Sew What?

Sew everything!

You’re probably wondering what I’ve been up to now that the worst is over with Stitchin’ Addiction. Don’t worry. I haven’t been idle. I’m slowly tackling all those projects that built up during the applique times. I’m by no means caught up, but I’ve reached a lull where I can come up for air and blog.

I’ve been working on some cute little zipper bags for a dear friend. I’m trying out some new things, like quilting the panels to look like Vera Bradley bags. So far … not what I anticipated, but it’s a start. I aspire to become a better machine quilter someday, and, well, I’ve got to start somewhere. I would blame it on the machine, but nothing is my adorable little Janome’s fault. Ever.

I’ve also been working on some quilts. More like many quilts, but I’m going to pretend it’s a mere “some” to retain what’s left of my sanity. Most of them have yet to make it to “the table” where projects await their turn with me and the Janome, but I know they're coming. And that scares me a bit.

Besides Stitchin’ Addiction, I have two other quilts currently on the table. They are my first official order as Life’s Short. Sew Fast. They are matching quilts for twin 5-year old girls. I designed the pattern – something simple and fast, with a touch of applique. They are both in Terrain by Kate Spain. Six blocks on each quilt will have pictures of the girls. The center block has their name appliqued. Not incredibly intense, right? Well, here’s the fun part: I’m appliqueing MERMAIDS on the center block as well. Mermaids. It’s like the worst of the fish world AND the human world. Fingers and fins. Neither are applique friendly. In an attempt to save my beautifully girly quilts from an applique atrocity, I solicited help from none other than Sarah, my hand-quilting partner in crime. She is sketching out some applique-friendly mermaids and transferring the designs onto fabric. In the meantime, I get to wait, dread, and write to you.

Good thing I got all that applique practice on my last quilt.