Hello Kitty

My 9 year old loves all things Hello Kitty so when I walked into my LQS as they were packing up for the Smoky Mountain Quiltfest I could not resist the new stock.  

They had this adorable panel that my little girl just fell in love with.

Her birthday was just a couple weeks later so I had to get busy.

I squared the edges of the panel and added a simple double border with cornerstones.

The cornerstones are a square in square design.

I had to try my hand at another pieced back and came up with this belt buckle design.  I love how it mimics the cornerstones on the front.

I quilted it with a simple diagonal strip about 2.5 inches apart.

The look on my daughter's face was priceless.  I was flying pretty high until when we started taking pictures for this post.  Then my 12 year old decided she was going to steal the coordinating pillowcase I made.

We recovered it, broke up arguments and now are back to the enjoyment of a successfully crafted gift.

Have any of you crafted the perfect gift for a loved one?  Share in the comments.  I would love to hear your stories.

Sock Monkeys

Ever since the addition of our new bundle of joy the Daddy of our household has been going monkey crazy.  Little Bit is Daddy's little monkey so he has been finding monkey toys and clothes every single time we go shopping.

Here she is playing with her monkey pull toy attached to her car seat.  (Notice the monkey on her little sweater.) I've also been scoping out the monkey fabrics at all my LQS's.  I might as well jump on the bandwagon, right?

Then last week I was browsing around on Pinterest and I stumbled upon lots and lots of awesome pictures of sock monkeys.  I was bit by the bug.  After playing with several different patterns and altering them to my own liking this was my result.

Meet the newest additions to our family: Cheetah, Skittles, and Pinkie

They really like the tree in our front yard.  I think they are missing home.

Now you too can give a home to a homesick sock monkey.  Trees not a requirement.

Check out our Facebook page for details on purchasing or email me.

You can also find us over on Pinterest.

Happy Crafting!

Mama's Got a New Bag

It's springtime and I needed a bag in some of those lighter tones.  I saw a bag in one of my quilting magazines and decided to make some alterations.  I wanted something large enough to carry all the essentials from my purse with the addition of my laptop.  I often take baby girl with me to classes and the addition of the diaper bag and carseat to carry was playing havoc with my back.  I needed to eliminate a bag.

When I completed this bag I was so proud of myself.  I took it into the other room to show my husband.  I was absolutely in love with the finished product. Then.....my husband asked, "Why did you make another diaper bag?"  Way to deflate my ego. 

But now looking at it I can see possibilities in this pattern for a diaper bag....hmmm.  Just add a few pockets here and trim there.  Maybe......

But for now I am enjoying my bag as a project bag for knitting and quilting projects that I take with me to soccer and band practices (oh the joys of being a mother).

Here are a few pics of the interesting additions I made to the pattern.

Cross hatch quilting on bottom

 For the next one I would like to add some feet the base.  I hate putting cloth bags on the floor, especially after spending time putting in all the details like this quilting.

Added flap with snap

 I love the magnetic snap on a flap.  It makes me feel as if I will actually be able to keep the bag closed. "I will not overstuff, I will keep my bag organized.  I will.  I will."

Who am I kidding?

Inside pocket

I added pockets on both inside panels.  One is stitched to hold ink pens and my cell phone, while the other is left whole.  Currently the pockets are holding a needle case, spools of thread, and scissors.

Recycled Belt Piece 

 I had this metal belt that I just loved.  It has been in the bottom of my knitting basket for 3 years now waiting to be repurposed.  The clasp broke and I couldn't bear to throw it away.  The links make perfect  hardware for this bag.

Strap and Loop

I love the detail the repurposed belt link and the fabric handles and loops give.

So even though my well intentioned husband had burst my bubble, I have to give him credit.  He started my creative juices flowing again.  Elasticized pockets on the outside side panels and a row of elasticized pockets on the inside panel.  Possible different hardware.....lots of cute baby fabric....I saw some amazing robot fabric the other day....and I just found out I have a great nephew on the way.   Yes, hubby's innocent comment may have just got him more than he bargained for.

I think I need to go rewrite this pattern to fit my needs, and maybe, just maybe a trip to the fabric store is in my ever growing to do list.

Back to the Blogging World

Things have been crazy around here starting with the arrival of this cute little Christmas present.

Needless to say this beautiful baby girl has turned our household upside down.  But I am loving every minute of it.  

There has been much crafting going on and lots of pictures to share on this blog.  Stay tuned for all those little updates.

Finished Order!!!

Cosby Little League Football Cheerleader bow order is finished!  And just in time for their pictures last night.   I was able to snag a couple pictures while the girls were waiting in line.

These bows were special ordered to coordinate both with the traditional uniforms and the t-shirt/short outfits that we had made this year.   Each bow is a basic pinwheel bow on a double ribbon spike foundation.  Because these are used for cheerleading, I have followed the standard competition guidelines of no metal used.   Each bow is handsewn to a no metal clasp ponytail holder.

I am very pleased with this style.  The above bows are a 5" bow but I also make these in 4" and 3" styles.

As I mentioned in my last post football season is my busy season.  I finished this order and immediately had to begin the bow making process for the games this weekend.  So excited to be busy!!!!

I'm still here!!!!

Life around the Rathbun household has been a little crazy in the past few months.   We learned we are expecting unexpectedly.   Our new bundle of joy should be here the first of December!

As a result things have been a little out of routine for us.

But now that we have adjusted to the idea of our newest blessing, it had become a time of preparing.

I've been busy trying to finish up some UFOs so I can get started on all those cute little baby quilts and accessories.

This one is the center of a quilt I've been working on for hubby.  Still need to finish the outer border for this quilt top.

But most of my "free" time is currently being spent on hairbows.   I make and sell throughout the year but usually football season is my highest volume.  Of course that may be because this year both of our daughters are cheerleaders for our Little League.

I have seen a lot about sharing the process on many of the crafting blogs that I read so here is my attempt to share the process.

This is what my craft table currently looks like.  Looks almost organized doesn't it?  HA!!!  Unfortunately this table is currently set up in the middle of my living room.  Every year at this time hubby and I discuss my need for a separate craft room but there just is no room.   And now with a new baby coming?   But we do have some ideas that I hope to be able to share soon.

The above picture is part of an order for my daughter's Little League community.  Bows for all three levels of cheerleaders should be finished sometime today.

Here is how my family spends out home football games.

My 8 year old cut off my head when she took the picture.

Fighting with the wind to keep the bows on the table is always a challenge.

I love creating and hairbows have given me that outlet as well as a way to help with the fundraising for our Little League.  

What about you?   How does your crafting and creating inspire you?  

Long Promised Quilts

I have been long in posting these finished quilts, but I was waiting for a good day to take the pics.







About 3 weeks ago we went for a hike outside of Gatlinburg on what is known as the Settler's Trail.  Right before we left it came to me that somewhere in the woods might be the perfect place to take some pictures of my newly finished quilts.  And was I ever right.

This is my Going Wonky Quilt.  I made several wonky log cabin blocks and pieced them together with a few frog panels that I found at my LQS.  I then quilted it by simply stitching in the ditch.  It gives it a lovely pattern on the back.






The pictures of the quilts were taken at the Tyson McCarter barn on the trail.   Beautiful setting isn't it?

This is my version of Whoos Woods found in the October 2010 issue of this magazine.

Of course once I got the pics taken of my quilts, we rolled them up, put them in my backpack, and continued on our hike.

But then my thirteen year old managed to get hold of the camera.

But the rest of us were enjoying the beautiful spring day until someone (not me) fell in the creek as we were crossing. 

 I guess mountain springs in late February are somewhat chilly.  So our outing ended.