Pink Lemonade Bunting and Basket

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For my daughter's first birthday party in August 2014, I used a "pink lemonade" theme. I meant to make these pennant banners to decorate, but didn't get done in time. I did finish one for in her bedroom, but there were so many extra triangles left over! That became another unfinished project that I added to my Finish-A-Long goals (see HERE).

Well, now they are finished! I had enough to make one more bunting identical to the one I had already made- I think that will make her room more symmetrical and make me feel better- and I also made a second smaller one.

The smaller pennant banner went in a basket for someone special. She had requested pink and yellow accent colors.

I am still working on the rest of my Finish-A-Long goals for this quarter. I am doing all of the easiest ones first, but at least they are getting done!

Felt Taco Earbud Holder

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We recently sent my brother a Mexican themed care package because he was hungry for Mexican food. Of course, as soon as we assembled a package he went all healthy on us and probably won't eat any of it. Just so you know, it took 5 lbs of animal crackers to be able to make a small dish of chocolate-covered-burros!

Anyway, at the last minute, I threw in something non-edible and just plain fun. it is a felt taco earbud holder. I found a you-tube video with directions HERE. I sewed on velcro instead of snaps, used hot glue instead of liquid glue, and punched holes of fun foam instead of plastic to make the eyes.

I don't expect him to actually use this, but it was a fun gag gift. That little taco face makes me smile anyway. :)

Charm Square Quilted Purse

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Another finish!!!

I won a charm pack of Summer Breeze II several years ago and I eventually made myself a charm square tote out of it. It isn't perfect, but I like it and it matches our school colors. I had enough charm squares left over to make another one, as long as I used a solid color on the bottom to make it stretch. I pieced the squares and then it sat on the shelf above my sewing table for the last three years. I am so glad to have this one done!

 

The outside is free motion quilted on batting, the lining is interfaced, and the straps and pockets are made with fusible fleece. It is a nice, sturdy bag.
You can see the difference between the bag being tied at the sides and left open.
 

The pockets inside are my favorite part! They are a bit of extra work, but so great for attempting to keep my purse organized. This one is for my sister, and I think she is going to love it!!!

 

 

You can see my list of Finish-A-Long goals for this quarter HERE.

Vintage Sheet Curtains and Sneak Peek at Playhouse Remodel

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A few years ago, I traded a chocolate cake with peanut butter icing for a playhouse. Now, the playhouse had been used as a chicken coop, so it was a bit of a fixer-upper. Last summer, my dad came over and helped us did almost everything to fix it up. I had the easy part- some painting, caulk, and now... the decorating.

I got this thrifted sheet a little while ago and it matches the playhouse PERFECTLY- both inside and outside! Really- the colors are spot on!

I turned it into curtains, which is one of the simplest things that you can sew. I procrastinate equally on the difficult and easy projects.

There are cute little yellow ribbon ties, too.

I still want to add something on the ends of the dowels so that they don't slip off the hooks so easily.
Or maybe I will get smaller hooks.
Or maybe I won't bother and just tell the girls to be careful and not bump them too much.
Yeah. Probably the last one.

So that gives a little peek at the inside of the playhouse. Here is a little peek at the outside so you can see the blue that matches the curtains.

When a few more details are done, I will do a full post on the playhouse makeover. 
In the meantime, I am so happy to cross these curtains off of my list of Finish-A-Long goals, which you can see HERE.

Fleece Kittens

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I finished something!!! YAY!!!!!

Pretty sure that kitten is cheering for me here!

I am really on a roll lately! (Pats self on back.) To be fair, I am finishing up all of the things that were *this* close to being done. You can see my Finish-A-Long list HERE.

These fleece kittens were supposed to be party favors for my daughters second birthday party last August. There were too many kids coming and not enough time to finish the kittens. So, they sat around in various stages of production in this basket for the past 6 months.

They are done now, but I am not sure what I am going to do with them.

I adapted a free bunny pattern from ikatbag found HERE. Some of them came out a little wonky, but they are still cute.

And, we have real kittens that kinda' match them!:)

 

Yeah, those kittens are cuter. :)

Link Parties where I sometimes hang out...

Scrappy Squares Doll Quilt

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The other day, since I had a few minutes before an appointment, I pulled up Netflix to finish an episode of Fixer Upper and sat down to hand stitch the binding on this doll quilt. Spring sports are upon us, so with the rushing around all of the time, it was awesome to just sit down and relax for a little bit. AND I got another finish done from my Finish-A-Long goals (see HERE). Double win!

I don't know why I procrastinated for so long!

Anyway, I love this little scrappy patchwork quilt. I look at it and see bits and pieces of old projects I have made. From old quilts and my sister's apron...

...to my son's first bedroom curtains when he was only 2. Now he is 16. *sigh*

This was also my first attempt at free motion quilting. It isn't perfect, but it was good practice. I love how it got a great texture when I washed it!

Oh, and not sure if I ever showed this before, but my daughter and I made flannel nightgowns for her and her doll. (They often ask for PJs for their dolls.) This gives a size perspective. The quilt is only 24 inches.

I am really plugging away at these finishes, but I found even more unfinished projects in the process! I am trying to focus on one thing at a time so that I don't get overwhelmed. With practices and games 5 days a week, craft projects should be the last thing stressing me out! It does feel like a weight is lifted each time I finish a project, though. There are several more I completed that will be on the blog next week, so please come back to see them!

Mommy Pig and Piglets

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I am really serious about finishing up all of those projects that I blogged about! Right away, I finished that big mommy pig. It just needed more stuffing, a small repair, and a nose. I bought the pattern about 5 or 6 years ago from ikatbag HERE.

Part of the reason that I procrastinated so long on this one was because I wasn't too thrilled about how it was turning out. When I started it, I wanted to do it right that minute. I was trying to make do with the fabrics I had instead of fleece, which the pattern called for. Frustrated, the project I was so anxious to start was unfinished for a very long time. About 6 months later, I found the pink fleece I had bought years ago when I bought the pattern. I would highly recommend using fleece instead of a woven.

Besides the cute, curly tail...

...this pig has some other fun features.

Yes, this mommy pig has a little zipper compartment that holds 6 piglets!  I used scraps of quilting cottons to make the assorted piglets. One is even a runt. Now, these piglets were made about a year and a half ago, so they have been well loved and played with while waiting for their mommy. It was sad, really.

I was so glad to have this one finished, and glad to make a little girl and six piglets very happy.

 

This is the first finish I have checked off of my list of goals for the second quarter of the finish-a-long.  You can see my goals for this quarter HERE if you want to feel better about your list of incomplete projects. :)

Link Parties where I sometimes hang out...