TGIF

Happy Friday!  Did you have a good week or are you just glad to see it in the rear view mirror?  It was a nice week, I managed to do some sewing as well as various and sundry things around the house. 

 

Do you ever get bummed out when your day veers off track?  You think you're going to do one thing then something else pops up to nudge you in a different direction.  This week I decided to get a new attitude and just go with it.  It's not like I have a deadline for anything I'm working on. I'm not going to have to suffer dire consequences so why do I feel that way if I have to stop for something else?  It made for a much nicer week, and it's not like I still didn't manage to accomplish things.

 

Today the only thing on my list that REALLY needs doing is a coffee bean  run to Peets. Indeed not doing so would have dire consequences tomorrow!  Hope you have a happy weekend friends! xo

Monday Monday

Hi there, hope you had a fun weekend. Lots going on weather wise, we just had some rain and then the usual January gray skies. I hate to tease about the Splendid Sampler but by now the designers have seen a few blocks and they're super cute, and I think you guys are going to like them. 

 

I did do some sewing.  I like how my cute rabbit turned out.  I was a little bit afraid of the ears not contrasting enough, but it worked out ok.  I like the idea of it being a big disguised in the flowers.

I felt like I was really on top of the ear situation this time.  I stitched them up, didn't need to rip a stitch.  Of course once I tried to match the ears with the eye unit.. well that's when I realized that I had cut the inner ear too narrow on the right.  So I took that section off, and cut a new one and got almost done when I realized... I'd made a left ear.  OHMYGOSH.  Except I said something not as nice. So I had to cut another ear.  DARNIT.  THOSE EARS.  FRUSTRATING.  Especially because they aren't hard.

 

But it all worked out.  My rabbit is done and I've decided maybe to set this aside for a day or two.  Try and get over my problems. 

 

In the mean time, I check out my photo on instagram... doesn't it look like my Splendid Sampler colors?

 

Hope you guys have a good week! xo

Friday

And so goes another week!  Did you get some sewing time?  Not much sewing around here, just can't get in the mood.  Blasphemy I know.  I did whip up another bunny.  They're very easy, but the ears manage to get me each time requiring at least one seams worth of ripping and restitching. 

 

I like the eyes much better in this one, probably because of the lower contrast.  Of course I love this aqua bunny and had forgotten that I had planned on a pink and red quilt, so  now I'm reimagining the whole thing maybe as a multicolored quilt.  Not sure yet.  Will try a pink rabbit next.  It's not like the block would go to waste if I didn't use it. That aqua rabbit would hop right into pillow country.

 

Looks like we're due for some rain, so I could think about cutting another block to work on.  If I have something ready it's easy to sit down and sew.  What's on your agenda?  Hope you have a good weekend.  xo

 

P. S. Hope you're as excited as I am for the Splendid Sampler!  The FB group has grown to proportions that astound me!  The blog has a post up about fabric selection, hope you'll check it out. I think it will be fun to follow along even if you don't make a block!  I can't wait to see the blocks.. even us designers haven't had a big reveal yet!!!

 

 

The Spendid Sampler

Hi there! Happy Monday!  Hope you had a nice weekend.  We tried a little too hard to capture that vacation feeling from the week before with some sleeping in late, but that always makes me feel guilty.  What about you?  I don't know why, I'm a grown up, I can decide how late to sleep, right? 

 

Anyway, enough about me and my late-sleeping-angst!

 

My exciting news today is that I'm part of a great new project called The Splendid Sampler.  Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson dreamed up an Epic Adventure and invited me to participate along with a whole host of wonderful designers, in making blocks for The Splendid Sampler. 

 

Months ago, Moda shipped fabric and Aurifil shipped thread and we got busy designing and stitching up wonderful blocks to share with you.  Our official kick off is Valentine's Day, and from that point forward each Sunday and Thursday Pat and Jane will share a new block to add to your sampler.  There are blocks of all types and all levels, take on the blocks that suit your fancy. 

 

To make things fun, there's a Facebook group to share your blocks in, and you can go sign up here.  There are already over 3000 members from all over the world!  Even if you don't intend to sew a single stitch, sign up to watch what everyone else is stitching! That's half the fun!

 

Ok, that's all my exciting news for Monday!  I hope you join in all the fun!

xo

CHA 2016

Good morning!  How've you been since I last checked in?  I had a great vacation in LA attending the CHA Mega Show with a side of Disneyland with Bret.  The show is great and the best part is hanging out with Roseann, and soaking up some creative inspiration.  I thought I would share some photos with you, and if you'd like to see more check out Roseann's CHA posts on Facebook.  She has tons of pictures.  You can also search the tags #cha2016 and #chashow on Instagram for lots of photos. 

 

Loved this display about the Dotty Angel Frock  in the Simplicity booth. 

 

Irons!  I was at the Clover USA booth.  This little iron gets super hot, and has a nice smooth faceplate.  Perfect for traveling, it draws a lot less power than a full size iron, and would be great at a retreat.  I also really liked that little ironing board, it folds down so it's perfect for sliding into bags (and would solve my ham problem).  I loved the possibilities of many of the products that I saw demonstrated.

 

Saw these amazing doily dream catchers in the Spellbinder's booth.  Loved the romantic look.

 

We R Memory Keepers had a great display of these rulers.  The Ruler Studio Line had all kinds of accessories to go with the rulers, and I would have bought one of each had this been a retail show.  So clever.  How many times have you seen a vintage ruler in a magazine  photo shoot and wished you had one?  If you're me A MILLION TIMES.

 

Sweet Sugarbelle!  Holy cow people, I am in love with everything about this.  There were cookie cutters, recipe cards with complete instructions on how to ice these cute cookies, cute boxes to give your cookies in.  Perfection. So super cute.  You can check out a video here.

 

I have been a long time fan of Brenda Walton, and it was exciting to stop by her booth and say hi, and check out all the pretty projects.  I follow along on Brenda's blog, and find her so inspiring.  (if nothing else check out this adorable tea towel she made.. )

 

Disneyland was fun, more crowded than we expected based on past experience.  Of course it didn't stop us from enjoying our time there.  Nighttime at the park is pretty festive, but nothing compares to the lights on the Small World ride.  Bret and I had a great time.

 

We topped of our trip with a visit to Bob's Big Boy and breakfast with our friend Dana.  I feel so lucky to have great friends from blogging and now instagramming. 

 

Ok everyone, hope you have a great weekend! xo

Two by Two

Are you following along with Holly's Two by Two quilt in  McCalls's Quick Quilts?  The second installment is out in the February and March issue available now! 

 

Hope that you're playing along with us. 

 

photo from McCalls Quilt Quilts website

 

The quilt is quick and easy to make.  The scallops make these simple blocks  have a big impact with none of the drama of sewing them!  I stitched this together for Holly and believe me its easy sewing!

 

Ok, hope you guys are having a great week! I'm off to CHA with a side of Disneyland thrown in.  Looking forward to meeting up with Roseann to see what kind of trouble we can get into! Time to soak up some inspiration!  And hopefully the rain breaks enough for us to head into Disneyland for the day too! 

 

Have a great weekend everyone! xo

 

 

 

 

Monday

Good morning sweet friends!  How is the new year taking shape for you?  Things are perking along here as usual, coffee, sewing, Law and Order watching, you know, the usual! 

 

I'm still plugging away on my scallop pot holders.  I had to order more scallops but now that I've finished up a pile, I'm working on machine quilting.  In the back of my mind I'm still percolating on a Valentine's idea but until today it's been the holiday season, so I've been spending more time with my people instead of holed up in my sewing room.  But today it's back to regular scheduling right?

 

Do you pick a word or plan something special for the new year?  I don't,  but I really enjoy reading other people's thoughts.  I've seen a lot of words and a lot of plans for better organization, for clearing out and cleaning up, that kind of thing.  

 

One thing I can plan on is plenty of coffee and sewing and tv! Have a great week! xo

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELIZABETH!!!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year Sweet Friends.

 

I'm looking forward to what 2016 holds for us all! Lets hope we're happy and healthy and ready to face what comes our way! Thanks for your friendship, it means the world to me!xop