Asher's Baptism Blanket

Aren't these monsters the cutest things?! I love applique and knew as soon as I saw these little guys that I had to make a quilt with them, So.....

To help A bug remember his baptism promises I decided to embark on a quilting nightmare journey that would last for 7 hellish wonderful weeks. 

I decided (with much encouragement from my lovely g'ma aka: quilter extraordinaire) that I would use this as the push/excuse to learn how to use my sewing machine (after 3 frustrating days I actually folded and read the thick how-to guide cover to cover), I also learned how to applique, machine quilt, add a border, and bind for the first time ever. *yay me*

The most important lesson I learned.............
Thank goodness for you tube tutorials! I never would have finished this without them. The beauty of learning in solitude with your computer is that I can google stupid insightful questions that I would never humilate myself with in the presence of a real live human being.

Since I 'designed' this quilt myself I attempted a few different techniques to add the lettering, but ultimately was forced by exacerbation and tears peacefully decided to go back to my comfort roots and just cross stitched the little suckers on circles, which I then appliqued onto the quilt block along with the letters in his name.

Wrapped up with the blanket (covered with a minky backing to die in swaddled comfort for btw) was a cardstock backed explanation of the masterpiece (he's 8 - it doesn't take a lot to impress yet - thank goodness....)

My 'Monster' Big Baptism Promises

A  lways Remember Him

S  trive to Obey the Commandments

H  elp Others

E  mulate Him

R  epent of Your Sins

Starter Collaborative Quilt

My first ever corroborated quilt is complete!! That is to say that I did SOME of this quilt. Okay, so it's really saying is that I pieced it...only. But...

 It was so much fun and so easy! My neighbor is so awesome, she let me scavenge her amazingly stocked and organized craft room to steal any left over fabrics I wanted!

My mom and G'ma were so excited/supportive that I was learning how to quilt that they took the pieced top (when it was apparent I was never going to finish it struggling to find the perfect backing and quilt design) and had it quilted professionally, then bound it themselves.

I could not be more delighted with the finished blanket! It's so amazing to see something that you (partly) created all put together. 

My G'ma offered to fly me out to Wisconsin just this past weekend to impart her quilting expertise onto me. It took all of 2 seconds to jump all over that offer!! Hello, how many people are offered the chance to learn at the feet of a master?!

It was the most amazing trip! The most important lesson I learned:

  A Walking Foot is NOT for Regular Sewing!! - blonde moment of the decade here people! yep, you guessed it right...I pieced the entire quilt top using a walking foot! 

Now that my G'ma has fixed that gigantic black gaping hole in my knowledge, there is soooo much less swearing frustration going on around my sewing machine! 

Who'd have thought that the machine wasn't supposed to eat your fabric every time you tried to guide it through? Life is so much brighter now, colors deeper, rainbows abundant...it will never be the same again 

BUTTERFLY FAIRY - COMPLETE

Finished!! Isn't she beautiful?! 
I absolutely love it!

BUTTERFLY FAIRY - 8 MONTH PROGRESS

This is sloooooow going....that is what I have been thinking....that I wasn't really getting anywhere with this thing (not to mention that I took about 3 months off to recuperate).
But looking at my last post I can actually see some progress - this blog was such a good idea - with such a large project it can be discouraging...I think I'll get back to sewing now :)

BUTTERFLY FAIRY - 4 MONTH PROGRESS

I adore this pattern from Shinysun (art by Ronne Barton)

I call it "pure cross stitch" because there are no half or quarter stitches and absolutely no back stitching - so when you you are done you are actually done!! hooray!! 

Although not difficult it is intricate and time consuming. I can tell it will totally be worth it, i can't wait for it to be finished because I really think it will be the most beautiful piece I have ever done.