My first attempt in a long time

I haven't tried machine quilting in a long time. In fact, I've only machine quilted 2 baby quilts with mediocre results so I've been hesitant to try again.

I decided to start with a very simple pattern, straight lines sewn at a 90 degree angle.

I really like how it turned out. And of course, I didn't make it for me, but I like it enough that I want to keep it. Just like all the rest I make :)

Another I-spy

My latest craft obession just happens to be I-spy squares. Thanks to Care of Obessively Stitching, I've found my newest addiction. (Her husband was one of my friends in Ecuador).

Last week (or maybe the week before) she started another I-spy swap, but I had worked a really long day at work (like 12 hours) and by the time I got home and saw the swap, it was already past full. But she had linked to another I-spy swap and lucky for me, there was room. Here's my squares that I sent in.

I can't wait to see what comes back.

Another denim quilt

I love flannel and I love shopping for flannel. I found this cute frog flannel during the after thanksgiving flannel sale. Ryan's sister loves frogs (or at least she did at one time) so I started forming an idea. I still had plenty of squares left to make another denim quilt. This one didn't take near as long as the last one and the best part was Ryan helped me tie it so it was only on the quilt frames for about 24 hours.

Cute Frogs!

More Raggedy Ann and Andy

I picked up this fleece panel of Raggedy Ann and Andy several years ago when I was collecting RA&A fabric. Since my sister, Lara, is going to have a RA&A baby room, I've been making all sorts of things for her with the fabric. I made this during summer, but I couldn't post it here since she might see it.

I used pinking shears to cut the strips around the edge so I could tie them. It took hours and I ended up with very sore hands and a blister or two. Later Crescent, another sister, told me she had a cutting blade that cut like pinking shears. Next time I'll borrow that.

I gave it to Lara for Christmas. Hope she likes it because I sure do.

Erin's scrappy quilt gifted to Alisa

I haven't posted on here in a while. It was all about keeping the secrets at Christmas. I made several presents for my sisters in November and December, but I couldn't post them here just in case they happened to look here. I'll post those projects soon, but my sister Erin just sent me a picture of the scrap quilt she made. Another sister, Alisa, saw her making it and begged her to give it to her. Then she begged to borrow it "one day". They she flat out asked to borrow it. Still the answer was no. Then on Christmas morning she opened up her gift and got her wish. The scrap quilt was hers to keep! (or that's the story I was told)

Erin with the pieced front of the scrappy quilt.

The back of the scrappy quilt

Erin used upholstery fabric scraps that she picked up from somewhere (thrift store maybe?). I'm just in love with scrappy quilts lately. Now she needs to make another one for her to keep. But if she does, maybe I'll ask for that one.

Fleece quilts from scraps

I have a really hard time throwing away scraps. I just think I need it some day. Especially when it comes to scraps of fabric. I have several boxes of just scraps. And to my credit, I have used those scraps for different projects. Remember the bags we made while my nieces were here? From the scraps box...but that could be a completely different post...things I've made from scraps.

This weekend I got the crafting itch. It's been a while since I've spent some time in my craft room. We've been spending most of our time working in our backyard getting it ready for sprinklers and lawn and a better garden area. I wanted to make another fleece scrap quilt. I made one exactly 1 year ago and something in me needed to do it again.

Several years ago (probably 5 or 6) my sister picked up some fabric scraps from somewhere, maybe the DI, I'm not sure. She kept them for a couple of years, then she passed them onto my mom who kept them for a couple of years. My mom was cleaning out getting ready to move and she gave them to me. I packed them up and moved them with us to CA and them moved them to CO. As I was unpacking and settling into our new house in CO, I went through all my fabric boxes to see what I had and to pick out some projects. I looked in the big bag of fabric scraps and decided I was never going to use these, I had no idea what I could even make out of this weird fabric. It was a fleece of sorts, but a bit like carpet (but really soft). I finally gave up and threw the bag of scraps in the trash. Not even 20 minutes later I ran to the trash to fish out the scrap bag. I just couldn't do it. There must be a use for these. I finally decided to make a blanket for us to use to while watching TV on the couch. I cut squares out and it was not as big as I wanted so I added some flannel squares from the same flannel I used for the backing to make it a little bit bigger. This has ended up being the warmest quilt in the house. We love it!


After a church service project last year, there were scraps of fleece left that were about to be tossed into the trash when I asked if I could take them home. The bright blue plaid and circles fleece I got free from Craig's list last year. The grey squares came from a failed fleece jacket for sewing class my sister did in school. My mom didn't want to waste the fleece as it was expensive so she had my sister unpick everything and then she stored the fleece for however many years and finally cleaned out and I took it. I knew at some point I would have a use for it. And the other squares are scraps from projects I've worked on.


For the back, I used some navy flannel I've had kicking around for years and didn't know what to do with it. I stitched it all together this weekend and then tied it. I'm thinking of giving it to my brother for a wedding gift for when they are too poor to heat their house and need a cuddle blanket for the couch. I'll have to see when the time comes if Ryan will actually let me part with the warm fuzzy blanket.