Just Sew Quilter: March 2014

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Delightful Stars Blocks and Shopping

We were gone this past weekend so I couldn't get to my blocks for the Delectable Stars quilt-along. Yesterday after we got home, I got busy! The "practice" block is on the right. I like the purple and black but the brightness of the pinks and muslin is very pretty, if I do say so myself!

The week before, we were to practice paper piecing with a tutorial from Michele. My samples are in the photo below. I am going to make either a table runner or a wall hanging with them, I think. Haven't decided which.

My sister-in-law Denise and I went quilt shop hopping while I was there last weekend. Here is some of the fabric we bought that will be used in October when my aunt Harriette is hosting my cousin Lynette, Denise, and I for a quilt retreat of our own. We are going to sew log cabin blocks, enough for each of us to make a quilt. Yoo hoo! Should be loads of fun!

It's spring, even with the light dusting of snow overnight. The cardinals are busy with their mating/nesting routine. Redwing blackbirds are back, and the grackles are arriving in hoards. This cold weather can't last much longer!

Monday, March 10, 2014

March 11--It's Ruffle Time for ME!

This has certainly been another great hop. The different ruffled projects have continued to amaze and inspire me every day. Thanks to Amy as cheerleader and to Madame Samm as creator!

I decided to make skirts for my granddaughters, ages 8 months, 4 years, and 5 years. Below is Grandma (that's me) reading to Amelia with Amelia's big sister Harper reading right beside us. They are sure a couple of cuties! (My husband took the picture--he gets the blame for lack of centering.) I just noticed that the heart on Harper's dress is ruffled! Yea!

At Christmas time I took this picture of our older daughter and family. Aren't they a lovely family? Hailey is my 4 year old granddaughter.

The "big" girls love pink, so the skirts had to have a fair share of that color. I wanted to make Harper's and Amelia's to match. Harper loves bold colors, so the pinks are quite bright. I made the ruffles the way Madame Samm has shown, make 2 pleats, sew them down, 2 more, sew, etc., etc. It was a little tricky when I didn't know how long the ruffle had to be. However, I figured it out by marking halves, quarters, eighths. It worked.

After I made the skirts, I figured Harper would like a matching skirt for her baby doll, and I knew the doll would need a matching top as well. (I had made doll clothes for Christmas presents too.) My poor baby doll's hair is in terrible shape so I made a headband to hold it down a little.

You can see I trimmed Amelia's skirt with ribbon, as I had done the doll's skirt, but I didn't like the way the ribbon seemed to pucker somewhat so I didn't put it on Harper's.

Then it was Hailey's turn for a skirt. After the skirt came the doll outfit, complete with headband too.

I sure hope the girls all like their skirts! I think they are pretty cute!

Here they are, all together. (The Dresden plate quilt on the bed is an old one that may have been my husband's grandmother's. Unfortunately, we don't know for sure. It is a beautiful quilt--I sure love it on that bed.)

Last, I want to show the tea cozy I made from Madame Samm's kit. Isn't it pretty? It just matches my blue teapot.

I hope you enjoyed my projects. Don't forget to visit the others today too.

March 11^th

Needle and Hook

Marjorie's Busy Corner

Blessings From Our Nest

Little House on the Dairy

Just One More Stitch

Creatin' in the Sticks

Just Sew Quilter (You are here!)

Have a great day!

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Think Ruffles has started

The "Think Ruffles" blog hop started today, but first, I want to show off my blocks for Delightful Stars, Aiming for Accuracy. They both turned out well, if I do say so myself.