Miss Dolly for Big Sister!

In August, I made this Rag Doll using the Miss Dolly Tutorial by Brittany from I am so Crafty, I Sweat Glitter.

This is my first doll, so I pretty much followed the directions using what supplies I had on hand. My niece is expecting a baby boy soon, and I wanted to send something special for his big sister, Mia, to help her celebrate.

A few months ago, I finished a sample block I found from a quilt I made for my niece several years ago. I figured it would be fun for Mia to have a doll quilt that matches her mom's quilt, but then when it came time to pack it, I just couldn't send it all by it's lonesome..

I packaged Mia's dolly with the quilt I sent for Jayden's nautical-themed baby shower.
His ship has been personalized..

And I made the binding double-wide to serve as a border for this simple quilt.

Although the binding is hand-finished, I top-stitched it by machine for durability. I love the feel of the double-grooves.

Miss Dolly was my August New FO,

But wait, I actually have another one to share!

I have been cutting Christmas fabrics into strips and squares for a technique that has been on my bucket list to try, called Stack the Deck.

While I was at it, I cut a Jam Roll (a double-wide jelly roll that can be cut into 5" charms)  to post in my Etsy shop!

This is a technique that shuffles fabrics sort of randomly, making it tough to envision the finished quilt. A bit nervous cutting away all the fabric, but I did it anyway, and finally I am ready to start assembling these to see how it takes shape!

I stacked and sliced my first set of squares:

 Then I rotated each stack:

Karla Alexander has authored quite a few books using the technique, and it's potential has intrigued me for some time now. I figure I will try it out and then see how it may relate to future quilts. The pattern I am using is from her book, New Cuts for New Quilts.

That is as far as I got with this one before getting sidetracked by my design wall, which I need to clear before sewing more blocks together. Maybe I will share the mess on my wall with ya'll next week!

With all my UFO's pending, this should not be my goal right now, but I really want to do a couple Christmas quilts this year. Now or never, you know! My September goal with AYOLF is to finish this flimsy!

Thank you all for reading today!

And BIG thanks to all the wonderful linky-hosts who help us all to connect!

 

Share a Finish Friday - Time Flies

I refer to this guy as, 'Time Flies'

These little hour glass squares were leftover after piecing my donation quilt from last year's 100 Quilt for Kids. I can't believe a year has gone by and it is time again to link up our donation quilts! Hosted this year by Heather of Quilts in the Queue , she has worked hard to obtain oodles of incentives! I thought about what to make and remembered all the odd scraps I had saved, dug them up, made some pinwheels, and finally arranged everything with some negative space.

(This pool was closed when I went for laps. It is still 90 degrees around here, but school has begun.
Is summer really over? What a shame!
I don't remember going to school in August...)

I wanted to play with the quilting a bit since I had all that space. The bubble-cables are a new pattern for me. I had sketched them in my notebook awhile back, from a library book by Angela Walters. I just visited her blog for the first time, and (wow!), noticed some beautiful paisley feathers she has been doing. I saved the link so I can return to check out her video tutorial!

This baby quilt is for Project Linus.
I thought Winnie the Pooh was perfect for the back.
And I found one more orphan patch...

I am pleased to announce that this quilty finish meets my August AYOLF goal (#49) and I can link up with Fiber of all Sorts Finishes Party!

Over the weekend, I will be visiting and linking up as well with Friday Finishes:

 

TGIFF, held this week at Ms. Midge,

 

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop, at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

 

Thank you so much for reading today, hope you have a terrific holiday weekend!

Surprised by my New Sister - Swap Package Received!!

Just as I was packaging the gifty creation for my Secret Sister, the postman rang my doorbell with a surprise for me! What great timing!
Heather, from A Reformed Heath'n, has been stalking me this summer!

When I opened the Mini, and caught my breath, I was really surprised because it resembles my business card a bit, except much better. But, I thought, has she ever seen my card? Then I thought about the Aurifil BOM I have been doing in this color combo, as well as this months' AYOLF goal. I love the colors, but really had not realized I have been favoring them like I have.

 Funny, right?





The Canning Jar Cozy, as I have named it, was actually the first thing I opened and fondled, and I immediately welled up a bit. I have never received such a nice package like this, and it felt a bit emotional. I really love it and want to make some of these! Heather quilted it with swirls all around, and it fits perfectly snug but still slides off for washing.
Other goodies were stashed inside: a super-cute pattern, a bracelet made for a quilter (that reminds me of some really great years!), and I think the metal magnet box is for needles??

I twice remember tearing up when packing a quilty surprise for the mail. In May I sent SEW STAUNCH! as a surprise mini, in honor of the late Kathreen Ricketson. Then in June I finished a 30 year-old orphan block found at a yard sale, and returned it to it's maker. Both instances, I was quite compelled, and then excited to mail them!

'It's a Sister Thing's Secret Pal Swap' has been really fun!
The Swap is the brainchild of Michele at Quilts From My Crayon Box and we Sister's have her to thank for hooking us all up!