Patchwork Bench

As with most projects I take on, it took months longer than I had planned to complete this. My original vision had this sitting in the entrance to my apartment. The same apartment I moved out of this past weekend. So now this bench acts as a giant cat bed of sorts, by the back window. At least someone appreciates it!

To be honest, I'm not as happy with it as I had hoped. It has grown on me over time, but I think it's a little much. I'm half thinking of taking it apart and using the patchwork for something else.

Right now, I am debating which fabric I like better on these chairs..

I'm thinking one of each.

Patchwork Quilts

I love love love patchwork. I've never been a huge fan of cutting out squares and squares of fabric, it can be so tedious, but I love the result. A while back I started working out cutting out the squares for my Good Folks flannel quilt top. I decided I would work slow with this one, only cutting out squares when I needed to busy my hands and really not do much thinking at all. It helped to hand that fabric and do some simple work when I needed a break from lesson planning and marking, and the flannel fabric is just heaven on the fingers. Still, I am not exactly in love with the square cutting. I am excited to get to my favourite part of the project - the sewing. I love sewing - slowly building something from pieces of fabric.

Near the end of the summer I started a project for a friend's new baby. For some reason or other I did not ship out that project until today. I feel awful, but hopefully the little guy can still use it. It's one of my favourite things I have made.

The fabric for this one is My Happy Garden by Cloud 9 Fabric. Is it not the perfect collection for a baby quilt? They have such sweet patterns and collections, and their fabric is so light and soft. This was a very simple project. The only 'quilting' I did was stitching along either side of all the seams to make it look more finished. The back is a yellow minky which was heavy and thick enough that I didn't bother lining it.

I hope he likes it!

More 365 and Another Peek..

2:365

3:365

4:365

As for this sewing project, it is not going exactly as I had hoped. It's a lot more uneven and messy than I would like it to be, but since it is my first real attempt at Patchwork, I am going to chalk it up to a learning experience. I can't expect to be perfect from the get go.

It is still unfinished, but I am not regretting going for this project as I had thought I might. It has been a wonderful journey. I hope to have it finished by the end of the week and accompanying me to Peterborough on Sunday night!

A Sneaky Peek..

and the first photo of the year. Yes, I am doing Project 365 again. Perhaps this year I will make it past November!

1:365

A Little Crafting and A Lot of Pyrex.

I have been hoping to get some crafting done on my break, inbetween homework breaks of course. When I saw these ornaments by The Sometimes Crafter, I knew they'd be on my list. Mine didn't turn out as pretty as hers, but it was a good first try with teeny tiny patchwork squares.

Unfortunately I did not leave enough room around the edges to finish it properly, but I think I'll just zig-zag stitch around to finish it off. My next try will hopefully be a little nicer!

Earlier that same day, my mom and I decided to pay a visit to some of our favourite Antique Markets. I haven't been since the summer months, so there was so much to take in. Aisles and aisles of Pyrex, oh my!

I did come away with some goodies, though I left wishing they would split up that black/white Gooseberry cinderella bowl set. I'm missing the #441.

Some new dots, golden tulip, friendship, mod kitchen, and golden poinsettias, and a fun day to top it off!