handmade kate

go-to

Oh, I can't tell you how many times I've made this bib.

 

The best bib pattern by jcasa handmade--and it's always a favorite at any baby shower I bring it to.  Over time, I've rounded the pattern a bit, enlarged it, and used bias-cut ties.  But the inspiration will always lie with the sweet originals designed by Jennifer .  This one was made for a co-worker's soon-to-be-born baby boy.  I wasn't able to attend her shower today, but I'm hoping Mama loved the finished bib as much as I did!

I'm struggling with what the Christmas gift-of-the-year for this year will be, though.  I've made a couple of years worth of purses, coffee cozies , knit hats and tissue totes, but this year, well, I just don't know.  I've thought of aprons, my beloved (to me) pillows, or perhaps bit a ambitious--lap quilts.  (The latter may be a bit hard on the budget...)  Yet I'm still having a hard time finding my gifty-inspiration. 

So in the spirit of this gift-giving season, what are some of your go-to gifts? 
 

baby love

I just watched as my friend (and next-door-neighbor) drove away with her husband--they are on their way to the hospital to have their baby girl tonight!  And for once, I am prepared with a gift, all ready to go.

A few weeks ago, my local quilt shop had just gotten in the latest Amy Butler fabric, Love.  The fabrics looked so gorgeous all tied up together that I couldn't resist buying a fat quater bundle.  At the time I had no idea what I would make with the fabrics.  But really, when have I ever bought fabric with any specific projects in mind?!

I'm so glad these ended up in the baby's gift-quilt, coupled with my favorite buttery-soft linen.  I've been working on a similar quilt for my Margaret--her choice--for her bedroom re-do.  So that was really the basis for this quilt, just on a much smaller scale. 

And because i don't seem to know how to quilt anything without using loops--

I backed it with pink flannel and finished it up with the loops.  I always use 100% cotton batting in my quilts, but this time I decided to try something new--50/50 bamboo organic cotton batting.  All of the fabrics had been prewashed several times in hot water, especially the dark swatches.  However, I neglected the batting, and the finished quilt ended up shrinking up much more that I anticipated in it's final washing.  But I couldn't be happier with the puffs and crinkles that emerged.  Much cozier for baby, I think. 

I imagine this weekend will include wrapping up gifties and making a dinner to bring to the family when they arrive home.  Does anyone have any suggestions for meals that are not only everyone's favorites, but also easily frozen in case all of the neighbors' meals arrive all at once? 

Oh yeah, I have a couple of Halloween costumes to finish up this weekend too.  This will be my baby's last year of trick-or-treating (we have a no-trick-or-treating after age twelve rule!), so she has grand plans for her costume.  And did I mention that I've been elected to make her best-friend's costume as well so they can match?  And that the costumes consist of layers upon layers of slippery tulle?  Oh dear...

i promised you blocks

For Tracy and Sarah--I'm so sorry for the wait.  

After my unexpected trip last week, I wasn't all that sure that I would be able to finish up my twelve square blocks as promised.  But I arrived home Thursday evening surprisingly relaxed and ready to go.  In addition to the two blocks, I finished a baby quilt for a soon-to-be new arrival in the neighborhood, and I began drafting a skirt pattern using this book, purchased last weekend. 

Apparently, I need to get away more often. 

blocks, and i'm a bit behind

I really had the best of intentions to catch up on all of my twelve square blocks.  Saying that I'm a bit behind is an understatement. 

So I started from the top with the first fabric bundle from Chris, and I began to work my way down the stack.

And then on to Katie's block. 

And now tomorrow I'm have to go out of town for a few days, quite unexpectedly.  Tracy and Sarah, this weekend.  I promise.

I feel like I'm holding up a bit of future-magic.  Have you see these two twelve square quilts?  Beautiful, and so amazing how each came together so perfectly. 

i made a skirt

Nothing new there. 

I've been in desperate need of a new fall wardrobe.  Those extra thirty or so pounds that I packed on a few years ago don't seem to be going anywhere, so I surrendered.  Crappity, crap, crap, crap, I had to make a size Large.

I'm not convinced that an A-line skirt is necessarily flattering to all figures.  So I threw all caution to the wind and went for a pear shaped girl's absolute no-no.  Pleats. 

Jenny Gordy's Tulip Skirt from the Winter 2008 issue of Stitch Magazine.  

Such a sweet pattern, super-easy, and really I think it's equally as flattering as any A-line. 

I have so much fabric that I need to use, much of it purchased with garment sewing in mind.  Sewing clothes is so frustrating though, isn't it?  So much work can go into one piece only to find that after all of that work, it just doesn't fit quite right.  In spite of that, I've been gathering a few patterns that may work as wardrobe basics, hoping to make a few simple things for Fall.  And this time I'm taking the time to make my muslins. These two ladies have fueled much of my inspiration. (And Amy, you have one of the best playlists ever)

Any pattern recommendations out there?  

yes, i really did get that other pillow made...

I'm still around, and goodness, has it really been so long since I posted last?

We had a really tough summer this year--a particularly stressful time at work, trying to meet my kids' needs, supporting a husband who is equally as unhappy at work as I, and maintaining "home" in spite of it all.  Nothing so different from what many others are dealing with as well, but somehow, this time, it felt nearly impossible for me.  So I did what I could, and part of that was simply giving myself permission to let go of the blog for a while.  I did manage to take a few 40th year photos along the way (a few, rather than more) and I've been slowly uploading them to Flickr as I can.  At the end of the year I will be no where close to having 365 photos in that set, but that's OK. 

We're safely into Fall now, established in new routines now that the kids are back in school.  Isn't it funny how routines can bring so much comfort?  I love the freedom that summer usually brings, but it is so nice to come back to a bit of structure.

With the cooler weather I finally feel renewed and inspired to start sewing again.  This pillow was one of the last things I made over the summer.  But last weekend was spent sewing almost the entire time, only stopping every hour or so to do a few minutes of housework.  (I didn't want a horrid mess to start out with this week.)  That routine worked quite well too.    

So welcome, and thank you, Fall, you seem to have brought me just what I needed! 

a pillow for retiring?

Back again with another gift.

This is the one that I mentioned would be hard to give up.  I was planning on giving this as a retirement gift, but now I'm a little hesitant.  Do you think it looks too feminine for a man?  He is such a lover of art--not that I think this qualifies as art, only that I think he might enjoy something out of the ordinary.   But I always feel so shy about giving my handmade things away.   Be honest, because you know it wouldn't hurt my feelings a bit to *have to* keep it for myself!

this is all i have.

Apparently all that I can be counted on for these days is a little gift sewing...

...but at least it gave me the perfect excuse to try out the sweet Buttercup Bag by Rae.  It's a belated birthday gift for a friend who likes rather simple things (as I do), so I hope the polka-dots will be OK.  I'm not too worried about the Heather Ross print since all of her prints are so charming and dear, but sometimes I find dots a bit worrisome.  This is such a great pattern though--I adore the shape and proportions of it.  I have plans to try making a larger version for myself now.  I really don't think I could fit all of my purse-crap into the original size!

My sewing seems to have fallen to the wayside lately--we've been back and forth to the lake nearly every weekend and in between I've been busy nursing our little garden.  Does anyone know what can be done about a rather persistent and pesky herd of chipmunks? They continue to tunnel into the garden and pull my precious tomato plants down their holes to devour the stalks.  Really, it’s like something out of a Bugs Bunny cartoon.  In hindsight, I probably should have lined the raised beds with wire mesh, but it’s too late for that now.  Help!

Well I've got a slew of 40th year photos to upload tonight, so I'm headed off to do that now.  And I have yet another present to finish up.  I have a feeling I'm going to have a hard time giving this one up!

a birthday party invite arrived last week

and I think I was more excited about it than the invitee. 

Because I had the perfect excuse to make one of these.

I wish you could have seen Margaret's face when I asked her to pick out a fabric that she thought her friend would like.  "What are you going to make her?" with a (ever-so-slight) roll of the eyes (she is nearly twelve, mind you),  "Can we still get her the Old Navy gift card I want to get her?"  Oh yes, and even better!  

It was reported back that the birthday girl thought it was pretty cool too!  Leslie, you're a genius! 

gifts and thanks

I had a wonderful day yesterday, and all of your birthday wishes topped it off perfectly.  It really did mean so, so much to me!

When I got to work this morning, I found this handmade gift from one of my friends on my desk.  A lovely set of silkscreened napkins she had made--the daylily was drawn from the photo at the top.  I wish you could have seen how beautifully it was packaged in brown paper, wrapped up with an organza ribbon and the photo as a gift card. 

Gifts of friendship from those who can appreciate the beauty of something handmade. Thanks everyone!