blue bento box

This quilt top measures 72" x 48".

I have no idea how to quilt it. My standard stippling doesn't seem right. Or does it? Any ideas?

(can you believe that I actually made a quilt top that doesn't contain any pink?)

branching out

Those of you who have read this blog for awhile may already know this, just the thought of sewing clothes with a pattern is enough to make me break out in hives. But with my limited sewing time this summer, the promise of a quick project lured me in. This post by Erin was the final straw. Thanks to Linda, I had a few patterns on hand that were labeled very easy. The one I used didn't disappoint.

The shorts are Butterick 4966. I used size 1 for my 2T girl. She is pretty little, but it seems like the pattern runs big. Aren't they so cute? I was squealing in delight as I was making these. Never mind that white shorts for a 2 year old are totally impractical. I love them.

For the top, I made up my own pattern. I modified the dress that I made a few weeks ago. This time I omitted the snaps on the shoulders and shortened it. I didn't want to hide those cute shorts. I also tapered it to add some shape. Since elastic is used to gather the top, fitting her little arms in the sleeve holes is no problem.

Once I got the top perfected (it took some stitch ripping and resewing) I had to make another....

to match her thrifted capris and clearance sandals....

to make one very cute and thrifty outfit.

I am having so much fun sewing for my little girl! (As if you couldn't tell.)

More to come, I'm sure.

star quilt along, week 11

Thanks for all the birthday wishes! You guys are the best. We had a safe and fun filled weekend. I hope you did, too. For those of you who asked, my sister and I are not twins, she is 2 years older than me.

I am going to do a retrospective giveaway (I love the idea, so I am totally copying Jodie). I picked a random commenter from my birthday post and the winner is Tina. I'll be sending her a stacked flower pincushion (as shown in this post-scroll down).
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Welcome to week 11 of the quilt along. Today I am going to give you instructions for making our star of the week and the measurements for the sashing and borders. We are almost done-can you believe it?

For the star:

cut 4 rectangles 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" from the background fabric
cut 1 square 4 1/2" from the background fabric

cut 8 squares 2 7/8" from the background fabric

cut only 4 of the squares in half on the diagonal once to make 8 half square triangles

for the remaining 4 squares, draw a diagonal line in pencil from one corner to the opposite corner

cut one square 5 1/4" from a dark fabric

cut in half on the diagonal twice to make 4 quarter square triangles

cut 8 squares 2 1/2" from a dark fabric

cut 4 squares 2 7/8" from a dark fabric

take 4 background and 4 dark squares that measure 2 7/8", layer together and pin

sew a line a 1/4" on both sides of the pencil line, cut apart and press

to make a total of 8 squares

layout as shown

(please excuse the huge chunks missing from my cutting mat)



Sew together and square up to 12.5".

Isn't it so pretty? I just love it.

For the sashing:

Cut 36 squares 2 1/2" from a print fabric-use the same fabric as the setting blocks.

Cut 60 rectangles 2 1/2" x 12 1/2" from the background fabric.

The border strips are cut 6 1/2" wide.


Any questions, I'll attempt to answer them in the comments.

born on the 4th of July

I don't have a cute photo of me when I was small (or one of me now, for that matter) to share with you today. I tried to get my kids to draw portraits of me so I could post some great kid artwork, but that didn't pan out, either. So here are a few of my flickr favorites instead. To see the photo credits, click here.

Today I turn 33. It's pretty great having a birthday on the 4th. I always get fireworks for my birthday. It's my sister's birthday, too, so I always have someone to celebrate with (even if it is from a distance). When I was working, I always got the day off with pay. And usually my birthday celebration carries on for several days. It's pretty dandy. I started off my day with a birthday phone call from my dear friend. My husband bought me a new laptop(!!!), and I should get some sewing time in. It's going to be a good birthday.

Happy 4th to you!

teacher quilt

My son had a wonderful first grade teacher this year. She loves her students and they love her. Heather and I both sons in her class and we wanted to do something special for their teacher. We worked with the art teacher to have the each of the children draw their own self portrait on a piece of fabric. We really wanted the quilt to be a surprise. The portraits turned out pretty cute. Each of the children's personalities shine through their artwork.

Heather sewed the quilt top together, we basted it, I quilted it and made the binding and then Heather hand stitched the binding on to the back of the quilt. I added a label. The quilt turned out cuter than I had expected. I was ready to chicken out and give up on the idea of the quilt, but Heather kept me on track. It was very well received. (yay!) And the kids kept it a secret. (again, yay!)

star quilt along, week 10

Welcome to week 10 of the quilt along.

This is one of my favorites.

cut one square 7 1/4" from the background fabric

cut in half on the diagonal twice, to make 4 quarter square triangles

cut one square 4 1/4" from the background fabric

cut in half on the diagonal twice, to make 4 quarter square triangles

cut 4 squares 3 1/2" from the background fabric

cut 2 squares 3 7/8" from the background fabric

cut the (3 7/8") squares in half on the diagonal once to make 4 half square triangles

cut one square 4 1/4" from a dark fabric

cut in half on the diagonal twice, to make 4 quarter square triangles

cut 4 squares 3 7/8" from the same dark fabric

cut the squares in half on the diagonal once to make 8 half square triangles

layout as shown


I pressed these seams open to reduce bulk in the center

trim the tails here, if desired




Once the block is sewn together, square up to 12.5".

Thanks for quilting along with me!

spectrum quilt-new and improved

Remember this quilt top? I have had it completed since early January. I lacked motivation to complete it, mainly because I didn't want to finish a king sized quilt that I didn't L-O-V-E. I knew I wouldn't use it on my bed, so there it sat, in a basket for a long time. A few weeks ago I started ripping it apart to remove the white sashing. I could have just cut it all apart, but I would have lost 6.5" by cutting it apart at the seams, and the quilt would have been too skinny. I didn't want to make more colored strips, either. So I ripped. And ripped. And ripped some more.

Then I had to reinforce the beginning and ending of most of the seams because they were coming apart. It was quite tedious. (That is a gross understatement.)

During the past several days I have been plugging away on it. I am happy (and very relieved) to have it back in quilt top form.

It now measures 78" x 87" and I am back to being excited about it.

It's so good to know that all that stitch ripping paid off.

I can't wait to quilt it now. I plan to back it with cream colored fabric and then quilt each line with matching thread. So for the pink strips, pink thread on the front and back, for the green strip, green thread front and back, etc. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it is smooth sailing from here on out-this quilt has given me more than enough trouble already.

the thrifting is good in these parts

queen flat sheet-$1.00

1 full flat sheet-$1.00

This is currently the extent of my vintage sheet collection.

I'm saving up to make a quilt like this.

Sorry, Lera, I'm not trying to rub it in. Really.

star quilt along, week 9

Welcome to week 9 of the quilt along. There are only 4 more stars to make after this one. It's been fun for me to watch the progress on all your quilts! You all are doing a great job!


cut one square 7 1/4" from the background fabric

cut in half diagonally, twice, to make 4 quarter square triangles

cut 4 squares 3 1/2" from a dark fabric

cut one square 6 1/2" from a medium fabric

cut 4 squares from 3 7/8" from the same medium fabric

cut each of the squares that measure 3 7/8" in half diagonally once, to make 8 half square triangles

layout as shown (you may want to double click on the photo)

sew together


and square up to 12.5".

Thanks for quilting along with me!