quilting - well sort of...

I'm going to take a stab at quilting. Well, my version of quilting.

I've got this fabric from a bag of flour that we bought at the Eco Stewardship Fair in April. Kind of sounds like something a modern Laura Ingalls would say!

I digress... I've got this bag, the logo is quite appealing and I think I may try my hand at appliqué-ing it onto the middle of a fairly plain background. I'll post a photo once it's finished and when we buy a new camera (to replace the one Ashwyn dropped last week).

I hope this gets you thinking about new uses for everyday things.

karen

Upcycling!

Do you have fabric that you love but don't know what to do with it?

Maybe you have a table cloth that is sentimental?

A duvet cover that you love but doesn't really suit your bedroom decor anymore?

I can help you turn those lovely things into even more lovely things for a little one. Even if it's a small swatch, we can perhaps use it in the centre of a blanket and build on it to make it really special. (I sigh just thinking about some of the things that people don't use but really love)

Here are some samples from pillowcases (bought at a thrift shop) which may help you to think of things in a different way.

contact me and we'll make a plan for that stuff that I know you have...
Karen

Feedback - thanks everyone!

"Thanks Karen - I love the fact that the design was UNIQUE." - e.a.

"Your blankets look beautiful! Do you make them in adult size too???" - l.h.

"Love the fabrics!" - l.b.

Just picked up some cool new fabrics

I just picked up some more fabric - have a look! I feel like there are more masculine selections.

Email me (knuffelkids@hotmail.com) or call me as soon as you've selected a fabric because I only have enough of each for one blanket - all of my handmade blankets are completely unique!



TAKEN! Retro grey

Paisley:

TAKEN! Jungle

TAKEN: This will make a 2nd time mom very happy to have something unique for her new baby.

TAKEN! Brown circles:

Blue floral:


Note: if you're trying to get an idea of the scale of the designs on the fabric, I scan it to reflect an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet. So as an example - the elephant in the jungle print is about 4" tall.

Fabric choices

Here are the fabrics I have on hand right now (as of May 17, 2009).

If you see one that tickles your fancy, email me (knuffelkids@hotmail.com) and I will earmark it for your blanket.

If you were thinking of something different, also email me and I can have a look for you so that you get what you want.

TAKEN! - Batik:

TAKEN! this is for sale at Chick Pea Boutique on Wellington St. West in Ottawa - filligree:

pink dots:

poppies:

pink swirls:

TAKEN! this is for sale at Chick Pea Boutique on Wellington St. West in Ottawa
green toile:


solid pink:


TAKEN - Turtles - will be presented to a little boy next month!



(If the swatches look a little wonky to you, none of the them have any flaws and it may be just a scanning of fabric issue.)

Nathan's blanket

Dave, Shona & little Nathan were presented with one of my blankets in the middle of a cold Canadian winter.

His blanket was therefore made to keep a little guy warm and cozy as his parents spent many a day and night holding him tight.

It's made of cotton jersey in a whimsical frog pattern that parents would be proud to display even when company is over! The backing is soft cotton velvet. This one measures a big 1.5 square metres so I hope it will be used even by parents who need to catch some elusive sleep on the sofa.

My first order!

Amanda contacted me within a few hours of posting my stuff on my facebook profile and is now officially my first paying customer!

Here is a photo of the completed blanket.

Kishan's blanket

Mano (the husband) has a cousin, Mackie. He's married to Heather. They moved to North Carolina last summer and have since had a baby boy - Kishan. (side note: if Mika had been a boy, her middle name would have been Kishan)

In January, Kishan and mom made their first trip together to visit family and friends in Ottawa. I presented him with a lightweight blanket (after all they live in the South) that suited his mom's sense of style perfectly.

Heather has mentioned a few times that I should sell my creations in stores. She has said that mom's pay much more attention to style than ever before and will spend their hard earned dollars on something that is thoughtfully made. Well - I'm following her encouragement and putting myself out there!

I've contacted 3 stores in the Ottawa area and am waiting to hear back from them. Keep your fingers crossed!

What do the blankets look like?

Well here is a photo of the most recent one that I made for Laura Bootland at Envirochic.ca and she's asked me to make a couple more to be included in new baby gift baskets. Her baskets are designed to highlight the work that local artisans do as well as provide natural gifts for people with the environment in mind. Check out her art in the gallery section of her site too - very 'feel good'!

What does KNUFFEL mean???

Knuffel is pronounced k NUF el (i.e. you pronounce the k sound) and it's dutch for hug or cuddle.

I had been wracking my brain trying to come up with something that not only spoke to the products that I make, but also sounds like they make you feel - a twist on onomatopoeia!