Friday Fascination

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Big and Done

Because our driveway still has a bit of snow, I thought we might be able to get a full-view photo of my finished Lizard Toes at a nearby playground. Gale-force winds carried the quilt down from the jungle gymn and right into a collection of goose poop. So, I didn't have to wait for heavy use to throw this giant baby in the wash.

The only other place I could think of for a photo was the inside of our garage door. I clipped it up there, snapped the photos, then threw it in the wash again. So now it's a bit softer on my bed, and I love it more each and every day!

I had forgotten I still use the pillowcases that match the sheet I used for a quarter of Lizard Toes' backing. I'd used most of the sheet as backing for grandkid quilts a few years ago. The sheets had been designated for the recycle stash thanks to a few worn-out spots caused by Lizard's restless legs... back when he could actually sleep in the bed. The pillowcases that match four sheets I've used as quilt backings still get regular rotation on the bed, and I was rather thrilled to see the purple pillowcases shout out in harmony when I decided to use the backside of the quilt as the top this time around.

Now I just need to finish putting the grommets in the rest of the leftover fabric so my bedroom curtains will match the back of the quilt, too!

Linking up with Alycia Quilts.

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Little Miss Best Dressed

Someone started kindergarten this year, and Grandma intended to make some new outfits prior to September. Lizard's August surgery and 2020 in general got very much in the way. Yet Grandma finally found some sewing time, and Little Miss has a whole new wardrobe! With a few extra unplanned accessories...



Most of the dresses were made with fabrics Grandma had on hand, but there was a bit of yardage she mail-ordered specifically for her little horse lover. All the dresses were made with the same pattern because it's the only one Grandma had on hand that would fit, and she didn't have time to or want to go shopping for more. Jumpers are fun, though, because they may be worn alone, with a T-shirt or a long-sleeved shirt or even a sweater over the top for a variety of different looks.











Grandma didn't have enough fabric leftover from every dress to make a matching mask, but there were plenty of fabrics in Grandma's stash for a variety of masks, too.



Grandma had a big stack of white washclothes she had to order in too big a bulk back in the spring during shelter-in-place when Lizard could take only sponge baths. Only a fraction of the washcloths were used, so Grandma dipped into the stash to make some bibs for Li'l Man, who made his debut two weeks before Lizard's August surgery.









There was enough skull fabric to make a Halloween dress, a mask, a bib and masks for Mom and Dad, too.





Grandma had fashioned curtains from her kids' bedroom windows two decades ago into a quilt for Li'l Man prior to his arrival. There was enough of one fabric leftover to make a couple more accessories, too.











Little Miss likes the box the gifts came in as much as the gifts.



An Elsa dress means, of course, an Elsa braid. Mom reports someone's kindergarten class was deeply impressed.



All the dresses are twirly. (And Little Miss wanted to show Grandma her new backpack.)



The skull dress didn't get to be worn prior to Halloween, unfortunately. Three of the dresses, including the skull dress, wouldn't fit over Little Miss' head. Grandma had to mail-order premium stamps to send to Mom so Mom could return the three misfits for alterations, then the waiting game began. Snail mail is taking a lot longer these days.

Grandma finally received a package from Mom, and alternations could begin. Grandma opted for a quick fix and got the dresses back in the mail to Little Miss this week.



Thankfully, Grandma had also fashioned a second Halloween dress from a piece of sheer shimmery spiderweb fabric from her own handmade costume about a decade earlier. She knew her granddaughter would adore it because Little Miss' favorite color is purple. Little Miss wasted no time accessorizing the backup costume and collecting plenty of treats while matching Mom.







Of course, Grandma had to whip up a little dress to match a big dress. She hopes one day to get a photo of both dresses on their respective models together, in person. For right now, Photoshop provides the loving bond.





Linking up with Alycia Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

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Cold Color

My avocado pit dye jars are inside for winter now. I let my socks, my scrunchie, one more hank of crochet thread, Lizard's tie and two more fat quarters solar cook in the living room window for two additional weeks, but only the socks and scrunchie took up more color.

That tie looks pretty darned sharp, though, don't you think???


The crochet thread actually did get a tiny bit darker, but you have to look really close to see the difference. Nevertheless, I'm going to have fun using it. I LOVE the crochet thread shades I got!


The smaller dye jar, with the skins, doesn't seem to be getting any darker, so I may go ahead and incorporate it into the compost bin. I need to start making more room for the amaryllises chilling in the basement. I'm going to start bringing them out one at a time each week beginning in November, hoping for flowers all the way through March. The absence of the skin jar isn't going to make a whole lot of new space, but maybe on warmer days I could put the avocado pit jars out in the sun while it's warm, then bring them back inside overnight, and it won't matter that they don't have a window seat.


I was hoping for time to make at least one quilt block with the natural-dyed fat quarters. Perhaps the forced delay will give me more time to decide what I want them to become. Sometimes I entertain the idea of designing a patchwork dress. But a natural-dyed quilt is tugging at my creative juices, too.




Linking up with Alycia Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

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Memory Lane

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