Happy Friday!!!

Today is going to be awesome.  I can tell. 

First, thank you for all your comments about the Bento Box quilt.  I feel so much better after our pep talk.  I'm just going to go for it.  w00t!

Second, lookie what I got in the mail... from Jennifer Paganelli. 

It's Poodle from Sis Boom.

It's gorgeous!!!

 Thank you Jennifer!!!  : )

 Yes, it's going to be a very good day.

Happy Friday Peeps,
-A

Are you sure about that?

Since Tuesday, I've been sewing up a storm.  This project has got me buzzing.  My vision, a bento box quilt, using Amy Butler's Love collection in the Soul colorway (with extra polka dots sprinkled in for good measure) and Robert Kaufman Essex in Putty.  The bento blocks are fun and easy to do. Everything was going pretty well.

I

I got all the main blocks done this afternoon.  And then...

I cut them in quarters and started mixing them up.

And then I started playing around on the design wall.

And then I started panicking... just a little.  

I kept thinking to myself, are you sure about that?  I do really like the top row of the first layout.  The busyness of all the prints together is overwhelming me.  This shows 3 squares by 4 squares, but I actually have a 4 by 6... so bigger and more to play with.  The key is going to be balancing the colors and the scale of the prints.  Hmmm, are the alternating squares any better?  I'm going to sleep on it.  Sleep is good.

-A

I just had to...

Setting projects aside and giving into compulsion.  I just had to.  They made me do it.  : )

I'm a cutting madwomen today.  Making plans.  I will be back in a couple of days with more to share.

-A

Log Cabin Finished!

measures 60"x75"

Simple Abundance by Bonnie & Camille for Moda

Flannel for the back.  Quilted with organic lines echoing the log cabins on the front.

I used a large scale print from the collection in order to get splashes of all my favorite colors from the front. 

Phew. Finished! Thanks for the movie reccomendations. : )

-A

This weekend, Quilting Marathon

The end is in sight.  I can see the finish line.  I need a good movie tonight so I can finish up the binding.  Any suggestions?

(I love the polka dots reflected on my foot)

Banana Bread

The fall fairies have been delayed.  We have a heat wave predicted for next week.  We are going from 76 to 96 degrees.  I'm enjoying my banana bread in complete denial.

Banana Bread Recipe:

1 1/2 C. all purpose Flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon (Saigon cinnamon highly recommended)

3 Lg. bananas, overripe, mashed

3/4 C. sugar

1 egg

1/3 C. butter, melted and cooled.

1 tsp. vanilla

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease one loaf pan.

2) In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

3) In a large bowl, combine bananas, sugar, egg, butter and vanilla

4) Fold in flour mixture.  DO NOT overmix.  Just stir it together until moist.

5) Bake 50 minutes.

Mmmmm, it smells so good.  : )

-A

Sunday Stash 03

I heart bliss by Bonnie & Camille.

Charm packs for now.

Some favorites.

Happy Sunday!

-A

Pop Quiz

Q: What does the following list have in common?

• Rouenneries
• Freebird
• Botany
• Verna
• Hunky Dory
• Plume
• Chirp

A: They are all on sale right now at Hancocks of Paducah for $5 or less.  Get outta town!!!  I love a good fabric sale.  : )

Gone Basting

Fall is coming.  I can smell it in the mornings when I wake up.  Suddenly an urge to quilt a quilt.  Out from my pile of tops came this pretty little thing.  I got it basted last night.

This quilt was started last year as part of a wonky log cabin quilt along.  I discovered I was not very wonky.  Any wonkiness your see is not  intentional wonky just new quilter wonky.  Around the same time, I found this wonderful tutorial.  Larrissa taught me all about strip piecing and inspired my quilt.  I am so happy that the time has come to finish this one.  It's been waiting long enough.  I cannot wait to quilt it!

More from Flickr:

1. Cozy Cabin, In Progress, 2. Simple Abundance for QAL

Next time...a lovely crinkled quilt to share.
-A

Quilters Start Your Enginges

Lookie what I just read in my blog reader!!!

• 4 Modern Quilt Challenges
• 4 Awesome judges: Valori Wells, Malka Dubrawsky, Pokey Bolton and Denyse Schmidt
• Prizes!  The Grand Prize is a Janome Horizon Memory Craft 7700QCP.
• All levels of quilters welcome.

Read all about it on the Modern Quilt Guild Blog


Wow.  What a line up.  I am so excited!!!  (as if you couldn't tell by the number of !!! in this post.)

Sunday Stash 02

Oh how I love me some dots!  These are really soft and smooth.  I can't wait to work little bits of them in my projects.

Kei Honeycomb Dots in tangerine, light green, black, red, pink, gray

Happy Sunday.  See you next week...
-A

Mama Interrupted

As my kids get older (4 and 2) I can find pockets of playtime to sew.  They *need* me as much any more.  Usually they do their own thing, trains, babies, etc...  Sometimes they sit at the table with me and cut and glue fabric scraps to paper.  Sometimes total chaos erupts out of nowhere.  This was one of those times.

These blocks should be the same size.  Oh dear!  That small one may be destined for the "signature" block on the back.  Please tell me I'm not alone!!  Mama, do you get interrupted?

The Kaleidoscope ruler leaves you with scraps when you trim up your blocks.  It's not really waste, but I couldn't throw the leftovers out.  My poor Happy Campers!

I found this silly little 2 1/2" square ruler.  I bought it before I started quilting and  I don't remember why!  It fits perfectly on the scraps.

Aw. Aren't they cute?

More to come after the littles go to bed.  : )
-A

Two More for the Linen Closet

Two more pillowcases for the linen closet.  The kids handpicked these fabrics at fabricworm.  I will try just about anything to keep them in their beds all night.  Now they both have a special Mama made pillow.  These have already been flopped on and tossed around by the kids today.  Hmm, I think this is the last time these pillowcases will be ironed.  I'm looking forward to them getting used and loved.

 Wheels by Riley Blake

I overheard my son whispering to my daughter, "these are ours and we can switch them whenever we want."

Summer Song by Riley Blake, Bird Talk by Ellen Crimi-Trent

If I make them again, I'm picking a scatter print fabric.  The sideways trees and stop signs are bothering me a little bit.  I really like the stripes and dots for the accents.  Some of you mentioned these would make great gifts.  I totally agree!  Is anyone else starting to think of holiday gift ideas?

-A

Look Ma, I Made a Pillowcase!

Sometimes you just need a quick, gratifying project.

This pillowcase tutorial is awesome!!!  All the seams are enclosed and it has a ta-da factor that I really love.  If you try it, don't think about it too much because it sounds confusing.  It's not.  There is a video too, if you need a boost.

You roll it up, sew it up and ta-da, a pillowcase!  They are kind of addicting.  I have two more in the works...  : ) 

*Disclaimer, I did NOT make the quilt.  I bought it from The Company Store a long time ago.

See you soon,
-A

Sew Fabulous Quilt Shop Blog: August 2010 Giveaway - Amy Butler Love

If you liked my LOVE quilt, you'll LOVE this! (sorry, I couldn't resist)

Jenny is giving away 15 Fat Quarters of Love. Ends 8/31

Sew Fabulous Quilt Shop Blog: August 2010 Giveaway - Amy Butler Love

-A

Points are looking good!

This is the best my points have ever been!  I am so excited.  I love learning handy little tricks like this.  Look at the 2nd page of Jennifer's tutorial if you want to her pinning technique.

I am done assembling the pinwheels, and it's time to use the kaleidoscope ruler.

Smart-Plate Quilting

I'm a little nervous...  Jennifer hasn't steered me wrong yet, so I'm just gonna do what she says.  ; )

-A

Sunday Stash 01

Hope Valley from fabricworm.   The family and I were driving through Paso Robles, Ca last week and I got to buy this in person.  Cynthia's shop is gorgeous!!!

Hope Valley by Denyse Schmidt

Diamond Dandy, Wallflower, Thistle Leaf, Four Square

Cactus Calico, Thistle Leaf

The Littles were with me and picked out some fabric for pillowcases.  They are turning into quite the fabric connoisseurs. 

Wheels by Riley Blake

Summer Song by Riley Blake, Bird Talk by Ellen Crimi-Trent

Happy Sunday!

-A

Scrappy Goodness

I'm reading Sandi's book and looking at my scraps in a new way.  There are so many possibilities.  These are my Kaleidoscope trimmings.  I'm thinking party lights, or fabric balls.  Hmmm...

My picky eater loves peanut butter.  He eats it everyday.  Sometimes twice.  We're out.  I'm off to the store.

-A

On the Worktable: Happy Campers

I've been playing with Happy Campers this week.  I love this fabric!  I picked out several of my favorite prints in blue, red and yellow.  It is destined to be a kaleidoscope quilt.  Jennifer from Sugar Stitches is running a Quilt Along.  Come play!

It starts easily enough with a bunch of Half Square Triangles (HSTs) and I had a minor setback with the wrong machine settings... out came the seam ripper.  I think I got a little too excited.  Oops.

All better now.  Everything is trimmed up and ready to be paired off.

Then I get to use my snazzy new ruler.  Good times.  : )

You can find more information about the quilt along here...
Sugar Stitches Blog: http://sugarstitches.com/blog/
Flickr Group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/kaleidoscope_quiltalong/

-A