My First COMPLETELY Finished Quilt

I have made a couple quilts in the past. I made one for my friend, I think back in Jr. High. I didn't sew it together from a bunch of smaller pieces, but rather used larger panels with scenes on them to make up the quilt. I loved how it turned out, but it was my first ever try at it and it wasn't very complex. I also had substantial help from my mom in order to walk me through it and get it completed.

In high school I took a sewing class where I worked on a quilt for the majority of the semester. Although I did get the top finished, I still have yet to put a back, machine quilt it, and then bind it. I think for my second quilt ever, I bit off more than I could chew as far as complexity and so then it began to frustrate me and I didn't get around to finishing. It's a really cool quilt with Asian prints, I REALLY should get it done!

In November, I started on a quilt and this time I actually did it all from top to bottom, front to back. It was less complex than the one I started in high school, and I also had some better motivation to finish this one with a deadline. My mom did help me cut some of the fabric though...I hate cutting! She also showed me how to do start each step so that I could proceed on my own. I also got to use my mom's awesome machine quilting machine for the first time. It was nerve wracking, but I got the hang of it. The quilt took me about 6 weeks to finish, but it's done!

Holiday Scarves

A while back when Matt and I had just gotten married and my parents were moving, I noticed bags of yarn my mom was wanting to get rid of. There wasn't anything wrong with the yarn, but my parents were downsizing and my mom was trying to lessen some of the overflowing items from hobbies she has. Instead of giving the yarn away, I told her I'd take the yarn and use it to make scarves to give away for Christmas. So the yarn was packed up and moved to our apartment where it stayed in a closet and I eventually forgot about it. Two Christmases came and went and I didn't even remember. Then a couple months ago I was digging through the closet for something when I realized I still had it all. A little after that, a coworker told me she was going to be making fleece blankets for the Ronald McDonald house in Salt Lake. I thought it would be perfect if I could get some scarves done for her to give them along with the blankets. Unfortunately I didn't get to make as many as I would have liked (it had been years since I crocheted, and I was much slower than expected) but I'm still happy I was able to give them to people who might really enjoy them. Hopefully they're long enough for the people who receive them...I measured them based on how long they were on me, but then realized I'm shorter than most. Oops.

I almost wanted to keep that blue one...

I made 7 scarves in all. This picture just shows a couple more I had finished since I took the first.

Recent Craft Projects

So generally every few days I check out the updates on some blogs I like to keep up with. With many of these being crafty type blogs, I find some projects that I just have to try out. Since flower embellishments seem to be the "thing" these days, I thought I'd attempt to make some of my own. I think they turned out pretty good since it was my first try.

I thought a few of these would look good with a new tank I got. 

I also made these flowers into a hair clip.

Along with the flowers, I also designed Matt and I some t-shirts with fabric paint. We used the Silhouette machine to cut out "stencils" for them which made it pretty easy. And so far the fabric paint has held up well in the washing machine. 

Here's the first shirt...

You can't really see it in the picture, but I applied the fabric paint using a saran wrap technique that made the printing look a bit worn rather than completely solid.

So I forgot to say, the reason I originally wanted to design my own shirt was because I really wanted a University of Utah one to wear to the games, rather than just the usual plain red shirt. I have looked at the bookstore (and other places) pretty much every year and never really find anything I like that I feel is worth the price they're asking. For some reason they tend to have more than twice as many designs and varieties to choose from for the guys - including t-shirts for 10.99, which for some reason are not offered in women's sizes. Needless to say, I was pretty happy when I got to wear my shirt to the first football game. Of course an added bonus is that it is one of a kind. Oh, and the fact that the shirt was only $3.50 at forever 21. Go Me!

After seeing my Utah shirt, Matt couldn't do without his own as well. So I went back out and got him a red shirt, he picked out the design idea and I went to work. Here are a couple pics of the process. The shirt is finished, but I didn't take a picture of it and it is currently being washed. 

This is the front before I started painting. There is also a large block U in the bottom right corner.

He copied my idea of the Runnin' Utes down the back side. And we also put a smaller block U in the middle at the top, a little below the collar.

For my next craft I'm keeping my eye out for fall themed ideas to decorate our front door. I've already seen a tutorial for a paper towel wreath which seems intriguing. 

*For those of you who are wondering where I got the flower or shirt tutorials, here are the links. 

I am Momma, Hear Me Roar - t-shirt

Ucreate - Flowers

Also, here are the links to the other places I visit, if you'd like to get in touch with your inner crafter.

Alisa Burke

Make it and Love it

Positively Splendid

I'm so crafty

Last week I made a present for an engagement party we attended recently. I liked how it turned out, so I'm dedicating a short blog about it. I started with a wooden plaque I found at a craft store. I then bought some black paint, mod podge, scrapbook paper, and some ribbon to match. Since my mom had a silhouette machine that she let me use, I was able to (with the help of Matt) create my own vinyl lettering. This made for a fun little craft and I think it turned out pretty spiffy. I mean, I'd use it in my apartment anyway. I think I'll definitely make others and play with more colors and sayings.

You can't see it very well in the picture, but the tan background actually has a light pattern to it. I think it added some nice texture and dimension. I completed the gift with a yummy spice candle.