Hair Bow Organizer

There was some fun — and much needed — crafting going on recently that didn’t have anything to do with sewing. My oldest daughter decided to tackle the hair bow issue we’ve been having since her youngest, Abby, was born. We find random bows in every room of the house and I’m pretty sure we’re missing some because there hasn’t been a specific place to keep them ... until now.

Angie found this cool frame in the Michael’s clearance section, got some hot pink spray paint and ribbon, and put together this great organizer. 

After giving it two coats of paint, she cut 4 lengths of ribbon that stretched from top to bottom of the frame opening, spaced them apart evenly and hot glued them down. Another piece of ribbon was placed at the top for hanging.

It is so cute and so functional! Angie did a great job and whipped this organizer out in no time.

And speaking of cute, here are some of my favorite pics of Abby sporting hair bows.

Jelly Roll Jam :: Jordan’s Quilt

A sweet new munchkin was born in June and I am lucky enough to be his honorary (ornery?!?!) Great-Aunt.

I finally got the opportunity to make his baby quilt and try a pattern new to me made with jelly roll strips. This super easy, lovely quilt is a free pattern by Fat Quarter Shop called the Jelly Roll Jam and will make two baby quilts from a 40-piece jelly roll, plus yardage for backing and binding.

Wanting something with blues, I searched until I found “Charming” by Gerri Robinson for Riley Blake. I ordered from Jellyrollfabric.net and, once I received it and looked through the prints, ordered backing and binding yardage from Missouri Star Quilt Co. I love how masculine some of these prints are ... makes me think of cute boxer shorts and our oldest granddaughter said her Bampa’s neckties.

My Brother embroidery machine was recently serviced so I was able to use it for the quilt label, which I framed with scraps and then pieced into the backing.

And a tool I picked up at Joann’s that really helped me fly through this project is a magnetic seam guide. Very good purchase at a great low price.

This quilt goes together quickly and looks wonderful. Love it for a sweet baby gift. Jordan, I hope it brings you comfort and warmth ... it was made with so much love!

The 4th is With Us!

My darling Great-Nieces and Nephews are the reason I started quilting 6 years ago. Melody Rose received the first quilt I ever made in 2012. Two years later, I was a little more advanced and designed a quilt named Unsinkable for Molly Kae. Then came Thomas Maverick with an appliquéd Batman themed quilt. And now, the 4th is with us; Tucker Marcus inspired this fun Star Wars quilt.

I’m an avid subscriber of Block magazine (published by Missouri Star Quilt Co.) and a huge fan of Jenny Doan’s quilting tutorials on YouTube. When I found out the 4th Great was on the way and a Star Wars theme was happening, I was getting nowhere fast with ideas. Then the Block Baby issue came in the mail and the geometric design of the quilt pictured on the cover made me think of the command center of a space ship. 

So off I went to Joann’s where I bought amazing Star Wars print fabric for the quilt top and back, solid lime green for the second border and binding, and adorable black with white dots that resemble stars in a night sky for the first and third borders.

I fussy cut the Star Wars fabric for the 13 blocks featuring space ships, lasers, explosions and the Star Wars name. Everything else was half square triangles. I always put the child’s name and birth year on their quilt, along with a custom quilt label, usually machine embroidered. For Tucker’s quilt, I found the Star Wars lettering online, printed out his name and birth date, transferred it to HeatnBond Lite, adhered it to solid black fabric, then cut out each letter and number and fused it to the green border, finally machine stitching each one down.

For the label on the back, I sketched out my idea, starting with the large number 4, laid out the design using computer software, printed it out, transferred it to the green fabric using a water soluble pen and the light box my oldest daughter bought me at Michael’s, hooped it with tear away stabilizer, then hand-embroidered it. I did back the finished label with fusible interfacing to make it long lasting.

The quilt has been washed with a Shout Color Catcher, sent and received, ready to snuggle into. Tucker, Aunt Janie cannot wait to meet you in person and kiss those sweet baby cheeks!