Tuesday, November 13, 2012

The Birth of a Baby Boy

We welcomed Cole Sherwood Matock into this beautiful Universe on Sat 11-10-12 at 9:47pm.

What an amazing & beautiful experience. Abuela Loves YOU bunches & bunches xoxo
 
Michelle (Abuela)

Sunday, October 14, 2012

New Purse for my Vacation!

Hello....just stopped by to post my new purse that I just finished. I needed something that I could stow a few things in for the flight and also keep my daily purse in. Its more of a bag than a purse pattern but I've modified it with a tab to keep it snapped shut if I like.
I've used a fun print for my lining. The original pattern calls for 4 pockets inside (attached to the lining) but I've opted for no pockets since I'll carry a small daily purse in it.
Each side of the purse has a pocket on the outside, great place for your keys or phone!

Now I'm on to making a mini bag with a zipper that I can use for lipstick & such.. Vacation is coming up soon!

I'll be back to finishing the doll for my daughter's best friends new baby due in December soon!

Thanks for stopping by,

Michelle

Sunday, October 7, 2012

New Baby Doll in the Works!

I'm working on a doll for my daughter's best friend who is due in December I believe, she's having a girl. Its a fun little "raggedy" type doll that a  little girl can carry around just about anywhere!
Body parts;) I haven't decided yet what type of face I will make her. I've used a disappearing ink pen to stencil in eyes, nose & mouth. I may paint it or I may use some doll eyes & paint? Not sure yet but working on it today.
I
I have the body completely sewn & all parts attached except the head. I want to create & complete the face before I attach it, it will be much easier this way.
I'll be back when the face is complete......then on to the dress, MY FAVORITE PART!

see ya, Michelle
 

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Finished Baby Quilt for Cole

Well the quilt is finished and is now in the hands of my lovely (youngest) daughter Kristen!

We had the baby shower over the weekend and everyone had a wonderful time, lots of unique foods and baby shower approved drinks! And a bounty of gifts :) Just the right start for the Mother to be!

I have been posting on the making of Baby Cole's quilt  as I went along. This was my first fabric quilt so I had a few mis steps but all in all I was very happy with it, So was my daughter :) Glad for that! So now for a few more pictures on the finishing process.

I made a machine button hole tack for the backside of the quilt, I wanted this side to be design free. The quality of the dotted "minky" and the look were enough design for this quilt. After all the randomly spaced tacking was done I took each pair of threads and gave them a few ties/knots and then clipped them close.
I then made an extra zig zag seam all the way around the quilt and trimmed it close-squaring it.
I made some biased binding out of extra material from one of the quilt blocks, I'll make a tutorial on biased binding soon (its quite easy, really)
Biased binding attached on both sides and the Baby Quilt for Cole is complete.
I decided to use some biased binding to make a ribbon too! it came in handy :)
 
I'll be back with another project soon! working on some dolls & of course some cloth diapers for the new Baby Cole ;D
 
 
Michelle





 

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Making a quilt for Baby Cole

Hello,

I'm in the process of making a quilt for my new grandson due in November 2012! I think I've briefly mentioned it here or there ;)

Just wanted to stop by to show you the progress on it, its my first. I've made a crocheted quilt before but have never tried a fabric style until now.
These are the fabric choices that My daughter & I settled on and my quilt block template. There are easier templates but this was inexpensive and it worked.
I used a disappearing ink pen and a ruler to mark my fabric.
I did use dressmakers chalk on the darker fabric because the purple ink didn't show up. I still have a piece of dressmakers chalk that my Mom use to use, its a keepsake for me now that she's gone. I also gave myself the option of using a rotary wheel or my scissors, which one won out? hmm
I ended up using my rotary wheel for a few cuts and then switched over to my trusty scissors, I guess we all have our preferences :)
The top of the quilt! All the rows have been sewn together and pinned to the batting. I have made an error somewhere on this quilt top, can you pick it out?
This is the backing for the quilt, its very soft...just right for a little one.
I have a computerized machine, a New Memory Home, which allows many choices for machine quilting. I used a ruler and a disappearing ink pen to mark my stitching lines.
A closer look at the stitching.
And finally the dotted "Minky" that I'm using as a backing for the quilt, I've pinned this too instead of basting, I find it easier & quicker and it still holds great.
 
Next is the binding so I'll be back soon,
 
Michelle
 


 
 

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Some fun, creative pics for you to view!

Hi...I'm working on my newest doll(s) ! I've been putting together 3...couldn't make up my mind? ;)
I'm also working on a baby quilt for my new grandson that will arrive in November! Just thought I'd drop in and post a few fun pics from the past. Oh and I've just opened my domain...yay! Funk-e-Fragmentz.com....completely, utterly, amazingly.....EXCITED!

a doll in the making
this was a pattern handed down from a friend to my Mom to Me!
Mahdreen in her early stages, not yet realized
Ankri the gypsy
 
And Zandar!
Keep those creative vibes....vibing!
 
Michelle
 

Sunday, September 16, 2012

3rd & Final Segment in The Making of Mahdreen

Good Morning! Its hard to believe that I'm posting the last segment of Mahdreen, when she took sooooo long to be created. But here she is........
This is just after the hand sewing of her hair, made from a portion of a yarn that was very popular about 4 yrs ago for scarves. You can see I experimented on her eye makeup also, this was with watercolor pencils.
I also added in braids before completing the hair that was attached to her head.
Once I had her hair in place I played around with some embellishments, 2 more types of yarn that I had in my bag of tricks! When you compare this picture to that of the completed Mahdreen you can see many changes! That's what I love, love, love about creating my own dolls ;D
CREATIVE LICENSE..yayy
As I had posted in the previous segment, I added on breasts for Mahdreen by cutting out a small piece of flesh colored knit fabric. I hand stitched a gathering under each piece (they are connected),stuffed them with a fiberfill and then hand stitched them to her body.
You can also see some of her jeweled embellishments, I added beads just about anywhere I could find a place! And a bit of ribbon here and there.
Elf Shoes, again a scrap piece of drapery fabric, cut in the shape of a curly toed shoe!
I changed the yarn in Mahdreen's hair to ribbon & gave her an earring. You can also see that I've changed her eye makeup as well. I used acrylic paint this time and achieved the final look, which I was very happy with.
Mahdreen has one wire sculpted hand and one jeweled mystic hand...there is a story behind that, that I will have to tell sometime. Turning small fingers like these can be a bit frustrating but with the right tools you can breeze through them in no time.

                                                    A completed Mahdreen.....side view
                                                                       Front view

                                                            side view left
                                           MAHDREEN THE ELDER ELF OF WISDOM

I've enjoyed making Mahdreen from the top of her ear to the tip of her toes! Every moment filled me with a thrill of excitement........ENJOY!

Thank you for dropping in,

Michelle