Going away gifts... Part 1

We moved recently... Matt took a job transfer back to California. So we left my parents and a lot of very, very close friends back in Jacksonville. Lots of ugly tears were cried. We are beyond excited to move back to the west coast and for opportunities we have here, but we are equally or more sad to leave this bunch of people that we love so much. 

One of our friends demanded a going away gift. No gift=no leaving. LOL. She took the news especially hard..... So, since she is a die hard Hello Kitty lover, and she and her husband are both Gators, I thought it appropriate to mix the two and appliqué this graphic that I found online onto a quilt. 

The back is a super soft double sided minky (not that that matters since it sandwiched) but it does make it super fluffy. Its almost a twin size. 

It took me a bit to find a photo of Thaoly that she or her husband wouldn't kill me for posting. She is well known for posting/taking possibly embarrassing, but aways awesomely funny photos. She also taught Bella how to pout and eat Oreos at inappropriate times; scheduled girls shopping trips when she hates to actually shop for clothing, and filled Bella's vocabulary with things like 'California sucks'.  lol. They were one of the first people we had to our house after we moved to Jacksonville 9 years ago and are super amazing people. 

We miss them so much! Hopefully we will get them to come out and visit soon...

I have a couple more going away gifts I will try to get them up soon- do you all make things for people when you leave? 

Another favorite blanket- animal style

So I finally found the gifts I talked about in this post. (hope you weren't holding your breath!)

Parker's Aunt wanted a blanket made for  him so she asked me to create it. I recommended one of my kids all time favorites - a whole cloth, minky backed blanket. The kids love them, they are super soft and can take a bajillion washings.  

Now you know I love pieced quilts BUT if you are wanting something custom made for you and are on a budget which in no way means cheap.. don't get me wrong... minky is involved! I think these are fantastic. And seriously the kids all time favorite to snuggle up with... not that you are allowed to touch any of their other blankets... Bella will cut you!

I quilted a zigzag to follow the fabrics zigzags  and it turned out perfectly. 

If you didn't notice I appliquéd the same animals I made for the invite onto the quilt. 

The left over fabric turned into a bag -- because we all know I can't help myself  when it comes to bags! 

I will try to get my gift up on the blog soon.... I have finally taken the time to dig up the last years worth of crafting and I am trying to get it sorted to show to you- I hope you will enjoy it there is a lot of really good stuff! 

Wow I'm a Slacker

I have a friend. She had a grandchild. He was born before my grandson. I made her grandson a gift. I never sent the gift. I am a bad friend.

I figure if I admit this and post it, I will be so ashamed that I will finally get to the post office and send it. There is no excuse for not getting it sent, other than I am being forgetful lately.  I think I need people, or at least an assistant. If this does not arrive on your doorstep by the end of the week please call and yell at me.

Oh and Joan, when you get it, you can see how far from perfect my sewing is! This blanket is wonky, but since it's meant to be drug around and loved I hope that won't matter! P.S. I'll put something in the box for you too!

One of those days.....

Yesterday was a day that I felt every one of my almost 50 years old. I work with the most clever, creative, smart and above all nice people I could ever hope to work with. Not a single one of them make me anything but happy. I was just so frustrated with myself. I even threw a silent temper tantrum for my idiocy. My mind just doesn't do some of the things I want it to. Most days I'm trainable but yesterday....... Then, it took me 40 minutes to get home (this is normally a no more than 15 minute drive), you know who was in class and the animals were just not interested. I just felt awful.

Sew anyway, and that's what I did.

I will never make another. Minky stretches. A lot. I mean it. K, well, maybe I would make another. Not sure. Maybe, if I have another bad day and it takes me a long time to get home and you know who is in school and the dog, cat and chinchilla are not enough..... maybe, because I am good at this and it makes me happy.

Mushrooms on my mind

This is just crazy. I don't even have a great affinity for mushrooms. Well, I like to eat them and I have taken photos of them. Maybe I do love mushrooms cause now that I have started, I can't stop making them. The first one is so sad compared to these. (You can trade it in Jennifer.) As you can see I have even made a pointy one, kinda reminds me of a certain hat..... They are actually keeping me sane because the Cathedral Garden quilt is driving me mad! I cannot even tell you how many hours I have spent trying to finish the green section.

I also made a blanket out of our new minky! I love it but I am afraid I won't be able to keep it. Black fabric and Miss Evie just don't mix. For a moment I thought about giving her away instead but that seems so drastic.
For now it will be on display in the shop. That's all for this weekend!