Birthday Quilts

Planning to make a quilt for Bella’s birthday, I asked Kathy what she likes. Butterflies, mermaids, My Little Pony, Hello Kitty, and Peppa Pig, so a trip to Joanns for a half-yard of the last three. The rest was already in my sewing room just waiting for the perfect quilt. 

I got all the pieces cut and enlisted Elizabeth’s help in laying the pieces out while I stayed with the kids last weekend. It was sewn together Sunday/Monday. Quilted on Tuesday. 

I was planning to make a pillowcase for the quilt and one for her brother, Robbie, too. Then I decided to make him a quilt also. Jason said he likes dinosaurs, so the search for Dino quilts began. I saw this cute panel.  What could be easier than adding borders to a panel? Perfect fabrics in my stash for this one too! 

Quilted on Friday morning, bound Friday evening. Pillowcases were made this morning. 

I think they like them!

More Minkee

I made these two minkee quilts for Andrew and Elizbeth and finished them just in time for Elizabeth's birthday party last Saturday.

I bought the Dr Seuss minkee in Shipshewana at the Cuddle Corner in the Davis Merchantile. The black, red, blue and white are from Joann's, bought either on sale or with a coupon.

I stitched the strips together with the serger, just like Julie did and like Calise's. It is so much easier to have that mess all contained when I loaded them on the longarm.

I used the same panto, Turbulence on both and they have Hobbs 80/20 batting.

Elizabeth's has red minkee backing and red thread

And Andrew's has blue backing and blue thread. I LOVE this Dr Seuss fabric I got at Joann's for the binding.

I just rolled them up and tied with a ribbon and Liz opened hers first. We told Andrew to open his and he said, "It's going to be just like hers!" They are very similar, I must admit.
Look at the cute Nana labels I added.

Trip to the Zoo

A trip to the Columbian Park Zoo last Friday was great fun!

 Posing with the painted frogs from Frolic With The Frogs

 A baby Walabe and his mommy.

 Liz' dress goes well with the butterfly!

 In the Prairie Dog tunnels:

 What a fun zoo! Now we're ready for some Frozen Custard!

Doll Clothes for Lily

Elizabeth has a favorite dolly named Lily and I was told that she needed some new clothes.

I made this fleece jacket, skirt and dress on Saturday.

I even wrapped them and put Lily's name on the tag.

 I think she likes them!

Elizabeth's 3rd Birthday Party

Elizabeth and her cousin Rylan shared a birthday party this year.



He's 5 and she's 3 and they're almost the same height. They were both cute as can be!



I made one cake for both of them, he wanted Smurfs and she wanted Dora. I found similar images of both of them and I think it turned out great. Can you see the dots of icing....orange and pink for her side and orange and blue for his side.



Here's Liz with her Barbie quilt.

Elizabeth's 3rd Birthday Quilt

I'm working on the binding tonight on this cute little quilt, but had to take a break to do some computer stuff.

Julie bought the Barbie fabric at Shipshewana from Susie and asked me if I would make a quilt for Liz. There's still a lot of the fabric left, so there will be more than one Barbie quilt.

I bought some fabrics for the block borders and sashing in Shipshewana and got a good start on it there. It got put away shortly after that but since her birthday party is this Sunday, I need to get the binding finished tomorrow.



I chose Button Flower panto and used Permacore Light Strawberry thread. I actually piece the Hobbs 80/20 batting.



And here's a little one for her baby doll:

WHAT, it's not my party?

Saturday was Andrew's 4th birthday party at Julie and Jim's house.



It was a fun day with almost all the grandkids in attendance. The teenagers kept themselves occupied at one end of the house while the little kids played in the playroom.



I took Elizabeth's dress that I made and as soon as she saw it she started taking off her shirt. She wanted to wear it and I'm telling you, it warmed my heart!



We ate lunch and then gathered in the new living room at. Look at these beautiful new wood floors!



Elizabeth was sitting on a little chair directly in front of me, patiently waiting for the festivities to begin.
I said to her, "Are you ready for the party?"
She replied, "I'm ready for my birthday party!"
I said, "Honey, it's Andrew's party today, not yours."

Well, she turned around and looked me square in the eyes like this...



for quite a long time. PRICELESS!

Finishing Up!

Last night was a finish it up night....

First I applied the binding to Andrew's 4th birthday quilt. It's all washed, soft and ready for his birthday this weekend. I can't believe he's 4 already! Where has the time gone?



I decided to do the binding by machine for 2 reasons, one, it's faster and two, I hope he uses it a lot.



Then I did the topstitching, made the buttonholes and sewed buttons on Elizabeth's dress. This will be her gift for Andrew's birthday.




Then I made a birthday star block for my online friend KD. I dropped it off at the post office this morning, Bert, so you should have it by the end of the week. Her color choices were blue and yellow and this made a pretty block.

I think she likes them!

Here's Elizabeth at her birthday party on Sunday.





And here she is at home later, playing with her dolls and her new cradle.



It must have looked comfy cause she took her dolls out and tried it out herself.

Elizabeth's 2nd Birthday Quilt

I started this quilt at Spring Break in Hawaii last year and once it was a top, I put it away.


I quilted it this week and finished cutting out the doll clothes.




I also made a matching quilt for her dolly. I quilted the dolls quilt last night while Janet was here cutting 2.5" strips with the Go Cutter, and put the binding on while watching a movie last night.



My ex-husband made a doll cradle for our daughter Julie when she was little. It has been in the spare bedroom, but has been used a toy box. Yesterday I made a mattress and pillow for it and will give it to Elizabeth today.