Monkey business

Back a couple years ago I went on a shop hop in Northern Michigan.  I came across Sock Monkey fabric.  It was one of those moments "what was I thinking?"   A bought fabric assortment of the Sock Monkey group.  No idea what I was going to do with it.

Going through my stash I came across this Sock Monkey fabric and decided I would make my oldest grandson (he's 3) a sock monkey and a matching quilt.  This whole idea morphed into making all three of my grandchildren (ages 1, 2 1/2, and 3) a sock monkey and matching quilt.  

I made all three quilts the same size, 60 by 72, and same layout, but used the fabrics a little different.  

They look fun.  With the quilts finished it's time to tackle the sock monkeys.  Back to my studio to finish these Christmas gifts.  I have more monkeying around to do.

Is it spring???

 Our weather has been crazy.  We go from temperatures in the 20s then to 60s.  It's November, but really seems like spring.  Did we miss winter?  I think not.  

My friend who was inspired to make a quilt like my tulip quilt I had hanging on my from porch last spring had me quilt her finished tulip quilt. Yep, tulips.  With the temperatures teasing us and now quilting this brightly colored tulip quilt I am wishing we were heading into spring.

She did a wonderful job.  She made it for her bed.  What a wonderful site to wake up to each morning.

I have it ready to mail tomorrow to her in Florida.  Can't wait for her to receive it.

I've been staying focused on catching up on my projects.  I seem to be making great headway.  I will be back in the next day or two with a couple more finished projects.  

Cotton Daisies

Last year I found a pattern for a quilt called Cotton Daisies by Laugh Yourself Into Stitches.  I decided that I would make the throw size 45" by 63" to use on my hammock in my backyard. 

I included it as part of my AuSable Quilt Guild UFO list 2022/23.  It was my numbered 5 which was picked for June.  During the month of June I did piece it together which was all that was required to be considered complete, but with the weather keeping me outside it was piled up with a couple other quilts to get quilted.  Today it is not an UFO anymore.

Part of the appeal of this quilt was the quilting design that was on the pattern photo.  So I quilted it similar to that photo.  I'm very pleased with the finished quilt.  Although it won't be on my hammock until next summer today was a nice sunny day for a photo.

With this quilt I also made some throw pillows with fabric with bees and beehives print.  I'm envisioning a beautiful sunny day reading a book/magazine on my hammock with my new  creations.  Could possibly a great little nap.

As much as I love summer, these cooler temps are just great for tackling projects I love to do.  I loaded another quilt on my frame this afternoon.  Tomorrows mission is to quilt it.  Hope to see you soon with another completed project.

UFO Challenge catch-up

Catching up on my UFOs from this past years challenges from the AuSable Quilt Guild.

 I am finally working to get catch up on quilting my UFO challenge quilt tops that I pieced during the challenge months.  UFO number six was a pink baby string quilt. I had no one in mind when I decided to make this quilt a couple years ago.  I'm trying to use my stash and these fabrics were extra from previous quilts. I joined a string quilt group a few years back, but the group fell apart after a couple months.  This baby quilt was one of the string quilt projects I was working on.  

Hooray, I finally quilted it this week.  Plus, as always,  I made a matching tote.  I found an orange fox stuffed animal that matches the little fox in the fabric so a little gift basket is starting to fill up.

The main fabric has woodland animals with flowers and leaves so I quilted a leaf design.  This quilt will be stashed away for a future gift.

On that note -  I found out this past couple weeks that we have a new grandchild on the way this May.  And to top that off, my niece just found out that she is expecting a little one this June.  Our little family is growing.  And how fun that our babies are all within a few years old of each other.  I can see fun times ahead.

My Husqvarna Sapphire sewing machine was having power issues and was due for its yearly cleaning and update.  So for the past couple weeks while its been in for repairs I've resorted to using my older Husqvarna/Viking sewing machine.  I forgot what a champ it is.  It sews through things like butter.  I don't recall exactly how long I've owned it.  I bought it used in the early 90s.  I paid $100 for it back then which I thought was a little pricey, but it was a lot more affordable than a new sewing machine and had features I liked.  

I searched online to see if I could find the date of this machine and I found that people were selling the same model for $150 now.  There were also a few that were being sold with missing parts.  My machine has all its original parts and hums happily along.  It's not computerized and has metal parts.  Out of curiosity when I pick up my Sapphire sewing machine I asked if they can tell me the year of my this older sewing machine.  The repair man told me that it's dated to the mid 70s.  Using it this past couple weeks reminds me to never let it go.  I love this sewing machine.

In the meantime, I have another UFO challenge quilt on my quilt frame ready for its debut, hopefully I'll be back tomorrow.

Conjuring up some goodies

Trick or treat.  Smell my feet.  Give me something good to eat.  

As a kid this was a favorite little saying I loved to recite as I begged for candy on Halloween.  With that saying in mind I whipped up a couple Halloween aprons to wear as I prepared some special goodies.  We made chocolate whoopie pies with marshmallow filling and crazy eyes.  It was a hit with the kids.

My intention was to wear my apron and witch hat for trick or treaters on Halloween, but I forgot all about wearing it until the evening was done.  Darn.  It will be ready for next year.  

I always seem to get into a holiday spirit a couple weeks before the holiday and not so many months ahead like the stores.  I refuse to deal with holidays six months ahead.  Unfortunately, this doesn't leave me a lot of extra time to sew anything special for that holiday.  Right now I have a autumn leaf table topper I'd like to sew.  We'll see if it fits into my agenda before the snow flies.  Ha ha

Be back real soon.  I'm getting caught up on project that have been on the back burners.

Woodland animals

I'm invited to a baby shower and the mom to be picked the theme of woodland animals.  This theme works perfect for my stash busting mission.  

I have pieces leftover from the fabric panel Thicket by Gingiber that I've made other baby quilt gifts from.  This panel has been pretty popular for baby quilts.  It's supposed to be a boy so I added touches of green throughout.  

And of course I made the fabric tote to coordinate and put the quilt in.  It's filled with baby gifts besides the quilt.  One extra touch I added was a painted wooden owl I found at Walmart for under $1.  I drilled a hole in the top, inserted a ribbon and tied it to the handle of the tote.  This will be my gift card.

I was able to use my stash for everything in this project except the backing of the quilt.  So have I put a dent in my stash?   Possibly.  It's hard to tell.  I still have lots of fabric waiting for its debut into something special, including one more panel from Thicket by Gingiber.  And I have plenty of ideas swirling in my head.

Although I haven't posted on this blog for a while, I have been busy and have a few quilts to share with you.  They are stacked up waiting to be quilted.  Now that the weather has cooled my studio will be my retreat for the next couple months.  I'll get caught up in no time!  Ha ha ha.  So be on the lookout for more postings real soon.