Friday, June 1, 2012

Small Projects and a May Mosaic


It was another great week of the blog hop.  I am so very happy to be part of this wonderful and supportive quilting/blogging online world.  When I first thought of the hop, I figured I would be lucky if I got 5 bloggers who wanted to be part - I never imagined what it would grow into.  So, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who is participating - all the blog hop stops, those following along, and the guest bloggers - it has been such a fun and exciting few weeks and I very much look forward to the next several months!

And onto quilty/sewing matters.

I checked off a small project on my list for the Small Project Sew Along at Crazy Mom Quilts (my list).  I made two kidlets.  What are kidlets you ask?  Well, I found this great free pattern/tutorial a while back at J. Casa Handmade that I bookmarked.   They are basically like little tote bags but only have a handle on the back which you use for hanging on a doorknob or hook - I thought it would be great to have a place for each of my older daughter's "stuff" that they leave hanging around the house like books and random little things they bring home from school.  It is a great pattern - I, of course, still don't have any type of interfacing so I just used some batting and stitched straight(ish) quilting lines on my exterior fabrics and I think it worked out okay.  (Actually, on the second I used home decor weight for the back exterior without batting - it worked fine but if I make more, I'll quilt the back and front.)  I also think mine are a bit bigger then the pattern calls for.



I used Essex Linen for both of the bags.  For the front pocket on the one I made for my older daughter, I used a Tina Given's print paired with the cat from The Ghastlies Gallery.  My daughter thinks The Ghastlies fabric is about the "funniest and coolest fabric ever."  Plus, she loves The Warrior's book series which is about cats so . . .



For my middle daughter, I used a bit of my precious Heather Ross Mendocino and a tiny square of Echino (a recent splurge when I found it on sale.)



Also on my small project list were skirts and dresses for the girls.  I posted about some skirts and dresses earlier this week but then I saw this tutorial from Prudent Baby about using an old T-shirt to make a dress.  I've never sewn with knits before and I've never gathered fabric before but they had links to their tutorials on both right in the post so I decided to try something new.  I don't have any pictures of my first try - it was too short and too wide for either girl - most likely because I made it when they were at school thinking I knew their size - um, wrong!  The second dress I made with my older daughter in the room with me and if you don't look too closely, it is passable - or at least wearable.  And the binding is also upcycled!






And since it is the beginning of a new month AND I just uploaded a bunch of photos onto Flickr and it is Fresh Sewing Day at Lily's Quilts, here is a mosaic of May in review.  Wow- when I look at everything together like that, I realize I sure do use a lot of pink!!!


Happy June everyone!

If you've read this far, I have a question - I wrote this post last night, woke up this morning and cut half of it out to save for another post.  What do you think about post lengths - do you like reading/writing long posts with lots of topics or do you prefer one topic per post?  I'm not really sure which I prefer, I just know my tendency is to throw it all in there at once.  

Please visit my Links page to see where I like to link my posts.


36 comments:

  1. I really enjoyed your post and seeing all your goodies.....love that Ghastlies cat! My feeling about blog posts is that it should be whatever you want to do......I'm along for the ride!

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  2. Love the kidlets - although it's what I call my boy! I think I shall make a kidlet for my kidlet xx

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  3. The bags are adorable, I really love the vertical quilting lines you created. As far as post length, I like long, I like short - doesn't matter!! :)

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  4. You've made some wonderful projects! Love the little dress and the bags!

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  5. I love that little dress! As to post length, I don't mind a long post if it's about one or two topics. If you have a lot of topics, you'd be better off (in my opinion, at least) splitting it up over several posts.

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  6. Wow you were busy, Beth! I like that fussy cut cat - too cute!
    I prefer one topic per post, but that's just me. Lots of pictures helps too - so thanks!

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  7. You did achieve a lot this month, I love the kidlets, I see a few of those in my sewing future.

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  8. I love the kidlet bags! I have a tendency to write long posts - I've tried cutting them down but I never seem successful so I don't think I'm much help!!

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  9. A great month for you. I don't really care about post length - I lag behind in my reader for a while, catch up, and repeat....

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  10. Oh, where to begin?!?! GREAT job on your May list!! I should go make a mosaic with photos from my May projects --- how awesome to see them all in one place!

    I love, love LOVE the kidlets. My daughters leave stuff all over the place and I have tried everything to get them to take it upstairs at night and put it away. These bags would be perfect... not too heavy and I can make them to match my decor instead of using ugly white laundry baskets that they can't even lift when full.

    That dress is so sweet, too. I know my girls would love those, and there is no shortage of old t-shirts in my house.

    Thanks for the (too much?) inspiration. Beautiful finishes!

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  11. Such a lovely post! The mosaic is such a great idea...so nice to see your month's accomplishments all together. And your pictures are beautiful. As for post length, I prefer short and sweet with lots of pictures :)

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  12. Love the kidlet bags and the dress too! You've done many lovely projects in May, Beth!
    About lengthy posts - I don't mind if there are 2 topics in a post but nothing more than that. I love posts with lots of pictures too....
    Have a great weekend! =)

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  13. Beautiful accomplishments this month. There certainly are times when I ramble on, but hopefully not too ofter!

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  14. Great mosaic, I am just getting into crochet so love your crochet flowers! I think your post length is about right, too short and there is nothing to comment on, too long and I have lost the thread completely before the end! Like a few photos too, too much text and my eyes begin to water :)

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  15. My goodness, you are busy! I do like the colours you choose for your projects.

    I don't mind how many topics per post, so long as there's a good balance of text and photos, which I think you got just right!

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  16. The length is up to you...sometimes I cut mine short with just one picture, other times I have more to say and show....either way is good.

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  17. Lovely bags....Thanks for sharing!! Hugs

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  18. Beautiful projects, Beth! The kidlets are darling, and I love that dress. I'm always surprised when I look at my monthly mosaic to see the themes (fabric choice, color, etc.) that I didn't know I had running at the time. :) Your posts are great. Keep it up!

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  19. Wow! Love all your projects! I need a few of those kidlets myself! I don't tend to notice post lengths too much, unless it's on my blog (I ramble a lot). Do whatever is easiest for you!

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  20. I love all those "small" projects!
    no opinion on post length - if it is interesting I'll read to the end (or at least look at all the pix!)

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  21. Great small projects. Awesome mosaic.
    I always read a post to the end no matter on the length. I start from the bottom up mind you as I find it easier to read that way.
    I always make my posts about whatever I do that day. =D

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  22. the t-shirt dress is really cute! I need to go check out that tutorial. Don't worry about the length of your posts. Just write what's on your mind and have fun! Lots of pics are always fun too. :) have a great weekend. April @Little Mama Hen

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  23. That dress is just adorable!!! Love the may mosaic.

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  24. Heaps of pics, one topic, lenght doesn't matter as long as the post is well written is my opinion. You are doing just fine...

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  25. Awesome month! Your mosaic is so impressive. I haven't used Essex linen yet, how do you like working with it? I was wondering the same thing about post length I have been breaking them up just so I have more posts saved up.

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  26. Wow what a month. Even though I do not have a little one that young any more, I really liked the dress. Its like a maxi dress for kids. I wonder if the could be made into a top.

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  27. I like one or two related topics in a blog posting. The reader may be reading 10 blogs in that hour or so and I know my brain gets overloaded if I read blogs with too many topics.. and then I find myself browsing away as I don't like the feeling to not being able to track. If it is fairly straightforward, I read it and will flag it for follow up and happily move to the next. I have unfollowed blogs when it seemed like they were too full and I felt like I could not track the content.

    Very cute jersey summer dress with the cotton trim! I like the idea.

    Michelle

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  28. Wow!! You've really been busy this month. I love all your projects, but especially the dress made from a t-shirt. I have tons of t's that don't fit anymore and I've been looking for a quick and easy way to turn them into dresses for my 4 granddaughters. Thanks for sharing.

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  29. Cute kid's dress! I've got to learn how to do a mosaic like that. Lots of impact.

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  30. Oh, what wonderful finishes!

    Love the mosaic. I find a mosaic a wonderful way to inspire and motivate me to sew more! Plus, it's a great way to keep track of what you make. You have made some wonderful projects in the past month. Bravo!

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  31. Ahh!! That dress is sooo cute, love the pop you added around the top, PERFECT!

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  32. Those projects look sooo beautiful! I love the dress! Just enough colour on the trim to make it beautiful! Thanks for sharing
    Rebecca @ heronscrafts.blogspot.com

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  33. Such gorgeous little bags! Can't believe i missed your blog hop though!

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  34. you did a great job on your May projects! woot! thanks for joining in the small projects sew along!

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  35. I just found your blog, SO GLAD I did! And I am in love with that tote with the little Ghastlies cat on it. All of your stuff makes me squeal with delight, you have a lovely blog.

    Doris

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