Travel Portfolio Set

Earlier this year I finished my Travel Portfolio Set for the Spring issue of Modern Patchwork Magazine which has just finally been published. The lovely people at Cloud 9 Fabrics were kind enough to donate some of Sarah Watson's stunning Biology collection for this magazine project. I think Biology is one of the most original collections to come on the market in the past year, and between you and me, I want to cover everything I own with that dreamy border print on the left. It's truly stunning!

These portfolios are available in two sizes, and they're perfect for work, school, or household lists. They make a wonderful last minute gift for teachers, moms, or grads too. Just add a pad of paper and something to write with -- even a gift card, if you're feeling really nice! -- and you're in business.

You can pick up a copy of Modern Patchwork in your local book store or quilt shop, or you can just buy one online right here. There are some amazing projects in this issue, and I'm pretty honored to be featured alongside such talented people!

Happy weekend!

Quilt Now Pillows

Way back in October when I was swamped with Quilt Market sewing, I was also working on some projects for the February 2015 issue of Quilt Now magazine which would be featuring low volume designs. Like always, I kept things simple. The Silent Film pillow above is made of 64 black, white, cream, and gray squares from some of my favorite prints.

I used eight spools of thread, generously donated by Aurifil, to quilt the pillow in a rainbow of colors. The threads go in color order across the front of the pillow, and they create an almost radiant grid as they intersect over the quiet patchwork background. This is one of those projects you really have to see in person to get the full effect. It's hard to capture it exactly through photos.

The pillow is backed in my favorite floral print from Heather Bailey's Up Parasol collection. I love the contrast of the brightly colored backing against the low volume front.

My second project was even simpler. I'd been seeing a lot of black and white stripes in catalogs and magazines back then, and I wanted to work these into a pillow. My Zebra Interrupted pillow is a lightning quick project, but it makes a wonderful graphic statement -- especially when you pair it with something floral as they did for the magazine photo shoot.

I matched black and white thread to each pieced stripe, quilting them just inside the edges. Rather than matching the thread for the green stripe, however, I did my quilting in a shade of shocking pink. I used the same pink for the backing fabric, which is a leaf print by Lotta Jansdotter. Though this pillow is very different from my usual style, I had a lot of fun with it. It almost has a bit of a Kate Spade feel to me.

These pillows marked my first published magazine projects. What a treat! You can get your own copy -- if you don't have one already -- right here.

Happy weekend, friends!

Fat Quarterly Feature: Charlotte Travel Bag

Issue 14 of the Fat Quarterly online magazine came out today, which means that I can finally share the project that kept me company all summer: my Charlotte Travel Bag. I designed this bag back in June using some leather yarn dyed Essex linen and a gorgeous bundle of Bijoux that Bari J sent to me. I love to bring sewing projects along when I travel, but usually a sewing kit alone isn't large enough to hold everything I need to keep me busy for, say, a week. This bag has room for it all, along with a detachable cross body strap for hands free carrying. It also has a fold over top (similar to my recent Rosette Clutch), pockets galore, and a few pieces of hardware, but really it's just a big fancy zipper pouch.

As for the name? My husband and I had been watching some of our favorite Jane Austen movies back at the end of spring. I was thinking about this bag one night when I recalled that scene from Pride and Prejudice (the iconic Colin Firth version, of course) where Lizzie has come to visit her newlywed friend Charlotte. Charlotte is explaining how her husband stays busy elsewhere most of the time while she enjoys spending the day quietly in her own sitting room. "I find that I can bear the solitude quite cheerfully," she says with a meaningful smile.

While I am blessed with a far superior husband to that of fictional Charlotte, I can certainly appreciate a few quiet moments with my needle and thread and the goodies I've been packing in this happy bag. If you'd like to do the same, you can purchase your copy of Fat Quarterly's summer issue here.

April Showers

1. Mouse's Lovey, 2. Traveling in Circles Tote 3, 3. Spring Table Runner, 4. Dapper, 5. Fox Hollow Box Bag 2, 6. Melford Bag Unplugged 2, 7. Patchwork Bag, 8. Office in a Pouch

April was a crazy month, but somehow in the midst of all that insanity, my projects took on the quiet glow of spring. Funny how life works out that way sometimes...

Most of the finishes above were gifts. I loved making them; I loved giving them away. And isn't that one of the best things about this wonderful hobby?

We celebrated two weeks of incredible tutorials for the workspace during the Girl Friday Sews Blog Hop -- you can find links to all of them in this post. It's been suggested that we have a link-up soon where all of you can share a project that you've made for your workspace from the tutorials or on your own. If you're interested, let me know, and I'll make sure we schedule it and get some prizes involved. I was featured on The Name Game this month, and my Sweet Contrary fabric mosaic made it into the top ten finalists. I'm also gearing up along with the rest of you for Sew Mama Sew's upcoming 10th Giveaway Day -- be sure to stop by here on Monday for a chance at a fun package!

In our home, May is the last month of school, and the beginning of summer's lazy days. I am so ready for them to start...

Linking up to Fresh Sewing Day.

Name Game

Pop over to Cindy's lovely blog Live a Colorful Life this morning to hear all about how Fabric Mutt got its name. Our interview happened this past winter, so I actually celebrated my first year of blogging at the end of December. Where does the time go?? I can honestly say that I'm enjoying myself more than ever these days, and no small part of that is due to all of you.

Thanks, friends.

Site Seeing

My husband is off teaching and on spring break for the next two weeks, and I couldn't be happier. It's possible that the best part of the whole deal is that I get to sleep in every morning, and he gets a nap every afternoon. This morning when I finally came downstairs and clicked on my laptop over breakfast, there were some lovely things to see online. My Tsuru bag made the Cloud 9 Fabrics Facebook page today -- you can check it out here. I was thrilled when Michelle asked me to send her the picture for this.

Tomorrow, the first of three tutorials I created with Monaluna's adorable Havana collection will be popping up on Jennifer's official blog. I had so much fun working with these darling fabrics to create my Scooter Pack -- a set that includes a bag, a reading mat, and a pillow. Jennifer is such a lovely person and an incredibly talented designer. Have you seen her latest Modern Home collection? Those llamas are cuteness itself, and I love the herringbone and leaf prints too. Be sure to check it out!

Taryn has an absolutely fabulous post up today about the Girl Friday Sews Blog Hop, full of wonderful tips and tricks for organizing your workspace. She's also holding a giveaway for a $25 Pink Chalk Fabrics gift card (who can't use one of those?), but really you need to head over there just to see her adorable new mouse pad. Melody Miller goes with everything!

The day is calling -- and maybe a little sewing, too? -- so I'm off. Have a great Monday!

Linking up with the Let's Get Acquainted Monday Link-up.

Sweetcakes Baking Party Set Tutorial

I'm so excited to be sharing a tutorial at Riley Blake Designs today! When they asked me to look at their new fabric lines for inspiration, I was immediately taken with the new Sweetcakes collection by Doodlebug Design Inc. With prints that showcase strawberries, cupcakes, hearts, and flowers, it seemed like the perfect backdrop for a little girl's baking party. And since both Valentine's Day and my oldest daughter's birthday are coming up in February, I'm definitely on the lookout for new party ideas! You get plenty of bang for your buck with this one -- it's actual four tutorials in one, including...

The Party Bag

The Cake Bunting

The Cake Rug

The Apron

Hop on over to Riley Blake Designs, and check it out!

Linking up to Plum & June.

Sherman and Stuff

It's been a crazy weekend of keeping the girls entertained while my husband has been in North Carolina. Right after we dropped him off at the airport on Friday morning, we stopped by Target to pick up a few things, and I let the girls do a little window shopping in the toy section.  When we passed by the stuffed animals, my daughters insisted that I needed to get somebody to keep me company while Daddy was gone since I didn't have any stuffed friends to snuggle with at night like they did. Normally I would have laughed and kept walking, but this little blue elephant just stole my heart. Sherman, as he is now called, has been quite a comfort to everyone this weekend. The girls have each taken turns with him when they were especially missing Daddy, and I have to say that he was worth every penny. Thankfully, my husband returns home tonight to all his adoring fans. It will be so wonderful to have him home again!

Photo from A Quilter's Table

 You will definitely want to stop by my friend Debbie's blog today as she hosts another great giveaway for our Long Weekend event. She had just finished making her beautiful patchwork version of the Weekender when we started planning our sew along, and I knew that she would have some great tips to pass along. Visit A Quilter's Table for all the details!

Debbie's brilliant Polaroid block swap was also the inspiration behind my Focus mini quilt which is being featured today at Quilt Story. There are always certain projects we make that are meaningful to us for one reason or another, and this little quilt holds a special place in my heart. You can read all about it over at Heather and Megan's beautiful blog.

Wishing you a lovely start to your week!

Quilt Story Feature

I'm so excited to be featured at Quilt Story today. One of my very favorite quilts, Mixed Signals, is in the spotlight. Stop by and check it out!

Fresh Sewing Day, a Feature, and a Finish

It's amazing to me how the months used to just flow into each other, and I didn't really see them go by. Now that I participate in Lily's Quilts Fresh Sewing Day, I'm so aware of the passing of another month, and it shocks me to see how quickly they come and go. Above you can see my mosaic for May...lots of fun projects this month. I finished up my items for the Modern She Made Swap and got a fabulous package in return. I'm still loving the Zakka Along, and I was able to participate in the Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop this week, which will be running all summer long. Looking back, it's been a great month!


                                                         

I'm so excited to be featured on the weekly Follower Friday at Knotted-Thread today! Jennifer is both super sweet and super talented -- I love her retro flowers quilt. Be sure to drop by and check out her wonderful blog.

It's taken me a month, but I've finally gotten around to finishing Bear's Castle Peeps quilt for her toddler bed. I basted the other two quilts last night, and I'm hoping to wrap them up over the weekend. The girls were circling me all evening with eager little faces, wanting to know if they'd be sleeping under their new quilts tonight. If only...

Today my husband turns in his keys at the end of another school year -- he teaches history at a nearby middle school. To say that I'm ecstatic that he'll be home with us for the next two months is a supreme understatement. I'm looking forward to a joyful summer with the people I love more than anything else in the world. And maybe a little sewing time...

Wishing you all the happiest of Fridays!

Linking up to Fresh Sewing Day, Sew & Tell Friday, and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

Cabin by the Sea (& a Feature!)

I have a tendency to admire fabric from afar. I love to see the new collections announced and discussed by other bloggers. I even visit online shops and place favorite prints in my basket before deleting them since I figure our mortgage payment should probably take higher priority than my hobby. But every now and then I watch and wait and finally decide that I just have to own a piece of the magic. So last month I decided to spring for a grab bag of Heather Ross's beautiful Mendocino line.

It lives up to the hype, I must say. The colors are vibrant, and the feel of the fabric is so soft and lovely. Since I only had a small amount, I decided to make a wall hanging for the girls' room...a simple, slightly off-center log cabin made out of 2 1/2 inch strips with a scrap of fabric at the center. I backed the quilt in a grey solid and bound it in a teal print from Denyse Schmidt's Daisy Mae collection.

I'm so happy with the way this turned out, and my daughters are delighted. In fact, when I showed the finished quilt top to Bunny, she gasped and then said, "Can I hug it?"

As for the excitement that I mentioned yesterday, my Abacus Baby Quilt is the featured tutorial today at Sew Can She. If you haven't visited this website yet, you will definitely want to drop by. Caroline collects sewing tutorials from around the web and emails subscribers with a link to a new project every day. There are some fantastic tutorials out there!

Linking up to WIP Wednesday.