When I start to sew and Pdog enjoys time on his activity mat, this happens.

Crying fit

This week I completed a monkey quilt for my coworker.  She wanted a quilt to be something like this.  There were still scraps left over from my two previous scrap quilts.  Here is what the quilt top looked like.

That’s until I put it in the washer.  I always wash my quilts before they go to the recipient to make sure there are no issues.  This is my first quilt with issues, let’s just say more than issues.  I think disaster is more fitting for this quilt.

I really thought just stitching the brown flannel monkeys down would hold it.  The fraying is ridiculous and not sure how I can really correct it.  No fusible interface or zig zag stitch.  Just a regular stitch.  This is a rookie mistake.

My thoughts on the quilt…

I wasn’t going to write about this disaster, but let’s be honest we all have one or two quilts that are a bust.  Are you willing to share yours?  I’d love to know I’m not alone in my sewing disaster.

Any fabric will work, especially scrap pieces.  I chose the vintage sheets due to their softness and patterns.  Didn’t have a specific project in mind and a good way to put them to use.

Not only did I have many fabric scraps, I had many pieces of Warm & Natural cotton batting from making potholders and quilts.

Supplies:

• Fabric scraps or fat quarters work great
• Circle template ( I used this one in my set of circles)
• Batting scraps
• Fabric marker

Using the fabric marker I traced as many circles as I could onto a fat quarter and my batting scraps.  I then cut out each circle.

Note that you can see the pink marker on my items.  Since I am making them for myself I wasn’t worried about it.  If I was making for someone else, I would have used disappearing ink.

First set I put right sides of the fabric together with the batting on the outside.  Sewn together and left a spot to turn circle.  Way too bulky for practical use.

Instead I went with batting together and left the raw edge of the fabric and batting.  Use a 1/4″ straight stitch all around the outside of the pad.  Go back over with a zig zag stitch to help prevent fraying.

They wash and wear very easily.  If you know an expectant mother that plans to breastfeed, this may be a handy gift for them.

Being honest I was trying to be Super Woman.  Between pregnancy, exhaustion, and working crazy overtime hours my sewing and blogging came to a halt.  Something had to give.

Now that he’s here, healthy, and developing a routine I’m getting the itch to get everything going.  Prior to his birth I hit a wall with everything in my world.  Work was testing me, hormones may have played a role in that.  With sewing I have so many ideas and projects but the time just wasn’t there.

So much fabric.

Granted having a c-section was not high on my to-do list, but I think it’s given me some extra time at home that I was really debating.  It’s going to be difficult to balance mom, entrepreneur, and full time employment.  The motivation and support is there from my family.

I am looking forward to moving ahead and creating the items I have been pondering for some time.  Quiltytherapy is going to be a striving business and I’m going to put the effort it deserves to make it viable and more than a “hobby”.  I want the flexibility and income to spend time with my son.

Those scrap circles were calling out to be used in a springy project.  After finding this circle white on white fabric, I decided to whip up some potholders with a different look.

With all of my sewing recently I haven’t played around much with applique.  This was the perfect project to get some practice as my next quilt will have lots!  I chose a thread that would pop on the colors.  Have you been out shopping recently to see all of the neon colors coming back?  Flashback to the 80′s and 90′s.

Light blue thread.

I prefer more of a raw edge applique look, plus shows the thread color very easily.  The color selection coordinates really well with the backing fabric.

Here is the completed set of potholders.  As the weather gets warmer and the flowers start to creep up from the ground, I am getting excited for spring.

You can find these in my Etsy shop.

After the SuperBowl we decided it was time to start on converting this three season room on the back of the house.  With the promise of pizza and beer our football friends trekked over and lent their Sunday afternoon to helping.

While the boys worked outside, the girls worked inside to pack up my fabric stash, move my sewing tables, and start with the new set up on our enclosed front porch.  This was such a great space when I bought the house but we really had not put it to use.  I love all of the natural lighting the room has.

Just a bit disorganized right now.

Side by side sewing machines.

The last couple of weeks my hubby has worked on the back room when he has had time and light.  Note to self:  this room needs a light ASAP.  I would have loved to have done a crazy color on the walls, but if we ever go to sell the room can be marketed as a pantry or something like that.

The floors coordinate pretty well with the rest of house.  Need something that works well and relatively inexpensive?  Vinyl plank.  We are all about it.  These ceilings are in both of the new spaces.  Such a nice touch.

We put everything in there, just need to organize. Of course.

My wonderful mom is coming to stay last weekend and our main project was getting everything set back up.  Fabric sorted, organized and ready for use was the plan.  When packing up my current stash, she was amazed at the amount I had and was ready to ground me from buying anything new.

Instead we organized the nursery and got everything ready for little man.

Check back on Facebook this weekend for updated photos.