Tuesday, April 30, 2013

again with the barns...

Barn #5 came out on Lori's blog last Wednesday, but I just got to it today. It's been a busy week, which included a quick trip back to Ohio for our beautiful niece's wedding (I'd show you how beautiful she was but alas, I left the camera back at the hotel and the iphone pictures were very dark). 

Yesterday I went to the mailbox and found a card from Maria in Australia. Inside the card were all of these wonderful 2 1/2 inch squares to use as windows for my barns! I had a hard time choosing which one to use first!

 In the end, I decided on this silly little ladybug (or lady bird, as our aussie friends would say!)
 I really love making these barns. I had seen lots of them on Flickr with text print roofs and I thought they were so gorgeous, so that's what I chose for this one....
It's good to be back in my sewing room! Thanks for lighting a fire under me, Maria!

Oh, by the way, Friday is our stitchalong day. Is everyone ready for the next pattern?

Monday, April 29, 2013

another inspiration day quilt photo shoot

 I finished up my row quilt the day before my last inspiration day with Melissa, so I decided to take it along for a little photo action. It has a lot of bright colors in it so I figured the playground was a great place to start.....
I always love the "rolled up quilt" shots. Here's the front of the quilt done...


 And the bright and cheerful back...


It was a gorgeous sunny day. 
 Then I saw this cool rock structure...

 And decided it was a great spot for my quilt to pose as well...


 Melissa was a willing accomplice, hiding behind the rock holding onto my quilt. At least she was hiding in MOST of the shots!



 Look at the beautiful circle quilting my friend Diann did on this quilt...

I love the way it turned out and can't wait to gift it in a few months!

Thursday, April 25, 2013

April inspiration day

Today Melissa and I went on our second inspiration day excursion. Since we didn't have a lot of time this time and there was a lot of hoopla going on downtown (all five living US presidents in Dallas today for the opening of George W Bush's presidential library) we decided to stay right here in our hometown of Allen. We took some pictures of my latest quilt finish at the playground.  I'll share the quilt pictures with you in another post....
A visit to the veteran's memorial. Very powerful to see the flags flying at half mast to honor those who lost their lives last week in the explosion in West, TX.
 And we spent some time among the bluebonnets....
 Since I accidentally got a shot like this one last time, I decided it should be a tradition. So here's me (the shadow) taking a picture of Melissa, taking a picture....
I'll have more to share with you after I sort through all of our photos and process the inspiration a bit!

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

random life

I don't want you to think I'm just sitting in front of the TV eating bon bons (what the heck are bon bons anyways?).  Here's a glimpse into my instagram life.....

 There was a quilt bound this week with scrappy binding (I haven't done a scrappy binding in ages!)
 Labels sewn on two big quilts so they can be gifted.
 more hexis joined.

And a pedicure in pretty sandals (because spring will come eventually, right?)

Tomorrow Melissa and I have our second inspiration day. Hopefully I will have some fun things to share with you after that. What's happening in your crafty world?

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

a summer bag for me

Remember this lovely stack of Liberty Stiles? 
 Well, yesterday I took a deep breath and cut into the beautiful fat quarter bundle. I needed a new purse for summer...
 I have loved my winter Barbados Bag to death. Literally. It's falling apart. I knew I loved the pattern so I decided to make a new one for summer.
I can't wait to fill all of it's wonderful pockets and head out somewhere.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

some little projects

I finished up the latest English Paper piecing project from The Quilt Asylum....
 I decided to just buy the pattern this month and make it up from my solid stash. I'm really happy with it. Oh, look at this - I bought myself some custom labels! I got them from Sara's etsy shop....
 I even decided to hand quilt this one... something I NEVER do!
 Another little project recently finished is this cheery camera strap cover I made for Melissa....

I think she likes it! What have you been making lately?

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Saturday, April 13, 2013

learning to sew... binding

The girls are finishing up their quilts! Today two of them were here working on their binding. 
 And laughing, as always....
 One more quilt done and the last one will be finished soon! We are planning an outdoor photo shoot when all three girls are finished.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

still building barns...

Yay for Wednesday! Every other Wednesday, Lori posts another barn to make. And since it's cold and rainy outside and my family has abandoned me and doesn't need me today, I hopped right on it and made mine already.....

 So, that's four barns done. Lori has added sashing to hers already, but I haven't decided what fabrics I want to sash with yet, so mine will be added later. I am thinking blues and greens. Also, she has said that we will make 12 barns. That's going to be one big quilt! I think I might split mine into two baby quilts. We shall see.
 In case you're wondering, that's an owl hooting in the window of my new block...
And now I do believe I will curl up with a quilt and a book and nap read the rest of the afternoon away!

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

fabric love

I have been waiting anxiously for the new Liberty Stile collection to arrive at The Quilt Asylum. Finally, they are here!
 And by "here" I mean... HERE.... at my house. sigh. Aren't they lovely?
I think the 2 yard piece (the red floral) is going to be a summer blouse for me. I just have not picked the perfect pattern yet. Any ideas? I have a couple of possible patterns, but I will make them up in less expensive fabrics first to make sure they fit right.

The fat quarter bundle.... what should that become? Maybe a quilt... or maybe a summer bag for me? I think I will just drool over them for a while until I decide. For now, all of this loveliness is bringing back wonderful memories of our London trip last year. Oh Liberty, how I love you!

Monday, April 8, 2013

scrappy trip along #2

 I finished my second scrappy trip along quilt.....

 You'd think my scrap shelves would be empty by now. They're not.

These quilts are so much fun to make, but I must say, after making 2 of them, I think I am moving on....

This one is 48x60 inches, a great lap sized, snuggle on the couch quilt. It's available for purchase in my shop.

Friday, April 5, 2013

April Stitchalong

Have you been stitching along with us every month? I know Maria has! And Laura too, she did a wonderful blog post about our stitchalong. Thank you Laura! You can see their stitcheries here and add yours too. Please do! We'd all love to see what you are doing.

Since we just celebrated Jesus' resurrection this past Sunday, our April stitchalong is a doodled cross....
It will fit in with the bring 'n brag themes of crosses or bunnies (let's be honest here, I can't draw a decent bunny).  You can find the pattern for the cross here.

Now you will have four completed stitcheries to share with us.

 Happy April friends!





Wednesday, April 3, 2013

March Finishes

I realized I never did a post to document my finishes for March......
It doesn't look like much but here it is! One large quilt (the line dance quilt), elongated hexi mini quilt, my hexi turtle and matching mug rug, circle stitches, a llama basket, three blocks in the barn along and a mug rug for a friend. Lots of littles....

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Crafty Tuesday

Hello crafty friends! Welcome to Crafty Tuesday - the April edition. I hope, wherever you are, you were crafting along with us today. Here's the crafting that happened at ellyn's place.....

 There was template cutting...
Scrapbooking.....
 English paper piecing....
And stash sorting/folding/organizing.....

Trae had some pretty awesome fabrics in that stack. Some polka dots that were crying out to me. If you hear she was missing some when she got home, I swear I don't know anything about it. Honest.

Today was also taco Tuesday which everyone seemed to enjoy. I would share a picture of the tacos with you but, as usual, I was in too much of a hurry to eat to bother to snap a picture. They were good. Trust me.

In case you are wondering, I finally got the rest of my London photos into a scrapbook. It only took me nine months. But hey, it's done. What did you work on this Crafty Tuesday?