So, long story quite short, I needed to "practice" making some quilts because I've been tasked to make some for my family out of my grandmother's clothes (she passed earlier this year) and with the strict fabric "allowance", I can't afford to be making huge mistakes that would have me tossing loads of these projects into the trash because it's not like I can go buy more fabric.

Killing two birds with one stone, I'm making a pair of quilts for my best friend and his sister as Christmas gifts. I'm *almost* finished with hers (just need to add the binding) but I couldn't wait to post it. I'm so proud and inordinately happy every time I even look at this quilt. I don't know if it's the colors or the love put into it or what but I just smile every time I see it. 

She really loves rainbows so I did a google search to get an idea for rainbow quilts and came across this blog post. I had already planned on doing a disappearing nine-patch quilt as a starter because they seem so easy even though the effect is stunning and somewhat complicated looking. So with that, I ran to the store and bought me some fat quarters and got to work.

Since I'm making other Christmas gifts off and on (is there such thing as a serious diagnosis of crafting ADD? because I totally have it... oh look, a shiny! *wanders*) this has been about 3-4 weeks to make although probably only 3-4 days of actual work. I've made some mistakes, some I could fix and others I didn't bother, but my new sewing machine and I have become friends throughout the process and I'm slowly learning all of her little quirks and foibles. Overall, I'm very pleased with this quilt and like I said, can't help but smile every time I see it. My hands always want to reach out and pet it... but anyway, I hope she ends up loving it as much as I do. <3

Enough sentimental rambling though, here's the pics:

Btw, the cats LOVE this quilt...  I can't keep them off it. So apologies for the camera hogs there.









And some artsy in-progress shots because all the colors are wonderful <3. I plan on printing and framing some of these to hang on my craft room wall they're so happy and delightful to me.









So there it is, my first quilt. <3

Things I learned:
* Dual-Feed Foot = a MUST HAVE... omg this thing was pricey but soooo totally worth it!
* proper pinning/basting is necessary, take your time and re-do if needed (the best tip I read was to pin backing to carpet, worked like a charm!.. even if my knees are still bruised )
* I need more practice with free motion quilting and/or a pair of quilting gloves, my fingers cramped up sooo much.
* I should take more time with ironing and paying attention to seam direction (it's not awful, I did do a decent job, but in the future, more patience could be a virtue)

Next up: Log cabins!

Thankies for looking! C&C welcome and appreciated.

 

So, upon somewhat request, I made these as gifts for my best friend. <3 We went to go see Scott Pilgrim vs. The World together the last time I got to see him and it was great! I really wanted to make a Sex Bob-omb shirt and he jumped at the chance to get one... lol. It's not really crisp and there's smudges (some unintended and some intentional) and the printing didn't come out even at all... but I really *LOVE* the distressed look and am glad it didn't work out as planned.







Also, same BFF, one of his favorite sayings is "UMADBRO?... ITHINKUMAD" lol... so I whipped this one up after seeing a similar one although not *quite* what he wanted. Plus, purple is his favorite color. The paint was a lot more even on this one but still not as crisp... again, I think it lends character. <3 The paint is also kind've iridescent and looks awesome as hell, the pic honestly doesn't capture it well.



Thankies for looking!

I honestly forget where I originally saw this, I think it was a catalog... the original was brown leather cording with turquoise beads I think?

But anyways, here's my version done for my best friend's sister and will be one of her Christmas gifts. I originally set out for it to be a bracelet that you can wrap around your wrist several times, but it's also a nice choker length. I'm not too happy with some of the beads kinda "sticking out" but I know why they're doing it and hopefully in future versions I can avoid the same mistake.





And the clasp, just because it's skully and therefore awesome and made of win.



Thanks for looking.

[What size are the smallest 1/8-sized triangles cut down from?]

Hello everyone... so, I'm totally a newb to quilting. Since my current projects have a "this is how much fabric you get, no do-overs" I'm stressing out over measurements and cutting and wanted to get second/third/fourth opinions... lol.

My sister and I were browsing and she wants to use this as her inspiration (please, if anyone knows the webpage/quilter to give credit to, let me know. We were browsing on my phone and I didn't have the ability, or perhaps just the knowledge, on how to save the webpage to give credit from there):



It looks like a slightly more complicated version of an Ohio Star but I honestly have no idea what it's called.

My question is this... I want the center squares to be 4" finished so I'm cutting them to be 4.5" squared. Then the squares with the quarter triangles will be cut at 5.25" unfinished to make them work with the seam allowances. The smaller 1/8-sized squares will be cut from larger 5" blocks to get the seam allowances correct when I quarter them. But now here's my problem...

What size are the smallest 1/8-sized triangles cut down from? I just cannot wrap my head around accounting for the seam allowances and even drawing everything out on graph paper is no help.

To clarify, in the picture, the lower left hand block, I'm trying to figure out how to cut the smallest brown (and cream) triangles, what size should those unfinished, uncut, larger blocks be?

I loves him so much!!

This is what happens when I'm bored.



And on my keyboard for scale? I was trying to get my in-game sinister squashling in the pic on the screen but the flash was covering him completely.

Seen these around here quite a few times as well as the internet as a whole. Such a quick and easy way to spice up the bathroom! My best friend is finally getting a room (and bathroom) to his very own in a few months so I thought I'd give him something to "man up" the space since the wallpaper is quite floral and feminine (and can't be painted over). I did 2 washcloths, a hand towel and 2 very large bath towels.





Without flash to show more of the true color (it's a currant grape-y color, not magenta >.< )



In progress shot:

Heavily inspired (ie - shamelessly copied) by envirocraft's version...





And pockets to hold 6 games



Trying to catch up with Christmas gifts here.

A few years ago, while visiting a friend for her wedding, we were eating out and my friend loved the necklace that our waitress was wearing so much, I said I would make her one. The waitress kindly took it off and let me sketch out the design. I went home and made her and my grandma one and another variation for myself.

I'm only now getting around to taking pics... lol. I'll have to go find my version in my jewelry box but for now, here's my copy of the original that I gave to my grandma.

Here's about half of my stash. The other half is desperately unorganized and crammed into a closet. =/

Backstory: So, my best friend's sister is gay. Wewt, right? Lol, well I wanted to make her something special to take to Pride this year. Unfortunately I didn't get it finished before she left but she finally got it a couple weeks ago and I'm just getting around to posting pics for it. He tells me she absolutely loves it and says she's going to wear it everywhere.   <3



I used this pattern on ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/spork-a-knitted-felted-courier-bag but I admit to having some problems with it. Granted, this is my FIRST EVER knitted piece (first felted too) so maybe I read the instructions wrong or something but my finished main piece was way smaller than it was supposed to be? This is why I didn't get it finished in time for Pride because I had to knit up a completely new section to add to the bag. The black flap is the extra bit I had to add. Also, the interior gusset piece wasn't long enough and one side ended up puckering after being felted. Sooo yeah, I'm not sure what happened there. But it's done and I'm mostly pleased with it and she loves it so that's all that matters right?

I also included some flip flops with the rainbow peace sign fabric and a small coin purse I crocheted and lined with the leftover fabric.

Pattern for crochet coin purse: http://sparklepetal.wordpress.com/2010/05/16/rainbow-crochet-zipped-coin-purse-tutorial/

But enough rambling, on with the pics! In progress (apologies for the somewhat crappy cell phone pics):

All the materials laid out on the bed:



The rainbow sheep (not the black sheep... lol). This is just a lame button from Wally World that I snazzed up with some paint markers and a coat of clear nail polish to seal it.



The knitty gritty:







Assembled, before felting:



The finished product!

Please excuse the PJs, I just wanted a quick shot to show size. It's a little larger than a typical purse but smaller than your typical messenger bag. I can fit a few books and some spirals in there and probably my Dell laptop but it's not really a "schoolbag" by any means.





I love this little guy... he's too cute. <3



The interior:



Detailed shot of the female/female symbol I halfway "embroidered" onto the key fob. It's a tough call to choose this or the rainbow sheep as my fav detail... lol.



But anywho... that's all of it. OH! Almost forgot the flip flops and coin purse:



Now, that's all of it. C&C welcome!