panel and brown voile from Little Folks and blue/brown stripe is from Innocent Crush voile - all from Anna Maria Horner (I do so love her!!This video is awesome!)

I iron while I sew the garment - NEVER after it's finished though.  I've heard it's bad luck....

  The dress is super cute and comfy i.e. she actually picks it off the hanger herself.  I altered it on accident by making the neck hole too small - I will not cross over as much on the top next time. 

 I altered it on purpose by taking the elastic off the back panel.  It was just a tad too snug with the elastic across the back.  I think it was still on in this pic.  Having the gathers on the sides only looks better to me :) 

I also altered it on purpose by changing up the front panel- I added brown strips to either side of the flower panel until it was the correct width.  I followed the pattern for the back.  I have another one cut out in almost the same fabrics.  I don't know why :)  Maybe because I have twin sisters - I like doubles?

During the week, I HAD to make the Seahorse Sundress from Oliver & S.  It's so freaking cute - but I don't know about a one scissor rating..... lots'o pieces to cut out.   I cut out double of everything because of the off-center nature of the fabric.  It was sort of a puzzle to pick which ones to put with what(huh?)  but I really like how both dresses came out.   And wow does my girl ever like pockets!!  I love her search-for-pockets pose.  Pockets in dresses are awesome!! 

After finishing the one above, I decided it needed some hand stitching.  In my opinion, it came out so awesome!!  I did only hand stitching on the yoke of the second dress. 

I love how the hand stitching looks on the dresses.  Here's both dresses side by side.  I used AMH Good Folks line.  I also used snaps instead of buttons.  Someday I will not be afraid of button holes.....someday....



Dress Fronts

A lot of influence from AMH, but also I've been recently re-hooked on my Alabama Chanin books.   I bought myself this (I guess I wear mine backwards!oops)  and some other goodies from them for Mom's day.  I would love this or this.  I will sew this one from the pattern in the book.  The bridal is so amazing... I could go on forever!



Dress Backs

Happy Wednesday!

New Sandbox Pants

He grows and grows....and more get made. This first pair is for Atlas, size 4. We call these the book pants.

Made with Anna Maria Horner's Volumes(I think) from the Drawing Room line and Oliver & S Sandbox pants.  I love love love these pants and almost have the directions memorized!

 Twill tape for the drawstrings shaves at least 10-15 minutes off of the total time to make these.....

my kinda thing!

 I didn't worry much about fussy cutting the back pockets like I did the front.

 These are a pair made from green and white ticking with Echino for the pockets and waistband.  I love the way these look together.  I wanted to find a semi-girly way to do these pants.

 More twill tape!

 Another pair of book pants

 I cut all the back pockets for the book pants with the grain going the "wrong" way - just to see....

I like how it looks....it's more noticeable in person, especially as this fabric has a little sheen to it.

The last two pairs are being donated to Atlas' school.  I never finished them in time for the auction in March...so we will have a mini auction just for the pants.

Zen Shorts, some winners, the Grammys 2001 and a coat

Allie is the winner of the small bundle.....she guessed the book correctly!!  ZEN SHORTS!!
The Zen books by John Muth are my absolute favorites right now. Life changing really!!  I think they are awesome gifts for kids and adults.  I gave my dad one for Christmas.  They are in sort of an order, so I would start with Zen Shorts.  For real yo!

For the big bag of Bohemian - I used random.org to get #22 - Dana from Old Red Barn Co.   Her best birthday was last year......she got an oven.....I wanted to make fun of her, but I really wanted a new ironing board for my birthday - so I really have no room to talk, huh?

My best birthday would have to be my 21st.  My dad knew the guy who was in charge of the webcast for the Grammys (first year they were on the web I think), so he was able to get us tickets.  It was really surreal and strange, to tell you the truth.  B.B. King wished me a happy birthday.  EmmyLou Harris is so so so beautiful.  Aimee Mann is so so so thin.  Fred Durst was so so so drunk(I think). 
It was the year of the Eminem and Elton John drama/duet.  It was a pretty amazing show, the two of them singing "Stan" with Elton singing the Dido part of the song.  Blue Man Group did a thing with Moby and Jill Scott - that was totally cool - I wish I could remember the song name.....I have to go put some Moby on right now!
I didn't stay out that late or even drink much (it was me and my dad :)love you pops!).  I remember my feet killing me (awful heels) and just wanting to go back to the hotel and sleep.  It was very surreal - even more so thinking back on it now...

Oh, and rather than have a photo-less post, I will include the coat I finished two weeks ago.  It's a Heidi and Finn pattern and it was so flippin' easy.  Seriously.  Oh, even better, Lila actually likes it and wears it.  It is two sizes to big, but that is a minor detail around these parts....

I used 4 very different vintage buttons and I love how they all match perfectly.....in their own way......

sort of....

Wowzers!  Bold choice of lining fabric, wouldn'tcha say......

It's all from Anna Maria Horner's Innocent Crush line......velveteen outside.......quilting cotton for the lining

Some more vintage buttons on the back.

Um.....yes, yes that is some selvedge showing......

I think it adds personality.......don't you?

:)

Oh good golly, that sure is loud.

I really, really, really love it. 

Okay....I think that will do it for the world's longest and most RANDOM post ever!!!

My baby girl turns 2 tomorrow, so I'm off to try and sew/finish something for her birthday.....

xoxo

Raven

Monday Stacks - One for me, One for you :)

Okay, Monday Stacks are just as good as Sunday Stacks! 

Really - an extra day to sit is better.....right? 

 Brown and Cream Matroyshkas from Heather Ross, 2 Kona solids, and 4 shot cottons

I think it would make for a cute little girl quilt.

Oh, what's this?  Some Bohemian from Anna Maria Horner?

FOR YOU!!

Oh, this is the one for you!

As it is my birthday today.....I would like to give you a gift.

I have decided "I like to give gifts on my birthday, to celebrate the day I was born"

So, for one of you, this lovely bundle of Boho!

I was sort of speedy with my cuts, but there are approximately 9 yards or so here.

So, in order to win this, please leave me a comment with your best birthday memory ever.

I will close the comments next Monday 2/28.

Also, that funny little quote I have up there is from a modern children's book.  If anyone can guess the name of the book, I have a little mini bundle for you.  It's my most favorite book right now!! 

Name that book!

My friend and I worked on an auction quilt all weekend, it's amazing!  Hopefully some pictures soon.

Tonight, I'll be hanging out with my Modern Quilt Guild.  Yep, quilt guild meeting for my birthday.  It sounds funny, but I'm actually excited.  If you had told me 10 years ago how I would be spending 31st birthday at a quilt meeting, I would have laughed in your face.  But here I am and I love it!!

xo, Raven :)

THE BEST WEEKEND EVER

I know, I can be a leeeeeeetle bit dramatic sometimes, but really, it was the best weekend ever.  And I can sum it up with this picture. 

I was so so so happy this entire weekend.  It was for meeeeeeeeee, and there hasn't really been anything like that in my life since....forever it seems.  I really realized that I cannot be a good spouse or a good parent or a good employee, or a good anything for that matter, if I am not a happy person.   Yes, I got that from this weekend.  Sometimes, you just need a break....

I learned quite a few things about garment sewing, pattern use, invisible zippers, elastic, carbon paper, and much more.  Which every time I said ooooh, or aaaaaah, Anna Maria would point out that all of these things were discussed in her book, and if only I had read her book.......  She is seriously so darn funny.  And so is Heather.  Between the two of them, I couldn't stop laughing all weekend.  I am fairly certain that all of us had a super great time.  I am bummed that I missed the group photo, but I would have been all sweaty in the picture from schlepping the ridiculous amount of fabric I brought, from my room back to the car.

I am not a dress person, but I've loved Anna Maria Horner's Evening Empire dress.  Except for the gathers at the waist.  I can't have that (less, less in that area!).   Soooooo, I/we decided to mix the top of the dress with the Yard Sale Skirt from Heather's book-basically just cut out the 6 gores.  It came out insanely cool.  There was math involved, and measuring, and the making of a muslin for the top of the dress(my first).  All in all, I came to the sewing realization that those extra few steps that seem like a waste of time-- are really quite worth it!

 And carbon paper!  All this time I had the tracing wheel- and never knew the true use.  I really should read the front of my sewing books more!  So much information! 

The group of ladies that were there with me this weekend were so much fun.  I really did not take enough pictures and I wish I had more of everyone there!  I just had so much fun hanging out with people who sew and know the words that I say (please tell me that you know what I am talking about).  It was like a Mod. Quilt guild meeting, but all freaking weekend!!!!  Awesomeness!

If anyone out there ever has a chance to do anything like this - DO IT!!!  It was such an amazing experience!!  Thank you to everyone who was there......it was the best!!

I'll try to take some pics today of my stack of AMH Bohemian for the giveaway........hopefully I can get that posted within the week........

xo
Raven