Chevron Doll Cradle

 I am sure no one is sitting around waiting to see these pictures of my revamped doll cradle that I mentioned in my last post, but I figured I needed to get around to uploading them so that I could mentally move on, and start thinking about my next post. (which is a sewing project that I took pics of today!) So here they are: pics of my Chevron Doll Cradle.

 So I really wish I had some "before" shots. This cradle was so ugly -- shiny, dark brown, with icky dust stuck in all the corners and crevices. It was probably hand-made in the 70s and looked it. I picked it up at the Salvation Army sometime over the summer for about $5. (I think it said $10, but I was able to talk the lady down because it was in the furniture warehouse which was different from the retail part. Those ladies there are sticklers. Anyway.) So I spray-painted it this light bluish color, and then taped some masking tape on it in a chevron pattern. Then I covered all the surrounding areas with newspaper and spray-painted the visible parts white. Not bad, eh?

 I sewed this little cushion for the inside. Originally, I really wanted to do this gorgeous faux chenille blanket for the doll cradle, but the fabric was out of stock at the time and I figured I should just go with what I had in my stash to see how faux-chenille-ing worked (tough!).

Well, I imagined my daughter putting her Dolly in here and playing with everything, but so far, the cradle has remained sadly in a corner, ignored. (sigh) I look at it every so often and get a jolt of happiness because I love those chevrons...but that's it. Maybe someday she'll warm up to it. :)

Patchwork Chenille Baby Quilt

Oh, Chenille Quilt, I am glad you are done!

Not in time for Christmas, mind you, but I did get it done a few days afterwards.

I started this little quilt by sewing the top and then assembling the quilt layers over the summer.

 Then, only recently, I spent hours and hours quilting this sucker and then cutting the strips.

Let me back up and say I followed this lovely tutorial at Aesthetic Nest, a blog I truly enjoy reading for all its beautiful sewing work and photography. I thought about going out and buying some nice matching fabric for this project, but decided to go with what was in my stash and see how the chenille turned out.

Everything turned out well and I'm quite happy with how the chenille looks and feels! I love the rounded corners (which I'd never done before). And I love my pink binding which I attached entirely with my machine.

However. This little 25"x22" quilt was a bear.

The biggest problem for me was that I made it more difficult than it should've been. Mine is more of a quilt than a blanket (as the tutorial calls for). Meaning, I made this patchwork top with all these little seams going this way and that. And I never even considered how very difficult cutting up those bottom three layers would be with my scissors getting caught over and over on those darn seams. So if you do this project, DON'T make my mistake and do a pieced top. I have an extremely sore and bruised hand/thumb from all my scissoring. And, I'll also share, that the last two fingers on my cutting hand went numb for a couple DAYS after cutting up the majority of the underside. Ouch!

So this leads to my other suggestion: get one of those Olfa Chenille Cutter's that Aesthetic Nest recommends if you are serious about doing chenille blankets. :)

Anyway. It's done. It's lovely. And it's going in my daughter's newly re-vamped doll cradle (which I'll post about later on this week. Hopefully.). I can now cross Chenille Baby Blanket/Quilt off my list!
Have a great week!