Are you sick of this purse yet?

Okay, this is the FIFTH time I have used this pattern, I think I have definitely gotten my money's worth out of it. But I just love making these! This is a birthday present for my sister, I hope she likes it! She's not much of a purse person, but it is the perfect size for a church bag. I love these fabrics- it's Amy Butler's newest line Love in the Soul pallette. My favorite is the 2nd one from the right - "water bouquet" in midnight - it would make lovely curtains I think. I still have a lot of these fabrics left, I plan on making a large sized quilt with them.

Groovy Guitars

I absolutely love this guitar fabric. It is a perfectly acceptable boy fabric in my opinion. It took me a while to put this simple quilt top together because of all my sewing machine issues (bytheway - turns out it wasn't the poor guy's fault that my machine wasn't working correctly - the blame was all on me!!! For some reason, I have serious issues with bobbins for some reason) and one week in which my son decided sleeping was unnecessary and overrated... But nonetheless, here it is:

I've used this pattern before, in Gregory's apple quilt. The pattern comes from Quilts and More Summer 2008, "Clowning Around."

Do you like the dead/brown grass? It will be spring soon enough - can't wait!

Boy Fabrics

Boy fabrics. It's my new passion. I love to find great/unique boy fabrics now that I am a mother of a little man. It's really difficult, believe it or not, to find boy fabrics that I like. All too often, what is available are obnoxious prints that scream ROBOTS, TRUCKS, TOOLS, 1980's NURSERY, and the worst: WOODLAND CREATURES.... I mean, come one- Raccoons? Squirrels? Do we really need to try and make forest vermin look cute? Now, as Gregory gets older, and he decides he likes any of the above, I will indulge him - because of course it is important that he likes what I make for him. But until he can express a firm opinion, so far he has blankets with sock monkeys, Muppets, and apples.... kind of a crazy combination I guess. Anyway, here are some of the most interesting boy prints I have found lately:
When I first saw the sneaker print, I was like, "Who would buy that!?" Then I looked closer and thought about it and I answered my own question, "Me!" I know it's really bold and crazy, but I look forward to the challenge of toning it down and incooperating it into something fun.

Now, the print on the right- I can't even handle the fun of the cowboys. I never would have guessed that I would've gone for anything Western... but the thing that gets me is the names written under their faces, "Slim," "Hap," and "El Rey." But the best part is, there is a name there that I am planning on naming my next boy. It is not in the picture, so you will have to be in suspense. But trust me, it is a normal name that does not scream "cowboy." So poor Greggers won't be getting this fabric.....

I went to the first meeting of the New England Modern Quilt Guild last Friday and I had a lot of fun. I met lots of nice people and I am really excited to get to know everyone better soon. I also have started a community education photography class and I am really excited to learn how to take better pictures - hopefully you will notice a difference in the next couple of months.

Estate Sale!

Hi everyone. If you live in New England, hope you are enjoying this nice springy weather. Spring definitely snuck up on me, though I doubt it is here to stay. Makes me wonder how much sewing I might get done, because when it's nice outside - I love to go on walks..... and just not stay inside.

Anyway, I have had some majorly annoying sewing issues - which is why I am doing this blog posting instead of sewing. My sewing machine was in for it's yearly tune-up for the past week, and now that I have it back - it's still acting up and creating awful loopy stitches. I am pretty upset with the guy who supposedly cleaned it. When I sat down to sew with it, little clumps of lint/dust fell down around the needle area. Of course, this makes me suspect that the guy didn't even test it out after he'd cleaned it...... Also, for two days I had serious issues with my rotary cutter- it wouldn't even rotate!!!! I bought a new one (which wouldn't work) and then had several people look it over - with no luck. Finally, in desperation - I headed off to a local quilt store to see if a lady could help me..... But I got sidetracked on my way there when I spotted an estate sale. It was being run by a "professional" (someone who is hired to run an estate sale for a family) - so I didn't get as low prices as I might've liked- but I still made a major killing in some awesome stuff to repurpose for sewing:

Here are some pictures of the goods:

In this one, the heart pattern is actually a vintage apron. the yellow/orange floral print is a dress. The red material is actual fabric.

I've always heard of people using sheets as white sashing or backing for quilts. Many traditionalists are against the practice, but I figured I might as well try. These are all twin size, brand new in the package - but probably date back several years ago. I am hoping this means that they are of a higher quality than what is made nowadays.....
And finally, the JACKPOT! I almost died when I saw these!!!!!! It's two parcels of 4 yards of fabric (each) - brand new all made locally in Lowell!!!!! I knew if I only walked out with these, I would be happy.

Here's a closeup of the blew fabric. Crowns! Lions!

I also asked if I could take down and purchase two curtains that were hanging up in the basement. They agreed, and here's what I came home with:

My favorite are the trees, then the duck pond. Some parts of the curtain are unusable, despite throwing everything into the washing machine. But I definitely have enough for a quilt - if I fussy cut the designs and frame solids/prints around squares.

So all this stuff, plus a white sweater - for $15.... Not too bad. Believe it or not, I refrained from buying a tin full of thread- I am drowning in thread from all of my exploits last year....

Large Receiving Blanket

I bought this dog/fire engine fabric at the Joann's after Thanksgiving sale and I think it is just adorable. All's this blanket is are two pieces of flannel sewed together as a sandwich (each piece of flannel is 1.25 yds). I made 3 for Gregory because Nick and I found that we really like them for swaddling (much bigger/better/warmer than the piddly store bought recieving blankets), covering the car seat to block the wind when transferring him to and from the car, laying one on the couch to sit on with the baby to protect the couch from inevitable spitups, and using as an impromptu protective layer for diaper changes and tummy time. Lots of uses for such a simple thing.

Tie Onesie

Here's a little tie onesie made for our nephew... seriously this project is SO easy - I did it in 15 minutes.

I think a striped fabric is a good choice for this.

Sock Monkey Quilt Part II

Gregory's cousin now has a blanket that matches his own - they are almost the same.... This is the 3rd quilt I have actually quilted myself and I think it came out the best so far because I used decent batting and a walking foot. I really love this fabric and have one more quilt top from it - so we'll see who ends up with the last Sock Monkey blanket.....

My favorite part of this blanket is this corner with the larger scale monkey face peering out - it's too cute!

Brainy Baby Ball Part II

I love making these so much! This is for our nephew arriving in late April.

Bibs and a Block

So I finally got the package sent off to Melanie- so I will be showing those things I made for the baby very soon. In the meantime, I decided to make a bunch of bibs for the kiddo. Missy kindly made a bunch for me a while ago, but I am finding that we need more now that he is slowly starting to eat solids.

Here he is this evening, showing evidence of the rice cereal.

He is exactly 20 weeks old today.... he's getting really big. I went to a quilt store recently to have my machine serviced and one of the ladies there thought that he was 8-9 months old!

I used the pattern from One Yard Wonders and made 10 bibs (one is missing from the pic.) Very easy project and I already had everything I needed on hand.

Here's a block I did for the block exchange. The block for March requires Christmas fabric- and I got rid of all of mine! Not sure what I am going to do about that.....

When I was in that quilt store I mentioned earlier, I got to try out the $8,000 Pfaff Grand Quilter. It was a dream!!!! I really want to get a machine that can quilt like that someday- not just so I could finish my quilt tops easily, but also because I think I would really enjoy the actual quilting. There was a $2,000 model there too --- maybe someday!

Anyway, I had to get my machine serviced because it was overdue for a cleaning and a tune-up. It has been sewing kind of badly lately - leaving loops on both sides of the fabric..... I hope that it works better when I get it back- in the meantime, it's really weird to not have it around. I am going to use Gregory's nap time to maybe do some low key scrapbooking or do the cutting for some future projects.....

What's been going on....

Life has been busy here - not just with baby but with sewing too. The problem with updating the blog is that I am making some things for a future nephew whose mother has been known to frequent the blog (wink, wink Melanie). I don't want to say too much, so lets just suffice it to say that I am having a lot of fun making some baby things and I am learning new techniques... More to come very soon!

I have also been selling some fabric on Etsy to recoup some of the money I have spent on fabric - there just isn't enough time to do it all!

Finally, a branch of a "Modern Quilt Guild" is opening in New England- the first meeting starting only about 20 mins from my house! I am SO thrilled! I can't wait- I have really wanted to make friends with people who share my interest!

More to come soon!

Fabric swapping....

So I have been trying to deny that this blog is about fabric, but let's face it- I am probably more obsessed with fabric than I am with actually sewing with it.... I know that's kind of sad and it makes me feel shallow sometimes and at the very least, materialistic (pun intended). But there's just no fighting it anymore. I recently read a fictional novel about a quilter who referred to women's fabric obsession as a "benign illness" - and I definitely believe it! 99% of this blog's readership are friends and family who don't sew or care to sew- but trust me, all the sewing blogs out there are all about talking about fabric and showing pictures of one's stash. Many post a weekly photo of pieces from their stash just for the reader's viewing pleasure- so I am not alone.

But hey, what's wrong with enjoying something as innocent as cute cloth? I just finished a long stint of social work and volunteering abroad where I was surrounded by heartbreaking human suffering- I think I have used sewing/fabric as an escape - when life gets so serious, you need something else to give you a reprieve.

So anyway, I am going to stop apologizing for my fabric posts and just do them when I feel like it- while keeping in mind my self imposed reminder to get busy using all this good stuff!

This is a picture of fabric I have received in the mail from fellow sewers in an online fabric swap. It's so great because I have traded fabric I had too much of or was tired of, and got great stuff that I really wanted! Everyone's been so nice and generous- it's been a lot of fun and a lot cheaper than just buying new fabric!

Block Exchange

The easiest block exchange I have done yet. Two simple nine-patch squares. Luckily the person included her own fabrics because as far as batiks go, i only have ugly scraps of some from Joann's. These batiks were GORGEOUS and made me want to buy some!

I won!

I entered a giveaway today and won a fat quarter each of Tula Pink's newest fabric line: Plume! I am SO excited! You can see the fabric here.

Donkey's wearing rain boots

Enough said.

Easiest Quilt Pattern Ever!

Sew a nine-patch of 5.5 inch squares together. Cut down the middle.

Cut through the sides, twice.

Now you have 4 unique squares with a lot less piecing than you might have normally done.

I am making another sock monkey quilt- it might actually end up to be 2 quilts because I didn't plan the layout very carefully and I would be kind of embarrassed to give someone a very long rectangular type of quilt.... We'll see what I decide. I do love this fabric!

Apple Pincushion

Tie Onesie

Possibly one of the only cute baby boy "accessories," out there: the illustrious tie onesie. I almost made this one before Gregory was even born because I thought it was so cute! (But I didn't even know if I was having a boy- so I didn't).

This project was so easy, it actually took me longer to decide on what fabric to use than to actually make it. I finished it in 15 mins. He wore it today to church and it was a big hit! For all the family who read this, here's some cute pictures of my guy sporting the duds. I found this picture hilarious because he never wears hats and he hates them- but he looks so cute in a little beanie. He wore it for all of 10 seconds.

This was this morning when he had a short little nap before we left for church.

Inspiration

I want to make this quilt. That is all.

Pear Pincushion

Baby Boy Quilt

When I spotted this cute baby boy print, I knew I had to get it! If you can't tell from the picture, it's little white airplanes on a blue background.

Here is my favorite block:

I took these pictures outside with the goal of trying to have better lighting- but it was FREEZING!

I think I am going to try to quilt this one soon after studying up on how to machine quilt!