And the winner is..........

First I just want to say a BIG THANK YOU!!!!! from the bottom of my heart. We received 206 comments and 80 new facebook friends. Let alone new followers to boot. What a fantastic party!!!

Because I left the contest open to both facebook likes and comments. We are choosing a winner this way. First we used Random.org to choose a number from comments.....

Then we counted through just comments and got a name......

The we used random.org again using the number of    facebook likers.........
Which got us another name.

Then we threw both names in a hat, and had my cute lil'    Bridgitt draw one name................




 Duh! Duh! Da! Dun!!!   And the winner is.......

                               Angie Neil !!!!! 
                          Congratulations !!!!!!

I will also post this on facebook. Please contact me within 72 hours. Or, we have to give the prize to the runner up.....a.k.a the other name in the hat.

My Weekend sewing........

Binding in bark....

Quilt back....

Finished top........

I really hoped to add some kind of boarder. I just didn't have enough of any one, or two, fabrics ....meh.
It has a little modern feel though so it is what it is.

I think the back turned out well. Sadly....I like it best...hehehehehe

Now it is quilting time. I kinda want to straight line quilt it. But... I am a big fat chicken. 
I hope everyone has a fantastic 4 day week. Pin It

My Long weekend......In instagrams

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Mine was busy and lasted through Monday. 

I tried to relax, and shake off a cold that has been going around the house. 

But, no matter how hard a tried.....It got me. 

Because we collectively have been feeling bit funky...........Some comfort food was in order.

I made our favorite chicken breasts,.

This is the easiest dinner. It is so very tasty.

And Yes, That is Bacon!!!

You don't need a lot to make this. 

Chicken Breasts

Bacon

Rosemary

Olive oil

salt&pepper.

Pound out your chicken a little. Just enough so that all the breasts are the same thickness.

Toss them in some olive oil salt and pepper and a few sprigs of rosemary. Let sit for a few minutes to marinate.

Place your chicken is a very hot fry pan. Medium high flame hot.....searing hot!!!

Turn when the side are white, opaque and the bottoms are golden brown. Do the same on the other side. This should only take a couple minutes on each side. If your pan is searing hot.

(at this point I pour myself a glass of wine. Torrontés is a perfect pairing! )

Place that pretty chicken on a baking sheet. lay a piece of bacon on each breast. Put baking sheet in a 425 degree oven.  Bake until the bacon is slightly crispy and the chick is done. About 15 minutes.

I made a sourdough dressing and some potatoes to go with. Delish!!!

Served.

Next on the weekend agenda.........My Beautiful daughter Brene's 14th Birthday. I can't believe how time flies.

Each one of my girls are true individuals. But, My Brene' is wonderfully unique. She is artsy and quiet. You can't help but smile when she walks in a room. She is funny and quirky. Has friends that mean a great deal to her. She has a true heart with no drama. I love this kid!!!!!!

Her Birthday pancakes for breakfast.

Brontë made tissue flowers and hung them for her little sis.

        I sewed her up these sweet nighties.

Added some lovely details to these cuties.

Found tutorial for these at Sew,Mama,Sew!

Her Birthday Sandwich....Her request.

 Finished it off with a oreo cake baked by Brooke.

It was such a sweet day for my sweet girl.

I got a little sewing of my own done.

On Monday......12 finished blocks. Yippeeeeeee!!!

I hope you liked the weekend journaled in instagrams.

Please follow me here.

Or  @myblueberrymoon

I promise I will follow you back :)

Have a great week peeps!!!!

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I Took My Quilt for a Walk.......

I would have to say...........She is a bit of a ham!!   
She insisted I shoot her from every angle. 
And that I show off her color and scrumptious texture.She knows it's the texture that really gets us all to snuggle up to her. She even got a little naughty and showed off her backside. Scandalous .............
Just the way I like it. Pin It

The Beginning .........

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American Girl Doll got Shorts....

                     Shorts and a off the shoulder top !!!

I used a "Nakey Baby " Peasant top pattern from this post. 

And a Free pants pattern from Milo Mila.

The shirt was a little tricky but the shorts took 10 min. 

Little Miss loves her dolls new outfit!!!

Here goes a quick tutorial.

Cut front and back pieces from the peasant top pattern. You will only need to cut 1 sleeve. I cut the front and back one inch longer for the AG doll.

Sew on the 1 sleeve. (Directions in the Nakey Baby Post.) Then slice a line from both front and back like shown. I just eyeballed it. Then sew the side seam under the sleeve.

  I cut a 1 1/2 inch wide piece of fabric long enough to wrap the entine neck line. Ruffled it a little.

then hemed it .

..........with a itty bitty hem.

Here is where it got tricky.... I sewed the ruffle on the neck line.Right side of ruffle to wrong side of neck line. Sorry, I don't have a pic of these steps....I was busy cursing a little. Anyway,

you turn the ruffle to the front and iron. Once that is done, sew a casing 1/4 inch from the neckline. Insert elastic and tighten up until it looks like it will fit the doll your working with. Then sew up the other side seam. That will also secure your elastic. Hem your top and your done.

                                                              Now for the shorts. 

I had some jean pant legs lying around from making cut offs for summer.

I though they would make great doll shorts.

One seasons pants. Make the next seasons shorts......and shorts for the doll :)

Download and print the pants pattern.

Cut both pant legs open leaving the best looking (usually the outer) seam in the center.

Lay wrong sides together.

Lay the pattern on the old pant legs like shown.

Using the hem of the pant legs for the hem of the doll shorts. Nice short cut right? Pardon the pun.

Follow sewing instructions for the doll pans. And there you have it.......10 minute doll shorts.

So there you have it ...a quickie AG dolly outfit.

Now on to a matching top for the owner of this dolly.

All Nakey Baby Patterns Found Here !!!

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Fluffs for Faces...........

   Got Scraps? Maybe a random charm pack lying around?

Great, Here is a plan. Face Fluffs!!

What is a Face Fluff you ask? Well it is a alternative to that harsh wash cloth you wash your face with. With all the sensitive teen and preteen complexions we have around here they are a perfect fit!!

They are so soft and scrumptious ......we will never go back to the old wash cloth.

What to make some?

First you are going to need some fabric scraps. I cut 6 inch squares. But 5 inch charms will work also.

Then you will need some cotton batting ....like Warm and Natural. Again, cut in squares, the size of your fabric. Here is the only special fabric you will need. cotton knit sherpa. I have a few yards lying around from my diaper making days. (Finally found a great reason to use it up). You can buy it at Nature's fabric , DiaperFab  , Diaper Cuts  and there is always listings on Ebay and Etsy.

I love sherpa!!! It is sooooooo soft!!

You can also use soft cotton interlock or stretch terry. I used it before, it is not as soft....But still works well. The knit is important because it stretches in the wash and releases stains and dirt better than woven. Whatever you use....cut it in squares also.

Okay, Everything cut in squares???

Let's go......

You are going to lay down a layer of batting, then a square of sherpa/interlock soft side up. Then your pretty fabric , pretty side facing down toward the fluffy side of your sherpa/interlock.

Very Important. Sandwich your knit between the woven and the batting!!! 

That way it won't get stretched out of shape while you sew.

Sew a seam all around the edge. Leaving an 1 1/2 inches un-sewn for turning inside out. Make sure you turn just between the woven and the knit. Leaving the batting in the middle.

Sew up a bunch ...because you will love them :)

You can sew all around the edge to close the opening and finish the square. On some I did this.....and on others I just sewed the hole shut. I think by just closing the hole makes it looks puffier.....I think it's a preference.

I sewed a little detail on each of fabrics to make it quilty soft and pretty.

This also keeps the batting from shifting in the wash. You can sew just an x or straight lines.

Here is one done by just closing the opening. A little puffier look.

Doesn't that Sherpa look scrumptious ??

All the pretties..........

This is a basket full of Fluffs!! 

 I am putting this one by the girls sink. Enough for a whole week of  super soft skin cleansing. I also am hanging a lingerie/laundry bag on the doorknob of their bathroom.They can just toss in the dirties. So, on laundry day I can grab the bag. Toss it in the sink, give it a soak. A little vinegar in the soak will get rid of any icky. Then in the wash.

I don't even have to fold them...Just stack and stuff in the basket.

Notes:

If you want to  use little scraps and get really creative.... you could make little 6 inch quilt blocks , string blocks would be cute.

I think a stack of these for a preteen girlie would be a nice gift. With a drawstring bag and a bottle of gentle face wash. She would be getting a great gift that will promote good daily habits...... And they are Pretty!!! 

They also make excellent baby wash clothes. Teacher gift??? I can think of a hundred ways to gift them. 

Don't want to sew some.....

That's okay. I will list some on my Etsy Shop for ya !!! 

If they are not listed shoot me a email. I sew to please :)

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A Story......

This is a story that will give you a giggle, a warning, and a unsolicited product review.


Here goes.
  A few weeks ago when I was working on the quilt bags. I was at the point of putting them on the quilting frame and quilting. I quilted the white one first so if I messed up, there would be less chance of noticing.  About 3 hours later it was done. I took a break and decided to finish up the black one the following day.
  Well, it turned out to be "One of THOSE days"  I was tired and anxious. But I really wanted to finish these up. I remembered reading on a blog one time that a glass of wine and a couple pieces of chocolate would help relax you......tense quilter, frustrated quilt she said... Seemed like pretty sage advice right about then. So, I poured a nice big glass of my favorite red......popped a couple pieces of dove promises. And away I went. 
I was humming along beautifully. The wine was amazing, the chocolates were tasty, the quilting was looking great, and I had the Kings of Leon piping through my ears with the greatest invention ever......the Ipod. 
It was going so well in fact......I flew though all the bobbins I had pre-wound. I took a break. Indulged in another glass, a couple more chocolates then wound some more bobbins. When I was done. I plugged a new bobbin in the ol' Viking. And started sewing again. Not noticing that I had set my glass on top of the frame while I had been winding bobbins........ Yup, you guessed it. Big glass of Red Zinfandel plopped right over onto the quilt.
Being that I was feeling pretty "happy" due to my relaxation methods. I didn't freak out a bit. I cleaned what I could with a towel. And finished it up. 


At about the time I had stitched my last stitch..... My daughter Brontë got home from a date. She officially issued my a SWI (sewing while intoxicated), laughed hysterically, told the rest of the family that was still awake at almost midnight..... then fed me a much needed snack. {smiles}
I went to bed soon after.


Upon awaking the next day, with the glare of the morning sun, I saw the result of my misadventure. A huge reddish-purple stain on an otherwise beautifully done quilt. UUUHHHGGG!!! 


 A million worst case  scenarios through my head. Like, my 6 year old that the quilt was designed for/with ......seeing it and saying " You were doing WHAT?  That is WHAT on my quilt?" Or, maybe she takes it for show and tell....and TELLS!!!
This called for some planning.... I concealed my crime while I sewed on the binding. I do this by hand. It took skills.
 Then when the binding was done I tossed it in the laundry tub filled with with cold water and a cup of.......
Here comes the product review..............
And this amazing stuff!!!!!!

Saved my keister !!! Yes it did!!
I let it soak for maybe 30 minutes ....threw it in the wash and voilà !! Stain gone!! Hallelujah !!!
I vowed not to speak of it again......But, then again funny right????


I hope you got a giggle out of my little misadventure.
And this product I am raving about is awesome. 
For the warning. Don't drink and sew!!! 
Just kidding....only drink white wine while you sew. And only 1 glass!!!
Have a great day!!!





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I Have Been Framed.....

Yes, I have been framed..........And I like it!!!


Does anyone out there shop on Craigslist ? The Hubs does, all the time. Who knew he would find me a quilting frame?!?!?! Cheap.... (Cheap was the only way I was going to get one) gotta love my guy!!


I am not sure if it will work for all quilts.  Because you use a pantograph method and I have a mid-arm machine. So, I can only work in 5 inch rows. Which worked well on the quilt bags. I think they are pretty and it was quick!! 


Now for this " Bricks and Mortar " quilt.... The jury is still out. 


This is a blurry photo but if you look at the top shelf of the frame .... Brontë Made a stone pattern pantograph for me to follow along. I sewed around each stone 3 times hoping that 
after it washes the stones will pop up some....we'll see.

We wanted the end result to look kinda like this.....

I think we aimed kinda high since I am a newbie.... big time!!!!


Here is how it went,

 And here is what I ended up with (sorry pics are yellow, monsoon season makes for strange lighting).....

And the back.....

I made more mistakes than I care to mention. There are birds nests and missed stitches galore. It took hours and hours.......... 
And I love it!! Totally worth it and I can only get better......I hope!!
Now to bind this beast. I was thinking either gray, orange or pieced with the prints. Can't decide. What do you think?
I would love to hear any advice y'all might have on quilting!
I need all the help I can get.
In the meantime.
I can't wait to bind , wash , the cuddle this one!!

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