Happy Spring!

No Ten on Tuesday post this week.  And this is a day late, but Happy Spring!  

Really quickly, I want to show off a bit.  Here's my Spring wreath for this year:

 

And here's the paper-pieced top for my mini-quilt inspired by this quilt.  I just made a paper-piecing pattern and then went with it when it tended toward wonky.  I'm debating how to embellish and quilt it. 

Ten on Tuesday

1.  I love these cute snacks!  But honestly, for us, it isn't worth the effort.  I tried making Lincoln these fun octopus hotdogs, and he decided he was scared of them.  But cut a hotdog in pieces, put a  toothpick (colored, thank you) in it, and ask him how fast he can make it magically disappear (thank you, Stormy (my dad), for that little trick), and abracadabra!  Another trick that works for us?  Divided plates or 6-muffin tins. Go figure.

2.  I finally finished Mason's quilt top.  I just decided it was big enough, and I could stop where I was at.  It's a baby quilt, after all.  And then I did simple straight-line quilting.  I love how the quilting worked out.  Now I just need to pick some binding fabric.  Yay! 

3.  I've finally realized that while I love piecing quilts, I get kind of overwhelmed in the middle.  I think I prefer the more forgiving patterns, like this crazy 9-patch or this strippy quilt.  I think this insight will help me pick quilts I don't get burned out on in the future.  I guess a "basic" patchwork quilt isn't for everyone. le sigh.


4.  But having said that, I'm in love with this gingham pattern.  And I have a devious idea to make it work for me...

5.  Speaking of that crazy 9-patch, it's been sitting on the shelf because I'm paralyzed by indecision on what to use as the backing.  Anyone have any thoughts?  Bright?  Muted?  Neutral?  Solid?  Geometric?  Floral?



6.  Since I'm getting my quilting bug back, I want to make some mini quilts to go around the house.  I want to make a cake quilt (like one of these blocks) for the kitchen, and this book quilt for the living room. 

7.  In fact, let's put them on that ever-growing crafts-to-do list!  But: I have to use them as stash-busters, so no new fabric purchases.  Anyone want to join me?

8.  Did everyone catch my first font round-up?  I particularly love Blackjack.


9.  Is anyone interested in $5 off a roku?  I can give you a referral, and then we both win.  Just let me know.

10.  I updated my Changing Seasons Wreath!  Post with more deets to come.

Halloween Wreath

No guarantees or anything, but I might start posting more frequently than every three months.  I finished the project I mentioned in June 8 weeks ago today.  Mason Bryce was born 5 1/2 weeks early at a healthy 6 lb 10 oz.  He had to spend a week in the NICU, but all things considered, we feel very blessed that there were no other complications. 

I've been working on quite a few projects the last few weeks, but one of them has been trying to fix a virus on our computer, so my blogging has stayed back burner.  I did want to hop on really quick to share a picture of my Halloween changing seasons wreath, though.

 

It's inspired by my wreath last year and all the wreaths I've seen in my blog-walking and on pinterest that are wrapped-yarn.  I still love those bats.  And I'm still loving teal.

Winter Wreath

As I mentioned a month ago, I was planning to put up my only store-bought wreath for Christmas/winter, but when I got it out, all the paint was flaking off and making an unholy mess.  So I went back to my idea for harvest and simplified it. 

 

I finished cutting out a bajillion little felt circles (it took a while, but wasn't too bad.  I finished in two shifts - one during Knight and Day and one the next day during How to Tame Your Dragon.  I give both a thumbs-up, btw) and used pearl-tipped sewing pins to attach them to the wreath base.  I was going for a sort of minimalist elegance.  I feel like I came close, but maybe it could use a little something else...?

In other news, I'm officially withdrawing my photo-editing aspirations.  My blog will never be one of those blogs with incredible pictures of crafty endeavors.  Hopefully removing expectations for fancy pictures will make it easier to make time to post some!

Quilt, Wreath, Lanyards, EAT Tutorial Update, & a Dress

How is it already 2/3 through November?  I kid you not, I still have to catch myself before writing "May" when I'm putting a date on something because it still feels like the year is just getting started. 

I don't have a good excuse for no posts in the last three weeks.  I have AN excuse, and that excuse is that I just started a new job.  But, since it doesn't require any longer hours than my last job, it's a mediocre excuse at best.  And this post doesn't really end the slacking because it's all talk and no pictures.


Moving on, the other day I just really wanted to spend some time piecing a quilt top, so I got started on a stacked coins quilt.  My color palette is a little more muted, but I just got in the fabric I ordered for sashing, backing, and binding, so hopefully I'll finish that up and have some pix to share in the next week or two.

I finally took down my Halloween wreath on Sunday and started working toward a Harvest wreath.  I originally wanted to reproduce this rosette wreath, but I'm pretty sure I would not have that much patience.  Maybe if I win a silhouette and can find a swirl cutting shape...?  I opted for a simpler design involving circles of felt instead, but I haven't made any more progress on that, so I might give up until after Thanksgiving and then put up the only store-bought wreath in my life.

Remember how one of my Thirty Before 30 goals was to make a new lanyard, and that's one of the few I've actually completed?  I found out last week that with my new job I have to wear the bland official lanyard so no-one is in doubt about who my employer is (I'm a government contractor and they're more concerned than my last employers that no one mistakes me for a civil servant).  Typical.  But I guess that means someone may be getting a pretty pearl lanyard for Christmas...

I have finished the new letters for the EAT tutorial.  I still need to take one or two more pics of how to hang them, and then do the tutorial.  Should be simple, right?  So, stay tuned for that.  I solemnly promise I will not go to sleep on Friday without posting that tutorial.  (Someone might want to remind me of that next Wednesday if you're really chomping at the bit for that...)

Finally, does anyone else follow Presser Foot?  Since I don't have sufficient craft projects in my to-do pile, I've decided to join their Mad Men dress sew-along, and I invite you all to join me. I don't watch Mad Men; I've never even seen an episode (I have enjoyed Jon Hamm on SNL, though), but I love the pattern they selected for the sew-along.  I've never made a dress, and in fact I've only made about one article of clothing that I considered a success, but with much more practice under my belt this time (and a renewed appreciation for following a pattern), I have high hopes.  Let me know if you join in, too!

Batty for Wreaths

As I mentioned here, I finally revamped my changing seasons wreath for Halloween.  It turned out to be even easier than I had planned!  So easy that it didn't even warrant pictures for the tutorial! 

First, I took off everything from my Spring wreath.  Once I was back down to the wreath base I showed here, I wrapped two black feather boas around to cover the base.  Next, I printed out my bat image in a few different sizes and cut several out of purple glittery foam.  (Yes!  They have pre-glittered craft foam at Hobby Lobby!  I was prepared to use glue and glitter and make these the long way, but no need.  How fortuitous that they had the purple I already had my heart set on!)  Then I just pinned some bats onto the wreath and DONE!  Super quick!

So here's my batty Halloween wreath.  (I may have added a few more bats after looking at this pic...)

 

I found my bat image with a google image search and modified it slightly.  If you'd like to use it, send me an email and I'll send you the word document.  I'll try to get it loaded for download in the next few days, but as it took me 2 weeks just to blog about the wreath I finished on the 2nd, don't hold your breath...

I'll be linking to my fave parties on the left.  :)

October Sky

It's so gorgeous outside that it is basically a sin to be inside.  Blah. 

In other news, I haven't updated my changing seasons wreath in FAR too long.  In fact, it's still sporting my Spring Wreath accoutrement.  SIX MONTHS!?  Yes.  Yes, it has been.

So, this weekend, in between sessions of General Conference, I vow to change it up for some halloween fun.  (Hint: it's going to involve glitter and the following shape...)

 

Also, can I get some feedback on my new header and color scheme?  I've been seeing aqua around for years, but it didn't do much for me until this week.  I'm so slow to get on bandwagons...

May Flowers and My Wreath

(This post has three unrelated thoughts which will come together to make sense by the end of the post. Promise.)

Thought 1: Remember my Spring Wreath?

I've had it for about a month now, and that's about as long as my attention span can handle. So I've been thinking of changing it, but I wasn't sure what else I wanted to do with it.

Thought 2: I LOVE fabric flowers. In fact my second post on this blog was about fabric flowers. But I haven't done anything with them. The only flowers I've tried so far are the kind on the spring wreath. So with May coming up, I was toying with the idea of doing a May Flowers feature this month and showing (or more likely referencing) a new flower each day of the month. I even came up with a button for it:


But trying to get a new post up every day is more than impractical, it's impossible, so that idea never really took flight. Which is sad, cause I thought a month of May Flowers would be a lot of fun.

Thought 3: Then today I was flipping through my reader and came across this post over at LollyChops. And I absolutely fell in love with this new wreath she's done:


Check out the close-up. Isn't it incredible?


She even has a few flowers similar to those on my spring wreath (see the white one below?).


Combining the thoughts: I think I'm going to take the flowers I already have on my spring wreath, make up some more of the others that I've been wanting to make (a LOT being from Lolly Chops, in fact) and revamp my wreath LollyChops-style. Since I'm still in the middle of about, oh, 5 projects, we'll see how this turns out. I'll try to update as I try new flower tutorials, as a compromise on a new May flower post every day. I would LOVE if you would leave me links to some of your favorite flower tutorials that you think would work for this new wreath-vision. Wish me luck!

Spring Wreath

The Easter Wreath to Spring Wreath transformation is only slightly more work than the St. Patty's Day Wreath to Easter Wreath transformation was. I don't even have any tutorial pics because I knew where a great tutorial was. All you need is a few sheets of felt in whatever color(s) you want, safety pins (optional), and pearl-headed or other pins.

So, here are the steps:
1 - follow this tutorial to make as many little flowers are you want. I chose to cut a sheet of felt into 4 rectangles and used those to make ovals rather than circles. It worked just as well. And if you're like me and hate hand-sewing, use two safety pins across the back to secure the flowers. Since these are going on a wreath rather than to be worn as an accessory, you can get away with this. Though I have sewn these before and they really are super easy.
2 - remove the eggs from your Easter Wreath and either store until next year or let your 14-month old use them to continue to learn about gravity, like me. (If you don't have the Easter Wreath to start with, you can follow this tutorial to make a wreath base for the Changing Seasons Wreath and then follow this tutorial to add the greenery.)
3 - place the flowers as desired on your wreath using a pearl-headed pin (or another sewing pin if you can't find any - just push the tip of the pin in further if you don't want it to be visible.) I tried to put them near the felt "leaves."

And you're done! Super easy and will last until you get bored. I might add some more (and bigger) flowers over the next few days.


I'll be linking to the parties on the left.

Easter Wreath

Remember my St. Patrick's Day wreath?


In this post, I'll show you my super-quick costume change from that St. Patrick's Day wreath to this Easter Wreath!

First, gather your supplies. I got a bag of cheapo plastic Easter eggs from Target, though you can find them pretty much anywhere. I also needed some quilting pins.


Now, if you're lucky (like me), your Easter eggs will already have these handy little holes at each end and therefore on each half of the egg. If you're not as lucky, I can think of a number of easy ways to make similar holes. My first stop would involve a candle, a nail, and a pair of rubber-handled pliers. :)


So, pop the egg in half and notice how the pin slides nicely into that handy hole.


Place the half where you'd like the egg to be and just slide the needle all the way in. Your egg will now look something like this.

Pop the top half on, et Voila! An Easter egg which is VERY easily removable.


Now repeat the previous steps for as many eggs as you want to use. I varied pinning the bottom or top half for my karma (also known as OCD), but however you prefer to do it is great. I opted not to use the green eggs because I didn't think they would show up very well against all the other greenery. Finally, the finished product!


I admit, they kind of look like Christmas lights to me in this picture, but they're VERY Easter-y in person. Trust me. ;)

I'll be linking to the parties on the left.

**Edited to add I'm also linking to:

Whatever Goes Wednesday
@ Someday Crafts

Easter Decor Roundup
@ Growing Our Own Garden

St. Patrick's Day Wreath

Remember this wreath?
What do you think that wreath has in common with this wreath?

They're actually both THIS wreath!


When I finally got around to it, I took down my valentine's wreath and in about 2 minutes had the boas and felt unpinned and stuffed into a gallon ziploc bag:


That ziploc bag is the whole motive for this wreath - VERY minimal storage during the other seasons. I may be singing a different tune when I try to refluff all that in a year, but until then, so far my plan is working perfectly. :)

So how did I turn my plain wreath into a St. Patrick's Day wreath? First I gathered about nine yards of 3"-wide green fabric (I happened to find a twill that was a shade of green I liked, but just about any cotton would work). I blogged in more detail about my extremely accurate gathering process here. I also grabbed a spool of green tulle. I wanted some of the fluff that the valentine's wreath had but less diva-ish.

My first step was to gather the tulle as well. I just gathered until I got bored and then started pinning it onto the wreath. When I ran out of length, I gathered some more. To pin it on, I started on the back side and just pinned in a zig-zag around the wreath:

When I got back to where I started, I continued the zigzag pattern but in the bare spots between the previous zigzag. Like the technical explanation? I hope it makes sense. So this is what I had when I was finished with the tulle.

I then grabbed my gathered 3" cotton and began pinning the same way I pinned the boa and felt for the valentine's wreath:

THIS is the monstrosity that resulted. It's TERRIBLE! I thought it looked like iceburg lettuce which is NOT the look I was going for!

But it was late, so I slept it off and the next day (or two) decided to try a change of tactic. I unpinned the cotton (which took about two minutes), and started pinning it down in the same zig-zag pattern I'd used with the tulle. When I finished, I was MUCH happier. But it still wasn't enough (sorry, I forgot to take a picture). I grabbed a sheet of cheap green felt (none of that expensive wool stuff for me), and cut it into triangles 3" wide and 4" long (or so). I then used a pin along the short end to do a kind of "running stitch" like this:

Then I pinned it tightly into the bare spots:

Which then looked like this:

I then used some of the tulle to hang it from the wreath hanger so that it was in a more pleasing position on the door. No other rhyme or reason.

So for the next few weeks, my changing season's wreath will be all-green for St. Patty's Day, but I've got plans for a quick costume change after that, so stay tuned!


Linking to these parties:

Someday Craft's Whatever Goes Wednesday

Bizzy Bee Creations

Someday Crafts Categorically Crafting