Womanhood

Several of us women got together to welcome a beautiful young woman to her journey into womanhood. It was an evening of laughter, stories, tears, and prayer. Chantelle is a sweet girl and a blessing to everyone around her.

Every woman needs a fun purse, so here was my contribution to the evening.

Where did I disappear to?

In case, you're wondering, it's been a little busy around here. We got an offer (at the end of June) from our apartment management company to move into a larger apartment in another building. We took some time to think about it (24 hours) and moved 4 weeks later (end of July). I haven't pulled out my machine yet, but am trying to get settled into my new space. I finally have my own space. (Okay, so I share it with a couple office things: computer, fax machine, file cabinet; but otherwise, it's all mine.)

In between the job offer and moving, we celebrated the 4th, went away for the weekend with good friends, celebrated Chris's birthday, attended our college alumni picnic, Chris started his new quarter at college, and we managed our old and new buildings. Obviously, things have been a little crazy. This weekend was supposed to be quiet, except for the wedding that Chris was supposed to play in on Saturday. Due to work, he didn't arrive until the end of the wedding. Luckily, a friend graciously stepped in and most people didn't even notice that he wasn't on the stage. Saturday night, my parents' neighbourhood was hit by a tornado. The damage was mostly in the woods behind the house. After a full day of professional tree guys and friends and family helping, there is still a lot to do (possibly 15 trees or more lost).

On the sewing front: I was working on something before we moved, but haven't touched it since. Can't give more details than that, since it is a surprise. A friend asked me to help her make curtains this last week.

Doll strollers

Dida's doll stroller seat was made of cheap nylon and had frayed at least an inch at all crucial attachment points. Dida's "new" stroller:
Cari and her family moved to Brasil on Wednesday. She is expecting a little girl in August. Before leaving, they bought their 4-year-old daughter, Bella, a new doll stroller. They decided to bring the old one (still in good shape) along for Bella to give to the new baby. The seat was starting to fray so I fixed it up for her. Cari's baby's "new" stroller with a canopy:

Tia fix-it

Noelle's quilt is finished and delivered.

My sister brought her daughter's birthday dress to me a couple weeks ago. The gauzy top layer had gotten stepped on and the fabric was beginning to run. I found a wide ribbon and folded it over the hem and sewed it in place. Dida (my niece) was glad to have her dress fixed again.

I also made a stroller seat for Dida's doll stroller. The cheap nylon seat tore and my sis asked me if I could reinforce it. It was too torn up to sew. I found some heavier material (light-weight home-dec fabric) and took the old seat apart to use as a pattern. It turned out pretty decently.

So the next time I was over, Dida brought me a doll that's about 5 inches tall and asked if I could make it some clothes. Sorry, honey, that I can't do...

I am now working on 3 toddler-bed size flannel blankets for Cari's kids as a going-away present and a stroller seat for their worn-out doll stroller (for the new baby to play with when she's old enough). We will miss that family. Sure you guys don't want to stay?

2 down, 1 to go

I finished my nieces' quilts today (Christmas presents). The larger one was done and I just needed to do the binding on the smaller one. They were over for lunch and I rushed to finish the second quilt, then decided to wait until they were washed to hand them over. My sis and her family left and I threw the quilts in the wash, planning to drop them off at her place on Tuesday. I pulled them out of the dryer, beautifully crinkly all over (no prewashing), folded them and found out that the family was coming back for supper. So they got them today after all. Hope they enjoy them. Our camera isn't the best, so my sis is going to take some nice pics of them with her good camera.

Now I'm headed back to the living room to finish baby Noelle's quilt. I'm headed over there Tuesday, so I'd like to get it washed tomorrow (since it was a shower gift--from August).

Daisies and more

I'm trying to figure out this whole free-motion quilting thing. I feel like I'm totally off somehow, maybe I just need to keep practicing? I have this quilt for a friend's baby (a girl after 2 boys). I already showed it to her, so it's okay to talk about it. =) The entire thing is basted together, just waiting for the quilting and binding. I made the top and back in an afternoon. It was inspired by this quilt by AmandaJean. (By the way, if you haven't been by her site, go there now, seriously. I love her choices of fabrics and patterns.)

My friend, Laura, loves daisies! I had found some daisy fabric and made her a receiving blanket with it. Then I got an invitation to a shower for her. The shower was a couple days before my baby sister's wedding. The budget was tight, due to tux rental, gifts, etc., and while I knew she would understand the lack of a gift, I really wanted to bless her. Laura is one of those people who is quick to encourage you, but is totally ready to give you a kick in the butt if you need it. In other words, she is a very honest person and doesn't hide who she is inside. Laura has been such a godly example to me as a woman, a wife, and a mother! (She is also a quilter.)

So anyways, back to the quilt. I called Chris (my very handsome husband) and told him he got to choose a gift. Option #1: I spend the day cleaning the house and I leave as soon as he got home from work to buy a present on the way to the shower. Option #2: I spend the day sewing and make a quilt out of scraps and fabric I had in my stash. He thought about it (the house needed cleaning...mostly the kitchen) and went with option #2. (He knows how relaxing sewing is for me and I was pretty stressed out that week...I love my husband!) So I pulled out the fabric and went to work. I would love to quilt daisies on each large square, but first I have to learn how to free-motion quilt. Oh, and that baby was born almost 3 weeks ago, so I'd better get this done before she's too big for it! Did I mention that in addition to daisies, Laura is a sucker for polka dots?Here's what half of the squares on the front look like. The back was pieced in 3 sections with the pink/white and white/multi-colour fabric. The purple makes me think of Van Gogh.