Ranch Hand Quilt

My newest quilt finish, and the first since February – the Ranch Hand Baby Quilt.  

The fabrics are leftovers from the Sparkle Punch baby quilt made for my nephew – but without the Star Wars fabric.  I loved the color combo so much and had a bunch of extra squares, so I made up a simple patchwork quilt.  You may have seen progress pictures on Instagram. 

The quilt measures 36”x36”.  I backed it in this almost-vintage Alexander Henry print (from my mom’s stash, purchased when I was little) featuring cow hands and made the binding from the last bits of two of the feature fabrics.  

The quilting is organic straight line quilting on either side of all seams. 

I had a little fun with the photo shoot, digging out the rocking horse and dragging it to the edge of the hay field.  Pretty sure my neighbors think I’m nuts. 

Ranch Hand is listed for sale in my shop.

Sparkle Punch Baby Quilt

Today I’m sharing my first quilt finish of 2015 – a baby quilt for my nephew.  My sister-in-law is due in March, and I threw her a baby shower a couple weeks ago, so I had to have an awesome gift.  

The pattern is the Sparkle Punch QAL by Elizabeth Hartman of Oh!Fransson.  I started off planning for a 48”x48” quilt, but partway through I was getting tired of the sew, check, press, trim, press, trim for EVERY PIECE OF EVERY BLOCK.  So I changed it to a 36”x48” quilt.  Quicker to finish, and I can use the extra squares for another project.  

The effect of the crazy pressing and trimming is awesome, but the whole obligation sewing thing (even when I am the one deciding on said obligation sewing) combined with my sewing ADD/flakiness was putting me over the edge with this one.  I have something like four new projects I want to start (plus my UFOs), so I wanted to get this one done.  

I was 75% done with the top and had a slump.  A couple nights procrastinating and I finally put on my big girl pants and finished up the top. 

By that time I was on a deadline, so I made this quilt my biotch and finished it up stat.  

I do like the color scheme and the fabrics.  They are mostly new, but I have leftovers to add to the stash.  Can I just say, the steak fabric is freaking awesome, especially since we are a farming family.  It’s from the Farm to Fork collection by Lily Gonzalez-Creed for Windham.  The mustard/gold Glamping dots are pretty nifty as well.  And the Moo fabric is Milk Cow Kitchen by Mary Jane for Moda.  I have some of the feed sack fabric from that collection waiting for the right project.   

**Linking up to Finish It Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts**

Momo Baby Quilt

I have such original quilt names - one thing I've never been great at is clever names (except for my babies - they have adorable names).

This quilt top was sewn up a couple of years ago with extra blocks and leftover fabric from Summer's Quilt.  A couple weekends ago I pulled it off the shelf, pieced a batting, basted, and quilted it in one evening.  The next night I got it bound and ta-da!  Baby quilt.

 

The quilt measures about 40"x40" (ish).  I tried spiral quilting for the first time, and I definitely want to do it again on a crazy scrappy quilt.

Update 6/6/2015: This quilt is listed for sale in my Big Cartel shop. 

Linking up to Finish It Up Friday with Crazy Mom Quilts

Will's Nursery

It's been a great while since I checked in.  Will is 4 months old, I'm back at work, the garden is finally coming in, and life is just hectic.  But we are trying to do some fun things this summer with Sam as a family, so that is fun too. 

I was home from work with Sam the other day, so I took a little time and photographed Will's nursery.  There is one more project I'd like to do for over his crib and the curtains still haven't been hemmed, but I figured I needed to get some pictures anyways.

This room is impossible to photograph with my regular lens, but I tried my best.  I didn't style much since I was doing this while at home with a sick kid (he's fine now).  It's a small room, but perfect for a nursery.  The walls are Analytical Gray by Sherwin Williams.  It is a perfect warm but not pink gray and works really well with the stained trim (bane of my existence).  For reference, here's my original mood board for the nursery.

I did get the stuffed puppy (it's made by Jellycat), and I sewed the quilt (in this post).  The rocker turned out different - I used my great grandma's glider but didn't get around to reupholstering it.  It works with the existing faux leather for now.

I love the gallery wall.  Love, love.  The top left picture is one I drew when I was 5 years old - my cousin found it and gave it to me for Christmas.   The frames are Ikea and Michaels and Target.  The clock was from Lowes.  The Fe canvas I made using a DIY image transfer method.  The footprint canvas is Will's one-month footprint.  The W is from Michaels - I painted it black and distressed.  The baskets on the changing table shelf are from Target, the bins on the bottom from TJMaxx - both are Curver brand.

The changing pad cover is one I made from large buffalo check fabric.  I tried to improvise, and it took me three tries to get it right.  I should have just followed the tutorials I read instead of trying to be cool and do it my own way.

Curtains I made from white linen-look fabric.  The curtain rods are EMT electrical conduit and wood craft finials I spray painted ORB.  The blinds are fruitwood ones from Home Depot, and the wall lamp is from Lowes.  Rug and ottoman are from Target.

 I had planned to do a large rustic map art over the crib, but I haven't finished it yet.  So for now the TJMaxx art hangs over the end of the crib.  I made the crib skirt and sheet.  The sheet is black and white hounds tooth; I also have one with cows on it.

I should have taken photos of the closet, but I was lazy.  I painted out all the shelving while I was pregnant and added baskets.  His clothes are so cute hanging on the tiny little hangers inside.  I didn't style the bookshelf - the top shelf is stuffed full of newborn cloth diapers he's outgrown.  One of these days I'll get a tote and put them in the storage room.

 This hook was a wedding present from some friends, and now it holds little ball caps in the little corner between the closet and window.  It's just a cute detail that makes me happy.

I'm pretty proud of this nursery; I feel like it's my best room yet.  There are things I'd like to tweak/add, but I pretty much did it all myself while I was pregnant with William, and I adore this room.  I think it is a good take on my original mood board, and if the boys ever need to share a room I think the decor from Will's room and Sam's room will blend really well with each other.

*Crib and changing table we had from when Sam was a baby - they are Delta Martine collection.  And the bookshelf is from Target.

A little something

Will is already outgrowing his newborn diapers, so I have started on bigger ones.  The plan is for mostly one-size pockets to use at daycare and around the house, but to also have several sized fitteds to use with diaper covers.

Over the course of a couple days in early May, I managed to get this one done.

I learned a lot from his newborn diapers - what patterns I liked, which fabric combos worked best, where to and not to apply snaps, my preferred method of inserting elastic, etc.

This diaper is a size small fitted diaper made from the Very Baby pattern.  It's a knit print on the outside, a middle layer of microfiber (microfiber auto toweling from Costco), and an inner layer of microfleece.  Plus a sewn in booster of microfiber and knit print, and a snap-in soaker of microfiber and microfleece.  I had to try it out as soon as I finished it.  Of course after I snapped pictures I put a cover on over it.

So cute!

And when I changed him later the microfleece was just damp in the front, so it seemed to do a good job with my heavy wetter.

 

Now onto the other 29 or so . . . eventually I'll get them all done.

Will's Quilt

This quilt was actually finished months ago, but I never got around to photographing it.  It's a Carrie Nelson design featured in American Patchwork & Quilting (back in 2006 I believe).  It had been on my list for years.  It was actually very easy and quick to piece, and I LOVE it.

The quilt is 48"x48".

 Front

 Pieced back

Details of the quilting

It's getting lots of use for tummy time right now.

I think it's one of my favorites ever.  :-)

Cloth Diapers

With my firstborn, I wanted to do cloth diapers but didn't have much support.  I purchased a few things - some covers in various sizes, a few contours, some pockets, and a couple all-in-ones, but didn't have enough to really use them full-time or even part-time. 

I checked with my sitter earlier in this pregnancy to see how she felt about cloth diapers, and she actually has two babies in cloth right now, so she was open.  Hooray!  And with a few more years of sewing experience under my belt, I feel much better about trying to sew some to use in combination with my small stash of purchased diapers.  I feel like I have better support this time around as well and am more comfortable dealing with naysayers. 

It's not so much that I want to be environmentally friendly as that I am cheap.  I think so far I've spent about $200 on my materials for cloth diapers (not including the tons of fabric I have in my stash that I bought back for the firstborn and never used for anything) and have made 22 diapers so far and still have tons of materials left for lots  more.  At roughly $30 a box and about a box a month for disposables, I'll break even before the baby hits a year old.  And our firstborn didn't potty train until 2.5 years old.  Plus, they are easy to make and so stinking cute!!!

Here's my first - using the Very Baby Fitted pattern (again, phone pics - pregnant lady is lazy). 

I have done mostly Very Baby's with some Cloth Revolutions in there to try something different.  So far I have made newborn sized diapers - my purchased pockets are all adjustable one-size but probably won't fit for a bit since this baby is supposed to be on the small side (bigger than his 4lb 7.5oz brother, but not 8lbs either).  I will get the NB sized diapers made, figure out which ones/fabrics work the best on baby, and then start on some one-size diapers to round out the stash for when baby is bigger. 

So far I have made: 15 pockets, 2 covers, and 5 fitteds, with three fitteds in the works and about 11 more fitteds planned.  The worst part is the cutting out - the sewing goes together fast!  My favorite thing is adding the elastic to the fitteds - I love the way the 3-step zigzag stitch ruffles the fabric!

 

Baby's Quilt

Here are some progress pictures from Baby #2's quilt.  It's actually finished now, but I haven't gotten to take any beauty shots yet.  It was really quick to piece - I was a bit of a maniac. 

The pattern is Scrappy Stars by Carrie Nelson and was featured in the June 2006 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting (and yes, I've had the issue and the quilt on my list all this time). 

 Only picture of the completed quilt so far, and it doesn't show much.

 

Nursery Fabric

I got the big box that was the remainder of my nursery fabric orders today!  It's gorgeous - I'm so excited.  Here are the goodies:

Fabric for pillows (black for piping) for the rocker

 White denim (not pictured, it's just white) to reupholster this beaut

 Buffalo check for a changing table pad cover, and a cow print and hounds tooth for crib sheets

 The fabrics for the quilt - I pulled all from my stash that I could and then got a few more to give it a little extra variety - there's everything from pirates to deer to typography, stars, trucks, and bandanas.

This is from my trip to JoAnn's last weekend (how I miss thee, Christiansburg store!).  It's a flannel to make some pj pants for Sam.

 Also from the JoAnn's trip, a gray chevron and pretty yellow and gray geometric print to make some burp cloths from.  The baby may have hand me down clothes, furniture, and toys, but he'll have a stylin' nursery and burp cloths!

Baby #2 Nursery Inspiration

I worked on a post about all I did this weekend, but I don't have pictures or too much completed work to show yet, so I thought I'd share our news about Baby #2.

It's another boy!  I had wanted a girl at first but got to the point where I didn't care as long as it was healthy, so I am happy.  I love my Sam so much, and I have always had this feeling I'm going to end up with a houseful of boys.

Here's the "mood board" I put together for the nursery:

Sources: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Either warm brown caramel or light/airy beige walls with red, black, and white/cream accents.  We have espresso furniture.  I never got a glider/rocker with Sam, so I would love one like the Restoration Hardware one pictured, but that one is not in the budget.  I love the rustic/vintage/sophisticated accents and gallery wall, and somewhere there has to be black and white gingham - will definitely be making a sheet from it.  And the quilt - I have the pattern from 2006 when it was featured in AP&Q, so I'll be making a 48"x48" version.

I've already sweet talked my 83-year old grandma into making up some hats from patterns I found on Etsy.  She is going to crochet the baby something anyways, and she'll do it better than any attempt I could make.

I'm so pumped now to work on all my projects to get the house and nursery ready for our newest member - halfway down, and methinks the second half is going to go fast!

Sorry

I'm sorry I've been gone so long.  Here's the deal - it's not something we are keeping a secret, but we haven't made a big deal of it either - we bought a house.  In the summer of 2010.  Near my family.  We spent several months working on it during the weekends (painting and such).  The hubs is still finishing up school, so Sam and I have been living up at the new house since February, and we see hubs on the weekends.  It's not ideal by any means, but it's what we've had to do for right now.  Hopefully soon, hubs will be all finished, and we'll all be together again, but until then, I am DIYing by myself, with no internet and no satellite/cable at the new house.  So that's why I dropped off the face of the earth this summer . . . and why posts will be very infrequent for a few more months.  But don't worry, I am not quitting blogging; it's just a hiatus while I deal with bigger things in life.

With all that said, here are some projects I finished in 2011 - this summer and fall.

DIY welcome mat - spray paint and painters tape made a plain mat custom.

Sam's Bed - from the Ana White Farmhouse Toddler Bed plans (and made him a Thomas and Friends sheet from fabric he saw at the quilt shop)

A cutie skirt for a cousin - from the Riley Blake "It's a Cinch" Skirt tutorial

Drop cloth picture frame mat for a revamped Goodwill frame

In October I finally found a spot for my tobacco basket (don't mind the rest of the room; there are big changes coming there)

We celebrated Sam's second birthday with a loose Cars theme

I built some shelves to house Sam's toy baskets (Ana White - Grace's Shelves), but I used 1x4s and 1x3s for the sides and a project panel for the top instead of MDF or plywood.

I made a knock-off of Pottery Barn's Dinosaur Artwork for Sam's room - I'll have to do an easy tutorial for that one later.

Made several pillows, but forgot to take pictures of half of them

Copied a Pinterest idea and made an ornament wreath

Baby Quilt #1 - Ruby's quilt.  For quilting I just followed the designs in the fabric.  This is one I had the fabric and idea for a long time ago and was just waiting on the right time.

Baby Quilt #2 - a Swoon baby quilt.  The quilting is double crosshatching on the diagonal, and it's perfect for this quilt.

Our Stocking Hanger - made from pallet boards.  I absolutely love how this turned out.

Barbie clothes - I used patterns, but the fit was all over the board.  It seems no two Barbies are the same measurements anymore.

American Girl/18" doll clothes - It's amazing how much easier these are to make when compared to Barbie clothes.  I made the sweater from a thrift store sweater, just laid out the pattern pieces and made sure to zig-zag all the edges well.

And enjoyed Christmas.

I just yesterday picked my clamshell quilt back up after a lengthy break and have started on the 12th row.

Now I'm ready for the New Year.  I have plans to be super thrifty and tight and work on finishing up all the half-done and neglected projects lurking around my house - quilting, crafting, decor, and others.  I'm currently working on refinishing our stairs, which had carpet on them until last fall, and have just been waiting since then for their makeover.

I'm hoping for wonderful things in 2012!