Testing for TrashN2Tees

I had the pleasure of testing out TrashN2Tees first applique pattern, with my two littles, and we had a blast! I let my boys choose their fabrics from my ever growing scrap pile, as well as place the pieces of their trucks on their shirts. They kept trying to sneak peeks at the paper showing different ways to put the trucks together, but I really wanted them to be creative, and not be influenced in any way.

Before I show you the tees let me share a little info with you about TrashN2Tees. TrashN2Tees, run by Jenelle, has diverted more than 20 tons of clothing from our waste stream and she has created the patterns as a call to action for others to join her in her movement to change the way we consume and create. On the side she is working on the Create Change Movement App, which I am very excited about! It will be an app where you can search for ways to re-use items that are likely on their way to the dump, so rather then throwing out your unwanted trash, you can turn it into something useful, creating less waste! I love it! You can also check out her blog where she is running DIYU: School for Crafting Misfits.

And now onto the Trucks! Here are the two completed versions. Jasper's on the left and Jude on the right. 

Jasper's Truck and assembly process.

This is Jasper's truck. I was a little leery when he was picking out his fabric choices. He was all about the stripes, and I thought it would be too busy, but it came together perfectly and I love the finished product. I made one suggestion and that was to move the 6 onto the truck because I couldn't see it on the flag. He agreed it would be more visible there, so we moved it in the final sewing.

I of course decided to make the tees for them, so I picked out the fabric for their tees, they had no interest in picking their t-shirt fabrics. 

Here is Jasper in his rad truck hoodie! 

Happy Dance!

This was Jude's fabric selection and process. Again, I was thinking too much blue, but he also impressed me with his choices, because it came together perfectly. I also made a switch on his because there wasn't room on his shirt for the flame on the front of the truck so we moved it to the wheel. 

The shirt fabrics. Jude wanted a long sleeve, not a hoodie. He was very specific about his request.

Love it!

And this is often what happens when I point the camera at Jude! He takes off!

So all in all it was a fun project, and I was so happy to have my boys involved in the creative process. They also love their shirts so much more, because they had a hand in creating them.

I also managed to put a tiny dent in my mountainous scrap pile so that was fantastic too:)

So if you are looking for a fun project you can work on with your kids as well as a way of using up some scraps, head on over to TrashN2Tees and pick up your copy of the appliqué. She will be releasing the pattern today!

Oh Deer!

We have so many of these cute little fawns around our house, that I was inspired to make a deer quilt.

I was drawn to the greens and browns of these fabrics from one of my fabric sample books. I like the swirly designs combined with the linear designs.

I often go between making clothing and making quilts and blankets. When I have been focusing my time on clothing, and make the move to quilts, I always forget how much time it takes to cut out each design, on top of cutting out each square and the boarders. In my head cutting seems fast and easy, and with my rotary cutter it is slightly faster, but still time consuming.

This is the deer together. Isn't it so cute? It reminds me of the playful little fawns around our house.

and the deer on the front of the quilt ready to be sewn on.

I forgot to share a picture of the satin stitch I use to sew the design onto the blanket. Instead I have a picture of the boarders now in place. I like how the brown boarders frame the blanket.

And the completed quilt! This is the first time I have quilted the entire blanket, so there were some frustrations, having to take the blanket apart twice, and tears, and moments of feeling like I should just give up and never sew again because I suck at sewing!! But I took some deep breaths, walked away when I needed to and calmed down. I am happy with how it turned out. There are some lumps and bumps, but I don't mind. I like texture and I think the lumps and bumps add dimension as well as texture.

A close up of the quilting, and you can see a bit of the satin stitch.

and I went with a brown flannelette for the backing.

This quilt has gone to Sidney for a First Nations and Metis art show that begins this Friday September 9th. I'm a little nervous as I have never been apart of an art show before. Also, when I brought my quilts in I was told that one of their key people for hanging the art is a women that is an acclaimed quilter and won many awards. Yikes! My stomach is full of butterflies. I just hope my stuff is well received. The show runs until October 23rd, so I will keep you up to date:) The opening night is this Friday, so I hope to go and bring my camera so I can get lots of photos to share with you all.

Flower Baby Blanket

Yesterday I was finally in the mood to make a blanket. I've been all about the clothing for the last couple of weeks, but the Hudson's Bay blanket I bought last week was calling to me.

I know not a great picture. I didn't have my fancy new camera yet:)

All week I have had ideas running through my mind of colours and designs. This is one of them:

A blue flower

With a yellow satin stitch

It actually resembles a sun as well

Jai holding up the blanket for me

The reverse has a sea mist green flannelette with many coloured butterflies

This blanket will come to the Moss St Market with me this weekend, and if it doesn't sell I will list it on my Etsy shop. Though I have been considering abandoning my shop for the summer, because I just don't have enough stuff to divide between my shop and craft markets. I'm still back and forth on that idea. Any feedback would be welcome:)