A doll for my granddaughter

I finished this doll recently, a birthday gift for Samantha. I can't believe she will be four years old in a few weeks!

I got the doll pattern from the new book, "My Rag Doll," by Corinne Crasbercu. There are lots of great ideas in the book, and I'm happy how this doll turned out. I do think the instructions were vague, and some diagrams would have  helped. Luckily I figured out or did some things my own way.

She is wearing a dress the same fabric as one I made for Sammy. So here I am, 65 years old and playing with dolls!

Umbrella Prints competition

This is my entry for the Umbrella Prints Trimmings Competition for 2014. The Hexie mini quilt is mounted on an upcycled blue jean fabric underquilt. There is machine quilting and sashiko embroidery. The 1\2" hexagons were English paper pieced.
The detail shows the hexies  and the envelope that the fabric came in. It was too interesting looking not to include!
I neglected to take a photo of the trimmings packet before I cut into the fabrics, so I took a photo of leftover scraps with the wrapper.
I am cutting this close and hope my quilt made it in time. Thanks!

Quilt Accepted into Reflections

I was thrilled to learn that this quilt has been accepted by Dinner @ Eight Artists into the Reflections exhibit! It will go to quilt festivals in Houston and Chicago. It was inspired by the temporary art installation of the Gates in Central Park in 2005, created by the fabulous artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude.

Here is a detail. I call it "Saffron in the Park." My friend Becky Milano went to see the Gates and took photos. She allowed me to use her photos as inspiration. Also, around that time another friend, Rose Hughes, gave me a swatch of Gates fabric, which I included in the quilt.

Sugar plum tree?

Here's my finished little white tree. The idea is to festoon it year round with seasonal embellishments- hearts, ornaments, birds, shells, etc. It is simply branches stuck in plaster of Paris in an old pot, painted white later. My grandmother Noble had a tree very much like this. She called it a sugar plum tree, and she stuck gum drops on the ends of the twigs at Christmas time! I don't think I'll do that. :-)

Roll top socks

I just finished these. I wonder if it will cool down enough to wear them this Spring. I might have to wait until fall.

Croquet dress finished

The dress has been done for a couple of weeks, but I had to get elastic that would fit. This is the Croquet Dress by Oliver and S. I love their patterns. Even though the designs are somewhat challenging, the instructions are very clear, step by step.

As you can see, the fabric had a definite center, top and bottom. I could have cut out the pieces willy-nilly and it probably still would have been cute, but it was a fun challenge to place the pattern pieces thoughtfully. Like fussy cutting, for you quilters. :-) I've never done this before, and am tickled by the result!

I can't wait to see my granddaughter wearing it!

Craft project in progress

Branches setting in place in plaster of Paris. The container is one of those potted plant leftovers from Trader Joe's. Branches will be painted white, and used to hang ornaments, hearts, birds, etc., year round. I already had an informal tree- now I'm making a nicer one.