Handmade Holiday

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Orange + Gray Improv Mini by jenib320
Orange + Gray Improv Mini, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
I'm excited to finally be sharing the secret gift sewing I've been working on the last few weeks! I tried my best to keep it a handmade holiday again this year, with the exception of Michael's bar set. Although I did make him little cocktail napkins for it! Anyways, on to the sewing!

I made this little orange and gray improv mini quilt for my younger brother.  He just finished up his first semester of college and I thought he might need a little something to brighten up his dorm room. My Mom made him a wall organizer in a gray and orange fabric, so I made his quilt to match it.  I pulled mainly from my scrap bin and went about piecing it haphazardly.  The top came together quickly and it was fun to make!

Orange + Gray Improv Mini by jenib320
Orange + Gray Improv Mini, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
I used more scraps and Kona in medium gray for the backing. I quilted it using my walking foot, just some simply wavy lines using gray thread.

Orange + Gray Improv Mini by jenib320
Orange + Gray Improv Mini, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
I bound it in more scraps! It ended up at about 18"x20".  It was well-received! :)

Vintage Bear Claw Quilt by jenib320
Vintage Bear Claw Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
This quilt was one of the big secret gifts this year, the Vintage Bear Claw Quilt. My maternal grandmother started this quilt for my grandfather many years ago. She pieced the top but never ended up finishing the quilt. So, my Mom decided to finish it this year for my Dad for Christmas. We thought something this special needed to be professionally quilted, so we turned to Christina! She has quilted two other quilts for me, and her work is really beautiful. She quilted it with a brown variegated thread in a very pretty swirly pattern.  It really made the quilt!

Vintage Bear Claw Quilt by jenib320
Vintage Bear Claw Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
Close up on the quilting. Isn't it gorgeous? Can you believe she does it all freehand!? :)

Vintage Bear Claw Quilt by jenib320
Vintage Bear Claw Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
Originally my Mom was going to finish up by binding it, but I ended up putting the binding on when I got home. We backed it in a leafy brown print, we wanted to try to keep it as manly as possible! It's about 62"x74" finished :)

Kindle Case by jenib320
Kindle Case, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
At the last minute I made one more Christmas gift, a kindle case for my Mom using Christina's tutorial! I used a Cape Ann mini charm pack, love those sweet floral burst prints!

Manly Toiletry Bag by jenib320
Manly Toiletry Bag, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
My Dad's birthday is the 23rd of December, so I decided to make him a new toiletry bag. I was so happy with the way mine turned out that I made this summer. I made his using this tutorial, the bigger size. The exterior is Robert Kaufman Quilter's Linen and the inside is Tula Pink Prince Charming laminate fabric!

I have one more big handmade gift that I'll share tomorrow! It needs it's own post! :)

11 comments :

  1. GREAT job, Jeni! I love how the toiletry bag turned out - that grey is just perfect. And what a special gift for your dad! The fact that it has become a family collaboration throughout the years is so wonderful. Yay for handmade holidays!

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  2. It's so special that you finished the bear claw quilt! I love that. I also love the orange+grey mini. I just love that combination. Can't wait to see what you've got to share tomorrow!

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  3. this may be a dumb question, but what do you do with a mini quilt? A wall hanging? if so any tips for hanging them?

    and that vintage bear claw quilt is fantastic! what a treasure! it seems you come by your skills and talents honestly.

    hope you had a fab christmas!

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  4. All your handmade gifts were gorgeous!! Just love them!!!

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  5. yay for handmade! :) i'm in LOVE with the brown quilt for your dad--so special! hope you had a great weekend!

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  6. Love all your handmade gifts but especially the Bearclaw quilt finish - how special is that!!

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  7. All gorgeous Jeni!! I love that kindle case :)

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  8. Those all look great! You've been busy, Dude!

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  9. Looks like you have had a lot of fun this winter so far! I'm glad to see your Bear's Paw; I can't tell you how many of those I have made and each one is a delight! xxoo Patty

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  10. Lovely gifts - looking forward to seeing the final one today :)

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