::Starting Up Again::

I am a slow mover in general, but coming back from vacation I am an even slower mover (if that is possible). ;0p  I just get used to the easier pace of vacation, and there is so much to do when you come back...I don't want to face it!  Luckily, my husband is a much more motivated person than myself, and even vacuumed our crumb ridden van as soon as he unpacked it.  

The above picture is my favorite from the past week.  They were all playing doggie together.  Although, I don't know if Josiah realizes that is the game he is playing.  He just likes that the girls crawl around with him.  This little man is still not walking!  He absolutely refuses to.  If I hold his hands he lifts his feet off the ground so that I can't make him.  Stinker.  I really think he just likes me carrying him around and people fetching things for him.  

I did come back to this completely indulgent package of fabric.  This is Heirloom by Joel Dewberry.  I wasn't crazy about this line like I was about Modern Meadow when I first saw it, but I fell for this colorway.  It is so pretty and reminds me of citrus.  I am going back and forth between making this a Swoon Quilt or a Sparkling Cider- (I have always loved Amanda's version of this pattern.)

I also made myself a little ironing board table last night.  I found this idea on Oh Fransson, and it has been on my very, very long list of things to do.  However, with all the quilt block making I have been doing over the past month, it got bumped up the list.  Why did I wait so long?!  This is such an easy project that doesn't take more than fifteen minutes (as long as your staple gun doesn't jam, and you have to run to the store and buy a new one.) I can't tell you how excited I am about this little table.  No more jumping up and down every two minutes!  Let the laziness begin!

Piles of Fabric and a New Iron!

So I joined in this round of the Doll Quilt Swap for the first time!  I have watched many rounds go by, and even though I love swaps through Flickr this one has always intimidated me.  There are so many fabulous little quilts that come from this swap.  It just felt like too much pressure!  However, this round they are changing it up a little. The quilts in this round are supposed to be a real "doll quilt", so a mini of what a big quilt would look like.  It sounded fun, so I put my name in the lottery!  I got my partner, and I have been stalking and thinking.  I came up with this combo (I might add a couple others to this.), which I hope she likes!

The husband and I got away a bit this weekend alone for the first time in almost two years!  It was so nice.  He even let me stop into a fabric store.  Fabric Town USA...sounds so...glamorous, right?  There was lots of fun eclectic stuff, and the staff was really fun as well.  I started going through the clearance rack and found some Katie Jump Rope for only $5.99 a yard!  I am thinking these will make great fall pillows.

I also got a new iron!  So exciting...I know.  My old iron was almost seven years old, and it just wasn't cutting it anymore.  This one has been heavenly so far.  I remembered reading this review a couple of years ago at Pink Chalk.  The price was right, so I went for it.  Looking good so far!  I forgot what it felt like to use an iron that actually has steam!

Finish It Up- Week Four

Can you believe it?  We are about half way done with this challenge!  Thank you to all who have joined!  I know I would have lost motivation very quickly, if I didn't have to report back to you all!  Sadly, I don't have any finishes this week.  I did get my nine patch quilt basted last night, so I am ready to start quilting.  This is my oldest unfinished project, and I am pumped to finally finish this off!  I am also working on getting my Fussy Cut Bee Blocks sashed.  Hopefully, I will have something pretty to show you next week!

1. Ruffle Clutch- Finished!
2. Inset Clutch- Finished!
3. Coaster Set- Finished!
4. Maxi Dress- Finished!
5. Sienna Dress
6. Swoon Mini Quilt- Finished!
7. Modern Meadow Quilt- Quilt Top Done! Waiting to go to the long arm quilter.
8. 9 Patch Quilt- Basted!
9. Pinwheel Blocks
10. Fussy Cut Bee Blocks- Top in Progress!
11. PJ Bottoms- Scrapped!
12. Men's Shirt

So how about a little Christmas in July picture instead?  My ruffle clutch was featured in Pink Chalk Fabrics newsletter.  If Kathy decides to feature your project, she sends you a $20 gift certificate to her shop!  Isn't that nice?!  So I picked out these two charm packs to make some Christmas pillows and maybe a table runner later in the fall.

So, this week I am offering a little giveaway!  Two patterns!

This sweet little dog pincushion pattern...

and this fun satchel pattern!

To Enter: 

(I will give you three different ways to enter, feel free to do one or all of them!)

1. Let me know if you finished a project this week.  What was it?

2. Become a follower or let me know if you already are.

3. Link up to the linky party with your Finish It Up! projects.

I will leave this giveaway open through Thursday, July 21st. Don't forget to also give me your e-mail, if it isn't linked to your profile!

So did you finish anything this week?  Lets see those projects!

Giveaway is now closed!

Jam Packed

This month has just been so busy.  Spring break is upon us.  Yay!  With two birthdays, Holy Week, and Easter all happening within the next seven days though, I don't sense too much of a slow down.  

Yesterday I did pick up some of these fun rainbow fabrics.  Does anyone else have kids so completely obsessed with rainbows?  My oldest started it, but now both girls color everything rainbow style.  Even their teachers have commented on their enthusiastic rainbow coloring.  They both wear any sort of colorful clothing to pieces.  They yelp with delight if they see any product that is arranged in a rainbow succession, and I can't tell you how often I have heard the colors of the rainbow song sung to me.

I haven't really had the chance to touch the sewing machine, but I have been working on a little bit of cross stitch to go with those fun rainbow fabrics.

WIPs and Working With The Stash

Hello all!  There is something about January that inspires me to start organizing.  Maybe it is all the Christmas presents that you have to now find a place for.  I have been going through the house like crazy.  We have organized our entire garage, shed, I am almost done with our master bedroom, and the crafty stuff is in much better order.  This picture up here is all my crafty works in progess (minus the embroidery and crochet).  There are three quilt tops, my Fussy Cut Bee blocks, one cut out clutch, and some pajama bottoms cut out.  The quilt top on the bottom has been completed since June 2009!  Eep!  Angela was talking about WIPs and getting back to doing one project at a time, and I sooo want to get back to that place.  I don't mind having two projects going on at a time, but I have all of these plus three different swaps.  (What can I say, I love swapping. ;0) )  So, here I am pledging not to start another project until these are complete!  I have also taken this Angela's Fabric Diet Pledge!  I honestly have just too much fabric.  I have enough fabric for more than a year's worth of projects, probably two years. ;0)  I have been a good girl so far, but I know it is going to get really hard in a month or so.  So many pretty fabrics!  However, I am ready to pare down and use things up!   

What about you?!

Vacation

The Beach, which Juliana loves and Felicity pretends to love.

Felicity's most common picture face.

Josiah's first time experiencing weather under 80 degrees.

Hiking.

Even found an awesome fabric store!

2-8

Today I turned 28. This has probably been the best birthday loot I have ever received. Look at all these books! It looks like the bookstore came to me! I love how different they all are. I mean they all have to do with sewing and cooking, but different kinds of sewing and cooking. *grin* I have been put on partial bed rest this week. I have struggled with high blood pressure my past two pregnancies, and this one is unfortunately having similar problems. My family was so generous and took the girls this weekend, so I could rest. It looks like this little guy is going to be making an April appearance rather than a May appearance. Anyway, at least on the couch I have all this fabulous browsing!

Plus, the entire collection of Modern Meadow if fat quarters! I love it! I have plans for a quilt for our bed out of some of these. I have never gotten the entire of line of any collection. It feels so gloriously...indulgent.

Plus, some Hunky Dory! I just love how sweet these fabrics are.

My mom made me this diaper bag from Amy Butler's Sweet Harmony Tote pattern. I loved this pattern, but I really didn't want to make it myself. I love Amy's patterns, but they take so long sometimes with all the interfacing and cutting you need to do. It is so nice to have the bag I wanted with no work at all! Didn't it turn out great?

Juliana is the queen of birthdays. She loves them with a passion. She made me this bleu-ti-ful butterfly cake and was so proud. Plus, there is me in all my 38 weeks pregnant puffy face glory.

I had plans for a big birthday giveaway because I have some fabulous things collected here for that, but with all this pregnancy craziness I think it will wait until next month. Keep an eye out for it though because I have some really great patterns all ready to be given away to somebody.

Spring Ruffle Top

My last top for Spring Top Week. I was originally going to do Simplicity 3750 with this material, but as I was reading reviews for this pattern there seemed to be some complaints about the bust part being small. So my arm was twisted and I made Rae's fabulous Spring Ruffle Top. I like it! I shortened the strap by about an 1" but only because the fabric remnant of Amy Butler I was using was just a bit too short. I used Anna Maria Horner's Social Climber for the main part. I love this fabric. It is so pretty. I got it for an incredible deal at Fabric.com too. I think it was only $4.19 a yard! Crazy. I also took in the sides by about 3" as well for a better fit. I still need to make my Lotus cami, but I think it is going to wait until the summer, since...

I am going to be working on my first quilt! I am so excited. I have been reading, reading,reading, and I have finally gotten the guts to go try it. I bought some beautiful Neptune fabrics by Tula Pink. It is all washed and pressed and ready for cutting. I want to do something simple first so I am going to try Amy Butler's Brick Path pattern. I will let you know how it goes!


Also, some beautiful Flower Power by Jennifer Paganelli from Sew Love Fabrics. Total impulse buy. I am thinking skirts for the girls. It is just so pretty.

Last but not least, check of Philigry for a great giveaway of Amy Butler fabrics!

Lovely mail day...

I received more of these patterns for the
shop. Love this pattern and last time it sold out pretty quickly. I love the compactness and pockets on this one. Plus, you can use jelly rolls or scraps for it!

I also got some fun new fabrics from fabricsupplies.I am especially loving the bird fabric on the right. Isn't it sweet?