old to new!

Sorry for the silence on my end... I've been busy whipping up little baby items, especially made from recycled t-shirts. Knits were something my old machine just could not handle, but the new machine...well...she loves the knits. Here's a sampling:

The leggings were made with a pattern by made by rae, the hats were from PrudentBaby.com, the baprons are from Craftiness Is Not Optional, and the little tunic dresses are my invention....because we're having a little lady!





If you're interested in a turorial for the stripey dress, let me know!
Oh, and I finished the baby quilt, thanks in part to quilter's tape. Ever used it? Lovely stuff!

newness and news!

All kinds of exciting things happening here at the Carestio household. First, I took the plunge - FINALLY! - and bought a new sewing machine. Take a looksee at my new Babylock Elizabeth - it has all the features I've been wanting and, well, it's green! At this point, anything would have been an upgrade from my old (much-loved, trusty) Singer, and it is pretty magical!



It will come in VERY handy this year...in fact, I used it to finish up this quilt top that I started in December. It's an easy peasy little baby quilt, but I'm quite in love. Who is it for, you ask? A good question.... me! Well, not me exactly, but for my little bean! Billy and I are expecting a new little Carestio in early August! We are so excited and feeling so blessed and already feeling surrounded by love and support from our family and friends. Can't wait to start this next part of our journey together.... and Violet can't wait to be an aunty! Needless to say, you'll be seeing 100% more baby projects around here in the coming months. If you know of any good baby projects online, please feel free to pass it on!

more (and more) pluses

I think Quilt Market was just what I needed to get back in my sewing groove! I made the quilt top for this baby quilt in a flurry back in September and haven't had a chance to think about it since.... until now, of course, since we're headed for the baby shower tomorrow. I tried a few new things with this quilty - grid lines, sprinkled pluses, variegated thread - that I can already tell will be making a repeat appearance later. And I finally feel like I'm getting a bit better at binding (which is cute and stripey, though hard to tell in the photo) - major yay! I can't wait to give this quilty to the expectant couple (good, good friends of ours); so fulfilling to give a handmade something!

I always feel compelled to add a little sneaky sweetness...

Speaking of making and giving, we held a little scrappy pincushion swap in our Asheville Modern Quilt Guild. Since I'm (always!) in plus mode, I tried some easy peasy appliqued pluses on linen (with a felt base). Hope my partner likes it!

Still pondering a new sewing machine.... and open to input!

birds and plus signs - a love affair!

Someday I'll bring these two elements together in some glorious quilty (sorry, to-do list!) but I'm just still enjoying exploring. It's kind of nice to do something over and over again, exploring the same form again and again but trying new directions and ideas. I've been meaning to try this plus sign design for a while (ever since making this back in January), and thank goodness I have the perfect excuse now - a lovely little lady due in January 2011.

And then I made a little blackbirdy something for a birthday gift. I'm lovin the asterisk - speaking of future explorations. This was also a lovely experiment in hand stitching. Boy, when hand stitching doesn't totally annoy me, it's kinda nice. And hey, wait a minute: is that a plus sign? Way down there in the corner....

welcome 2010: project #1

Project #1 is officially in the books! This baby quilt (for a friend who's due in February - mums the word!) was so fun. Of course, the kelpy design/motif continues to make an appearance, but I did try a few new things with this one: spot tying, hand stitches, and taking my time. Seems like I'm always trying to work as fast as I can, but I really tried to slow things down. I think some good came of it... including my growing love affair with my walking foot. How'd I ever do it before?

Here are a few more close-ups; I think close-up photos always do a better job of capturing a quilt anyway! But I do have dreams of a new camera. And I'm open to suggestions (hint, hint)...