06-APR-2006
Storage Ottoman
This is my lovely storage ottoman that I finished in April, 2006. I guess this was my first attempt at furniture. I made up the design with some help from my dad. Of course, I'm sure designing a cube with a removeable lid is much easier than designing a couch.
My dad and I constructed the base from pine and oak. It is 22" on both sides and 14" tall.
The top is made from a 24" square piece of pine, padded with 2" foam and a layer of quilt batting, and covered with faux suede fabric.
We made two of them. The cushion is comfortable for both sitting and resting your feet, and the inside is big and can hold many toys, blankets, unfinished sewing projects, etc.
Thanks for all the help, Dad! It would have been an expensive project if we'd had to buy all of those tools instead of using yours. Not to mention, I really had a lot of fun.
06-APR-2006
Knitted Patchwork Purse
Before this, I wasn't much of a knitter. I had made a few dish rags and some scarves, but nothing that involved a real pattern. This purse turned out to be a lot easier than I thought it would be, and it's just so darn cute! I started on it in December, 2005 and finished it March, 2006.
The really wonderful thing about making your own purse is that you can make the pockets inside just the right size for your phone, keys, etc. Plus, when people say "cool purse", you get to say "I made it!"
06-APR-2006
Double Wedding Ring Quilt
This is the wedding quilt that my mom and I are making for me and Slug. We're not quite finished piecing it yet. The quilt top is a traditional double wedding ring, but there will be a fun twist to this quilt.
Traditionally, people set out a guest book at their wedding so guests can sign and years later the couple can look through and remember who was at their wedding. While I understood the desire to have a record of who was at the wedding, I pictured that guestbook sitting in a closet for years to come and doing nothing but collecting dust.
Being the looney quilter that I am, I decided to do something a little more practical. We cut out 12" blocks of solid white fabric and bought a set of fabric markers. At our reception, we asked our guests to sign one of the fabric blocks with the markers - sign your name, write a message, draw a picture, whatever you want. When the quilt top is finished, I will piece the guestblocks together, and they will be the backing of the quilt. So, whenever we use the quilt, maybe we will stop and read a couple of messages from the back.
06-APR-2006
End of the Bolt Sale
This is a challenge block I did for the 2004 Appalachain Quilt Party in Boone, NC.
Along with our welcome packets, they sent us a fat quarter of the yucky green leaf fabric that I used for grass. The challenge was to use the fabric in a 12 inch block with a theme of "nature".
I interpreted the "nature" part in a slightly different way and said that it is the nature of the quilter to collect as much fabric as will fit in her house. Hence, my block shows a quilt shop called "Thimblepatch", which is having an end of the bolt sale, and one excited quilter who has filled her wagon with fabric from the sale.
I haven't turned this block into anything yet, but I plan to make it either a wall hanging or pillow for my sewing room.
06-APR-2006
Crowning The New York Beauty
This is the quilt that I started at the 2004 Appalachian Quilt Party in Boone, NC in a class taught by Priscilla Hair.
The arcs are done with paper piecing. This was my first paper piecing project, and I loved it!
This is also the first project I've done where you have to deal with nicely flowing from one color to another.
I still have a lot to do for this quilt. I'm still not sure how big I want to make it. It will probably end up being a large wall hanging. So far, I've really enjoyed this pattern and am looking forward to working on it some more.
By the way, if you're a quilter and you ever get a chance to take a class from Priscilla, DO! She's wonderful!