Swimsuit update

My friend Charity sent me this cute picture and a note on Facebook.

"Your adorable suits make fabulous hand-me-downs. My niece is on the left (this year) and Ellie is on the right (3 years ago). Thanks again!!! "

So fun for me to see where these little suits end up.

Original post about this suit can be found here.

End Table Makeovers

I've been working on some side tables in my living room to get them looking more updated.

The rectangular one I bought at the thrift store for about $5 and the hexagon one I picked up off the curb from someone who was giving it away.  They definitely weren't what I wanted, but free and/or cheap and functional is what I needed at the time.

Both had glass tops.  The Hexagon was missing the glass on the bottom too.

Nothing too fancy or noteworthy about either of these tables.

First I pulled off both tables tops.  Each of them were just screwed into the base from the bottom.

Then I used 1 x 4 and 1 x 6 scraps to form the top.

I like the different grain and knots in the pine.

On this you can see how I attached the individual pieces underneath with a little scrap piece.

The bases were painted separately.

All I really did was clean them up a bit and sand some of the flat parts to remove a little of the finish before painting.  I use a paint and primer mix and have good luck with that.

After sanding the tops I stained them and sealed them with a clear matte finish.

My local Home Depot was out of the piece and size wood that I want for the bottom of this table.

I will eventually cut, paint and attach that. 

Since it attaches from the bottom I can do it later and it won't mess things up.

I am also debating on doing a little distressing on the painted bases.

For now I am going to leave it and see what I think.

Next up a revamp of my coffee table.

Details:

• 1 x 4 and 1 x 6 pieces cut to size.
• 60 degree angles cut on table saw. I used the old hexagon top to trace out the size and then lined it up on the table saw to cut.  It was cut while the support pieces underneath were attached.
• Minwax Stains Wood Finish in Jacobean and Pickled Oak mixed to a 1:1 ratio.  I probably could have got a different stain to achieve this color but I already had a large can of Jacobean and didn't want to waste it so I bought a small Pickled Oak to mix it with.
• Rustoleum 2X Primer and Paint in Heirloom White.  I used 2 cans for each table.

T-shirt Quilt for Daughter #2

 Daughter #2 with her t-shirt quilt for graduation.

 Some close-ups of the quilting.

 Backing chevron flannel and binding.

 Little sisters are so helpful!

 This is probably her favorite tee.

 I had Lynn quilt her graduation year onto the quilt because she didn't have any with her year on it.

Details:

• For this quilt I used about 25 shirts, including 2 sweatshirts.  A couple had both a back and a front that we used. 
• 5 columns of t-shirts
• 6 yds. of Grey Chevron Flannel for backing that I bought at JoAnn's.
• Quilted by Lynn Peterson
• Finished Dimensions 76 inches by 88 inches

Benches for the deck

I've been in the graduation party prep mode for the past week or so.

And what a great excuse to finally get some furniture for the deck.

This will only be our 3rd summer here in this house.

It is about time.

I've been perusing Pinterest for ideas and found a couple that I liked.

This bench is 48 inches wide.

This is a side by side of the 2 different styles of bench that I made.

I actually made the straight bench first and then decided that I wanted one with a backrest.

The straight bench is 54 inches long.

And then I made 2 side tables, just for good measure.

Bring on the grad girl!

She is SO READY to be DONE!

We're ready to party!

Details:

• Backed bench and table patterns by Jay's Creations
• I found that I needed to adjust the pocket holes for the backrest slats.  If there is a next time I would cut the pieces to 32 not 31 inches and then make the marks.  At 31 inches the piece didn't reach to the top of the top slat, which is what it showed in the pattern.  If you are not spacing the back slats apart you won't need to adjust anything.

The bottom pocket holes are the original ones.  You can see how close to the edge of the 2 x 4 they were.  By the time you reached the top slat (after spacing them out) there was almost no room to attach it.

• Straight bench pattern by Ana White-- Providence Bench
• For 2 of each bench and 2 tables it cost about $100
• I used green-treated pine 2 x 4s from Menards

Graduation Quilt Top

Our second child will be graduating from high school in a couple of weeks.

I completed her t-shirt quilt top this week and got it sent off to the quilter today.

 Hers looks a little more crazy than what I've done in the past.

However, that is probably because she has attended 2 different high school during her time.

 This is also the first time I've made a t-shirt quilt without any sashing or borders.

It is definitely a bit more random than others I've done.

This is the backing: gray chevron flannel.

So happy that I got the pattern lined up perfectly!

Linked up to CrazyMomQuilts

Scrappy Rectangles #2 Completed

Details:

• First version of this quilt found here and directions and pattern info.
• Second version in progress here.  I started #2 last summer.
• Quilted again by Lynn Peterson.

And yes, crazy me, I've started the next round of blocks for version #3. 

If interested in purchasing this quilt you can find it in my Etsy shop.

Wide Stripes T-shirt Quilt

As many of you know we like to make t-shirt memory quilts around here.  What you may not know is that also leaves us with quite a bit of t-shirt scraps--some pieces are smaller than others, but sometimes we have entire blank backs that go unused.

So after finishing my last t-shirt quilt I decided to challenge myself and use up the "leftovers" of the t-shirts and turn them into a quilt of some sort. I've been holding onto these for quite some time.

What I came up with was a brick like pattern using 6 inch and 3 inch strips.  Basically getting the stripes as wide as I could based on what I had. 

 This baby is LARGE!  And crazy, but I am pleased with the final result.

My 6'5" son and I are holding this up--widthwise--because it was too big to hold up lengthwise.

The backing was made from a chambray sheet and then added some additional stripes

so that it would be long enough.

Close-up of the quilting.  I asked Lynn for some simple lines to hold it all in place and then some random pebbling on a couple of the smaller stripes.   I love the pebbling!  If I ever do one of these again I would have her do every other or every 3rd row with the pebbling.

And here is my dad enjoying his new quilt.

He likes them HUGE so he can tuck it under everywhere.

And he also likes the added weight of the t-shirt fabric.

Details:

• Don't forget to interface all the t-shirt pieces so there is no stretching, especially for the quilter.
• Finished size 82 inches by 105 inches.  Yes, it is HUMONGOUS!!  Just the way this Arizona boy likes it so that he doesn't freeze to death.
• Quilted by Lynn Peterson.

Links to some other t-shirt quilts we've made or featured here on our blog.

• Samuel's quilt
• Lexanne's quilt
• Madisson's quilt
• Bria's quilt
• The twin Harley-Davidson quilts
• Ann's quilt for her daughter Lucy

Next up for me in another random improve t-shirt quilt.  It is done and needs a backing and to be quilted.  And I'm almost finished with daughter #2's t-shirt graduation quilt.  Hers will be interesting as it is a combo of 2 different high schools and other random shirts thrown in.  Can't wait to show them off when they are finished.

Spool Quilt for my Birthday

This weekend is our annual Sewfest Weekend in St. George.

For various reason I am not there this year.

Mostly I'm O.K. with it.

I am planning on sewing as much as I can here at home while my sisters and cousin

are doing their thing.  I'll post some of my finishes later.

Until then I'll show you what my sisters, Emily and Leslie (and a few of their buddies)

did for me last Fall for my 50th birthday. 

I have to say I was super surprised.  Not that my gift was a quilt, but that it was this quilt.  I knew Emily was working on it but I didn't have a clue that it was coming to me.

I LOVE it!! 

The two different fabrics that make up the backing.

The fun quilt label.

And Awesome binding.

THANKS!!

Quilts for Sale

My Etsy Shop

Easy Knit Hat for the New Year

Daughter #2 and her friends all wanted "matching" hats.  Which translated into a chunky knit hat that folded up at the brim and double pom poms attached. My daughter chose black for her hat.  Why, you might ask?  Because she is into neutrals and she knew that no one else would want that color.  (And believe me when I say there was a LOT of drama involving the color choice picks--aren't 13 yr. old girls awesome?)  She isn't a pink girl at all. 

So between me and another of the mom's we got them all done.

Here is my daughter in hers.

 

Details:

• Loops and Threads Charisma in Black--2 skeins needed because of the pompoms.
• Pattern based on this basic knit pattern.
• Cast on 60 with size 11 circular needles.
• K1 P1 ribbing pattern for approx. 4 inches.
• Seed stitch pattern for the body of the hat.
• Pinterest inspiration here and here.