Just in time-

I hope you had a lovely holiday!



I was able to just finish quilting up that stinkin' monster quilt. I wanted to show you how I quilted it. Unfortunately, its really hard to see the quilting in the photograph, though you might be able to click the picture above to enlarge it.

Here's the diagram for the quilting, on paper:

The machine quilting designs were just to practice some styles that I've seen or wanted to try. The bricks were a new one for me. Super easy to do, if you don't mind tracing over your stitching lines a small bit. This was also the first time for those "loopy bordery things" too. I used 4 different color threads on the top, rainbow variegated, yellow, orange and blue. The back of the quilt is the same wild spotty blue fabric as the outter border and binding. When I bought that fabric, I guess, I temporarily lost my mind because I have 5 yards of it. (I'm down to about 2 now, though.) The quilt finished up right at 42" square- so I didn't have to mess with building the backer fabric.

All in all, its just right for my little 4yo monster and its utilitarian enough to last through a zillion machine washings and picnics. Just in time for Christmas!

Merry Christmas Eve!

E-Patterns

I found a great little e-pattern shop, appropriately named The Quilt Pattern Shoppe. They have a many designers and lots of variety. You'll have to drive by and check out their titles. Of course, they happen to also carry a few popular ReannaLily Designs patterns: Boxed In, Floating Bubbles and Woven Comfort. Once this post is gone, you can find them in my blog side bar. For today, though, if you'd like to have a pattern right NOW and you enjoy the quick delivery of a pdf pattern, swing on by and check them out!

Giving Back

I'm so happy to announce that this spring I will be teaching my project-based sewing classes (all mentioned on the blog before) at the local Community College! The schedule was just released and I am teaching 5 classes. These are leisure classes through the continuing ed department. I'm so happy to have a venue to reach all the curious crafters/seamstresses. I'm in the process of updating all the supplies lists so the college will have that information available and it will also be there for you to access easily on my website. I'm sure I'll be blogging more about that as I check off my to-do list this holiday season. Thanks for all the continued support and if you are in the Wichita area, looking to take a sewing class, please contact me or the continuing ed department.

Dear Santa

I thought I could resist the letter to Santa.... but I cannot. I just can't believe how generous this give away is over at the Fat Quarter Shop. So having said that, lets hope the big guy reads my blog!!!

Dear Santa,
I've been reasonably good. Lets face it, good is a pretty relative term. I haven't been to jail or done anything insane. I haven't made the nightly news or forgotten one of my kids somewhere. Seriously though, Sir, I HAVE been good. I am working really hard and making some huge progress and I sure would love to see some of these things in my stocking!


That Nicey Jane would look great with those uniforms I've sewn. You know what else would look great with uniforms, these, by Sandi Henderson.

But if the elves don't want to go crazy making this fabric just for me, I sure would love some uniform donations. I'm looking for the newer style (pixelated) Navy and the newer Marine uniform sets. Obviously, used sets, though- that is the point of recycling them. =)

Merry Christmas. We'll leave out cookies and milk this year and of course celery for your reindeer.

Your very GOOD friend, Jen.

Hats Off to YOU!

I've been working on a little sample in my sewing room and I want to share my first prototype with you- Its a cute little hat to match some cute little booties. You've seen the booties, many times, many ways, but I've added quilted soles. Sure, there's no arch support, but they are super soft.

And then I have this rough draft of a 4-panel Daddy's Girl beanie. Oh man- I'm lovin' it, but the dimensions aren't quite right, yet. Then again, I don't have a 6mos old to try it on, either. I do know the circumference is right, but I think the had should be deeper or taller.

So that is what I've been playing around with in the sewing room this week & weekend. I do hope you're having a great Tuesday!


Oh- one other thing, the fabrics are by Art Gallery Fabrics and the fine people at the US ARMY. Big HOOO'AH goin' out to all my Army friends.

Have a good one!

Tablerunners and a free $5

This will just be a short quick little post before I get back to the writing and diagramming patterns-

With the holiday season in total full-swing, I thought I'd mention this tip I learned at my local *new* quilt guild. When you make a table runner, you can line the whole thing with InsulBrite and then it functions as a "hot pad" table protector during the crowded family feasts. I think its a wonderful idea. Unfortunately, I learned it after I finished my table runner.

And the free $5??? My friends over at Quiltwoman.com are offering $5 off your purchase if you sign up for an e-newsletter. I mean, with most patterns costing $9, its more like a 65% off coupon! Incidentally, Quiltwoman.com also sells a quilted heat resistant product that could be pieced to size and work great in my next, ahem, SPRING table runner..