Starting Up

Even though I have been blogging over six months now, I still feel like my quilting career is just beginning.

My first quilt from a pattern by Fresh Lemon Quilts

Some other blogs post multiple times a week, and I feel lucky if I get something written down a few times a month! But I'd like to think of this as my starting point.

Recreated from this quilt by Cluck Cluck Sew

I am still at the beginning stages, drawing out my quilt plans, figuring out what I like and who I am. Sometimes I get so excited about expanding the ChelsieCreates brand sometimes and feel like I am not moving quick enough.

Another quilt from a pattern at Moda Bake Shop

But for right now I am content to recreate other's works and learn to hone my skills so I can become more confident in my own designs.

Combined ideas this time from Jeni Baker and Canoe Ridge Creations

When did you start to feel that you were becoming your own designer and creator? Or are you like me, still learning and growing?

Linking up with Plum and June for the Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop

I finished!...Nothing

Where has this month gone? I haven't had nearly as much time as I would like at my sewing machine. Between a long 4th of July weekend vacation and getting a nasty stomach bug, I've only had a little time to get my bee blocks done and only a little personal sewing. Here is what I've been working on, although all of this was done over a week ago.

Simply Solids Viridian for MrsRachelBooth

Get Your Hex On for Erin@SewatHomeMommy

Happy QAYG Log Cabins for Inspire at do. Good Stitches

Bella Hexi Quilt

Here is what I have so far for the backing of my Bella quilt. It took quite a long time to get all those points and corners to line up. And I am still about 10" short on the bottom. I can't decide if I want to piece together a bunch of scraps of the gray flowers or just use the blue plaid to finish it more quickly. For the quilting I think I might work from the back and do a giant spiraling hexagon.

I just loved how nice these seams turned out!

I've also picked up a little crocheting as I was stuck on the couch.

I'm finally starting to feel better, so hopefully I can finish up a few special projects this weekend and get them in the mail by Monday! I hope to post some pictures sometime next week for you all.

July Goals ALYoF

I am so excited to work on some of my bee quilts this month. I was queen for my simply solids in May, Get Your Hex On in June, and Inspire for do. Good stitches in May. So I have about a million blocks to figure out how they go together and make blocks to fill them out. So my goal this month is to finish my do. Good stitches and simply solids tops. I know if I don't do it I will put them away for a couple months. Here are a few good pictures of what I've been up to:

Simply solids top on the design wall.

Pretty fabric purchases while visiting Atlanta.

I made a new bag for my paper piecing supplies. Kept me busy in the car.

I started working on my Bella hexie top again. I like how it's turning out.

Thinking about using these Cloud 9 fabrics from Joann's for my new Swoon quilt.

Linking up with A Lovely Year of Finishes at Sew Bittersweet Designs.

Q2 Finishes!

Time to wrap up quarter 2! I actually got some accomplished! See original goal list here.
Linking up with she can quilt.

1. Les Amis Scout Top  CHECK!
    Check out the finished post over here.
2. Giant Hexagon Bella Top, nope. This will be on Q3 for sure.
3. Fresh mini quilt club. I didn't get to a single one! I still have March's sitting behind my sewing space on the wall. I think July looks really great, so I might just skip to that one if I have the time.
4. My sister's quilt. Haven't touched it. I think I might start over. I made the zigzags too big and it just looks off. It needs some inspiration.
5. Jungle Patchwork top Check!
    I don't have a completely finished picture, but here is one of it just needing a few last seams.

It's all done now and I have a friend that is going to let me rent her long arm in August for free! I am super excited to get to try it out.
6. Constellations. Looks exactly like it does in the last picture I posted. I am still excited about it, but I have too many different ideas on how I want it to look. I am thinking of just doing simple patchwork and throwing one larger star in there. Sort of like this pillow:

Wonky Universe Pillow by SqueekCrafts on Flickr

7. Scrappy trip. I started cutting out strips, but I just wasn't feeling it. Then I bought a FQ bundle of Chicopee after I saw a scrappy trip using the line and that is my new goal. I haven't had time to start cutting, but I have a feeling that once I do it will be a quick finish.

So 2 out of 7. Not bad, but not great. Hopefully I will do better next quarter!
Now I'm off to pack for our weekend trip to Atlanta. We leave 6 hours and I only have clothes packed. Off to be a busy bee for the rest of the day.

Dresses, dresses everywhere

I've never been much of a dress person, but this summer is so hot that I need something that breathes. These two dresses fit the bill!
This first dress I used the McCall's pattern 6744 view B. I bought this adorable tribal print from Girl Charlee Fabrics (but I think it's already gone!)

My sweet husband took these pictures for me.

This next dress I used Girl Charlee fabrics again (like these stripes). I followed a tutorial for drafting my own t-shirt dress (found here at iCandy Handmade). It turned out pretty good, but I would change the sleeve construction a little--they don't always want to lie down so nicely.

Without a tie

With a tie

For the tie, I just cut a long length at 2" and double folded it. Not entirely pleased with it, but until I find something cuter it will work.

A mini photo shoot from a new photographer was a great opportunity to try out my dress. I love these pictures she got of me and my boys at the baseball field. We will have to recreate them sometime with my husband.

 These pictures are from a new friend at NKE Photography

 These pictures are from a new friend at NKE Photography
Crazy hair ruined it, but still a good shot of my dress in action.

MIA

So, I've been missing in action for a little while. First I was just busy with the kids at the pool and library, just enjoying summer. Then I had some family come into town. And I was procrastinating some of my bee blocks. Why is it some months I just have no inspiration for the blocks requested? Well that happened, but I finally kicked myself in the butt and finished them up this weekend. So to make up for my little hiatus, here are a bunch of pictures from what I have been working on:

Simply Solids Viridian Bee

Waiting for a few more blocks to finish up Inspire at do. good Stitches quilt

We Bee With It -- A "modern" bee

Finished piecing this just the other day, but haven't gotten finished pictures

June Blocks for Inspire at do. good Stitches

Finished this star Notting Hill quilt in under 24 hours. I am hoping to finish the backing this weekend!

Oh! And more exciting news: I made 2 dresses while my grandma was in town, so keep an eye out for a post about those later this week after I can snap better pictures :)

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts

Fabulous Friday of Finishes

I finished 3 projects Friday, but I didn't get the pictures until this afternoon. But I still feel so proud of myself. All throughout May I kept procrastinating the things I needed to get done, so I just wouldn't sew at all. And lately I've had some troubles with my bees (cue complaints about the block I chose for my month, that I didn't send enough fabric, and so on and so on). I've definately been in a sewing FUNK. But after some time cleaning up my blog to make it look pretty (don't you love my new, clean look? I do!), I sat down and did some sewing.

First I finished this cute library bag. I actually finished hand stitching the binding on this morning and did the main bulk of the work yesterday.

I used my Bernina's alphabet stitches to quilt inspirational quotes related to reading and books. I've seen cute quilts where they FMQ quotations, but I'm not that confident in myself yet, and it would have to be a bigger project than a book bag.

The other side is an adorable Alexander Henry print (funny story: I ordered this in February but it was put on back order and I forgot I had ordered it when it showed up on my doorstep one day late April.). I just traced around some of the books because I didn't want to distract from the adorable-ness of the fabric.

 Then I put the binding on the top of of each side and forgot that I had to add handles. Doh! But I think they work pretty well this way too. Then added a little bias binding to the edge and here it is! I wanted it good sized (I always get a bunch of books when I go to the library) and on that same note I wanted a comfortable strap, so it is extra wide and has batting too.

And my adorable boys cooperated a little and took some pictures for mommy.

Next off my list is this adorable Les Amis Scout quilt.

 I got the inspiration from Cluck Cluck Sew (see original blog post here). I had finished quilting about a week or two ago, and never got around to binding it. I chopped up some cute grey wood fabric from the line at 2.25" and attached it to the back first. Then I pull it around to the front and top stitch it down. It looks cute in the front and the back has a little parallel line of stitches, but this is the easiest way for me to get it looking good. And look at those corners! They are my best ones yet! I made a t-shirt transfer label, but it wasn't the best quality. I think I am finally happy with my name/label/header thingy so I am going to get a yard of labels printed and start putting them on everything. =P

Quilt Stats
Pattern: Cluck Cluck Sew's Scout I didn't follow exactly with the baby or throw size, I ended up somewhere in between
Fabric: Les Amis by Patty Sloniger (I purchased mine from Quilted Thimble Cottage. They were nice enough to cut my 1/4 yards in strips instead of fat quarters, so it would be easier for this pattern.)
Thread: Gutterman
Quilting: By me on my Bernina. FMQ some lines echoing the angles within each columns.
Finished Size: about 36" x 52"

And my third finish for the day:
Just a little apron that I almost had finished, but just needed to hem the ties. This third finish just made me feel so accomplished! Don't you just love days when you get things done? They are the best!