And so it begins...

Look what arrived for me in the mail today! Hooray!

I immediately set about readying this stack for quilt production (washing, drying, ironing, folding, stacking and re-stacking). I had already passed many minutes daydreaming about the sort of quilt that this fabric might become and had decided that it is destined to be a zig zag quilt for some lucky baby. Once I had the fabric in hand I couldn't resist sketching out some plans:

How does everybody else go about planning a quilt? I love this phase. It's all day dreaming and planning! I usually sketch something out. It helps me to understand how the pieces will fit together. I am often WRONG in my measurements...but I must admit that it doesn't really bother me much. I'll just add rows as needed to get to the measurement that I want in the end.

It was a really quiet night spent on my own. My son was sleeping upstairs and my husband retired to bed early to try to fight off a nasty cold that is brewing. I put my iPod on shuffle and opened the windows so I could listen to the mix of music and the fantastic thunderstorm that was brewing outside. While I listened, I cut & cut and stitched. I have always thought of myself as a very social person, but sewing has really made me value the time I get to spend on my own - a LOT!

Aaallll done!

I finished the Tula Pink baby quilt. Now we just have to wait for my friend to have her baby girl! While we wait for sweet baby pictures, here are some sweet quilt pictures (you'll just have to add the cute baby to the images with your mind):

Final measurement 36X37

I really love the Tula Pink fabric that was used for the back. If you look closely, you will see turtles, sea horses and anchors in the pattern. Originally, there was supposed to be another fabric as the binding, but a fabric store mistake meant that I used the same fabric for the binding and the backing. I think that it might have been a happy mistake.

OK - this looks kind of yellow-ish because it was taken inside in bad light while it rained (AGAIN!). I wanted to show you the tone-on-tone white that was used for the sashing. I love it so...and thought that you should see it close up, so that you could love it too!

There is something really lovely about a folded quilt...so here you go!

Once I start..

I found out that Pink Chalk Fabrics is having a sale. It's a good one. I had to talk myself off the ledge. While I didn't purchase everything my heart desires, I managed to pick up some fantastic deals. Now all I have to do is sit back and wait for the good mail to arrive!

I did treat myself to my very first Japanese print:

Cute, non?

I also started full force on free motion quilting my Tula Pink baby charm quilt (I will really have to come up with a better name!). I am pleased to report that I decided to "just get it done" and go with the "free motion" flow. Very challenging for me - but I discovered that after an hour (or two!) of fighting with the quilting, I really did enjoy just letting the random quilting pattern happen. It is not perfect, but I think that I am learning to be OK with that. As my good friend keeps saying "It's handmade!". I am feverishly working on the binding and will post pictures once the project is complete...stay tuned!

OK...so I caved...

But isn't it so beautiful??? I love the bright colours so! Not too sure what I am going to do with it, but I am looking forward to washing, ironing, stacking, admiring and re-stacking.

Need help! Cannot possibly be of sound mind.

Does anybody else love just admiring stacks of colour and pattern in their sewing space?

Go ahead - mock if you must...

Crafty crush...

WOW! Look at this fantastic alphabet quilt.

Embroidery, quilting, variegated floss and vintage fabric?? I think that I am in LOVE!

Martha has even (very generously!) posted the templates she has used for the alphabet embroidery. Just in case you can't resist undertaking this ENORMOUS project...

How to overcome...

Turns out that I am type A...seriously type A.

I have finished the quilt top for my friend's baby. It has even been sandwiched. I have been attempting to free motion quilt the sucker, but have pulled it out several times for the following reasons:

1. the quilting is too close together


2. the quilting is too far apart


3. the stitches are too long


4. the stitches are too short


5. the stitches overlap


6. there is a pucker in the fabric


7. I am seriously too type A

Perhaps you will see more crafty type posts when I overcome my personality flaws?

Rain, rain, go away...

We awoke to heavy rain this morning and were faced with the problem: "How do you occupy a 2 (and a 1/2!) year old for an entire rainy day??!". Not necessarily easy...and I will confess to resorting to TV for part of the day (Might Machines...makes my son happy).



We also baked sour cream blueberry muffins with lemon glaze.

Not really delicious...I have the feeling that I may have missed an ingredient in my rush to keep up with my "helper" (who had taken to trying to stir the batter with a crazy straw).

After snack I set up an "arts and crafts" station in my sewing room for Evan & I. I had thought that we might create a gift for his daddy's birthday next week. Hmmm....I'm not sure that we were successful....

Exhibit A, Evan's creation:
He tells me that it is a car crusher. I'm not sure what the sparkly glued eyes are about. Perhaps a statement on "the man" watching the proletariat??? Could also be just that he liked the googly eyes and sparkly glue...


Here is my creation:

As you can see, I not only liked the sparkly glue and googly eyes...I also enjoy heavily dyed feathers.

I caught the cat examining our "creations" with a look of disgust some time later.

Everyone's a critic!!


The downpour seems to have halted for a brief moment. Must run and see if we can squeeze in a quick walk to combat the cabin fever!

I have some nerve...and Happy Belated Canada Day!

OK...I got lost (as I am apt to do) in my vacation mode and failed to make Canada Day plans for my family. Enter the lovely and talented Donna to the rescue! She had my entire clan (lovely husband, cute boy and me - minus our evil, but cute cat) over for a relaxing and delicious meal! Not only did I partake of her fabulous meal, but I took pictures of the food that she expertly prepared to post on my blog. Hope that you don't mind Donna! Thanks again for the relaxing and delicious meal...

Salad with homemade dressing and croutons. All garlicky goodness...

My mouth still waters thinking about this dish. It is a roasted potato and summer squash casserole. Really fantastic!

My contribution were the refreshments. Beer (a Canadian classic!) and strawberry lemonade. Non alcoholic for the kids, and with a generous shot of citrus vodka for the adults. Yummy!

We also had lovely steak kabobs, roasted balsamic vegetables and a delicious cake with lemon curd filling and strawberry buttercream icing (YES - it was as delicious as it sounds!). Unfortunately I was too into the meal and vodka laced strawberry lemonades at this point to remember to photograph. Whoops!

Thanks for the wonderful meal Donna. Please thank Michel for picking the easy Canada Day quiz...