Coaster Swap

Turns out Mother's Day came early.  Mom and I both made a set of quilted coasters for last night's Minneapolis Modern Quilt Guild swap.  Then we reached into the pillowcase and pulled out eachothers' sets.  So she got these:

And I got these:

(Mom loves Tula Pink.)

Last month, I had to miss our guild meeting because I had concert tickets.  Alyssa Thomas had a trunk show and I missed it but mom -that sweetie!- got an autographed copy of Sew & Stitch Embroidery for me.

So that's how I was inspired to use a free Penguin and Fish embroidery pattern (the one you get for subscribing to the  email newsletter) for the little animals on my coasters.  Stitched on Essex linen, backed with Indian Summer, and pepped-up with some scraps -- including Carolyn Friedlander's Ledger, my very favorite print in the world.

These were so easy to make and reminded me how much I love hand embroidery.


So guess what I'll be doing this weekend.

Word to your mothers!

-Kristin

More Pillow Talk

It was my mom's birthday last week.  (I mention her a ton on this blog 'cause she's just so awesome.)  Anywho, this is what I made for her special day:

Front

Back

     I was inspired by this quilt at Diary of a Quilter (one of my earliest pins -- almost a year ago!)  I picked up the Sarah Jane Studio's Children at Play fabric quite a while ago; it's one of the few pieces I have that's bigger than a quarter yard.  This was also my very first zipper experience but it went pretty well.  The nylon zipper is ancient!  I experimented with some variegated thread (Coats and Clark, Dual DutyXP #9314) on the back which made it really fun to do.  Here's a closeup:

     Besides the main applique/fabric design mentioned earlier, I especially liked this tutorial at Pile O'Fabric for the back.  I added piping and quilted it using my feed dogs...no FMQ for this girl yet! The batting is Fusi-Boo (fusible bamboo.) It's quite thin and was easy to work with but I can't attest for washing/durability.  The insert is a twenty-inch square duck down pillow from IKEA for only $7.  I named it Mister Cuddlekins and intended to keep him but after many hugs, decided I shouldn't give my mother a pillow cover with no filling for her birthday.  Ah well, another trip to IKEA then.

Happy Mother's Day

Another day, another project.  This one is for my mom, Sharon.  The bag is from a tutorial on Design Sponge and the needle book is the second one I've made from a simple pattern I found on Pinterest/ MyThreeSons blog.  The printed fabric is from mom's stash.  She gave it to me to make a lunch bag but I decided  to surprise her with this (I still have more to make all sorts of other things.)

At my urging,  we recently joined the Minneapolis Modern Quilt Guild (this is my way of making her sew more - and with me; she's terrific at it but talks and reads far more about quilting than she actually quilts.)  Also, I just want to hang out with her much of the time because she is cool and laughs easily.  Inside is a new magazine, "Quiltmaker's 100 blocks Volume 5."  I hope she will tote projects and inspiration around proudly this summer and doesn't look too critically at my stitches.

I'm looking forward to the coming months, full of new projects and spending time with my family.




 

Projects Little and Big.

 Today I put together this little lunch bag from Pink Penguin's tutorial.  I have admired it on Pinterest and on several blogs...so I knew I had to try it.  I've noticed I seem to put yellow into everything I sew now.

Since I talked my mom into joining the Minneapolis Modern Quilt Guild, I thought I better make a quilt fast so they don't know I'm such a poser.  These are granny square blocks from a tutorial here using a Moda charm pack of "Fairy Tale Friends" by American Jane. They are full of flaws but I love them more every day.