Monday, November 19, 2007

An outstanding weekend – I left work at 2:00 pm on Friday and knocked out most of the housework for the weekend. Childless, Don and I grilled steaks and caught up from the week. I walked into my sewing room late Friday night, going to start organizing and moving fabric into my cabinet. I looked on the counter and the Teddy bear quilt was all over the counter. I can’t stand wasting, and leaving “unfinished business”. I studied it a second and took the seam ripper to it. Starting back at ground zero, I went to work on it. Remember here is the pattern.
I explained in an earlier post how the family that was to receive this quilt had four kids.
I remember as a kid, if there wasn’t an even number of everything my brother and I fought about it. All the way down to characters on a cereal box… I didn’t want anyone left out so ---enter stage left--- the Polar Bear. Well, Tracey left a comment about how she could incorporate the quilt into her crew of kids---All I kept thinking was, “ Come on Tracey… you are from Australia, you HAVE to have a Koala Bear!!!”
I couldn’t get it out of my head, so I ditched the calico bear studied pictures of Koala bears and so, this is what is what my Bear Family Quilt looks like. I still have to embroider the mouths on the faces and the toes on the bear paw.
I’m pretty pleased. I’ll, hopefully, get it stretched and quilted in the next week. I’m thinking I’ll outline quilt the bears and then a soft meander on the patchwork. Hey, this was a stash buster. I pulled pieces from my stash. The only thing I purchased was the fleece for the Koala bear. The pattern talked about using textured fabrics and how kids would love it. I have cotton, fleece and wool pieces. I kicked around fake fur, but I worried it wouldn't wash well, and I'm counting on this piece getting lots of love and needing tons of washings....

Saturday afternoon Don and I made a pot of coffee and listening to the High school semi final ball game. Not being able to just “sit and listen”, I traced, cut and even ironed down the pieces on that Primitive garden block and I’m ready to plow into it on nights when I too tired to do anything else. Our kids lost, but put up a heck of a fight down to the fourth quarter.

Packers won, and Don and I started the ‘Winter Workout’ routine. I think it’s going to be a good week….

28 comments:

Terri said...

Your quilt is absolutely darling! The family that is to receive it is very lucky to have a friend like you!

Unknown said...

Oh it's so cute Mel, how clever to include a cranky Koala.

Juliann in WA said...

Sounds like a good weekend. You are getting a lot of practice for your empty nest with Chelsea gone so much.

Carolyn said...

Your quilt is adorable! It sounds like you had a wonderful weekend...I hope Monday treats you well!

Ila K. said...

Your bears are FULL of WIN!!! And stashbusting to boot! Congratulations!

dot said...

What a lovely wonderful quilt. The family is going to love it. The Koala bear certainly adds and you did a great job on it.

atet said...

How darling! Love the additional bear and the lucky little one who gets this is going to LOVE it!

Cathi said...

That is adorable! You did a great job making that koala...very creative!!

Doodlebug Gail said...

What a great idea to add a character to the quilt - very cute indeed. Glad you had a good weekend ..... pop on over to my Blog, you won the Christmas decorations!

Libby said...

Now that is a very clever way to fix your dilema . . . it will be loved for sure *s*

Rose Marie said...

It's adorable and the family receiving this will be in awe.

McIrish Annie said...

Adorable! and how thoughtful to include everybody! you did a great job

Paula, the quilter said...

It is a very cute quilt and a great solution. Way to go!

ForestJane said...

That turned out wonderfully - and I'll bet it's even cuter when you get the mouths added! I think it's always nice to take a pattern and make it personally yours. :)

MARCIE said...

Your little koala is the perfect addition! The family that receives it will be thrilled! I totally agree on counting the kids!

Marilyn Robertson said...

What a great quilt! The Koala is a wonderful addition.

tami said...

That has to be the cutest bear quilt I have ever seen. You did a great job. Great stashbusting.

Evelyn aka Starfishy said...

Oh, I do love the addition of the Koala and making it out of soft fleece was a wonderful idea! So cute! Sounds like a good weekend to me, I especially like grilled steaks - one of my favorite dinners!

Cheers!

Evelyn

Clare said...

Lucky lucky recipients. I'm sur ethey are going to be warm and cosy under that quilt. The teddy bears are so sweet.

Pam said...

It looks fabulous!! I have that pattern - I think I bought it 10 years or more ago. Nice to see it actually made into a quilt - I think the Koala bear is the perfect addition :))

Elaine/Muddling Through said...

What a beautiful quilt, and how talented you are! I know they will enjoy it.

Finn said...

Great solution to a sticky situation Mel...with 5 kids I remember the 'division' well...LOL
Fairs, fair after all. The bears all look adorable,no one cuter than each of the others *VBS* Great job! Hugs, Finn
Happy Turkey Time!

Rose Johnston said...

Gorgeous!!!! The Koala rocks!!!

Beemoosie said...

That quilt is just too adorable!!!
Have a blessed Thanksgiving, friend!

Cheryl said...

Great addition to that quilt. Lucky kid that gets that one!

Leanne said...

The quilt is so cute - the koala is a great touch.

Patti said...

An absolutely perfect adaptation! I'm sure it will be well loved!

FYI - fake fur should wash just fine. I've washed it before. It might need a bit of brushing after it dries but otherwise it should be fine. After all, it's a synthetic symilar to orlon and polyester.

maria said...

What a smart lady you are to have come up with all those adorable little animals tucked inside the quilt.
Brilliant!

Maria