UFOs no more...

The second quarter of the Finish-a-Long hosted by Rhonda has come to an end. I am excited to report I finished all 3 of the previously UnFinished Objects that I posted about here! I shared The Flock quilt with you earlier, above is a picture of the spring/summer wreath that I finished.

After I made this one for Christmas, I kind of got wreath fever. [I think Pinterest should take some of the blame for this one] I was scouring the internet, looking through my yarn, and dreaming up color combos - but the only progress was a sad looking styrofoam wreath wrapped in yarn. I think it's come along way since then! The felt flowers are lots of fun to make and I think they would be great for headbands. You can check out my other wreath post for links to the tutorials I used.

Also making the deadline were 2 more additions to my Circus Life collection. The pattern was for a horse, but currently I am loving all things unicorn. A little paperclay horn, and voila!

[This is not the best picture I have ever taken, I know] The wool felt I used for the seal may have been a little dark - it's difficult to see his eyes/features. Being able to find just the right color is tough - I am limited by a) the colors actually produced and b) the colors my LQS carries. The underside of his flippers have a cute vintage-feel teal print, unfortunately you don't ever see it because, well, it's on the underside. I have animal to make before my adventure in circus land is finished: the lion.

I am off to dig through my pile of unfinished objects to prepare for the third quarter FAL. You should join in too - imagine the satisfaction of actually finishing projects + the chance to win some wonderful prizes!

it's a zoo + finish-a-long...

My name is Heidi and I love vintage kitsch. There is my confession. I enjoy my small, but lovingly currated, collection of vintage pyrex. When we cleared out my grandparent's farm before auction, I picked the items no one else wanted {furniture with "character", bits of old fabric, christmas ornaments in disrepair, rusty bits and bobs}. When I saw the Indygo Junction patterns for these little circus performers, I knew my shelves needed them!

The elephant came first... I think he is adorable with his little stick legs. That sparkly bauble is a button salvaged from my grandma's house.

This little piggy went to the circus. The elephant and piggy are similar in construction. I really enjoy the decorating and detail work on them - choosing that perfect trim or paper for their hats.

Mouse in the house. She is just adorable. What's cropped out in this picture is a little pink balloon made out of paperclay. Paperclay is a wonderful air-dry clay that is easy to work with and acrylic paint friendly. If anyone has some great suggestions on how to store paperclay long term, I would love to hear them. I don't use it often enough and it seems I am always throwing some dried-out bits away no matter how many ziploc bags I use.

Monkey see monkey do. I love this little juggler - again with the help of paperclay! In case you wondered what the rest of the monkey {& mouse} look like, here is a full photo. The legs are pipecleaners wrapped with floral tape and then painted - a new technique for me!

This post is two-fold: I wanted to show off my circus folks, but also share with you the Finish-A-Long happening over at Quilter in the Gap. I have long talked about my box of unfinished objects {UFOs}. Each quarter you share what you plan to finish, link up to her site, then add links to your finished projects at the end of 3 months. I'm excited to get to work + there are great prizes at the end of each round! Worst case scenario, I get some work done! So my first hope-to-finish is the last 2 circus animals that I want to make - a lion and a horse {possibly a unicorn}. I have all of the supplies out to make them - even little legs and arms all painted up for Mr. Lion. But these little guys are pretty time consuming with all their details.

Next up is this wreath. I had grand plans to get it finished in February for valentine's day. I want to make a variety of felt flowers just like I did for the Christmas wreath I made.

My last hope-to-finish is the binding on this queen sized quilt. I don't want to reveal too much until I am completely finished.

I hope you are enjoying Spring - it always seems like the best time of year for a fresh start!

ties that bind...

This handy little potholder is just one of the many things I have been binding lately! This was a fun little foray into the world of potholders [I have been seeing them everywhere and had to try my hand at it]. The main panel is a piece of osnaburg that I drew on with a pigma pen, colored with crayons, and then heat set. This has been hanging around the UFO bin for no less than 7 years [yikes!] I actually liked working with the InsulBright batting - I am always a little scared to sew through something that appears to contain metal, but the needle cruised through it! I backed it with a scrap of Arcadia and added a handy little hanger on to the back. [Does anyone how to make the binding loops like on the store bought potholders?]



So lots of binding going on around here - which means lots of finished projects to show you soon! And I haven't forgotten about my promised giveaway - it will be a handmade little number and it is ready for finishing as well!

pretty penny...

I am back on the unfinished object [ufo] bandwagon! Over the weekend I chalked one up on the finished list. A long time ago in a place far away I made these pansies out of hand dyed wool. [seriously a long time ago; like 7 years ago!] I rediscovered them while sorting the massive pile of UFOs. I put it into the 'this doesn't have too much work left on it' stack.

Anywho, I had 4 pink and 4 purple pansies finished and out of those I made one large penny rug and two small penny mats. I love the coffee colored wool next to the purple and pink.

The small mats would be perfect on a table or even for a trivet. the original plan was to stitch 4 flowers along the edges of each of these mats. Ultimately I thought it looked to crowded - one per mat really helps the pansy to standout.

Are you working on any ufos right now? Would love to hear about your progress :]

napping at the zoo...

I am excited to share with you a FINISHED ufo! Can you believe it?! Last summer I pledged [well, sorta - maybe hoped is a better word] to finish work on my massive stack of unfinished objects before begining anything new. So... I definitely have started new projects since this summer, but I am still steadily working through lots and lots of un-done craftiness.

This blankie was started a several years ago for a baby who no longer needs a baby blanket. It's pretty simple: I just fussy cut the animal blocks and added borders around a teal flannel center. This is the point where progress stopped. Time at the 'zoo' stood still. It was really tough to pick it back up - how do you make that project that has been lying around [I've looked at it a million times] exciting and new? I decided to back it with some oh-so-soft baby lime green fleece and incorporate knotting and some long stitch quilting using perle cotton. I think the finished project is a very cuddly one. As an added bonus, finishing this project required not one trip to the fabric store - binding, backing, and perle cotton were all located using my stash.

Seeing as the intended recipient isn't in need of a baby blanket, it is in my etsy for another tot to try napping at the zoo :]

up, up, & away...

I really should be finishing my assignments… but I wanted to show you my little travel wallet!

In January I will be flying to Georgia for a training intensive (basically a graduate level course in a week - yikes!) I saw this pattern in the spring 2009 issue of Stitch magazine – which is fabulous btw, even if it is a little on the pricey side.

Made from wool felt, there is a place for a license, passport, and e-ticket. I love the plane! I added the button and elastic loop – it makes me feel safer carrying my ID through the airport. My only regret is that I should have used a heavier interfacing. I thought two layers of felt (unwashed) fused together with wonder under would be enough, but it’s still a little on the weak side. I’m excited to use my handy-dandy travel companion! Maybe I’ll even get my luggage tags finished before I go…

note: this was a ufo (unfinished object) – so excited to scratch it off the list!

let it snow...

Okay, so I am not ready for snowflakes yet, but these little snowballs are! Another project has been dusted off and worked to completion. I love using these for credit cards and a little cash - they're just the right size. As I have looked through the box of ufos (UnFinishedObject), it appears that I am most inspired during the Christmas season. Winter projects abound, but winter must also be a time that I am easily distracted because, until now, none of these projects saw the light of day.

After a quick sew of the lining, this little bag is ready for the ball. hmmm... also a wintery project!

(note: the laptop case is still unfinished. The ufo d'jour is a tree skirt, who knew, another winter project!)

pinky & the giraffee...

Welcome (soon) baby girl K! My friend Aimee has been a great source of comfort and encouragement this summer. Their family of 3 will turn into a family of 4 in September with the addition of a little girl.

I enjoy baby quilts - a sense of accomplishment without a major undertaking because of their small size. I like to think of this quilt as an altered ufo. I used a charm pack (Moda: Sanctuary by 3 Sisters), backing, and binding fabric that had already taken up residence in my stash. I was so proud that the only new purchase for this project was the pink polka dot (which is FABULOUS by the way)!

The little giraffe is fused using wonder under, then finished with a buttonhole stitch. I think hes cute! I hand quilted around him to give the block a little pop.

A source of pride: nearly perfect mitered corners on the binding! They are super easy once you get the hang of it and it makes such a difference in the finished project! (a little Marlene tip :0)

I had to add a tag. This is a small piece of rug binding and a sharpie pen. I'll be taking a look at tags later on - there are so many options to add your signature to handmade items! Finished size is approximately 36"x40" - which means a yard is the perfect size for backing!

t-shirt transition...

Announcing the latest of the unfinished to finished projects: the t-shirt tank top! Digging deeper into the depths of the ufo's, I discovered this trendy little number. Originally a too-big t-shirt, the only finishing details were to sew on the straps and buttons and to trim all of the thread ends. and VOILA, a new top for me! Kinda cute isn't it?! (the tank that is :0)

The pattern for this came off craftster (I think!); unfortunately it is nowhere to be found :0(

spring in summer...

Hooray for the second project to emerge complete from the cardboard box of unfinished objects! By my calculations these wool pieces have been cut out in a plastic bag for 4 years.

This project has been an interesting process - originally to be appliqued onto a skirt, my ideas on how to finish the project were many; maybe a bag, perhaps a pillow, a pretty wallhanging, or even a table runner. But as a happy coincidence, this little flower basket fit perfectly into a vintage frame I had! I am very pleased with my self as I made my own backing board and even used finishing nails to hold the project in place.

It feels good to see something through to completion - so many pieces of my life never see a concrete conclusion. So I shall celebrate today!

note: the laptop bag is moving along, still a ufo (UFOs=UnFinished Objects)

piecing it all together...

As I continue on with my plan to complete previously started projects, I am constantly tempted with the allure of new projects. They beckon to me, 'wouldn't this be nice in the living room?' 'your friend would really like this!' 'ooh this would sell on etsy.' It's as if no one has told the endless supply of free tutorials on the Internet that I am trying to finish past projects. So the current fascination is with a new quilt. I was wondering if it could be counted as a UFO (unfinished object) if I used my fabric stash? I mean, those towering piles of fabric certainly are unfinished... right? Maybe the time spent perusing the net for the perfect quilt pattern would have been better spent finishing projects? At any rate, I think the next quilt will be a coin quilt. I was very inspired by a few blogs. The picture above is from a really sweet blog called a quilt is nice - definitely worth checking out!

here comes santa clause...

Working in a craft store makes it seem as though we are always a season or so ahead. If only I had a nickel for every crafter who said they were 'working ahead' on Christmas gifts... I however never seem to be the least bit motivated to stitch up a reindeer when the sun is shining and the grass is green outside my window. But I have made a decision that I will work (at least partially) through my half-done box of crafts before endeavoring on another project. So, on the top of the pile was a bunch of snowman pocket purses. Originally I had made them for party favors, but I only finished the exact amount I needed. That meant a bag full of cut out snowman heads, leftover beads, and the like. All told there were 7 unfinished bags; and I am proud to announce there are now 7 finished bags - and it only took 6 years! Hopefully this victory will encourage me to continue in my project-finishing quest! Next Up: wool felt laptop case (oh yeah, and the roman shades still aren't finished :0)