creative little daisy

Welcoming spring...

More feathering. This little girl is certainly going to have a sweet place to lay her head, but I'm sure much of her dreaming will be done while being held and adored. I'm getting all excited and filled with butterflies in anticipation of nuzzling that sweet baby's head against my neck, feeling her warm breath on my chest as I hold her and watch her dream her baby dreams.... It's really getting close, I'm going to be someone's nana (I'm thinking I like nana) Mitch a papa, our baby girl is going to be a mama. I can feel our lives changing direction, entering a new stage, a good one. I feel spring time in our lives, sweet new beginnings, just as welcome as the blanket of jasmine blooms growing along the fence

and the songbirds nesting outside my window

Spring is all around, inside and out, and it feels good.

I heart Google

and Flickr and You Tube. Limitless inspiration and information right at my fingertips- it boggles my tiny little brain. I made a baby quilt this week, a gift for a girl who goes to our church. Her little boy is due two weeks after Bayleigh's ETA. I knew I wanted something bright, but not too bright. I started by searching flickr and google for charm square quilts- thinking a quilt made from charm squares would be fairly quick to put together. Boy, talk about inspiration overload! After much oohing and ahhing, I finally decided to give this one a try using these charm squares.


I couldn't decide if I wanted to stop here or add a border.

Adding a border won out.

I made my quilt "sandwich" by taping the quilt back the floor, topping it with cotton batting then the quilt top and basted with safety pins. After quilting around the center square a couple of times, I noticed some shifting and was about to get some puckers- so I stopped and did some more internet research. I found this video demonstration on how to hand baste a quilt. I had already done some of her don'ts, so I wasn't able to completely follow her instructions, but I was able to secure the layers much better with some hand basting and the quilting went much better from there. After a few more squares I felt like it was looking a little boring, so back to the computer for more guidance. If you want an upper body work-out, try some free motion quilting. Wow, my arms are tired!

I tried with and without quilting gloves, with is definitely much better for me. The binding was applied following this method, then it went into the washer and dryer to get all bumpy and wrinkled.

The only time I get excited about wrinkles.


The back

The finished quilt, thanks to the internet and some very talented ladies who generously share their knowledge and skills. I really love it, I think I may be making another one for me.

*Edited to add* A few have asked the finished size of the quilt- it's 41" x 48". There are a total of 80 squares- 8 across and 10 down with a six inch border on all sides.

Big, Bad Binding... you don't scare me anymore!

Applying binding has long been my least favorite, most dreaded sewing task. I went to great lengths to find shortcuts to make it easier or better yet, to completely avoid it. I don't know how it happened, like the kid learning to ride a bike w/o training wheels, I just looked up, and had sewn on a binding without a bit of cursing or seam ripping and it looked good. It was the baby quilt I made for Bayleigh. I hand finished it, something I never do, and even with that, it looked good. Probably a fluke I told myself. You'll never be able to do it again, but guess what? I did it again! Not once, but twice and there were curves involved.

None of the usual puckers.

Look, mitered corners even! My fingers hurt really bad, but that hand finishing looks pretty good, don't ya think? I'm feeling all big and bad, like a binding conquering tough girl.

I drew a name from the comments on the last post and the winner was Lisa. Lisa, I'll get something in the mail to you soon.  Thanks everyone who voted for Alyssa!

32 weeks 3 days

A few more here.

Jennie let us know about a baby bump contest going on at The Nest. Alyssa entered a photo and would love it if you would go vote for her photo. The prize is a trip to Jamaica. Maybe if she wins, she'll take me. Why would she want to go to Jamaica with Derek anyway? Just click the link over in the sidebar if you'd like to vote. I hate to ask you to do me a favor without offering you something in return. If you vote, leave me a comment and I'll draw at least one name from the comments and send you a thank you gift- something made by my soon to be granny hands.

**edited** I'm sorry to those trying to vote- apparently it isn't as simple as clicking the link in the sidebar as I had believed. It seems you have to register with The Nest.com. If you feel so inclined I'm sure Alyssa would appreciate your vote, if not I will still enter your name in the drawing. I'll close the comments and randomly choose a name on Friday (March 14).

The pink ribbon photo was inspired by Sunny's beautiful work. (scroll down a bit)

Typepad, we have a problem...

I assume it's a Typepad issue. Blog feeds seem to be all crossed up this morning. No, I haven't completely changed the theme of my blog. I only hope the blog that got crossed up with mine wasn't offensive. Anyone know what's going on?

Showered with love...

My sister Erica, hosted Alyssa's baby shower this past weekend.  It turns out, the girl has some mad party-planning skills. It was filled with fun and food and lots of baby gifts. I'm so proud of her and grateful for all the work she put into making my girl's day extra special.

I was able to get the quilt finished in time for the shower, wasn't sure that was going to happen.

Thank you, so much for your wonderfully kind comments on the crib bedding. This project was  especially close to my heart and your love made it that much sweeter.  
I need to take a little break from baby sewing to get some other things marked off that never ending to-do list. Maybe I'll have some things to share this week that aren't pink. (in case you're getting a little bored with all the sugar and spice)