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Bryan House Quilts

WIP Wednesday: Christmas in April

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2 May
Well in the two weeks since I’ve posted, lots of things have happened. Not too much sewing. To be honest I thought I’d have three finished products by now. Someone else had other plans (wink!) so I’ll show you my three WIPs and my (BIG) finish.
I started and finished smocking baby girl’s going home outfit. I just need to hem the dress and attach the chin straps to the bonnet.

Baby girl’s smocked Bishop
Baby girl’s smocked bonnet

I finished quilting around the edges of baby girl’s baby quilt. Now I just need to (learn how to) make the bias binding and bind it. 
Baby girl’s quilt, all quilted

I apologize for the quality of my phone photos, but there’s a reason for that and my lack of progress on my WIPs. 
May I introduce… 
Our surprise gift,  
our Christmas in April…
 Noelle Anne 
who arrived (even more unexpectedly) earlier than planned (hahaha). They do that don’t they? 
We are all doing well. Noelle is coming out of her Oompa Loopa phase (jaundice) and we are all (very!) tired. Noelle so far prefers to be held all morning long, like from 2 am to 10 am, and then will sleep all day. We are working on that! When I get tired I cannot speak clearly and I tend to make up words. It’s deliriously funny. But I think only if you are sleep deprived? I can’t tell. I confused. 

Instead of rapidly trying to finish Noelle’s dress and quilt, I think I will hold her and read a book. Or eat some chocolate and take a nap. 
Linking up with Lee’s Linky party. 
Thanks for visiting! 

Previous Post: « Work in Progress Wednesday: Scallops
Next Post: Baby girl and her (guild) quilt »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kelly says

    May 2, 2012 at 5:26 pm

    She is beautiful!! Congratulations and enjoy your babymoon 🙂

  2. Erin @ Why Not Sew? Quilts says

    May 2, 2012 at 5:34 pm

    Awe! Congratulations Becca! She is just so beautiful. I'll keep you in my prayers for lots of rest snuggle time. What a blessing. Take care. Your other projects are cute too 😉

  3. Sarah Lou says

    May 2, 2012 at 5:41 pm

    Congratulations! She is beautiful 🙂

  4. Heidi Staples says

    May 2, 2012 at 6:51 pm

    What a cutie! I remember those long nights…actually, I still have them from time to time with my girls. 🙂 Hope you get some rest and enjoy your new little beauty!

  5. Catherine says

    May 2, 2012 at 9:56 pm

    Congratulations! Wishing you all many good nights' sleep soon.

  6. Karamat says

    May 3, 2012 at 12:30 am

    Congrats!! She's a doll.

  7. QuiltingCyclist says

    May 3, 2012 at 1:34 am

    What a beautiful little angel! God Bless you all. Wishing you restful sleep whenever possible.

  8. ~ Julie ~ says

    May 3, 2012 at 5:16 am

    Congratulations!!! What a sweet little girl!!! Being a Mom is the BEST!!! 🙂 (Even at 2:00 a.m.!!!)

  9. Marg says

    May 3, 2012 at 8:53 am

    Congratulations, she's beautiful. Hope you get the sleep organised!

  10. Nik at boldgoods.com says

    May 3, 2012 at 6:32 pm

    Best WIP ever! Congrats! The quilting can wait!

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I’ve been teaching quilting for a decade, and I st I’ve been teaching quilting for a decade, and I still make mistakes in every single quilt. 😅

The joy really is in the journey, but sometimes the journey is ROUGH. 

It’s not all rainbows and butterflies in the sewing room like it may seem. 

While this quilt did turn out beautifully, and I’m SO happy with it, it didn’t come without its fair share of mistakes! 

But that’s just a part of the quilting journey that we learn to love, too. ✨

So when you see a beautiful quilt like this one, know that we quilters aren’t perfect, and neither are our quilts, but that doesn’t mean we love them any less! If you’re an imperfect quilter like me and want to be part of a community of mistake makers and “ta-da” moment celebrators, the Make Modern Triangles Club is where you belong. 

Comment ‘CLUB’ and I’ll send you the details to join... and you can start making this quilt with us! 😉

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Comment ‘ALCHEMY’ if you want to enjoy ALL phases Comment ‘ALCHEMY’ if you want to enjoy ALL phases of the quilting journey and make this beautiful quilt alongside a supportive community that is all learning, growing, and sewing together! ✨

We just started the Alchemy this month, but you can join and start your own anytime! 💕

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
Does anyone else just love this feeling? ✨ Walk i Does anyone else just love this feeling? ✨

Walk into the sewing room, shut the door behind me, and suddenly all other problems disappear. 

A feeling we all know too well. 🙌

What are you sewing right now? Let me know in the comments! 💕

#quilthumor #quilterslife #quiltteacher #modernquilter
Comment ‘FREEZER’ to take my free class! Keep read Comment ‘FREEZER’ to take my free class! Keep reading for tip number four... 👇

Always print your templates at 100% scale.

Before cutting your fabric, measure the 1-inch test box on your template.

Even being slightly off can affect the accuracy of your blocks later on and lead to some BIG oopsies. 😅

This is one of those tiny steps that saves a LOT of frustration later... Speaking from experience, and more re-done blocks than I could ever count! 

Follow along @bryanhousequilts for more freezer paper piecing tips that will make your quilting life easier and more enjoyable along the way. 💕
Comment ‘FREE’ and i’ll send you straight to my fr Comment ‘FREE’ and i’ll send you straight to my free class where I’ll teach you the life-changing technique that made me fall in love with quilting. 💕 

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Drop ‘FREE’ below and start the new creative hobby you’ve been dreaming about. ✨

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
1️⃣ Make a test block. I know it’s tempting to s 1️⃣ Make a test block. 

I know it’s tempting to skip this step... I cannot tell you how many times I have skipped making a test block and ended up regretting it later. If I had just made the test block, it would have saved me HOURS and HOURS of seam ripping and re-sewing, so take my advice and just always make the test block! 

I have never regretted making a test block, but I have regretted not making one. 😅

2️⃣ Celebrate the ta-da moments.

I’m not talking about just the finished quilt. I mean EVERY moment along the journey that feels like a win. Picking your colors and fabrics, sewing that first block, the points that line up, arranging blocks onto the design wall... Celebrate as much as you can along the way. 

I think too many quilters rush past these moments because they’re just focused on the finish line, but quilting isn’t one big “ta-da!” It’s a bunch of little “ta-da” moments stitched together.

3️⃣ Learn the freezer paper piecing technique.

I’m not kidding when I say it completely changed my quilty life... The more I quilt, the more I realize that frustration doesn’t make a quilt more valuable. Struggling doesn’t make you a better quilter. A good process gives you more confidence, helps you enjoy the sewing, and frees up a lot of your time to keep quilting. It makes you want to come back tomorrow and sew another block! 

Quilting is meant to be enjoyed and there’s so much to learn along the way. These three things have been HUGE along my quilting journey, and I know they can make an impact on yours too. 

What’s one thing that has completely changed your quilting journey? Share in the comments. ✨

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I’ve been teaching quilting for a decade, and I st I’ve been teaching quilting for a decade, and I still make mistakes in every single quilt. 😅

The joy really is in the journey, but sometimes the journey is ROUGH. 

It’s not all rainbows and butterflies in the sewing room like it may seem. 

While this quilt did turn out beautifully, and I’m SO happy with it, it didn’t come without its fair share of mistakes! 

But that’s just a part of the quilting journey that we learn to love, too. ✨

So when you see a beautiful quilt like this one, know that we quilters aren’t perfect, and neither are our quilts, but that doesn’t mean we love them any less! If you’re an imperfect quilter like me and want to be part of a community of mistake makers and “ta-da” moment celebrators, the Make Modern Triangles Club is where you belong. 

Comment ‘CLUB’ and I’ll send you the details to join... and you can start making this quilt with us! 😉

#modernquilting #quiltingtechnique #quiltpattern #quiltdesign #quiltersofig
Comment ‘ALCHEMY’ if you want to enjoy ALL phases Comment ‘ALCHEMY’ if you want to enjoy ALL phases of the quilting journey and make this beautiful quilt alongside a supportive community that is all learning, growing, and sewing together! ✨

We just started the Alchemy this month, but you can join and start your own anytime! 💕

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
Does anyone else just love this feeling? ✨ Walk i Does anyone else just love this feeling? ✨

Walk into the sewing room, shut the door behind me, and suddenly all other problems disappear. 

A feeling we all know too well. 🙌

What are you sewing right now? Let me know in the comments! 💕

#quilthumor #quilterslife #quiltteacher #modernquilter
Comment ‘FREEZER’ to take my free class! Keep read Comment ‘FREEZER’ to take my free class! Keep reading for tip number four... 👇

Always print your templates at 100% scale.

Before cutting your fabric, measure the 1-inch test box on your template.

Even being slightly off can affect the accuracy of your blocks later on and lead to some BIG oopsies. 😅

This is one of those tiny steps that saves a LOT of frustration later... Speaking from experience, and more re-done blocks than I could ever count! 

Follow along @bryanhousequilts for more freezer paper piecing tips that will make your quilting life easier and more enjoyable along the way. 💕
Follow on Instagram
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