Easily Distracted

I was easily distracted today. I fully intended to work on Return to Sender today but I got thinking about how I have to go back to work at the college I work at after having the summer off, and I decided I needed a new lunch bag. I got the pattern at the Fat Quarter Shop.


I had a bunch of Amy Butler prints on hand and I had to use a few of them because I did not have the right amount of any one fabric as suggested by the pattern. But I am on a stash busting journey so it works for me. It has lots of pockets inside for I don't know what. Maybe they're meant for chocolate bars!
In the meantime Return to Sender awaits and if I don't get distracted again I'll get back to it.

Something Quilty

You must think I don't quilt anymore but there has been some quilty things going on. Just got distracted by nice weather and a sick cat which have nothing to do with each other. Anyhoo, I made a baby quilt for a shower that is coming up.
I used all scraps in this quilt which is a big goal of mine this past year in order to use up what I have. I had several juvenile prints that I had used previously.
And you might recognize the layout as that same as I did in the vegetable quilt below.

It's such an easy layout to do by either separating the fabrics by value, as in the baby quilt, or by design, as in the vegetable quilt. So next up is the Miss Rosie pattern, Return to Sender with all scraps again. Lots of rotary cutting in my future!

I'm Here-Can You See Me Waving?

Honest to goodness, I'm still here. I think after being in winter prison here in NH for such a horrible winter, when the first hint of spring emerged we were all like in the Shawshank Redemption, outside with our arms raised to the sky saying, "I'm Free!" So hubby and I, but especially hubby, have been getting caught up on outdoor chores and I have been enjoying the walks with Baby C when I babysit him. I think we are almost due for a post from Baby C since he is one now. Maybe this Friday. He has changed so much since that first post last year.

Most of the time has been spent at work. I work at a college and the end of the year is so busy. But graduation happened Saturday and new shiny faces will be here in August and I have the summer off starting next week. A new cycle begins. Perhaps I can get to the sewing machine and finish Fruit of the Loom, or whatever I end up calling that quilt. Plus many other UFO's that need attention.

So I promise, more posts coming. Until then, happy quilting, or thrifting, or knitting or whatever you do for fun.

Ginger Belle

My Ginger Belle quilt came back from my awesome long arm quilter today. She is a very creative woman. I never tell her what to do on my quilts or what color thread I want and she never disappoints. It takes a lot of trust with someone to let them take your creation and hope they see your vision but Susan always does.
This quilt came out more autumn looking that I expected so she took it from there. I used almost all scraps from my stash in this one.
She used a wonderful leaf pattern that I think looks perfect.
And I am happy to report that our winter/fall-like weather left us for at least today. It was 59 degrees on my car thermometer so I did what all New Englanders do when it gets blazing hot like that-they open their car windows and sun roof! It was also Red Sox opening day at Fenway Park so spring must be here. If that's the case why do I still have snow in my front yard?

The Cure for Cabin Fever

Still snowing off an on here if you can believe it. Cabin fever has set in but a good cure is to pull out some happy fabrics and start sewing. I have actually got all the blocks ready to go together for this quilt but I needed to get something done quick for a pick me up. So I did another one of this pattern that I have done here and here. Since heating fuel is so expensive we tend to keep the house cool so I sit with one of these quilts on my legs at night. It's the perfect size. This is my spring version. I know I'll be making other versions too.

I found this delightful tulip fabric at a local quilt shop in the bargain corner for $2.99 and the rest of the fabrics are from my stash.
My favorite long arm quilter once again did a wonderful job and I am in the process of sewing on the binding.
Now if only spring would show it's face and we'd see some of these little bumble bees I'd be a happy camper! Until then I'll be in the sewing room.

Sitting and Sewing

Still very winter here in NH so I have been getting a lot of time behind the sewing machine when I'm not at work. I've been working on my Ginger Belle quilt and it is coming along. Had to make a lot of these 3 1/2" blocks........

so that I could put them together into these two blocks.

I have managed to use a lot of scraps up which is a good feeling. The quilt is definitely getting an autumn look to it. Can't wait to put it all together. That's what I like about quilting; you start with a big pile of fabric, you cut it up and make a mess, then you make order out of the mess and magic happens!

In the Meantime....

Thanks for all the opinions on the last post about Extreme Home Makeover. As a last note about this subject, it was in our local paper this week that the new home owners are going to auction off all the artwork and some of the accessories in the home to help other families who lost homes so that is good. I'm done ranting!

On to other things like quilts. I have started a new quilt. The pattern is Ginger Belle by Miss Rosie's Quilt Company, whose patterns I love. So I've been sorting, and ironing and cutting fabric as I am trying to only use scraps.
But it's not all scraps as I bought some backing fabric and binding fabric from the Rhubarb and Ginger line from Moda that was used in the original. I'm using the excess of this fabric in the field of the top. It would be a lot easier to start with nice neat fat quarters as far a cutting goes but I am determined to use my stash.
So after work each day I've been sorting and ironing and got to some sewing this weekend, in between my SIL's surprise 50th birthday party and a football game I'd rather not remember.
Now would someone please come over and refold the leftovers and put them away? One of my cats keeps eyeing this pile as a nice place for a nap.

A Cold Breezy Day

A very cold day here in the north so a good day to watch the Patriots and sew the binding on this quilt which I got back from my quilter. I think she did an excellent job picking a design and a thread color for this colorful quilt. It sure feels good over my legs keeping them warm as I sew. It's always about this time of year I dream of an escape to Florida!
I also got my Valentine quilt back and once again she did a great job with a cute heart design in red and I have already sewn the binding on this one. I love sitting with it on my lap in the evening when I am unwinding.I haven't been in too many thrift or second hand stores recently but I did find this drying rack recently that I am using as a quilt rack. I love the green color of the chippy paint and it's perfect for my smaller quilts in my family room.


So that's about it. I have been very busy at work as second semester starts at the college where I am employed so that's the excuse I'm using for the lack of posts. That's the curse and the blessing of working in academics. You have very busy times rewarded by long stretches of time off. I'm counting the days until the next stretch of time off. Spring break-soon, very soon.

Primary Day and a Valentine Quilt

It's primary day in NH and despite it being 7 degrees last week, today it was 61 degrees! I know that won't last. Anyways, there was an amazing amount of people voting when I went to vote. Politics is a very interesting process in NH and I like all the excitement. I won't miss the 40 calls a day from politicians but I will miss the occasional encounter with a candidate.

I was supposed to go back to work yesterday but when I got there Fox News Radio was using my work area for broadcasting so I got to come home and enjoy two more days off from work. The presidential debates were at the college where I work last Saturday and Fox News has been there ever since. I'll be glad when they are gone-I miss work and they take all the good parking spaces!

But I have used the time to finish up another quilt-this one for Valentines Day. It's the same pattern as a Christmas one I made that I wrote about here and here. I love this pattern and am planning on making a series of them with holiday themes.
I started with this wonderful Marcus Brothers Valentines Day fabric by the same designers as the Christmas fabric I used previously. It has poems from old valentines and wonderful vintage images all over. The line is called "Sweet Valentine" if you are looking for it and the designers are Edelen Wille.
I also used some of the companion prints in this line and I especially like the toile like fabric.
So off to my quilter it went and back to work I go tomorrow.

Snuggled In

No offense to Kim at Daisy Cottage who complained about it being in the 30's in Florida this morning, but it is mighty cold here in NH-below zero. We have had yet more snow-one storm on December 30th and one on New Year's Day-so we are snuggled in with the wood stove going trying to stay warm. I took this picture at dusk yesterday to show you that the snow is half way up the windows on the lower floor.

But it's nice to be still be on vacation from work. I got some extra time off because the presidential candidates are having a debate this Saturday at the college where I work and we got kicked out of our building by Fox news who are using it for a headquarters until primary day. Hey I'll take the extra time off because it gives me time to do this...
I'm making a quilt for someone special and have been able to spend time in my sewing room working away. The fabric is Chocolate Lollipop from the delightful Anna Maria. The red and pink fabric is the backing.
I just love this happy fabric with all it's wonderful combinations of colors. Just what I needed to see on a cold gray day. I even ventured out to get it to my quilter and it had warmed up to 7 degrees by the time I got out. It's a heat wave!

Eye Candy

I am trying to step out of my usual quilting fabric box and try something new so I have this fabulous fabric on hand and no idea what to do with it.

I am really inspired by some of the fabric designers out there like Anna Maria Horner, Heather Bailey and the creator of this bunch, Amy Butler. Such beautiful designs and with the wonderful colors, it sometimes seems a shame to cut them up.

I remember the very first quilt I made. I was newly married and took a class at a local school in the evening. I bought a bunch of fabric we couldn't afford and, horror of horrors, proceeded to cut up perfectly good fabric into little pieces! I finished it but never like it and it wasn't until a few years later when I took another class with a really great teacher that I fell in love with the process and didn't look at cutting up the fabric as a crime. Maybe I should just play with these a while longer and admire them on my cutting table before I cut them up.

I've Been A.W.O.L.

Sorry for the lack of posts but we've been busy around here. I am back to work and we were furiously installing a bamboo floor, which I love, so not much computer time. Anyways, the floor is done thanks to some very good help.

Isn't great that I have a daughter who loves power tools! And don't worry-despite the wrong footwear no toes injuries were incurred. She is a handy young woman. She does a fair amount of repairs and installations in her own old home. Her husband was there helping too. The floor went in easily but these old backs are sore from bending over that nailer. Just when you think it's time to rest I made my husband move some furniture into the room.

We bought the chairs when we were in Maine and the table we bought quite a while ago in a local antique store. It matches the one in our kitchen. The china cabinet we have had for years and the rug under the table used to be my Mom and Dad's.The coffee table I found at a consignment store, the striped rocking chair in the forground used to be my grandfather's and I am going to attempt to make a slip cover with the blue fabric. The great black phone, which I call Big Bertha because it is very heavy, used to be my mother in law's who decided not to take it with her when she moved. It's very difficult to dail a number with those old rotary dails!This craftsman style desk has been cut down so we got it for a good price and are going to use it for a large television. The little table and chairs are for my grandson.

The hearth here is two inch slate tiles which will get installed and grouted at a later date. There will also be the same tiles surrounding the fireplace and some sort of wood trim. We haven't thought that through completely yet.

And here is my sideboard which I have been loading up with some of my many dishes.
I hope you enjoyed this little tour. We are thrilled to have a room that more than a few people can fit in without being on top of each other as they were before in our tiny living room. We are looking forward to many happy celebrations here. Wish you all were here!

There is Some Sewing Going on Too

You'd think from all the construction talk that it's destruction and construction all the time here but that is not entirely the case. There is some sewing going on this summer. I have summers off from work so I do a fair amount of sewing in the summer since there is such a bonus of time available to me. And with just a couple of weeks left until I return to work I am trying to get some things finished. So here are a few for you to view.

I organized my fabric at the beginning of the summer and decided I really needed to start using more of my stash which is so hard to do with such wonderful fabrics coming from such creative women like Anna Maria and Heather. So that is where this quilt came from, my stash, except the backing which I did not have enough of any one or a few fabrics to piece together. It does not show the borders in this picture but it has two. The pattern is "Full Bloom" from Miss Rosie's Quilt Company.

Then I also made this which is actually going to be a Christmas tree skirt. I love that the fabrics don't scream "Christmas". The colors go nice with the colors I have in my house. The fabric collection is called "Yuletide Blessings".

I also made this quilt from a kit and I'm getting ready to put it together and quilt it with some fun varigated thread. And talk about fun-I love the fireworks fabric for the backing that I got from my local quilt shop.

So as I stare the end of summer in the face I hope everyone is enjoying theirs.