Sunday, February 26, 2012

A Harvest of Plenty

So when you have a cold for 1 1/2 months and you don't feel like doing anything but sitting in front of the TV and blowing your nose and sleeping, what do you do?  Well I read and I quilt or embroider.  That's about it.  Oh and eat and sleep and go to work.  Sometimes I force myself to go into my quilt room and finish a project thats due..for a baby thats due or for previous commitments.

I have read about 5 books from the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child, a little addicted to Reacher.  Just finished the 11th one today Bad Luck and Trouble, You don't mess with Reacher!
Haven't missed much work, but my personal time has been mostly a wash for the last couple of month.  I have spurts of energy thus the minimal blogging.

Meanwhile I wanted to share this project that I'm working on.  This 1st of 9 blocks.  Its from a book by Helen Marshall called The Embroidered Miniature Quilt.  This cornucopia is about 3" SQ.  But there is a lot in that little space.  Mostly followed her directions, with a few variations on stitches and colors.

The book has lots of techniques including neadlelace which you see here in the horn.  You actually sew a border around on a piece of a paper template and then work small buttonhole stitches across and wrap the edges.  The you pull away the paper and lay it over a couple layers of batting and sew it down.  I used a Perle cotton Variagated that I picked up from the Wool Lady in Temecul and I love how it turned out.  The benefit is of being sick is that my multitasking is reduced and I can only focus on one thing.  I can actually follow instructions, imagine!

The pineapple was satin stitch sewn over batting.  I must have been feeling better, because I did a variation from hers.  Then a trelis over top of it and a bunch of boolean knots on the top, which were as she directed.

As I said this is one of 9 and I'll post them as I get them done.  The whole quilt is only about 24" Square.  Fun project though!

Mom bought her Sweet Sixteen and is quilting up a storm up there in Northern Cali.  She bought the table mounted one and is having a ball.  I can't wait to see her results.  She's already an amazing quilter, so this will just inspire her to the next level.  Can't wait to visit her and use it.  Or get my own, hehehehe.

I hope you all are keeping away from this nasty bug which will just not go away and that you get some time for yourselves.

Love to All,
Aunti Nic

Saturday, February 11, 2012

The Fernandez Boyz Quilts

 Congratulations to my friends Patty and Jorge, they had a new addition to their family.   This is Aaron Daniel Fernandez. Is this boy adorable or what?
So of course I had to make him a little quilt.  Very fun little puppy fabric.







For the label I took a photo of one of the little paw prints and used Photoshop Elements to put some text on it.



His big brother Aiden was born in 2009 and for some reason I did not do my Aunti diligence.  Turns out he has a thing about choo-choo trains.   I saw this train fabric at Calico House in Brea and thought of him.  I am not usually into panels, but these just fit the bill so perfectly.  My husband Pete had the idea of just cross hatching the panels and I love the way it turned out.  This is a big boy quilt, about twice as big as his little brother's.  That ought to do it!













The label was screen captured from an image on line and kind of colorized with Photoshop Elements. 





I hope you all get to sew this week!
Cheers,
Aunti Nicole