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Lillian’s Quilt

Posted by: Ali on: March 8, 2011

In: Crafts | Quilting
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Here’s Lillian enjoying her newly finished quilt in her crib daybed, which we’ll soon be replacing (since the baby needs the crib).

I started this quilt long ago, but I had her in mind all along. When I discovered these fabrics I was not a big fan of quilting, because I thought quilts just weren’t my style. They’ve come a long way since then! And I’ve changed a little too. Here’s my original post.

So, I had the top pieced together, but I still had to make the back, machine quilt, and bind. The bad thing about finishing something you made a while ago, is that I know more now and would’ve done a better job putting the fabric together and piecing it more exactly. For one thing, I hate that I used the dark brown cheapo fabric on it in the upper right corner. I think that part looks horrible. BUT overall I’m happy with how it turned out.

And I did make a way cooler back than I’d originally planned (plain brown). I just used materials I already had stocked up too. This back picture I took before I finished the quilt, so you can’t see the quilting.

I basically followed Amy’s instructions for machine quilting in straight lines and boxes, because I think it’s pretty cool. I didn’t follow her bad binding directions though. Decided on the super quick one-step machine-attached binding, and I’m happy with that.

I think L likes it pretty well too. 🙂

January’s Update

Posted by: Ali on: February 7, 2011

In: Amy Butler | Crafts | Family | Home Decorating | Quilting
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Outside: Sunny and Cold. More snow on the way supposedly. I really haven’t minded being stuck inside though.

In My Kitchen: Made some double chocolate chip cookie sandwiches (from the Sticky Gooey book of course) over the weekend. Delicious. Found out that Kirkland (costco) vanilla icecream is creamy and delicious to go with. Also, made a delicious mango upside-down cake this past week. I didn’t have crystallized ginger, so I just used powdered.

I am wearing: A black knit dress, and a cardigan. Not really comfortable in most pants right now (at 35 weeks pregnant and huge).

Can’t Wait For: My baby boy to come! Also, my good friend Morgan to come back to KC for awhile! Happening at about the same time too.

Current Read: In January I finished the Hunger Games trilogy, which was enjoyable. Now I’m reading Deadhouse Gates Book Two of the Malazan Book of the fallen, which I wish I was liking more than I am.

I am hoping: to have more energy tomorrow than I do today. 🙂 I have a lot to get done in the next month!!

Around the house: Trying to get everything cleaned out, and ready for New Baby. Chad has been getting my new laundry room ready too. Still a ways to go unfortunately. Wishing I wasn’t lugging laundry up and down two flights of stairs today.

Simple Pleasures: voluntary kisses from the kids. and Dr Pepper.

Creativity: Finishing a quilt for L that I actually started before she was conceived– it’s long overdue. Starting one for B. It’s the one on the cover of this GREAT new book I just got. Also, finishing knitting a hat for B… maybe he’ll get to use it a month before winter goes away.

Plans for the Weekend: A date night, and hopefully celebrating two of my brother’s birthdays! Hopefully that means that the one that lives out of town will be HERE.

Family Update: The big kids moved into L’s room together. So far so good! That’s one reason I’m doing the quilts. We’re going for a sort of nature theme. A very loose theme it is too. 🙂 Trying to decide whether to change a couple walls (most of the room actually) from bubblegum pink to green or light brown. But that will happen after I’ve recovered from the baby a little anyway.

Lillian: Walks around constantly in a princess dress or Tutu saying she’s a princess. Although sometimes she is in disguise as a Halo Reach girl. Goody. Or a puppy that licks you.

Brendan: Is doing well in homeschool. He LOVES math. I need a little motivation in the whole school area right now though. Not exactly making it exciting, or even getting done everything I wish I were.

Baby Becket’s Quilt

Posted by: Ali on: August 5, 2009

In: Crafts | Embroidery | Quilting
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On the way to South Carolina I finished the binding of this quilt for our godson Becket. It was my first time to make a quilt from start to finish completely on my own. That is a lot of work. Not sure that I’ll be doing it again. 🙂 It turned out really cute though, and it was worth it for him. You can see that it is a lot like the quilt I made with my G-ma’s help for my nephew Luca (if you look at my past post which is in the quilting or crafts category). Super cute fabric from Reprodepot.

I also embroidered “Love, Chad Alicia and Family” on the back. Plus, B for Becket in the heart on the front.

The square that is covered up has a cirle in it btw.

Baby Quilt

Posted by: Ali on: January 19, 2009

In: Amy Butler | Family | Quilting
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Thanks to my Gma– L’s quilt is finished! The kids have already been enjoying it! It’s made out of Amy Butler fabrics (of course) with bright pink felt letters blanket stitched on the front. Then Gma did an absolutely awesome job quilting it! I wish you could see it better. I tried to zoom in on it. This is just a slightly bigger and thinner version of the one I made for my baby nephew. I knew that by the time this one was finished she wouldn’t need a playing mat anymore, and boy was I right. hehe.

In this last picture L is showing off her downward dog. Pretty good, eh?

Luca’s Quilt

Posted by: Ali on: December 9, 2008

In: Crafts | Embroidery | Quilting
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I finally remembered to take a picture of the quilt I made for Luca. I had it all pieced together when he was born, but it still needed to be quilted and finished. That probably still wouldn’t be done if my G-ma hadn’t stepped in and finished up for me. I think it turned out really well– thick batting and all. 🙂 It was a bugger to quilt.
Libby (Luca’s big sis) has tested it out though, and she thinks its comfy to lay on.
I ordered all the fabrics from Reprodepot.com with Luca’s Mommy in mind. They have such cool fabric! The letters are made out of felt, and sewn on with a blanket stitch.
As a side note: I’ve impressed myself by making it this far without starting “Breaking Dawn”. Are you impressed Ginny? hehe I still haven’t managed to get everything done that I’d planned to… where does the time go?

Rocking Pillows

Posted by: Ali on: April 14, 2008

In: Home Decorating | Quilting
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I’ve been working on some sewing lately. I finally finished up this pillow that I sewed the top for about a year ago, then I decided to make L a matching one for her little chair. Amy Butler fabrics of course. Now I’ve moved on to table runners to cover up the ugly little side tables in my living room that don’t even match. Making do with what we have for now…

Good Buys

Posted by: Ali on: March 16, 2007

In: Crafts | Quilting
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I’ve been running around a lot this week, because I borrowed my brother’s car while he’s away on Spring Break. It’s been great weather for it… until today! The nice weather is supposed to be back on Sunday though. But anyway, I obviously haven’t been doing much crafting, so I thought I’d show a couple of my purchases! First comes the cool purse I got for 50 cents at a thrift store:

Then I went a little crazy at fabric store…

I’ve been looking everywhere for some cool apple fabric, and finally found some! Not actually sure what I’m going to do with it though. 🙂 The middle fabric I thought would be good for this really cool shirt pattern I bought on another trip. And the top fabric I just couldn’t pass up. The candy-like buttons and yellow rick-rack are actually for a project I hope to have posted soon…

I also finally got the last things I need to finish my quilt, and various other project supplies. So much to do so little time!

My First Quilt

Posted by: Ali on: March 8, 2007

In: Crafts | Quilting
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Here are old pics of the very first quilt I ever made. It was for Morgan’s baby girl Eliza about a year ago. A long time ago Morgan told me that she really wanted a quilt made out of Hawaiian fabric, so I put a little of that in just for fun. Buttons and lace I added to give it some tactile interest. Anyway, I think it turned out pretty cute.

Amy Butler Quilt

Posted by: Ali on: February 27, 2007

In: Amy Butler | Crafts | Quilting
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Finally got to start back on my quilt from In Stitches. I have the first layer all pinned together, and ready for stitching today! The book is so beautiful, and hopefully my quilt will be too! But, with these fabrics, how can I go wrong? Bigger pics to come.

Note: I am still planning on posting Ginny’s Diaper bag, but she just hasn’t had time to send me any pics yet. So, you will be the first to know when she has (although most of you saw it at the shower anyway).

I don’t know about you guys, but I am so ready for spring. I’ve been browsing through all my gardening catalogs. I think I may round up all my websites, and make a seasonal list of links. I know its a little weird to get all these catalogs when I live in an apartment, but I am really ready to have my own garden again! Better start with a house first, right?