Potholder Swap -- Incoming

This is what I rec'd from my craftster swap partner:

Three patchwork potholders in my all-time favorite orange and green color combo.


A coordinating toaster cover.


A crafty notecard.

This is NOT a Football

Guess what it is?

Potholders and Tea Cozy for Craftster Swap

Last month, I signed up for my first craft swap on craftster.org. It seemed simple enough...potholders + 1 other item. The organizer matched me up with a woman in Texas who has a black/white/red kitchen and likes handmade, modern things.
But of course I ended up having to do everything at the last minute...but I got it done. Just in the nick of time! As usual. :)
Anyhoo, this is what I came up with...

I found this 'wonky' stars pattern in one of Mom's quilting magazines from the early 2000's (turn of the century-tee hee). It turned out to be a fairly easy technique...no precise cutting, no major pre-planning other than the overall size and the grouping of fabrics. I did have a couple of duds though...fabric combos that just didn't look good together or weren't modern enough. So those went in the stash bin (where they will sit ignored for many years).
Also, the organizer suggested Insulbrite, a mylar/polyfill batting that doesn't allow heat to pass through. It's easy enough to use, but it makes a little crinkly sound, which I don't like. Too plastic-like. But I guess it's better than sending potholders to a stranger who might end up with burned fingers.
So, I like the way they look. And they sewed up really fast. I hope my potholder partner likes them! I'll post photos of the potholders that she made for me, once they arrive.

My partner's other item request was for a tea cozy. She's never had one before. I found this adorable black and white sewing-themed print and decided to keep the cozy very simple in order to focus on the fabric. I used a red and white floral for the lining (and more crinkly Insulbrite for extra hours of warm tea). Then I stitched some fancy crystal buttons for a little 'handle' on the top.

Happy Chicken

The Bionic Brotha, Phase 1

Happy post-IV smile. It wasn't so bad afterall.

A little pre-op 'expose' of the scar from the 2001 surgery.

aLL StArS

Baseball So Far

You know how much I like to take sports pictures. But Henry's in the "Major Leagues" now and they play on a field with a long, tall chain link fence. Its not good for pictures. At all. Every once in awhile I sneak into the gate and snap a few.

He's on two teams: The red uniforms are the Phillies, which are part of the local Rec league and they only play teams within Teaneck. The blue uniforms are the 12 year old Travel Team and they only play teams outside of Teaneck.

Pre Spring Denim Photos

Storm Trench: Collar and lapels were softly tied before baking.


All jackets were scrunched like this on the mannequin.



Hand dryers were used to pre-set the resin on the mannequin.

Monza Black after baking.

Tamarack Brown after baking.

Before the oven. Lining was clipped to hold waist up and sleeves were clipped to the hanger to hold elbows in bent position.

Heart Bubbles

I intended to make a simple stacked coins pattern, using scrappy pink & mint fabrics with white strapping & border. I thought I would like the way the color fabric strips kind of pop up from the white background. But after I finished the piecing, I thought it looked a little boring. So I appliqued hearts on it, using a light pink voile, wonder-under and a decorative heart machine stitch. Now I love it! I think the hearts look like bubbles or balloons floating in the sky.

Lily Cat

Lily is one year old now. Since her first day in our house, she's loved to sit in the windows. She has a little bed on top of one of the radiator covers, which was her favorite nap place all winter long. I wish I had such a warm cozy spot for napping!
Her coloring has changed a lot. She's become much more grey than when she was a baby, especially her ears, face and tail. She has a funny little white lightening bolt between her eyes and white paws, but other than that, she's mostly grey.

Quilts For Kids

A few weeks ago, I volunteered to sew a child's quilt for an organization called Quilts for Kids. They sent me some fabric that would otherwise be headed to landfills. Enclosed in the kit is a note encouraging quilters to make one or two extra quilts for each kit that is sent out. So, now I have two quilts to send back... to them. They will be given to children who are in pediatric hospitals, orphanages, etc. I like knowing that these hand-made blankets will warm a child and hopefully, help to lift their little spirits.

Quilting

I haven't been blogging much lately. That's because I've been in the basement...sewing! This is the quilt that I made for our neighbor's new baby...Heruy. The name of the quilt is Hip Hop Heruy.