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Monday, October 29, 2012

NewsFlash: I've Been Sewing!

Cloth Napkins

I think my sewing mojo is coming back! I just got a ton of sewing books from the library. I cut out blocks for a baby quilt. And I even purchased some new fabric (not to replenish my stock from my destash, but as backings for the baby quilts I need to make!)! I think the greater the morning sickness, the lesser interest in sewing. Now that I'm feeling better, I am better able to focus on other things.

I whipped up a couple October birthday presents a couple weeks ago.  My mom turned 60 and on the same day, my stepdad turned 59! My siblings and I got my mom a Kindle Fire and a gift certificate to Amazon. So, I thought I'd try my hand at making a cover for her.

Kindle Cover

I've made Kindle covers before. But this time, I decided to try one that was made out of an old book. I wanted to use a Nancy Drew hardcover. So, I cut out a piece of cardboard the size of the Kindle and brought it with my local to Half Priced Books. Unfortunately, I got my measurements a little wrong, so my sample was larger than the actual Kindle. I ended up buying a Pushkin book that had a cute cover under the dust jacket. But when I got it home, I realized that it wasn't wide enough, so I used another book that I had just purchased from the Clearance section, instead.

Kindle Cover

I googled around and found several good tutorials that I used as guidelines. I just wanted to see what it would be like if I tried to make it. So, I told her that she is, of course, free to buy an actual case that may keep the Kindle in there a little better.

Kindle Cover  

I picked out a dozen of my favorite prints from the Dear Stella, It's a Shore Thing line and made cloth napkins for my stepdad. I used some cotton sateen and some cotton lawn scraps for the backing. And they made a really nice, soft counterpart to the quilting cottons.

Cloth Napkins

I also received my swap blocks from the Not Your Granny's Bee! I love them! I can't wait to put them together. What a fun way to get a variety of blocks but still use the strip piecing method. I can't decide if  should try to ask for more of these blocks for my month in the Bee a {Modern} Swapper group, as well. Or if I should just make these into a cute baby quilt...

Not Your Granny's Bee swap blocks

Here's a sneak peek of the blocks I cut out and pieced for one of the three baby quilts that I have due. 

Baby Quilt WIP

Hopefully, this week I will be able to get the blocks cut out and pieced for one of the others, as well. We'll see how long this sewing jag lasts!