Swoon

Loulouthi Swoon

Well, I finally finished my Swoon quilt.  I can't seem to get over using Anna  Maria Horner's Loulouthi in quilts.  The patterns and colors unexpectedly work and they make me so happy.  This quilt has alot of mistakes in it!  But, it looks great if you don't examine it too closely!

It is Spring Break for me and I have been huddled inside with the stinky doggies for a week of cold rain and sleet and snow!  Today the sun came out and I bathed all the dogs, but it is still too cold for them to dry outside, so they are toasting by the fire. 

I also made two Spring shirts.  One is made from some fabric called Soul Garden which I purchased from Alewives Fabric in February. I used the Built by Wendy shirt pattern and so far, this is the shirt pattern that works best for me.  I made the other from some Nani Iro Phiona sold me last summer for a dress.  I had purchased a Hot Pattern for a placketed shirt and I used that to whip up this fun shirt.  Unfortunately, it is a bit big.  Next time I will go down a couple of sizes.  It think it will be ok belted. 

Soul Garden

Nani Iro

Urban Cowgirls meet Yellow Brick Road

 My friend, Barbara Commeau, inspiration extraordinaire made a Yellow Brick Road and of course I had to copy her.  When I saw Urban Chik's Urban Cowgirl Fatquarters, I thought it might be a good fit.  I love how it turned out.

I was going to have it quilted with a  long arm, but my frugal, New England, Do-it-Yourself nature took over and I did a little stippling on my frame with my machine and although it is not perfect, it is just fine for me. 

The back looks great patched together and especially with Moxie as a model!

Works in Progress/End of February Break

Lisette Passport Dress

 Well, it is Sunday night and my week long February Break is nearing its end.  I had such a delightful week of sewing, starting with a trip to Portland to see Rhea and Barbara at Alewives Fabric and ending with a 3 hour long lunch with Phiona at Nido's.  I haven't made anything with my purchases from Alewive's yet, but I did make some good progress on Lisette's Passport Dress with some Liberty of London purchased at Nido's.  Phiona thought I should make it two tone, but I wanted something light and fun for my daughter, Aretha's graduation from University of Vermont this Spring (Yea!). 

On the opposite end of things, I made the classiest PJ bottoms ever with the softest Nani Iro, also purchased from Nido's!  They are so comfy.  I have been day dreaming about making a robe in the same colorway, but it might be a bit of an extravagance! 

Finally, I have been working away at a Yellow Brick Road quilt inspired by my quilting muse, Barbara Commeau!  I bought some coordinating Fat Quarters by Urban Chiks called Urban Cowgirl.  I just love the homey look of it. 

Nani Iro

Urban Cowgirls in Yellow Brick Road Quilt pattern

Sigh... I love my job, so I don't regret returning, I just hope I can squeeze in some sewing time to finish my projects!

Lynn's Birds

Last summer when I had my one and only debut as a woman of craft business, my friend, Lynn was about to purchase a bird bag I made when a very saavy, aggressive shopper scooped it up!  Lynn said, "I want that bag!  Can you make me another?"  Well, 7 months later, here we are!  Was it worth the wait?  I made this one with Anna Maria Horner's pattern for the Multi-tasker Tote with Echino's Etsuko Furuya's Wish in raspberry with complimentary grape and mint Dots.  Hope Lynn likes it!

Swoon

Well, I can't help myself this February break.  I have been working such long hours, I haven't had a chance to be creative with my fabric.  All I can muster up enough energy for at the end of the day is to look at other people's projects.  When I read my friend, Rhea's Blog about the Swoon quilt, I knew I had to give it a try.  I love Anna Maria Horner's Loulouthi line and I started playing around with the colors.  Not sure how happy I am with the first one, but sometimes you don't know til you give it a whirl.  I had such a hard time with the visual spatial aspects of putting it together on the first square, but the second one was much less effortful.

As an aside, I had the pattern on my desk at work and one of the other psychologists asked me if I was learning a new intelligence test.  I said, "No, but learning this quilt has been a humbling experience!"  I like the second colorway a bit better.  I think this is the kind of work where you just have to make a bunch of squares and see what looks good!  I photographed the second on some rare snow we got this week!

Love Letters

 Well, I am a little late for Valentine's Day, but not too late for Leap Year!  I spent the entire day yesterday, well actually two days without a car, home bound with the dogs and look what kind of creativity I got up to!  First of all, as soon as Melody Miller's Ruby Star Shining came out, I ordered up a 1/2 yard of each and I am so glad I did, because it is so hard to come by these days.  So here is what I made.  I use my Ink and Spindle bag pattern and made a handbag with lots of zippered pockets on the inside for glasses, cell phone and wallet.  Then I experimented with putting a zipper in on top-I  think I am done with the magnetic snaps-doesn't quite do it for security purposes!  I have to say that I wanted this bag in the turquoise/orange colorway, but after I cut the body of the bag, I became forgetful and cut the bottom out of the same piece!  Thus leaving me with too small a piece for the body which then became a basket (see below).

Now the basket is also an Ink and Spindle pattern and this basket is going to be a gift for my great friend, Pat who loves to watch romantic comedies.  Being a guy, that makes him tip top in my book.  I am going to put a bottle of wine and my new favorite romantic comedy- The Switch with a bag of microwavable popcorn.  It all fits perfectly in this basket.  The only problem is that I love it so much that I don't want to give it away, but as I told my daughter growing up, it is important to remember to give away the things you love the best to the people you love the most.

Finally, and I am not done yet with my Love Letters-I think I can still squeak out another bag and a zip pouch, I made these nesting bags for my friend Betsy who will be at the same March Birthday dinner.  She is traveling up a storm, so these Amy Butler Origami zip pouches could be very useful and the Love Letter part might bring her good luck in the dating department.  My typewriters seem a little low, don't they.  Should have fussy cut a little better!

Leftover Christmas

Does anyone else have Christmas projects that just didn't get finished?  I started this Turning Twenty-yes, I am a little stuck on this pattern.  The fabric is a group of 20 fatquarters from Robert Kaufman's Holly Jolly line.  My friend, Connie and I had an idea that we were going to sell crafts at our local town Christmas bazaar, but neither one of us had enough time to really create enough inventory.  I just finished this quilt today.  I think it will go on one of my stepdaughter's beds for next Christmas.  Either that or Moxie will claim it for her own!