new projects & old projects

I find myself at a loss for projects that I can post about, since many of my latest works are Christmas presents. In another month I can post pictures of some things, but not now.

Lately I have resurected this. I started three quilt tops last winter, and stopped before any of them were completed. They are what I call my Legacy Quilts. Each quilt has some of the same fabrics. They are all uniquely different, although made partly of the many of the same cloths. The styles are all distinctly different, but are all facets of my personality as well as styles I love. Someday when my kids are older, they will be for them. Much of the sewing I do gets given away. I wanted to do this so that my family might get to have beautiful quilts in our home, as well as so that my kids may someday have something I made for them when they were small. Before I embarked on yet another project, I decided I'd finish one of these quilts. I presently have the binding half on, and the hand quilting is 98% completed.

I have also been stitching away slowly on my Winter swap mini quilt. Being the orchestrator of the swap, I know who mine is going to. I know, I know...many of you are still waiting for your partners. Hopefully by week's end that will all be out. Here's my snowflake thus far...

I am still pondering how I will quilt it.

For anybody interested, here's the next Legacy quilt I will finish. Look familiar?? It was used for the Four Seasons Quilt Swap button!

Serendipitious Good Fortune

I have been plotting my next smocking project, but dreading the time consuming part of hand pleating the cloth. Plus I want to make something that is not using a checked fabric.

One of my former colleagues Rita, who has donated loads of fabric for me to use for Project Linus quilts, emailed today to tell me she has her mother's pleater I can borrow. I am so excited! I have heard horror stories about smocking pleaters being non-user friendly, but this has to be easier and faster than the alternative.

Now I can use a floral material for a spring dress.

They looked very sweet!

The 3 cousins in their holiday dresses...Yes, finally finished!

And My little princess looking so very sweet, in her first pair of real "Girl" shoes!

Below, she's getting to wear her birthday dress. I waited having her wear it until she could walk so she didn't just drag the ruffles all over the floor crawling. She's been on foot about a month now.

Now, I am plotting my next smocking project... I have a navy check to do Sophie a dress for next Spring. The underdress with ruffles is a pain in the next to get the right length. I had almost sworn I'd never do another one. But when I see it on her and how it flows, and how it holds the dress out fully, I love the way it looks.

The finished Holiday dresses

OK, here is a picture of one of them. There are two.

And I am the ABSOLUTE worst aunt in history. Or perhaps the best aunt but the WORST sister-in-law in history. You see, these are for my 2 neices that live in CT (soon to be Europe). Back in the early summer, shortly after I started the dresses (and not thinking that SIL actually read this blog), I posted some progress pictures. Sadly, she did read the blog and my surprise was busted. So what did I do??

I told her they were being made for a neighbor friend's girls. Hmm... bad SIL and a liar. I really wanted the surprise to be good. One of my neices really loves princess dresses, and those that are fancy. She LOVED the dress I made for my daughter's 1st birthday so I wanted to do one for her. So somehow I have to justify the white lie I told. Hopefully she will understand.

Well, they will be here for Thanksgiving, so I am going out on a limb posting this that she will not be blogging before I see her. The dresses are cute, they took a TON of hours with my perfectionist ways. I just hope that they fit & are liked.

Ask Hubby?

I did what I probably shouldn't have done. I asked my husband which of the 2 runners he liked best, without his knowing who the other would be given to.

He, of course, chose the one I wanted to finish & give away for us to keep.

Hmm...or more appropriately, Humphhfff!

I quilted and added the binding to the more French-looking runner, but still think that I may hurry & finish the other one too. Feeling a bit nostalgic about the choice, I think I want to make my final selection with completed projects.

5 weeks to go (or 4 since this must be mailed) and at least 4 other projects needing completion, I really ought to get off this computer and work/sew!!

Need Advice

I have been doing a lot of sewing of Christmas presents lately. Pardon the lack of blogging, but I have not wanted the potential recipients to see what they may get. I have one item, though to share. Last Sunday I got up 2 hours before my house normally rises to finish this table runner.

It's not the best picture, but the fabrics are lovely, and it has a French Provential feel. Upon completing it, I immediately fell in love and almost decided I'd keep it for myself. It matches our dining room really well. OK, so now I'm back one step on getting ready for Xmas.

Step 2: Redesign another runner for this person. Here's what I have so far. It still needs to have a few more leaves and the flowers appliqued on. Again, a bad picture but you can get the idea. The flowers will be shades of cranberry and plum.

So here's my delimma...Which do I keep and which do I give away???