"I Love Lucy" Toddler Costume

I really enjoyed making Mira's costume this year.  
However, it was not without it's trials and headaches.
But we won two costume contests, and I live for praise and validation so I'm happy.  

The (almost) FINISHED DRESS!!!!  - simplicity pattern 3836 -
I added an "I Love Lucy" applique heart.
I did the embroidery with Wonderfil Spaghetti white thread and my free-motion foot.
(I later added some additional red accents I thought were needed)

The signature Lucy Dress!  Polka Dots with lapel collar and white apron. 

 This is the inspiration photo I found online.
I tried so hard to get Mira to wear a wig.  Unfortunately she was having NONE of it.  I tried many many MANYYY different ways to get her to have "red hair" without the itchy wig.
I settled on this weird headband deal.  
I took a wig from the halloween store and ripped out some of the stitches from the base.
This is actually made up of two "sections" of hair.   (There are probably about 15 sections in a wig.)
I cut the sections in half to make 4 "curls" - then I just used a bunch of hairspray and attached them to the headband with needle and thread.   (on the 2nd day of wear, I decided to pull out the hot glue gun FYI)  So I know it looks weird. . but hey, at least she is wearing it and it's comfortable! ;c) 

Here we are at the Mall trick-or-treat.   Out of 1,000's of kids.  She won the costume contest for her age group  (0-3) 

 And then we went trick-or-treating in our local town.
 Everywhere we went, there were smiles.  

 I love these photos, she must have just got a sucker  (that's her favorite!)  But it was freezing and windy tonight so she had to wear a sweater cardigan.  

Some of the trick-or-treat photos I captured before it got too cold and she had to put on her coat.  

 Here is the pattern I used for this dress -  simplicity pattern 3836 -  All relatively easy - with the exception of the Lapel Collar. . which was like the most complex word math problem in the history of the whole entire world.  I spent a good 24 hours just looking up tutorials and watching videos on this just to figure it out!!  

But that's why I like to do this each year.  So that I can have a new skill in my pocket.  

 And here is ME having way too much fun with the wig that I bought for Mira.  ;c) 

Here are the two 1st place awards we received.   YAY!  

and I thought I would share this adorable photo.   We went trick-or-treating before Daddy got home.  But he finally got home from work, and started down the street to meet us.   When Mira saw her Dad she rannnnn to him saying "Dadda" "Dadda" and then just wanted to sit down right in the middle of the street with him.   (they have a weird relationship, and I think they bond over candy and sugar) LOL

As always, for the most recent information please "like" my facebook page:
Facebook.com/KatiesQuiltsAndCrafts

Quilt made of Silk Neck Ties

 Front/Back

My Step-mother's Dad passed away a couple years ago and she gave me all of his old ties.  I took them apart and made this quilt.  The blocks were 8" and sewn over a leave-in lightweight foundation.  I just added them free-form like hidden wells sorta.

I quilted his full name "Paul Fredrick Harris" in the quilt on the diagonal.  I outlined quilted that a few times,, and in the rest added large spirals.  I also added two large stylized feather plumes on opposite corners and outlined that a bit.   Here are some closeups of the quilting:

Rachel's Queen-sized T-Quilt - Christmas Gift from Mom

I absolutely LOVE the way this T-quilt turned out!  I was given about 100 shirt sides (front and backs) to use in this quilt.  I had her narrow them down to about half that much LOL and I STILL didn't think I would be able to fit them all in!  Well,we did it.  And since all the shirt logos are all sorta "smushed" together, it really gives the quilt a fun look!  

Another reason this quilt looks so good is because it is so colorful.  There is only so much a quilter can do when you only have black/white/grey shirts to work with ya know?  ;c)  The T-shirts themselves are the main source of color.  that's why I always ask people to include at least ONE tie-dye.  Just one tie-dyed shirt can be spread out throughout the whole quilt and provides SOO much color!

Here's the graph I used for this quilt.  Very busy!  Very fun!!  an OCD person's dream come true!  <3 nbsp="" p="">

Secret Christmas projects - now exposed! =cD

Over the Holidays I had several Christmas projects that were being given as gifts, that I had to keep secret.  OHHHHH it was tough!!  haha.   Well here they are:

The first quilt I'm showing you is the WVU quilt.  I've lived in Cabell County, WV my whole life, so I am a Herd Fan from wayyyyy back.  BUT, WVU is such a big part of my heritage, that I could not pass up the opportunity to make a quilt for one of my dear old friend's hubbies.  ;c)

 Started out by printing the WVU logo backwards, and tracing it onto fusible.  Then I cut that out and fuse it to the center white piece of fabric.

 This quilt is just a series of borders, applique, and quilting. .  once all the borders were complete...  I penciled in WVU WVU WVU WVU around the thin white outer border... the corners are little blue WV symbols ;c)

 With my darning foot and a wide zigzag stitch, I went around each WVU.   The center was quilted with my version of McTavishing

 In the wide outer blue border, I appliqued the words:  "Let's Go..  Mountaineers!"  In yellow fabric

 And the back is some licensed fabric with WVU print on it.  

Another shot of the finished quilt!  

 The next quilt I made was for my friends in Texas.   I feel like I know this family so well, since I've seen their pictures up close and personal ;c)  They're great people BTW!     Sharon, Raymond's daughter, had this quilt made for HER daughter. . .  when LAST Christmas, her daughter had one made forHER! haha. .  paybacks.. but the GOOD kind!  

Sharon picked out all the greens and browns for this quilt.  The white areas are Mr Kotz's shirt remnants.  The center block is called "Texas Tears". . this is a memorial quilt for Mr Kotz.  From what I can tell, Sharon and her daughter must have loved him very very much.  

And here's the back where you can see how I appliqued through all 3 layers of the quilt.  It gives an interesting effect on the back of the quilt.  

And last but not least, I made ONE more Crown Royal quilt. . BUT. . since this was the last quilt I completed before Christmas, I did NOT have a chance to get a finished photo of it before I had to get it in the mail.  But here is the TOP!  ;c)

I hope all of you had a very merry Christmas !!!

In Rainbows

Rainbows over Charleston, West Virginia, October 31st, 2009.







On my way to work Halloween morning we witnessed the most beautiful rainbows. Talk about inspiration!!! These were the biggest brightest rainbows I've just about ever seen. My husband says the rainbows look almost like a tornado because where the rainbow met the skyline it was so bright it looks like the rainbow was trying to suck up the color from the world.


The conditions were perfect. We left the house and the sky was dark and there was a very light drizzle. It was warm and there was a light wind. When we going over the mountain you could see sun shine on just the tips of the hilltops. This picture shows the dark sky, the rainbow, and the sunshine jussssst at the very tip top.







The back of the sky was beautiful too!




ISN'T GOD AMAZING?!!!!!!