Milly's Bubble Romper ~~ A Finish!

I decided this morning that I would work on one small project and try to get a finish. And goodness gracious, I did it! I've been wanting to make a little outfit for Milly, but I had a particular pattern in mind. An hour of searching in the studio did not unearth that pattern. 

However, I did find a bubble romper pattern which I like very much. It's a New Look pattern by Simplicity that is no longer in print. I bought it almost 20 years ago and used it to make Dusti a couple of outfits. It seems appropriate to use the same pattern for Dusti's little one. 

It also looked like a quick, easy project. It is. But it had been a while since I've used this particular pattern. The back closure gave me fits. I finally managed to create a placket. Not necessarily the one in the directions, but a closure none-the-less.

And Miss Prissy was in a cranky mood, until she finally fell asleep--after one dirty diaper, a bottle of apple juice, a rocker and a good ten minutes. Whew! Getting her down when she is over tired is a job for someone younger than I!

Anyway, while she napped, I sewed like a mad woman. My inspiration was this lime green butterfly print. I had to place the pattern pieces with extra care because I was using an oddly-shaped, scrap fabric. There was just enough.

I thought I'd get away without the directions, but eventually I was forced to pull out the Bernina instructions. I couldn't remember how to shift the button hole stitch to the next section. I also had to practice button holes on scraps because, well truthfully, it's been so long I didn't feel terribly confident. And though they will hold, they won't look great doing so. I guess I'll need to practice a bit more.

Choosing buttons also took a little time. There are so many choices. I auditioned two sets but eventually chose the lime green. 

I insisted that we try the outfit before her mom took her home. It's too big. But not by much, so I think I can cut it down and get the right size without too much struggle.

She is growing so fast that she'll probably out-grow it before the summer ends. I think I'll make one without the piping. That slowed me down more than I expected. I have a feeling that there are a few more shortcuts that I can make. That will mean I can make several of these that we can use for play clothes throughout the summer. 

And that's my finish for the day and the week. 

I'll Be Linking Up With These!

My Quilt Infatuation (NTT) 

Crazy Mom Quilts (Finish It Up Friday)

Busy Hands Quilts (Finished or Not Friday)
Confessions of a Fabric Addict (Can I get a Whoop! Whoop!)

Pin It Weekly #224

Baby animals to the rescue, because when you need to get out of your funk what could be more efficient? Or cuter? Baby people, sure, but these are some pretty darling little ones. Enjoy and pin to your heart's desire!

Find these on my "animal, babies" Pinterest board.

Another Day with Leah ~~ a finish!

How's that for a play on words? Ha. Leah may not appreciate it, but it's not likely that she's sitting around eating bonbons and reading my blog like you are.

Nope, Leah Day is a workaholic. How do I know? Well, I know Leah. I've followed her, liked her, read her work, and saw her (once) in person in Houston, maybe? I'm not sure where, but I am sure that she is cute and sweet and smiles. Even more than I do. Yes, I smile. Lots! Especially when I'm at a big quilt show.  



But wait, this post is about two Sundays ago, when I worked on this quilt and quilted it to completion in one day! Yes! Loaded it on the longarm, quilted it, pulled it off the machine ... all in one Sunday afternoon. 

Want to know my secret? It's big. No, not the quilt. It's the secret that's big. Rather the secret is big motifs. Check it out. A different motif for each square, every one about three times its normal size. 

I wanted a soft hand because this is a baby quilt that will probably get used more than most. I don't know why I think so, I just know boys. This baby boy is going to a house of three big sisters and a big brother. I figure he will get lots of playtime and naptime and lovey time. Those all need quilts, right? There you go. 

I just hope his mom (my coworker) enjoys the quilt as much as I enjoyed making it for little Blaise. I've even added the label since these pictures and wrapped it up in a pretty bag. 

Since I mentioned using Leah Day's motifs earlier, I thought I'd show you a couple of photos of the back so you can see them. (The photo above is really two, despite that they look like one.)

Please don't look at the "eyelashes" in the quilting. I would love to figure out how to fix this problem myself. It's a common issue with my quilting, so apparently tension is not my forte. Oh but I love my little bitty circles and zigzags and swirls. However these eyelashes seem to be my biggest problem. Do you have this problem, and if so, how do you fix it?

She's here! She's here!

Actually, she's been around for a week now. But she also came to visit! I couldn't write about her birth because I'd been given the "shush" word. But that ban is now lifted and I can show you this...

Loving her mommy and just an hour old!

And mommy loves her!

Taking a selfie with DeeDee

 She's a week old here and visiting her DeeDee and Poppa. Mommy needed help with Hamlet homework. 

Taking a selfie is difficult with a squirmy baby. Especially for a DeeDee that rarely takes selfies.

So people who know that I'm a grandmother want to know why I've decided to be called DeeDee by the next generation. The crazy kids in my family have this idea that, when one becomes a great- anything, they need to add "old" in front of the grandparent name. I'm not having that.

No. I do not want to be Old Grandmay. So, I've decided on DeeDee. That was my name when I was a baby. 

My older sister couldn't say "baby." She said "deedee" instead and the name stuck. My parents called me Dee until their deaths. There are times, when I miss momma and daddy, that I miss being called Dee. So this may help solve that problem, also. 

 Back to this cutie.  Amelia Renee was born last Tuesday weighing 8 lbs. 6 ozs. and 21 inches long. Not small.

She just looks very tiny when she's in my arms. And see those eyes? She loves to look at whomever is holding her.  I do believe she already has that eye squint down. Imagine what she'll do with those eyes will do when she's six! 







We loved having her here for a little while. She and I took a little nap, her mommy and Aunt Jolie stayed for supper, and Dusti got lots of homework done. Having an adult granddaughter with a baby is unbelievable. I am anxious to have some time to enjoy both mommy and baby.

Sunday Quilt Inspiration: Onesie

Guessing by all the things that have been given to Dusti, her little girl is not going to need clothes. Nevertheless, I spent this afternoon working on a little outfit for the new baby. She's not even here yet and already I'm sewing for her. Something tells me that there will be lots of these little projects. I imagine this is what happens when you spoil a grand and sew every little thing she wants.

I'm thinking that we'll have to trim the ribbon tails when Dusti sees it, but I love the ribbon when the onsie is held up and the tails are loose. Dusti is a bit particular, so we'll see.

Original version

My version

Since onesies are on my mind, I figured I'd take a look at what Pinterest has to offer in the way of diy. 

And what is Sunday Quilt Inspiration without the inspiration part?

Not much...so baby quilts newborns.

Check out more baby quilts on my Pinterest board, "baby, quilts" where I have about 150 pins. 

Have you seen any good diy pins lately? Please let me know in the comments.