WIP: Daughter's Friendship Quilt

I've been busy the last couple of weeks turning Daughter's room from a toddler room to a bigger girl's room. Out with the toddler bed and all the lady bug stuff from waaaay back when she was in a crib.  And on to a twin bed, a night stand, a vanity with a stool and a chest of drawers. I was incredibly fortunate that my mom told me I could have all my old furniture for Daughter.  

HURRAY.  

That was great to hear, especially after I spent a couple of days pricing furniture. WOWZA.

Ok, well, the title of this blog isn't "Daughter's New Room" so on to the main event.  The quilt for her new bed.

Thanks to my new purchase, The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt, I had great inspiration.  I decided to do an entire quilt of Block 39: Friendship.  But seriously, those blocks are like 6.5 inches finished.  There was no way I was going to make an entire twin sized quilt out of 6.5 inch blocks.  So I enlarged the templates and PRESTO: 11.5 blocks.  Much easier.  

I've spent hours cutting and sewing and sewing and sewing and sewing and this is where I am now:

the top row is completely put together and the rest is pieced.

I used 12 different fabrics. I based the color scheme on 3 fabrics.  If something matched those 3 fabrics, they were in!

the top left and both bottom fabrics are the 3 main matchers. (FINALLY , I found a use for the bird and fern fabric that makes me happy!)

The pink polka dots fabric is actually the new "theme" of the room.  I made her valances, bed skirt and dollhouse cover out of it.  And I'm planning on putting a border of it around the quilt and two yards of it on the back.   I haven't decided on the entire back, quilting or binding yet ...

The pink loving girl is in love with her new room and hopefully I'll have made some progress for a bigger reveal next week! 

WIP Wednesday: Rice Packs

Well over a year ago, I made a few rice packs by following this tutorial I found on pinterest (I also made the drawstring pouch too.) I made one of the full sized ones like the tutorial. Plus a couple of mini ones that are just a little larger than each compartment.  I love them. heated in the microwave or chilled in the freezer.  They are great.

Thanks to a great clearance sale at connectingthreads.com recently, I stocked up on some flannel.  Two yards.  You know how many rice packs you can make with two yards?  A LOT. I've made a couple more large ones for me (hello, icing the shins!) and now I'm working on some for BBWP. Her "whole me" gets cold a lot.

This is the flannel I'm using:

flannel from connectingthreads.com

A neglected WIP - picture frame quilt

First, I slowly gathered the fabric for this quilt. (every time I went by Hobby Lobby, I'd stop in and get either a fq bundle or jelly roll of this fabric collection with my 40% off coupon or I'd snag a yard of Kona white)

Second, I slowly cut fabric for it.  The "pictures" or inside material are 6inch squares and the "frames" or outside material is 2.5 inch strips. I thought that was a good balance in dimensions and it makes the jelly rolls a dream to manage. hardly any cutting necessary.

Third, I slowly started assembling the blocks. As you can see below, I've only finished 31 blocks and I'm no where near half way finished.  In fact, I could probably make two decent sized lap quilts with all the fabric.

I started sewing this in the summer and since my main machine broke (currently in the shop getting fixed) in October, I haven't done anything but admire the fabric. But the machine should be finished within the week and back to work soon.

There's still two kinds of fabric I haven't even used yet.  I really love the bright vibrancy of this bundle. Mainly, the bold orange and pale blue combo. 

When all the blocks are completed, I'll decide how big I want the quilt to be and if there is enough for two.  I'll sew the blocks directly together and, as of right now, I have no plans for sashing or bordering.  or what the backing will be, for that matter!

finished blocks on the design wall

a closer view to get a better idea of the fabric detail