I know that a lot of my followers might find this silly and uninteresting, but I don’t. I did start a new InstaGram account for my toy photos, just so I could divide my worlds a tiny bit. If you are on IG and are interested, you can find my profile here.

I’ll post my favorites here now and then just to break up all the posts about quilting!

I wanted to try something new and different for this swap, because you know, I HAD to! I’ve seen many Doctor Who inspired quilts and I really wanted my partner to have something a little different. So I opened up EQ7 and designed a ROUND mini quilt. It was a bit different AND it helped feed my urge to sew more curved seams.

I printed out my pattern as a template, which was a first for me. I’ve never pieced using a bunch of separate templates. I’m use to paper piecing or basic shape piecing. I loved the outcome, but I’m not sure if I’m sold on the technique yet. I’ll keep trying though, because maybe the timing just wasn’t right. haha.

Anyway, back to the mini quilt… It is 16″ across and I used fabrics found in my stash, with the exception of the Tardis. I had to order some Kona Cotton in Royal for that piece. I used my Silhouette Cameo and some Sewable Interfacing to make the applique, and some Dark Fabric Tshirt Heat Transfer for the Police Box sign. I am in love with the way the Tardis came out!

I wanted to go the next step and personalize the quilt with my partners name in Gallifreyan (the language of the Time Lords/The Doctor). I downloaded a “translator” and uploaded the image into my embroidery software. I then embroidered it onto the quilt at a random spot on the bottom left corner. I was so excited about this part, well, until I posted about it on Instagram and was kindly told it wasn’t written correctly!!!! It was embroidered with several layers of lines so removing it would most likely ruin that section of the quilt. I was upset, but figured it would make for a funny story when I wrote this blog post! I even wrote my swap partner a little note explaining it all.

After the embroidery fiasco, I went ahead and quilted it all just using straight lines that radiate from the “name” using the same thread.

I then bound the entire piece using bias cut binding, that was hand sewn on the back. It’s the same binding I used on the Quilted Table Topper from last week. I just loved it on that piece so much, I had to use it again. It’s perfect!

I felt awful about the incorrect name on the quilt, so I went ahead and tried another a more reputable translator and went through the process again. This time I just made a super mini quilt and bound it like any other piece. I’m still not sure if the name is right, but I figured the effort would be well received? maybe?

I also included a Tardis pin, a Tardis topped pen and a  reversible Weeping Angels Necklace I found online. The necklace is super neat! One side is the angel covering it’s eyes, the other side is all evil like. Ugh, I am not a fan of those angels!

My partner received her package over the weekend, and it seems like she really loved it! It was so much fun to make and I love any reason to step outside my creative comfort zone. If another one of these swaps ever comes up again, I’m totally signing up ASAP!

The super awesome Rae of Rae’s Making It organized this brilliant swap, and lucky me, she was also the one who got my name!!!

I received a package in the mail this past Saturday STUFFED with what you see above and more.

First there was the AMAZING mini quilt that featured the very memorable scene from the “Silence in the Library” episode. She free hand appliqued the loose skull in the astronauts outfit, AND to top it off she free motion quilted “Who turned off the lights?” over and over again in the background. It’s so well done, I’m beyond impressed.

On the question-ere, I mentioned that I my favorite Doctor Who villain is the Daleks. I have a Dalek toy army I’ve been collecting for almost a decade now. It use to be harder to find the toys, but because of the shows growing popularity, I’m able to buy them more often. Rae ran with this and made me my own unique watercolor and embroidered Dalek to add to my collection. I had watched her make it through Instagram and was so happy its now mine!

Also included in the package was a one of a kind watercolor done by Rae placed in a super cute metal frame. It’s already sitting with my Tardis collection! (yes, I know, I have too many collections!) There was also a Cyberman bust that included a tiny book (that will go great with my tiny Tardis book), a comic book inspired Doctor Who mug, a nice pile of cute fabric and a paint your own nutcracker kit for CT (that she ran off with right away).

I am beyond grateful for everything that was in the box. This was such a neat swap and I would totally do it again.

Oh and I’ll totally share what I made for my partner once she receives it. I was a few days late mailing it, so I may have to wait until next week.

From top left…

• a doctor who pouch for my friend Molly
• a Pyrex inspired pouch for my friend Tasha
• the Modern Maples quilt I mentioned earlier this week for my sister Ashley
• a hedgehog pillow for my sister Cori (using the paper piecing pattern I found here. Oh and this was my first time trying paper piecing! I’m in love!)
• a pillow for my grandmother using the Modern Maples blocks.
• a hedgehog pouch for my sister Cori (as you can see, she loves hedgehogs, she even has one)
• two Tangled inspired dresses for nieces.

I actually made a few other things too, but they haven’t been gifted yet.

It was all a lot of fun to make, but I am beyond exhausted. New rule: Start sewing gifts in the summer!!!!!

3 – Misfits Tribute by La La La Shop (I think is super awesome! Any of you guys fans of this show?)

4 – Wednesday Addams Original Painting by Stephanie Buscema /// 5 – You Are the Marty to My Jennifer Card by March Stationary

6 – Dr Who Timey Wimey Tardis Clock by Unicorn Empire (I think its funny its $42 btw) /// 7 – Tardis Necklace also by Pica Pica Press

8 – I Don’t Have Friends Print by Nan Lawson (you can find loads of pop culture prints here, my second favorite is The Piemaker) /// 9 – Pixel People – the IT Crowd Cross stitch Pattern by weelittlestitches (I’ve done a few of their patterns before, and obviously loved them, you can see one here)

So if you didn’t get the theme, I’ll let you in on it… It’s all nerdy pop culture stuff. I live for things like this. I love showcasing it all in my home, and on myself. I use to hide all my favorite things away, in fear that I would be made fun of. (I watched Stargate SG-1 from the start, when it was aired in the middle of the night, but I never told anyone until my husband) That’s totally not the case anymore.

I’m proud of my interests. I love TV. I love movies. I love anything to do with time travel, and I love everything Douglas Adams says… Plus so much more, I just love it all!

I have searched fan sites, google, etsy, flickr and pinterest for some inspiration. I think I may have searched too much, because now I’m overwhelmed with possibilities. I have to take into account my body shape, the weather and what I’ll actually feel comfortable in… Ugh!

Have you seen any on the internet that you think I may like? That won’t take me forever to make? I still have to make CT’s costume too! I’m also stumped with hers, more because she can’t decide, not because I can’t make it.

I guess I could just be lazy and buy a trench coat, red chucks and a blazer…

I LOVE to cross stitch. It’s very calming to me. I wait until after CT goes to bed and I just cuddle up with a blanket and watch some TV while stitching away.

Lately I’ve been buying all my patterns from Wee Little Stitches. We love nerdy stuff in our house, and they make awesome nerdy patterns. I highly recommend checking out their etsy shop.

the Tardis, pictured above, is from one of their Doctor Who patterns.

If you would like to see how I made this piece into an ornament, please keep reading…First off, I started this pattern on PLASTIC mesh, not fabric. I felt it would make it easier to cut around and I wouldn’t have to worry about fraying. I live in Maryland and currently can only find this stuff at Hobby Lobby (the closest is 45 minutes away) and sometimes I can find a stray piece here and there at AC Moore. Usually hidden with the regular plastic canvas.

It’s different than the normal plastic canvas in one way, and one way only. It’s perforated, so its small holes evenly spaced, instead of a square grid. I think this stuff is great! You don’t need a hoop and every project I use it in looks so crisp and clean.

See all the little holes?

Next choose any pattern you want and start stitching! The Tardis above took me about a weeks worth of nights to finish. Depending on your pattern, it may take you more, or less, time.

Above is my finished piece.

Next you’ll want to cut around your design, but make sure to cut at least one row away! If you want a larger border around the edge, cut a little more. Just be careful not to cut into any of the slots holding thread.

Here I have the Tardis almost completely cut out. I went boxy on the edges, to keep with the pixelated design, but you don’t need to.

Next I cut a piece of yarn double the length of the loop I wanted on the top. Fold it in half and glue it on the back of your piece where you feel it would hang best. I used Tacky Glue because I was afraid my glue gun might melt the plastic canvas. It worked out well. I left it to dry for about 30 minutes before moving onto the next step.

You’ll need a piece of felt for the back of your ornament, I chose white wool felt, only because it was the best color I had on hand that matched. You could very easily use any kind of felt in this project, I don’t believe it would matter. I piled a bunch of tacky glue on the back of the finished piece, flipped it over and lined up the top, where the loop was, with the edge of the felt. I thought this would help with cutting it out later. It did.

I wanted the piece to dry flat and evenly, so I placed a piece of wax paper on top and then about four large books to weigh it down. I let it be for 3 hours before disturbing it.

Once you feel it is dry enough, carefully cut around the edge of the felt, all the way to the edge of the plastic. As you can see from my photo, I had a loose thread that got caught in the edge. oops. Though it does illustrated the sandwich effect nicely.

Now your ornament is ready to hang!

I’ve never written a “how to” before, so my apologies for anything that may be missing. Thanks!