Saturday, August 29, 2009

Christmas in July...or August

Hi everyone. I'm so sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've tried to keep up with your blogs, so sorry if I've missed a lot of posts. I feel like life is on fast forward. Somebody push the stop button!
Here are some things I've been doing this summer. I finally got this quilt ready for the quilters. It took longer than it should have. I love this quilt, but the greens and yellows are the wrong color for my living room. My walls are sage green, and tan. I wish I would have gone for a different colors. It isn't going to go where I had planned to put it, but it will look cute on my quilt ladder that I change out quilts for the seasons. Also looks great in my sewing room which is apple green, but there is no room for a quilt this big. (Bummer!)

My kids have started school. This is my 4th year homeschooling. This year we are attending the Utah Virtual Academy. It is a charter-Internet based school. The curriculum is wonderful, and the schedule is already planned for me, which is great.

I went to my 20th high school reunion last month, and reconnected with a classmate that sews doll clothes. That got me thinking about my little daughter and Christmas. I decided this might be the year to introduce her to the American Girl dolls. Her cousin gave her the "Addy" doll several years ago, but she hasn't really played with it that much, either because she was just too young, or didn't have any clothes for it. I'm planning a trip to L.A so she can pick out her very own doll. I think I'm more excited about it than she is!
I found this great website that has free downloads for all of the original AG doll clothes, and so... a sewing I have been doing! Mind you these clothes are suppose to be for Christmas, but I'm so excited about them, I've given her a few things now. I've got to make some and tuck them away for the real event! I'm really having a blast making these! I can't seem to stop. I downloaded all of the patterns (beware... it's over 350 sheets of paper and a cartridge of ink)!
First I made these cute clothes. Fun, free easy patterns from You Can Make this. com.
Then I moved on to pajamas. These are "Molly's pajamas from the American Girl patterns. I changed the colors, and added ruffles on the bottom.Since both the Pj's went okay, I decided to really challenge my sewing skills and make the "Felicity dress." I have to tell you that sewing this was like stitching a historical sampler. I love the detail!

This is the ruffle around the collar. I think I used every pin I had. It took about 3 1/4 yards of ribbon and 4 hours to pin together.

Next I did the "Addy Tartan Dress". I still have to sew on some bows and buttons, but it turned out pretty cute. My DD just wants her to wear the pink dress. This one didn't excite her near as much.

I finished my Amish quilt, twice. I gave the other identical quilt to my friend Kim to commemorate our trip to PA. Now it's off to the quilters too.
My dear friend Deb sent me these patterns a few months ago, from her stash. I can't wait to do some of the little Amish designs to go with my quilt. I really appreciate her friendship. I feel so blessed to meet such great friends through blogging. Thanks Deb!

Last week, I won Doris' giveaway. She was giving away some UFO's and I thought this Shepherd's Bush sampler would be perfect for my daughter to start stitching on. She is just learning, and loving it! Thank you Doris!

I got my Petite Rouge letters back from the framers. This was Blackbirds contest from a few months ago. This is personalized with my Grandma's name. I love looking at it.

To add to my scary thoughts that summer is almost over...we had a "friend" come to our BBQ last week.Can you believe the size of that sucker?! I could have just died. It was making a web on the door knob. We get tarantula's usually in October, but it is rare to see one this early. Someone said that we will have a hard winter. Something not to look forward to! I can feel Fall in the air, even though we have high temperatures still. I love fall, but I always feel sad when summer starts to fade. Time marches on faster than we want too I'm afraid.

Until next time dear friends. Enjoy your weekend!

14 comments:

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri ~ Boog) said...

Wow, Loraine! The wait was worth it ~ what a GREAT post. First, I love your quilt! I think the colors are wonderful; I'm sorry you're not happier with it. It's terrific that you got your Amish quilt done after doing it once already!

Congrats on the awesome job you're doing sewing the doll clothes. My mom used to say that making doll clothes was a lot harder than sewing for a person - tiny details are not easy. Fantastic job! My DF Sheila goes to the American Girl doll store in Chicago and spends hours in their with her DD. Have fun picking out the new doll.

Deb is a sweet, talented enabler and she has been my inspiration for a long time! Congrats on winning Doris' giveaway - she's another really sweet gal!

The Petite Letters looks awesome - that was a fun stitch and I love looking at mine, too - done in honor of my grandmother.

Finally - OMG - if I had to encounter a spider like that, I'd probably have fainted dead away! I am also afraid we're going to have a rough winter - we had one really hot week but this week is very cool and I'm afraid winter may be quite cold. BRRRR.....

Have a wonderful rest of the weekend - good luck with school for your kiddies - I really admire those who have the patience to home school.

Margaret said...

Wow! You've really been busy! I love that first quilt! Do you do hand applique or machine applique on those flowers? And the other quilt(s), and the doll clothes! Wow! I'm so impressed! No way could I do that! Love your petites lettres Rouges too. And that spider! Ack! You get tarantulas?! Argh!!!!! Ok, I'm not ever moving to Utah! lol! Have fun with the homeschooling. and the American Doll thing!

Ranae said...

I love the colors in the quilt, you know you can send it to me, it will look terrific in my house, lol.
I love those doll clothes. Kellie has several of the American Girls. But I am not that talented to make clothes for them, lol
People love to see spiders posted, hehe I know. You have received some nice stuff
Have fun with the school year.

Cari said...

Oh my Loraine...you have been VERY busy. I love both of your quilts. They are beautiful. And the doll clothes....so dang cute. You are very talented AND busy!! Have a good weekend!! HUGS

Tammy said...

Wow, you have accomplished so much! Everything looks so pretty. Talented, talented woman! The little Halloween skirts are adorable, and so is everything else too.

Deb said...

Oh my gosh Loraine - where do I begin??? First off, I wondered where you had been - but now I see that you were up to some wonderful things!!!

I love your quilt - I love, love it! I'm sorry that you don't like the colors as much as you thought you would, but I really love it. It's really sparking my need to start quilting again. Hmm, Hmmm, Hmmmm. I absolutely love it!!

And I'm so happy that you posted the link for the American Girl clothes. My daughter has a couple dolls and we've made a couple trips to Chicago and spent oodles of money, but I'd love to sew her a couple of outfits. She's getting older now and doesn't play with them as much, but I think that they would be be keepsakes for her - so thank you for that link!!

I love your Amish Quilt too! OMG! Glad that the patterns arrived safely. They'll be the perfect compliment to your beautiful quilt!!!

My gosh, your post is wonderful and it's so good to see you posting again. About that spider though - UGH!!! I've only seen one in Colorado when I visited my brother years ago - that was enough for me. I can't even imagine coming across that thing in my house!!!

Take care!!!

Margaret said...

PS. Loraine, email Melissa over at Words and Blooms. http://wordsnblooms.blogspot.com/ If you go over there, you may remember why. :D

Jan said...

Dear Loraine, have missed your posts! So glad to read this and know you have been 'good busy' of late! Wow, the quilt is gorgeous!! Love all of your stitched pieces as well! And the doll clothes for the American Girl dolls are just adorable!!!! What keepsakes you are creating with your needle and thread, know she will be appreciative and I can't wait to see what doll she chooses for her own!

Best of luck with the school year, that sounds fabulous that it is already scheduled for you!

woolwoman said...

Loraine - I enjoyed hearing what you've been up to - WOW - you've been so busy - Love your quilts and I think you will enjoy the Told in the Garden piece to accompany your quilt. The Am Girl doll clothes are darling - you are one talented lady with the sewing machine. Neat that your DD is going to start stitching - nothing better than a cute SB design - Hope the beginning of school is not too stressful for you. Mel

Dot said...

I am so impressed with your patience in making that pink dress for the American Girl Doll. That collar is amazing! Good Work!
I love the quilts and the doll clothes. you've really been busy. Good luck with school--so much committment there.
Grandma Larson would love the sampler, that's a really nice way to honor her.
Love, Mom

Siobhán said...

Wow!! Of course you can't update your blog, you're too busy being creative!! I love the quilts you've made--they're incredible! I can't believe you did the Amish one twice. YGG! I hope you'll share pics when they're back from being quilted.

I fondly remember when my girls were into AGs. I think I liked them more than they did! They went to parochial school in the US & a lady in our town made AG outfits to match their uniforms. It was too cute. I miss those days--enjoy it!

Your BBD sampler is wonderful; the frame is perfect. I know it will be a treasured heirloom.

The spider... I showed the pic to my kids so they can understand that screaming because a flying bug that doesn't bite isn't quite as bad as it could be!! ;)

Sharlotte said...

Hi Loraine! Just dropping by to say hi and that I love your blog! I'm a quilter,stitcher,and homeschool mom too! I'm like you,I must do something everyday! Come visit my blog sometime!

Sharlotte said...

So glad you commented on my blog.I was checking out so many that I forgot to write yours down and forgot what it was.I could have kicked myself for that,but we found each other again so all is well! Homeschool is going a little slower than I'd like ,but we have been mega busy.Luckily MO doesn't require X amount of hours per day or we'd have some days we'd be up a creek without a paddle! I will add your friend Cindy to my prayer list.Mom was diagnosed 2 years ago w/ breast cancer and had a full mastectomy. She is doing really great ! Feel free to drop me an email sometime.
genealogrl@yahoo.com
Have a lovely Labor Day!

Nima said...

wow..beautiful quilts