Easter Sunday Stash

The Easter Bunny arrived and left all kinds of fabric. Once the ham coma lifts, I'm going to do a little quilting. Happy spring!

Awkward

I received a sweet package from my buddy Yumi in Japan. She always spoils me.

I love this pretty pouch. Yumi is a very talented sewer and quilter.

She sent these fun Japanese prints. I adore these!

Look at the cute selvage!

Anyone remember cassette tapes?

The English on Japanese prints are notorious and hilarious. It's one of the reasons I love them.

Come on smiled!!

I conclude this post with proof I really am a silly teenage girl. Taylor Swift polka dot Keds. Yes. They were on sale, but I might have paid full price if I. Maybe I'll save my dignity and take off the brass guitar pick. At least I gave up the saddle shoes. They weren't even popular when I was young, but my friend and I wore them like we were raised in the 50s. Goofs.

And I can always tone the Keds down with my new socks. I may need a stylist.

I made a pouch to match. Kidding.

Time Flies When You're Having Fun!

Cotton + Steel selvage birthday coaster.

Here's the back. I'm still fussy cutting this hilarious fabric. I think I'm about out of it, but I kind of hope I have a hunk stashed somewhere.

Our guild's BOM. The economy block, or square in a square. I got carried away and made four. They're pretty fun.

This is the charity quilt made for Quiltcon 2016. Our group consisted of seven ladies throughout the US. We communicated via email and came up with this traditional sampler quilt with an improv spin. I love how it turned out. It will be donated to a firefighter's organization. Our guild made a beautiful quilt as well, so I was able to participate in two of the charity quilts.

This little ditty is vacationing in Utah this month. Actually, it's getting quilted. I sent two others too.

 The backing came from my stash.

 Cool selvages.

Finally finished this hot pad at Sew Day yesterday.

And a quickie baby top using donated embroidery squares. We're making quilts for charity.

Found a cute way to use some hexies. I think I'll use mine for a coaster, but I might have to make some hot pads too!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope everyone is spending some time having fun.

Myself, I'll be playing with fabric. Some new ones, too! Lucky me!

Cotton & Steel prints keep growing on me. Loved these two by Melody Miller.

Sale stuff. I have some Dr. Seuss in my stash, so this panel will whip up into a quick quilt. I kind of want a Dr. Seuss quilt! I'm sure I'll find a kid who would love a Seuss quilt.

I won this Blueberry Park charm square pack at our guild meeting. Really love these prints. Such great colors, too. There's a cool version I might have to add to my collection.

Two-inch half square triangles from the trimmings of my purse strings blocks. There are only 320. Might make a cute something. They're all sewn together, I just need to finish trimming them. I'm using this super easy method that I wish I would have learned long ago. Here are some tutorials that show how. Half Square Triangle Trimming. And if you have an easy angle ruler, this way is even easier. Am I the last quilter that didn't know about this tip?

My Try the World box was from Thailand this time. I made the tom yum soup this afternoon and it is the bomb! I haven't tried anything else, but I will.

Look maw, I'm eating vegetables with my bleu cheese and baguette. Caramelized onions are a vegetable, right? We don't normally watch football, but the Super Bowl was a great excuse to eat tapas for dinner. I might even swing it again for Valentine's Day dinner.

Sunday Fun Day!

Finally found a way to hang my temporary design wall (aka flannel backed vinyl tablecloth). I've tried painter's tape, packaging tape, duct tape, and push pins. Seems that heavy cans of tomatoes and iron toy sewing machines are the best solution. Now I have no excuse not to vacuum my studio. I usually put my blocks on my design floor.

I attended World Quilt Florida right here in Orlando a few weeks ago. There were some interesting quilts and I had a little fun with the fabric vendors. I found some deals at the Pineapple Fabrics booth. Kaffe Fassett shot cottons and woven stripes on the left and a bundle of fun retro, novelty prints.

Charm squares!

Caught these in a sale.

I made a quilted planner cover for the quilting calendars our guild ordered. This is the outside. I fell in love with this retro comic book fabric. It's from Alexander Henry and called "Home Sewing is Easy." There's a second version, too.

Here's the inside. Skull and scissors crossbones and polka dots. Of course. The orange biz card holder is too small, but my cards fit in vertically.The polka dots are pockets.

Thats a zipper there! Easy peasy. I can cram all kinds of writing instruments in there.

Here's the planner installed. Now to schedule some sewing time!

I acquired a few books over the holidays.

Just look at that paella! We went to a paella party at Rene's house. Lots of fun company! Not only was the paella delicious, but th chef made appetizers and desserts to die for. We rolled ourselves out of their house! So fun and so good!

I have a Hungarian mushroom soup planned for lunch. It's so cold here. I'm changing up the recipe and adding in some celery, carrots, and the white wine I steeped the oyster mushrooms in. I'll use white mushrooms too. I'm in a cooking mood today, so no telling what gets made. 

Finished 20 Purse Strings blocks in pinks, yellows, and oranges. I wish I had made the 15" blocks, but I chose 12". I loved My Quilt Infatuation's color scheme, so I stuck with that. It's a fun and easy block and now I have 320 half square triangles from the trimmings. And yeah, I'm sewing those together. Scrappy, crazy, goodness.

On to more projects! And food! Have a great week!

Tap, tap, tap...is this thing on?

Oh, hi! I've missed the blog world so much. Miss reading blogs, miss writing blog posts, and recipe and quilt "research." And you! Not in a stalkier way either.

I made an ugly table runner from selvage blocks. These were part of the trimmings I mixed with white and I really like how they turned out, so maybe I'm on to something. I'm still rich in selvages, so plenty of projects in my future.

These Raspberry Kisses blocks were a guild BOM. Aren't they darling at 4.25" unfinished? I'd love to make a baby quilt with the little cuties.

Improv blocks for our guild's Quiltcon 2016 charity quilt. I saw the quilt getting bound yesterday at Sew Day and it is exquisite! I want to copy these blocks too! So many projects for the new year!

I had a little fun carving a pink eraser into a stamp.

More BOM blocks. I don't usually get to go to the meetings because of real job, but I do love doing the BOM. More improv on these little trees.

I finished this little mini on our quilt retreat in November. What a fun time! I can't wait until next year.

I had some time off work during the holidays and was able to sew, cook, visit, and binge watch TV. I've seen Transparent and Nurse Jackie to round out my inappropriate television viewing addiction. They're both really good if you haven't seen them.