Wings

Yes, wings. That was the theme for Le Challenge #2.

Before the theme was announced, I was already working on the Kookaburra quilt for Kid 2. When he originally saw the backing fabric, he actually asked if I could just frame that for his room. Well...no, because 1) then there wouldn't be nearly enough for the back and 2) that would be one BIG frame.

But I thought maybe I would do something with my scraps.

Then my last Whimseybox contained string art supplies—wood base, nails, black wire, orange wire, green/white baker's twine, and blue/white baker's twine.

I am now over halfway done with the quilting (and fighting through a tough part, as much of the quilt has to fit through my machine, it's a struggle). So, clearly, I have my scraps. But not enough of the fabric I was hoping to use.

But I made it work.

Kingfisher on a Wire

Supplies

Step 1--Mod Podged fabric scraps

Sides stamped with silver stamp pad

Wire under the kingfisher

 The quilt I am making is based on the Saffron Craig Banksia Bloom Kookaburra fabrics. I chose some of my scraps and mod podged them onto my wood. After it dried, I trimmed the fabric and then used a silver stamp pad to color the edges.

After looking at a whole lot of belted kingfisher (the kookaburra is a large kingfisher from Australia, the belted kingfisher is the North American kingfisher we see at a local park) pictures online and in books, I found a pose I liked. I then traced two different photos to get the pose I wanted. I scanned my drawing, enlarged it, and printed it.

After putting in the nails—the hardest part of this project—I first put on the wire the kingfisher is perched on, and then strung the kingfisher.

I added nails to the side, and more wire, for hanging. I also added felt circles to the back corners.

Of course, kid 2 decided he doesn't want to actually hang it LOL.

Linked to:
Le Challenge
Fluster's Creative Muster
Sew Darn Crafty

First Silhouette Project

I finally shoved aside the sewing machine and decided to set up my Silhouette Cameo, which has been in its box since...Christmas. I needed a birthday card for my dad, and saw a great idea in the spring/summer issue of Make It Yourself.

Setting up the Cameo was surprisingly easy—though I couldn't register through their automatic system, I had to go on the web to do it. Took a bit to connect my online account (there are no directions provided for this!).

But I got it figured out.

Then I discovered that my cardstock has disappeared. Spent 20 minutes looking for that. It's gone. I am guessing a certain 13-year-old probably turned it into a set of dumpsters. Or something.

So, I found an envelope (since it's heavier paper) and cut that to use in the Cameo. And since it's white, I found my nice scrapbooking markers to use to color the cut piece.

Maybe I should have colored it first.

I used the glue pen and the tack from the cutting mat to stick the words. They were quite hard to get off the mat.

Turns out my wonderful pens do run a bit if wet, in spite of being permanent, acid-free, etc etc etc.

I used the glue pen to glue down the baker's twine. A bit of a mess. Getting them cut to the same length was the hardest—in retrospect, I should have used double-sided tape.

All in all, I learned a bunch about how to work the Cameo.

My poor dad actually might not notice all of the annoying details that I see. Spot, smear, glue blob (it dried clear), poorly cut ends (scissors could not trim through glue!), poorly drawn flames.

Plan for this weekend: buy a variety pack of cardstock.

My first Cameo project!

Linked to:
Sew Darn Crafty 
Take-A-Look Tuesday

A win!

I recently won some sewn pouches from Susan of the Le Challenge blog, and they made it here all the way from England! And one of them had a whole bunch of precut hexies—I have never braved making hexies, perhaps I will finally try. Perhaps it will be the perfect project the next time I have a boy home sick.

I've been trying to get some good pictures, but I have given up. We've had bright sun, we've had rain, now we're back to sun.

The big one is currently full of washi tape—which had been living in a heap on my sewing table. I thought it was all going to fit into the smaller one. Ahem.

The amount of time I spent playing with these looking at the construction was kind of funny. Especially since I am still not clear on how they were put together!

Cookie approves!

I have 3 projects going right now—one for the current Le Challenge (which will be revealed on May 15, assuming it continues to go well), Everett's kookaburra quilt, and some mother's day gifts (which will be posted after they are received—my mother-in-law occasionally reads this blog, so NO SPOILERS).

Piecing a back

I have never pieced a back before, but had to for my current project.

Why had to? I only bought 2 yards of my backing fabric (bought from Honey Be Good), which is a very large repeat print. When it arrived, I also wasn't thrilled by the layout on the fabric—the birds were facing away form each other! And one side had black birds, the other blue. I wanted to mix that up.

Also, my quilt top is 52 inches wide.

The front:

The back:

Fabrics are mostly from Saffron Craig's Banksia Bloom line (a got a fat quarter bundle and 2 yards of the large kookaburras). Filled in with Art Gallery Pure Elements Parisian Blue, Robert Kaufman Quilter's Linen Stone, Kona Cotton Orange, and Lotta Jansdotter Bella Ball and Leaves Poppy. I have Ann Kelle Remix Dots in Tangerine for binding.

This is all sandwiched up and ready to quilt! First, though—making dinner, eating dinner, and more laundry. Maybe some card games too.

Linked to:
Fresh Sewing Day 
WIP Wednesday

A little washi

A perfect use for washi tape—to perk up a 99 cent store gift bag, card, and tissue-wrapped gift. All of which was then crammed into a priority mail box. Any bow would have been crushed, and I am sure the bag was.

Why are priority mail boxes so odd-shaped? I simply cannot find a gift box to fit in them well, so I always end up with crushed gift bags.

big finish!

Yay, a big finish for me!

I've been pretty quiet lately, because I have been working on this. A baby quilt for a new cousin.

Pattern: disappearing 9-patch, in an attempted random arrangement
Fabrics used:
Lizzie House Pearl Bracelet Tin Man,  Riley Blake Ombre Dots Navy and Green; V and Co Ombre Solid Graphite and Lime Green; Print and Pattern Boy Toys Let's Go Sky (2 prints); Michael Miller Clown Stripe in blue and green (not sure of exact names); binding is Kona Glacier

I am entering this in the Mar/Apr Le Challenge, since the theme was geometrics and I was making a baby quilt this month. How's that for perfect? A geometrics theme and a baby quilt came together the same month. Did the theme affect my quilt? Not consciously, but I think it did because I had geometrics on the brain. I had been thinking of doing a much simpler (or maybe I should say "simpler") quilt of strips of my fabrics, different widths, etc, but all WOF. I think this worked out much much better. I love patchwork, and the trick used to get the disappearing 9-patch makes the patchwork look more complicated, but I also think it helps match up those corners, and it helps move the different fabrics around the quilt.

Linking to:
Finish it Up Friday
Show off Your Stuff
Happy Hour Friday
Sew Darn Crafty
Take-A-Look Tuesday
Show and Tell Tuesday 
Fluster's Creative Muster 
Fabric Tuesday

April Fools!

This blog may indicate that I haven't been working on anything, but that is not the case! I will have a big finish soon, and then another! Why have I not posted about these projects? Probably because I have been working on them, ha ha.

But in honor of April Fool's Day, I had to trick my boys.

A Pin Win!

After trolling about pinterest for some ideas, I settled on meatloaf "cupcakes" with mashed potato frosting and actual cupcakes  with "mashed potato" frosting.

It didn't fool the boys, but the husband was a little freaked out, and wouldn't taste anything until the boys told him what everything was. He said it was delicious, but would not put both "cupcakes" on his plate at the same time.

I am terrible at piping frosting, and I am equally terrible at piping mashed potatoes.
13-year-old says meatcakes are great, and I should always make meatloaf this way. Nooooooo!!!!!

Linked to:
Take-A-Look Tuesday
Fluster's Creative Muster