Hello again!

Well, this has been one heck of a year already. Thankfully there is a lot of time for a comeback :)

I turned 30 this past weekend. It was strange to say goodbye to the decade that made me a college grad, a wife, a mother x2, and brought me to call 3 very different states home. I got to start building my own life with the one I love and knowing myself better. I am looking forward to a somewhat calmer decade ahead of me, although I am sure it will still be crazy. I find myself in a pretty good place though, one where I recognize the importance of focusing on myself and I think that will be reflected in my crafting. I am aiming to work more on things that just make me happy and that I will be proud of, and I am pretty excited about that.

Believe it or not, I have been working on a quilt for a while now, it has just turned out to be a much more ambitious undertaking than I realized. I am making progress though and I think I am past the worst of it! Hopefully it will turn out as nice as it is in my head, and most importantly, will be soft and warm and snuggly (I will be trying out a fleece backing on this one and I am hoping it is awesome). I am also trying to decide whether to suck it up and knit my other fingerless mitt, which I hate making but love the product, or ignore it and start a sweater. Oh the hard decisions in life!

And because posts are sad without pictures, and because I am obviously never going to give these sweet gifts their own post, here is a dark picture of the stuffed animals I made my girlies for the holidays, because that's what you end up with when you snap a picture real quick just to have it before it is wrapped :) I think I like making stuffed animals up until the point where I have to stuff and close them up and add details, so I guess I like making animal skins? weird. and creepy.  Both are purl bee patterns, the cat is a free one, the dog is not, both are adorable. I should really try to steal them away for a photo shoot, but I know myself and it is pretty unlikely I will actually get around to it.

Let's hope that I can get back in this space a bit more now!

this and that

Do you remember how I said when I felt overwhelmed, it seemed like a good idea to start a new quilt? Because apparently that is actually a thing I do. I thought at the time that it was kind of a one-off thing, like maybe just then because I had been waiting to make that particular quilt or something. But no, I've done it again. Unfortunately, this will not be nearly as quick as the last time, so I may be putting myself in for yet another long term project. I just got this block in my head the other night and could.not.get.it.out. So I started sketching and thinking and working out the math and in the morning sewing and ripping and drawing and playing until I had just what I wanted. And I'll tell you, I love it. But they take forever and being the crazy person I am, I really want a pretty big quilt of them. They finish at 6" so it is going to take quite a few of them and this represents all of them that I got made this weekend. So, there's that. On the plus side, it should be a mighty good scrap buster, which I need right now :)

In other news, I am stitching away at my kawaii winter sampler from the frosted pumpkin stitchery. I got it years ago and even got all the materials and everything and it has just been sitting and waiting. Finally as part of my cleaning out all the things, I pulled it out. It is the last thing standing between me and sweater making, so I am pretty determined and have been spending all the time I can working at it. It takes longer than I'd like and I don't think I love cross stitch, but I do absolutely love the way it is coming together and I am very much looking forward to having this one to hang up this winter. Even if I am actually driving myself a little crazy with it right now.  The top left corner looks a little wonky, but I promise it isn't.

The cross stitch is really what is sucking up most of my time right now, but I have some serious cleaning and packing to do since we will be away next week to see family and celebrate a certain little girl turning 4(!!!!). Next week I will finally share the birthday things I have been making her, and let me tell you, they are pretty awesome. I guess after we get through that, I have a certain 1st birthday to prepare myself for....oh boy. I don't know if my mama heart can take all this excitement haha. Anyway, I'll be back soon with some other little things that have been happening.

more little things

Happy Wednesday! I decided that since pretty much nothing has changed, I am going to skip the wip round up this week and see where I stand next week. I've slowed down since I've run out of nice small, quick things to do. So here we are, the last of all those little things I've made recently. I think. Unless I dig something else up. But I don't think so, I think this is it for now :)


I am ashamed to admit that making a new pincushion has been on my list for well over a year now. I made one years ago, like 2009 maybe, when I started really sewing, and had meant to upgrade for a while, but never made it a priority. Finally I decided to just go for it and I am glad I did. I used the pattern from Liberty Love, but I don't have any liberty scraps, I made it a round smaller, and I used piping instead of rickrack, because that's what I had. Honestly, even though it is quite different from what's in the book, I really love it. I did one side of the log cabin more low volume and it came together quite nicely. Also, it felt good to use some of the much smaller strips I had been saving with no idea what to do with. It has happily taken up residence next to my machine.

This last thing, is just a little hairclip holder for the bigger little one. One day upon questioning where all her clips had disapeared to, she told me she had put them all in her piggy bank (thankfully it has an opening so we could get them out!) and I decided she needed a more appealing storage option. I had seen something similar on pinterest, but I didn't even pin it so I have no idea where. I used a 9.5"x3.5" rectangle to make a little holder with a ribbon down the center to clip the hair clips onto and elastic and a button to close it up. It was so quick and easy. I did add a layer of batting to give it a bit more structure and it worked just perfectly. She picked both the fabric and the button which she was pretty happy about. And voila!

So that's what I've been up to. Now I am left with mostly things that will take a bit more time which is kind of shame since I was just loving this super productive feeling. Hope everyone is having a lovely week!

Happy New Year! Hope everyone has had a great start to 2014! We are keeping it pretty low key around here, which has been nice. We are headed back to the real world this week though, which is never much fun.

Anyway, I have been thinking a lot about this year and what I want to do and accomplish. I have a fairly large list of projects to tackle, some of which I have started on already. One of the big things is for me to use what I have and to craft projects around that, which is always a little more difficult than it sounds. I did pretty well last year actually, and I hope to continue that trend this year as well as using up scraps, which is always on the list. The big life questions is why, when the list is so long and you have so much to work with, do you want to immediately go out and buy fabric for a big project (a queen size double wedding ring, for example) instead of working on anything else. And by 'you' I mean 'I' haha. So I may or may not have some fat eighth bundles of some AMH fabric coming my way to make some double wedding rings with some low volume backgrounds. It's going to be epic :) I am feeling like this is going to be the year of the slow and steady. Of the things that I want to do, most of them will not be quick projects. Until my mood changes I guess. On thing is for sure, I have plenty to keep me busy! First up I need to quilt my penny sampler, make the overdue wedding quilt and start working on my pony club quilt again.  Oh, and I am once again having the terrible urge to knit something, so we'll see if I can squeeze that in somehow.

Also, I have a backlog of things to share. Most of it has appeared in wip posts over the past months, but for my own record, I want a bit more detail. So I think I am going to spend the next couple weeks doing some round up posts of some things from the last 6 months or so and that way I'll feel like I can go forward with a clean slate.  So look for that coming up, along with my last quilty finish of last year.

And since I dont particularly like posts without pictures, can I just show you how pretty my new fabric shelf is looking??? That bottom shelf is a pile of things I need to work on plus a scrap basket and the bag on the floor is all scraps too. But I finally folded all my fabric and got it organized and I am loving it! So inspiring! We'll see how long it lasts ha!

just wednesday

Well, I'd love to say I have a sweet baby picture to show you, but it is early yet and I am still {impatiently} waiting. I have decided to opt out of the wip's today because not only have I not sewn a stitch, I don't particularly want to and I think making that list will just stress me out. So, what have I been doing? Well...

*We celebrated our 4 year anniversary, and even got to go out for a lovely brunch together

*I got an amazing prenatal massage and a pedicure because I obvously have some of the best friends ever

*I did some knitting....while watching clueless and saved by the bell naturally

*I've been reading...currently working on Lord Edgware Dies, which is a Poirot novel by Agatha Christie. I love her and am currently working my way {slowly} through all the Poirot mysteries.

*I have done a lot of walking, and plan to do a lot more to help this baby out. Even if it is ridiculously humid and hot out.

*I signed up for the Penny Sampler that Rachel over at Stitched in Color is offering. I don't even care that it starts August 19th and I will have a newborn, I just love the quilt and am pretty excited. I can't wait to gather up some fabric. I am hoping I can manage the relatively slow pace, but either way it will be good and someday I will end up with a finished quilt.

*There has been much planning of future projects and dreams of fabric to buy :)

And I guess that's about it. I am keeping myself busy and hoping this baby is ready soon. Not to sound impatient, it's just that she's already been giving me contractions on and off for days, so I hope that it either stops and waits or turns into labor soon. Also, I desperately miss bending, so there's that. Either way it won't be too long now. So that's my little update. How is everyone else? Having a good summer I hope!

Still nothing finished....

Alright, I admit it, I am a boring blogger lately. I just can't seem to focus and finish anything, so I don't have much to say. Not to mention we had our parents visiting for a week, so time was spent going to the beach and aquarium and things like that instead of sewing. My dad also helped me to frame my cheap target mirror it looks awesome! I haven't gotten a better picture yet, but this will do.

I did manage to get the binding on my lilly belle quilt and have started sewing it down by hand. I also finally basted my marcelle medallion quilt and got it ready for some hand quilting. Which may take me forever....but I'm going to give it a try and hope it looks awesome!

Now I am itching to do some pony club blocks and I have a whole list of clothes and such to make for the little(s). Once I get myself organized a bit I should be on my way :) Assuming I can get myself to stay inside and focus, which is difficult when this is what it is like outside.

Happy Monday! I'll be back Wednesday having sorted myself out and made a list, and maybe soon I'll actually finish something!

bits and pieces

I don't know if it's coming back from a long weekend away or the fact that we have guests coming for like the next week, but my attention span has been rather.....short this week. And all over the place if I'm honest. But, that has not stopped me from at least working on a few things.

I managed to get my lilly belle quilt all quilted and trimmed. But now I have to figure out a binding, so I don't know when it will be finished. I have a couple ideas, but I just don't know!

In the mean time, I am working on a back for my marcelle medallion quilt. I have the voile that I am planning to use, I just need to do it. Then again, I also need batting and some hand quilting supplies, so I guess there isn't really any hurry. Except that I have discovered that even though this baby bump is small, it is already getting a bit hard to be crawling around on the floor to baste and trim and such. So I guess I am really racing against the bump. I didn't realize it would happen so soon, since last time I wasn't really quilting much yet. I guess that makes these upcoming months good for smaller projects that I have been putting off forever. And thankfully baby things, even quilts, are pretty small.

Anyway, that's what I've been up to. This weekend I think will hold some major rearranging of furniture around here, so I'm pretty excited about that. Who knows how much sewing the next week will hold, but I really do hope I can get the binding on that quilt and maybe at least baste the marcelle medallion so I can start hand quilting (eek!!!) soon. Have a lovely weekend!

sew and go

So presumably I am off having a lovely time with my sewing peeps at Sew South right now. But, I thought you all deserved to know about my ongoing obsession with the book Liberty Love. Oh sure, it started with the marcelle medallion, but it has snowballed a little. I made no-sew fabric flowers which I will present with the clutch they are made to be on, and this lovely sew and go organizer.

Now this project is not for the feint of heart. At least I don't think so. I guess it wasn't hard, but it had a lot of pieces and I am never a fan of super stiff interfacing although I do appreciate what it can do. Working with metal chain was a first for me too and for once I feel lucky I got the snaps in the right places and they actually work. In the end, it was totally worth it though and I love the way it turned out. It took me forever to pick fabrics but it is so bright and cheery and fit my things perfectly.

So here it is empty

and after I filled it up.

My only issue at this point is that if I don't keep it upright, things will fall out of it. We'll see how much of an issue that really is. Also I really should have used the ribbon width the pattern recommended, but I found this one and it was perfect so it is a bit skinny, but it works. I pretty much love it though, and I am glad I got it done in time to bring with me. Anyway, I'll be back next week! Happy Weekend!!

Some crazy math

Weird, right? :) Alternate title: I'm so crafty.....I make people bahahaha.

So sometime in the second half of the summer, my little lady is going to be a big sister. Not that she has any idea what that really means at this point, but we'll get there. And that, my friends, is mostly why I fell of the sewing/blogging bandwagon for a while there. Not that moving 700 miles helped or anything haha. All things considered, I think I kept it up pretty well, but still.

In any case, I am feeling much better at this point and have a smidge of energy, hence actually sewing/posting more. I felt like I should mention it since I am starting to think baby sewing :) In fact, I am pretty sure my marcell medalion quilt from Liberty Love is going to be for baby. I started it the other day and have the center done, although I haven't photographed it yet. I should get on that. I am really excited about it though and can't decide whether to keep going or work on some pony club blocks. We'll see how I feel about it by naptime.

I guess that's enough excitement for one day :) I'll be back wednesday with my bits and pieces of progress!

Another week

Here we are at the beginning of another week. I have high hopes for this week. If I am really lucky, I will have a weekender bag at the end of it, we'll see how quickly I can get it together. I finally got what I needed on Friday so I have the piping made and am ready to start construction. I am really hoping it is not too painful. Making piping was not nearly as scary as I was afraid it would be. I will write more about the process when I am finished, but let me just say that I used one FQ to make all the bias tape I needed for my piping as per this tutorial. It was amazing. Anyway, here is a little picture of how far I've gotten. I sure hope it comes together well!

In other news, I did make my house block for Sew South. It is less than 2 months away and I am so stinking excited!! I'm planning on starting my sample swap items soon, but this needed to be done first. I opted for a nice simple house block in solids since most other people seem to be making busy and wonky ones. Hopefully it will look nice in the quilt!

And I guess that's about all that is going on at the moment. I am planning on {finally} buying some fabric for one of the wedding quilts I need to make, so that will be good. And I even printed out some pictures to make a smash book for the vacation we took last spring! I still have a lot to pick out, but I started and that is huge. I am hoping that will give me a push to actually make the first year scrapbook for my 2.5 year old. I would really like that done before she is 3 haha. I have an awful lot to do, but I am trying to take it one thing at a time and not overwhelm myself. First, the weekender!

I'm still alive!

I thought while I had a few minutes I would pop in and say hi :)  Things are crazy around here, to say the least. All of our belongings have been successfully moved to the new place of residence, and in another handful of days we will actually get to go join them.

Crafting has been very limited. I managed to start my socks, but that is about it. I really can't wait to get back to my sewing machine though. In the mean time, I have some definite fabric shopping plans for the future.

In other news, my sweet, sweet husband got me this pattern I fell in love with

Source: amitie.com.au via Cassie on Pinterest

Along with Sunday Morning Quilts, so I am a very happy girl. I hope everyone is having a lovely holiday season. I'll be back in a few days with the other duffle bag I made as a gift and maybe a little recap of the year as soon as I can wrap my head around it.

If things seem a little slower around here....

It's because we have big life changes going on right now. We have learned this past week that we will be moving. In Januaray my husband will be starting a new job. In North Carolina. That means in less than 2 months we need to get ourselves together and move on down there.

Needless to say, things are a bit hectic around here, especially with all the holiday stuff going on. I am pretty much totally excited and totally overwhelmed. I have so many things to do and they have just been pushed to the side a lot more recently. But, I will still be trucking along trying to get everything done. Thank goodness I started the gifts so early so I at least have half of them done.

I am still cutting away at feather pieces, I have a new knitting project to work on for a gift, I have to remake my failed napkins, and I finally figured out what I am going to be making for my parents. Today I am going to be working on my husbands gift, so hopefully that goes well, and I still need to finalize what I am making for the little one. And I have to do all this before I have to pack up all my fabric, which I know will be sooner than I'd like. *sigh* I just have to try not to drown in all this and know that it will get done and things will calm down again in the new year.

So that's what's going on around here. I am super excited about all the change happening, I just have to not lose my mind.  I am crossing my fingers that I at least have all the feather pieces cut out by the end of Tuesday so I can start sewing. I really need to sit down and figure out how I can get all this done and what is reasonable. With all that said, I promise to be back Wednesday with something at least a little more exciting to show for myself.  We all know news is not as exciting as pictures of pretty things :)

Socks!!!

Do you hear me? I made socks, people!! And they are pretty and knit and wearable (not so much by me, but that is clearly not the point). And there are no holes or anything! I am pretty much bursting with excitement over here in case you can't tell! I didn't think I would ever make socks, and yet here I am. The next pair is already planned, and hopefully the next pair will fit my feet. Making 2 socks at once is pretty much awesome since I am pretty sure I would never make the second one otherwise. I made them from the book Knitting Circles Around Socks, and I used a yarn from knit picks, but I forget which one since I just stole it from my dads stash. And hubby says they are comfy and he likes them, which he might tell me either way, but we'll see if he actually wears them. He probably won't anyway because he'll be afraid of ruining them. Here they are on his lovely man feet

In other completely unrelated news, I am going on my first sewing retreat in March. Have you heard about Sew South?? Jennifer over at ellison lane quilts put it together for us here on the east coast and I am so looking forward to meeting some quilting/sewing/blogging friends and spending a weekend doing what we love most. When I last looked there were still a few tickets left in case anyone else was thinking of going. It looks like it is going to be loads of fun and I can't wait!!

What I really need to be doing today is working on the feather quilt. What I am going to be doing instead is going to a LQS and running some other errands and preparing for a weekend with my sister, which will not involve any sewing but will be pretty spectacular. It's okay though, I think the cutting part of the feathers is almost done. I hope so anyway. Not my favorite part. I guess that is something to worry about next week though. Happy Weekend!!!

The good and the bad

I'm going to go ahead and start with the good. I am super happy that I have my first big quilt commission! The photographer that took our family pictures back in July asked me if I would make her a quilt for her bed. The best part: she wants a feather bed quilt! I have been looking for an excuse to make one of these and now I have it!

I just got all my fabrics and washed them and everything, and I even did a little cutting/piecing. She really liked the original picture so I am using field study fabrics, with kona charcoal stems and a cream background. I am using 15 different prints and seriously, they are so much prettier in person than on a computer screen. I ordered from Sew Fresh Fabrics and Peg was super nice and made me my own little bundle of 1/4 yard cuts since the pattern recommends you use 1/4 yard cuts instead of fat quarters.

I am super excited and I can't wait to see it come together! Of course it is queen size so we are talking a lot of feathers here. I just hope I don't get tired of them before I am done haha.


Now for the bad, because I might as well keep it real. Got to accept the failures along with the successes, right? Remember those lovely napkins I just got finished. Well I washed them. And it did not go well. As in throw them away because I can't possibly give them to anyone as a gift. I am pretty depressed about it, but when I washed them they shrunk so unevenly it isn't funny. The backs have a good inch of extra fabric and they do not lay remotely flat. Not to mention they are really no longer square. *sigh* I couldn't even bear to take a picture, they are tucked away where I don't have to look at them. And this is why I usually pre-wash my fabric. I figured I didn't have a problem with the last set I made, but this one apparently the outer and inner fabrics just shrunk completely differently. I suppose part of the problem was getting a cheaper solid fabric from Joanns. Anyway, I guess now I know better and I will go get more fabric and try again. I will probably figure out a way to use the fabric from these for something, or maybe they will be my napkin set, I don't know yet. I'll figure it out when I can stand to look at them again.

And just so that we don't end on a bad note, here is one more picture of pretty fabric :) Have a lovely weekend!

pattern storage overhaul

a.k.a. I finally caught the organizing bug and went a little crazy.

So for whatever reason, for the past few weeks I have been on an organizing/clutter reducing/simplifying mission. I don't much know where it came from, nor do I particularly care since it is precisely what we need around here. I was on a roll this weekend after we cleaned out our filing cabinet so I decided to attack my various sewing/quilting patterns and pattern pieces.

Does anyone else have a horrible time trying to figure out how to store these things?? I hate folding them up to begin with and then I just never know where to stuff them so that I can find them when I need them and all the pieces are together. I have tried a few things, but this time I think I've found something that will stick! Meet my new solution:

I went and got a 12" scrapbook binder from Joanns yesterday, picked up some {removable} labels and used some scrapbook page protectors I already had and ta-da! Some of the pages hold multiple patterns and some are just for one so I can label them as needed. I was going to just use a scrapbook, but the binder works much better and gives me a lot more space. This thing is huge!

It works perfectly so far. I am sure I will end up moving and readjusting things, but I love it. I don't have to fold things all that much which is nice and it holds a lot. I even put in pages for books that came with patterns that I have taken out to use so I can keep the pattern pages and any that I trace all together in one place.

Now this is just for sewing patterns. I did another binder for quilting that is just a regular 8.5"x11" binder filled with page protectors since nothing I had was bigger than that. It has some reference pages, patterns I have bought or been given or whatever, a page for templates and a page for random quilt block pieces all labeled and paper clipped together.  I'm curious though, how do you organize these things?

Seriously, I don't know why I never thought of this before. And I am telling you, with all the clothes and such I have been making, and the blocks from the skill builder sampler, all my pattern pieces and templates were out of control. As in, now I can finally see my top shelf again. It gives me a nice inner peace. Now I just have to decide whether to make more spiderweb blocks or finish that stupid fall jacket today. I still am not sure how it is supposed to go together at this point (the sleeve/lining finishing is completely baffling me), but I finally got buttons and kinda just want it done. We'll see which mood strikes me when I finally get the chance to work on something.

Meet my new love...

Anyone remember a week or two ago when I mentioned I did something crazy? Yeah, well it was crazy, but I ordered a new sewing machine!! And it finally got here this week and I got to start playing with it.

Friends, I am in love. I didn't even realize how bad my old brother machine was, but boy is this an upgrade. I have been thinking about a new one for a while now and once again while quilting my skill builder I was frustrated and wishing I had a better machine (one with more throat space, better tension....you get the idea) and I was wistfully looking online when I found a sweet deal on a much nicer machine. It had everything I was looking for and then some. In some ways it is quite excessive (um, hello 225 stitches) but so far it is wonderful. It is so quiet and runs so smoothly, I am in happy shock every time I sit down to sew. 

She doesn't yet have a name, but we are bff already :)  And yesterday we worked on our first project together. Seriously, good times. I can't wait to see what else she can do. So far it has just been piecing, but I am looking forward to trying out some quilting today and sewing with some knits sometime soon. And I really can't wait to make an entire quilt with her, but I am not quite ready to start one yet. For now I am settling with these geese which make me happy every time I look at them. Good thing it will be a pillow cover for the couch!

So that's all, I just needed to share my excitement. I believe this weekend I can be found getting to know her more and ignoring just about everything else. Maybe. At least in my head. Have a good weekend everyone!

progress is being made

I spent yesterday quilting and getting the binding on the front of my toddler swoon quilt. I love the way it is turning out and I can't wait to get it all finished, washed and dried. I am looking forward to a couple evenings sewing the binding down. Hopefully it will go quickly. I really just have these couple phone pictures that I took while I was working for now, but I am looking forward to getting some proper photos when it is finished.

Did I ever mention that after I make my binding, I wrap it around a toilet paper roll? It makes my life so much easier and I an just roll it out as I go. I don't even know how I started doing it, but it seriously works great. Anyway....


I guess that means my skill builder quilt top is up next. I am still debating sashing width, but I will make a decision today and start cutting I hope. And then I will get to start something new! *happy dance*

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend. We are supposed to get some family pictures done so I am plotting which quilt(s) I may sneak into the pictures this time :) And maybe I'll be back Monday with a finished quilt!

Process

I spent a lot of time this weekend pondering the quilting process. My process, I guess, and how I go about it. Do you ever stop and think about the way you quilt? Because I was working on my swoon blocks and I realized how inefficiently I was doing things. Do you ever sacrifice efficiency for enjoyment? I opted out of an assembly line, which would have been much quicker, so that I could see each block come together.

I tend to think of myself as very....finish-focused. It's not that I mean to be, it's just that I am so motivated by the finished product that I just can't wait to see it all done. And this weekend as I was finishing up my swoon blocks, I realized that doesn't mean I don't enjoy the process as well. For these blocks, I cut all the pieces and sorted them by block. I went block by block and marked the half square triangles/flying geese and sewed all those pieces, but then I laid out the block and sewed it as it was laid out. I did each middle section and each quadrant and then put it all together. And it took longer to keep it laid out as I went, especially with all those trips to the iron, but it was so much more enjoyable to see each block come together that way. And I really think that kept me motivated; I just can never wait to see what the next block will look like. I wonder if I rush through things too quickly sometimes, but I don't think so. I enjoy the therapy of sewing, the constant humming of the machine helping me think or not think depending on the day, but I also enjoy creating and having something useful to use or to give.

Also, my brain is just too full of ideas so there is always something to work on next. I am glad I don't just drop projects in the middle and move on to the next, I am definitely a finisher and I am thankful for that, otherwise I would be drowning in WIPs and UFOs and my apartment is way to small for that. And that a big part of what pushes me to finish quickly. I notice when I do more long-term hand work projects, they tend to sit around forever. My hexies for example, are still sitting on a shelf in the same state they have been in for months. I intend to pick that back up, but I guess we'll see. I think I lose interest if I don't work quickly.

So that's what I've been pondering lately. How about everyone else, how do you work? One block at a time? One project at a time? Am I the only one here?

Liebster award

Becky over at The Thompsons passed along the Liebster Blog award to me :) What a happy way to start a week!

I know, you're saying:  What exactly is the Liebster Award?  The Liebster (German for favorite) is an award for bloggers with 200 followers or less.   The award is just a way of saying - Hey, I enjoy your blog!  Thanks for sharing a little bit of yourself with me and with others on your blog.  As a recipient of the award, you have the chance to thank and link back to the blogger who gave it to you as well as pass it along to five other deserving blogs.

 I started blogging my projects back in 2008 when I was just really starting to make things. I had pretty much just started sewing anything and was still knitting more than sewing.It wasn't until last year that I decided to try and blog more regularly and I am so glad I did and have kept it up :) I love having a place to share my projects and inspirations with other crafty people, not to mention it sure keeps me more organized and on top of things! People actually reading it, that's just a super sweet bonus!  So thank you Becky!


The Liebster Conventions says that :

1. Thank your award presenter on your blog and link back to him/her (I would have done this anyway, but I guess they have to make it official like)

    2. Copy and paste the award to your blog

    3. Present the Liebster Award to 5 blogs that you think deserve to be recognized

    4. Let them know by leaving a comment on their blog

    5. Have faith that your follower will spread the love, too !

Now to share the love:

1. Claire Jain @ Sewing Over Pins

2. Mareenchen @ Aquamareen Crafting

3. Sel @ Mad Quilter's Disease

4. Kate @ A Sometimes Quilter

5. Allegory @ {sew} allegorical

big plans

For a while now, I have had a pile building of things that I want to do, but are not necessarily immediate concerns. And then yesterday (as I was adding something else) I realized how many things I actually have at this point! Ahh! I must be out of my mind! In addition to all my WIP stuff I posted Wednesday, I also am planning  a quilted vest for the wee one which will hopefully fit this spring, a carry-on bag for our upcoming vacation, and I may have decided to join in another quilt along.

The other day the Cosmic Burst quilt along was announced over at Distant Pickles. And I just love the big star. And I just started thinking about fabric I had on hand. And I couldn't get it out of my head. So that gives me 2 weeks to finish a bunch of other things before we start cutting fabric for that. I am going to use this selection of nicey jane with some solids and make the 50" quilt and I am super excited!

In other news, I got some happy mail the other day. Last week I may have gone a little crazy at Hawthorne Threads. It all started innocently enough because I wanted a couple Flea Market Fancy prints. It may have snowballed from there as I picked out a bundle to make a smaller version of a swoon quilt for my little love's toddler bed...which she will eventually transfer to. I haven't finalized it yet but I am thinking 16" blocks, probably 12 of them. So I picked out some raspberry, navy, mustard, and gray prints. I don't love them together in person as much as I did on the computer (the downfall of online fabric shopping!) so I may swap a few prints, but generally I like it a lot. I figure I better enjoy this quilt for her since by the next one she is bound to have tons of her own opinions that I must abide by haha. Of course I had to get some amazing AMH voile to make another tunic {assuming the first one goes well} and a pretty peacock lane print that really wanted to come live with me :)

I don't even know where I am going to start with all this stuff this weekend, but I guess I need to pick a place and start plugging away. Today, I get the 5 granny square blocks sewn that I have all laid out so that my table is clear for other things. After that, who knows! Happy Weekend!