Rag Quilt & Burp Cloths

Yesterday I gave this rag quilt and 2 burp cloths (from cloth diapers) to a friend that is having her 2nd bouncing baby boy. I'm not entirely happy with the way it turned out, but does that really surprise anyone? ;-)

Next time I will cut larger squares, maybe 9"x9" ones and do larger seam allowances, maybe 1". The minky dot fabric was a bit difficult to use, especially with the small squares. I love how soft that fabric is, though. Maybe it will be easier to use with larger squares. Instead of batting between the layers, I used plain white fleece.

The fabric can be found here.

Amy Butler's Birdie Sling Tote

This Amy Butler Birdie Sling Tote is a donation to the Reach for a Cure Wine Tasting and Silent Auction, benefitting the Muscular Dystrophy Associations efforts to cure Friedreich's Ataxia, the neuromuscular disease that Hannah has.

If you can't tell, it's one honkin' (yes, that's a technical term) bag. It's fully lined with interfacing and with fusible fleece on the green lining. The inside features a large and small pocket.

The pattern claims to be easy enough for beginners. Although it's very well written, I personally don't think it's for beginning beginners for sure.

If you'd like to donate something to the event, let me know and we can talk it out. I think the deadline is sometime middle to late March. I'll have to double check that.

Next up are a baby blanket and burp cloths for a friend. Then, maybe the den curtains. ;-)

The Big Reveal

according to Hannah. Like last year we found ourselves in the fabric store right before Valentine's Day. Hannah wanted me to make another appliqued shirt. Last week I asked her to go ahead and start wearing it, but she declining stating that she "wanted to reveal it on the day of her class party." Today is the day, so here's the reveal. ;-)

Kitchen/Keeping Room Curtains

Whew.....finally they are done. Never, ever, again will I do that much bias binding. I bought one of the little bias binding makers and used Steam-2-Steam to iron it on. I thought that it would save time and that I would do a neater job. It may have turned out a bit neater, but I think it cost me a lot of time. Anyway, they are done and I'm not going to gripe about them anymore.....maybe.

For the bay window, I had to alter the pattern for the larger center portion. It's not quite long enough but don't tell anyone. It's PERFECT to me. (insert little headbanging guy)

Next up are the den curtains. They will be a panel on each side and I'm considering doing pinch pleats at the top. We now have neighbors behind us (the house sat on the market for 2 years) so we need the ability to draw them closed at night.

I think I'll take a quick break from curtains, though, and make Amy Butler's Birdie Sling Tote for a silent auction to benefit the Seek-A-Miracle campaign which raises money through the MDA for FA research. Here is the link for the Reach for a Cure Silent Auction and Wine Tasting Event. If you'd like to contribute something to the silent auction, let me know. I think the deadline is sometime in March for having the item completed. The donation is tax deductible, too.

Haiti

Another way to help the Haiti earthquake victims. Make something and donate or purchase from Craft Hope's etsy shop donating all the money to Doctors Without Borders. I wish I had time to make something, but instead I've money donated to Unicef.

Shoot Me

Simplicity 5696

Believe it or not, I now have 2 valences hanging in my keeping room.....and 4 more to go. That's where the "Shoot Me" part comes in. I went with the bias binding around the bottom because I thought the tassles or fringe would be too formal for my liking. Holy Smokes Batman! Never again will I do this much bias binding. It's taken approximately 10 yards for 3 valences and WAY to much time to keep track of.

Now Meet Darya & Nadine

Since reading about Darya and Nadine yesterday, I can't keep my mind off of them. Both girls are healthy other than Down Syndrome and deserve a rich and full life.

DARYA

NADINE

If you wish to help them find their forever home, go to this blog.