Wordless Wednesday

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

I hope you have a blessed holiday!

Brown Bear Bag

Look at the cute bag Jenni made from the Brown Bear, Brown Bear panel leftovers!

After I made the throw pillow (pictured in an earlier post), I was left with some usable scraps. Usable indeed! Jenni put on her thinking cap and whipped up this awesome creation! I love the little button accents on the handles.

This bag is going to make a special little boy very happy! It already is full of Anamalz...beautiful organic maple wood toys!

Simple Enough

Yep, I'm a sucker for a new quilt pattern. An even bigger sucker when the pattern is super simple. Simple enough to make at my kitchen table, simple enough to make with a little boy playing nearby, simple enough that I don't have to rely on much brain power...you get the idea.

I saw this pattern when I was browsing through some of my favorite on-line quilt stores this afternoon. I can imagine this quilt made with a variety of different fabrics. Lots of ideas pop in my mommy-drained brain! I've been wanting to try working with some Asian-inspired fabrics, and this quilt pattern just might be an option for me.

I have looked at lots of Asian-inspired fabrics lately, but I'm not convinced what to buy. I'm not sure I like the typical red and black fabrics. They look very traditional and lovely, but it's not what I envision for my house. I did see some muted golds, blues and tans that were beautiful too. I'm just not sure (those who know me best won't be surprised to hear me say that)! I'll be *forced* to look at more fabric until I find what I'm looking for! Any ideas? Send them my way!

Wordless Wednesday (...again)

Wordless Wednesday

Finished Friday

Here's a glimpse at some of my Brown Bear, Brown Bear items!

The throw pillow was made out of a panel from the Brown Bear, Brown Bear collection. Jenni longarmed whimsical loops all over the panel. Then, I whipped up a pillow cover once she was finished! The finished pillow is 24 inches square. I think it turned out adorable! The pillow adds a finishing touch to the twin bedding set since it features every animal in the popular Eric Carle book and the "What do you see?" saying.

The quilt itself is made up of "Tiny Turning Twenty" blocks and solid squares of the animals! It is a twin-sized quilt. (Although I didn't take a picture of the entire quilt...the inner border is the red tonal animals and the outer border is the large animals on white fabric. Maybe I can take a better picture at a later date!)

Jenni longarmed loops throughout the quilt. Then she longarmed words such as ribbet, quack, bark, brown bear, I love you, etc. for a personal touch!

You see, this quilt is for an *extra special* little someone! I'm sure he will love it! (It already has Nick's *seal of approval*!)

9-Patch Progress

Yesterday I took out my beloved Patisserie charm packs and started making some 9-patch blocks for a quilt top.

This fabric is so soft and pretty...I adore it! I'm not much of a "pink person", but I couldn't help myself with this fabric collection. An added bonus of this collection is the French countryside map pieces!

I'm working on a variation of a quilt pattern called "Dressed to the Nines" that was featured in an American Patchwork & Quilting magazine (October 2007, Issue 88). Kelly Alford, the designer of the pattern, has a simple philosophy on quilting and design.

~ Trust yourself. If is looks good to you, it is good.

Wordless Wednesday

Finished Friday

Here's an example of Jenni's fantastic longarming. Impressive!

This finished quilt is my "Peace on Earth" quilt using... Moda's Peace on Earth fabric! It's one of my favorite Moda collections of all time. I adore antique maps, and this collection uses gorgeous colors in the map pieces.

Contact Jenni at Taloulabelle's email address for pricing information for this particular design. Christmas is just around the corner, so contact her soon!

taloulabellesdesignco@yahoo.com

Maybe too close and too real...

This is my little guy's first official photograph, of who else? Me.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I hate. I mean HATE, LOATHE, DESPISE all pictures of myself. I really hate having my picture taken. (I sometimes even run from the camera.) My eyes are usually closed. I can always find a flaw. I think my head is extra large and round. And, don't get me started on the wrinkles. The sun damage. The realness of it all.

Well, Nicholas got very close to me and said..."Smile Mommy!" I think he captured me looking very everyday, very regular, very real. I, as usual, don't like the picture of myself, but I do like how he captured how I looked at him. I can see past some of the things I hate about my looks and see love in my eyes. That I like.

.

I guess imperfections are a part of life, right? It's kind of like how I always want every seam to match and be perfect on my quilt tops. And, I usually have at least one seam that is off a little bit. It's a good reminder for me that life isn't perfect.

I'm lucky, my family loves my imperfect quilts and the imperfect me. How perfectly wonderful.

Ms. Butler if you're crafty...

Speaking of Amy Butler, Amy has released a new fabric range called LOVE! Here is what Amy has to say about Love...

"I couldn't be more excited about LOVE! My newest fabric collection for Rowan has me reeling. I've gone over-the-top with prints and color to make a luscious and yet "bite-sized" collection of 26 quilting/fashion weight fabrics and 12 Home Dec weight fabrics. A marriage by design coming from a love affair of rich, soulful, organic florals and architectural prints passionately inspired by my recent trips to Indonesia and England. Rich tropical colors with ethnic imprints, and elegance found in over the top florals like full roses and exploding peony blossoms join together in an optimistic celebration of print and color."

So pretty!

Wordless Wednesday

OttLite® Review...it's a shining star!!!

I just love this little gem of a light! The OttLite® is amazing!

I have had a love affair with this light when I am binding a quilt late a night! I really don't know what I did without it. (Other than pull the table lamp close to me and tilt the lamp shade for more light to see what I am sewing.) I read some other reviews on this lamp, but I haven't experienced any problems with my lamp. Other reviews mentioned that the lamp doesn't stay in position once it's been adjusted. Some reviewers mentioned that it wasn't "sturdy". I wouldn't recommend lugging it all over the place, but I don't think of it as fragile by any means. I'm thrilled with my lamp!

Not only is this a great lamp, but it's affordable too. Wouldn't this be the perfect gift for the quilter, artist, jewelry maker, seamstress, or crafter in your family or circle of friends?

http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp;jsessionid=ZUGYN4VITHOLEP4SY5DVAFJ50LD3OUPU?CATID=cat3247&PRODID=xprd326491

Details~

Match paper colors, fabrics, trims and embellishments accurately and easily with the OttLite® Folding Craft Lamp. The multi-position head, with rotating shade and articulating shaft adjusts to direct the low heat, low glare, natural OttLite® illumination. See details with ease and enjoy reduced eyestrain under this cool, soothing light.

Space saving design fits anywhere and folds down when not in use

Includes energy efficient 13wHD tube and rated to last up to 10,000 hours

Won't distort the actual color of trim and embellishments

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday Jenni!

You deserve the very best on your birthday! Live it up, girl!

Did you make a birthday wish???

It would seam to be....ADORABLE!

Isn't this pin cushion just so cute, cute, cute?

I'm fascinated with pin cushions lately. No reason why...I just like them. A lot.

Le Creuset Heritage Oval Cocotte, 4-Qt. | Williams-Sonoma ~ I MUST HAVE ONE!

Le Creuset Heritage Oval Cocotte, 4-Qt. Williams-Sonoma

Shared via AddThis

Another SALE shout-out! No... not fabric, a pattern, or anything related to sewing or quilting. But, I must have one!

It seems like a great price! (My husband wouldn't notice this little charge on the Discover Card, would he?)

Sale Shout-Out!

I love Hancock's of Paducah's web sales! Love, love, love the bargains!

Head on over and check out the great deals on pre-cuts...Moda Honey Buns, Charm Packs, and more! (I've got my eye on the Glace Charm Packs...so pretty! I can't resist the 3 Sisters collections.)

http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/ItemList--Pre-Cut-Web-Sale--m-748

Sewing Spaces

I'm so longing for my *own space* to sew and create. For now, it's my kitchen table.

Someday, I hope to have my own room devoted to all of my sewing and quilting!

For now, the kitchen table seems to work great for me. I can be a part of the family's activities while I sew. I can keep an eye on dinner in the oven, and watch the snow falling from my kitchen window. (Yes, we've had a little snow already!!!)

Now, if I just had Jenni's awesome sewing space...THAT would be heaven!

I'm in LOVE!

Look at this new collection... Rouenneries Prints by French General for Moda!

It is LOVE at first sight!

I can't wait to get my hands on a bundle of this fabric!

A little inspiration...

Lately I haven't been feeling very creative...for whatever reason. But, a certain blog always gives me a little boost in the creativity department. The very talented and inspiring lady at Lovely Design has the most interesting projects going on in her corner of the world.

You have to check out her blog!

http://www.lovelydesign.blogspot.com/

While visiting her blog recently, I was struck by her amazing little paper tags. Such a sweet and simple little project! I can imagine these tags on all sorts of packages, gifts, jars, bundles of fabric, etc. Put a pretty little tag on a special bottle of bubble bath or lotion, and you won't even need to gift wrap it!

http://lovelydesign.blogspot.com/2009/08/making-tags.html

I tried making some tags today, just for fun. Here are the results...

Still here!

Hello! Remember us? We're still here!

It's been such a busy summer...where does time go? I recently got back from a lovely vacation in South Dakota. We did the typical tourist things...Mt. Rushmore, camping, Rushmore Caves, Storybook Island, and more! Oh, and I did get to stop at a charming quilt store, the Thimble Cottage, just for me! It was an entire building chock full of quilting goodies!

If you are ever in the Rapid City, SD area, stop here! The staff was super friendly and the store was unique and full of great quilt samples, fabric and more!

http://www.thimblecottage.com/

Happy Camper!

American Jane's Happy Campers for Moda is such a great new fabric collection! The collection is wonderfully nostalgic with fun plaids, florals, and picnic scenes. Little boys and girls, puppies, campers, tents, fishing poles, and the great outdoors...I love it! Yes, I'm crushing on this new line of fabric!


I think my favorite is the Camp Basic fabric with the alphabet running between two different patterns. I can't wait to buy some of this fabric for myself!

Always...

Do you have some things you always do as a quilter?



I started thinking about this and started a list of things that I always seem to do.



Here goes...



1. Always use high-quality quilting fabrics for your quilting projects.



My favorite fabric brand is Moda, but there are many to choose from! Maybe too many...fabricholics you know who you are! :o)



2. Always read and understand the directions for a quilting project before starting it.



This is good advice, even for the expert quilter!



3. Always close the blade of your rotary cutter after each cut.



A rotary blade is so sharp and dangerous. Since I am a mother of a young boy, I also never use my rotary cutter in his presence and store it away from his little fingers in a very safe spot.



4. With every new project, always replace the needle in your sewing machine.


Don't sew with a dull needle!




What would be on your list?

Paris Street Market

The Paris Street Market on the 4th of July was awesome! The crowd was huge, parking was scarce, but the vendors were prepared! This was my first time at this particular market, and I wasn't disappointed. I ended up going by myself, but I didn't mind. I do my best shopping when I'm by myself.

I saw several things I wanted to buy. I especially liked the antique scales. Although they were unique, they weren't quite what I had envisioned finding for myself. I really, really, truly want an antique candy scale like the one my mother owned. As a little girl, I can remember her filling the scale with old-fashioned ribbon candy at Christmas. (With a house full of 6 kids and several grandchildren, I'm sure the candy didn't last long!) I am hoping to find a scale that is close to the one I remember my mother having. My sisters better watch out, I know they each have one! I could bring an extra suitcase next time I visit...

Independence Day

Happy 4th of July (a wee bit early)!




Today I am busy with preparations for our little 4th of July celebration...I'm making potato salad, preparing frozen treats, and putting together a few red, white & blue decorations. Of course, there will be sparklers and fun activities planned too!




Have a wonderful holiday weekend! I hope it is filled with fireworks, the company of good friends, and lots of fun!

New Book Alert!!!

I am such a huge fan of Melly & Me.

This is the most exciting news in the sewing world today!

The book Kaleidescope is now available!!!

Are you looking for unique patterns for children? THIS is the book for you! Kids will treasure these creations and beg you to make more!

The book is available at http://www.fatquartershop.com/. Not only do they have a great selection of other items, but great customer service and quite possibly the fastest shipping on the web.

http://www.fatquartershop.com/store/stores_app/Browse_Item_Details.asp?sid=1040711726431040&Store_id=499&page_id=23&Item_ID=32692&Parent_Ids=

The 4th of July just got a little sweeter...

Yes, the 4th of July is an American tradition...but there is a Paris Street Market to go to! It is being held at Aspen Grove Shopping Market in Littleton, CO this Saturday! I can't wait!

A Paris Street Market is an outdoor, open-air market in the true Parisian flea market style. There will be antiques, architectural pieces, primitives, unusual artifacts, eclectic home and garden accessories, retro collectibles, vintage clothing, jewelry, fresh and dried flowers, French bread, fresh pastries, delicious coffee and more!! Over 120 exhibitors from throughout the Rocky Mountain region will be offering very cool stuff.


Now if my 3 sisters could go with me, the day would be perfect!

Retail Therapy

Everyone knows I love to shop. To me it's retail therapy...I get a rush when I find the perfect item. I love the hunt of shopping and the whole process, really. All of my to-do lists have some sort of task that involves shopping. Buying groceries, shopping for a gift, adding something to our home, buying plants for around the home, you get the idea. Maybe it's just what women do? (Although I know some women who hate, even loathe, shopping for anything. *GASP*, right???) Maybe it's in my genetic makeup to be a shopper. Who knows! All I know is that I was born to shop. And, if I find a bargain, my day is complete!

On that note, I must say I love shopping for beautiful fabrics. I like to shop on-line and in stores. Sometimes I find the very best deals on-line. Other times, I like to look at fabric in person and make my selections in quilt stores. However, the level of customer service and selection can vary from store to store. I frequent 3 quilt stores in my area and they all seem to have their own personality.

One store, Golden Quilt Co., has a great selection of batiks and bright fabrics. There is a sprinkling of Moda collections, reproductions, and novelty prints too. The store is small, but well-organized, interesting to look at, and carries a great selection of notions and patterns. But, when I go there I feel like I don't exist. I am like the invisible shopper, only being helped when I beckon them to the cutting table. They never ask what I am making or how else they could help me. Is this kind of customer service wrong? Am I expecting too much? Is that giving me space to look and make my own decisions? Do I just not look like a "quilter" and I don't deserve their attention? All I know is that it makes me feel like I entered someones home without being invited and I don't like it. Which, by the way, makes me feel a little sad because it is a great little shop. So, this store is not the first stop for my fabric needs.

Another store I shop at, Fabric Expressions, is in Littleton, CO and the selection is wonderful! They carry a large selection of Moda Collections, charm packs, and jelly rolls. They also carry batiks, reproduction fabrics, novelty prints, flannels, homespuns, and just about anything else you are looking for. There are store samples neatly hung all around the store. (However they are sometimes just quilt tops, not finished quilts.) You can find lots of notions and patterns. This store has a personality all it's own too. It's quiet. You feel like you are in a library at times, looking for just the right book, I mean bolt of fabric. But...the staff knows me by name and are almost always friendly and helpful. I like this store. I really like it. I just wished it oozed a little bit more personality or life. Maybe a little music or better conversation? I can't put my finger on it...

Another store in my area is Holly's Quilt Cabin. Now this store is a bit of a drive for me. It's in Centennial, CO. But, without fail they always, I mean always, have new stuff to look at and ways to feed my need for retail therapy. New quilt samples, new fabric, new patterns, new kits, new notions, oh my! When they buy a fabric collection, they buy almost the entire collection, not just a few bolts. They have regular sales and offer 20% off the end of the bolt every day, not just on select days of the month. THIS store has a pulse. The staff is chatty and fun to talk to. My 4 year old will tolerate this store because they have a huge jar of candy at the register. I love everything about this store....BUT ONE THING. They rip fabric. They don't use rotary cutters to make neat and precise cuts. So, sometimes I tend to buy an extra quarter yard "just in case". I cringe at the thought of snipping the beautiful fabric and then ripping away! But, the selection and the staff courtesy is worth the drive for me.

With all of that said...what makes the perfect quilt store? Is it the selection? The staff? The location? WHAT is it? I guess I will have to continue finding new quilt stores to shop at to determine the answer... and I'm not a bit disappointed!

Feeling Grateful...

Just jotting down a few things that I'm grateful for today...


1. My husband and son. They tell me they love me every day.



2. My 3 sisters...I think won the "Sister Lottery". They are simply the best. Each one of my sisters has a unique way of making me feel special and loved.




3. Patience. It's not always easy, but good things are worth waiting for. God has a plan for me, and patience is helping me realize the power He has in my life.



4. The kindness of strangers. Lately I have met a lot of people that seem genuinely kind and helpful.



5. The quiet time at the end of the day...spent reading or relaxing. I look forward to that time every night.


What are you grateful for?

Jelly Rolls

Who can resist the perfectly packaged fabric confection, the JELLY ROLL?

40 perfectly cut 2.5" x 44" inch strips...

Perfectly wonderful...

Perfectly packaged...

Perfectly coordinated...

I am completely under the Jelly Roll spell...

I just need some new ideas for what to make with them!!! I have made various quilts with jelly rolls and that's about it. I'm not really the type of gal to make a fabric bag. I don't know, it's just not me. I just need some new inspiration, some fresh new ideas.

My Sweet Find

Look at my sweet find!

I've been wanting this beehive cake pan for a very long time....and today I went to Williams Sonoma and bought it!



I was busy as a bee this morning while my little guy was at summer camp. Shopping, running errands, etc. When I have a morning to myself I try to make every minute count. (Retail therapy counts, right? Oh, good!)



Now I should get busy making a quilt with my "Bees Knees" fabric by Maywood Studios!
The vintage 1940's look of florals, stripes, and geometrics is so fresh and fun! I just need to decide on the perfect pattern. I really adore the entire collection, but especially the pieces with the daisies and bumblebees.