Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for August, 2011

Fishy Fishy

Posted in Quilting, tagged , , on August 31, 2011 | 3 Comments »

The fishies arrived!  And I’m done hand stitching the locations with the exception of a few okinas and apostrophes.  Next, the trail {biting nails}.

Meet the fish:

Mr. Whale has a few new friends.

Two fish buddies cruising by Waipi'o Valley.

{Note: Isaac hand stitched the “y” in Valley, which happened to be the last letter to complete the locations.  He was upset that he only caught me on the last letter as he was hoping to do more.  I’ll share with you his new found interest at the end.  He’s too funny.  Ps. Isaac is my 11 yr old step son.}

And three more over by Magic Sands since there is a fish reserve in Keauhou.

Aw so fun!  I love these little guys.  I hand stitched them into place by using the color of their tail side.  I think they look oh so cute and I bet they will be loved by the little one.  My littlest, Carmen, was trying to convince me that I didn’t need to put them all on the quilt because she NEEDS a fish hair clip, especially the pink one by Mr. Whale.  Oh that girl…I think I heard “Please” 4 million times.  After reminding her about Nemo and how sad Miss Pink Fishy would be if we separated her from the pack, she agreed.  They should stick together and so they shall.

I also added more depth to the lava flow.  Thank you Sarah for the advice and help with the color selection.  Oh and I thank you a million times over for ripping out the “spider” craters for me.  She also hand stitched “Mauna Loa” for me, which guided me to enlarge some of the locations and hand stitch in a better way.  You just never know what “girls night” at my house will have you doing.  I promise not to torture you ever again…xoxo

Lava Flow

Here I am with just a few more things to do before I can baste and quilt.  I’ll be hand stitching the trail, soccer ball, and need to do something to add sand by the beach appliques.  My original plan was to have more appliqued locations, but at this point I’m thinking less is more.

Island Trails

{Note: If you are wondering what the purple marks are, it’s dissapearing ink.  Ironically, it’s still there…go figure.  However, it will wash out.}

I’ve also picked out the back fabric & binding fabric.  Thankfully, I purchased these when they came out.  Good luck finding them now.  It’s just insane how fast collections fly in and out of shops.

I’m so excited about both:

Back: Vice Versa by Alice Kennedy/Green

Binding: Make Life by Sweetwater from Moda/Tangerine

Back & Binding

And there you have it.  My WIP Wednesday is full of cuteness!

Oh and so is Isaac!  Here he is debuting his masculine and feminine side:

Isaac

 He was begging to hand stitch.  I found some extra fabric and stretched it in a hoop.  I outlined his name with “disappearing” ink and treaded a needle.  He had been watching me and took it from there.  He loved doing it and added the C. because he didn’t want to stop.  I was VERY impressed.

Hope you’re having a happy day…

♥ R

Read Full Post »

- – Trailing Along – -

Posted in Embroidery, Quilting, tagged , , , on August 24, 2011 | 14 Comments »

I’m back to work on my Island Trails quilt this week.  Yesterday, I was able to do quite a bit {thanks to my “sick” monster who kept us home all day}.  First, I attached the border.  I know that was really jumping ahead, but I was so over working on the small details.  I decided to do a patchwork border incorporating the solid green colors of the appliqued island and some fun Hawaiian prints.  {I know, what’s up with me and patchwork lately?}  Two of the Hawaiian prints are full of “I spy” sort of stuff.  There’s octopus {or maybe it’s a jelly fish}, crab, turtle, bento plate, bonsai tree, fish, surf board, ice shave, hula dancers, etc.  My hope is that it’s a fun border to search for things that open up story time full of daddy’s memories.  Yes, I’m a sentimental sap!  I was instructed that the overall color be green, so hopefully I’ve added a bit more.  The vast ocean is VERY a tad overwhelming.  I was so nervous about the turquoise color, so I reeled in dad to help out!  {NOT MOM, THIS IS A SURPRISE}.  He said, “It looks like an ocean to me”!  Gosh, I love the way guys think.  Okay moving on…

Patchwork Boarder: 3 1/2" Finished Squares

After I finished stitching together the border, I was inspired to get back to the small details.  I started by hand stitching craters on the mountain tops.  THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AND WILL BE TAKEN OUT!  It looked so cool on the map, but not so much on fabric.  My hubby got home and wondered why I put spiders on the mountains, not good!  After I was done, I had to laugh at myself.  It’s sort of a bummer because I was just certain that would make the mountains more mountain looking, but it doesn’t and now what?  My hubby thinks it looks better with nothing and that I should leave out literal images from the map.  He’s right.  Just cute stuff and not bung hole looking stuff, ick!  Can’t wait to rip that out!  I can’t believe I am showing you, but here it is…

{Insert Sheepish Grin of Embarrassment}

But not to worry, I shall fix it and not sweat the waisted 30 minutes of finger breaking work, kidding!  Next, I stitched up quite a few locations.  Here’s a few…

East Shore

Technically, Richardsons is slang.  If you talk to anyone around here, you’ll hear them reference Richardson Beach Park as Richardsons, so I decided to forgo the formalities and just keep it real.  I’m happy about that decision.

Lava Flow

Puʻu ʻŌʻō has been erupting continuously since January 3, 1983, making it the longest-lived rift-zone eruption of the last two centuries.  {Thank you Wiki}  Pretty cool right?  I need to add the ʻ and – to the letters.

South Point

All the hand stitched locations are in off-white embroidery thread.  I chose to use a color that can’t be seen from a distance so that the quilt will look simple.  Once you get up close you can discover a map full of fun places to imagine.  Plus after years and years of wear the lettering won’t look as good and won’t be as noticeably worn in off-white.

So that’s it folks.  It’s a special project for a dad that wants to share the wonder of his childhood with his first-born child.  I think that’s pretty darn special & am really stoked for the challenge.

♥ R

Ps. Proof these places are FULL of memories…for my family too!:

4 Mile & Richardsons

What’s so interesting is that these two beaches are neighbors and have different colors of sand.  4 Mile has white sand and Richardsons has black sand?  I guess it’s just one of those mysteries!

Read Full Post »

Ready for Kirrah

Posted in Quilting, tagged , , on August 22, 2011 | 4 Comments »

This cutie was stitched up pretty quick.  Finishing in at 36″ by 36″, it was a rather fast project.  It’s really nice to have those once in a while.  The quilting was done by a walking foot in a criss cross pattern.  Simple, yet highly effective for texturizing.  The frames of Appleville fabric have a hand stitched boarder.  My mom said, “wow it’s rustic”.  Hmmm, okay then!  I was thinking it looked more handmade or maybe a tad more quirky, but I like rustic too.

Details:

Criss Cross Machine Quilting

Hand Quilted - - - X X - - -

Hand Quilted Boarder

Back: Tossed Purses in Pink by Studio E House

{I’m contemplating “stitching in the ditch” around the Appleville frames.  I’m not sure I like the puffy sections}

Appleville + Hello Kitty

Machine Binding

 All ready for Kirrah!

♥ R

Read Full Post »

Appleville + Hello Kitty = ♥

Posted in Quilting, tagged , , on August 18, 2011 | 4 Comments »

Oh this quilt is so fun!  I found a 1/4″ yard of Appleville Screen Print by Suzy Ultman {Robert Kaufman Fabrics} at our local discount fabric warehouse.  It was sent over as an end of the bolt scrap and in the discount pile {insert heavenly angels singing} for only $1.50.  I was at the fabric store picking up hello kitty fabric for a special someone and Hawaiian prints for my island trails quilt.  Let’s just say I had way to much success at the fabric store:  $86.25 later + eye rolls from my hubby, I was out of there.  Actually, he’s really good about my fabric obsession.  I think.  Well, most of the time.

In all my ocd-ness about the fabric scrap pile full of pure awesomeness, it didn’t occur to me that I could mix the appleville and hello kitty prints.  That light bulb moment happened when I was pulling the freshly cleaned and fluffy fabrics out of the dryer.  The prints worked so well together and really added something special to the otherwise plain ol’ hello kitty.

Take a look see:

Appleville + Hello Kitty

See what I mean?  Don’t get me wrong, hello kitty is cute.  I do like it.  However, the amount of fabulous alternatives out in the textile world is remarkable.  That being said, if you’re not much of a fabric connoisseur, how would you know?  You wouldn’t.  Hopefully my fabric scrap find of appleville screen print will be appreciated by my hello kitty fans.  I think the two work really well together.  I did end up leaving out the majority of girls.  They sort of stole the show and that wasn’t what I had in mind.  So out they went and I filled in the blank space with 4″ X 4″ squares of a hello kitty print and some other favorites.

Here’s what I could salvage out of the 1/4″ yard of appleville screen print:

Appleville Screen Print Squares

Like I mentioned, I tossed out the girls with the red and blue background.  Although I LOVE them, hello kitty needed to be more prominent.  The plan was to frame these squares in some sort of Kona solid that would make them pop.  I left that up to my hubby.  He was heading into town to pick up some work supplies and I happened to mention that it would be awesome if he could stop by the fabric store and pick up some bubble gum pink {not actually name} Kona solid fabric for me.  After a little show and tell of what I was planning, he was very certain a blue or green would be better.  He was convincing and RIGHT!  So off he went and he come back with this.  It works so well.

Kona Cotton: Spearmint

Kona Cotton: Robin's Egg

You’ll have to forgive me as I’m guessing about the colors he chose.  He neglected to pay attention, but I was so happy it didn’t bother me since he saved me from pepto-bismol hell.  The framed squares needed to essentially replace the patchwork squares at their location.  That meant that my measurements for the squares + frames needed to be divisible my 4″ both in width and height.  That meant the frames are irregular and I really like that.  The patchwork squares are sprinkled around the frames of the appleville fabric.  There’s just something about a simple patchwork quilt that feels so inviting and comfortable.  It reminds me of being a little girl.  My mother.  And all the comforts of home.  I hope this quilt will be such comfort to Kirrah as she journeys through her next few months at Kapio’lani Medical Center and she continues to grow.

Finished Layout:

Appleville + Hello Kitty Layout

This just might end up being one of my favorite quilts. {36″ Finished Square}

Girly.  Quirky.  Yummy.

♥ R

Read Full Post »

Baby Kirrah Kahu’omana’o'i’o

Posted in Family, Quilting, tagged , on August 17, 2011 | 5 Comments »

Sweet baby Kirrah was born WAY to early.  It’s beyond me how a baby can survive at 1lb, 6oz at birth.  Well, she has and she’s doing wonderfully.  The staff at Kapio’lani Medical Center are among the best and what a blessing to have them just an island hop away.

Kapio'lani Name Tag

Kirrah Holding Mommy's Hand

Kirrah is the daughter of Lehani & Warren.  They are young newlyweds just starting their lives together {their wedding gift is blogged here}.  Lehani is the daughter of my hubby’s cousin Lilia, who we LOVE!  Their family has been so encouraging and supportive to our family and you WILL be laughing continuously while you’re around them.  Their tenacity for life and their love for God have really been their rock.  Along with so many friends and family who have been supporting them in prayer and contributions.

Today, Kirrah is 2 months old and weighs 3lbs, 3ozs.  She’s a miracle.

Kirrah at 2 Months Old {3lbs, 3ozs}

Recently, I was perusing the blogging land of quilting and ran across a charity group quilting for premature baby units at hospitals.  Of course I thought about Kirrah and knew I was going to make her one too.  A quilt is probably the last thing she needs.  I’m guessing she’s gotten a few blankets and such, but it’s what I do.  They’ve requested a pink Hello Kitty theme.  I’m not the most trendy person, but I think I can manage.

A few of my fabric choices:

Hello Kitty

I’ll be making a preemie quilt.  They typically measure 18″ X 20-24″, which is ridiculously small.  She has strict orders to keep growing so it’ll be more like 30″ X 36″ or maybe 30″ square.  I’m either going to do a wonky star quilt or simple patch work inserting  frames of  Robert Kaufman’s Appleville Screen Print by Suzy Ultman {which is WAY better than “hello kitty”…shhhh!}.  I snagged a little over 1/4″ yard at our local discount fabric warehouse.  WHO NEVER HAS AWESOME FABRICS!  I literally FREAKED out yesterday when I walked in a found 3 tables piled full of modern fabrics.  They were end of the bolts sent from some WAY COOL shop elsewhere.  The sizes ranged from 1/4″ yard – 1/2″ yard for $1.50 each.  Do you realize I order these fabrics online for double and pay shipping?  I was in heaven.  My favorite finds will be up to view very soon…

In the meantime, sweet Kirrah keep on getting stronger and bigger by the minute.  We are all so amazed by your strength and perseverance.

Tons of love,

Aunty Robin

{if you have projects in the works, head over to freshly pieced and share them.  you’ll get more traffic & find lots of inspiration!}

Read Full Post »

OrDeR hApPy

Posted in Online Fabric Shop, tagged on August 16, 2011 | 2 Comments »

Every once in a while I get to order something that makes me completely tickled pink!  Wanna see?

Coming all the way from South Korea:

Sold at Cosy9 Fabrics

Russian Bambuska Doll Heavyweight Fabric

And from the good ol’ USA:

Sold at twpmango

Sweet lil Fishy Fishy

Oh so happy!

♥ R

 

Read Full Post »

Windmills & Threads

Posted in Quilting, tagged , , , , , on August 10, 2011 | 13 Comments »

W.I.P.

There’s just something about them.  Not many things can catch my eye like a windmill.  The strength of their structure is so gracefully vulnerable to the power of the invisible.  It’s magical.  Truly, I can gaze admiringly for long stretches of time.  There are bunches of them on The Big Island of Hawaii’s most southern tip, South Point.  They are old, rusty, broken and seemingly forgotten.  They were replaced years ago by more robust windmills , but the originals still stand like pieces of art.

South Point Wind Farm

In thinking about my Island Trails quilt, what better representation for South Point could there be?  One unbroken windmill and the other, not so lucky.

South Point

And some threads.  Yup, I managed a little hand stitching.

Mr. Whale {Before}

Mr. Whale {After}

And without to much headache {considering transfer pencils DO NOT WORK}, my free handed attempt was an A+.

{The Big Island of Hawaii}

I’m getting there little by little.

♥ R

Read Full Post »

Island Locations {WIP}

Posted in Quilting, tagged , , , , , on August 3, 2011 | 9 Comments »

WIP IT WIP IT GOOD!

I jumped ahead on my Island Trails quilt to step 5.  Yup, it made more sense to applique the island’s locations and then hand stitch their names.  Working around the hand stitched names seemed limiting.  Who wants that?  Am I just delaying the hand stitching?  Probably.  I have about 5 – 7 more locations to do, but here’s a peak into where this quilt is heading.  Remember, it’s for a baby.  So it’s supposed to be fun and cute.  The locations are symbolic of the areas but aren’t specific to any one location.  For instance, the palm tree and surf board represent the surf locations in that area as a whole.  However, when I get to Mauna Kea and Volcano, those will be specific.  Got it?  The umbrella needs a pair of slippers, beach ball, or something to go with it.  Thinking.  And the whale isn’t stitched on or have any detail, that’s coming.

Needs: Black Sand

Needs: Off White Sand & Beach Ball, Slippers, or ?

Needs: Sitching, Spout, and Decoration

Island Trails {WIP}

This is a fun project.  Something out of the box for sure, which helps keep me on my toes.  My fear is that it will become very busy with the location names.  I may start with the most important ones and if that starts to happen, just leave out what I can.  It’s about that perfect balance.  I hope to find it and will be sure to keep you all updated.

♥ R

Read Full Post »

Appliqué {Topography}

Posted in Quilting, tagged , on August 1, 2011 | 2 Comments »

In the interest of interest itself, here’s some topography for you.  In my quest to deliver a kid friendly map of the Big island of Hawaii through fabric, I thought some topography was in order.  I also found a great online map through Wikipedia, gosh I love you Wiki!

But first, while browsing for some inspiration, I found some.

I bring you felt:

Ivy:

Passerina Chris:

Leah Evans:

These artists are no doubt beyond talented.  If it wasn’t for my Island Trails quilt order, I may have never researched “topographic quilts”.  I’m so glad I did.  One major difference between these quilts and mine is, use.  I’m quilting for a baby, which means I need to be practical.  Lots of snuggling and washing.  100 % cotton will do the trick for my needs.  Also, layering different elevations can make a quilt top very stiff, so I’m wanting as few layers as possible.  My quilt pales in comparison to the inspiration I’m showing you.  However, its simplicity is just where I’m headed.

The Big Island of Hawaii Topographic Map:

Island Trails:

So there you have it.  I’m ready for the next step.  I was planning on hand stitching the locations, but now I’m thinking I should applique the simple designs first.  My fear is having to work around the location names.  I may decide to hand stitch the names on the designs, so in that case I need to get them on first.  You see where I’m going right?  Ha, kidding.  I can imagine how confusing this is since it’s still fuzzy in my head.  Well off I go, the cutesy island appliques are next.  Hopefully it won’t be too busy and will tie together nicely.

♥ R

Read Full Post »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 29 other followers