Scrap Happy

Last Wednesday night I was worn out from a day of wrestling with dishes, laundry, and crabby kids when I found myself in the sewing room. I couldn't settle myself down to any of the projects I already had going, so I just suddenly started grabbing scraps and sewing them together. It was fun and calming and surprisingly therapeutic. I ended up with this little mini quilt which will be going on the wall right above my sewing table.

I've always found it hard to resist any sort of color spectrum quilt, and I love having the writing and bicycle scraps in there too. The back is a black and white print that I liked as a contrast to the colorful front.

My advice to stressed out people everywhere: get yourself a sewing machine. It sure has worked for me.

Linking up to Finish It Up Friday, Whoop Whoop Friday, and Sew & Tell Friday.

My First Bag

I'm pretty excited today because I finished my first bag this afternoon. It's nothing fancy, but I'm awfully happy about it. I used this tutorial on Sew, Mama, Sew for a summer reading bag by Mo Bedell. I left off the library friendly details that the original calls for and kept it very simple. Along with the Heather Ross fabric, I used a green lattice print that I found in the remnant bin at Joann's and a strip of grey fabric featuring the darling turtles from Little Apples by Aneela Hoey for the underside of the strap.

My daughter was so excited to try the bag on, and she's been walking around with her friends strapped to her side ever since I finished it. She's happy, Rapunzel looks happy, and I'm absolutely thrilled.

Linking up to Work in Progress Wednesday!

A Bag Emergency

The birthday weekend has come and gone, and big fun was had by all. Hard to believe that my Bunny is now officially five years old. Between a trip to Disneyland and the party yesterday, there was precious little time leftover for sewing, however I did start work on a project last night. Bunny is in love with Rapunzel at the moment, so my husband and I gave her a soft Rapunzel doll along with the little chameleon Pascal for her birthday. She was trying to fix up some way to carry them next to her using shoelaces (my daughter is quite the inventor), but I assured her that I could probably sew a bag that would do the job just as well. And what kind of fabric does one use to make a bag for Rapunzel? Why, Heather Ross, of course!

I've been saving these pieces for something special, and it's great (if a little frightening) to cut into them at last. If I can scrape out a little time in the next day or two, I'm hoping to have it finished so that she can carry her friends around in style.

Linking up to Sew Modern Monday and Manic Monday!

Home Sweet Home

California seems to have lost its reputation as the Golden State in recent years, many people viewing it as a home for national disasters and an entire spectrum of nuttiness. While I've spent time in other states and countries and even toyed with the thought of moving to another part of the U.S., Southern California is still home. What I love about the new line of California Girl fabric by Fig Tree Quilts for Moda is that it reminds me of the often forgotten side of the state: fruit groves and flowers, tile floors and old houses. I made this mini quilt as a reminder for myself that home -- with all of its issues -- is still home. And I'm grateful to be here.

Linking up to Finish It Up Friday, Sew & Tell Friday, and Confessions of a Fabric Addict. Have a wonderful weekend!

A Finish and a Start

When my grandmother was a little girl, she had a quilt featuring the iconic Sunbonnet Sue character. This week she called me up and asked if I could make her a decorative potholder with Sue in the center to remind her of that quilt. Her requirements were that it be 7 inches square with a cream background, blue fabrics, and a navy blue border. I added in a few shades of red and brown to break it up a little.

The result looks fairly vintage, but that's definitely the look she was going for. It will fit in well with all the antiques in her little kitchen.

Yesterday morning I had an idea come to me for a mini quilt. I grabbed the new pack of California Girl charm squares that came in the mail last week and got to work at the kitchen table while my kids played in the family room. The picture above doesn't do these lovely fabrics justice, but when I tried to take a photo outside, my project nearly blew away in the wind. I still have some hand sewing to do on the quilt top before I start quilting it, but I'm happy with how it's turning out. I've been needing something pretty to hang next to my desk, and this will be perfect. Hopefully I'll have pictures ready to post tomorrow!

Pillow Party

It's been a busy week, though not entirely busy because of sewing progress. I'm hoping to finish up the rest of the party favors for my oldest daughter's Alice in Wonderland birthday party this weekend. The little pillows are all finished; I just need to whip out a few more sets of felt characters. I'm still loving Kate Spain's Good Fortune line; it really does seem like Wonderland with an Asian flair.

Hope you're having a wonderful week. Linking up to Work in Progress Wednesday!

A Monday Finish

It's wet and windy outside, so my pictures will have to be indoors today. Just finished putting the binding on this table runner for our upcoming ladies' tea. I have to admit that I'm pretty enamored of this black and white striped print. I want to bind everything with it! Somehow it seems to make a quilt's colors pop more than anything else I use.

The pinwheels were made from Hello Luscious charm squares, and the back is a hop dot print from the Nicey Jane line. I'm working on a few more similar table toppers, but those are square shaped instead of long. In between all of this, I'm continuing to work on my mini quilt for the Modern Mini contest. I'm having a lot of fun and probably obsessing way more than I should over the details. I can't wait to post pictures of it here.

Linking up to Sew Modern Monday, Manic Monday, and Fabric Tuesday!