Sonnet of the Moon

Nicey Olivia

2012-02-03T09:35:00.000-06:00

Olivia's second gift for Christmas this year was a quilt...of course!

It was inspired by Blue Elephant Stitches 16-patch quilt. I was in London, perusing blogs, as you do, when I saw this quilt. And it was so gorgeous that it was all I could think about! I was all "Ian, look at this quilt!" And he was all "Stop reading blogs, we're in London!" And I was all "I wish I had my sewing machine right now...I wish we could go home right now." And he was all "Oh my god, you're so annoying!"

Anyway, I got my chance soon enough. While mine is not as exciting as Jolene's quilt (Come on! Did you see those fabrics?), I think it works alright with Nicey Jane (and friends).

Each block is made up of 16 2" squares and the finished quilt measures a tiny 32" x 40". The back is Sandi Henderson's Farmer's Market Flannel, the Dahlia print in Spring.

Olivia lives in California so I skipped the batting. I absolutely love the flannel backing/no batting combination. It makes for a really nice drape...something that's important when wrapping up a bitty baby.

What I love most about this quilt are the bright colors all mashed together. It's so busy and colorful. I was originally planning to make Olivia a blue quilt because Heather's favorite color is blue. But then I found out that Olivia (Heather!) loves pink now...so that's what she got.

I have plans to make more tiny square quilts in the near future. I'm currently obsessed with one in particular...but I shouldn't start another new quilt. Right? Of course, maybe just one block wouldn't hurt. Right?

Olivia the Baby

2012-02-02T10:06:00.001-06:00

On Halloween this year, Ian's sister had her first baby. Little Olivia is already in love with the band Take That, the Chelsea Lions and the color pink.

Before Christmas this year, Ian's mom asked me to make a stocking for Olivia. Ian and Heather's grandmother made them stockings when they were little and she wanted to keep up the tradition. She doesn't sew and I was flattered that she asked me.

Other than her request that it should maybe be pink and, if possible, incorporate Olivia the Pig fabric, I had free reign.

Having never made a stocking before, I think it turned out pretty darn good. And it was fun to make...little squares are my favorite!

Ian's mom found a great (out of print) stripey Olivia the Pig fabric. I only had one fat quarter so I had to get creative. The cuff for the stocking was one stripe (Ian's idea!):

The words "Olivia" were from another stripe. And then there was this cute cameo stripe:

I added the hand quilting after everything was assembled to make sure the lining didn't shift or pull out. The back is a single piece of blush Boquet Toss from my very favorite fabric line: Ginger Blossom.

If I ever make another stocking, I think I'll skip the batting. There's no batting in the cuff but the rest of the stocking is a little bulky and stiff. But Heather and her mom liked it so that's what counts.

I'm excited to show you the other things I made for Olivia. Stay tuned.

Where the Man Goes, the Lady Must Follow

2012-01-30T12:38:00.000-06:00

I haven't been sewing much lately. I find it hard to balance multiple interests...and lately, other things are taking the place of sewing. Like, for the first two weeks of January, every spare moment went to reading The Hunger Games. The entire trilogy. It was pretty much the best two weeks ever. Except for the month it took me to read all the Twilight books...that was the best month ever. I am not ashamed.

The other thing taking up a lot of time and brain-space is ballroom dancing. In addition to our Wednesday ballet class, Karrie and I now spend Saturday afternoons twirling and dancing to our heart's content. I'm pretty much obsessed with it.

Right now we're learning the Rumba...the dance of love! The students range from beginners to national champions. I feel extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from these talented dancers and I know I'm improving because of it.

And I very much want to do well, to improve, to impress them. I do so long for people to tell me I'm awesome! Not that I need to be told I'm awesome...because I already know that. I just like to hear it out loud...from cute guys...who dance like this:

But as awesome as I am, I know I have a long way to go. A looooong way. Not that I want to be a professional ballroom dancer...I just want to learn enough to have fun social dancing. And then I want to actually go out social dancing. That part will be trickier.

As a result of all this, I want to spend more time exercising and eating better. I've been eating as vegan as possible for a few months now and I really love it. Here's my favorite vegan recipe...we add chickpeas and frozen peas if we have them. I want to eat this every day! The exercise portion remains a constant struggle...but at least I'm trying.

Anyway, before I sign off, I just have to ask: are there any ballroom dancers reading my blog? If so, I want to know all about it!

I'm Only 99% Perfect, Apparently

2012-01-06T15:10:00.000-06:00

During my blog break, I sewed my very first Y-seam:

Huh...something is not quite right here. My second attempt resulted in a too-small block but at least I got the seams right.

It's been a few months since my first block and I've worked out a pretty reliable way to make these cute frames. I'm excited to tell you more about this quilt but it'll be just a little bit before I can do a proper post. There's some embroidery that needs to happen first...stay tuned!

Catching Up

2012-01-05T12:13:00.001-06:00

You guys, it's going to be 46 degrees today. In Minnesota! Last year we were buried under two feet of snow. This year we have just a dusting which will be gone by the end of the day. I'm not even going to wear a coat to run errands tonight. It's nearly shorts and t-shirts weather! Growing up, our house rule for wearing shorts to school was "not until it's 50 degrees". We're hardcore in Minnesota!

Anyway, all this sun and warm weather has inspired me to do some blogging. I finally got around to pulling pictures from my camera and was shocked to find projects dating back to September. Oops! Looks like it's time to play catch up, starting with this sweet bag:

After Ian and I booked our trip to London, I bought this Echino fabric with the intent to make everyone bags to commemorate our trip. Months after we got back, I made one for Ian's parents and one for his sister...a belated thank you gift for all the fun times in London.

Unfortunately, making two bags proved to be so tiring that I still haven't made one for myself.

Now that I've had a little time to think about it (5 months! haha), I think I'm going to try to make a different sort of bag for myself. I've wanted to make a smallish tote for a while now...something just big enough to carry money, phone, chapstick and my Kindle. You know, the essentials. Of course, with the large print, maybe this isn't the best fabric for that. I might have to think about it for another 5 months.

I just have to say: if you haven't used Echino cotton/linen, you really should give it a try. I know it's expensive but it's awesome stuff! It's soft, sturdy and sews up really well. It's also tightly woven and not at all springy (I hate springy linen). If another print speaks to me the way this one did, I'll definitely buy more to make bags and quilts. But I should probably finish MY bag first...

November in Memoriam

2011-11-29T12:13:00.000-06:00

I can't believe November's nearly gone. I've been an absolute lazy layabout! I haven't had the energy to work on anything creative...or to be honest, cleaning or dishes or laundry...poor Ian.

My very few accomplishments for November are as follows:

I sewed one curtain for our bedroom. We have two windows...

I quilted one block on my Bottled Rainbows quilt. Still 5 blocks to go.

Just about the only things I finished were birthday gifts and 16 Dresden Plate blocks for Jen...and I didn't even remember to take pictures.

Karrie and I took a day off of work to see Breaking Dawn.

It snowed and I got sick. I crocheted about a million dishcloths between naps on the couch.

I read The Paris Wife for bookclub.

We visited my family for Thanksgiving.

I bought some really awesome fabric that I have no idea how to use in a quilt:

Etchings by 3 Sisters for Moda

And that, my friends, was my November. How was yours?

A Quilty Weekend?

2011-10-27T11:59:00.000-05:00

It's been nearly a month since I was in the sewing room for more than a few minutes. The past few weekends have been booked solid and my weeknights have been filled with errands, ballet and even going to the theater. I've been too worn out to sew. But I want to sew!

Ian is applying for jobs this weekend so aside from helping him where I can, I have no plans. Two whole days for sewing! But what to sew?

First, I'm helping my friend Jen make a freaking huge quilt for her bed. I can finish a few blocks this weekend.

I've also decided to make a quilt for my dad. I'll post more about it another time...but I picked fabric and a pattern and I'm excited to get started.

I also have three little quilts nearly finished. The Nicey Jane quilt I posted a while back needs to be bound. This one is finished and just needs to be washed and photographed:

And this one needs to be basted, quilted and bound:

I could also work on my orange and green 9-patch:

Or my scrap quilt:

I think too many options are better than too few...I can switch projects whenever the mood strikes. I only wish it was Saturday already!

Do you have fun quilting plans for the weekend?

Wouldn't it Bee Nice?

2011-10-24T12:01:00.000-05:00

You know I love bees, right?

I've been obsessed with keeping honeybees for a few years now...but not obsessed enough to do anything about it. There's a lot of (conflicting!) information about beekeeping online...it's completely overwhelming.

I'd just about given up the idea when Ian found a short course taught through the University of Minnesota: "Beekeeping in Northern Climates". I couldn't beelieve our luck! (There's lots of puns in beekeeping, just so you know).

Last weekend, Ian and I spent two days at the Bell Museum of Natural History learning all about honeybees and beekeeping. If anyone is interested in keeping bees in northern states, I highly recommend this class. It was well worth the time and tuition. We spent two full days learning how to start and manage a colony using the U of M's very own beekeeping method.

There are so many interesting things about honeybees, my head is spinning. Did you know one colony of bees can produce 300 lbs. of honey in just one short Minnesota summer?! They're truly amazing little creatures.

Ever since the class, my head has been buzzing with inspiration. I love the idea of caring for bees, of harvesting and bottling and giving away honey (I don't like honey...I just like bees). I want to make beeswax candles and honey soap. I want to build and paint hive boxes...not boring white but beautiful aquas and greens. I want to buy a field of wildflowers and grow fruit trees, all pollinated by our very own bees. And I want to make fruit preserves and quilt and check on the bees. All day, every day.

It all makes going to my "real" job rather tiresome. Truly: I'd rather be covered in bees than go to my "real" job.

So, I want to know, are any of you beekeepers? Any Minnesota beekeepers? Do you like honey? Are you sure you don't actually think it's gross? Because I hear some people think it's gross...

Autumn in Paris

2011-10-07T13:56:00.000-05:00

You guys! Guess what came in the mail yesterday. A mini quilt from my dear friend Jen! Can you believe this?

It has all my favorite things...lots of white:

tiny pieces (the 9-patches finish at 1.5"):

Parisville (and in my favorite colorway):

and above all: hand quilting!

And if this wasn't enough, Jen said she's making me a year of mini quilts: one mini quilt every month. I'm pretty much the luckiest girl in the world! Actually, I'm already the luckiest girl in the world because Jen and I are great friends and pen pals...the real paper kind!

I don't have any non-blog friends who like to quilt so it's been such a joy to have someone to talk to about fabric, pretty much non-stop. And other important things, of course.

The quilt is hanging on a random nail in my studio right now but I'll find a better home for it this weekend. It looks good on pretty much every wall...how am I going to choose?! Thanks again, Jen!

Work in Progress: Studio

2011-09-22T15:31:00.000-05:00

Every fall I get that "going back to school" feeling. Since I'm not in school and can't get it out of my system by color coordinating my folders, notebooks and book covers...I clean the house. Well, only the fun rooms. Like my studio!

This is where I keep my stash. I just ordered some solids and a few prints that were on sale and they're supposed to arrive today. I have no idea where I'll put them. This is why I'm trying to shop only from my stash.

I keep my scraps in bins sorted by color. My painting table is tucked behind this shelf...it may or may not have lots of unfinished quilts piled on it.

Did you catch a glimpse of my two "helpers" in the first picture? Here is Vector. There's a chair by my sewing machine and he likes to sleep in it while I sew. He and I are the only ones in the house who like to curl up in quilts.

This is Bitty Cat. Ian calls her Extra because she's the extra cat. She also goes by New Cat and Little B. I'm not really into naming animals. I tried, I really did...but as Mr. Bluefin, Mr. Redfin and Mr. Bluefin II can tell you...I'm just never going to be good at coming up with creative names. Little B is so tiny compared to our two boy cats...so, there you go...

She steals my seam ripper all the time. And she's always blurry because she does not stop moving!

There's one side of the room left to show you but there are a few spots that need to be organized first. Not that this is a very special part of the room (I prefer the side with the fabric!) but you know...it's where the sewing machine lives so you might want to see that too.

A Work in Progress

2011-09-20T11:30:00.000-05:00

I'm working on a new Nicey Jane quilt. It's a little bitty one this time.

I'm going to be sad when I run out of this fabric. Of course, actually using it in quilts has made me really happy. I've been going through my stash, reacquainting myself with the fabrics at the bottom of the stacks. I even found one fabric that's on my "to buy" list. Embarrassing! And convenient.

I've been shopping mainly from my stash and I'm excited to see how many quilts I can make without buying anything new. Of course, I've recently become obsessed with crosshatch and text prints so I'll probably pick some up soon. But that's it! Well, except for solids because I run out so quickly...and I prefer them for bindings. Can't finish a quilt without a binding! Well, you can but...I'm getting off track here...

I've decided that since I never seem to finish anything, I'm going to start showing "in progress" pictures. I don't normally like to show people what I'm working on...I've been this way my whole life. I remember the supreme mortification of people looking at my unfinished drawings and school projects. I only wanted people to see a perfect, finished project.

But you guys won't judge, right? I'd like to be more open with you, to let you into my studio more often. And besides, I don't finish enough quilts to keep this blog going properly...so hopefully you'll enjoy spying on my unfinished (and maybe never-to-be-finished) projects.

Cathedral Windows Redux

2011-09-01T15:57:00.001-05:00

So, remember when I was obsessed with cathedral window quilts? And remember when, two days later, I became un-obsessed with them?

I've been thinking about them again, thinking about how much I love them. But then I remembered how much I hate making them. In fact, I even made a list:

1) I can't stand making the folded base pieces. I have the patience for about 1.5 before I want to quit. A quilt takes significantly more than that, I think.

2) I hate those flappy triangles. I hate them when I'm sewing the bases together, when I'm sewing the squares in, basically I just hate them altogether.

3) It bothers me when the flappy triangles don't all meet in the middle, especially when they're not even pointy!

4) I don't like that the back is all one color. My preference is to use white for my base fabric...and I don't want an all white quilt back. I'm too messy for that!

So I've been thinking about how to make a cathedral window quilt that eliminates everything I hate.

And I did.

But the problem is that I'm not sure I like the new process any better. It's just a tricky block and it takes a lot of work no matter what.

I made this super mini quilt as a test for a bigger mini quilt. I'm glad I did because I made quite a few mistakes. Like how I hand-quilted the whole thing only to realize I'd forgotten to put fabric in the four corners. Or how I got a knot on the back while re-quilting but didn't notice until I'd quilted about half the block? Or what about that red binding? I'm kicking myself for not going with white...but I didn't even consider white until the whole thing was finished. And check it out...someone cut her binding way too wide:

Oh well...at least I learned what not to do next time. And yes, there will be a next time. I'm determined to find an enjoyable way to make these.

Until then, is there anything you love/hate about quilting? Is there a particular block, pattern or style of quilt that you love but can't stand the thought of making for yourself?

Adieu, Dear London

2011-08-23T16:24:00.000-05:00

"NO MINUTE GONE COMES EVER BACK AGAIN
TAKE HEED AND SEE YE NOTHING DO IN VAIN"

I read those words while standing in front of Liberty of London just three weeks ago. What a sad yet wonderful turn of phrase. How thoughtful I've been since then.

It's hard for me to admit but traveling is not something I truly enjoy. My head thinks I will love the adventure, the new sights...but my heart aches for home.

Such was the case in London. The city is loud and busy and filled to the brim with adventure. For a quiet, country mouse like me, it was overwhelming.

Immersed in a new city, I can't seem to remember why I wanted to travel in the first place. I miss my home and my friends. I try to make the best of it, to live in the moment. Unfortunately, I often find living in the moment to be nearly impossible.

It's only once I'm home that I begin to appreciate all I saw, all that I experienced. I read a book and can imagine how a person might have felt, having stood where she once stood.

I see a flower garden near my house and it pales in comparison to the most beautiful wildflowers I have ever seen.

I eat dinner in front of the tv and remember quiet picnics with Ian in Kensington Gardens.

What I never seem to realize until much later is that I always leave a piece of my heart behind. My life is better, richer, fuller for having traveled someplace new, I am better.

I must try harder to remember that no minute gone comes ever back again. Next time I will give my heart, not just leave it behind.

Loulouthi Tiles Quilts

2011-07-21T13:26:00.002-05:00

I love any excuse to make a quilt, as you well know. A coincidence: my very lovely neighbors are expecting their 7th baby later this month. Can you believe it took me until just one week ago to realize that I should make them a baby quilt? Um, hello! I have no idea why I didn't think of it sooner.

And since I didn't want the other kids to feel left out, I decided to make a "family" quilt to give at the same time.

I decided to make both quilts using the Loulouthi Tiles pattern created by the lovely Rachel of Stitched in Color. I just have to take a minute to tell you that I'm in love with this quilt pattern. I'm so mad I didn't think of it myself! My favorite part about quilting is the fabric and I prefer simple patterns that allow the fabric to be the star. And in my world, Rachel's pattern has it all: large squares and rectangles (great for showing off large and small prints), crisp sashing and a design that looks complex but is easy and fast to put together. It's pretty much the perfect quilt! Thanks Rachel!

For the family quilt I chose the medium Loulouthi Tiles pattern:

It took a while to pick out just the right fabrics but I'm so happy with the result. I'm completely in love with this color combination! If I had enough fabric left, I'd make another quilt just like it so I could keep one for myself. I especially love the colorful sashing around the larger rectangles. Rachel's pattern calls for all the sashing to be the same color so you can have space to show off your beautiful hand quilting. But since I was planning to machine quilt everything, I wanted something a bit more dramatic.

It's backed with a Valori Wells flannel that matches one of the prints from the front.

The baby quilt was also super fun to make...I've been itching to use those Farmdale apples for a long time!

I decided to spice it up by using squares to create the large blocks. I had to tweak the size of the rectangles just a bit to get it to work but it wasn't too difficult.

I skipped the batting for this quilt...it's my new favorite way to make baby quilts since the drape is so soft. The backing is one of Anna Maria Horner's Folksy Flannel prints.

I still can't believe I started and finished two quilts in one week. It helps that I stitched the binding on both quilts entirely by machine. This might be my new thing...I'm getting pretty good at it and it sure is fast!

I hope my neighbors like them...because if they don't, I just might ask for them back. Also, sorry for all the indoor photos...it was literally 100 degrees outside and my camera kept fogging up as soon as I stepped out the door. That and I didn't want my neighbors to see the quilts.

This will most likely be my last post before I leave for England for two weeks. I'll see you all as soon as I get back!

London Calling!

2011-07-13T09:06:00.002-05:00

I promised you guys some exciting news and here it is: Ian and I are heading to merry'olde England in less than two weeks!

We bought our plane tickets months ago but I was so busy with work and then the shutdown and then all the quilting that I sort of forgot to tell you about my trip. Actually, I've sort of forgotten to even think about my trip. I'm running out of time to get everything done!

Ian and I will meet his parents and sister in London and spend the first week sightseeing and visiting friends. Ian and I are staying on for another week to see any of the sights his parents weren't interested in visiting. We might take day trips to the countryside or stay overnight in Bath. I'd love to tour the lakes, Elizabeth Bennet style...but I'm not actually sure where the lakes are and I'm not sure how we'd get there.

Anyway, I'm off to the store to find some appropriate capris and/or skirts for my travels. It's been years since I bought anything new and sadly, my old traveling clothes don't fit anymore. I also want to make a tote bag out of the Echino London print (purchased at Pink Chalk Fabrics). I need to get going! More later!

Kaleidoscope Quilt Top

2011-07-12T08:17:00.000-05:00

I finished my Kaleidoscope quilt top the other day:

I'm really happy with the way it turned out. I really love when a pattern emerges once all the blocks are put together...I've always wanted to make a quilt like that. Of course, in order to make one of those, I have to make all the blocks...and you all know I'm not really into making fussy blocks with seams on the bias. But for some reason, these blocks were pretty fun to make. Still, I'm happy there were only 30.

Usually I agonize over fabric placement but this time I just picked a piece from the pile, made sure it wasn't the same fabric as the piece next to it and sewed. I arranged the blocks in pretty much the same way. Maybe that's why the quilt top went together so quickly and why it was so fun to make.

I was super excited to baste the quilt but then I realized I didn't actually have any backing fabric that would match the front. I ordered some orange flannel that I think will work...I might skip the batting in this quilt but I haven't decided yet.

Thanks again to Elizabeth for putting together this awesome quilt along. It inspired me to try a block I've been wanting to make for a long time. I can't wait until my flannel gets here so I can finish this quilt!

The Name Game and a Bit of a Break

2011-07-11T07:58:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday morning to you all. I can't believe it's been two weeks since I last posted. My birthday was actually really fun...we spent the afternoon at the King Tut exhibit at the science museum and then grilled a super fabulous dinner with friends and family. The bad news is that I was laid off on my birthday due to the Minnesota state government shutdown. I've mostly been sewing and trying not to spend money. I thought this break would increase my blogging but it had the opposite effect. I've really appreciated the time away from my work computer and haven't wanted to spend any time on my home computer.

But I'm checking in today to let you know that I've been featured on The Name Game on Cindy's blog.

If you ever wondered why I chose Sonnet of the Moon, now is your chance to find out. Thanks for letting me play, Cindy!

I'll be back in a day or two with a finished quilt top and some exciting news. For now it looks like I (and the other 22,000 state employees) won't be called back to work any time soon...but Ian and I are doing fine and the shutdown can't last forever. See you soon.

A Birthday Quilt

2011-06-27T13:28:00.001-05:00

Last June I bought a full fat quarter set of Nicey Jane prints as an early birthday present for myself. This year's early birthday present is a finished (mostly Nicey Jane) quilt:

It's backed with flannel but has no batting. I wanted a lightweight summer quilt and the combination of flannel and quilting cotton is perfect. Although Ian thinks the front is wimpy (his word to describe pastels), he's excited (as exited as he gets about quilts, which is not really all that excited) to use this quilt on our bed. I usually insist on having a few quilts on the bed at all times and he's been quite annoyed with me now that it's summer. Poor Ian...I think he fears that one day he'll suffocate under a stack of quilts.

This quilt is 60"x90" and is made up of 10" (finished) squares. It's also bound entirely by machine because I wanted it done!

I'm planning to host a birthday barbecue/picnic at my house on Friday night. I can't decide if I'm sad or indifferent about turning 30. Age is just a number so perhaps I'm indifferent... and yet, my 20's were really good to me. I will miss being 20-something. But maybe I'll enjoy being 30-something. I guess I won't know until I give it a try.

My First Kaleidoscope Block

2011-06-16T12:10:00.000-05:00

I stared at my Dream On fabric for a long time Tuesday night. I thought about what I wanted my Kaleidoscope quilt to feel like. Certainly I wanted it to be light and bright and fresh. Like a summer breeze through a laundry line filled with vintage sheets.

I wanted to focus on the orange prints. When I was little, my mom made orangey vintage sheet cushion covers for the loveseat in our backyard. They were huge and puffy and soft and cool in the shade. We spent many a summer afternoon nestled into those cushions, reading books and taking naps and looking up at the sun in the leaves. I even learned to embroider while sitting on those cushions. A quilt that felt like all that would be nice.

I thought about orange for my solid...and yellow and pink. I thought about excluding all the green and blue prints. I added back the green prints..but only the ones with orange in them. I really wanted to do something different, something fun.

And after all that, I decided to go with this:

How predictable, right? In the end, my decision came down to contrast. These fabrics are all medium tones and adding a medium toned solid would hide the beautiful Kaleidoscope pattern. I rarely make fancy quilt blocks, ones that require super careful cutting and sewing on the bias. I feel that if I'm going to put all this work into a fancy quilt, I want the pattern to stand out.

Since I didn't want to use a dark solid, my only choice was to go light. And white is light and crisp and it's my favorite anyway.

Of course, while working with these prints, I came up with all sorts of ideas for more Dream On quilts. I'm pulling together all the solids I wanted to use but didn't...and maybe those will find a home in the next Dream On quilt. Until then, though...I have lots more Kaleidoscope blocks to make!

Dream On...

2011-06-14T12:37:00.000-05:00

I just saw this beautiful vintage sheet quilt and it reminded me that I really want to make a Dream On quilt this summer. I first saw Dream On last spring but the line didn't come out until fall. I bought a fat quarter pack the very first second I could but when it finally got to my house, I wasn't in a vintage sheet mood. But now I am!

Amy's quilt also reminded me that I've been looking for an excuse to make a Kaleidoscope quilt...and join the Kaleidoscope quilt-along!

I'm going to check out my Dream On stash tonight to see if I can decide on a background color. There are many to choose from...I'm not sure what to do. I'm not officially joining the quilt-along until I can decide...and I might give up the idea entirely if I'm not excited about any of my options. Either way, this is the closest I've come to actually using my Dream On stash and the idea is exciting. I really hope it works out!

Summer of Scraps

2011-06-09T06:33:00.000-05:00

While I'm still busy at work, I'm finding more time to sew. A week ago I made a pact with myself to NOT think about work while I'm at home. It was hard at first. Once I was paying attention to my thoughts, it was pretty scary to realize how many revolved around work. If left unchecked, the thought would turn to fretting and I'd feel the ball of anxiety building in my stomach.

But home time is not for fretting or for thinking about work. So I'm not going to do it anymore.

Instead, I'm going to spend time hanging out with Ian and my friends and sewing and eating dinner outside and riding my bike.

Since I've adopted my "no work at home" policy, my previously muddy brown mind has become bright and cheerful. It makes me want to make bright and cheerful things. Like this bright and cheerful mini quilt:

I cut the binding from yardage but the rest is made entirely from scraps. Even the batting!

Sewing together these tiny scraps feels like a metaphor for my life right now. I might not get to choose the shape and size of the pieces in the scrap bin, but it's up to me to decide how to sew them together.

I hope things are going well for all of you and that you're finding time to enjoy the summer (or that you're staying warm if it's winter where you are). I'll be back next week with more things made from scraps. I can tell it's going to be quite a scrappy summer.

Seriously Busy

2011-06-02T16:03:00.000-05:00

I'm still seriously busy at work which makes me seriously unhappy. It's also giving me a serious headache. But I can't call in sick to work because if I fall any further behind, I'm seriously going to regret it.

I did get some time to sew this weekend and I hope to show you pictures of my progress next week.

Until then, I have something else to show you...a finished quilt top:

I finished this weeks ago but haven't had the time to post it. I'm absolutely in love with it!

I feel better just looking at these pictures. The calm olive and teal and navy helps soothe my frazzled nerves. One more crazy day to go and then I'll have two glorious weekend days to recover. I think I can make it...

Stress and Sewing

2011-05-18T12:09:00.000-05:00

It's officially spring in Minnesota! It was 90 degrees one day and 34 the next. We're finally going to plant the garden tomorrow...unless we have frost again tonight. It's the middle of May, it could still happen.

It's also our busy time at work which means I'm stressed and worn out by the time I get home every night.

Every night I leave work with the best of sewing intentions. And then I get home and have no energy for sewing which is sad.

And then I remembered I still had some hand quilting left on my Bottled Rainbows quilt. It really doesn't take much energy to sit on the couch and stitch. More than that, my tired mind is refreshed by these beautiful colors!

For me, these tiny crinkles are the antidote to a stressful day. What's yours?

The Ballet Bag Tutorial

2011-04-29T09:43:00.000-05:00

I hope you enjoy my tutorial for a lined (and reversible!) drawstring bag of (in my opinion) perfect proportions.

Materials:
For Side A: cut two 14.5" x 17.25" pieces (the 14.5" edge will be the top so keep it in mind for directional prints)

For Side B: cut two 14.5" x 17.25" pieces (same here: top edge is 14.5")

For Drawstring: 2 yards (72") of double faced satin ribbon (5/8" wide).

Let's get started! Place one Side A and one Side B right sides together:

Sew along one short side using a 1/4" seam. This will be the top of the bag so be careful if you're using a directional print. Press seam open (this will help your bag look more finished). Repeat with your other two pieces:

Place one of your pieces wrong side up. Mark lines for your drawstring .5" and 1.25" on both sides of the seam line. Repeat on the other side.

Pin your two pieces together, making sure that matching fabrics are layered together.

Sew the long sides only using a 1/2" seam. Backstitch when you get to the first pencil line. Move to your next pencil line and sew the space between lines (over the seam). Backstitch at the beginning and end. Move to the last pencil line, backstitch and continue sewing the long seam until you reach the bottom of the bag.

Repeat on the other long side.

Sew both short short sides using a 1/4" seam. On one of the sides, leave a 3" gap, backstitching at either side.

Now we'll make the gussets. Place your ruler on the stitching lines in one corner of your bag. Measure 1.25" from the corner on each side and mark with a pencil line.

Pinch the front and back sides of the bag and pull the fabric outward.

Your goal is to get the seams and your pencil lines to line up. I like to mark the pencil lines with a pin to make sure the front and back are lined up.

With your ruler, draw a line perpendicular to your seam line. The line should be 2.5" from edge to edge and should line up with your original pencil mark.

Pin and sew along this line, backstitching at the beginning and end. Trim the corner, leaving a 1/4" seam.

Repeat these steps with your three remaining corners.

Once you're finished with that, press your side seams open. This will create the opening for your drawstring. You don't have to press the entire seam, just be sure to press a few inches on either side of the top seam.

Check your bag for lint and/or stray threads and then pull your bag through the gap in the bottom.

Sew the gap closed by machine or by hand (I used a ladder stitch which is pretty invisible).

Push one of the sides into the other, creating the bag. We will be topstitching the drawstring channel so it's important to pin your layers together so they don't shift.

Be sure that the side seams are still open inside the bag. You should be able to insert a pencil through the side openings without it catching on any fabric.

To sew the drawstring channel, first stitch 1/2" from the edge. Backstitch when you reach the side seams. This is important if you will be reversing the bag since the thread at that point will be under some stress. Next, stitch 1.25" from the edge. I used a piece of masking tape to show where the edge of my bag should be while sewing this step. Again, backstitch a few times when you come to the side seams.

Here is what your drawstring channel should look like. As you can see, I forgot to do the backstitching. It's ok to go back and add it later...I did as soon as I remembered.

Cut your ribbon into two 36" pieces. Using a bodkin or safety pin, thread one ribbon through the opening in the side and continue around until you reach the same opening.

Pull the top of the bag straight and tie a knot close to the edge. Trim the ends. I like to melt the edges with a match to keep them from fraying. Run the flame along the cut edge for just a second...don't let it melt too much or it will burn.

Repeat with the other ribbon, starting at the opposite side opening.

To reverse the bag, push the knots through the side openings and turn bag inside out.

Find something to carry and take your new bag on an outing!

As always, let me know if you have questions or if you need clarification on any of the steps. Thanks for taking a look at my tutorial and I hope you enjoy your new drawstring bag!

Ballet Bag Winner

2011-04-29T08:20:00.000-05:00

Just stopping in to announce the winner of the Ballet Bag, chosen by random.org: Clumsy Chord!

The tutorial for the bags will be up in a little bit.

Ballet Bag Giveaway

2011-04-27T11:54:00.001-05:00

My friend Karrie and I have been taking ballet lessons for a few months now. Every week we toted our tutus around in the plastic bags we got when we purchased our ballet outfits. I can't believe it took me so long to realize we needed cute bags to carry all our cute ballet stuff. Once I did, though, I couldn't rest until I'd created the perfect bag:

The Ballet Bag is lined and fully reversible...there's an opening for the drawstring to pop through either side.

There are also small gussets at the bottom which allows for a roomier bag. It finishes at about 13" x 15" which makes it the perfect size for carrying a change of clothes, a few books or a picnic lunch.

And the best part is that it's easy and fast to make. It takes me longer to pick out fabric than it does to sew the bag. You'll have to trust me when I say that these look even cuter in person. I'll have the tutorial posted on Friday so you can make your own if you want.

Today, though, I want to do a giveaway. The teal Farmdale bag is up for grabs. It's lined with pink dots from Denyse Schmidt's new line of quilting fabrics. Of course, lined is not really the right word because the bag is reversible.

Just comment on this post and I'll draw a winner randomly tomorrow evening. You don't have to answer any of the following questions to win but if you feel like chatting, I'd really love to know: Have you taken ballet before? What's your opinion on the new Denyse Schmidt fabrics? Do you have a favorite fabric line? Do you agree with T-Rex that asking questions at the end of a blog post looks desperate and pathetic? (I, obviously, don't agree with him.)

A Sewing Weekend

2011-04-25T10:23:00.000-05:00

You guys, I am totally sewed out! Ian was out of town and I had a three day weekend all to myself! Friday I sewed for almost 10 hours straight. Saturday I sewed for 6 hours and then went to dinner and a movie with Karrie (Water for Elephants was really good). Then I sewed for an hour or so until bedtime. I sewed for another 10 hours on Sunday.

I pretty much did nothing but sew...I didn't even take pictures which means you get pictures of my new fabric instead. As most of you know, they're from Denyse Schmidt's new line of fabric sold exclusively at JoAnn Fabrics. I tried not to get carried away...I bought only the prints I loved.

So, what did I sew this weekend?

First, I finished my log cabins and almost finished the top (just need to add the outer border).

Then I noticed that some of my new fabrics would match an old work in progress. I pressed the 84 blocks I'd already made, sewed the remaining 24 blocks, arranged them all on the design wall and started sewing blocks together. I have 1/3 of the top finished already.

I made two stars for a project I'm working on with Jen. 10 stars down, 186 to go.

And last but not least, I made something that I'll show you later this week. There will be a tutorial AND a giveaway so stay tuned!

I'm picking Ian up from the airport tonight. While I had a super fun weekend on my own, I'm definitely excited to have him home again. I took tomorrow off of work so we can hang out all day. Of course, he's a late sleeper so I'm sure I'll be able to sneak in some early morning sewing. Because I thought I was all sewed out...but looking at that fabric again reminds me that I'm really not.

Log Cabins

2011-04-13T17:12:00.000-05:00

Did you know that the first quilt to ever capture my heart was a Log Cabin? At first, I was attracted to the amazing design possibilities using color and value.

These days, I'm drawn to scrappy log cabins surrounded by sashing, white or another color. I love how each block is displayed like a little piece of art.

I saw Rita's finished log cabin the other day and was immediately inspired to make one of my very own.

I knew right away that I wanted to use my green and blue Modern Meadow prints along with matching fabrics from my stash. Of course, I was mistaken about how many Modern Meadow prints I had and I set about buying the ones I was missing. But before I hit "buy", I decided I actually wanted to use only fabrics from my stash, fabrics I might otherwise have hoarded and never cut into.

And I like it! I'm making 12 blocks and all of them need one more row before they're finished. I'm thinking some white sashing will be nice and I even have the perfect backing fabric...a matching flannel from my stash. Perhaps a little Kona Olive for the binding? I'll keep you posted!

Catching Up

2011-04-12T15:38:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it's been three weeks since my last post. A lot of things have happened since I finished my Bottled Rainbows quilt:

-I made lots of HST (orange and turquoise, omg!)

-finished the top for a secret quilt.

-went up north to visit my parents.

-went to the funeral of an old family friend.

-cleaned/organized the studio.

-went shopping for jeans...I hate shopping for jeans!

-started an 8 week ballet class and bought real ballerina clothes! Only three lessons so far but we're pretty awesome already!

-watched all the snow melt. Finally!

-did some gardening, mostly raking and tree-trimming.

-had to give baby-cat back to her real mom (my grandma came back from her winter vacation in Arizona)

-baby-cat was running outside at grandma's house and almost got eaten by a hawk!

-Grandma was scared so she sent baby-cat to live with us forever! Now she is mine to cuddle all the time!

-saw a few movies ("Paul" and "The Adjustment Bureau"...both were good!)

-had our monthly book club (Water for Elephants)

-started two new books (The Red Tent for book-club and Machine of Death for fun)

-did you know that season 3 of Robin Hood is available for streaming on Netflix?

-started a log cabin quilt for my bed (inspired by this quilt, of course). I'll have a few pictures to show you tomorrow.

Anyway, I feel a little aimless, quilting-wise. I'm working on a few projects but none have deadlines. All of them require white fabric, though...so I really should order more soon.

Ian and I are planning to do a lot of gardening in the next few weeks...I'm not really "into" gardening but I'm willing to give it a try. Anyway, I expect to be blogging more often now that I can actually take photos outside. That's one of the main reasons I don't blog much in the winter. Stupid winter...

Bottled Rainbows Quilt!

2011-03-21T18:42:00.000-05:00

Check it out...my finished Bottled Rainbows Quilt!

I super love this quilt! It's so warm and cuddly and bright and it makes me so, so happy!

First thing to note: there's no binding! I had this plan in mind from the start. I sewed wrong sides together (with batting too) and then turned it all right side out. I tried this method with the first quilt I ever made and it worked perfectly. This time...not so much.

I couldn't get the layers to work together. First the top would be too big...then I'd flip it and smooth and then the back would be too big. How is that even possible? I did that about four times before I gave up and had Ian help me shake the whole thing parachute-style to get the layers in place. It mostly worked.

Then I tried to quilt it by machine. I wanted to quilt around each block in matching thread. But the tension on my machine was crazy, I couldn't sew a straight line and turning the quilt to get all sides of the block was too hard.

So I hand quilted it. Just around the boxes at first and now I'm going back to quilt each scrap. It's taking a long time but I think it's totally worth it. I love how crinkly those scraps are!

For the back I used some Folksy Flannel from my stash...a warm print backing the red/pink side and a cool print backing the green/blue.

I love these boxes on the back.

I wish they stood out more so I'll have to remember to use a calmer print next time.

I'm calling this quilt finished, even though it technically isn't. I still have 10 blocks worth of scraps to quilt. I plan to work on it when I'm watching movies on the couch...something I don't do often but will enjoy more with a hand quilting project to work on.

So anyway, that's it! A huge thanks to Rachel for coming up with this idea and for putting together this quilt-along. I'm really enjoying seeing new blocks pop up in the flickr group and I can't wait to see all your finished Bottled Rainbows quilts!

Bottled Rainbows: Cerise

2011-03-21T15:35:00.000-05:00

Better late than never, here's my last (and favorite) Bottled Rainbows block. I was so into hand quilting and movie watching and having friends over this weekend that I forgot to post this earlier.

It's made with Kona Cerise, my most favorite color ever. I was never a magenta person before I started quilting but now it's pretty much the best. I especially love Sugar Snap: Fireball, Park Slope: Leaf Dot and Mendocino.

I'm so excited to make a pink Mendocino quilt for myself...but I don't know what it should look like. It was nice to use some of my scraps, though. I'm also going to buy some more Sugar Snap because it's the perfect magenta and I'm almost out. Don't go out and buy it all up before I get some, ok? Please leave some for me.

Anyway, I'll post "finished" quilt pictures in a little bit. I'm so excited to show it to you!

Bottled Rainbows

2011-03-17T11:02:00.000-05:00

As I was sitting on the couch the other night, watching tv and hand quilting (OMG, hand quilting!), Ian asked me why I was in such a hurry to finish this quilt.

(Eggplant block using Kona Dark Violet and scraps from Jen and Cindy)

And I had to think about it a minute because I didn't feel like I was in a hurry to finish it. But given my normal plodding pace, this is definitely hurrying.

And I wondered why I was, in fact, in such a hurry. Considering the usual and unusual trouble I had making this quilt, you'd think I was hurrying just to get it over and done with.

(Ocean block using Kona Hyacinth and scraps from Cindy and Daisy)

But I felt quite the opposite, actually. I hurried because I enjoyed the entire process. Yes, there were times when 16 blocks felt like a lot of blocks. And then I had issues with the front and back not playing nicely. And then my sewing machine had tension issues and ruined all the quilting I'd done.

(This is closer to the right color blue.)

And yet, not one of the above phased me one bit. I never once felt frustrated enough to quit. Instead, I felt excited to find a solution and move on. It was weird but awesome! I hope to have more quilting experiences like this in the future.

(Raspberry block using Kona Pomegranate and scraps from Jen)

So anyway, I've saved my favorite block for last and I'll post it tomorrow. And then finished quilt pictures on Monday! Exciting!

Bottled Rainbows: Moss

2011-03-14T09:44:00.000-05:00

This weekend was definitely awesome! Our Saturday dinner plans got canceled which meant I didn't have to spend all of Friday and Saturday preparing to have guests over. Instead, I sewed while watching some of my favorite movies.

(Moss block made with Kona Avocado)

First I finished the last of my bottled rainbows blocks. Then I finished the quilt top. And then I layered the quilt.

(There are some fabrics in here from the lovely Cindy.)

And then some quilting was going on. And then some un-quilting...and then some new quilting.

(Did you know lily-of-the-valley is my favorite flower?)

My goals for this week are: finish 8 star blocks (I didn't make any this weekend because the quilting was too exciting!) and finish the Bottled Rainbows quilt by Sunday night. Finished quilt pictures on Monday if all goes as planned!

Bottled Rainbows: Petal

2011-03-11T15:28:00.000-06:00

I'm running late today so I'm going to post my Petal block:

Why Petal for running late? Because there's not much to say about this block. It's Kona Candy Pink. I like pink.

That is all.

Bottled Rainbows: Ruby

2011-03-10T13:57:00.000-06:00

Today's Bottled Rainbows block is Ruby (made with Kona Ruby):

This block has some of my very favorite red scraps in it. They're left over from a red quilt top I made this winter. And since I had so much fun working on that top, it was extra fun pulling out all these red scraps again.

And you know what else? Mixed in with mine are some beautiful scraps from my friend Jen. She sent them when I was working on another scrap quilt. And now we're making a scrappy star quilt. So many scraps!

I just really love this block...it's so cheery and fun and makes me think of friends and summer and picnics. It also makes me want to make another red quilt...but that'll have to wait until I finish my first one. Dang!

Bottled Rainbows: Indigo

2011-03-09T10:47:00.000-06:00

Today's block is one of my favorites, even though I don't usually care one way or the other about navy blue (Kona Marine). But check it out:

When I started this project, I would have sworn to you that I had no navy prints in my stash. But look...I found Castle Peeps, Parisville and Modern Meadow (one of my favorite lines, by the way).

And that's what I love about this quilt along. It's been a long time since I actually looked at my stash. I have so many prints that I've sort of forgotten about. Like that Chesnut Hill print? I've had that forever but was surprised to find it in my blue stack. Or the Castle Peeps...wasn't I so excited to make a Castle Peeps quilt for myself just a few months ago?

I think it's easy to forget about the things we see every day...things that are so familiar they become part of the background. And I feel sad that my stash has become part of the background. I look at it every day, but I don't actually see it.

Anyway, I'm excited to spend more time looking through my fabric, rediscovering prints I used to love but have long since forgotten. Maybe they'll even inspire a new quilt? After I finish this quilt, of course...and all the others I already have started...oh my...

Bottled Rainbows: Grass

2011-03-08T13:47:00.000-06:00

I mentioned yesterday that I only have three Bottled Rainbows blocks left to finish. Were you as surprised by that as I was? I'm definitely a project starter, obsesser and then abandoner. I can't ever seem to finish a project, no matter how much I loved it in the beginning.

(Kona Grass Green)

And it bothers me and I'm trying really hard to change. I want to be the sort of person who finishes what she starts.

I've devised a new system that seems to be working. Every Monday, I set attainable (yet significant) project goals for the week/weekend. Those are my priorities and I work on them first. The key to the whole plan, though, is that these goals should be very manageable in size. It's important that I have enough unscheduled time to work on a different project, should I so choose. And the faster I get through my to-do list, the more time I have for said projects.

It's the perfect plan for me: I feel a sense of accomplishment when I finish my goals for the week, I make headway each week on important projects (or projects with deadlines) and I also have time to work on other projects that I'm obsessed about.

This week's goals are as follows: finish the last three Bottled Rainbows blocks, photograph them while it's still light out, assemble the quilt top (and back), layer and baste. I also want to finish four wonky star blocks.

Not bad, right? And I think I can do all this and still have time to have guests over for dinner on Saturday. I might also get a head start on next week's goal: finish the Bottled Rainbows quilt! Exciting!

Bottled Rainbows: Plum

2011-03-07T13:25:00.001-06:00

You guys! I totally kicked some Bottled Rainbows ass this weekend! I only have three blocks to go! Today's block is Plum:

I have about two minutes to write about this block so I'm just going to say: I don't have a lot of plum fabric (to match the Kona Lupine) and I cut into my very recently purchased Far Far Away II fabric.

See...the Owl and the Pussycat!

They are so cute! I bought a FQ set of all the FFA 2 prints but I don't know how I should use them. Maybe bits and pieces here and there...maybe an entire quilt. I'm having trouble matching the colors to anything in my stash at the moment.

I also wish these were printed on regular cotton fabric. The linen has so much texture that it's hard to see the actual drawings. They're so sweet and filled with beautiful details...it's really a shame.

Anyway, that's it for now. Hope you had a fun weekend filled with sewing or other fun things!

Bottled Rainbows: Tangerine

2011-03-04T08:39:00.000-06:00

My last Bottled Rainbows block for the week is Tangerine:

I used Kona Orange and, while it's not very different from the Kona Tangerine, I think the blocks turned out different enough.

I really had a fun time working with these fabrics. My mom told me that when she was a girl, orange was her favorite color. I was also a girl at the time and I thought "Orange is dumb! How could it be anyone's favorite color?" It was seriously mind-boggling. But now, I take it all back. Orange is such an exciting color! The world would be so boring without it.

Anyway, I'm taking a blogging break this weekend but I'll be back on Monday with another block. It'll feature one of my new-ish fabric purchases and I think you'll like it.

Have a great weekend!

Bottled Rainbows: Mustard

2011-03-03T09:22:00.000-06:00

I think you guys are really going to like today's Bottled Rainbows block...unless you hate yellow and/or selvages.

I'm not a huge yellow fan in general but there's just something so wonderful about a yellow quilt block. My Kona color card says this is Corn Yellow although I bought it a few years ago to make Pacman pillows...so to me it's Pacman Yellow.

I had a fun time picking scraps for this block because they were just so cheery! Then I got to the last space and couldn't decide which fabric to use. None of them really felt right to balance the block. Then I thought "I should use selvages!"...so I did.

I've been saving all my selvages to make a quilt but I have no idea what design to use. While I super love diamonds and spiderwebs, I'd like to do something a little different. When I first saw this selvage star I thought "that's it! I want to do that!" Of course, I quickly had to admit to myself that I'd never make more than one section of the star before quitting. So, it's back to square one for me.

I don't know...do you have any suggestions? Do you have a favorite selvage quilt or have you made one? I'd love to check them out if you post a link in the comments.

Bottled Rainbows: Teal

2011-03-02T14:49:00.000-06:00

Today's Botted Rainbows block is Teal:

First, let me just say how hard it is to photograph blues. My camera turns all blues into pretty much this shade, when in reality, this block is more green-blue like the picture below. Second, I was worried I wouldn't have any fabrics in my stash to match this color (Kona Caribbean). And I didn't really...but I found some that worked alright.

I've been thinking a lot about color lately. If you couldn't tell, I'm pretty obsessed with things being matchy-matchy. To the point that things become pretty boring. I try to at least include different values (light to dark) but then sometimes a really light fabric ends up next to a really dark fabric and freaks me out.

I don't mind mixing colors together in a quilt. I'm a huge fan of "scrappy" quilts, actually. But if there are blues in the quilt, I want them to be similar blues. Or pinks or especially greens. Just so you know, trying to match greens is just about my worst nightmare. They're either too green, too blue, too yellow or too brown.

In fact, this is the closest I've come to "mixing all my greens" and you can see they're all pretty much in the "lime" family:

On the other hand, I really care about color. I think long and hard about it when picking just the right fabrics for a quilt. It's my favorite part! Perhaps the problem isn't that I'm too matchy-matchy...perhaps I just need more variety in my fabrics to keep things from getting boring. I'm probably always going to be particular about colors in a quilt...but more variety within those limitations sounds like it just might work. Next time I go fabric shopping, I'm buying lots of fat quarters!

So what about you? Are you an obsessive matchy-matcher? If not, do you just go with your gut or something? I don't get it!

Bottled Rainbows: Pumpkin

2011-03-01T09:52:00.001-06:00

Today's Bottled Rainbows block is Pumpkin:

Ok, so this block is definitely more "hunter orange" than pumpkin...but like Rachel says, Kona doesn't really make a subtle rusty orange. I used Kona Tangerine and man, is it bright!

I had to cut into some of my stash fabrics in order to make this block. I didn't realize it until this weekend but I've never made an orange quilt, despite wanting to for a really long time. This explains why I have very few orange scraps. And since I was already cutting into yardage, I took the opportunity to cut some extra squares for an orange quilt. I have a thing for orange and turquoise so we'll see what happens.

Anyway, the thing I love most about this block is this fishy:

I was at the thrift store years ago and found what I can only assume are chaps...homemade and possibly to use while painting or making pottery or something? I don't know why else someone would need fishy chaps (edged entirely with lace for extra awesomeness). Maybe I don't want to know.

But the fabric was great so I bought them. It's cotton canvas and I just love the look on their little fishy faces. I've been waiting to use this somewhere but I haven't had a good reason. And I thought it would be hard to cut into this fabric but it was easy. And cutting into the rest of my orange stash was easy too.

I've gotten really excited about actually using my fabric. No more saving it for the perfect project. I'm letting my quilts tell me what they need...and this block needed a very special fishy. And there are other blocks in this quilt that are calling for some of my very specialist fabrics too. I've been thinking about this a lot lately and I've decided that life is too short to save fabric. I bought it so I could use it so I'm going to use it and be happy. And I am happy so I know I made the right decision. I only wish I'd made it sooner.

Bottled Rainbows: Turquoise

2011-02-28T08:25:00.002-06:00

This weekend was so fun. Ian was out of town so I spent just about every second of every day in the studio working on my Bottled Rainbows quilt and watching Lost. (I heart Lost + Netflix streaming!)

I finished all 16 base blocks and sewed the final scrap to my 7th block late last night. Just 9 to go!

Today's block is Turquoise (Kona Peacock):

I have lots of aqua in my stash but not so much turquoise. Thankfully, I made an impulse buy this summer that included a few blue prints by Jennifer Pagnelli. I also found one scrap of blue Katie Jump Rope while I was digging through my "blue" bin. I thought I'd used it all up so it was a nice surprise.

And check it out...my Lime block was featured on Rachel's blog this weekend. Exciting!

Bottled Rainbows: Lime

2011-02-25T11:17:00.000-06:00

I had the day off yesterday and spent most of the morning picking out and cutting up solids for the Bottled Rainbows Quilt-Along. They're not all the same colors as the quilt-along list but they work for me.

The instant I finished sewing the first base block, I got to work adding scraps. Here's my "Lime" block (using Kona Chartreuse) and I LOVE it!

I was originally going to cut the edges straight but the thought of all those stray threads really bothered me. I know, I know...how dumb is it that I'm making a ticker-tape quilt? I didn't want to zig-zag the edges which left pinking as my only option. Pinked edges are more my style anyway so I'm happy!

My goal is to finish five blocks this weekend so I can blog one every day next week. I can't believe I'm actually working on a project I said I'd work on...it's so unlike me! Thanks, Rachel, for creating such a fun quilt-along!

Rainbows Anyone?

2011-02-23T08:51:00.000-06:00

February is flying by! I can't believe there's only one week left. I don't have much to share, sewing wise. I've mostly been cutting fabric while watching Lost on Netflix streaming. It's fun to go back and watch all the episodes again...there's so much I don't remember.

I've also been working on some English paper piecing which is why my cutting table is so messy. But it's a nice, comforting sort of mess.

I also wanted to tell you that I'm joining Rachel's Bottled Rainbows ticker tape quilt-along.

I'm not really a quilt-along sort of person because I can't seem to ever finish a quilt-along project, even my own. But this quilt-along is different. It's rainbow, it's a simple layout and it's a ticker tape sorted by color! If you didn't know, you know now...I'm obsessed with sorting things by color.

I looked through my collection of solid fabrics and I think I'll just use what I have. They're not all exactly "perfect" but that's alright.

I'm also thinking of making a second quilt for my mom since we all know how much she loves rainbow quilts. Then again, maybe I'll wait to see if I can finish one quilt first.

And even though Dinosaur Comics says asking questions at the end of a blog post looks desperate and pathetic, I'm going to ask anyway: is anyone here joining the quilt-along? Because I actually do want to know...I'm not trying to be insecure or needy like T-Rex says I am.

A Finished Quilt Top

2011-02-16T08:29:00.000-06:00

I finished the Nicey Jane quilt top the other day:

It measures 60x90 and is made of 10" (finished) squares. The thing about this quilt is...well, it's not actually going to be a quilt. I mean, it will and it won't. But I can't tell you what it will be until later this spring. I'm working on an idea...sort of a group of projects that will be fun for summer. Lots of tutorials, lots of giveaways...all with a fun summery theme.

I plan to show you bits of these projects as I work on them but I won't be able to show the finished ideas for a few months. I think that's a good compromise since I don't want to disappear from my blog just because I'm working on a "secret" project.

And even though these projects will take up a lot of my time, I'm still planning to work on other things that I can show you.

So anyway, that's it for now. I should have a few project updates for you later this week. And maybe a finished quilt? We'll see...

From Vector, With Love

2011-02-15T10:31:00.000-06:00

Vector would like to wish you all a belated Valentine's Day.

He's excited to show you his new pink bow.

He's also excited to destroy his new pink bow for you, his loyal readers.

And then he'll take a nap, just for you. He loves you that much.

Request for Opinions

2011-02-11T12:59:00.000-06:00

I have a question for any of my readers who are more knowledgeable about babies than I am. (This applies to probably 99% of my readers, just so you know.)

Is it a good idea to make a baby bib out of laminated cotton?

At first I thought yes because it would be easy to wipe clean. Then I thought no because couldn't it be a suffocation hazard or something? Aren't babies always putting stuff over their mouths? The warning on every plastic bag leads me to believe the answer is yes.

Any advice you can give to me, the most un-motherly person ever, would be much appreciated. Potential recipients of potentially fatal bibs will thank you too.

Anyway, I'm thinking up some other ways to use my laminated cotton scraps in case the bib thing turns out to be a bad idea. I used most of the original yardage to make a pretty red and white tablecloth a few months ago:

But how to use the pretty leftovers? Hmmm...

More Nicey Jane

2011-02-10T08:38:00.000-06:00

Posting every day is hard! Well, actually, it's more that the days go by so quickly that I don't even notice that I haven't posted. I'm definitely trying but I don't want to put too much pressure on myself to post every day...even though that is my ultimate goal.

So, let's see...Monday through Wednesday. I finished cutting squares for my Nicey Jane quilt. Then I spent quite a bit of time deciding what order to put them in. I prefer to do this on the floor because I can slide the pieces around. Swapping them around on the design wall takes much longer.

Here is my progress so far...after only one minor cat attack:

These big squares (10.5" unfinished) sew up so quickly! Not shown is the progress I made last night. I was planning to sew only one pair together because I was feeling lazy. Instead, I ended up sewing four pairs. That's not a lot of progress but it's better than the nothing I would have accomplished without this challenge.

A Busy Weekend

2011-02-07T09:30:00.000-06:00

Let's see...where were we...

Saturday I spent the morning fixing up a pair of workout pants that were too wide in the leg for ballet class.

I used a ballpoint needle (for sewing knit fabrics) for the first time and it worked really well.

After class Karrie and I went for coffee and then I came home and cut fabric for a few hours.

I'm really happy to get the chance to spend some time with these fabrics. I bought them for my birthday and was saving them for just the right quilt. And the thing is...this fabric is going to be perfect for the quilt I have in mind. Only it's not exactly the quilt I had in mind for this fabric. Does that make sense?

I mean that I still want to make a different quilt with this fabric (and I have enough left over to do it) but the quilt I'm making now was calling out for Nicey Jane. So I had to use it. Even though it wasn't what I wanted to use it on...you know?

Yesterday Ian and I drove to Madison, Wisconsin (a 10 hour round trip!) to see The Threepenny Opera. It was amazing! I didn't know anything about it but that was part of the fun. Ian's been wanting to see it for a long time now and Madison was the closest city we could find.

And since I'm the driver, I didn't get any sewing done on Sunday. We left before dawn and got back super late. It was quite a day!

Anyway, I wanted to thank you for your comments on my post on Saturday. We're cat-sitting my grandma's cat while she's in Arizona for a few months. She's definitely a spunky kitten...and she's giving Ian's more mature cats a run for their money. And every day she rips things off my design wall when I'm not looking. At least she's cute...

Nicey Jane Vs. Cat

2011-02-05T12:08:00.002-06:00

Last night's project was picking fabric for a new quilt. I went with mostly Nicey Jane and a few coordinating prints. I didn't get as much done as I would have liked, though. I wonder why...

Scrappy Blocks

2011-02-04T09:28:00.000-06:00

So check it out...I finished three blocks last night! I'm completely in love with them!

I especially love how every tiny scrap gets used.

And how it looks complicated but it's so simple!

These blocks (plus some other scraps I sewed together but haven't yet turned into blocks) took a total of eight hours over three days. I know that seems like an incredibly slow pace but I'm in no hurry. Plus, piecing all those strips randomly is so much fun!

I didn't think I would get much sewing time last night. In fact, I probably would have lounged on the couch with Ian after book club. But instead, I put in a solid 2.5 hours of work. I'd only planned to complete one block but I finished three.

I can already tell this "make something every day" thing is going to be good for me. Getting started is always the hardest part...once I do that, I usually forget to look at the clock. I love when one tiny minute of sewing turns into hours and hours.

So what about you? Do you have any sewing/creating plans for the weekend?

Create Something, Anything

2011-02-03T09:41:00.000-06:00

For the first time in months, the sun is out. There's even a hearty blue sky! It's absolutely amazing how different I feel now that the light has changed. It feels like spring is just around the corner...even though I know we still have a few months left.

And so, after the dreariest, snowiest two months ever, I'm finally feeling inspired. I'm so ready to create and sew and blog again. And I just happened to stumble on the perfect way to do all three. I first read on KarrieLyne's blog that Kelly from Thinking Out Loud is challenging herself (and everyone) to make something, anything, every day for the month of February.

And that actually sounds like fun. Which is weird because almost nothing has felt like much fun lately. But the sun is out and I just can't help but feel excited about sewing. And I can't help but feel excited about re-joining the blogging world. I really missed it while I was all sad in my house doing nothing.

I'll try to post something every day, even if it's just a little something. Because even little things add up to big things after a while.

So, here we go! I spent the first two days of February sewing together some pink, red and orange scraps.

The inspiration for this quilt is here...I'll wait until you get back because you need to see this quilt.

I'm planning to do something similar but with a limited color palette. And as much as I feel like a jerk for copying this quilt, well, I just can't help it. I'm in LOVE! Tiny scraps, improvisational piecing, squares in squares and to top it all off...nice and straight lines with no pinning at the seams. Perfection!

If you haven't already, you should definitely check out the rest of Completely Cauchy's blog...her quilts are so inspiring and I hope you find them inspiring as well.

I have my book club tonight but afterwards, I'm going to try to finish up a block to show you tomorrow. I'm so excited!

Stitch by Stitch

2011-01-26T16:11:00.000-06:00

I feel so terribly sluggish. It's been a month since I worked on quilty things, posted anything creative on my blog, commented on anyone's blog or replied to emails.

I'm just feel stuck right now. I have lots to do, lots of time to do it and yet the only thing I want to do is snuggle under a quilt and watch the fourth season of The Tudors or similar. I've also seriously exhausted everything cool Netflix streaming has to offer.

In case you're in the same boat, I highly recommend: The Maiden Heist (an adorable heist movie staring Christopher Walken and Morgan Freeman (and someone also wears a dress made from Katie Jump Rope fabric!)) and How to Murder Your Wife (a scandalously titled yet clever 1965 comedy staring Jack Lemon.)

So, anyway, I think I've finally reached my do-nothing limit. I don't really have much to say but I'm slowly feeling more creative. I even picked out fabrics for a little hand quilting project.

Which I started this weekend.

While I finished The Tudors and watched various other movies. For hours and hours. The hand quilting is taking forever but I'm enjoying each slow stitch.

As for the other things...I'm making it a priority to send emails tonight and comments tomorrow. Slowly, day by day, stitch by stitch, I'll be myself again.

Confessions of a Sturdy Ballerina

2011-01-10T11:24:00.000-06:00

Last Thursday Karrie and I went to our very first ballet class. It is an odd thing, this ballet. I've done ballroom dancing before and I was always able to get the steps down after just one try. I expected to be good at ballet in much the same way.

Because, you see, I've always been the sort of person who can see something done once and repeat it. I like being good at things but mostly, I like being good at things right away. I enjoy improving my skills after my first attempt but there's nothing as exciting as finding out I'm pretty good at something I've never tried before. I actually crave that moment of superiority when I realize I'm better at being a beginner than other beginners. I love discovering that I'm even more talented than I thought I was.

Are you all waiting for something to take me down a notch? Well, here it is: after one class, I'm not a super great ballerina. WTF, right? I did fine but I was not the best in the class by any stretch of the imagination.

That should be hard to admit, given how full of myself I am. But in truth, that's not the real confession. For the first time in, well, ever, I'm actually okay with not being the best. I'm (shockingly!) not a ballet prodigy nor will there ever be a role in Swan Lake for a sturdy, 29-year-old beginner ballerina.

And without the possibility of being the best (right away or at all), the old Crystal would have given up the project entirely. But the new Crystal (who is trying to be less "black and white") is going to give it her best.

I've decided to focus on what's important, to really enjoy each class and each movement. I want to focus on making myself better, improving myself inside and out.

I will do this even though I'm not the best in my class. Even though there is zero potential for prima ballerina status. Even though I am the sturdiest ballerina in the room.

There and Back Again

2011-01-03T10:06:00.005-06:00

"Dwight, if you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?"

"I can travel anywhere, except Cuba, and I will travel to New Zealand and walk the Lord of the Rings trail to Mordor and I will hike Mount Doom."

In the spirit of Dwight Schrute, Ian and I completed our quest to Mount Doom this weekend. We never left the house but it was exhausting all the same. We managed to finish all three (extended edition!) Lord of the Rings movies in just over a day (we fell asleep two hours short of our goal and had to finish up in the morning).

It was a good thing we planned a day's worth of Hobbit-inspired meals to keep up our strength!

Breakfast

Egg, Cheese and Tomato on English Muffin
Coffee

Second Breakfast

Star of Elendil Fruit Salad
Kir Royale with Raspberries

Elevensies

Olive and Cheese Plate with Homemade Crackers
Pint!

Luncheon

Mushroom, Tomato and Cheese on Grilled Bread
Coleslaw Salad

Afternoon Tea

Tea with Homemade Shortbread Cookies

Dinner

Aragorn's Hearty Bean and Mushroom Stew

Supper

Gandalf's Stuffed Mushrooms

Dessert

Homemade Grapefruit Sorbet in Sparkling Wine

Eating like Hobbits was a little more...intense than I imagined it would be. It was fun and delicious but all that cooking and eating was nearly a full time job. Yes, it was a heavy burden to bear...but we did it all for the Shire!

The End.

In the year 2011

2010-12-30T08:36:00.000-06:00

In case you didn't already know, I have an ongoing resolution to live fabulously!

I usually avoid setting goals or defining what I mean by "fabulous" but this year I feel compelled to focus my efforts just a teensy bit. In the broadest sense, I'd really love to spend more time creating, reading, nurturing relationships and getting healthy.

The first is easy because it's what I want to do almost all the time. You haven't seen them yet (so you might not believe me) but I have half a dozen quilt tops finished. They're hanging in the "closet of no obligations" right this very minute! With the hard part behind me, I feel confident in my ability to complete at least one quilt a month for the next year. How sweet would that be?

Reading and relationships will go hand in hand as my friend Karrie, her mom Janet and I are starting a monthly dinner/book club. Up first is Freedom by Jonathan Franzen.

Karrie and I are also planning more fancy French dinners and Ian and I are thinking about meeting up with his parents in London this summer. I'm excited for all the adventures to start!

Aside from a brief period in my early 20's, my health has always been my lowest priority. This year, though, there just might be a light on the horizon. There's a good chance that our old ballroom dance teacher will start giving lessons again. He just finished renovating his house to include a ballroom so that would be awesome!

In other dancing news, I've decided to take beginner ballet lessons for adults at a dance studio in Minneapolis. I've never danced ballet before so it will be a new and challenging experience. The adult classes are not competitive and many people go simply for the exercise. I'm hoping to increase my flexibility and strength. Added bonus would include grace and poise like elegant silver-screen actress or similar. Not to mention the eventual dancing in pink satin pointe shoes...well, a girl can dream anyway.

My first class will be January 6th! Added bonus: Karrie has volunteered to go with me, at least for the first class to see how we like it. I desperately hope I like it because it just doesn't feel like exercise when you're dancing.

I'm fairly certain I won't have anything to blog about until after the new year. Ian and I are busy preparing for our Lord of the Rings movie marathon this weekend. We already have breakfast and second breakfast planned but we're stuck on elevensies.

Anyway, I hope you all have a fun, cozy and safe weekend. I'll see you next year!

Finished Table Runner!

2010-12-28T08:40:00.000-06:00

I'm sure you'll all be happy to hear that I finished the table runner on Thursday night...before midnight even!

I know I said these stars took a long time...but now that I think about it, I'm not sure they actually did. I barely measured anything, I didn't use pins and I didn't worry if my seams lined up or not. If I'd gone with any other sort of block, one that required careful cutting and measuring and pressing, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have finished on time.

And, since this project was fun and not especially stressful, I actually feel like making more wonky stars, this time in fabrics that are more "me". Because they're just so freaking cute! And I hate pinning seams.

Since I was running out of time, I decided to bind this entirely by machine. I don't like how the stitching is visible on the front but maybe it'll disappear once it's washed and dried?

Or maybe next time I'll put the binding on "backwards" because the stitching on the back actually looks pretty neat.

Of course, none of that really mattered because my mom chose to display the "back" of the table runner. Sigh...all those stars...

It finished at 13" x 60" and I gave loopy quilting another try. I can't believe I'm actually getting better at free motion quilting. I thought it'd never happen!

Anyway, this is my last finish for 2010. I have big quilting plans for 2011 so stay tuned!

Stars

2010-12-23T15:07:00.000-06:00

I finished the top for the table runner last night at midnight...I only made nine stars but they each took forever!

Tonight will be all about quilting and binding. And then gift wrapping. And making a pizza for dinner. And a little packing for the weekend up north.

It's going to be tight but I think I can get everything done in the next 18 hours. And if I don't, I'm not really going to fret about it. This weekend is all about relaxing and having fun with my family. Hopefully there will also be cookies.

Hope you all have a fantastic and relaxing weekend!

Snow Again!

2010-12-21T11:33:00.000-06:00

So, due to last night's snowstorm, I had just enough time to shovel the driveway, eat dinner and make one star for my mom's table runner. Not a great start, to be sure.

Fortunately, I don't have anything planned for tonight besides eating yummy food and sewing.

Also, check out this sweet star table runner. It just popped up on flickr today and Dan's runner is pretty much exactly what I had in mind yesterday. If the snow holds off for two more days, I'll just make it.

Last Minute Gifts

2010-12-20T11:54:00.000-06:00

I tried to convince my parents that we shouldn't exchange gifts this year. We're not really a big gift sort of family so I thought no one would mind. But, it seems that my parents already had ideas for "little" gifts so that's what we're doing.

I have lots of ideas for my dad but not so many for my mom. I never know what to get her because she sort of likes everything but not really anything in particular. I know I could get her pretty much anything and she'd like it...but it feels sort of meaningless, you know?

I finally (like just a minute ago) came up with an idea for something to make for her. Something sort of useful but mostly decorative. Something to go with the holiday themed cloth napkins I made last year but forgot to give her.

I have four evenings to make a table runner with these twinkly perfections as my inspiration:

1. RBQB: Marissa 1, 2. wonky star - for the fun of it, 3. DSCN0632, 4. Twinkly Stars Front
I should be able to finish it since my only pre-holiday plans include a night at the "ballet" and a trip to Chipotle to ~~eat yummy burritos~~ pick up gift cards.

Anyway, I probably won't have time to post pictures until next week...so if I don't see you before then, have a wonderful holiday (or non-holiday) weekend!

Snow Day!

2010-12-14T09:27:00.000-06:00

Ian and I spent the entire weekend snowed in. Saturday was so much fun! I sewed all day while listening to The Count of Monte Cristo on my computer and the blustery wind outside the windows.

When the snow stopped on Sunday, we had 17 inches to shovel in order to get my car out of the garage. We don't own a snow-blower nor do I plan on buying one. I'm not mechanically inclined.

It was still windy and snow was flying in our faces. It took two and a half hours but we did it!

Ian is from California but he shoveled with great vigor.

He said his beard kept his face warm but I remain suspicious.

Afterwards I had some hot chocolate and took a nap on the couch. A quilt, a cat and Mythbusters...it was a nice weekend all around. I hope your weekend was cozy and warm!

More Fun Mail!

2010-11-22T08:56:00.000-06:00

Check out what else I got in the mail:

Mug rugs from Jen! Can you believe the cuteness of these trees? And that perfectly matching mug? I use both in my studio every day.

She also sent a sweet vintage sheet mug rug that I meant to take a picture of but then it snowed and everything is wet and I haven't been able to take pictures outside. Stupid Minnesota. You can see it here, though. Check out that orange binding! Isn't it perfection! Thanks again Jen!

OMG...Owls!

2010-11-19T11:26:00.003-06:00

Look what I got in the mail:

It's the cutest hat with the cutest owls knit by the cutest girl! Do you know I haven't worn a hat since I was five? I was a serious girl with a serious objection to hats. My parents thought I'd come around after a few icy winter days but 24 years came and went with nary a hat in sight.

Then I turned 29 and just as suddenly, I decided that hats were a good idea. At about the same time, J asked me if she could knit something special for me.

Fate? I think so.

I'm afraid my "I live in the midwest where it gets dark at 5pm" photos do not do this hat justice. I simply adore it! Thanks J!

Also, in case you're interested, J says this is a mash-up of two patterns: "Who" and "Odessa". Check out J's notes on Ravelry.

Um...No

2010-11-08T16:19:00.000-06:00

I bought an "It's a Hoot" charm pack the other day and couldn't wait to start making a quilt. I was especially pleased with the colors...the combination was so perfect! Check out these beauties to see what I mean. I put them up on the design wall, tried it without the yellow prints and fell in love.

I thought about it for a while, picked out some coordinating solids and decided to make my favorite style block:

Um...no.

This is just not working for me. I don't know why...maybe I don't like the dark blue?...but mostly I'm just not feeling this block with these fabrics. I was annoyed at first but only because I really wanted it to work. And maybe I could make it work but I don't feel obligated to keep trying.

To me, quilting without obligation means knowing when "enough is enough". So, back to the ol' drawing board...my favorite part!

Quilting With Obligation: Love

2010-11-05T09:36:00.002-05:00

My mom is the best. She's always positive and supportive. She actually cares about people's problems and cries when they cry. She takes care of people when they're sick and she's never crabby. My mom and I are so different...I wish I could be like her but I'm just not. She's the better woman and she makes me want to be better, nicer and more thoughtful of other people's feelings.

I love my mom...and that's the only thing that got me through making this quilt:

It's flannel, it's rainbow, it's huge...and it's going on their bed. It's backed with, of course, penguins:

And it's just what my mom has always wanted.

I made it because I love my mom. It's most definitely NOT a quilt I'd ever make otherwise...which is why it took me four years to finish. I'm not a very good daughter. But I did spend two of my vacation days working on it...that's right, four years of procrastination and it only took two days to finish. *Sigh*

Quilting with obligation still super sucks...but it's a little easier when it's for someone you love.

Blogger's Quilt Festival, Fall 2010

2010-11-03T14:53:00.001-05:00

I'm a little late to the Blogger's Quilt Festival this year but I hope you enjoy my entry all the same.

A few months ago I found out my friend was expecting a baby. I worried about what I would make for them...obviously it would be a quilt but what kind of quilt? What fabric? Then a shipment of Castle Peeps landed on my doorstep and it all fell into place.

Stacy and I met at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival years ago and we both share a passion for ye' olden days.

Stacy loves horses.

The nursery would be green and brown.

I love improvisational and slightly wonky log cabins.

Making this quilt was a dream from start to finish. I enjoyed every second of its construction, something I've never been able to say about a quilt before. Everything went together perfectly, the improvisational front and back turned out exactly how I envisioned them...even naming the quilt was easy.

It's called "Couchant on a Field Vert". Do you remember when Springfield Elementary had a "Medieval Faiyieyre"? Millhouse's coat of arms was a Spider-Man couchant on a field vert. Couchant means lying down and Field Vert is a green background.

Just think of a baby couchant on this quilt...sweet, right?

Anyway, thanks for stopping by and if you haven't already, please check out the rest of the amazing quilts up for display at the Blogger's Quilt Festival. And thanks to Amy for hosting it again this year!

The Great Pumpkin

2010-10-31T23:52:00.000-05:00

Each year, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch that he thinks is the most sincere. He's gotta pick this one. He's got to. I don't see how a pumpkin patch can be more sincere than this one. You can look around and there's not a sign of hypocrisy. Nothing but sincerity as far as the eye can see.

Happy Halloween everyone!

The Blustery Day

2010-10-27T15:53:00.000-05:00

It's blustery outside. Our fence fell over and it even snowed for a few minutes. Starting tomorrow I'll be on vacation from work and I'm excited to spend the next five days up in my cozy studio. No special plans, just me and my sewing machine and my pajamas. Ian will be there too but he'll be busy planning lectures and ~~reading philosophy essays~~ bringing me coffee. A nice, quiet five days...no obligations.

Except the fence...I suppose my neighbor will want me to do something about that.

Since today is so dark, I'd like to show you something bright and pretty. I planted some fancy morning glories this spring. Somebody nibbled the stems of most of the plants, killing the vines above. But the few that managed to bloom were perfection.

I'll be back after my vacation with (hopefully) lots of cool stuff to show you. Have a great weekend and a Happy Halloween!

In Progress

2010-10-13T10:16:00.000-05:00

It's been two months since I discovered minimalism. It's been a hard two months for me and also the best two months of my life. I no longer impulse buy things. I no longer waste time on projects that aren't important to me. I have actual plans for the future...at least the beginnings of plans. I've spent hours upon hours getting rid of stuff that was weighing me down.

Now that I have more space (both mentally and physically), I feel creativity rushing in to fill the void.

The reason it's been so quiet over here is that I'm I'm trying my hardest to completely clear out the studio before harnessing this new creativity. I'm talking: nothing on the floor, rulers hanging in their places, all fabric folded and stacked, everything else on shelves and in containers. I'm not buying more shelves or containers so I'm limited as to what I can keep. It's exciting and I can't wait to show you when it's done.

Until then, here's a sneak peek of what I've been working on when there's a break in the cleaning action. I have big plans for this little patchwork.

More soon, I promise!

To the Max, Now and Always

2010-09-15T17:05:00.001-05:00

First of all, thank you for all for the nice comments on my newest quilt. I really do appreciate having you all here. I also wanted to thank everyone who noticed I've been absent from my blog lately. Between Ian moving in and working on the baby quilt, I've had a couple of other big projects taking up my time.

First, I've been refinishing the bedroom floor. I mean it guys...actual hard labor was going on at my house! This is the floor before:

It was covered with stripey carpet, then double sided tape (that stuck to the floor), then paint from when my brother painted this room years ago, then miscellaneous stains and burns (my brother again), then old varnish and (finally) pretty wood.

I sanded and sanded and sanded. I used a tiny electric sander but next time I would do it all by hand. I really don't like machines and the delightful swoosh of the sandpaper was lost in all that noise!

I decided the room needed an accent wall to give it some character. The best part was going to the store and just picking whichever color I liked the best. Impulse paint buying sounds like a bad idea but to me it's really not.

Then I sanded some more and finally came the varnishing. Four coats later and the room is finished!

I can honestly tell you that this was the biggest project I've ever finished. I sanded or painted or varnished nearly every day for a month and now that it's finished, it feels wonderful! I'm adding "floor refinishing" to the long list of things I'm awesome at.

The final thing that has kept me too busy for sewing is my discovery of minimalism. It hit me like a punch in the gut and I've been so excited ever since. I first discovered that people were living with only 100 things via Lydia's blog and I'm so happy I did!

I probably haven't talked about it much here but I desperately crave simplicity and clarity in my life. I've wanted to live like Ma Ingalls for as long as I can remember. Just me and my wits and my two hands and my little log cabin. The sweet simplicity is intoxicating! Plus, Ma quilted so it's a match made in heaven.

I've decided that it's time to live without distractions, to create without pressure and to focus on the important. I'm ecstatic to get rid of the weight of debt, of stuff, of waste (both money and time), of busy-work and of a life I wasn't really living TO THE MAX!

I started a new blog so if you're interested in minimalism or my adventures therein, please stop by. If not, I'll still be blogging my creative endeavors here with as much awesomeness as you've come to expect. And humor...you guys do know that I say everything with extreme truthfulness but also with lighthearted humor meant to make you think I'm not as full of myself as I really am...right? You guys?

Couchant on a Field Vert

2010-09-14T14:59:00.002-05:00

Alright, here it is...my most favoritest quilt I've ever made:

It measures approximately 4'x5' and is reversible:

I love it so much that I can't find the words to describe how I feel. I can tell you that I had the most fun working on this quilt. Usually I hate piecing quilts (an unfortunate thing for a quilter to hate, I know) but I truly enjoyed every second of every step.

I'm really happy with how the front turned out. You all know how much I love improvisational log cabins! Expect more blocks like this soon.

The back was a very last minute design and could have gone horribly wrong. I'd planned to keep it simple so as to actually finish the quilt in time for the baby shower. But I wanted to use more Castle Peeps in the quilt so I just started making squares. It took me an entire day to piece and I nearly ran out of green fabric.

But I was watching Lord of the Rings and if a hobbit can walk all the way to Mordor, there was no way I was NOT finishing that back!

One of the reasons I had such a fun time making this quilt is because of the fabric. My most favorite greens and browns paired with these castles...

...and these peeps!

I die of cuteness! Also, aside from running out of thread at 8:45 pm and having to run to the store first thing in the morning to get more, the quilting was pretty much the best ever. I think I'm finally getting a handle on this free motion thing. My stitches are hardly ever too long but they are still often too short. Too sort is better than too long, though. I've also stopped getting weird fingers and can now sew a very curvy meander. The quilting is white on the front and light green on the back.

Here's my favorite block. I love those peasants!

And check out how crinkly it got after a trip through the washer and dryer.

Ian was concerned that no amount of appreciation from the recipient would be enough to make me happy, given that this is my favorite quilt of all time. But as much as I wanted to keep it for myself, it was made especially for Stacy and her baby, made with as much love as I could pour into it...I know that giving it away was the right thing to do.

Plus, stealing quilts from babies is a jerky thing to do, I'm sure.

*Update* I just remembered that I named this quilt while I was making the back. It's called "Couchant on a Field Vert". Do you remember when Springfield Elementary had a "Medieval Faiyieyre"? Millhouse's coat of arms is a Spider-Man couchant on a field vert. Couchant means lying down and Field Vert is a green background. I'm pretty sure a baby couchant on this quilt will be pretty sweet!

Castle Peeps!

2010-09-13T10:05:00.002-05:00

Three months ago (at the very first second I saw it for sale on Etsy) I bought a full yard set of Castle Peeps by Lizzy House:

I was so excited and couldn't wait to tell you guys all about it! But then I found out that one of my good friends was having a baby...a friend I first met at the Renaissance Festival years ago. A friend who said that the nursery would be green and brown. A friend who reads my blog and who would totally know that I was planning to make her a castle baby quilt if she saw this fabric on my blog.

So, I waited to tell you how much I adore this fabric. And while I was waiting, I made a baby quilt. And this weekend was the shower and tomorrow I can show you the quilt!

For now, you'll just have to settle for some Castle Peeps fabric pictures...but with fabrics as awesome as these, it's just not right to call it settling. How about: it's your privilege to check out these Castle Peeps fabrics:

Resistance is Futile!

2010-08-26T09:04:00.000-05:00

Three months ago I bought Printing by Hand: A Modern Guide to Printing with Handmade Stamps, Stencils, and Silk Screens by Lena Corwin. It's a fantastic book detailing exactly what supplies you need to print just about anything. She also includes directions on how to make your stamps, stencils or screens and tips on how to get the best prints from each. Also, if you're not into designing your own stamps, she includes full sized patterns for all her designs so you can get started right away.

Ian has been interested in printing t-shirts for a while now so I looked through the book and bought the appropriate inks and rubber stamping blocks. Ian carved a stamp and this weekend he made this sweet t-shirt:

And since neither of us had ever printed on fabric before, we did a test run first. Behold, the most adorable Frankenstein resistance fist tea towel ever made:

I highly recommend this book and I can't tell you how easy and fun it is to print your own fabric. I hope to print more tea towels soon!

What about you? Have you ever thought about printing your own fabric?

Meet Gigi!

2010-08-25T10:22:00.000-05:00

She is my new best friend!

Ian doesn't have a car so he bikes almost everywhere. With him moving in, I thought it would be fun for us to both have bikes so we could bike together.

When I started looking for bikes, I had no idea something so beautiful existed. I'd say to Ian "My bike is so cute, it has fenders and big handlebars!" and he'd say "you don't have a bike." He was right, I didn't have her yet, but she was mine all the same...I just hadn't found her yet.

I told him "I'll know her when I see her."

And that's exactly what happened.

You have no idea just how much I love her. She's not only retro and beautiful, she's also so, so comfy! I could ride for hours on this squishy, springy seat.

Ian and I are planning to take our bikes to the grocery store and the library and the coffee shop. I wonder if there's an apple orchard nearby...wouldn't this be the perfect bike to ride to the apple orchard?

I bought a basket to put on the back...it's going to be so perfect for carrying baguettes from the store and apples from the orchard. I'll post pictures after I sew a matching basket liner.

It's hard to put into words just how happy I am. I can show you, though. This is exactly what Ian and I will look like on our bikes. My heart is filled with happiness!

Busy Days

2010-08-24T14:15:00.000-05:00

I feel like summer is going by so slowly. I haven't been sewing much and I usually measure time by how many things I make. When I stopped to think about it, I realized it's nearly the end of August!

And then I realized the end of August is going to be busy! My parents are coming into town on Wednesday, we're all going to the Minnesota State Fair on Thursday, I'm having dinner with friends on Friday, I'm helping Ian pack up on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and then he's moving into my house on Tuesday.

I can't believe there's going to be a boy living in my house. How strange.

I'm sure we'll stay up all night talking about fabric and quilts and Twilight. That's what happens when boys live with you, right?

So, before all the late night gossip sessions start, I'd like to focus on simplicity, on being calm, on not freaking out about the busy week ahead. Instead, I'll post pretty pictures of fabric. I'll sigh contentedly and dream about what I could make with these fabrics by Jennifer Pagnelli. She has the best magenta fabric around! I bet Ian would love a magenta quilt for our bed!

By far my favorite print is Kimberly in Green from Jennifer's Dance With Me collection. I only bought a yard but I wish I bought more. I'd love to back a summery quilt with this. It's so dreamy with the sun falling through the leaves...I want to take it on a picnic.

A Summery Update

2010-08-09T16:22:00.000-05:00

It's so hot here...too hot to do much of anything. Even with the air-conditioning on at home, the studio gets too hot to sew. I've been hand sewing hexies and watching Netflix movies in the coolest room of the house. That's pretty much it.

Ian and I had fun at the wedding this weekend but the church and the reception hall were both too hot. At least I looked hot in my dress...the good kind of hot, naturally. Of course, I forgot my camera so I can't prove it.

Ian and I are going to see A Streetcar Named Desire tomorrow night. I'm planning to wear my new dress again and maybe I'll get pictures this time. As excited as I am for the play, I dread walking the two blocks to the light rail station. Oh my...it's just too hot!

So, is it just me or is anyone else excited for autumn?

Easy Jewelry Refashion

2010-08-04T10:04:00.002-05:00

My cousin is getting married this weekend and I'm super excited! Unfortunately, I had a little freak-out a few days ago when I realized all my standby dresses (like, all two of them) were stupid and I couldn't possibly wear them to the wedding. You know how that sometimes happens.

At first I was frustrated by the new fashions ("tribal" print baby-doll dresses are not really my style, you know?) but then I found this flippin' sweet dress on the clearance rack for only $20 (it was missing the belt). I bought a dark teal shrug and decided to go all out and buy some matching jewelry (I'm not a jewelry person so this truly is "going all out" in my world). The only teal jewelry in the store was this necklace:

It's really long and sort of busy and I really wanted a simple strand of beads to compliment the 1950's look of the dress. You know where this is going, don't you? From one not-quite-right $15 necklace, I made a perfect necklace, bracelet and earring set.

Fun, right? In case you've never tried a jewelry refashion, I just wanted to tell you how easy it is. Use a needle-nose pliers to open the links and rearrange your beads. My necklace already had a clasp but I needed another one for the bracelet. Luckily I had an extra in my stash along with the earring hooks. I buy all my jewelry supplies from Fire Mountain Gems.

Anyway, that's it for now...If I get any, I'll share pictures from the wedding early next week.

30 Things

2010-07-27T15:47:00.002-05:00

Since I turned 29 earlier this month, I've been thinking about what I want to do before I turn 30. Not that I'm afraid of 30...but I'm pretty fond of my 20's and don't want the fun to end. That's why I've thought up a list of things to do before I turn 30.

I'd like to:

-lose 30 lbs.
-read 30 books
-finish 30 quilts
-walk 30 thousand miles
-save 30 thousand dollars
-go to Atlantic City and drink 30 drinks while playing "30" and get 30 guys' phone numbers (Ian likes this one the least but if the Gilmore Girls could do it with "21", I can do it with 30!)

I know I'm prone to "thinking big" but this all sounds pretty reasonable, right?

Ok, so, obviously, the only thing on this list that's real is to lose 30 lbs. And it's not just a silly goal to make everything "30"...it's actually a good weight for my height. I'm planning to walk a lot on the treadmill but only 10 miles a week which adds up to only 520 miles before my birthday. Far from 30,000 but it'll have to do.

Speaking of walking, have you seen Matt's blog: I'm Just Walkin'? He's walking from New York to Oregon, just for because. The thing I love the most, besides the photos of his journey, is reading about the kind strangers he's met along the way. People have given him food or invited him to join them for lunches/dinners or to stay overnight in their front yards/campers/spare bedrooms. They've welcomed him to parties and barbeque's and even a family reunion!

It's not all sunshine and roses, of course...the weather is sometimes bad and people are sometimes jerks, but Matt stays positive through it all. He's quite an inspiration! I only wish I knew he was doing this sooner...he walked right past Ian's house one day. I would have liked to walk with him for a while, assuming I could work up the courage to approach him.

I wish I had some projects to share with you. (Reading about other people's great accomplishments makes me feel a little lazy.) So, instead of project photos (because I don't have any), here's a picture I took while cat sitting last week:

We are so lazy!

With Obligation: Express Yourself

2010-07-22T10:58:00.000-05:00

So, I wanted to make a thank you card. Simple enough, right? Unfortunately, the more I thought about it, the more frustrated I became.

Because, you see, I have a slight tendency to over-think things. What started as "I should make a card" quickly turned into "I should paint a scene from our trip to Venice, no, wait, I should create a design from scratch and carve it onto a rubber block and print it onto a card, you know, all in one day because I really need to send this card!"

And that would have been fine except I didn't want to paint a Venetian scene, nor did I want to stay up all night carving blocks and printing cards. I had no good ideas, no inspiration...I couldn't even bring myself to take out my sketchbook, the very idea made me feel bad. All I really wanted to do was make a nice card that would help convey my heartfelt thanks.

This may sound like the same problem as my last post but it's actually different. Because, you see, when I make things for other people, I tend to forget myself in the process. It was not outside my ability to paint or print a card. The problem was that rushing to find inspiration, trying to think of something the recipient would like, thinking "what about this? no, they'll think that's dumb" over and over...well, all I could come up with were total generic ideas until I felt so worthless, so uncreative that I had to walk away from the studio for a while.

This might sound over-dramatic, it being just a card and all, but it's representative of a larger problem. It is so easy to lose myself, my creative self, in an effort to please people, to anticipate what they'll like. This isn't limited to gifts...I also want to please my blog readers and even Ian, knowing full well his aesthetic tastes differ from mine almost completely!

And when I do cave to the pressure, the things I make feel like strangers. Nothing feels worse than accepting praise for something I made merely to please others. I feel like I can't fully claim it as mine because it didn't actually come from me, even though my hands were responsible for making it.

To me, the best part about being a creative person is getting to express myself through my work. It feels like a privilege, something not everyone has the ability to do. And I feel obligated (in a good way!) to explore that further, to look inside and see what's there, to nurture ideas that are important to me, to set aside the ones that are not my own and, most of all, to remember that the only person I need to please is me.

So in case you're wondering, this is the thank you card I ended up making that night:

It's simple and I love it and I hope you do too...but if you don't, that's ok!

Without Obligation: Giving Gifts

2010-07-19T09:02:00.000-05:00

It was Friday night and I was at Target. I finally tracked down the platter and plates the bride and groom requested on their gift registry.

I wandered around the store, thinking. "I think I'll give the platter at the bridal shower on Sunday and save the plates for the wedding gift."

A little more wandering. "But just a platter picked from a registry is sort of boring, what else can I give her? Hmmm...I think I have fabric that would match the platter and plates, maybe I should make some cloth napkins to give as well."

More wandering, more thinking. "But really, are they going to use cloth napkins? And do I really want to spend my entire Saturday making them? No, not really.

"Ooh...here are some tea towels! I love tea towels! But should I really give her plain tea towels? Maybe I should embroider something on them. But the shower is on Sunday! I can't embroider that fast!

"Oh no, what will I do? I just can't show up without something handmade...why did I wait until the last minute to think about this?"

Walk. Think. Fret. "Wait! I don't have to give them something handmade! I'm living my creative life without obligation!"

I ran to the register with a relieved smile on my face, wrapped everything up with a flourish and set it aside. Then I started cutting fabric for a fun project.

As you can see, giving gifts is one of my major "with obligation" areas. I get so stressed thinking of something fantastic to make, something they will like, only to stay up late nights making things and not having any fun. I've pretty much stopped giving handmade gifts for major holidays/birthdays because of this. But sometimes, like Friday, the compulsion, the obligation still creeps up on me.

This doesn't mean I've given up making handmade gifts for people, though. Instead of waiting for a special occasion, I make things for them when I feel like it. Then I can give it to them right away or, if it's close to a holiday/birthday, I might be able to wait until then. Usually I can't wait, though.

Of course, there may be consequences for giving gifts without obligation when your family knows that you often make handmade gifts. After the bride-to-be opened my gift, someone yelled across the room "Why didn't you embroider the tea towels?"

Oh no! Total mortification! Internal panic! Then I thought about my obligation free Saturday filled with sewing things I wanted to sew and I felt better.

I smiled and calmly replied "I'm sorry but I just didn't have the time."

The End.

Not Right Now

2010-07-15T09:10:00.000-05:00

Since finishing my Modify Tradition quilt top, I've done absolutely nothing in the sewing room. I think about doing things but then I don't do them. And that's ok because I don't really have to do anything.

So, instead of showing you what I'm making, because I'm not making anything right now, here's a picture of my design wall before I banished my sampler quilt to the "closet of no obligations":

I wish my whole house could look like this, all bright and cheerful and covered in fabric! Believe me, I'm working on it...but not right now.

Without Obligation

2010-07-13T09:50:00.001-05:00

I've been thinking a lot about "quilting without obligation". Apparently, many other quilters are too. In fact, Jennifer has an especially great series about it on her blog.

There have been some interesting side effects to my own adventures in quilting without obligation. The most obvious is that as soon as I didn't have to work on things, out of guilt or deadlines, I found that I actually wanted to work on them.

Like my Modify Tradition sampler quilt! I'd been avoiding those blocks since January but for some strange reason, I got the urge to work on them this weekend. And look what happened:

I finished the quilt top! Can you believe it? I pretty much can't. And the best part is that quilting without obligation means I can hang this top in the closet and not think about it again until I feel like quilting it. Which might be soon...or not.

Quilting without obligation has put the fun back into quilting! And isn't that what it's all about? Why spend precious time working on things you don't like, on things that aren't feeding your creativity and nourishing your dreams? Life is too short to make quilts you don't like! I already live my life as obligation free as possible, it just took me longer to apply it to my creative life too. And now my creativity is flourishing! And that's how it should be.

So, what about you? What do you do "with obligation" that you could maybe try "without obligation"?

Mermaid Quilt: Finished!

2010-07-12T12:05:00.001-05:00

It's July and "Mermaid School" is officially in session!

I can't wait to give this to my aunt this weekend. Unless she reads my blog (which she might, who knows) she'll be totally surprised that I finished it so quickly (I checked with her right before I started cutting to make sure she'd like the colors...but she doesn't know what the fabric looks like). To be honest, we're all a little surprised I finished it so quickly, right? It took just a month and a week!

I was planning to quilt 1/4" away from the zig-zag seams but the more I looked at the finished top, the more I didn't like that idea. I wanted something softer, something a little more organic. At the exact moment I started to freak out about what to do, I found my missing darning foot! I decided to do meander quilting instead and I love it!

The quilt measures about 66x76 and both the top and bottom have zig-zag edges. From the start I was planning to bind it with a brown stripey Mendocino print but in the end, I found the brown too jarring (and it turns out I wouldn't have had enough anyway). Instead I used one of my treasured Neptune fabrics: Tortoise Shell in Pacific. I didn't know how to bind the inside corners but a quick google search turned up a few tutorials. Turns out, it's easier than binding a regular (outside) corner.

It's backed with a tan sand print which goes well with the the front and is appropriate to the theme. Also, the sashing on the front is Kona Snow. The pattern is, of course, adapted from Elizabeth Hartman's New Wave Quilt pattern.

Now all I have to do is wash it and wrap it up with a big bow! I hope she likes it!

Just Because

2010-07-09T09:57:00.002-05:00

Summer has been great so far! It's been light and free of any obligations, quilting or otherwise.

Usually I'm only productive when I'm avoiding working on a certain project. But this summer is different. I'm finishing up projects that have been around for a while, because I feel like it, not because I have to. I'm also working on fun, "just because" sorts of projects.

The whole thing is weird but I like it! The freedom to pick and choose projects is really nice. I'm taking the time to "listen" to my fabrics, to let them tell me what they want to be. I'm trusting my instincts and letting things happen.

Summer is all about seizing the moment and having adventures. Maybe hand quilting a 17"x17" mini quilt isn't what most people would call an adventure, but in my world, it's the height of excitement!

What are you up to this summer, quilting or otherwise?

Mini Flag Quilt: Portugal

2010-07-08T09:36:00.000-05:00

World Cup soccer is coming to an end...just two more games and then it's over for another four years! Sadness! (Also, Germany is out...more sadness! How I love those baby lions!)

But, let's not think about that right now, let's think about mini flag quilts instead. Today we have the Portuguese flag:

Poor Portugal. They lost their game before this quilt even got to Daisy (who lives in beautiful Portugal). If only it had gotten there sooner! But, at least it made it safe and sound and now she has a mini flag quilt to wave around (and put bowls of chips on) next time!

Portugal has a sweet flag with lots going on...castles upon shields upon more shields upon a golden globe? Nice! Consequently, this flag quilt was the most intricate of the lot. I made appliques using Heat & Bond and then hand quilted through all the layers. Sometimes there were many layers!

I'm still fascinated with flag quilts but I'm going to set aside the idea for now. Maybe in four years I'll make more...or maybe for the Olympics. One can never have too many mini flag quilts, I'm sure.

More Finishes

2010-07-01T08:35:00.001-05:00

I finally finished some real quilts, albeit little quilts. Of course, the babies who received them are already 2 and 4 months old...but better late than never, right?

First, another mermaid quilt...this time in pink!

I can't get enough of this magenta Mendocino. I mean, I wasn't really into it at first, I was much more excited about the aqua colorway...but now the pink is my favorite!

And then I finished up this little blue/green/brown quilt:

This one was so fun to make. I picked a bunch of Meadowsweet and coordinating fabrics from my shelves and just started cutting. I also happened to have the perfect brown and blue solids in my stash. It all came together like it was meant to be.

I had originally planned to free-motion quilt this using the large flowers on the back as a guide. But then I couldn't find my free-motion foot so I went with wavy lines instead. I actually like this quilting a lot, even though it wasn't my first choice.

So, there you go...some real quilt finishes for 2010. And hopefully there will be a few more soon!

Making Limoncello: Step 3

2010-06-30T15:45:00.004-05:00

As promised, Limoncello by 4th of July weekend! Here is the final product, straight from the freezer:

To complete the third and final step in making Limoncello, you will need to gather the following:

One gallon of limoncello
3 or more clean glass bottles
2 large bowls
Ladle
Funnels
Metal Strainer
Coffee Filters (metal (recommended) or paper)

Step 3 is all about straining your limoncello. There are many ways to do this but this is our preferred method. First, strain out the large pieces of lemon zest by ladling your limoncello through a wire strainer:

until you reduce the volume in the jar enough to pour the rest safely:

Repeat the process with a metal coffee filter if you have one.

If you don't have a metal coffee filter, you can use paper coffee filters set into funnels. This step is sort of slow and fussy which is why we recommend the metal filter.

At times the limoncello will get "stuck" in the funnel. Just lift the filter to break the seal created by the liquid.

At some point, the paper filter will become clogged and you'll need to pinch the edges and squeeze the limoncello into the funnel. Toss the paper filter and replace with a new one.

When your bottles are (not quite all the way) full, place in the freezer for a summery treat.

Limoncello will last practically forever if you keep it cold. In fact, we think the flavor gets better with age.

And we always have enough to set aside a few bottles for friends.

Cheers!

Finished Mermaid Quilt Top

2010-06-30T09:44:00.000-05:00

Check it out...a finished quilt top, finally:

Some of the angles look funny but it was only the wind. I can't believe how quickly this top went together once I actually made an effort to work on it.

I'd like to finish the quilt by the time I see my aunt next, which will be July 18. I know I can do it if I only try...but sometimes I only try to try. It will feel good to get this one out the door, though, so we'll see.

Mermaid Update

2010-06-25T09:22:00.001-05:00

It's time for another mermaid quilt update! I've been avoiding working on this because all those bias edges were freaking me out. I was sure the pieces wouldn't line up and I just sort of didn't want to know.

But, I'm happy to tell you that they did line up and I have two rows finished and sewn together:

My machine likes to pull the top layer more than the bottom (even though I have a walking foot) so sewing on the bias is always tricky. Thankfully, this pattern calls for sashing cut on grain. I made sure to sew my pieces together with the sashing strip always on top. The sashing didn't stretch as much as the bias edge pieces would have.

I also pinned each seam when I put the two rows together. Check out those matching points!

Only four more rows left to piece...and now that I'm not scared anymore, I think they'll go together pretty quickly. I might even be able to finish the top by the end of June. Maybe...

Summer Reading

2010-06-24T10:42:00.000-05:00

I'm usually the last to the party when it comes to books and this summer's selection is no exception. I picked Memoirs of a Geisha off Karrie's bookshelf a week ago and haven't put it down since. (This is why I haven't posted all week!)

I remember when the movie came out I made the decision to ignore it and the book. I really wasn't into Japanese culture, you see, and every Japanese movie I'd seen up to that point (what, like, one?) seemed very slow and dull.

Now, a mere five years later, I'm still not into Japanese culture but after about three pages I was hooked on this story.

If you missed the geisha craze last time around, I highly recommend you give this book a shot. If you know nothing about geisha or their culture, you just might find it all very interesting. You might also find it interesting to know that women still train to be geisha. I had no idea and I felt sort of sad and confused when I found out. Even so, the part of me that loves beauty for beauty's sake truly appreciates the art that is the geisha.

So, what's on your summer reading list this year? Do you have any must-read recommendations?

Simple Equation

2010-06-18T09:25:00.000-05:00

Soccer + Hand Quilting = Awesome!

That is all.

On the Edge

2010-06-17T08:22:00.000-05:00

I can't remember seeing a crochet edge pillowcase for the first time. Instead, they seem to be one of the many things I've just always loved. Unfortunately, as a kid I had limited knowledge-gathering tools (no internet?! what?!) nor did we have the resources to buy art/craft supplies anyway. Most beautiful projects were far out of my reach.

Now, as an adult, if I want to make it, I can! I saw these beautiful pillowcases on Rose Hip and thought they were even more beautiful than the crochet edge pillows of my youth. And they are because just look at those bright colors!

And while reading all about them, I found out that You Go Girl has created a four part tutorial showing us all how to make a posh pillowcase with a crocheted edge. Awesome!

Last week I went to the scary yarn store, actually *gulp* asked for help and bought six lovely skeins of Baby Bomull cotton yarn. It's so tiny and soft!

I used a 3mm crochet hook even though the lady tried to get me to buy a teeny tiny 2.5mm hook. Too scary!

And so, here it is...my very own posh pillowcase with a crocheted edge. I think I can get three pillowcases out of each skein (but I might be totally off in my estimations, never having worked with this yarn before). I'm pretty excited to crochet edges on lots of things, not just pillowcases. I'm also excited to try out new edges...scallops are nice but I'm ready for more!

What about you? Do you love crochet edge pillowcases as much as I do? Do you know of any sweet crochet edge stitches I should try? Are you going to make your own crochet edge pillowcase? Please?

More Flag Quilts

2010-06-16T10:25:00.001-05:00

Have you been watching the World Cup? Are you as annoyed by the vuvuzelas as I am? There are not enough glorious ponytails in the world to make those things not annoying.

But, I digress. I have another mini flag quilt to show you today. This time we have Mexico (one of my favorite teams):

And Cameroon (Ian's underdog choice):

All you need to make an 8x12" flag quilt is:

-3 pieces of fabric in the appropriate colors measuring: 4.5" x 8.5".
-fabric for applique (if your flag requires it)

The fun thing about this quilt is that it's double sided. You can pair together any flags that have the same ratio, in this case 2:3. (In full disclosure, Mexico's flag is 4:7 but I adapted it to 2:3. Don't be mad at me, Mexico! Your team has the most glorious ponytails of all!)

If you make a double sided mini quilt, remember that your front and back pieces will be exactly the same size. To make sure they line up, hold your quilt sandwich to the light to check. If they're not lined up exactly, readjust and check again. Then pin and quilt. Easy!

So, what do you think: should more flags have flowers on them? I'm a huge fan of the idea. Daisies on a field vert...who would be cruel enough to declare war on that country?

Swap Quilt!

2010-06-15T09:50:00.000-05:00

My first ever swap quilt is finished:

And it'll go out in the mail today. On the actual deadline, go me! Actually, the quilt was finished a week ago but I'm so terrible about getting to the post office. Sorry, swap partner!

My partner likes Depression Blocks, lime and grey. I don't know if she likes lime and grey together but hopefully she does at least a little bit.

Finished dimensions are 24x24 and there are three hanging tabs on the back. And, if you can believe it, this is my first finished quilt of 2010 (even though it's mini, I'm counting it). What's up with that? Actually, though, I have two more that I'll show you soon and one that's waiting to be bound...so I'm not slacking off entirely.

Nice(y) Fabric

2010-06-11T11:30:00.000-05:00

My birthday is July 1 but sometimes Ian thinks it's June 1. And while he always figures it out pretty quickly, I really enjoy the "omg, it's almost June 1 and I didn't buy Crystal a gift yet!" panic on his face.

This year, though, he remembered the correct date and I found myself missing the early birthday excitement. To make up for it, I bought myself an early birthday present!

I've recently become obsessed with Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane. I'll be honest, I wasn't into Nicey Jane when it came out. It wasn't the fabric, because the fabric was lovely. It was me...I just wasn't in a pastel, vintage sheet sort of mood.

But now I am! And I bought a fat quarter pack of all the prints. And I LOVE them all so much!

I don't have any plans to cut them up just yet (mini American flag quilt aside)...I haven't even thought seriously about what I'd like to make. A nice summery quilt is always a good option but who knows.

For now, I'm just going to look at them and let my ideas swirl around until they settle to the bottom, like mint in a tall, cool, summery mojito.

In other fabric news, I won a humongous pile of Figgy Pudding from Jewel's Arm Candy. I was so excited to have won and I'm getting really excited to use it. I know it's winter fabric but I'm not planning to use it in a winter themed quilt. A lot of the prints will mix well with non-wintery fabrics just fine.

In fact, now that my machine is making normal sized stitches again, I can get started on a mini project I've been planning for a while. More on that soon.

So, I have a question for you...did you ever not really care for (or outright dislike) a fabric line that you later came to love? Which one was it? What changed your mind?

Mermaid Update

2010-06-10T15:56:00.000-05:00

Just a little mermaid update today. I'm trying to keep myself motivated (this quilt is already more work than I like) so I thought that taking pictures and blogging them would help keep me going.

So, I finally cut out all my pieces and then decided I didn't like one of the prints. Then I had to decide which fabric I wanted to repeat. Then it took me about three hours (on and off) to decide the order of the stripes:

This is always the hardest part for me. I like things to look "not planned" but really, I'm planning the heck out of it. I mostly wanted the stripes to look random but I ended up mirroring the orange and brown...by accident at first but then I liked it too much to start over.

And now I'm sashing each piece and sewing them together in rows. This part is freaking me out because what if I get my long rows all sewn up and then they don't fit together? What if the points don't match? The horror!

It seems that other people's points are matching up so, maybe my ~~luck~~ skill will come through for me. Find out the answer in my next mermaid installment!

Lesson Learned

2010-06-10T09:06:00.000-05:00

Oh my gosh, you guys...you have to see this:

This is what I found when I took the plate off my sewing machine last night. My machine has been acting up...making really short stitches no matter how long I set the stitch length. So, I decided to check it out. And this terrible lump of lint is what I found:

Before you all tell me I suck for not cleaning my machine, let me explain. When I bought the machine (at an actual sewing machine shop), I asked the lady how I should clean it. She said "just blow the dust out of the bobbin case once in a while." That's it! I swear!

And speaking of the bobbin case...this is what was beneath it:

It was like a mini cotton candy machine! Gross.

And now? Now it sews better than it did when I first bought it (it was a floor model so it probably had a bit of lint going on already). I've certainly learned my lesson! And I hope this helps anyone who's sewing lady told them to just blow out the bobbin case once in a while.

Four Words

2010-06-09T09:15:00.003-05:00

I have just four words for you:

World

Cup

Soccer

2010

Can you believe it? The World Cup is finally here and Ian and I are so excited. You know I'm not into sports, right? I'm not actually even into soccer. But World Cup soccer captures my attention (and my heart) in much the same way as the Olympics. But since I have to wait four years to watch soccer, it's even more exciting!

Before you stop reading this because you aren't into World Cup Soccer, let me tell you just a few things I love about it.

First, I love watching these amazing athletes at the height of their skill and stamina (90 minutes of running? Come on!) I love watching the best of the best compete for the world's respect and a nation's pride. I love how they can make their bodies do things mine could never do. I love how they throw tantrums when they get hurt. I love how they throw tantrums when they pretend to get hurt. I love their tight, sculpted calf muscles and I love their glorious ponytails. I love how they get all sweaty and how cute they are when they're so totally focused on the game. I love when they celebrate a goal, like it's the most fulfilling moment of their lives. And I mentioned the ponytails, right?

Have I won you over yet? I could go on longer, if you like.

Ian and I have lots of fun things planned for this year's World Cup but it just wasn't enough. Because there were no quilts! But now there are...mini flag quilts, of course! I'm making them for all our favorite teams and first up is Team USA!

To make your own 8"x15" American Flag quilt, you'll need the following:

Blue-ish dotty fabric (I used Nicey Jane - Hop Dot in Sky)
- 6.5" x 4.75"

Red/pink striped fabric (I used Nicey Jane - Welcome Road in Pink...make sure the stripes run parallel with the longer dimensions)
- 9.5" x 4.75"
-15.5" x 4.25"

Background Fabric - at least 16.5" x 9.5"
Batting - at least 16" x 9"
About 60" of binding

Sew your blue fabric to your small pink fabric along the 4.75" edge. Press and sew this to the second pink fabric and you're done! Quilt and bind as you like.

There will be more mini tutorials soon and in case you're wondering what to do with a mini flag quilt, see conversation below:

Me: "Look, an American flag mini-quilt! Isn't it awesome?"
Ian: "I guess, but what does one do with an American flag mini-quilt?"
Me: ...blank stare..."I don't know, put bowls of chips on it?"

No offence, American flag mini-quilt, I just really like chips.

Spiderweb Block

2010-06-08T11:00:00.000-05:00

You all know I had to make a Spiderweb block for my Modern Sampler quilt, right?

And I'm really happy I did because I love how it turned out! I'm also 99% sure I'm not going to make another one. This block took forever and I was really nervous about my webs matching up in nice points. Maybe I'd consider making a mini quilt some day (this block really is fun to look at) but I'm not going to make a whole quilt.

I used Elizabeth's tutorial with just a few modifications. To make one 17" (unfinished) block, I started with four 8.75" squares of background fabric. Then I cut them each into only two triangles. My kite measurement was 2.5" from the corner (Elizabeth's is 2"). The rest is the same so check out her tutorial. I even clipped the base fabric at the corners to reduce bulk. What a fantastic idea!

My layout was inspired by Jacquie's selvedge spiderweb tutorial. I love the quarter webs in the corners!

Both tutorials are awesome so check them out. And don't forget to add your pictures to their flickr groups:

Oh Fransson! Flickr Group
Tallgrass Prarie Studio Flickr Group