Bandana Blanket and a Cozy Valentines!

Hello!

It's been a pretty active week, though most of my activity has not been all that crafty.
My physical therapy for my foot is going well, but I'm experiencing extreme back pain that isn't getting any better, even with hourly stretching. I also spent a few days sick, but that didn't keep me from making an adorable little cake for my Swede for Valentines Day!

It is a 6x2 inch round white cake, with vanilla cream frosting and red fondant.

The heart on top is actually the bottom part of a devil's food heart shaped cupcake, also iced and covered in fondant.
I made the roses using stiff icing colored red with gel food coloring!
It is quite tasty, and not too much for us to enjoy together.
Actually, each day of the week I gave Husband something, everything from cards, to his favourite Monster flavour, to candy.

He got an adorable little plant for me. Potted mini roses!

I love them, and I can't wait for spring to come so I can put them outside in the sun and watch them bloom!

I shared this picture on my Facebook page, and it will be the last photo I share until the quilt is finished...

This will probably not be finished until March or April, so I kind of cheated and worked on my March project... Ok, so I didn't just work on it, I finished it!

I made the bandana top a while ago, 6+ months at least, and have had it in a drawer just waiting to be finished.

I hadn't really planned on finishing it, but my other quilt is very time consuming and I had the desire to get something DONE.

I will either sell it, or give it as a present to someone this year. It's not really my flavour...

Unlike these paintings I did this week.

I haven't painted in so long, but a good friend of mine just got her first apartment on her own,

and I felt that art was the perfect gift!

Who doesn't love some unique, hand painted art works?

I haven't done much painting or drawing lately, because of carpal tunnel.

My hands and arms often go numb when gripping things like pencils and paintbrushes, and sometimes even cups.

Sewing is a much easier activity on my hands, especially when I can use pre-cuts. :)

My 12 Months of Sewing Challenge

I felt like I was in such a slump last year. I had all these ideas for quilts!

So many projects I wanted to complete.

This year I have decided that each  month I will finish a quilt or at least some project.

Also, once a month I will be writing about some sewing product I try, whether I like or dislike it.

I feel like this is a great way to help other quilters, by sharing my experiences with quilting and sewing products.

It could be anything from a certain fabric, a notion, or pattern.

My January project was the Dala Horse quilt that I shared last post. :)

And the first product I will blog about is one I think most of us are familiar with...
BASTING SPRAY

A lovely alternative or addition to pin basting, there are many brands/types out there, but they don't all work so fabulously.

I have tried a few, and so I have a few small reviews...

The first basting spray I ever used was the June Tailor.

It wasn't the worst I have ever used, but I didn't care for it. 

My main problem was that it didn't hold very well, even for a short period of time.

I had a similar problem with the Sullivans basting spray.

Either of these is great for smaller projects, but I didn't like them for large quilts.

I have also used Dritz basting spray, which I found really sticky and it gummed up my needle.

I wouldn't recommend it. 

I am currently using Mettler Web Bond, which I love. It hasn't gummed up my needle, and it has great longevity. 

It holds larger products and is amazing for applique! 

Last, and the best of all in my opinion is 505. The only problem I have with it.... It's too expensive.

But if you are willing to shell out the big bucks, it's worth it. 

It lasts quite a while, and stays sticky if you have to re-position your fabric, where the others are not as good for that.