Wintertime is good for something!

Yes there is something I like about winter-besides looking at it out the window of my warm house.  Even tho I really don't like the cold and the mess that it brings, I realize that I should be looking at it as a great time to accomplish all those inside things that I am wanting to get done.
Scrapbooking--
Sewing--
Quilting--
House projects--
Yeah, those things that get put on the back burner in the spring and summer because then it's time to work in the yard, garden and out buildings!

This winter I've done several sewing projects, dipping my toes back into that huge lake of possibilities that I've ignored for quite some time.  All it took was helping my sister get going on a quilting project that she wanted to do for her grand-daughter, a trip to the fabric store and then a quilt store, and I was majorly hooked again.

I've never made a table runner before, but when I went "up North" to visit Jana for her birthday in Nov, we spent the day at a friends quilt shop.  I fell in love with this fabric, and it came home with me.  Because I made it double sided I ran into some problems when I wanted to quilt it, so I am quilting it on each side separate. (Not going all the way thru) as the design doesn't match up exactly on the other side.  A bit more time consuming, yes, but nothing that has to be done all at once.

Lynisha was wishing for some dresses for Kyrie--so here's the first one I did.  It had been a long time since I'd made any little girls dresses.  Definitely time to get back in the groove!

Here's the 2nd one I made for her. 

I took these pictures when I gave the dress to Kyrie.
This dress sort of evolved .  When I originally bought the pattern for it I was planning on using knit fabric, but couldn't find any when it was time to make it.  Then I had quite a time finding fabric that I was pleased with.  The triangles in (really ON) the skirt are original--not on the pattern.  I came up with the idea since the skirt is totally circular, and to get the length I needed, it shorted me on the side seams a bit.  I came up with the idea of adding them, (and the bows) but didn't know if Lynisha would like them, so only pinned them on the sides when I first showed her.  She was enthused about putting them all the way around, and I think they turned out great.

 Here's little Miss Kyrie, all dressed up, & cute as can be.  (I can say that since she's my grandaughter, right?!)

Next on the list were some doll clothes for the bitty twins that Kyrie got for her birthday.  This was the first time I had ever made ANY doll clothes.  I've always resisted the idea of sewing this small...I discovered it's really quite painless, and rather fun too.  My "list" just got longer!

Last, but not least was this project.  I hadn't really thought of doing a quilt when I asked what Baby Z could use, or would like....However his daddy said he didn't need any clothes or toys, and "well, you know mom, you still have my baby quilt that was made for me....and I know the other kids have special ones you've saved....It would be kind of nice if Zander had one".....  Need I say more?

It was actually a very fast easy project.  The quilt top I bought pre-made, on the roll from the fabric store.  It is flannel and soft.  For the back I used fleece.  Nice wide width, so no seams needed.  When I laid them together I realized that it didn't even need any batting in it, it was the perfect weight as it was.
I spent a bit more time quilting it (by hand) simply because I wanted too.  I enjoy hand quilting, and although this really didn't need much holding together, I felt like it made it a little more "hand-made" and I liked the pattern that evolved.

That's all the sewing projects for the time being.  I've been doing life, scrapbooking and more cleaning STUFF out since then, but SHHHH, I looked at the pattern book again the other day..........