Friday Recap

 

I was thinking about my blog today and just how poorly neglected she is.  In the very beginning, back in 2009, I blogged every day.  I don't know what I was thinking because I knew that it would be hard  to sustain.  With the rise of Instagram, blogging seems to be becoming less and less of a thing. Why take the time to blog when you can instantly show things and talk to friends on your phone?  Today I am longing for those simpler times and I thought I would set a goal of blogging on Fridays to show some of the things that I've been working on during the week, or things I may have shown on IG.

The first two photos are skeins of yarn dyed be me.  I have been interested in trying this for quite some time.  I now truly appreciate all the indie dyers I purchase yarn from.  It is not as easy as it looks.  I do love the process and surprise of how the finished skein looks.  I have a couple of blocks of the month I'm working on.  These are from Fig Tree Quilts Nantucket Mystery Quilt.  It's so fun to get a little bundle of fabric and pattern to make blocks each month.  I've been knitting up a storm.  I loved making this ombre' shawl.  The pattern is the Everyday Shawl by Jenny Faifel.  I think it would be fun knit up in yarn left over from other projects.

Recently I purchased these tulips from my local market.  It may be cold and grey outside, but inside my $7 tulips remind me that spring is really coming...right?  Have a wonderful weekend!
 

Cotton Cuts

I had the wonderful opportunity of working with a company called Cotton Cuts.  As a member you receive monthly a variety of fabrics chosen specifically for you.  You answer a few questions and they surprise you with a custom created bundle.  You receive either 12 fat quarters or 20 fat eighths, your choice.  You can change your fabric preferences at any time.  You get to choose a pattern from their designer of the month and you also get two collectible block of the month pattern cards.  Each box has something extra as a thank you.  Doesn't this sound wonderful?  It is!

In addition, Cotton Cuts is on a mission to create jobs and have partnered with a local workshop that provides dignified employment opportunities to the intellectually challenged and to those with other disabilities.

I created a quilt with eight of the fabrics they sent me.  I paired it with "Weewander", by Sarahjane Studios, in "With the Birds".  What I love about these fabrics is that some of them are ones I would not have chosen on my own but, after receiving them, absolutely love.  This allows me to play with fabric and look at texture and pattern in a different way.  It was so fun!  I used the "Baby Blocks" pattern from the book, "Sweet Celebrations" compiled by Lissa Alexander.  The quilt measures 37.5 x 44.5.  It is quilted with soft wavy lines in pink on the front and white on the back.

Because Cotton Cuts was kind enough to send me a box to try, I am going to pay it forward and give this quilt to one of you!  I am having a giveaway on Instagram (IG name is sewnwithgrace)  and all you need to do to enter is visit me there and leave a comment on the post.  I will choose a winner by random number generator on Wednesday, December 7. 

Sweetness

It's hard to believe that we are in our last week of October.  Before I know it, I'll be thinking about Thanksgiving and all the things I hope to make for Christmas.  Today it's rainy and cold and I have a fire going and a pumpkin spice candle lit.  There is butter on the counter, softening, for cookie making and I'm about to bind a quilt.  This is one of my favorite kind of days.

I finished a quilt last week and delivered it to a sweet girl who graduated from high school this past spring.  The colors of the quilt just speak to me.  As I prepared to take photos of the quilt I realized that the colors speak for most of what I'm making right now.   I love the backing fabric on the quilt.  It is Kaffe Fasset's Button Flowers.  The colors really tie in well with all the sixteen patch blocks.   Currently I am knitting a mystery shawl by Stephen West #westknitskal2016 where instructions come by email weekly.  The pattern can be found on Ravelry.  It's really fun to knit and I like the colors I chose.  Cream sprinkles, pink, aqua and lavender look like a birthday party to me.

The Fatquartershop had their First Blush quilt along and they recently sent the book to me.  It's a lovely book and an equally lovely quilt.  The First Blush fabric is so pretty.  The fabric is due out any day now if you'd like to make the quilt.

Time to get baking!  Have a wonderful day!

October Colors

 

Happy October!  We have just entered one of my most favorite months.  I've started adding fall touches to the house and have been creating fall themed projects in my sewing room.  Last week I hit Trader Joe's for all things pumpkin spice.  I highly recommend the pumpkin waffles and pumpkin seed brittle.  It seems as soon as the first day of fall registered on the calendar, the days got extremely shorter, the trees burst into their party colors and the temps got cooler.  Autumn appeared right on schedule.  I hope it lasts longer than usual and just when we think it's dipping into the frosty night, Indian Summer jumps out in all it's glory!

The Jolly Bar Book Vol. 1 & Blog Hop

Today I am part of a blog hop hosted by the Fatquarter Shop to show you their fun new book, The Jolly Bar Book Vol. 1. " A Jolly Bar is a precut bundle of fabric with forty-two  5" x 10" fabric cuts (bars) and is a Fatquarter Shop exclusive precut.  This is a great and affordable way to try out a line of fabric and using their new book, you can whip up a quick quilt in no time. 

I decided to make two quilts using "Daysail" by Bonnie & Camille for Moda (left) and "Sundrops" by Cory Yoder for Moda (right). 

The pattern I used with the gorgeous Sundrops fabric is "Picket Fences Quilt".  What a fun and easy pattern to stitch up.  This quilt measures 45.5" x 56.5"  I love the circular swirls the quilter used on both quilts.

The second quilt I made using "Daysail" and the "Seas the Day Quilt" pattern.  This was equally as fun to make.  I used a soft blue chambray for the background.  This quilt measures "38.5" x 45.5"  Both quilts are good lap and/or baby size and can be easily made larger with the addition of another Jolly Bar.

Head on over to the Fatquarter Shop and grab a book and Jolly Bar and join the fun!  To see more lovely Jolly Bar quilts visit these bloggers below:

Melissa from Happy Quilting

Tina from Emily Ann's Kloset

Amanda from Jedi Craft Girl

Connie from Free Motion by the River

Afton from Quilting Mod

Pam from Pam Kitty Morning

Heidi from Buttons and Butterflies

Remona from The Stitching Scientist

Andy from A Bright Corner

Angie from Gnome Angel

Summers End

Summers end is not only marked by the shortening of days but also by the kids heading back to their lives.  One to her senior year of nursing school and the other to his internship out west.  The desire to knit becomes greater as soon there will be a nip in the air.  I spot color in trees and also in the garden. I had some company when I was weeding the other day and I sat down on the stoop and watched this frog for awhile, mesmerized by the suction pads and the colors.  While the days are still hot, the nights are cooler, a breeze filling the air.  Change is on the horizon bringing one of my favorite seasons, autumn.

High Tea Party! Blog Tour 18 Designers, 18 Days

Today I am very excited to be a part of the High Tea Blog and Instagram tour!  This beautiful line of fabric by Jera Brandvig of Quilting in the Rain for Lecien Fabrics is just stunning.  I used the pattern, "A Cuppa" by Brenda Riddle of Little Acorn Quilt & Gift Company.  I must say, this is one of my most favorite quilts to date.  The combination of Jera's fabric with Brenda's pattern is a wonderful pairing.  My favorite print in the line is the strawberry fabric in the blue which I used on the border as well as in the quilt.  This line is dreamy and you'll want to get some before it becomes hard to find! Jera has a wonderful quilt as you go book which can be found here.  My love affair with Lecien goes way back and they continually create gorgeous fabrics for our enjoyment.   A shout out to the wonderful quilting by Rhonda Loy of Quality Quilting.  Please see the schedule above for more wonderful creations with this beautiful line!

Holiday Wishes Blog Hop

It is my turn on the Fatquarter Shops month-long celebration of Holiday Wishes, a beautiful new book by Sherri Falls.  The book showcases twelve Christmas projects that can be adapted to other holidays based on the fabrics you choose.  I chose to make the Midnight Clear quilt which is featured on the cover.

I couldn't pass up an opportunity to showcase the beautiful Flower Sugar Holiday fabric line by Lecien.  The combination of greens, aqua and red give this quilt a playful and non-traditional Christmas vibe.  I love the backing fabric complete with roses and poinsettia. The quilting is fun Christmas cookie shapes, perfect for this fabric.

Be sure to head on over to the Fatquarter Shops blog, the Jolly Jabber, to check out the other bloggers and their creations.