Sunday, October 26, 2014
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Busy Hands
It is a cold and windy fall day today. The high is expected to be 48 degrees. It's a good day to stay inside and I would if I had any food in the fridge. This time of year the weather fluctuates between warm and cold, sun and rain on a daily if not hourly basis. I ventured out yesterday to Pink Castle Fabrics to pick up a book I had ordered. Of course I came home with this pretty bundle of fabric. I may leave them on the pink pedestal for awhile because for me, they are a yummy treat! I took a break in my custom quilting orders to make the sweet patchwork quilt from a Tiffany bundle I had purchased this summer at Pink Castle. I really love it. One of my favorite things about it is that black and white polka dot fabric. It just really makes everything pop! In the evenings I've knit up a little hat for a new little cutie that was just born. A bit of thrifting led me to this vintage child's dish rack and pretty transfers. With the blooming of my Christmas cactus I'm reminded of the season that is upon us. Time to start dreaming of gift making. Have a blessed day!
xoxo,
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Quilty Fun Turns One!
Yesterday when I went to one of my favorite blogs, I saw that there was a birthday celebration going on. Lori Holt of Bee In My Bonnet was celebrating the one year birthday of her fabulous book, "Quilty Fun". To celebrate Lori designed the cake block, in the first photo, and has offered it free to her readers on her blog. I could not go to sleep last night until I tried making it. Without a doubt, Lori is one of my favorite designers. Her patterns are fun, easy to understand and easy to make. I have been sewing up her patterns for a long time. I made the cake quilt for my friend Nancy who opened a restaurant/bakery a couple of years ago. The quilt hangs in the restaurant and I'm always trying to figure out a way to sneak it out the door. I made Lori's cover quilt as part of a quilt along before her book was released. It hangs in my kitchen eating area and people often comment on it and go up to touch and study it when they are here. Lori's scrappy crossroad blocks are currently on my design wall. I am making a king size quilt for my bed. I am in love with the colors and pattern and I'm taking my time to carefully put this together for I know it's going to be a treasured heirloom. The last photo is a fun quilt from another quilt along of Lori's. Not only is it a yarn basket but also will pass as an Easter basket quilt. I had so much fun making this and it's currently on it's way to the long-arm quilter.
There are many more patterns by Lori that are waiting to be made. I encourage you to visit her etsy shop (click on "Quilty Fun" above) and check out all the fun patterns. Don't be intimidated. What looks complicated is really not complicated at all. Lori has a very clear way of presenting a pattern and breaking it down to very manageable and understandable parts. You will have so much fun sewing these patterns! As the pattern comes together I often think, how did Lori do this? It was so easy! Lori has produced the most gorgeous fabric lines for Riley Blake so head over to the Fat Quarter Shop site to check them out. My current crush is Flower Patch.
Thank you, Lori, for sharing your talents and creativity with us. You have inspired me and made me a better quilter. I cannot wait to make more of your quilts! A very happy first birthday to "Quilty Fun"!!
Smiles,
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Home Again
My life has been a series of short trips in the past few weeks. I've been to a lovely cottage on Lake Michigan to visit with dear sister-friends, westbound to Chicago by train to celebrate the birthday of my creatively fun friend and back to my former city for the wedding of a special girl. Lots of fun and special times that have had me laughing and crying. The one downside was that the birthday girl and I got a bit of food poisoning and I'm currently trying to shake a bug I picked up somewhere, but I'm not complaining.
The weather has turned brisk and the colors are amazing here in Michigan. I've had a chance to see a lot of the countryside while on my trips and I can only imagine the fun the Lord had painting the fall season. Autumn is a crowning jewel that fills us up before the winter takes hold. I wish it wouldn't end.
I have worn myself out good. My quilting to do list is super long and overwhelming. In the middle of trying to prioritize and figure out a plan, I dropped everything to make a Modern Maples Quilt that I've seen popping up on Instagram. My fall is colored with leaves of pink, grey, blue, brown and cream with some slight touches of a mellow orange. I need to fill my creative void before I get back to completing quilts for others. In the evenings I knit and I am working on a cowl using the yarn I purchased from Gnome Acres. It's called "Grandma's Kitchen" and is oh so pretty and soft. I'm using an elongated seed stitch and will finish it with button holes and wooden pumpkin buttons.
I hope this finds you well and settling into fall and routine after the summer. My kids are back in college and the house is way to quiet and the kids rooms are way too clean. Hug your babies tight, they grow up literally over night. Blessings!
Xoxo,
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