Custom Quilts at Little Blue Machine

I have been wanting to offer custom quilts in my Etsy shop for a while now, but I just wasn't sure how to go about it.  I'm so happy to announce that they are finally here!  I think that every baby deserves a special quilt made just for them, but let's face it, buying and even making a homemade quilt can be really expensive.  So I needed a way to be able to make custom quilts that wouldn't break the bank--for me or the people buying them!  In my research I stumbled upon a few patterns that come together quickly, don't cost an arm and a leg to make and can be easily changed up a little to fit the tastes and styles of many different people.  I currently offer three different custom quilt styles in my shop, and plan to add more over the next few weeks. 

My favorite thing about making baby quilts is the size.  When I made my son his first quilt before he was born, I made it to lay pretty evenly over his crib mattress.  As he got a little older, I discovered that this was a bit to big.  He wanted something drag around the house with him, and I wanted something separate from the one he slept on at night, since it usually gets dirty during the dragging time!  I think the perfect size for a baby quilt is around 36 inches square, although I do have some little bigger and a little large in my shop.  To me, that is the perfect size for dragging, for loading in the car or stroller, or for tummy time for little babies.  Even though Jaxon is 2 1/2 now, he still carries it everywhere, and it's invaluable on long road trips when he goes straight in the car in his pajamas!

Herringbone Baby Quilt

The first of my three quilts is a two-color herringbone pattern.  I love this pattern so much!  It's simple and straightforward.  While I love it in simple solids, it would be pretty in so many different patterns, too.  The example quilt that's for sale currently is gender neutral with soft green fabric on the front and a thin yellow stripe print on the back.  It's bound with a steel-gray solid, which is one of my favorite shades for binding.

Zigzag Baby Quilt

The second quilt is a zigzag or chevron pattern.  As the mom of one boy, and another boy on the way, I don't get to sew with pink much, so I decided to make my example quilt in girly colors for this one.  While I love the pink on the front, the polka dot backing makes me drool, and the green binding with pink berries is the perfect finish.  I have to say, this one will be hard to let go!

Custom Swoon Baby Quilt

The third custom quilt that I offer right now is my favorite of all time.  It's made from a single large block and a wide border.  It's a popular pattern from Camille Roskelly, who is one of my favorite fabric and pattern designers.  I don't currently have an example quilt available in my shop right now, because the original was made special for my niece, who's due this month.  This quilt would look equally as beautiful just hanging on the wall as it does being snuggled by a sweet baby. 

I have several quilts ready to ship in my shop as well, and more custom designs and ready-to-ship options coming soon.  I'm so excited that I've been able to take this big leap in my creative adventures!  I hope you like one (or more!) of the quilts I've shown here today.  Click over to my shop to see all of my quilts and other quilted products I offer there!

Lyndsie

Oh Boy! Baby Love Quilt

 

There is just something special about a classic quilt block.  Maybe it's the knowledge that women have been piecing them for years and years--many with scraps from old clothes.  One of my favorite quilt blocks is a Churn Dash.  With modern piecing methods it comes together in a flash.  I lean towards using more modern fabrics in classic blocks, and this one fits that description perfectly.  It's actually a pattern I've made before, and I loved how it turned out both times.  This finished quilt is about 36" square, and I think it's perfect for a sweet baby boy!  I love that size because it's so easy to carry along with you. 

This Churn Dash pattern is from Camille Roskelley's book Simply Retro and uses super-simple 5" squares and makes a finished 12" block.  I love that just nine blocks makes a great baby quilt. 

I used fabric from Lori Whitlock's "Oh Boy!" collection for Riley Blake designs for this quilt.  I love all of the cute boy-themed prints!  Cars, helicopters, lions, giraffes and elephants are all featured in bright yellows, oranges and blues.  The background fabric is a Bella Solid.  I think the bright white really makes the colors pop.  I decided to just quilt it lightly with straight lines.  It really makes the fabrics shine.

I always prewash my quilts before listing them in the shop.  I just love that soft, crinkly look that a quilt gets after it's washed.   

I chose the blue elephant fabric from the collection for the backing, and the orange triangles for the binding.  Those fabrics actually ended up in the same block on the front, too, which was not my plan, but I guess it proves how well I thought they went together!  I've recently learned how to machine bind quilts instead of doing it by hand.  It takes less than half the time, and while it's admittedly not as pretty, it really makes the quilt more durable.

As the mom of an adorable baby boy, I had a really hard time listing this one in the shop at all. But my lose is your gain!  This super-soft quilt is listed in my Etsy shop for you to purchase!  I do have plans to make a baby girl version one day (maybe more that one!), but if you'd like one especially for you, please feel free to contact me and I'll be glad to make one for you! 

Visit Little Blue Machine on Etsy to see this quilt and all of my other quilty items!

Lyndsie

Weekly Wrap: January 18-24

This has been a great week for me.  I learned something very important that I hope will stick with me forever.  Sometimes the fear of doing something and failing is worse than actually doing it.  I have wanted to sell my handmade stuff for a long time, but was so afraid of failure, or the criticism of others that I held back.  Since I decided to make 2015 a year when I do things that scare me, the first thing I did was to open my Etsy shop "Little Blue Machine" this week.  Not only have my family and friends been very supportive, I made my first sale!  It's an incredible feeling to actually be paid for doing something that I love.  I wish I had done this a long time ago.  I may never replace my previous income by sewing and selling, but if I can make enough to fund my fabric addiction, I'll be happy!

I'm also about to complete my second week of the Beachbody 21-Day Fix, and so far I am thrilled with the results!  I lost 3 pounds in my first week, and I can see definite changes in my eating habits and my body.  I can push through more exercises now in ways that I couldn't do the first week.  I still don't like to exercise, but I tell myself every day that I can spend thirty minutes to improve my health and my self-image.  I love the variety of the exercises included with this program.  I have seven different workouts, so I do each one once a week.  They don't get boring or repetitive that way.  Week three has an option to do two workouts a day for maximum results, and I'm actually considering it.  You wouldn't have heard me say that last week!  I started cutting back and watching calories even before I started the Fix, and I am so happy to say that I've lost 6.5 pounds altogether, and that I now weigh less than I did when I got pregnant, and about the same as when I got married!  I haven't felt this good about myself in a long time.  Even when I veer a little bit off of my Fix plan, I'm making healthier choices overall.  Not only are the pounds and inches coming off, but my digestive health is better than I can remember it being for years!  No tummy aches when I stick to this plan!  Shakeology is amazing!  I drink it every day, usually for breakfast, and add some fruit and peanut butter.  It really makes me feel like I'm cheating because it's so good!

This week has been awesome, and I'm ready to take on the next one.  I know it's going to be a little more difficult because Billy is working on a new schedule, which throws my schedule off.  I'm always inclined to overeat when I'm off my schedule, but I'm really going to fight the impulse this week.  I'm also determined to drink more water.  Even though I drink very little else now, I'm still not drinking enough.  I've never really liked the taste, although I have found that adding some lemon juice or frozen strawberries really perks it up!  I'm also hoping to list a few more items in my shop this week, too.  Some Easter goodies are coming soon as well!

I've made so many positive changes this year, and it's only January.  I'm determined not to lose momentum, but to stay healthy and happy and productive for the whole year!  How was your week this week?  Do you have goals for next week?  Leave me a comment and let me know!

Lyndsie

Little Blue Machine

I'm so excited and felt like this news is worthy of a double-post day!  I have officially opened my Etsy shop Little Blue Machine!  This is a dream come true for me and I'm so happy!  I only have a few things listed right now, but it's a start!  I decided that if I kept waiting until I had "enough" I might never get around to actually doing it.  I have several more items in the works, including some baby quilts so check back often.  You can go straight to Little Blue Machine by clicking on the "shop" tab at the top of this page or click here.

Here's to making dreams come true this year!

Lyndsie