Elephant Parade table topper

*UPDATE* I am entering this as my 2nd entry in the Animals on Quilts for the Pets on Quilts Show 2015.  People in India have elephants as pets, right?  LOL

I'm so happy to tell you, I completed my elephant table topper today!
You can find the instructions for the blocks on Lorna's site at
http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com/p/elephant-parade.html

 

I had assistance while quilting last night, Thomas made sure to sleep while I stayed awake, so I leeched energy off him.

Trusty Bernina is working like a charm!  I used my Clover Wonder Clips to help keep the fabric rolled up as I quilted, it worked just fine and didn't leave any lasting marks.

You can see the quilting from the front pretty well in this photo.

Here is Belle, helping me sew the binding on by chewing on the clips.  Thanks little one!

 

This is the first time she's experienced hand sewing, and the first time I've tried to do so with a cat on my lap.  I'll get it figured to where it won't feel all twisted like a pretzel.

 

 

Thomas is wondering why I'm outside in my pajamas...

 

 

I quilted around the heart with red thread on top and bottom after I took this photo

 

This little guy finished at 22" x 12.5"

 

Things I learned:

-use 2 layers of batting if you're going to FMQ, it will make it poof out in a nicer way.  I did not do so in this, and I remember saying the same thing when I worked on my dresden flower

-I left the ears with no quilting on them, and I love how they feel when I run my hand over the top, very soft and silky

-I need to not quilt after 8pm, I tend to get into "hurry up" mode and my quilting does not look as nice

-I should probably add a sleeve or hanging corners to ALL my pieces, whether I think they'll hang or not (I'm planning on entering this at our quilt festival later this year, pretty sure I'll need a sleeve)

-this would make a really cute wall hanging for a nursery, I see some more in my future for baby shower gifts

 

Also, from now on, when someone compliments my work, I will say "thank you" and not point out all the flaws I know exist.  And I will work on not running through the flaws in my head either.  I noticed myself doing this on Saturday, and it's a bad habit I do not want around, so I'm taking steps to make it better.  Do any of you find yourself doing this too?  How do you help keep yourself from going down that path?

 

Thank you for visiting, I hope you'll be inspired to make one of your own, and please feel free to leave some comment love!

 

~Brandy

There are some perks to being sick...

Such as actually having time to write a blog post!  And getting some lap time with the kitty.

 

 

Belle has become quite the snuggler, and is actually asleep on my lap as I type this.  Thomas is getting better about letting us pet him, and occasionally hold him for a few moments.  Belle doesn't like being held.  I'm still very happy with how well they are adjusting.  Also, a plug for Fresh Step cat litter, WOW!  That stuff is incredible, and saves our home from smelling really awful.  Thank you to that company and the people who made such a thing possible.  I still think we ought to train the cats to use the toilet though... lol

 

So I am participating in a parade!  Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts is hosting a sew along for this adorable pattern she came up with, and I was instantly attracted to.  I love the colors.  I'm not obsessed with elephants, but I have a friend who is, so I made this for her:

 

 

 

 

 

I have it basted and ready to quilt, and hope to get it done in the next couple days to send off, she lives in Texas and has no idea it's coming

(as far as I know she doesn't read this blog...)

 

I actually had a customer recently!  I had dropped business cards at the quilt shops in case someone needs a small quilt quilted, or for when people who don't sew ask at the shop if someone can make a quilt for them, then they have my information, and a lady called with a top finished but needing quilting.  I was so excited!!  I did learn that I did not charge enough, basically I ended up being paid $5 an hour to quilt this for her, so lesson learned.  I underestimated how long it would take to do this (took over 8 hours) and I will not undervalue my time!  I'm worth more and am well aware of it.

 

 

I ended up not quilting on the bear, but did outline any place with lace, mainly to make sure the lace wouldn't get pulled out by small hands.  Also, that binding was from a yard sale, a JCPenney brand of pre-made binding which was in surprisingly good shape, but probably 40 years old.  I was a little nervous about it, but we shall see if I hear back from them.

 

Super Bowl Sunday was exciting, I made this block, which will become a pillow sham, and I'm trying out a different method of assembly which I will share in the future, when I actually get it finished.  I just LOVE this mottled brown I got, perfect football color.  I made this block based on the Touchdown pattern by Cluck Cluck Sew

 

Made some homemade bread for our chili cookoff, we all ended up winning, because the best chili was made by mixing all 6 of them together!

 

And look!  We used my table runner, Woohoo!

 

 

And I made this bag for my co-worker's other niece, who is a math teacher.  Perfect fabric find!!  Tried an Orange Peel quilting method, and it turned out ok, but next time I will make them smaller.  These were on a 2 3/4 inch grid, and weren't as tight as I would have preferred.  But it turned out pretty well.

 

Ok, off to the doctor's office, I hope you all are staying healthy!

 

~Brandy