A little something something

My sister-in-law sent me a really cute pair of earrings for Mother's day and I had intended to send her something but was a complete slacker and didn't. I suck. So today while my little guy took a really good nap I opened up my Zakka book and busted out a pencil case.

I made it a little wider to accommodate something a little more relaxing/energizing for a momma since pencils aren't usually needed that frequently, at least in my experience.

Once she's used the contents she can re-use the little pouch for whatever she wants...even pencils. :)

A little something for my hubby

Last fall as I was in the midst of quilting craziness I asked my husband if he would be interested in having a quilt. He didn't seem that interested until I mentioned taking a lot of his unworn t-shirts and making them into a quilt. He really liked that idea. Which is really good since coming up with gift ideas for him is really tricky. So this year I was planning on making him a quilt for father's day as a surprise. He'd picked out the t-shirts months ago and I've been working on it clandestinely when he's not around.

All of the logos/designs/what-have-you on the t-shirts are different sizes so trying to pick one standard size to cut each t-shirt wasn't an option. This was  a piece it as you go project and the layout changed many many times as I was working through it.

I have to admit that I'm not really a big fan of t-shirt quilts. Visually they just aren't that appealing to me. 

I suppose that's not why you make them though. It's all about the memories the t-shirts evoke. This one is  coming together pretty well and I'm really digging it. 

As I was working on finishing up putting on the blocks together I took a risk and laid the quilt out on our bed so that I could more easily measure and figure out how to put the last few blocks on. I figured I was safe since my husband was in the basement watching TV and would likely remain there for the rest of the evening. Went back into my sewing room, sewed some more and came back out to the bedroom to find my husband staring down at the quilt. DOH!! All my secretive sewing was for naught. I told him it was supposed to be a surprise for father's day and he wondered why it was laying out in plain sight. Blah blah blah. The most important thing that came from that discussion was that he loved it. He even said "I love it". Which from a man is pretty huge I think. :)

He wanted to add one more t-shirt to it so it won't get done by father's day since my sewing time during the work week is minimal, which is fine since now I don't have to break my back to finish it by next weekend. 

Curio quilt all done

Finishing quilts is such a high! Especially when you pull them out of the dryer all warm and snuggly. Mmmm, it's the best! All the doubt and worry about how it'll turn out disappears....at least for me. It's finished and I'm happy.

Front

I chose an all over pattern called Dusty Miller petite by Patrician Ritter of Urban Elementz

Up close front

 I used some of my half square triangles that I had left over from when I was attempting a different design for the front. I think I might actually like the back more than the front.

Back

 You can really see the lovely quilting design on the back. I used the co-ordinating green grunge and I love that it's like a solid but has some great interest.

up close back

I even hand sewed the binding down. How bout that?

hand sewn binding - woot!

 She's all ready to go to her new home.

All rolled up & ready to go