Trying out a new machine with an old pattern

Dearest daughter is moving to NYC and isn't taking this sewing machine. So, I thought I would try it out. I had it serviced and now it is ready to sew!

I'm making some Hot Fingers as thank you gifts for people who have helped me this year in my new job. I love this colorful flower fabric. 

I am loving my succulent flower bed. 

Here are the flowers in the early morning.

And here they are later in the day. 

I guess opening and closing helps the flowers last longer.

Are you enjoying the blog hop over at Crazymom's? 

I am inspired to work on my scrap mountain.

Smocked Pink Bubble

Finally finished this little bubble outfit. I haven't smocked in years but thought Ava needed something smocked by Gran. I bought a finished outfit that just needed the smocking. I think it is easier to start from scratch. I had to ask a friend who smocks a lot of baby gifts to give me a refresher on how many threads to use. After that it was a quick finish-even when I took out stitches and changed thread color.

Now I hope Ava hasn't grown too big to wear this. We'll see today since we are traveling this morning to Memphis to see her and her parents.

In other news - I bought some new succulents for my doll bed garden. And the one on the lower left bloomed over night! I love happy fuschia flowers.

Checking over at Crazy Mom's to see what you have been sewing.

In-between projects

Last week I finished David's quillow and now I'm sort of between projects. Lots of things are on my to-make list. So, what did I do?

Decided to use some of the cute flannel I have collected to make ahead some baby gifts.

Two flannel receiving blankets and one giant 9 patch with a flannel back.

Okay, my selections for the 9 patch are a little odd but in my mind they go together.

The heart fabric has lady bugs. The stripe has red, lime green, and gray with a primary school alphabet. The corner fabric has most of the same colors, so why not? 

The backing has the repeated question, "How many bugs can you count?" I figure that connects to the lady bugs.

If mom doesn't like the combination on the 9 patch side, she can turn it over to the soft flannel back.

Long week end here. What are you sewing?

Finished David's Quillow

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David's first birthday is soon. I wanted to finish his quillow.

First I pin basted the batting, back, and front. I use my dining table and a cardboard cutting board.

Batting smoothed.

Backing placed on top of batting.

Front placed right sides to backing.

Pin basted along the outer edges because I'm just going to sew around the outside, then turn.

I put a few pins in the middle to keep things from shifting.

Then I sewed around the edge and turned thru an opening left on one end.

I quilted in the ditch and a few diagonals across the yellow middle section.

Here is the front made from strips including some gray minky dots.

Here is the back with the pillow pocket sewn in place.

Fold the long sides.

Bring the top down to the bottom.

Fold again and pull into the pocket.

Voila! David's quilt/pillow is done.

The pillow back.

I'm please with this finish. I will sew a label on this and the one I made for Ava.

Now all three grands have quillows made by Gran.