Project Updates

I had started a BOM back in 2006.  2006, that's almost 8 years ago!  Oh my!!!  Moving on,  I dug it out when I had gotten out the UFO BOM Prairie Primrose.  They are both from Homestead Hearth, as you can see from the print out I have from their website back in 2006.  This UFO BOM is called Chocolat Legacy using Moda's Chocolat line of fabric.

It works like a round a round type of quilt, where you make center blocks and add a round of different blocks and then another round of different blocks until you achieve the size of the quilt.  Below is a picture depiction of the finished quilt.

Back in 2006, when the BOM started, I did manage to get the center blocks done.  There are four blocks that are sewn together to be the focal point of the quilt.

When I dug this one out, I found that somehow I misplaced month three, so I had to go on an internet on a hunt for some of the fabric line, Moda Chocolat.  I ended up using a Fat Quarter 6 piece collection from Moda Double Chocolat and some pieces out of three charm packs in the Moda Chocolat line.  Month 2 was completed, which consists of 6 of the twelve blocks that are the second round of the quilt.  Month 3 is the remainder 6 blocks of the twelve.  Here are 8 of these blocks completed, as I am working on the remainder of theses in between all the projects I have on my schedule.

Speaking of what is on my schedule, here is John Q quilt top almost completed.  After talking with the client, I am needing to add three more sections, on each side and at the bottom, to make it the size they want it to be for their bed.  I did get the sections laid out, and one has been sewn, but I need to finish the other two sections, and get them sewn onto the main piece.  I am hoping to be quilting it this coming week.

I also have a commissioned baby quilt to make for a repeat customer, some college themed pot holders for an Etsy customer, and three zippered pouches for another customer.  Whew, I am so thankful for this work that has come my way.  I am grateful that I can stay at home and work at what I so enjoy.  God is good.

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Tortilla Warmes Complete

If you remember a couple of posts ago, I received a commissioned order for 26 tortilla warmers.  To complicate matters, I had to be out of town for several weeks, and could not work on this project.  I did have my sweet husband mail me the materials, and I was able to do some pre work by getting all the materials cut out.

I started working on making them this last week, and was completing them one by one, and realized, that I would be spending to much time doing it this way.  So I set up an assembly type line, and did each step of the process 52 times (top and bottom), and then the next steps I did each step 26 times until I did the last step completing them all at once.

Here is a picture of the "assembly line" of the pieces.

I am not endorsing this product, but if you can, get those red binder clips from Clover.  They have been a life saver in lining up the pieces in the assembly of these warmers.  They are so much easier to use than pins.  Worth every penny I paid for them.  

So here is the picture of the finished product being shipped off today to the wonderful little boutique Mexican restaurant in Kansas City, MO! 

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All System's Go

Remember the prototype of the tortilla warmer that I made to see if the customer wanted to continue with the commissioned order?  Well, they received the prototype, and we are good to go with the whole order.  They really liked what the warmer looked like, so I will be making a total of 25 more.

12 more with this fabric:

13 using this fabric:

I will have to work on them towards the end of the month, as I am out of state for the next couple of weeks.

Stay tuned....

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Jill's Quilt All Done

First off, sorry for the poor pictures, but I had to take some quick pics and it was in the evening.    I have completed Jills quilt, including the quilting.  

This is the front of the quilt.

And here is the back folded up to show how awesome it just "fits" this quilt.  Jill is a professional trained decorator, and it shows in this quilt.  

Because I had a little fabric left over, I opted to make a pillow using a checker board pattern, a split back opening, and the backing fabric for the back of the pillow.

This is a close up of the quilting I did on the pillow.

So, there you go, I have another commissioned project crossed off my list.

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Big Surprise!

I opened my dashboard on my Etsy site yesterday, only to find a request for a custom order!!!!  How cool is that????

A restaurant in Kansas City contacted me to make them specialized tortilla warmers that are smaller than the ones floating around on Etsy, including mine that I have listed.  And they want 26 made!  I am totally stoked about this order because custom orders are usually for one of a kind, one time type of item, but this is a commercial order.

So, I whipped up a prototype of the specifics they were asking for, and will send it off for review.

So, there you have it, one small tortilla warmer prototype!

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Progress on Jill's Quilt

I am making progress on Jill's quilt. Today, i got the top, batting and the backing sandwiched and all pinned. Jill is opting for a straight line quilting done with white thread. It should go fairly quick.

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Jill's Quilt - Top Done

Today, I finished the top for Jill's quilt.  Look at the picture she sent me to pattern her quilt after and then look at the my finished quilt top:

Today is is cloudy (like most of the time here in the Northwest), so the picture is not as bright as I would have like it to be for comparison.  But, in my mind, I nailed it!!

Now she has to decide on the type of quilting and the color of the thread she wants to use.  I sent her some pictures of stippling, shadowing, and straight-line quilting that she can choose from.  

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More on Jill's Quilt

I received the fabric in the mail today of the choices she made for her quilt.  She is pretty much following the picture that was in my post, here, which is going to be gorgeous!  

The top print in the pile is the binding, the two solids are the top, and the feather print is the backing. She did an awesome job picking out the fabrics.

I spent this evening getting the pieces cut out for the top, and sewed about a fifth of the top together.  Stayed tune for the progress of this quilt!

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Jill's Quilt

I made a baby quilt about a year ago for my mom to give at a show for the daughter of a friend of theirs. So it was a surprise when the receiver of the baby quilt contacted me to ask if I could make her the quilt in this picture.

Since I don't have a pattern or quilt software to make one, I fell back on my all time favorite program to design this quilt on paper. I used iNumbers (from MAC) or in other terms, Excel. I have used this program more than once to make patterns for quilts, granny square afgans, knitting rows mark off sheet, and many other things.

This is what I came up with in pattern to match the picture. Then the second sheet is the fabric requirements.
The client is buying the fabric and sending it to me, so I am not sure what colors she will choose.

Fabric Requirements (done the old fashioned way, with pencil and paper)

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My Latest Commissioned Order

Remember when I said I would like to get to quilting my UFO #2 project, but it would have to wait because I received a new commissioned order?  Well, I finished the order today.  It was for two of my mini hipster bags made using the colligate fabric of the Nebraska Huskers.

This is the front view of the first one.  The client wanted the big polkadots as a coordinating print to make it kinda retro for the person receiving the gift.  Cute, huh?

Here is the back view, showing the open pocket.  I have always made a mini key fob to go with these mini hipsters, as there is just enough fabric left over to make one, which is better than just having a small scrap laying around.

This one was for a younger recipient, so I used black as a coordinating print with a matching red zipper.

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Third One Done

I completed my commissioned order by getting the third bag done yesterday.  I have sent off pictures and the customer is pleased and excited.  It is so nice to have good customers!  As soon as i sent the pictures and listed it in my Etsy shop, she immediately paid for the bags.  So, hubby and I found a box, taped it up, labeled it with the postage, and he graciously took it to the post office on his way back to work from lunching at the house.

I won't bore you with the details of this last bag, because the other posts about the bags should explain this one, I'll just share the pictures.

Second One Done

Here is the second of the three commissioned bag order I am working on.  I didn't think the Snoopy print was going to look very good made into this bag, but I am quite surprised on how cute it turned out!

I used yellow as a contrast color and for the zipper.  The main print has just a touch of this yellow, so I picked using it and I think it works just right.

This is the bag's lining, in the cute yellow contrast, and a pocket using the main Snoopy print.  I like to use light colors for linings, because it makes it easier to find things in the bag. 

The reversible bucket is made with a dark purple ( even though it looks like a dark blue), and the same yellow as the lining. 

Squeezed One In

I squeezed a new commissioned order in between my three bag order.  I worked on this one for the last two days, and my customer is just so excited and really likes the result.  He special ordered this for his girlfriend's birthday (which is Aug 4th), so we were cutting it close.  The customer's request was the camo two zip hipster, with a pink lining and with pink stitching.  This is the final result.

I used dark pink zippers for the outside pocket, and for the top opening.

And for the lining, I used a pink camo that has the "Browning" deer logo overlaid on the print.  It is hard to see in the lining, but below is a better picture of the fabric.

Look real hard, the deer is there, just sideways!  

One Done

This is the first of three purses that I have been working on for a commissioned order I mentioned a few posts ago.

This is the inside of the bag.

And this is a quick peek at the reversible "bucket" piece.  It is a nice geometric print that has all the team colors!  I can't take the credit for finding the print, though, because my wonderful husband found it.  He always goes to the fabric stores with me and encourages me and my craft!  And in doing so, he's learning what I am looking for and can be a big help, especially when there are several bolts to be carried!

I know I am very lucky.....