Modern Quilt Guild Riley Blake Fabric Challenge: Tucson MQG Stocking Holiday Gift Exchange

Did you read that long title? My goodness, I don't even know... It's just sooo long.... 

Now, to it...

For the Modern Quilt Guild Riley Blake Challenge participants are given five fat eighths. We are able to do what ever with those fat eighths as long as we use each one and the item is quilted. We can also add solids to the product. Pretty much after that the rest is up to the chapters.

At the October meeting with the Tucson Modern Quilt Guild we decided that we were going to make stockings to use for the gift swap this month. Well, it turned into a gift and a stocking swap... But that is alright.

If you have been following me on Instagram you may have seen my stocking. I am really excited how it turned out! I used the template for a stocking from Positively Splendid and drew what I wanted to do. Then I traced the tree to make a paper piecing pattern and appliqued the presents, ornaments and star. I free motion quilted the snowflakes in a metallic thread (which terrified me at first but turned out just wonderfully!)...

The presents at the bottom are appliqued with batting too so that they are extra puffy.

The back is just fusible no-sew applique

A close up of the free motion quilting. I started with a star on one side and went down making snowflakes. I was trying to go for falling snowflakes. Then after I got to the bottom I went around the tree, then mirrored the snowflakes and star on the other side.

See? kinda puffy presents. The grey is supposed to be ribbon on the wrapping, I was going to do a bow, but ran out of time.

Here is the gift I put together. A mug cozy/coaster (free pattern here) and a tea wallet (tutorial used here but I used a snap closure instead). So easy fast and fun! The mug cozy is crochet.

This was what I got. A cute modern stocking and a this zipper pouch! Awesome! I have been meaning to make a few zipper pouches. I know exactly what to use them for! :)

Linking up at Nap Time Crafters' Friday Favs (home blog of the Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop *affiliate link)

My Craft Space

I am excited to show you my craft room, though right now it isn't nearly anywhere I want it to be. But hey, it's a craft room and it's usable! :)  And, it is a lot better than what it used to look like. Isn't it just the way that things seem to go, the craft room or spare room seems to turn into a catch all for stuff around the house when trying to clean... Maybe if we had spots for everything it would be easier, or not as much stuff.... ;)

So when you first walk into the craft room, to the left is the desk where my sewing machine is located. I love the size (though a little big for the room). We acquired it in the move into this house 5 months ago. Brandon wants to cut a portion off the table to set the sewing machine down into it, but I don't think that is going to happen and now I am not sure if I want it to. The red chair was an acquisition with the house too.

The drawers are filled with scissors, sewing notions, thread, bobbins, old eye glasses and other crafting supplies, even baby food jars!

On the other side of the desk is an old couch that folds out into a bed but I am not totally taking a picture of that as it is in need of reupholstering, not to mention is has a box of carousels in need of a home and my yarn supplies for crochet work.

One more look at my Huge desk... It's awesome...

I have my ironing board set up in front of the window. That window gets so hot during the day. I think this room is one of the hottest in the house! I would show the view, but it is of the broken trampoline and the chicken coop. Granted the mountains are awesome, but not the other things...

My one bookcase is crammed with fabric in photo boxes, books, papers, albums, crayons and markers... I think I need more bookcases, but there is no room for them. The small plastic containers holds my scraps and WOF cuts organized by size. I very much prefer having these sorted by size than by color. If I need something 1.5" then I go into that container. It's so easy! The photo boxes are organized by color. :)

Then it is my craft table. Brandon made it when we lived in the old house. It's great for scrapbooking when I am putting my layouts together. I like to spread out. Course now it spans almost the full length of the room! The unpainted top was supposed to be a second table, but I am not sure the plans with it now...

I like my little cork display above the table... and my music notes...

This just makes me happy...

My grandpa made this, and my grandma painted it. It will always be special, and hopefully the current children can keep all the pieces together!

My project wall. A simple fleece blanket pinned to the wall. It works for what it has been used for. Right now it is sporting the blocks I got from the baby shower. I am still waiting on a bunch and trying to figure out the layout which has changed many times and probably will again before it is actually pieced together...

Last but not least, my music notes above the door... :)

I am linking up at Ellison Lane: Studio Spotlight Linky Party! :) Check out the craft/sewing spaces of others for some inspiration, admiration, or just to snoop... ;)

The Need to Craft

I feel as if I am going to go crazy! I have taken two scary naps today because I just sat down and passed out! Them being scary because Nikolai was up and awake. The first one he managed to dump left over cereal onto the floor. The second one he had managed to get into the candy container on the counter and sneak out a werther's original. But after a week with 2 stressfull IEPs, prep/planning and having a formal observation, and still trying to get stuff unpacked, I feel that I need to just do something that doesn't involve work, cleaning, unpacking and is just fun. I need to be creative and to be crafty!

Crochet: Animal Bath Mitts

Isn't pinterest great? I found this cute project and thought that I just had to do it for my friend's baby shower! I made one for my son first to see if it was even worth it and he loves it! I may need to make the other animals for him!

Ending the 16 Weeks

Well, I am 17 weeks on Wednesday. I have had headaches nearly everyday for a week (ugh), though at least most of the morning sickness is gone. We are set to sign the documents Tomorrow (though it was supposed to be today) and we close on Thursday. We are hoping that we can get the keys on Thursday as well. But do not know yet... It is Tucson, and everything moves slow out here.

UFO Sunday

I have been taking a break from almost anything crafty. I finished Nikolai's quilt. That was a huge accomplishment for me. I started the Christmas pants, but I ran out of elastic because of the Halloween costumes. Guess I will have to go get more or remove the elastic from my Halloween pants to cut and use for Nikolai's Christmas pants.

A shawl...

I am late posting an update on UFOs... Only because I was so busy yesterday with my Mom working on a little something special and we also did the BOM's October Block, Friendship Circle. Paper Piecing! :)

 

And, I actually haven't even touched another project really. Well, aside from planning out the blanket I wanted to use the jelly roll for, you can read more on that here.

My Listed UFOs

So, following this Sunday thing of unfinished objects, I have started taking pictures and trying to remember what it is that I have yet to finish. I figure that Nikolai's quilt no longer counts as a UFO and instead a WIP. Don't worry. I will post updates on his quilt later. I have 1/6 of the quilting on the inside to do, quilting the borders then the binding! Yay! Thanks for your comments, it has made the process so much more fun! Nikolai and I sing and dance (as well as I can seated anyway) to the kids station I have through Pandora. I think he is as excited as I am!

Striker Spacer (or) Door Jammer

Ok. So this is for the striker plate on a door. Well, more for the door and goes around the knobs to lighten the sound between the door and the striker plate. I have seen people make them from cloth, and I have seen crocheted ones that tie around the knobs to prevent kids from slamming doors. We need it for the morning/night when our door is closed.

A Type of Tote

Well, I got these two casserole carriers from my Grandma a little while back and they are so handy for carting casseroles to potlucks and such. I had been thinking of seeing if I can duplicate them (I don't think I am that great at crocheting). My mom wanted some for herself so I finally took my crochet hook clutch off the bookcase, picked out my largest hook that was not already wrapped up in another project (a blanket that is taking me 7+ some odd years and not near done), and we picked out what yarn colors she would like me to use from my basket. I like the color combos (don't they look fun?) and since making these, I can think of so many other uses for them!

PaciPouch

Yeah, I found this pacifier pouch idea online while skimming through something; Pinterest.com, Craftsy.com... I have no idea. But I loved it and immediately thought of one of my best friends that was supposed to have a baby at the end of March. (at the time it was spring break which was in the middle of March). So, I just had to try it! And, the best part was that it didn't take very long at all! I could totally knock out a ton of these in a day! :)

Hookin' a Clutch

Well, a crochet hook clutch that is...  I am so excited about this because I made it, by myself and without a real pattern. Umm.... actually, I did follow some things suggested in the tutorial over at Little Birdie Secrets, like the space between stitches for the hooks and needles, the button and loop... and that was about it.