Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Gosh darn cute

I made this tooth fairy pillow for Molly. I think it's just in time. Her bottom front tooth is awfully wiggly. I got the tooth pattern from Martha Stewart, though I did it differently from her. Mine is two layers of white because I hate when things shadow through. So it has two layers and was turned inside out. Then I topstitched very close to the edge. Then I attached it to the pillow (before stuffing) by just going right over the topstitching in order to make a pocket. I LOVE it!
I also made another shop sample. This one is Fire Escape by, you guessed it, Atkinson Designs. It looks super simple, and it is, but it's challenging to keep everything organized. It's supposed to be a throw size, but it's pretty big. It finishes at 60 x 75 or so.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Busy, busy, busy and auction results

I haven't been posting, I admit it. I've been busy with non-quilting things, though I have lots in the pipeline. Unfortunately, my sewing room is a disaster, so not much is being done there, and it's spring break, so I'm home all day with Molly so nothing is being done at the shop. And somehow, I'm still busy, and often gone, all day long. Not complaining, mind you. Just explaining why I haven't posted.

But I was amiss in not letting everyone know that the latest auction quilt went for $1200! It was won by a friend of mine, so that makes it doubly great! The placemats only went for $15, but they were also won by the same person, so I'm happy that she got them.

In Molly news, we have a new tooth. I need to make a tooth fairy pillow, pronto! If you know of a good pattern, please post it in the comments! It's coming in behind her front teeth but I've been assured it will be okay in the end. I see orthodontist appointments in our future.

Friday, March 26, 2010

The Auction is Tomorrow!

The 2010 auction is tomorrow. I even bought a new dress! Molly is having a friend over whose parents are also going to the auction. Wonderful Monica is going to watch them and they're having an all-out girly night.

Here are final photos!

Back:

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Bargello placemats

About a year and a half ago, we offered a class on Bargello Placemats. It was moderately popular, but we're no longer offering it. So I decided to donate the class samples to Molly's school for their auction.Set of four
Closeup of one placemat.
Back.

One of these days I'll get this kind of stuff up on Etsy. But what if no one buys my stuff? I put the value of these at $50, because honestly, that's about what I'd have to charge just to get any kind of profit out of them at all. The backing fabric alone is $10. Add to that the fronts, fabric lost while piecing, typical waste, binding etc., and we'll looking at at least $30 worth of fabric. Plus thread and batting. I don't think $50 is crazy considering it would be less than double my materials cost. But would people really spend $50 on a set of placemats?

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Thursday, March 11, 2010

All backgrounds done!

Here's the auction quilt so far:All the background (white) is quilted. The little + signs are disappearing ink, so I'll make them go away, of course, before it's really done. Tomorrow I will go into school and have the kids pick a quilting pattern for their blocks. Then I'll quilt it in front of them. It's nice to be on the home stretch. Then, I just have to hide a few threads, make the binding, apply the binding and sew the binding to the back by hand.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

curls, a friend and a house block

I went to Target and bought some fabric covered foam curlers for Molly. She loved them and looked so cute! I need more practice, though, to make them lay right.I also sewed with Amy on Monday...
... and made a house block. This will eventually become a wall hanging for an advanced beginner class I'm doing. I'll tell ya, that fence will force you to perfect your quarter inch seam!