More of the same

Since this doll quilt was made from a bunch of feedsacky charm squares, I didn't have anything exactly matchy to make the pillowcase out of.



But I think I found cuter than matchy with this 30s-ish fabric. It makes me hungry for an olive assortment.

Doll pillowcases are pretty tiny, so my quarter-yard left plenty of fabric to play with. ...and I made something a little silly. I'll show you tomorrow. Don't laugh. And try not to think that I'm dumb.

Miss Maddy Sews-A-Lot

We love spreading the joy that is sewing camp, and, since my niece got her very own sewing machine this year, she had to join us for camp. Mandatory. (Thanks for letting her come, Becky!)

She made...


...a placemat...


...a nine-patch pillow...


...a purple sewing-supplies tote, and that adorable, pink cherry fabric is her nearly-complete pajama pants!

We're so proud!

...and while I'm here....


What do you think of these, Sarah? I wanted to get some green ginger blossoms too, but they were fresh out.

Going Somewhere?

Whenever we load up the hooligan wagon, I look behind me and get a warm, fuzzy feeling.I just love seeing my little kidlets all together, ready to set out on a new adventure.


...then I start driving and the horror begins.

Me: Stop fighting or we'll go straight home. (A total lie and they know it.)
Anonymous Kid: We're not fighting - we're playing!
Me: Well it sounds the same, so stop it!

OR

"I'm not hitting Annika with my shirt...it's Booboo's shirt."

OR

I just keep turning the radio up louder and louder until the kids notice that I'd like them to be quieter. If they're really bad - it's "learn Italian in 10 minutes a day".

Sham - Wow!

I know - that title makes me sound way too impressed by my own handiwork...but I couldn't resist it. This sham is to go with a quilt I gave one of my little nieces.


Zipper at the back...that would be hidden if I had bothered to iron it after it went through the wash. Oops. :)


Cute quilted details on the ends. I only added these because the sham was *ahem* too long...and they're my favorite part.


Sadly, I don't think I ever took a finished picture of the quilt this sham belongs to.

Stage one:


Stage two:


Maybe my Mom will get a chance to snap a photo of it for me?...so there's still hope that you'll see it some day.

Goldfinch Pillow

This pillow was finished a while ago, but it has taken me forever to wash it and buy an insert for it....both of which "finished" it.


If you recall, I made this pillow to accompany the bird quilt I got for Christmas. Where did I get the bird? I don't even know who makes that fabric (doesn't it look a bit Japanese to you?), but it came in my House on Hill Road scrap bag...


...along with the pretty brown, floral print that I used on the front and the back. Big "scrap" - I know! I love the lilies of the valley on it!


Matchy brown zipper. Same red that the bird quilt was bound in.


Voila.

Happy Seventh, Ya Crazy Boy!

Jonny had his seventh birthday on Friday. He's changed so much just since then. First off, he's super-rich with birthday money....and he's too old to let his mother kiss him. Don't get me wrong - I'm still kissing him. It's just a little awkward when I have to sit on him at the same time. My only consolation: he still looks 6.


Jon wanted brownies for his birthday. Boring. I make brownies at least every other week. So, I added a graham cracker crust and marshmallows to make them s'more brownies. Everyone except Jonny liked them. Ya' win some; ya lose some.


Also, I finished another doll quilt. This one is ownerless, since I'm not sure who would like this color scheme. We'll see. :)

Lucy's Quilt

A while back the hooligans and I listened to a book called The Silent Boy. I always have mixed emotions about Lois Lowery books. Depressing realism? Hope for humanity? I don't usually know what to walk away with, and this one was no different. However, I loved the child's perspective. It was very honest. ...and in addition to wanting to join her game of "tragedy and disaster" (where she and her friend inevitably pretend-die at the end of every round), I loved her confused, persistent questioning when her neighbor told her that his mother found their new baby in the garden, when she went out to pick tomatoes. My kids would never buy it either. (...but they might at least pretend to...it sounds like a fun fantasy.)

So, would you believe that I found this cradle in the garden, amongst the lettuces?


I didn't...but doesn't that sound sweeter than Goodwill?

It's for Lucy. Yes, I know it's well past her birthday, but I've been busy swimming, baking, not cleaning...and driving kids all over creation. Fun Stuff. I threw in the cradle to make up for the fact that her pillow still isn't finished.


This quilt (I think someone called it a Swiss Cross - sounds good to me!) is honestly one of my favorites. I may even make myself a big one to keep.


It was inspired by this project on Sew Mama Sew and is backed with a lovely bright yellow and orange floral....reminds be of something Anna Maria Horner would design...if it had stags bounding across it...courtesy of my MIL. Thanks Wanda!