A Few Random Projects on a Thursday

This post is to document a few of the projects I've done lately, but none really require an entire blog post.

 I've been diligently cutting up my scraps into usuable pieces.  Squares mostly. 

Sometimes I do it just to do some cutting, pulling things from my bin, but usually its after pulls for projects, I'm trying to clean up as I go.

 Has anyone else tried the thread from Hobby Lobby?  I picked up these to try because they were 50% off, and as much as I love my Aurifil, I also like a good deal.

 I did some heat transger vinyl projects for our school secretary (and E's volleyball coach).  She asked for the Avenger in Training to announce her pregnancy.  It was pretty cute.  I made the other ones just for fun as an early (first) gift. Their family are huge Marvel fans.

 I mentioned that I had a bunch of buffalo plaid flannel.  I also had some fleece remnant from Joann. I made the middle three pillows for the girl's room and E made the other two from kits from our trip to Iowa. last spring.

 I also whipped up a pair of sleep shorts for E.

This is a piece of vinyl on Mini's brush.  She has the same one as her sister, but her sister refuses to share, especially after an incident of lice last year.  They are Wet Brushes.  They work very well on my girls thick and wavy hair. 

A couple more Charity Quilt Flimsies

 In the interest of mindless sewing and using stuff up, I finised up a couple more flimsies that are destined for charity quilts.  The top one comes from flower squares I cut when I was reorganizing the stash.  Some "vintage" fabrics in there.....

 Green and cream are the plan here.  This one is smaller, for for a baby or toddler.

 I have somehow ended up with yards of this solid green, so I at least got binding made for the smaller quilt. 

I now have a stack of four charity quilts ready to be quilted, not to mention the dozen or so, regular quilts.....

Mini Jammies

Before Christmas I had purchased a few yards of red buffalo plaid flannel, without a real plan, but E really loves buffalo plaid, so I knew it would get used.  

One of the things I made were jammies for Mini.

 Super soft and cozy! I asked Mini if she wanted a night gown or top and bottom, she chose the two piece.

 Given that we are finally having winter here in Wisconsin, I'm glad she's staying warm. 

Another Dress for Mini

 I found this fabric in early December in the clearance section of Hobbit Lobby.  I thought it was just beautiful, and at $3 a yard and 100% cotton, who can resist?

 So just after New Years I made up this dress for Mini. 

 This is the "We just got home from church and you haven't fed me and you want to take my picture?" Look.

 A try at the smile.  She did like it very much and its pretty cute and comfortable.  I've also put the pattern away before I either wrote it down, or photographed it, so I'll have to edit this post later.

Flowers, ruffles and a bow tie, what more could a girl ask for?

E's Christmas Dress New Look 6391

This year, much to my surprise, E asked me to make her a Christmas dress.  Its been a while since she's asked for anything besides costumes.  I was happy to say yes!

She wanted a lace layer over a solid layer, so we headed to Joann (really our only choice besides the Hobbit Lobby) around here.  She chose blues from their Casa Collection.  

 Of course right after my first pieces were cut, I found a hole!  Fortunately I had extra.

 We discovered that my dress form doesn't get as skinny as E, so she was quite worried during the process when I would have the dress on the form....

 I finished the dress in time for our church's annual Cup of Christmas Tea.  She got tons of compliments.

 One of my favorites because its a genuine smile.

The pattern was NewLook 6391.  It took me twice as long because I had to cut each piece twice for the layering and then baste them all together before assembly.  I wouldn't actually recommend this pattern.  The finishing techniques are not stellar.  But I suppose they are fast....

Sewing For Mini - Easy Gathered Skirts

 Is there anything easier and faster than a quick gathered skirt for a little girl?

I've had this piece of  brocade remnant for years.  Possibly even from when I work at Joann (16 years ago).  I never quite decided what to do with it, and when Mini saw it and fell in love, I whipped up a skirt for her.  One seam.  Hemmed and a gathered waist.  Perfect.

 Then during the countdown to Christmas at school, one of the dress up days was "Candy Cane Day", so I did what any over acheiving mother does - I bought candy cane fabric and made up a skirt for Mini to wear that day.  I also made up a matching scrunchie.

 She wore the skirt Christmas day as well.

Gridster Bee 2018 Wrap Up

Sort of.

Not the best year (2018) for blogging.  I searched and searched and it appears that I do not have all the pictures of all the gridster blocks I made on my computer. 

I would wax on about making New Year's Resolutions, but we all know how those go....

So here are the last few months that I could find.

September were an original design from Simone.

Some NY Beauties for Joan.  I had to share a shot of my mess-up block.  I taped together the outside pieces the wrong side first....

 Black and white with a pop of color was the plan.

Scrappy Stars for Allison

And finally some Autumnal blocks for Afton.

If you're curious about more blocks and other's blocks you can check #gridsterbee on Instagram