Fun little pillows

I love the feeling of accomplishment upon completing a large project.  Unfortunately, I don't seem to have the time necessary to devote to a large project so will just enjoy the small finishes for a while.  These seasonal pillows are all Buttermilk Basin designs and are all very quick to stitch and finish. 

I can't decide which is my favorite.  How about you?

Over the Top

What a blustery cold spell we've endured the past week.  Today the sun is shining but with the wind, the wind chill is in the 20s.  It's a great day to stay inside and enjoy looking through the spring issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects.

I am honored to have a project in this issue.  In fact, I will have two projects in each issue during 2015.  I designed a seasonal wall hanging for each issue.  One will be shown in cotton and the other in wool applique on a cotton background.  I thought it would be fun to show how cotton and wool versions differ. 

My spring piece is entitled "Over the Top".  Here's the cotton version.

Here's the wool version.

Both are made using Diamond Textile homespun fabrics.  I love working with homespun fabrics and hope you like these projects.  If you're interested in a kit, you can purchase one at Sew Graceful Quilting.

A fun Christmas gift

One of my friends has a sweet little girl who celebrated her first Christmas in 2014.  I wanted to do something for her but knew since it was her first Christmas she would get lots of gifts from Mommy and Daddy, grandma and grandpa, aunts, uncles and just about everyone who met the little cuttie.  So I decided to make her something.  I started with this basket and these two guys.

I made a mattress and pillow for the basket.  The mattress is filled with 4 layers of cotton batting.  It's tufted to give it an old fashioned mattress appearance. I made a pillow and then the pillow case.  Although you can't see inside the case, the seam is not just an ordinary seam -- it's a French seam.  Nothing is too good for this little girl.

The monkeys are going to need a quilt to keep them warm during these long winter naps.  So I pieced a quilt front and back.  I quilted it on my Bernina (even quilted in the little girl's name).

Here's the finished product.  I think she loved it as much as I enjoyed creating it.