Animal (or Jungle) Puff Quilt

The day after I finished the Pirate Puff Quilt, I got this next puff quilt done (click this link to find the tutorial at HoneyBear Lane). I had a hard time sending this one off and away...I loved it, but since we aren't the ones having the baby I figured we didn't need it. Sigh. Good thing I saved the templates so I can make me one someday.

I found darling wood cutouts at the store that I fell in love with. I looked all over for fabric to match them, but nothing quite fit, so I decided I was going to make my own. Only there was a problem with that as well...there were only 6 animals and I needed 8 to make the pattern work just right (2 animals of each color). So I went to work and designed two more animals so that there would be two animals of each color. I came up with the snail and the hippo and the others I used the wood cutouts. I used squares of heavy muslin and traced the outlines of the animals on, and then I painted 4 of each animal. 

I know this picture almost looks like it's up-side-down, but it's not. I made sure that there wasn't a right or a wrong way to the blanket. There is one of each animal facing each direction, so no matter what side of the blanket you are looking at, you see 1 of each of the 8 animals facing you. 

Again, I used the leftover binding as the tie for this blanket, and then I attached a little scrap-booking name tag. 

 Here are the 8 animals up close. I can't decide which is my favorite...I love them all. 

2 baby presents down...many more to go. 

Pirate Puff Quilt

I've been working on quite a few baby presents as of late and I finally got a few finished! 

I learned how to make the puff quilt from HoneyBear Lane. At the time that I made the first puff quilt, the tutorial was open for everyone on the blog. Since then, Heidi @ HoneyBear Lane revamped it and it is now for sale here (for a very reasonable price). For this puff quilt I went off of memory from making the first one, and I think I figured it out. 

I loved the pirate fabric as soon as I saw it in the store. I knew I had to have it, and luckily I knew just the person who needed a pirate blanket for their little boy. 

The extra binding made a great bow tie for the blanket.
I attached a small scrapbooking tag to the binding with ribbon with the name of the parent and baby. 

GEAR (UP) Head...

I have so many projects I want to do right now. I have a number of projects started. Blankets, cross-stich work, painting plans, wall hangings, a veggie garden, a flower garden, etc. I want to get items made for my new kitchen theme (PIGS!), I want to make more bouquets, I want to start making my bags, I would love to have the patience to sew me a dress. Now I just need time, money, and plenty of patience. Bah. Once I get GEAR UP (a summer camp I teach at) over with I can find a job, and maybe have a little time and brain power to get some of these projects going. Right now all my energy and time is going into GEAR UP, but that'll be over with next Friday, followed by a detox day in Phoenix crossing of one of the items on my bucket list-Les Miserables. This summer is unsure and unstable, but I'm determined to make it good. It will be good!