Rainy Day

The quiet of a rainy day is so soothing to my spirit, and yesterday was no exception. Even with three little active girls in the house, it was a remarkably peaceful time. Michael Buble's Christmas album crooned cheerfully in the morning, Bunny and I enjoyed watching White Christmas in the afternoon while Bear and Mouse napped, and I got the chance to do a little sewing. Over the next few months, I plan to both replace all our old potholders with new ones and cover all the family room pillows. Rather than do it all at once, I'm trying to just fit in a project whenever time or inspiration give me the opportunity. It's far less stressful, and I figure that this way there will be a lot more variety in my designs over the long run.

I used Amy's tutorial for Japanese x & + scrappy quilt blocks which I've been wanting to try for a while. It's a great little block, and so perfect for scrap busting.

I backed it in a Suburbia print that I've been saving for kitchen projects. It has a cute retro vibe going on that I love.

My other finish yesterday was my project for the Happy Little Pouch Hop which I'll be posting about on Monday. I enjoyed it immensely and can't wait to share it with you. Look for two posts on Monday since it also marks the official start of Sew Mama Sew's bi-annual Giveaway Day. I'll be going through my stash this weekend to put together a little stack of goodies for one of you to win. This event is huge -- definitely check it out if this is your first time!

The rain is falling outside my windows again, and I have a stack of hexagons calling my name. See you back here tomorrow for Fresh Sewing Day...

Linking up to Finish It Up Friday.

O Christmas Tree

I always enjoy seeing magazine spreads on Christmas decorating. It's so fun to get new ideas, and once in a while, I see something that I can actually use. For our family, though, Christmas is steeped in traditions and memories that rarely change. We use an artificial tree in our home -- asthma, allergies, and other concerns make it a necessity for us. This one is particularly special to me because it's the one that my husband and I used at our December wedding reception seven years ago.

Over a decade ago, before Etsy mania took hold, my mother managed a small shop called Nana's Attic which sold handmade goods from all over the country. After my father became a pastor and she closed down the business, we saved some of our favorite holiday pieces including this Christmas tree skirt. The braided rag rug is actually a series of four upside down hearts sewn together to make a perfect circle.

These little dolls, also from the shop, are such a sweet decoration. My girls love them, and I think they look so cute on the tree.

As I've mentioned before, my mother is brilliant with cross stitch. This angel is one of several of her creations that we put on the tree each year. The little plastic apple was a Christmas gift from my sixth grade teacher, Ms. Bode. She was a tough teacher, but I respected her greatly. After she retired and I became a teacher myself, she gave her entire stash of bulletin board and teaching aides to me. Just a short while later, she passed away from a number of health issues, leaving behind no husband or children. I've always felt that it was important that someone remember her, and placing this little apple on my tree each year is my small way of doing that.

We have some fun little vintage treasures like this one. I don't know the history of every one, but they've become a part of the family collection over the years.

The angel at the top of the tree is one more find from Nana's Attic. I love putting it on top of that wreath of berries for a little extra color.

But the biggest Christmas tree tradition in our family is the bow at the top of the tree. My parents got engaged thirty-seven years ago this December. That year my mom told her mother that all she wanted for Christmas was my dad. So on Christmas morning when my dad came to visit, my grandmother tied this red bow and pinned it to my dad's collar before sending him over to see my mom. It's been at the top of our Christmas tree every year since. The creche always hangs below it to remind us Who should be at the center of the celebration.

I love this tree. I love everything it represents and all the people that it brings to mind. It may not be the flashiest or the most creative tree on the block, but there's love on every branch.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

Simplicity

A few months ago I won a gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop, and I knew exactly what I wanted to get: a layer cake of Tasha Noel's darling collection, The Simple Life. The patterns and colors in these prints are so perfectly sweet, and I knew that my daughters would enjoy the detailed drawings of children and animals. There's even a little bit of text included on a few prints!

If you've never done any paper piecing before, this pattern is a fairly simple way to get started, and it makes for a beautiful project every time. I love the simplicity of the design and the way it allows me to showcase my favorite fussy cut prints.

For the back, I used a Denyse Schmidt print from her Sugar Creek and Winding Road collection. I love that shade of dark aqua.

The pillow is now sitting at the end of my couch by the Christmas tree, making me happy.

What a great way to start the week.

Linking up to Sew Modern Monday and the Let's Get Acquainted Monday Link-Up.

Blessed

Today I found not one...not two...but three packages waiting for me when my parents brought in the mail. I was so excited that I had to sneak downstairs for a quick peek before my two youngest daughters went down for their afternoon naps.

This lovely set was made for me by Kelie (craftnursequilt) for Round 2 of the Modernista Swap, which had a kitchen theme this time. Look at all these goodies! I'm absolutely crazy about those potholders, which I needed desperately. They're now making all the other potholders in my house look pathetic by comparison -- a situation I'll have to remedy in the weeks ahead. I've already put that darling fabric basket and table mat to use, and I love all the sweet extras she included. My girls can't wait to get their hands on those cookie cutters. Can you believe that this was Kelie's first swap? She did such an incredible job!

I couldn't believe it when I found out that Lori -- my sweet friend and co-conspirator in our recent Long Weekend blog hop -- was my partner in Round 2 of the Modern She Made Swap. She could not have captured my tastes more brilliantly. Look at all the color, and the great text fabric accents! That pillow cover is absolutely to die for, and I'm completely in love with that armrest sewing kit. She also included a stack of gorgeous fabric and several spools of ribbon. I was totally overwhelmed as I looked at the contents of this package. Lori is so incredibly talented, and you can see it in everything she makes.

But if that wasn't enough, I noticed that Lori's return address was also on package number three. Inside I found the treasures you see above along with a thank you card for helping her manage The Long Weekend -- as if all the fun we had doing this blog hop wasn't joy enough! Lori, you're an angel...thank you!

After staring awestruck at all of these beauties for a few moments, I tiptoed back upstairs to the girls' room to find Mouse asleep and my sick little Bear (she's been fighting a fever for the past few days) asking me to rock her awhile. As I cuddled her in the rocking chair, I was reminded again that in the midst of all the ups and downs of life, I am so blessed. And isn't it amazing how these reminders come when we need them most?

May you receive the reminders that you need today as well. I wish you all a very happy weekend.

Monday Dash

Much to do today, but I wanted to quickly share the project I finished yesterday for the Modern She Made Swap. One of the hardest things about swaps for me is to remember that I'm making something for my partner -- not for me. This project was a good stretch for me, though I agonized quite a bit over figuring out exactly what would suit my partner best. In the end, I hope I made something that she will enjoy even if it isn't necessarily what I would have made for myself. Every new project is a new chance to grow, and I love that...

Be sure to stop by Lori's blog today because she'll be announcing the winners from The Long Weekend. You've got to see all the entries too -- absolutely incredible. My deepest thanks to Lori for all she put into this blog hop. She was the genius who came up with this idea in the first place, and I'm so glad she did. Thanks also to all of the lovely women who hosted giveaways and posted their gorgeous bags for the blog hop -- you can find links to their blogs here. I had so much fun working with all of you. You're amazing!!

Linking up to Sew Modern Monday.

Sunday Stash

If you're looking for the chance to share pictures of your favorite fabrics with people who understand why this is a big deal, you'll definitely want to head over to Fiona's blog at Finding Fifth. Every week she has a Sunday Stash link-up, and I've been meaning to join for a while now. Since I had a few fun fabric purchases in the last month, I thought I'd put them together in one post.

The fabrics put out by organic manufacturers like Birch, Monaluna, and Cloud 9 are some of my favorites. Their designs are so charming, and I particularly love their often retro inspired color palettes. Honestly, I would buy far more organic fabric if I could afford it! When I saw a fat quarter bundle of Fox Hollow on sale at Sew Me a Song -- an incredible place to shop if you've never visited before -- I couldn't resist. I also threw in a favorite Flea Market Fancy print and Alphabet from Books and Letters. I can never have enough text fabrics!

This bundle came from Pink Castle Fabrics, and when I pulled it out of the package, I was absolutely delighted. Though I didn't purchase them to necessarily go together in one project, I was surprised at how they all seemed to fit with each other so well. There are some prints from Odds and Ends, The Dressmaking Collection, Marmalade, and Sew Mama Sew. I also have a piece of yarn dyed linen and some of Melody Miller's adorable transistor radios. I can't wait to play with these fun fabrics!

This afternoon I'll be finishing up a swap project and delivering our church's Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes to the local distribution center. The little ones are still getting over the flu -- we're at the well-enough-to-be-crabby-but-too-sick-to-go-out stage. Hopefully we'll be doing better soon, since my husband's parents are arriving tomorrow night to be with us for Thanksgiving week. If we can just stay healthy, the week ahead has every sign of being a marvelous one.

Have a beautiful Sunday, my friends.

Linking up to Sunday Stash, guest hosted today at Blossom Heart Quilts.

The Unexpected Weekend

Last Friday I was so excited about the long weekend we had ahead of us. My husband was looking forward to three days of fun with me and the girls, and I had all my pieces ready to sew together for my Weekender in plenty of time to write my post. Everything changed, of course, when Bear came down with a violent case of stomach flu on Saturday morning. With seven of us in the house, we've learned to expect that if one person gets sick, everyone is going to get sick. As Mouse, my dad, and my husband all came down with symptoms during the next few days, I tried to work on my bag as quickly as possible during any free minutes I could spare so that I wouldn't miss my deadline, but unfortunately I just ran out of time before the flu hit me hard on Monday night. The bag as you see it here is almost finished -- it's just missing a lining. In my haste, I'm afraid I wasn't quite as neat and tidy as I normally like to be -- you'll notice plenty of imperfections here and there. The photos you see in this post were taken by my dear husband who stopped me before I tried to hobble outside to take them myself. As I look at them now I can see all the loose threads and wrinkles that I forgot to deal with before the quick photo shoot, and the perfectionist in me is mortified. Sometimes you just have to do the best you can and let it go...

When people say that this bag is a challenge, they aren't kidding. The cutting and prep work are endless, and you're fairly worn out before you even get started. Once you start sewing, though, it's not so bad. Things didn't really become daunting for me until I hit the dreaded step on the directions where you sew all of the exterior panels together. Yikes. I had to rip out seams more than once. A denim needle is well worth your money -- mine never broke even though I was sure it would a few times. You'll do well to go slowly and take your time, both as you sew and as you read through the directions. I read each step through at least twice before plunging ahead.

It's a nice sturdy bag, which I like. I followed several people's advice and made my handles longer than the pattern suggested, sewing them in a little more firmly down the sides as well. Since so many people were going the quilted route in our blog hop, and since I had recently made a quilted bag when I put together my Retro Library Case, I decided to try the standard Peltex version for mine. I used a lime green linen for most of the bag, accented with linen Nursery Versery prints by Heather Ross and some colorful scraps thrown in for good measure. I really love the way the paper pieced section turned out, and I hope to be making a pillow soon using this same pattern. My piping was store bought, and I have no regrets about that. It was easy to use and one less thing to have to make ahead. If you do use premade piping, be sure to cut carefully. It takes two packets to do the job, and each one has just enough for the one large pocket and the distance around the main panel. I almost had to go buy another pack because I wasn't as careful as I should have been at first.

Once I'm feeling a bit better, I'll be finishing the lining and passing this on to my sister who will be using it as her new diaper bag. I'm so glad that I had the chance to finally try this pattern -- it's been on my to-do list all year long!

Drop by Taryn's blog tomorrow for our last stop in the series before you can link up your finished bags at Lori's website. We can't wait to see what's in your Weekender!

Memory

It's almost impossible for me to believe that I sewed my first quilt just a year ago this month. God bless my mother for buying a new sewing machine when her old one wasn't working right. After nearly two years spent flitting from one hobby to the next, trying desperately to find my niche, sewing turned out to be the one I was waiting for. I really do believe that it saved my sanity as a stay-at-home mom. Though I've spent the last year finding both my footing and my balance, I'm so grateful to have this opportunity to create beauty every day with my own two hands.

When I started working on my quilt for the Scrappy Stash Sew Along that Jennifer was hosting at Ellison Lane Quilts, I had no idea that it would be such a moving experience for me. I've been piling up scraps for a year now, trying to decide how best to use them, and these scrappy log cabin blocks could not have been a better fit.

Putting these blocks together was a joy. It was like reliving an entire year of happy sewing memories in one quilt, and because of that, I decided to call this project "Memory."

Most of you know how much I love text fabrics. It was so fun to use all my favorite text prints as a background for the quartets of colored blocks. I decided to also use my current favorite quilting method: intermittent wavy stitching in vertical lines down the quilt top.

I backed the quilt in a selection of prints from my stash, matching the color order on the back with that of the blocks on the front. I love the back almost as much as I do the quilt top...

The quilt is bound in a grey Posie print from Flea Market Fancy by Denyse Schmidt, one of my favorite lines from one of my favorite designers.

As a bonus, I used some of the selvages I've been saving all year to make a quick pillow cover to go along with the quilt on our bed. The border is a botanical text print -- from Timeless Treasures, I believe -- which I absolutely love, and the cover is backed in the dark blue print with red and white flowers (third from the bottom row of selvages). I used the same wavy quilting as I did on the bed quilt, but this time I went horizontally.

As you can see, the pillow matches the decor in our bedroom. Believe it or not, the pictures on the wall are actually prints we ordered from Costco's photo department. My husband stained some inexpensive frames to go along with them, and I love the way they look above the antique dresser and chair we have in our room, both passed down from my side of the family.

I've had many projects this year that have been among my favorites, but this quilt is definitely at the top of the list. I'm going to treasure this one always.

Linking up to Fabric Tuesday, the Scrappy Stash Sew Along, and Finish It Up Friday.

Fifty Days

My Scrappy Stash Quilt Top -- more details here

Fifty days into the 100 Day Hustle, and my lists look like this:

MUST DO
1. Christmas potholder for my grandmother: DONE
2. Finish Vintage Holiday quilt (backing, quilting, binding): DONE
3. EPP block for Travellin' Pic-Stitch Blog Hop: DONE
4. Modernista Swap Project: DONE
5. Modern She Made Swap Project: PLANNING STAGE
6. Play quilt for my nieces: PLANNING STAGE
7. Diaper bag for my sister: IN PROGRESS
8. Camera bag for my brother-in-law: NO PROGRESS
9. Scrappy Stash Quilt & matching pillow cover: DONE
10. Weekender Bag: IN PROGRESS
11. Blog Updates: IN PROGRESS

WOULD LIKE TO DO
1. New purse for me: DONE
2. Pillows for the family room: IN PROGRESS
3. New advent calendar: NO LONGER NEEDED (my mom bought a fantastic magnetic version to use with the girls this year)
4. Tula Pink Sew Along project: DONE
5. Finish new quilt for Bunny's bed: IN PROGRESS

I'd love to have more finished since my last post on this, but I keep telling myself that it's not too shabby really. I just keep plodding along, one project at a time, and it's amazing what you can get done if you just keep at it. My scrappy quilt was bound and washed last night, and I've been working on my Weekender this evening. I was at the "just shoot me if I have to cut out one more piece of interfacing" stage earlier today, but now that I'm actually sewing, it's a little more fun. Can't wait to share my bag and my finished scrappy quilt  -- and even the extra scrappy pillow I added at the last minute -- with you all next week.

Miss Bear came down with a case of stomach flu this morning . . . life is never boring around here. Now that I've just gotten her and little Mouse to sleep, I'm off to curl up with my husband and an old movie (anyone else love Gene Tierney & Dana Andrews in Laura?) and store up my energy for whatever excitement tomorrow will bring.

Sweet dreams...

Linking up with Kelsey and the 100 Day Hustle.

The Long Weekend Begins!

The Long Weekend has finally arrived! Hop over to Ellison Lane Quilts where Jennifer is kicking off our event with a fabulous post about her gorgeous new bag. Over the next week, you'll want to visit all the amazing bloggers on our list below...

November 9: Jennifer @ Ellison Lane Quilts

November 10: Courtney @ Mon Petit Lyons

November 11: Sarah @ Bluprint Textiles

November12: Leanne @ She Can Quilt

November 13: Lori @ Lori H. Designs

November 14: Heidi @ Fabric Mutt

November 15: Taryn @ Pixels to Patchwork

November 16 - 18: Project Link-up at Lori H. Designs

November 19: Prize Drawings Announced

 

Prepare to be inspired!

Delighted

The Scrappy Stash quilt top is finished, and I'm officially in love.

There is something so wonderful about putting a quilt top together. Going from here...

...to here...

...to here.

I hadn't expected the top to turn out as large as it did when I first started putting these blocks together. It's just shy of queen size, and my darling husband has said that he doesn't mind a bit if we let this one become the quilt for our bed that I've been meaning to make for almost a year now. I am so delighted at the thought of waking up to the sight of these beautiful colors every morning. 

And now on to the quilt back...

Linking up to WIP Wednesday.

Busy

It's been a busy weekend with a busy week ahead. Fortunately, I just finished this stack of lovelies last night, and now I get to start putting them together into a quilt top today. These blocks make me happy just looking at them. So many memories are in these scraps...

Jenelle from Echinops and Aster was kind enough to host our last giveaway before The Long Weekend begins, so head over to check out her beautiful blog and her great post on all things Weekender. Remember that our hop starts this Friday with Jennifer from Ellison Lane Quilts. I can't wait to see how everyone's bags turned out!

Something

I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. 
 -- Edward Everett Hale

Jennifer of Knotted-Thread is looking for people who can contribute quilt blocks. The blocks will be joined into quilts and personally delivered by her later this month to people in her home state of New Jersey who are dealing with stunning losses from Sandy's devastation. If you can help, please check out the Flickr group here.

It's a small thing, but in the face of so much pain, sometimes it's the small things that matter most.

November at Last

1. Chicopee Bag, 2. Turtle Cove Pillow, 3. Vintage Holiday, 

4. Windowpanes Pillow, 5. Modernista Round 2, 6. Winterkist Wonderland 2

November has always been one of my favorite months of the year, probably because Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love the cooler weather, the fall decorations, the great food, and the knowledge that Christmas is just around the corner. It just doesn't get any better than this for me.

October was a month with plenty of variety -- a bag, two pillows, quilts in all sizes. It was great to make progress on my to-do list and wonderful to even have a project featured in the latest Fat Quarterly Issue. My biggest finish was definitely my Vintage Holiday quilt. Thanks so much to all of you who sewed along with me over the past few months!

There are plenty of projects in the works for November. More quilts, more pillows, and that notorious Weekender Bag. I'd better get sewing...

Linking up to Fresh Sewing Day at Lily's Quilts.