I am sure you’ve noticed by now that I have a slight obsession for putting my girls into handmade clothing.  I was talking with my friend the other day and she asked me why I didn’t make the girls any clothing.  The only reason I could think of is that I hadn’t really tried.  I decided to look around for some patterns to work from and I happily came across patterns from ZoZoBugBaby.  ZoZoBugBaby also makes ready made clothing that is beyond adorable!  The owner of ZoZoBugBaby also happens to be a friend that I met through and etsy team so I emailed her to see which pattern I should start with.  Right away she responded to try the Little Bow Chic Dress.  And she wasn’t kidding!  Right away I made the dress you can see Cedi modeling in the pictures.  I used a sort of cheesy pink paper doll fabric as the main fabric.  It’s typically not a fabric I would use but if you could have seen her face when she first saw the dress you would understand why I chose it!  One of the great things with ZoZo patterns is that a lot of them have two dress variations to pretty much the same dress. 

Anyone that knows me knows I have a hard time following patterns – not because I don’t understand them but because I always have this urge to make something my own.  Once I made the pattern per instructions I decided to make the girls both a slightly modified version combining both of the dresses from the pattern.  Here’s Cedi in the second dress I made her. 

I did a modified front panel that is actually strip pieced, added the ruffle on the bottom and used the same strap system as I did in the first dress.  I also had learned a few things from the first time around and the second one went much quicker!

I didn’t want Capri to feel left out so I made her a dress as well.  I used the same fabrics in the stripped front panel in both dresses so they slightly match but are still different.  I like when my girls are matchy-matchy but they are starting to not want to be.  I figured this was a good way coordinate the two!

My confidence in dress making is definitely at a high so I went ahead and added the Posey and Lola Dress Pattern and The Candy Shoppe Twirl Skirt and Tuxedo Tee Pattern’s to my collection.  I have really been trying hard to focus on stocking up shops I consign at and getting ready for the Summer Craftacular but I do hope to make one of each for Cedi before she starts 4K in the fall. 

Thanks again ZoZoBugBaby for making such great patterns!  What FUN!

I was pleasantly surprised to hop on my computer yesterday to see the above FRONT PAGE of Etsy!

My Refreshing Kaffe Fasset Tumberl Lap Quilt was featured and got lots of hits and hearts!  Always makes for a good hour. 

Thank you to RockySprings1984 for featuring me in your gorgeous treasury – Picnic by the Barn!  I LOVED it when I first saw it and I’m so happy to see that many others were able to see it too!

I have the top of my quilt all pieced together!  I LOVE it!  I truly think I have found a new love in solids.  Now I have to decide – save for my own long arm or start my Kona Solids collection…hmmm…perhaps – both!?

Now, I just have to get the back ready and send it off to Barb to quilt – I can’t wait to see what she comes up with!

A look back:

• Block 1: My Choice - Constellation
• Block 2: Center Aisle
• Block 3: Biggest Fan
• Block 4: Diamond Mine
• Block 5: Fourth Inning
• Block 6: Tail Spin
• Block 7: Stacked
• Block 8: 4 Wheeler
• Block 9: Pyramids
• Block 10: Tonganoxie 9 patch
• Block 11: Ryan’s Middle Block
• Block 12:  SQUARED

To see what the other's have come up with be sure to check out the FLICKR Group!

The latest Off Season Challenge comes from Chris Daly of Dye Candy. Chris was one of our sponsors for last season and if you haven’t seen her shop yet I definitely recommend a visit.

She offers gorgeous hand-dyed fabrics in all types of yardage

and beautiful miniature quilt jewelry. It’s definitely a must see shop for quilters!

Okay – onto the challenge.

Flower Splash from MoranArtandQuilts

FLORA

The theme of of the third off season challenge is "Flora". Size, Color, method and techniques are the participants choice. However the piece should be a quilt.

Quilted Wall Hanging in rainbow with Floral Applique from SieberDesigns

To read more about Project Quilting Here: http://kimscraftyapple.blogspot.com/2010/04/project-quilting.html and join the facebook group: www.facebook.com/projectquilting

THE RULES:

1. Have FUN! These off season challenges aren’t about winning a prize – they’re about being inspired to create something you may not have in the past. There are a lot of ways to interpret this challenge – let’s see if you can in a way no one else does!
2. Please remember that these projects need to be created during the time frame of the challenge.
3. If you need advice/tips/help (or you just want to give us all a sneak peak) with your project as you work on it feel free to post pictures to the flickr group: Project QUILTING WIP: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1430386@N24/
4. POST your entries with a description of your creative process, including where you are (ie, I create in Madison, WI) and the size of your project by Sunday, July 10th, 2011, at noon, CDT, to this flickr group – Project QUILTING with KimsCraftyApple: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1401824@N21/ OR email a picture/description of your completed project to {lapaceksorchard at gmail dot com} with PROJECT QUILTING in the subject line . (just over 3 weeks to finish the challenge)
5. Since we’re in ‘off season’ we aren’t having prizes/judges etc BUT if you do want people to truly critique (the good and the bad) your project post it to the Flickr Group: Project QUILTING – Critiques
6. If you have an idea for an ‘off season’ challenge which includes a miniature feature about you on my blog please email me at {lapaceksorchard at gmail dot com}.

Modern Flowers from KimsCraftyApple

Well, the deadline for the second off season challenge has come and gone so I’m here to show off the two entries.  Remember, these off-season challenges are purely to give you inspiration to create – if you don’t have the time to create it during the time frame feel free to do it later.  And if you do do it later – don’t be shy – share it with us!  I would love to see what you came up with!

We had two entries for this challenge:

Quilter:  Diane Lapacek

The Story Behind ‘Shoofly’

When I saw this challenge, I immediately knew I needed to do
Shoofly. I've been seeing this quilt in my head ever since I posted Shoofly, the very first Project Quilting challenge.

I sketched the design full size, then went looking for the perfect hand dye to use for the background. I came across my fabric from the Yard That Keeps on Going from the Quilts by Barb Quilt Retreat and decided I could complete 2 challenges at one time. I used freezer paper templates to piece the background, and 1 piece of hand dyed fabric gave me the effect I was looking for in the subtle shoofly blocks that fade off into the distance.

I found a bright, wavy stripe and added another hand dye to make the shoe. It is raw edge appliquéd and the edges are machine finished with a blanket stitch. I machine quilted to outline each piece of the shoofly blocks, then added free motion quilting in a swirling pattern that made me think of wind.

Wings we made by pleating one edge of a square of organdy, then hand stitching them in place for a 3D effect. The binding was made by cutting the stripe fabric on the bias.

Finished size is 23" x 27 1/2".
Created in Poynette, WI by Diane Lapacek

Quilter:  KimsCraftyApple

The Story Behind ‘Blossom Puzzler’

Entry:
I actually thought of what I was going to make and then figured out which challenge it would work with.  In this case I did the 'Large Scale Print Challenge'.

This piece was inspired by my father.  He LOVES to make puzzles.  He refers to himself as the 'puzzler' and there are certain 'rules' to putting together a puzzle properly (although I broke one of the main rules in this piece - borders have to be put together FIRST). 

I also came up with this idea a week before this was due so I followed in the true spirit of Project Quilting.   I’m actually just happy that I managed to finish a project at all. 

The Process:
I took a large scale floral panel from Camelot Cottons and I put some iron on fusible to the back of it.  I then sketched out my puzzle pieces and cut them all out.  Then, I took a large black permanent marker and edged each puzzle piece. 

Next - I ironed on the puzzle pieces to a neutral leafy print fabric.  I purposely tilted the 'puzzle' in the main portion of the quilt since when you're working on one on a table it's never exactly straight.

For the stripe portion of the challenge I put a thin stripe to break of the border a bit.  I over lapped the 'not found' pieces to create an extra dimension.

I free motion quilted around each puzzle piece - you can really see it on the back.  I didn't want to take away from the 'puzzle' look with too much quilting.

 

**I hope to get better pictures later.  I took them this morning and morning light just isn't as good as afternoon light).  Also, I showed the quilt to my dad and he LOVED it – so, I’m happy to say I have the perfect Father’s Day gift already figured out for him – just have to add the hanging sleeve…

 

Approximate dimensions:  29" x 29.5"

Created by Kim Lapacek in Poynette, WI

 

A new challenge will be posted soon – Stay TUNED!

Also, if any participants from Season 2 want to fill out their interviews and return them to me so I can post them I would LOVE it!

Here is a look back at the one’s I’ve posted so far:

• KimsCraftyApple
• ForQuiltsSake
• Marcia’s Crafty Sewing and Quilting
• AllThingsBelle

I thought it only fitting to make my 12th block after the group running the quilt along and I’ve decided to name it ‘SQUARED’.

And now I have all twelve blocks completed – all that’s left is the sashing (and the quilting…oh, and the binding)

A look back:

• Block 1: My Choice - Constellation
• Block 2: Center Aisle
• Block 3: Biggest Fan
• Block 4: Diamond Mine
• Block 5: Fourth Inning
• Block 6: Tail Spin
• Block 7: Stacked
• Block 8: 4 Wheeler
• Block 9: Pyramids
• Block 10: Tonganoxie 9 patch
• Block 11: Ryan’s Middle Block

To see what the other's have come up with be sure to check out the FLICKR Group!

I have figured out if I can predict when Pip needs to fall asleep I can actually get some time in my crafting room to create.  My next problem is when I get down there I have all these ideas in my head and I find myself trying to do them all at once.  Well, I did manage to get one of my ideas finished and into my etsy shop – hot dog and hamburger bodysuits!  I had made this fabric into ornaments at Christmas time but realized the other day that they would be the perfect touch for an adorable kid outfit this summer! It was just so cute I had to make Pip her very own little hot dog onesie!!  Isn’t she just a doll!?   I can’t believe how big she is!

 While I was at it I took my very last blank aprons and I made a few OOAK hamburger and hot dog aprons as well.  My oldest, Cedi was happy as usual to be the model for it (she gets a quarter for each one I sell too…)  I have also managed to get a piece done for the second off season Project QUILTING challenge.  It was a puzzling piece to figure out but as soon as I get the binding stitched on I’ll be happy to share it with you all!

And here is the ‘official’ last block of the quilt along - Pyramids. This was my very first time using a template and all things considered it came together pretty well. I think if I were going to do enough blocks for an entire quilt or two or three.. with 'odd' shapes I would get myself of an Accuquilt Go! Fabric Cutter. So - here are all the blocks that were taught via the quilt along. But of course I have to be different so...

And here’s a photo of the blocks I have so far – just ONE left (and the sashing)!

A look back:

• Block 1: My Choice - Constellation
• Block 2: Center Aisle
• Block 3: Biggest Fan
• Block 4: Diamond Mine
• Block 5: Fourth Inning
• Block 6: Tail Spin
• Block 7: Stacked
• Block 8: 4 Wheeler
• Block 9: Pyramids
• Block 10: Tonganoxie 9 patch
• Block 11: Ryan’s Middle Block