Christmas Traditions (Brushing off the Cobwebs)

Hats off to Mr RLQ, who watched baby A for an entire weekend day so I could sew! After much deliberation (but that's its own post) I decided to go with my one (yes one) remaining WIP from last year; Christmas Traditions.

To jog your memory, Christmas Traditions is a quilt from Best Quilts For Christmas 2011 magazine, based on J Wecker Frisk's Christmas Traditions fabric.  It was my first paper piecing project, and  when last we left it, this is what it looked like:

It's definitely the most technically challenging quilt I have ever tried. It requires paper piecing and applique, both of which I had never done when I started. But I love the look of it, and the fabrics are rich and beautiful. It captures the history of the Christmas tree, and last year I caved on the matching tree skirt as well.

Anyways, next up was applique.  Fortunately, it had been over 6 months since I finished Star Wars (and really, 2.5 months since I did any quilting at all), so I was nicely recharged on that front.

Unfortunately, even after a full day's sewing, I am still working on all the side blocks; but the center blocks are completed, and I am getting really excited to assemble!

Linking up to WIP Wednesday, Which I have also missed since taking my "maternity leave" from quilting.

My First Postpartum Project

Oh, the glamorous life of a working, breastfeeding mother: drop baby off at daycare, morning emails, pump. Morning telecon,  manage whatever crisis occurred after you left yesterday, pump. More meetings, more emails, a little document review, pump, then go home and wonder when you were supposed to have lunch. Admittedly, I am extremely fortunate to *have* a job that lets me pump on all 3 of my breaks, but after 4 weeks of being back, washing and drying my pump parts three times a day was starting to get old. Enter my first "mom" sewing project - terry cloth bags for my pump parts!

All in all these took about $5 worth of supplies (most of the cost was in the zipper) and maybe 40 minutes of time - not bad for a mom on the run!

I have a Medala pump, and as with many of my projects, I flew by the seat of my pants on this one. I measured out the valves and made a 6" x 6" zippered bag for them. For the breast shields I used a drawstring pouch that started out 12" in circumference and 10" tall, but got a height reduction (intentional) partway through. One day I will change out the ribbon for something that goes better.

Overall, this was a fun project: I would have preferred to make a quilt, but this is definitely a FAR more functional refresher project. I have already taken it to work 2 days in a row and it is SO nice 1) to not have to track my pump parts individually - I can store them in their bags and just make sure the bags make it to work each morning - and to just be able to rinse my pump parts after each use and throw them in a moisture-absorbent bag. I had been using paper towels, but that just led to a sea of paper in my tote bag. We'll see how these hold up over the next couple of months of use, but for now I'm just excited they gave me an excuse to get the machine out.

Oh, and for anyone who wants to try this at home: be aware that when you cut terrycloth the little bits of terry get everywhere. Just ask my cat Emily, who likes to sit in my lap as I sew. She got quite the extra coat that night, and so did I. Happy Sewing!

2012 Completions

2012 was year of the baby. Five of my seven quilting creations this year went to babies, including my own! First-trimester tiredness stalled me out from about February to June, but then I made up for lost time in late summer and early fall. Haven't done much since baby A came in October, but that's all right; First-time motherhood means I get my first chance to enjoy baby quilts received instead of given.

Quilts:

Froggin':

Completed: Jan 2012
Design by Carlene Westenberg, Fabric Froggin' by Sue Zipkin for Clothworks
Pieced and Quilted by RLQ, Professionally quilted by Another Mary Ann
Lovingly gifted to my friend B's son, at her baby shower.

Ready, Set, Snow

Completed: Jan 2012
Original design by RLQ, Fabric from Me & My Sister's Ready Set Snow for Moda
Pieced and Quilted by RLQ

Star Wars






Completed: June 2012
Original design by RLQ, Applique based on the works of  Jeff Victor @ Wicked Crispy
Pieced and Quilted by RLQ
Lovingly gifted to S (shown here) whose father and mother are both good friends.

 Eclectic Garden

Completed: July 2012
Design and Fabric by Jason Yenter, Eclectic Garden Collection
Pieced by RLQ, Professionally quilted by Another Mary Ann


Alien Invasion

Completed:  August 2012
Design modified from the Moda Bake Shop, Fabric Alien Invasion by Amy Bradley
Pieced by and Quilted by RLQ
Lovingly gifted to my nephew G (shown here) upon his birth.

 Trick Or Treat

Completed: September 2012
Design by RLQ, Fabric Trick Or Treat By Doodlebug Designs for Riley Blake
Pieced and quilted by RLQ
Lovingly gifted to my own daughter, born 10/11/12.

Pooh

Completed: October 2012
Design by RLQ, Assorted Fabrics
Pieced and quilted by RLQ
The centerpiece quilt for my daughter's nursery, which I finished when contractions were 8 minutes apart (go me).

Other:

Compass Pillow

Paper Pieced by RLQ for the Oklahoma City Modern Quilt Guild Scrap swap

Roller Shade

A fly-by-the-seat-of-my pants project to make a curtain for our back door before the neighbor's fence-tunneling dog and my status as a breastfeeding mother led to an awkward moment with the neighbors.

Pump Part Bags

A terry cloth solution to toting wet breast pump parts to and from work every day. My first postpartum project..


Stats

Quilts: 7
Other: 3

Winnie the Pooh Finish

This should come as no surprise for anyone who's been following me over at the OKC Modern Quilt Guild, but Winnie the Pooh is done! 

I started the quilt in August, in what can only be described as a fit of insanity after finishing Alien Invasion for my nephew. It is based on an adorable panel I found at Katydid's Kid's Fabrics, and supplemented with Fat Quarters from my LQSs and stash. Pieced, it looked like this:

I am especially proud of the cornerstones, which are my second-ever paper piecing project. I wanted to put little suns in the corners, but didn't want to mess with appliqué; so after much contemplation, I downloaded the templates from Swim Bike Quilt's Summer Sampler Evening Star Block, shrank them to about a 4.5" block, and changed up the color scheme a bit. These were definitely the most labor-intensive part of the quilt, but I am very happy with how they turned out. I think they add a cheerful touch to the final product.

Every time I do a scrappy binding, I swear it will be my last.  And then, I do another. So, it comes as no surprise that I put the final stitches in the binding (Kona Solids in blue and green - scrappy, of course) when contractions were 10 minutes apart. But as always, I am pleased by the effect. And glad I didn't cut any corners on my daughter's feature quilt.

But the best part is,  she already likes it :-)

Go Baby A! And happy sewing, everyone. Best wishes for the holidays!

The Big Finish - Baby RLQ

Dear Blogland - I have been away for a very long time, but I have an excuse! Baby RLQ has arrived. Baby A saw fit to come into the world on October 11, and is happy healthy, and VERY adept at keeping me busy!

Time has really flown since she came, and I'm surprised to realize she'll be six weeks old this coming Thursday. Still, I could't be a happier mom.

Oh, and for anyone wondering, yes I *did* finish her Winnie the pooh quilt before she came... just barely. Stay tuned for a separate post on that.

Trick or Treat Completed!

Or, baby's first quilt.

 

I just put the last stitches in the binding of Trick or Treat. Much like Baby RLQ, this quilt has been nine months in the making. I cut into the fabric still in the daze that came with learning we were pregnant, and as it turns out I finished it just two weeks before she is due.

I hope she likes it.

It's a new experience, making a quilt for my OWN child, I must admit. By my count I have made a total of 9 "baby" quilts at this point; four for family, three for friends and two for charity. I figured I had it down. But it turns out, there was this immense pressure to get it RIGHT this time: I know she is going to watch me improve as a quilter over the years, and I want the first quilt I made from her to stand up to any comparisons.

It's easy to say "I love you" with fabric, but how do you say "you are mine and I love you more"? I worked a lot harder on the free-motion quilting for this quilt than I had for previous ones, and I scoured Etsy for the fabric I needed to make my first-choice binding when it became hard to find. I think all my fussing was a way to feel close to her - on the one hand she's been with me 24/7 through the entire process, but on the other I still haven't actually met her.

But, at least I know where I will lay her on when she comes home from the hospital, and what to warm her with if her first halloween gets a little cold. Stay in and grow strong and healthy as long as you like, little one. When you come out your father and I are ready to wrap you in love :-)

A Gift from my Quilt Guild

Baby RLQ remains tucked safely inside, but at my September guild meeting, everyone had a surprise for me: A collaboration quilt!

It seems the word is out that I like bright colors, and modern quilting :-) Group members who participated were given the instructions to work with teals, pinks, and oranges, and to "make a block that represents you as a quilter." Which I have to say, led to a lot of really stunning individual blocks! I totally teared up when I opened this, and did NOT want to let it go to continue my WIP afterwards!

For this quilt thanks go to at least 8 members of my guild, plus a special thanks to guild member Amanda over at the Cozy Pumpkin, who not only organized the effort, but also assembled the blocks into a quilt herself.  The quilt has been given a place of honor at the center of the nursery, where my only dilemma is, which side to display?

 They're both so gorgeous...

OK, signing off before I start to cry again.