I’ve started sewing a few things just for me to get my creative juices flowing.  I have been wanting to try a funky red log cabin quilt for awhile now.  I love those modern ones, but when it came for making my own, I kind of went with traditional.  We’ll see how it turns out in the end, but honestly, I did start with modern colors!   I tossed in some orange and purple plus made the center square yellow.  I’ve always believed that the traditional center of a log cabin block was red to represent the brick hearth.  I’ve gone with yellow in the centers of my blocks.  I just learned that it represents the light from the home.  Who knew?  If you want to read more about the log cabin design you can read this great short piece by Karen Griska.  I love the yellow with the other warm colors.  So far, this is what I wanted, even if it’s not the modern design I originally envisioned.  I have more than enough strips precut and can sew these blocks at my leisure, from time to time.  This is a long term project with no pressure at all.  I like having a simple project at the ready where the measuring is all done.  Here’s how it looks so far.

Another quilt that I’ve started is a Bonnie Hunter Scrappy trip around the world.  This design uses any and all fabric and is the ultimate scrap buster.  I always assumed this was made with individual squares.  Dummy me!  Of course you would make this with strips to cut down on time and have more even squares.  I’ve got lots of 2 1/2″ strips ready for bindings and now I’m lining up those strips to be 18″ and cutting them into 6 squares a piece.   Here’s what I have so far.  I’m just at the very first block, but I like it very much.  Forgive the lighting but it’s just taped up on my wall for now.  I like the reds with the gold.  I will try to put in some “uglier” fabrics when making these blocks.  I have seen how a few surprises makes this quilt even better.  It will be a lot of color to look at when it’s done, which I don’t mind.  I love the construction and free for all process of making these one at a time from strips.

I’ve been wanting to try another dress with that donated tulle in my stash.  I opened up another 99cent Simplicity pattern, this one is (#1486OS) with many party dresses for dolls.   I have a beloved Violette print “Meadow Blooms – Midnight” by Amy Butler that is so bright and cheerful.  I have been saving it for something special.  This is the right time and it goes beautifully with the turquoise tulle!  This was so fun to make, very easy and those sleeves, with a coordinating turquoise flower print, are lovely.  I could easily see a little girl in a real size of this dress with a pink ribbon around the waist and tied in a bow at the back.

And of course, I’ve been sewing more drawstring doll dresses.  The one below is a turquoise seersucker print with macaroons.  I’ve paired it with a yellow striped trim to add a sunny mood.  The seersucker fabric is very thin and crisp.  It almost feels like paper.  While it’s fine for a doll, I’m not sure I would want to wear it.

Finally, I’ve been making the same pair of little boy shorts for A Doll Like Me.  While they’re cute, I don’t like that the seam shows on one side of the cuff.  Introducing, a different design of shorts, the Cargo Shorts by 123 Mulberry Street.   This pattern can be found at Pixiefaire.com, along with many other wonderful doll patterns.  I didn’t have the D-ring that’s called for on these shorts.  That would be so adorable, but I went ahead with what I had at home.  The first pair are cargo shorts that look like swim trunks.. oh well!  I love the Michael Miller zoology animal pattern and even was able to match the pocket to fit the pattern on the left.  The fabric is fun and very masculine, but even a girl like me would love a skirt in it too!

This next pair of cargo shorts are more traditional.  Here, I used a fun modern blue print and when sewing, attached the extra pocket to add authenticity.  This pattern is very easy and fun to make.  I changed the biggest pocket design to be an actual functioning pocket.  Not only isn’t that hard to do, it’s part of the fun in being able to put little treasures in the pockets.  I can sew more of these, but first I need to know from Amy at A Doll Like Me if these will fit her wonderful dolls.  If these work, I’ll gladly make more.

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