Winter Wonderland Pillows - Add Texture to Sewing Projects

Before I left on my "new grandchild/Christmas" trip last year, I created a little project to take with me, using scraps of fabric and ribbon. This project was very portable; it was small enough that I could carry it in a medium sized zip-lock bag and stuff it into my purse. You know, for those down times when you don't want to watch anything on television or the baby doesn't need changing or it's someone else's turn to hold the baby or the little apartment doesn't need to be cleaned - again.  

I used a Fiber Mosaics pattern #61202, Winter Wonderland as inspiration:
   

When I opened the pattern, I discovered the pieces were too small for my eyes. So with a copier, I enlarged them quite a bit. Then I changed them just a little, hand-stitched the fabric art and then added some embroidered details.

Here are a few tips to add texture to this and other fabric art projects.

• Use a variety of fabrics. The hat above is a quilted looking gold fabric stitched over some embroidered hair. I also used cotton, flannel, fake fur and fleece to create the figure's clothing.  
• Use a variety of embroidery stitches. French knots were used for the pom pom on the bottom of the hat.  The hair was a series of tightly stitched running stitches.  On the ends of the scarfs, I tied a knot and left 6 strands of floss loose so it would look like fringe.
• Add different scraps of lace to the edge of the clothing.  
• Use different embroidery thread to add more interest. Most of the details were added with cotton floss but for the skates, I used a shinny thicker silver floss. 

• Ribbon can also be used for the tree trunks, for windows and even scarfs.

Texture really adds a lot of fun to sewing projects!  With all my children moved out of my house, I've decided it's time to update a few of their bedrooms, and these two pillows make a fun accent in my dusty blue room.  

xoxo Grandma
Linked to 2 Crochet Hooks

Vintage & Contemporary Lamb Quilt

I loved visiting my aunt in Utah. She lived on a farm and raised lambs. The inspiration for this quilt came from this 1960's lamb fabric. Isn't it so cute?

This lamb fabric came from my mother's stash. I'm guessing it's from around 1965, because it seemed like it was in her fabric closet forever. I used this vintage fabric as my inspiration for creating this original designed baby quilt. The soft, sherpa lambs remind me of "Mary had a little lamb" nursery rhyme. 

I liked the idea of mixing soft textured fabrics with smooth cotton fabrics.  

For one more dimension, I added buttons for the lambs eyes. Do you like vintage fabric?  xoxo Grandma

Sailing, Sailing

Oh, the things a few fabric scraps can become...my latest baby quilt is now a nautical number. The anchor and the rope were leftover fleece from a humanitarian project.  After cutting them out, I machine embroidered them onto the blue background fabric. While searching for a border, I learned that nautical fabric is hard to find in a land-locked state.  I love the sail boat fabric I finally found.

Should I add these buttons - like portholes?

Or do you think it looks better without them?

xoxo Grandma

Teddy Bears Picnic Quilt

When my children were little, "The Teddy Bears' Picnic" was one of their favorite records to check out from the library - yes, a RECORD. 

Years later, one of my children gave me this darling pop-up book illustrated by Fran Thatcher:
Are you noticing a theme here?
Every time I looked at the fabric I had with teddy bears holding their little nets attempting to catch butterflies, the song would start to go off in my head....do you know this song?  It's delightful...just listen and smile. 
Anyway, this song was my inspiration for this quilt.

This playful fabric was inherited. To see a close-up of this 1960's fabric go this link.

The quilt is backed in brown minky - a perfectly warm fabric for a winter baby.
My sixth grandchild is due in December and this quilt is for that wee one. 
Yea, for more grandchildren! 

Doll Accessories

For my granddaughter's 1st birthday, I got them their 1st baby doll.  
For their 2nd birthday gift, I made them doll clothes, a doll quilt (using scraps from the baby blankets I made for them when they were born) & a matching doll pillow too. Every doll needs a pillow to rest their tired heads on.
Isn't that what every two year old needs? 

The case for the doll clothes originally said Yui.  I unpicked part of the name & turned the monogram into Ella.  A Pottery Barn reject on sale for $2.00!  
Does anyone know someone with the name of Yui?

Most of these doll clothes were upcycled from baby clothes.

This yellow smocked doll dress was originally one of my summer shirts .

I should have taken photos of the clothes on the doll but I made all these clothes plus one more suitcase full right before I gave the doll to my #2 granddaughter.  One doll is across the United States & one is in Israel.  Maybe their kind, thoughtful mothers will take photos of my darlings playing will their dolls....MAYBE?

xoxo Grandma

Wild Animals Quilt

Here's the WILD quilt I designed and put together.  The inspiration for this quilt was the crazy bold orange-yellow fabric I used to make my tropical birds and to border this quilt with.  This fabric was given to me by my nephew who brought it while he served as a missionary for our church in Ghana. All these animals live in Africa.  The border fabric is soft burgundy fleece.  The giraffe has a hand stitched yarn mane and tail made from yarn.  The alligator has large white rick rack teeth that are quite fierce but he's a super softy because his scaly skin is made out of Minky.

I can still hear my college design teacher saying, 

"You must have repetition of color, pattern and texture". 

All of those elements were included.

Whimsical Quilts

Here are four of my whimsical children's quilts, all of these designs are my original creations . 

Bugs in a Tree Quilt

3 Little Kittens Quilt

5 Little Specked Frogs

Butterflies and Flowers Quilt

Which quilt do you like best?  xoxo Grandma