pretty in patchwork~ doll quilts

I was meaning to tell you about this last week but with everything halloweenie, the days just flew by too fast!! Months ago I was asked to be in the book Pretty in Patchwork Doll Quilts by Cathy Gaubert by Lark Crafts, and I was sooo excited!! As most know, I absolutely LOVE doll quilts!! I think they had a lot to do with getting me hooked so quickly on quilting years ago!! They are the best project to do when you want to work on a new technique, or just have a fun little project that you can do in a day or two!! So to say the least, I was truly hopping with happiness when Cathy ask me to join in on her book!!

My doll quilt, Little Red Riding Hood!! You know how I just love Little Red!

Here it is in the book!! Eek!! It still seems surreal!

I love the cute picture they took of my quilt in a little doll cradle!! It just couldn't be cuter!!

The embroidery of Little Red I did that is also included in the book!! She was inspired by the cute Little Red in the Japanese fabric I used in the dresden plate.

Here are some of the lovely quilts that are also in the book!! I want to make each and every one!!

I Spy by my dear friend Heather Bostic!!
Picture is from the book

Dream Doll Quilt by the super talented Aneela Hoey
Picture is from the book

Ticker Tape Quilt by Cathy Gaubert
Picture from Cathy

Cupcake Quilt by Malka Dubrawsky
Picture from Malka

The Diamond Lattice Quilt
Picture from Penny

Jacob's Ladder by Rita Hodge, Red Pepper Quilts
Picture by Rita

Aren't those all simply fabulous!?! And that was really just a small portion of all the lovely quilts!! As there are "24 little quilts to piece, stitch, and love"!!

I also must tell you that if you also love doll quilts like I do, Sew, Mama, Sew! is hosting a doll quilt contest for Cathy's new book!! You must go check it out!! I don't know if I'll be able to resist a doll quilt contest!!

Thanks so much, Cathy for having me be part of this wonderful book!! It was such a delight!

simple patchwork

Lately there hasn't been much craftiness going on in my house. With the kiddos back in school I thought I'd have much more time for sewing, but sadly that hasn't been the case. It feels a little pathetic, less children at home = less sewing??? Doesn't quite make sense to me!! Maybe since my helpers are gone, now my little ones seem to get into much more mischief so that equals more work for mommy, and more difficult to get a few moments away here and there to sew!!

The other week-end I did do a little sewing with my girls, little patchwork doll quilts!! They picked out their fabrics and we cut them into squares and then they sewed the simple little patchwork together. I did simple line quilting and then added the binding!! They were soo excited to have cute matching doll quilts for their dolls!! It made it even that much more special since they did most of the sewing!!

a little quilt for Little Red Riding Hood!

she looks so happy under her comfy little quilt!

the polly dollie quilt!

most of these squares are from Hoo's in the Forest charm pack! !

I think I'll help them make matching pillows next. Wouldn't that be cute!! :) Though, I learned one thing while giving them this little sewing lesson, to work with them one on one instead of working with them together. They seemed to compare and have several little arguments during the process. So even though it was enjoyable to teach them a little bit of my love of sewing, I learned from this experience.

a sprouting gnomie!

i just finished my sprouting gnomie mini quilt!! i am in LOVE!! when i saw this absolutely adorable quilt by amanda aka mrsmcporkchop, i had to make one with a little spin of my red and aqua cuteness!! :) i used my very first hexies so it gives that little extra sentimental touch. :)

the hexies are hand stitched together, and then i appliqued them on. for the quilting, i free motion quilted the seedlings.

a hiding gnomie, pattern found here.

better get back to work! i have lots to ship today!

i heart mushrooms!!

This week-end I did my first paper piecing, a gnome and mushroom, from this great pattern!! It's not perfect, but I'm pretty pleased at my first attemt. Though, when I was done, I realized that both pieces are opposite to the pattern. I haven't figured out why that happened. Does any seasoned quilter know why mine came out this way?? For future ones I'll probably have to figure it out since it might ruin the pattern if everything comes out opposite.

*update* Thanks to some very kind readers, I now know that the patterns are made backwards, so when sewing on the paper, it actually ends up opposite to the pattern. Yippee, I actually was doing it right!! :)

I am definately hooked on these fun doll quilts!! Or should I say "art" quilts!!

I fused the little cloud on after, but am not sure If I like it with the cloud now. I love the little hedgie running across the mushroom, though!! Isn't he cute!!

I also finally got this adorable Hello. print framed!! I did a trade with Sarah Jane last month for 3 prints, and I sent her some items from my etsy shop. I just love this little mushroom print, and am so happy to now be able to look at it everyday!! THANKS Sarah Jane!! Once I frame the other 2, and hang them in my kiddos rooms, I'll make sure to show and tell!!

sorry for the shadows of my sky lights on the print!!

Hope everyone has a super spectacular week!!

birds on a limb~ dqs6 quilt!!

I received my doll quilt yesterday, and it came all the way from Australia! This beauitful quilt was made by Helen, just for me!! I can't believe how much detail is in this work of art. I love the cute birds, the red and aqua, and the tree the birds are sitting on. I thought the name Birds on a Limb fit it well!! THANKS Helen!!

Since it was such a sunny, Seattle day, I thought the birds would enjoy sitting in a tree!! :)

Hanging in its new home, my dining room!

Hope you have a delightful week-end!

hedgie~ the double hourglass quilt

Hedgie, the doll quilt is now ready to ship to my partner. The binding is done, and i just added the label yesterday. I sure hope my partner likes it as much as I do. :) Thanks, Des for the idea of naming it Hedgie!! I think it's a perfect name.

I ironed a piece of kona cotton to some steam a seam and then ran it through my printer. I tried the freezer paper first, but didn't have any luck. It got stuck in my printer.

Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!!

double hourglass~ all quilted!

Saturday was quite the gloomy, drizzly, Seattle day; so quilting the oh, so cheery double hourglass quilt was the perfect match, to add a little sunshine into my day. Today, I'm planning on finishing it up with the binding, so it can be sent to my swap partner soon! Just debating on going with the Katie jump rope basket weave, in either aqua or green??

Hope everyone has a bright and sunny week! I hope I do, especially with it being spring break. :)

a scrappy week-end~ in aqua and red!!

This week-end I whipped up a little doll quilt to hang in my kitchen since I'm just starting to re-decorate it with mushrooms. Isn't that so shocking!! :) It was a fun way to use some of my scraps, and I love how it turned out. And it was finished in a week-end.

I also did my project improv charity block from my aqua and red scraps. It is a fun wonky strip block, and will be sent off this week, to arrive just in time for the deadline of April 1st.

Hope everone has a magical week!! :)

double hourglass~ the quilt top!

I have the quilt top finished for the doll quilt swap. This has been a fun little quilt to piece together. I can't wait to get started on the one for my sewing room now!

I added a couple blocks of the oh, so cute Japanese hedgehog fabrics; i just couldn't resist. It just wouldn't be a quilt from me without some cutsie japanesey ones in there, right?? I hope my partner doesn't mind. Then she can think of me when she looks at those two blocks. :)

I'll work on a tutorial, and will hopfully get that posted for next week. Thanks for all the interest. :)

double hourglass~ piecing together

i've got about half of the double hourglass blocks pieced, and am having so much fun with these little blocks. they are about 3 1/2 inch squared; i cut 5 inch charms from the flea market fancy fabrics and also from the kona white. i use half of each charm for one block, so that means i can make one for my swap partner and then one for me, to hang in my sewing room! :) i've also loved working with some brighter fabrics than i normally do.

hope everyone has a lovely week!

the ava doll quilt

this is my first scrap quilt! all from the scraps of the coin quilt. since i had used a charm pack for the coin quilt and had cut off an inch and a half from the width it made quite a few small strips. i used all those strips in a mini log cabinish style by framing them around 2 1/2 inch squares.

i made this for the table topper for my sister in laws shower that could also be used as a wall hanging in ava's room! i went thrifty and made everything for the decorations that also could be used in her room! i'll share the rest of them later this week. but for now here is the doll quilt:

my favorite part of this quilt is all the japanese forest animals!! i am in love with all of them!! aren't they sooo yummy!

hope everyone has a magical day!