Musings 001

In this photo you can see an unfinished bib and some petals for a bag.  Since I have soooo many 'leaders and ender' pieces I decided to do the same system but with a little more purpose.  Instead of scraps I'm going to try to use pieces from another project--e.g. petals, cat mice, or bibs.

Photoshop Fun

Started too Many Projects

Another bib underway. 

I started trimming my 'leaders n' enders' to 2" wide.  Then strip pieced them to make these squares.  I used one to make a bib.

As you can see, it's still in progress.  Not sure if I will make another like this, perhaps I'll just save the squares to make a lap quilt.  Any ideas out there for my scrap blocks???

I was the Guinea Pig

When I see a pattern in our buying habits I start thinking--How can I do this myself?  I no longer purchase granola bars, I've perfected a couple of great recipes.  My husband loves my peanut butter granola bars!

After being on a ravioli kick, I convinced my husband to make a batch with me.  Our first attempt...not so great.  The recipe said cook 10-15 minutes.  After 3 minutes my husband was insisting they looked done.  "They are even floating to the top," he said.  I told him if he really thought so he should take one out and try it.

I take the squirming babies to the living room and guess what happens next.

A minute later he brings me a bowl of ravioli, complete with sauce.  Surprised, I accept and prepared to admit I was wrong.  Until I tried them.  Under cooked!  When I asked if he tasted one he said, "no".  NO??? Guess, I'm the guinea pig. 

We went through this process once more.  For some reason, Husband was really timid with these ravioli so we still ended up eating an undercooked meal.  Oh well, we will try again soon but next time I'm in charge of the kitchen.

Block Experiment Turned Bib

I am definitely in a bib making phase.  It's fun, it's fast, and it's great practice. 

I started off experimenting with a technique found on Film in the Fridge (I'm so glad I wrote that down!); it's the starburst block.  I just wanted to try it, not necessarily take off on a whole quilt or something.  Because this was just an experiment I did not allow myself excessive time picking and choosing fabrics, only 5 minutes.  That must be a new sort of record. 

It was definitely a fun block, a bit time consuming, requiring a bit of anal attention to detail.  But it's just so cool when those points meet up exactly right. 

I have not been in the mood to start a new quilt project so I decided the block would be great as a bib.  Here is the template I made.  It's extra wide because I wanted to use up as much of my awesome block as possible.

 

All pinned, right sides together, ready to be sewn.  Don't forget to leave the opening for turning right side out!

All done!  I hand sewed the opening shut.  It's wild but I love it.

Lovely New Buttons

Again, I've been using mostly found images for my buttons.  I have sketches in the works.  My plan is to draw (and possibly paint), scan into the computer, and alter in photoshop.  Well, that program is giving me a lot of grief!!  I know basic photoshop but I can't seem to figure out how to do these specific, yet easy manipulations!  After hours of playing around and figuring out lots of other cool stuff to do, I tried Microsoft Word. 

And guess what...It took me 5 minutes to do what I've spent hours trying to do in big bad photoshop!!! Pictures of those ones later.

 These 3 button I used fabric scraps.  Now don't get deceived, they are not fabric buttons like you'd use on your sofa.  I still used the mylar sheet over the top.  Now, I can transform my cool fabrics into awesome buttons!
 (a lot of exclamation points in this post isn't there?)

I love my button maker.

Bibs Three and Four

 

Baby Bib #3.  I made the same hour glass squares as the first 2 bibs.  This time I did not alternate colors but faced the squares in the same direction.  

 

Bib Four; I ventured out of the color safety zone of my first 3 bibs.  It's slightly bigger too. 

Scraps are Becoming

Here are some of my 'leaders and enders'.  I have a huge stack of random scraps sewn together and one of my goals is to make something out of them.  So I pulled the pile out of the bag, ironed, and began trimming. 

They are being separated into 2 piles--2" wide and 1.5" wide, length varies.  Now, instead of adding more misshaped sewn scraps to the pile I am sewing the trimmed pieces together. 

Don't worry, I didn't forget about that single square made awhile back.  I just didn't feel like making another one tonight. 

Notebook 2

Just doodling button and bib ideas.

My Very First Baby Bibs

I had this idea in my head and finally decided to put it down on paper and then fabric.  It turned out exactly how I imagined it!  Don't you love when that happens?

From end to beginning.  I have the hardest time imaging how fabrics will look when all is said and done.  But these turned out amazing!

Blog Marathon Commencing...

So, I haven't blogged in a while, although I often visit and admire my blog during the day.  This is when I'm watching the babies and can't do much of anything creative.  They have eagle eyes; if I grab my sewing box or sketchbook they are on me like...like 2 curious, into everything babies.  The babies limit my adult activities to: dishes, a bit of straightening up, computer time, sit ups, button making, or TV.  (sigh).  I'm excited for the day when I can sit the kids down to craft or draw and I can work on my own projects. 

I managed to round up some of the mice I have made for the cat.  A couple in the middle are old store bought mice.  Can you tell which are the handmade ones?

During quiet time, I cleaned out 2 misc. boxes; things look cleaner now.  My goal is to find a new home for these boxes or the contents.  When I have guests spend the night I'd like it completely box free. 

And, of course, after all this cleaning I'm eager to make something.  My jumbled fabric pile in the closet-YIKES!  I know, I know, I need to store my precious fabric better.  I'm in the process of getting a bunch more plastic storage bins.  We're going to be buying some shelving for the basement.  Some of my stuff can go downstairs. 

Beautiful Charm Packs

100 squares, 5" x 5"

I made 4 packs of fabric charms with a large variety of colors and prints.  2 of each print, a couple of singles. 

This was fun.  And I developed a renewed appreciation of many of my fabrics.