One hour (or so) baskets

After my practice/gift basket a week or so ago, I felt ready to tackle 3 more "1 hour baskets"assembly-line style as thank you gifts for my daughter's preschool/kindergarten teachers. These will be the last handmade teacher gifts for awhile because apparently in German public schools, holiday gifts are given as a class and not individually and end-of-year gifts are not given. phooey!

Honestly, while I was frantically stitching away late last night, I did wonder about my tendency to pressure myself  with making a handmade gift just because I can make something. When I finished, my already sore back and neck were throbbing in protest. According to my math, I calculated that I could make 3 simultaneous baskets in an hour since I had taken the 3 previous days to get everything ready. Nope... took me like 3 hours.

Kaufman Quilter's Linen in Charcoal w/ Juggling Summer

Kaufman Quilter's Linen in Raffia w/ Simply Style

Quilter's Linen in Silver w/ Simply Color/Simply Style

 If I'm really honest (which I will be for a moment,) I don't think the teachers fully realized the value of these handmade gifts. How do I know? Not one of them sobbed at the beauty and perfect marriage of these fabrics - hmph!  Generally speaking, I know people here are not the most emotive (unless you do something wrong in traffic- then you'll be told off immediately,) but dang! Can I get a hearty "Thank you!?" Can't you see that I've shared my precious stash of Quilter's Linen with you? Can't you appreciate how beautiful it looks with Simply Style, Simply Color and Juggling Summer? Don't you know how long I've been holding onto these and looking for the perfect project? Can't you give me one tear or at least a joyful moan? Just kidding..sorta. I am grateful that they've loved, taught and nurtured my daughter for the last 2 years, which is why I haven't gone and snatched them back.

In the lining seam, I put my new label from Ikaprint. I'll take some pics and share for next time! 

My daughter loved stuffing the baskets with flowers, hand cream, tea, pencils, chocolate and a little Prosecco! 

Proud little Wildchild and Kindergarten graduate

FAL Q2 goal list

Linking up to:

Quokka Quilts

a cute new pillowcase!

In continuing with my quest to backwardly document my finishes for this quarter, next up is the ballerina pillow! 

This was just a simple effort with fabric I purchased at least 4 years ago. At the time, I had vague plans for a quilt, but it never seemed to make it to the top of the to-do list. I guess I wasn't inspired, although I loved the multi-cultural little ballerinas! 

In comes the pillowcase idea!

 I just went with a simple cover and a contrast edge, separated by a cute pink ruffle.

The back is mostly white with more of the splash of dancers and more ruffle. I'm happy to report that she loves it!

FMT

Friday Night Sew-In

Have you heard of FNSI? Every 3rd Friday, Sugarlane Quilts hosts a linky party for people to sign up and then everyone posts on Saturday what they worked on Friday.  I thought it would be a fun and no-pressure motivation to work on binding my Garden Party.

With the company of Walter White, I got some binding done on Friday and then spent a gorgeous Saturday afternoon in the park with the kids plugging away. I really hate hand binding!! It takes me FOREVER!! I know I need to practice, but I don't have a rhythm so I have to check every single stitch to make sure the needle hasn't gone through to the front. What a pain!

half done but getting close!!
FMT

Celebrations!

Hello! I'm just back from an impromptu trip to Mallorca with my girlfriends and I'm feeling burnt but great! We decided that with 1 girlfriend moving back to the US in 2 weeks and my big 44th birthday approaching, a celebration was in order! The night before we left though, we celebrated a new baby coming this month! The new mommy is a FedEx pilot colleague of my husband's and a very good new friend to me! I have been working on this modern flying geese quilt since May and was happy to finish a whopping 2 days before the shower! It's quilted in a wavy grid pattern.

The top after a wash & crinkle

The back - a tag with the baby's name and dates will be added after he's born

Binding is a combo of the 2 striped FQs in the Saltwater bundle

A friend recently shared this cool pattern for baby bibs and I think I'm addicted! Amy even linked us to her gallery of bibs - so fun! I pulled out a huge pile of fabrics and got busy.

Quilted bibs with pockets from a Moda Lollipop charm pack. 

A necktie, a bicycle with large pocket and a linen & gingham bib.

A nod to our weekly movie club - the pocket is supposed to look like a tub of popcorn

I found this site and I think I will always buy baby gifts there - hilarious bib and how perfect is that onesie?! 

Added some flair to Ikea washcloths

The final package wrapped in a great basket that can be used later for a diaper/wipe station!

Quilt stats:
Size - 56" x 56" (hopefully enough room for mommy/baby snuggles)
Fabric - Kona Charcoal & Kona Steel with Saltwater by Tula Pink
Thread - Pieced with Aurifil #2605  & quilted with the same thread on top and #2630 in the bobbin.

The result? She loved all her goodies! Here's a sneak peek at the baby's nook

And there we have my 1st finish of Q3! FMT