The Next Generation

My mom found a working sewing machine for $7.00 at the local thrift store. It is definitely NOT a top-of-the-line machine. It's all plastic, except the needle, but it works. And is perfect for a 6 year-old little girl.

MK and her new Sewing Machine

The machine came with all the parts and works. I haven't tried to thread it yet, but I am hopeful it will work. This machine retails for $75.00 on Amazon. So, getting it for $7 was a steal. Way to go Grandma!

MK and her new sewing machine

MK was ecstatic when she pulled this out of the bag. First words: "Can you teach me to sew today?"

I didn't have time to start a sewing lesson right then and there, but I didn't want her excitement to wane. So, I told her she could start picking out fabric from my scrap bin. 

MK choosing her fabric

I thought she'd pick out a few pieces of fabric to practice on. Nope--she want all out and designed the quilt she wants to make.

MK and her Quilt Design

Fingers crossed that the machine works fine and that sewing lessons go well.

The Utah Quilt Guild has a children's category in their annual Quilt Fest Quilt Show. Maybe MK can finish this up and enter it in the show. We'll see.

Bloggers Quilt Festival

I only just discovered the Bloggers Quilt Festival hosted by Amy's Creative Side a year ago. And I know what you all are thinking: Where have I been? Under a quilt probably. 

I loved seeing all the wonderful quilts from around the world. I would hem and haw over which quilt to vote for. And I would visit all the blogs and find inspiration. This time, I've decided to enter a quilt! So exciting. 

This is my "Painting the Roses Red" quilt I made for our Utah Valley Quilt Guild Challenge. I chose the name after a lovely commentor said it reminded her of Alice in Wonderland in the rose garden painting.

Babco Unlimited - Painting the Roses Red Quilt 

Our challenge was to make a quilt with the theme of "I looked out the window..." It could be anything you see out your window--it could be your car window, house window, workplace window, whatever. It also had to have a traditional block somewhere in the quilt. 

Can you find my traditional block?

Babco Unlimited - Painting the Roses Red Quilt 

 My windowsill is a churn dash! (I'll admit I thought I was pretty clever.)

The little ladybug makes me smile. I found her in my stash and had to piece her in somehow.

Babco Unlimited - Painting the Roses Red Quilt 

This is only the second quilt I have machine quilted myself. I admit I was very nervous about ruining my wonderful quilt top with my beginner quilting skills.

I quilted the flowers in wavy circles to mimic the flower petals. The green leaves were quilted in a pointy stippling to make it look like foliage. The sky received spirals. Then, I did a spiral feather thingy in the churn dash border and a loopy figure 8 in the blue border. Overall, I'm very happy with how it turned out.

Babco Unlimited - Painting the Roses Red Quilt 

I had to improvise with my thread choices. I had planned on using the same green varigated thread all over the backing. However, when it came to quilting the white churn-dash border, I couldn't get my tension right and the green kept pulling up to the top. It was so distracting. (And frustrating!)

I finally threw my hands in the air and quilted both sides with white thread. I was under a deadline and didn't have time for this nonsense. Now, when I look at the backing, I LOVE how it turned out.

Babco Unlimited - Painting the Roses Red Quilt 

You can read the original blog post about the design process here, the finished top here, and the reveal here.

Quilt Stats
Finished Size: 34" x 34"
Fabric: Assorted 100% cotton fabrics
Batting: Warm & Natural 100% cotton batting
Thread: Superior Threads Fantastico line, polyester variegated thread
Techniques: Machine piecing, Machine Free Motion Quilting, Hand Sewn Binding.

I've decided to enter this quilt into the Art Quilt category. (Kinda shocking to me because I wouldn't label myself as an art quilter. I would never have made something like this if not for my guild's challenge.)

 Linked up with the Bloggers Quilt Festival Art Quilt here.

WIP Wednesday #35 -- The Denim Project Continues

Babco Unlimited - The Denim Project

I'm working on my denim rag quilt. I'm excited to have this for the chilly nights at the ballpark. Last night was another game in the wind and occasional rain. Once it warms up, this will be a great blanket to sit on. However, right now I'm looking forward to the warmth.

I've cut up all my flannel pieces, and I'm all ready to sew them all together.

Linked up with WIP Wednesday here.

Spring is Here!

Spring is here! And so is spring ball. It's Baseball season and Soccer season. With all the time I'm spending at the ballparks on the sidelines cheering on my kids, the more I realize it is finally time to finish at least ONE of my denim projects--just an easy peasy denim rag quilt that I can take to the ballpark. 

I have all the pieces--TONS of denim I've pre-cut into 5" pieces and flannel fabric. I have denim needles and cotton thread. What more do I need?

Babco Unlimited - The Denim Project

My goal for May: A Denim Rag Quilt.

Ready, Set, GO!

Linked up with Lovely Year of Finishes here.

Where have I been?

I can't believe I haven't posted in almost 2 months. Life has been so hectic here lately that I've had little time to sew. But, it has been a fun hectic.  So what have I been up to?

1. A Family trip to Arches National Park

Arches National Park

Our family overlooking Delicate Arch. 

I had never been to Arches National Park. So beautiful! And so much to do--I had no idea! I want to go back, and so do my kids. 

2. Spring Soccer

My Son at one of this soccer games

My 9 year-old son loves soccer and plays for a local club. Spring games started up again. This means many weeknights cheering him and his team on. 

3. Spring Baseball 

An old photo of my son who loves baseball. (My photos from this season didn't turn out.)

My 11 year-old son LOVES baseball. His season has started, which means more weeknights cheering him and his team on. 

4. My own fitness make-over

(no photo here)

I think we've all know this story--you get on the scale one day and realize you are unhealthy. I was back up to my heaviest...actually a few pounds OVER my heaviest. And I was tired of not fitting in my clothes anymore. I've enlisted the help of Team THF and have been making a change. I've been working out and eating healthy. It's been a lot of work, but it's paying off. I've lost weight, gained muscle, and I can feel myself getting stronger. I have more energy, and just overall feel better. 

Although it's been a fun couple of months, I've missed my sewing table. I have only found bits of time to sit down and sew. My Wheel of Fortune Quilt has been sitting on my table so I can work on it whenever I get a few minutes. I'm so close to being done!

Wheel of Fortune Quilt

I'm half way through with quilting the borders. It's exciting to be almost finished. 

A Little Bit Shorter Tall Tree

I just love the name of this project --  A Little Bit Shorter Tall Tree by Cindi Edgerton.

A Little Bit Shorter Tall Tree

(Pattern can be found here.)

My mom, aunt, and I had a sew day yesterday. We "shopped" from my mom's fabric stash. This is only part of her stash:

I had such a fun time hanging out with my mom and aunt. We chatted while we sewed, told stories, laughed over mistakes, shared tips, and helped with fabric choices.

This pattern is so well written! It is incredibly easy to follow. She gives detailed instructions on each step with so many tips to get great results.

I didn't get a whole lot done because my day was cut short when my oldest son called me from school saying he didn't feel well. He's doing much better today, thankfully.

Well, here's to starting yet another project!

Linked up with Let's Bee Social here.
Linked up with WIP Wednesday here.

March Goals

I just love the name of this project --  A Little Bit Shorter Tall Tree by Cindi Edgerton.

A Little Bit Shorter Tall Tree

(Pattern can be found here.)

My mom, aunt, and I had a sew day yesterday. We "shopped" from my mom's fabric stash. This is only part of her stash:

I had such a fun time hanging out with my mom and aunt. We chatted while we sewed, told stories, laughed over mistakes, shared tips, and helped with fabric choices.

This pattern is so well written! It is incredibly easy to follow. She gives detailed instructions on each step with so many tips to get great results.

I didn't get a whole lot done because my day was cut short when my oldest son called me from school saying he didn't feel well. He's doing much better today, thankfully.

Well, here's to starting yet another project!

Linked up with Let's Bee Social here.
Linked up with WIP Wednesday here.

WIP Wednesday #34 - The Denim Project

I couldn't resist starting one of my Denim Projects as soon as I got my machine back. It was just too tempting! I mean--all this fabric is just laying all over my sewing room practically begging to be made into something new and fun.

Even though I have about bajillion 5" squares, I didn't want to start that project. That would be too sensible. No, I had to start something completely different. Because it is different and, therefore, fun. In my pintrest search for something fun to do with my jeans, I found this amazing jeans string quilt. And I knew I had my next project.

Denim Strip Quilt

At first, I was cutting out 5" squares out of my denim and then setting aside the "scraps" for this quilt. But I quickly ran out of scraps. I've since just cut a few pairs of my old jeans into different size strips to use.

I'm loving it. It has a WOW factor, don't you think?

Not sure how big I'll make it. My hubby wants it to be BIG so the whole family can sit on it at once. That would mean hunting down another pair of light wash jeans for my center strip. (Before I committed to this project, I cut the one pair of light wash jeans I had into 5" squares with only a little left for this project. Oops.)


I need some feedback: How should I finish this quilt?

• Should I finish this traditionally? Sew all the blocks together. Add batting, Add a Backing. Quilt it.
• Should I tie the quilt? Sew all blocks together. Add batting. Add a backing. Tie it.
• Should I make this a rag quilt? Add batting and backing to each square. Quilt 2 diagonal lines through the center. Then sew all squares together?
• Should I make this just a denim blanket? Just sew all the blocks together. No batting, No backing. Seams exposed on the back. 
• Any other ideas?

I need some help on this so please, PLEASE give me some ideas.


Linked up with WIP Wednesday here.
Linked up with Let's Bee Social here.