Amish Wallhanging I Made

I made a wallhanging for my cool neighbor Loretta. SHe has lent us her beautiful wrought-iron patio furniture on many occasions, she has let me borrow baking powder or oil, and is always spoiling my kids with hugs and gummy bears!

I go to the Del Mar Craft Festival every year with my mom as a tradition. I saw this pattern for a wall hanging and decided to buy it with Loretta in mind. I will explain: Loretta grew up very near Amish country in Pennsylvania. She has odds and ends in her home that are amish inspired and brings home things made my the Amish women when she visits PA.

The pattern suggested use of calico fabrics in florals, to suggest two young girls or women folding a quilt. It totally reminded me of my Holly Hobby doll from my childhood! ANyhow, I wanted to use traditional Amish colors so went and bought solid cotton fabrics in red, green and purple. This quilted hanging was using a method called paper-piecing. I hadn't done this ever so it was my first experience. And when I sew for someone, I ALWAYS think of the happiness they bring me and my family...I knew that Loretta would like this project. I couldnt wait to finish it.

I wanted each of the two girls to have different apron prints so I bought "etchings" fabric and got the same shade of white but 2 different prints! The aprons are raised off the hanging in that they are sewn at the front and top but not the outter side so it gives a 3-D effect. The sleeves are done in a similiar way to making yo-yos, then tacked on the top to give a 3-dimensional effect. I added the bows at the end. I tacked the smaller quilt down on top of the larger one so it is a little raised too.

I am not usually up for sewing tiny pieces of fabric. I remember my mom making my Barbie clothes when I was little. I never in a million years thought in my adult life I would sew such tiny pieces together. Although I have sewn tiny pieces in the past, this was a challenge coupled with the fact that I hadn't done paper-piecing before! I quilted and binded it at the end and I am quite proud of how this turned out:
The infamous "grass" backdrop:

The finished product and me to show the scale of the hanging:

Cherry Summer Quilted Tote

Okay, okay!! I know I have been on a quilted bag kick...but aren't they just too cute??!!! Leah Lowe turned 5 on September 7th and I had her fabrics thought out weeks in advance...

*Black double cherry
*Fresh green grassy
*Frolicky yellow bumble bee
*Crisp red with shooting stars

I was excited to try something new and went with "reversible" straps. I really wanted the black to end up on the bottom of the bag which would help the bag not get dingy on the bottom with use. This left the tips being black as well. I didn't want to line the bag with black since it was a whimsical bag for a little girl...I much rathered the fresh green fabric for the job. Instead of choosing one or the other and having the strap ends seen "ending" at the bag, I did the green under and the black on top so it looks seamless. I was quite pleased, indeed.

This is the same miniature size as the little quilt tote I made for Daniella a few weeks back. The finished bag stands 8 1/2" tall without straps and 5-5 1/2" wide. This charming tote is 14" from top of straps down if you are holding it. Each dainty quilt block measures 1.5" X 1.5".

I listed this bag on my Etsy store online: http://www.IceCreamDream.etsy.com/ . It would be nice to start listing these and making them to order...I will whip it up this weekend if I haven't sold it by then and just have it done and ready to ship. Worst case scenario, I will gift it for the holidays :)

Finished bag picture, thanks to my brother-in-law's studio: