Crafty Monday

I can't believe it has been several weeks since I have posted on this blog. That's how long it has been since I have been able to do anything crafty! I think my sewing machine was starting to think our relationship was over. I finally decided it was time to get the crafty juices flowing again. My husband and I went to Austin a few weeks ago. On this trip, I designed a quilt for my oldest son. He had requested one over a year ago and I couldn't figure out what I wanted it to look like. I finally got the design down and all the dimesions of fabric needed and cuts needed. I know what you are thinking... Awesome, she actually started on it and is going to share her progress. Nope. I just couldn't get into it today. Although I haven't been able to caress any cuddly cotten fabric lately, I didn't have the itch today either. Today, was tulle day. Yes, tulle. A new addiction. (As if I need any new ones )

 I have a terrible habit of not keeping up with birthday gifts. Every year my New Year's resolution is the same: "This year I will give birthday presents on time." It is now November, only about 46 more days until I make that resolution again. Maybe 2011 will be the year I actually accomplish it. We celebrated our friends' daughter's birthday the other week. Some know her as my "future daughter in law" to my youngest son. She is the cutest little girl. She has big cheeks just like my son. She turned four and I made her birthday cake (another one of my favorite things to do).

She is all pink and "princessy" (is that really a word). She requested a pink cake through and through. So I made a strawberry cake (with fresh strawberries in glaze in the middle) and homemade pink buttercream frosting. This was almost two weeks ago. Cakes I can make on time. :) However, her present was made today. A princess needs a princess dress. She has plenty of tiaras and slippers, but needed a princess dress. Hence, my tulle and a little inspiration from my friend Kirsten.

Her favorite priness is snow white. So a snow white halter tutu is what she got. She was very excited and tickled about her princess dress. I was tickled at how cute it came out and how cute she looked in it.

So a successful Crafty Monday it was. I'm addicted to tutus. They are so much fun and so easy to make. Maybe a tutorial soon... *hint hint*

As this Monday draws to a close so do my eyelids. Have a blessed night.

Straight Lines

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. Between the boy's soccer games this weekend and lots of babies at work, I haven't had much time. I worked diligently on the Around and Around We Go quilt on Monday. No housework got done (shhh... don't tell). I found the perfect fabric for the backing. It's a suprise... no pics yet. On Monday, I sandwiched the layers together and worked on the quilting. The "Circle Around" pattern, had the quilting as simple X's going through the squares. I liked the idea. The quilt had a "clean" look, the circles and quilted squares go together nicely. So the trick was getting those lines perfectly straight. Nothing like painter's tape to help do the job. I read this trick online a year or so ago and always remembered it. I knew it would come in handy one day. :) Simple, quick, and gives you perfect lines each time. I also use painter's tape when I tape my backing to the floor to make the quilt sandwich. It hardly has any adhesive and it doesn't ruin your fabric.

Voila! Nice straight lines. 

I got to work on the binding a little today. I decided it might be a good idea to actually do my errands and clean house today. I'm hoping to work on it tomorrow. This blanket is so cuddly. I'm excited to get it finished. 

Around and Around We Go

I just absolutely love new toys! I get so excited when I find a new tool that I just can't live without. In the Summer Issue of Quilts and More I saw this cute quilt. I knew then I "needed" a circle ruler. Mind you, I have never done a quilt with circles. I loved this one, and I had the perfect idea for it. Even better, I had most of the fabric! Last winter, I had gone through my mom's stash of fabrics. In there, was a set of beautiful blue Christmas fabric. With Christmas around the corner, I thought, what better way to test out my new circle ruler than to make a cute quilt using these fabrics.

My new toy.

 I can't quite say we are "friends", but I'm getting the hang of it. Maybe I should make another quilt to try it out again. *grins*

Yesterday, after LOTS of help from my 9 y/o as my 5 y/o took a nap, I had a beautiful stack of squares just begging to be sewn together.

Unfortunately, it was time to make dinner and they were going to have to wait until today to see the sewing machine.

I can't begin to tell you how much I LOVE chain piecing! Currently, I am taking a quilting class at a local quillt shop here. On the first day of class, our instructor taught us chain piecing. At that moment I had an "AH HA!" moment! I was able to sew this whole quilt top in less than two hours!!!! That's 56 8" squares! Pinning the rows took me the longest. So after much help from my son (he's even holding this quilt up), I give you the finished quilt top.

Here is a close up of the fabrics used in this quilt. 

 Aren't they pretty? Can't you see yourself cuddling with it in front of the fireplace?

Now to find some fabric for the backing and the binding! That will have to wait until next week. :( Once this quilt is finished it will be available for purchase. Enjoy the rest of your day. I'm off to the movies with my boys.

Amber

A New Beginning

Welcome to Creatively Biased. I am creating this blog as a way to share the works I have in progress or have finished. This blog alone, is a work in progress. I am fairly new to the world of blogging; both in reading and in writing. I know, I need to catch up with the times. Eventually, as I figure out this new world, I hope to add tutorials and a shop for all the quilts and other cute stuff I have made.

Although I am fairly obsessed with fabric (yes, I admit I have an addiction to fabric), I do have other loves in my life. My husband and my boys bring me such joy. They truly are God's greatest blessings in my life. Along with quilting and crafts, this blog will often be sprinkled with cute snips and joys from my main loves in my life.

How could you not just want to squeeze these two handsome boys!!! I love those boys!!!

Thanks again for visiting! Please come back and see what creations are in the works.


Amber