Tree Swing Reading

Work In Progress Wednesday: handprint quilt done, baby rag quilt

It's done!  The classroom handprint quilt is finished and ready to be given to my daughter's teacher on Friday.  Cannot wait to give it to her. 

I machine quilted around the hands with just a random stippling effect. I wanted to make the hands stand out.  I also did some "in the ditch" quilting in the rest of the quilt. 

Next project: I will be able to get back to a rag quilt I'm making for a sweet little girl I know.  (Don't want to give away any surprises)  Rag quilts are so soft and fun!  I've got the flannel squares cut and am in process of sewing the "X" across each square. 

More updates next week!

Work In Progress Wednesday: Handprint Classroom Quilt

I'm a big crafter.  I love sewing, quilting, knitting, crocheting, beading, paper crafts, all of it!  I have tons of projects lined up. So, to inspire me to keep working on them and to maybe even inspire some of you to work on projects of your own, I'm starting a weekly feature that I've seen on other blogs too: Work in Progress Wednesday!

I'm hoping I can share my projects as I work on them and follow up with the completed projects as well.

This week's project is a quilt.

My 5th grade daughter's teacher is having a baby this summer.  I wanted to do something special for her from her students. 

Another teacher helped me get all the class' handprints in fabric paint on fabric and wrote their names in fabric marker next to them. 

I found a print I liked for the back that coordinated with her baby room colors and bought a bunch of fat quarters to make the pieced border. I've been busily putting borders on the squares and putting the squares together.  The shower is on June 7, so I've got to get it done very soon! 

Next up, finishing the border, machine quilting it, and then putting on the binding.

Can't wait to give it to her! I love the bright, fun colors.

We are also playing some shower games in the classroom, giving her a gift from her registry, and having some cupcakes.  So far I think the kids are doing a good job keeping it a secret.  They are so excited to see the finished quilt! 

Spring Forward?

Springing forward is not so springy for us!  I think we are crawling or being dragged forward.  As much as I like the extra hour of daylight, I find it painful these first few days of adjustment. Even our dog, who is usually so excited in the morning, is looking at me like he can't understand why I want him to go outside right now. 

How about you?  Do you find it hard to adjust to the new time? 

I know I haven't been as faithful with my blogging the last week. Some weeks are just like that, you know?  We've had my niece staying with us.  She's a college student on spring break and she and I are having a crafting weekend together.  She loves to do crafts as much as I do, so I've been showing her some techniques, etc.  She put a rag quilt together over two days and will be finishing it up today.  Pretty cool!  I'm including a picture of her working on it (with our dog getting in the way) when we were figuring out the layout. We're also making some jewelry together.

Speaking of rag quilts.  I think I'm in love with them!  All the flannel and soft goodness and the very forgiving seams!  Rag quilts are funny because you sew the squares together with the raw edges left out on purpose.  Then you snip the edges and wash the quilt and it makes like a fluffy egde between all the squares.  Here's picture of one I finished last week. Next time I make one, I'll include more instructions on how to do it if anyone's interested.  I actually will be making another one this month yet.

And, I also have a book winner to announce: congratulations to Carol W., winner of Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker.  Thanks for entering!

My hope is to be back to a more "normal" schedule again this week, though my oldest daughter is having a birthday party with 20+ teenage girls on Saturday, so that will take some of my time too!  Want to come help?