December

It has been a fun and busy December, and most all of it was geared towards Christmas.  I did several quilts, but this post is about everything other than quilts.

This is our Christmas Card photo.  Funny thing is, I haven't sent cards for years, and my daughter arranged this family photo shoot so I would have choices for our cards this year.  Photos were chosen, cards were ordered in November and they arrived on Christmas Eve.  Seriously?  Well, they were mailed out late, and that is all I can do about that.

I hosted my annual cookie decorating party for eleven very young children.  It was a huge success, and a nice chance for childhood friends, who are now young mothers to get together.  I gave each child a metal tray to work in, and that really helped to control the sprinkles.  I also learned that putting the frosting into squeeze bottles was the best method for the kids to get the frosting on the cookies.

After decorating, we all had lunch and time to play and visit some more.

I finished four Maggie Rabbits and they are just as cute as can be.

I made two sets of these wool ornaments from Rosie Little Things  The detail and design in these kits is wonderful.

I made Micah a darling backpack with the cutest chicken fabric and coordinated fabric.  She wore it most of Christmas morning, but getting a photo was difficult.

Ethan got a new backpack too. This backpack pattern from Made by Rae is such a great pattern, and fits a toddler perfectly.

I gave Ethan some lacing cards because he often asks me if he can help me sew.  He loved them, and as you can see so did Holly (in her new Christmas dress) and Micah.

My son is a stay at home dad so I made him a "manly"  diaper bag from some chicken feed bags using quilt as you go techniques.  The pattern for this Aeroplane bag is another fabulous pattern.  I made my daughter a bag out of coordinating fabric, but alas I cannot find the photo.

And some of the several seasonal dresses I made for the girls.  Sewing for these girls has become my latest passion.  This geranium dress pattern  goes together easily, and it is just so darn cute.

 We celebrated the four Sundays of Advent, and the last Sunday we had a birthday party for Jesus.

My December was busy and memorable.  Between quilting and creating other gifts, we all had our share of being sick and changes of schedules, an unexpected power outage on what was my busiest work day of the month.  Everything worked its way out, and I had plenty of time to enjoy my children, grand children and the rest of our family.  Memories were made.
I wish you all a Happy New Year and thanks for joining me through this year.

Esther

Creating Angels

I was asked to make some angels for our church for Christmas decorations.  My guidelines were they should be "white, and light and accented with gold"  The rest was up to me.  Boy did I have fun with this.

Here is one finished, hanging up at home for final adjustments.

I drew up a pattern for the wings, and then outlined it onto beautiful bridal satin, and started quilting.  This was so much fun.  I felt so creative, and I wasn't nervous about it, just excited.  I was so in the zone.

I used gold metallic thread, and had no troubles at all.  These were big feathers on a double batting,

A finished wing,  now to make an angel

After completing her head and face, I realized that she was too pale, and wouldn't show up against the white wings, so I had to give her a new face.  I basically made a glove for her face, slipped it over the existing face, and stitched near her hair line.  I did the same thing with her hands.

For her hair, I used a multi colored fabric, and sprinkled loose thread all over it, covered it with a solvable topping, and then quilted her hair.

For her "body" I made just the idea of a bodice, but later had to make that longer so I could anchor her skirt to it.  I consider her a quilt as you go angel.  There was such a freedom, and creative release while making her, because there were no rules, no pattern, and it just all sort of grew and morphed together.

And now the two angels are hanging in our church.  They are nearly nine feet tall, and four feet wide.  Behind her head and hair, and inside her blouse, I used tulle, just bunched up a bit to give her some dimension.  It made a very positive difference.

During set up, but you can get a sense of her size here.

Well, to say it all again, I totally enjoyed working on these angels.  The challenge, the freedom, and the creative exercise was so exciting.  I am not sure what it was exactly, but I was definitely in the zone, and enjoyed each step of it.  Thanks for joining me.

Esther

Thankful

The list is long, and while I am often restless, and distracted, I am truly grateful for so many things.  God continues to bless and challenge me.

We started off this Thanksgiving walking in the "Run for Food" run/walk.  It was a beautiful morning, and a great way to start off the day.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Esther

This quilt makes me happy

This fun yellow flower quilt is not only bright, but it is huge. And it was made be a 93 year old quilter.

Here it is folded in quarters and hanging before quilting. 

I knew right away what I wanted to do with these huge 18" flowers.

Some pebbling, and echo lines make all the difference. I think it brought the flowers to life.

 

In the background I wanted to do a similar but different motif.  I tested it out like this by making a sample with my domestic machine to see how I would like it.  I liked it, but it still needed more to fill the empty space between the flowers.  Feathers, I love feathers, and it did just what I wanted it to do.

This just brought it all together.  

 The wide borders were filled all the way around with big bold feathers.

It was such a pleasure and an honor to work on this quilt.  Thanks for joining me on my journey, I appreciate it. 

 Esther

Practicing with a purpose

I am a longarm quilter, but I also want to learn how to quilt on a domestic.  I think it would come in handy from time to time, and it is a skill I want to learn.  But, I am not good at practicing.  I doodle, and practice, but I don't do it with intent, or very seriously if that makes any sense.  Well, I figured out a way to practice my FMQ on a domestic, and auditioning a design at the same time.

I stitched out this motif using my domestic machine, using FMQ techniques.  Then I was able to use as a good visual by pinning it to the quilt I want to use the motif on.

This picture is actually a paper template, but using the quilted sample, I was able to get a much better idea how it would look.

So, I used it in my next quilt.

Thanks, Esther

Birthdays, babies, cookies and cake

Holly and Zeb both celebrated birthdays recently, and here is a recap of those celebrations.  

I made Holly a  Katarina Kitty Cat cake,( from the Daniel Tiger series on PBS.  If you have little ones, and you are not familiar with Daniel Tiger, you really should check it out.  

 Ethan wanting just a taste of the frosting

Make a wish Holly

  Holly's dress was made from one of my daughters old dresses, and I love it.  It is the Olivia Dress, and it is a great pattern.  I recommend it to any one who sews for little girls.

Presents!

Happy Birthday little Holly!

Micah planned her brother Zeb's first birthday party, and it all started with bumble bee cookies.  I only have this photo of the girls decorating.  I am sure you can use your imagination and visualize the finished cookies.

 In addition to the cookies, Micah and I made bumble bee cupcakes.

Say Cheese!!!

Here are our bumble bee cupcakes, and being the Craftsy addict that I am, I used this video as inspiration for our cupcakes.

The box is always better than the gift inside.

Happy first birthday Zebby!

Celebrating our special days, one moment at a time.

Esther

Antique Quilt Quilted

You may remember this challenging project that I have been working on, and I am glad to say that it is almost finished.  This has been a pull your hair out joyful and rewarding project to work on.  I posted my recreation plan here if you are interested.

This DWR quilt came to me in pieces, and seeing it all together makes me very pleased.  Here is how I quilted this one.

Some of the blocks had some extra fullness that I needed to contain with my quilting.  I chose a meandering feather and Cathedral  Windows.  Both of these worked well to handle the fullness.

I did SID in all the curved shapes, and at the intersection of the rings I did a simple continuous curve design.

In the blocks I alternated between the meandering feather and the Cathedral Windows.

A shot of the back

I am so very satisfied that I was able to restore and salvage this family treasure, it was worth every painstaking stitch and frustration.  There is such a history, and a connection to the other quilter that I felt while working on this piece.  I am honored that I was a part of this project.  Now all that is left is the binding around all those curves.  

Thanks for joining me through this challenge, I appreciate the company and support.

Esther