Quiet Book UFO (Part 1)

When I was about 7 months pregnant with my youngest child, I started "nesting".  Most pregnant ladies nest by decorating or cleaning up for a nursery (or so I've heard).  Not me.  I started sewing.  Or at least, I started dreaming of ideas for "after the baby comes".  Ha.

Sprout

Here's my "baby".  He just turned one year old this month.  And this week he started walking (for real), and drinking regular milk!  And this week I have finally started my Quiet Book (it is not anywhere near being finished, hence UFO, or UnFinished Object).

So here, my friends, is a sampling of my un-finished pages (so far):

Matching Shapes

Yep, I let the kiddos play with the pages - raw edges and everything.  I love that I can see Sunshine's binky in this picture.  It will remind us of how "long ago" this book was made (assuming it ever gets finished, of course!)

Picking Apples (unsnap & put them in the basket)

Ohio State Tic Tac Toe page teaches a little Ohio history, too!)  I love the ladybugs vs. buckeyes instead of X's and O's - they turned out exactly as I had envisioned them.  That little flag was a LOT of work, but on the bright side, I learned how to make French knots!  Added the state motto: With God all things are possible, and our state bird (cardinal).  That's a lot of learning on one page :)

Generic "Build-a-Burger" page

Most of my pages were made from someone else's idea.  I can't give credit because there are so many different variations floating around the world wide web, but I'm grateful for the start in the right direction!

Lace & Tie the Football page has the scarlet and gray (scraps from my Buckeye Princess dress) for the Ohio State Buckeyes, a subtle hint of what college team our family is affiliated with.  Now if I could only find those shoelaces I stashed away for this project a year ago....

Have any of you, dear readers, made a quiet book?  Do tell!

:) Caren

My Buckeye Princess

I was invited to be a pattern tester.  And for some insane reason I said yes.  I mean, my work with clothing is limited for a reason, folks!  I see a pattern and I get a headache by the time I get to the measurements and cutting list (yep, same reason I don't quilt).

So anyway, after a couple weeks(!) of thinking over the possibilities for fabrics, I decided to make my little princess dress for a Buckeye - an Ohio State Buckeye, that is.  Yep, we live in Ohio.  And Sunshine's daddy (aka - my husband) is a Buckeye fan.  So I went for the best scarlet and gray I could find.  (Pretty sweet scarlet & gray, though, right?!!!)

So back to the whole pattern testing thing.  I figured out a lot of things through this adventure:

1.  I like to embroider, but only if I know it is actually going to be used/seen (i.e. - on a dress that won't ever fit - why waste the time?).  ps - my embroidery was not complete along the lacing in these pictures).

2.  I get nervous trying to figure out colors/fabrics.  I really can not seem to "picture" fabrics in other contexts.  Funny, huh?  I'm not a "visionary" with regards to fabrics and colors.  I guess that's got an "up" side, too - I get surprised with the end result!

3.  I get REALLY nervous cutting into "good" fabric.  You know, the kind with a designer label.  The kind you can't find at the thrift store or the remnant bin at JoAnns.  (If you're wondering, my fabric is a combination of Rendezvous and Nature Elements that I got from Julie at The Intrepid Thread.) 

4.  My designs typically come from a random idea, story, need, or even a fabric.  Not a pattern.  I am NOT a by-the-book creator.  I'm messy.  I color outside the lines.  I don't measure unless I have to.  I use "whatever" seam allowances.

5.  I get REALLY REALLY nervous about using someone else's pattern.  Especially if I know they're counting on me to follow it faithfully.  My insecurities abound, because I want to do things right.  I know the person who wrote this pattern is wanting my honest input, and I want to give it (and not screw up something she has worked hard on!)

6.  And though I knew this one before: I am only marginally better than  I used to be at sewing in a straight line!

So I struggled a bit with this pattern testing thing.  It is a sweet pattern - and it really did turn out beautiful.  And in the end, it was a good (growing) experience for me.  It gave me confidence not to shrink away from future projects that might involve patterns, exact measurements, and/or cutting into really GOOD fabric!  

Who knows? Maybe I'll try tackling a quilt one of these days...

                                                      

                                       ... but not today ;)

Here's a smile from my Buckeye Princess to you!

:) Caren

This Cat Loves the Ohio State Buckeyes

[If you are looking for the Silly Mama Quilts giveaway, click HERE. ]

My inspiration comes from all kinds of places.  Like this kids book, which I randomly picked up at the library last week.  This is Meeow.  Isn't he cute?

My friend is having a baby boy.  And she LOVES our Ohio State Buckeyes.  So I made my own rendition of Meeow.  It didn't turn out as cute as I wanted it to be, but it's not bad.  I think my friend will like it.   It's the thought that counts, right?

Oh - did I mention his O cape?  OH-IO!!!