Wednesday, March 25, 2015

the year of littles

I wonder if I'll actually make any quilts this year? I'm sure I will, but so far 2015 has been a year of little projects. Bee blocks, bags, pouches, pin cushions.... everything but quilts! Here are my latest finishes.....

Bee blocks ready for Sarah....


Another Petunia Peacock pin cushion (a shop sample for the class I'm going to teach at Stitched with Love)

Petunia was soon joined by Daisy Hedgehog (also a shop sample!). Daisy is a new pattern from Jennifer Jangles, just like Petunia.

And lastly, another Dainty Tote, by Three Owls Handmade. This one I sent off to Debbie from A Quilter's Table and now that she has received it I can share it with you! I just love this pattern and I do think this aqua version is my favorite one yet!

I do love making "stuff" even little things!

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Petunia Peacock

Allow me to introduce you to Petunia Peacock!
Isn't she adorable? Petunia is one of the new patterns recently introduced by Jennifer Heynen at Jennifer Jangles. I was lucky Jennifer allowed me to take this pattern for a spin for her. The first part of the pattern is lots of appliqué on the feathers. Not too long ago, I would have done this all by hand. However, through lots of practice, my confidence with machine appliqué has soared. I did this with a machine buttonhole stitch & I am really happy with the results.

 I would call this pattern a confident to advanced beginner level. The maker needs both machine and hand sewing basic skills. Oh, and a tiny bit of embroidery. It's a great pattern, well written and so much fun to watch Petunia come together. I stitched her up in an afternoon.
 Thanks again, Jennifer, for the opportunity to sew for you.


Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Valentine flashback

Oh my, Valentine's Day was more than a month ago and I am just now sharing two fun Valentiny (is that even a word?) things with you! First up, the mug rug I received in the McKinney Modern Quilt Guild swap while I was away. Thank you Paula for the beauty! And the extra goodies, the awesome mug and candies, perfection!


While I was in Ohio I put together the top for this Valentine pillow. I finished it up today, and I just love it! It was inspired by this project by my friend Jen (Miss Punkie Pie) I do believe I will leave it out year round....


Sunday, March 15, 2015

goodies in the mail

Returning home after nearly six weeks away meant piles of mail waiting to be opened! Some of it was really really FUN mail! In fact, there was an abundance of fabric.

This last year I participated in a birthday fat quarter swap. There were fifteen of us in the swap, and we each sent a fat quarter to each other member on her birthday. We put in requests for favorite fabrics. My request was for aquas/reds and polka dots. What fun it was to open up all of these goodies!

 Another fabric bundle waited for me from Pink Castle Fabrics. I had seen Ayumi's new Lighthearted fabrics and fallen head over heals in love! I had to have some. It was hard to choose, but in the end I selected these four....

Another swap I had joined was the Instagram Snacking with a mug swap. This gorgeous bundle arrived from Linda while I was away. The instructions were to include a mug, mug rug, and a book in our swap package. (yes, my book is missing from this photo! Linda included a devotion book which I am already reading and forgot to go retrieve for the photo shoot.) Linda also embroidered me a pretty tea towel and included some hot chocolate! I'm a lucky lucky girl.


It turns out partners were paired up and gave to each other in this swap, which I didn't realize! Here's the bundle I sent to Linda:

 One more surprise I received in the mail this week. My blogging friend Debbie from A Quilter's Table made me a lovely patchwork covered journal from Cotton & Steel fabrics. The journal is graph paper which is PERFECT! I just love this Debbie! Thank you! Here's the front....
 and the equally fabulous back...
wow! I'm feeling very spoiled right now.

Friday, March 13, 2015

more hexies

I'm still working away on my New Hexagon hexies.  Here are numbers four through ten all done!

I did take time out to visit a couple more Ohio quilt shops with my pal Annie.....

The Craft Cupboard

Tiny Stitches
Tomorrow.... back to Texas! I'm pretty tired of winter and ready for some springtime sunshine.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

calendar journal

my poor neglected little blog! I hope you will forgive me for being absent here as life has been so busy and, well, sometimes it's more important to LIVE than to blog about it. Does that make sense? I have managed to continue to journal my journey through my calendar journal. February was very full...
 And March is still pretty much a blank slate. You can be sure it will fill up quickly too!
How do you document your days?