Jen's Popperie

Here is the family tree quilt that my mom, cousin, aunt, sis-in-law and I made for my Grandma Ruth for Christmas this year. I saw a quilt design in a Pottery Barn magazine, and thought....hmmmmmm....we could make a family tree quilt. So, I drew up a design. We used old ties of my grandpa's, great-grandpa's, and uncles for the leaves.

Here I'm explaining what we did to my grandma. It was quite a process. After drawing the tree, I traced it onto some fusible interfacing, fused it to the brown fabric, cut that tree out. Then, I hemmed around the edges of the tree, then sewed it onto the cream fabric. We all took some of the ties, cut them apart, and made the leaves. We then sewed them onto the branches. Then, Aunt Margit did a wonderful job of embroidering all of our names on the branches. I quilted it, mom trimmed around the edges, and bound the quilt.

For Christmas this year, Amy, Kelly, my mom and I made my grandma Edith a photo quilt.

For Christmas this year, we had a new little one on my mom's side of the family. What a fun little guy. This year, after making a photo quilt, I thought I could make some photo baby blocks. They turned out pretty well.

I am in the process of making 2 different quilts for 2 different wonderful grandmas for Christmas this year. This is the idea for the 2nd quilt. After getting the new book, Stitched in Time, by Alicia Paulson, I was inspired. She had taken black and white photos of family members and put them in a collage on a pillow. Ok....so I was in need of a quilt idea, and I tweaked the pillow thing into the quilt. I used the COOLEST material...printable fabric. You can run it right through your ink-jet printer. Way cool! So much better than the iron-on kind of thing (which I would have worried about peeling off). There were many varieties, and you can even make your own. After researching, and reading many horror stories, I decided to pay up for the convenience of buying it. I got the colorfast kind, so it will be machine washable. Not that I expect it will be washed that often, if ever.

My sis-in-law, and cousin and I spent last Sat. night sewing together all of these photos (these are the actual fabric-printed photos). The original plan was to have all of the photos black and white...after readjusting the printer settings, half of the photos turned out blue...and yes, my cousin, Kelly and I look a little like Violet from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory after she turned into a blueberry...but hey...it's fun! At first I was really annoyed...spending a not small amount of money on the printable fabric. I didn't really want to re do and reprint them all. So, we cut them all apart and laid them out. Now, I'm actually liking the mix of the blue with the black and white.

So, here is the first step. The photos are now sewn together in a random assortment like you see above. The next step will be to applique it onto a black fabric that I got. Then, we have a fun and funky flowery fabric for the back of the quilt. This is designed by Heidi Grace, for Joann Fabric. I love her line of fabrics and will definitely be making other quilts and things out of them in the future! So, it's a little retro, and a little family. How fun! I love to see the generations all come together in one big piece! I can't wait to see it all finished!

My good friend Angie recently had her second little cutie pie! For the occasion, I knit up Helena from knitty. I didn't have the correct gauge..something I don't worry too much about when I'm doing little kid stuff, since they will eventually fit into it. It's kind of funny that this sweater will fit not Audrey, but their other little girl, Lily (who is 2!). Maybe I'll get a picture of a little model of it :) I am happy both will get some use of it! I really liked knitting this up, and it went quickly. I used Vanna's Acrylic's. Who knew Vanna White made yarn! HA! It's kind of bizarre...but, it was really soft to work with, and held it's shape pretty well. I would use it again.

This summer, Chris and I visited my brother, Brian, in North Dakota, where he is working for a few months. While we were there, we spent a little time at Barnes & Noble. I, of course, had to check out the knitting and crafty section! Now, I know that I have many patterns, and there are lots of great knitting patterns on the internet...but, I found a WONDERFUL book. Yes, I have a weakness. Many patterns that I run across seem to be frumpy or baggy...these are definitely not. They are fun, a little more form fitting, and a little more trendy. Needless to say, I was all over this book. It's Sensual Knits by Yahaira Ferreira. I would like to make everything in the book! (Just about)

Here is the first thing that I am knitting...Vixen! I love everything about this pattern...color, style, and the form-fitting figure. I have begun the lace pattern, and it's actually pretty simple.

This is also the first time I have ordered yarn on line. Usually, I like to touch and feel yarn, just because I want to know what it's going to be like. I try to find substitutions that the pattern calls for, in a not-as-expensive yarn, and then I'm disappointed. After trying to find yarn at a local knitting shop--(the shop closed, I learned when I arrived) I opted for online. I was going to use the exact yarn the pattern called for thinking that the gauge would be correct, and I would have the same effect as I was expecting. It called for a yarntini sock yarn...but they are out of stock EVERYWHERE! How frustrating!

So, I then looked at Ravelry (great knitting site if you have not joined--(free!!)) at other people's projects to see what other styles I liked. It's great, because if you enter projects that you have worked on, you can put in the pattern, pictures, yarn used, etc. I found a picture that I liked and ordered the same yarn...enough of trying to figure out my own yarn substitute. I'm going to like this one. I'm using Plymouth Yarn's Happy Feet sock yarn, red/wine color through Noble Knits.com. So, I should have a similar color as to the picture above. So far, so good. I love the feel of the merino. Again, another reinforcement that I love knitting with natural fibers! Wool is yummy!

So, many weeks ago, I finished the "Weekender Bag" designed by Amy Butler. I made one for my sis-in-law, and here is the one I made for myself. I love the pattern, and I love the spaciousness of it. It's great for all of my knitting stuff!

Our friends, Jeremy & Sara are expecting a new little one in a little less than a month. Their friends threw them a little baby shower, so here are some of the things I made. I decided on a colorful blanket and pattern, as they don't know if they are having a boy or a girl.

I made some matching burp cloths as well. I got the idea from a burp cloth my cousin has for her little guy. Thinking....I could totally make that. That's the one problem (if I can call it that) that I always run into. When I see creative or interesting things, I always have to figure out how I could make it. It used to be that I HAD to make something, or at least try, if I thought of an idea. Now, I'm able to say no...seeing as though I have tons of partially finished things. I have been able to limit myself on beginning new projects. Unless it is for something or someone really special, I don't begin a new thing. I've got to finish all of the other things that I've started. But, at this point in my life, there is always a new baby on the way, or Christmas gift to make. Maybe I'll make a new year's resolution next year to not start anything new until all of my partially finished projects are done. I guess it's just the multi-tasking part of me. I always have to have more than one thing going on. Maybe one day I want to work on a mindless knitting project where I just knit or purl, and don't have to follow a specific busy pattern. Or, I want to sew. Maybe another day I want to do something a little more complex, like a lace or multi-colored fair isle pattern. It really depends on my mood. Thinking in this way, it's also part of the reason I love teaching elementary art--there is just such a variety in the ages of kiddos and what they can do. At school, I'm always teaching 5 different projects. It keeps me on my toes!

Thank goodness it's summer...for sure! I have been spending the vast majority of summer cleaning out and purging stuff. I painted my crafty room, and have just about got it how I want it. I actually got rid of things that I don't think I will actually use. It's a great feeling. I have been doing a little bit of crafty stuff...I've been working a little bit on a "granny square" baby blanket for "someday". Any time I work on it, Muggles is either playing with the remnants of balls of yarn, or is sitting right in the middle of what I have finished.


Please ignore the blurs if at all possible. I had to catch Muggles quickly...not that she had any intention of moving anywhere I guess:) Any time I lay out the squares, she wants to be right in the center of it all...pretty much the normal thing for all cats and any projects.

Out of boredom, or curiosity or something, I decided to take a quiz....I think it's probably pretty accurate. Fun fun! You Are An INFJ

The Protector You live your life with integrity, originality, vision, and creativity. Independent and stubborn, you rarely stray from your vision - no matter what it is. You are an excellent listener, with almost infinite patience. You have complex, deep feelings, and you take great care to express them. In love, you truly see relationships as an opportunity to connect and grow. You enjoy relationships as long as they are improving and changing. You can't stand stagnation. At work, you stay motivated and happy... as long as you are working toward a dream you support. You would make a great photographer, alternative medicine guru, or teacher. How you see yourself: Hardworking, ethical, and helpful When other people don't get you, they see you as: Manipulative, weak, and unstable

My sis-in-law, Amy and I recieved sewing machines from my parents for Christmas gifts a few years back. We, along with my cousin, Corinne, had a sewing party a few weekends ago, in hopes of creating some purses for Mother's Day. We picked out a pattern and fabric by Amy Butler. She has some great patterns and fabric designs. I love how her fabric looks a little retro but also fresh and new at the same time. I will try to get a pic of the finished purse on soon.





Here's a closeup of the flowers from the trees. What's cool is the flowers seem to pop right out of the branches before the leaves even do. They remind me a little bit of lilacs, but with a new twist.
The grandmas were also able to celebrate with Brian. Since it was over Mother's Day, we also brought along the Mother's Day presents for everyone. I sewed pajama pants (out of a new Amy Butler book) for all. Just a few adjustments are needed.


A few weeks ago, I co-hosted a baby shower for my cousin, Kari, with her sister, Corinne. They are welcoming little baby Jack in just a few weeks! We are very excited for her! I knit for Jack the Trellis sweater. I had a good time knitting this sweater, and will have to do it again someday when we have one of our own.

So...yes, I have been busy, but busy in the sense of crafting and creating, and not posting! As of now, I have finished 4 pajama bottoms for Mother's Day---from a book by Amy Butler, and 1 purse/handbag that I sewed as my sister-in-law and cousin and I had a sewing party/night. I've been kind of in a sewing-inspired mood. I also co-hosted a baby shower for my cousin Kari...for which I finished the Trellis sweater...for their little boy. I WILL get the photos of all of that stuff up soon, I hope!

This past weekend we were down in Ames to watch my baby brother graduate! It was a great time had by all! I will be better at posting, seriously! Where does the time go?

In honor of my cousin Kimberly's new little girl on the way, I knit up this little dress this week. It is taken from Louisa Harding's Natural Knits for Babies and Moms. I used Lion Brand Cotton Ease. It was a really nice yarn to work with. It took just one week, a couple of long car rides to and from Oklahoma City. Here are a couple of more views. I will have to make another of these...although the smallest size came out a little larger than expected. She'll just have to grow into it. I can't wait to see a pic of it on her! Congrats Kim & Garrett!