A little obsessed.

I am certain that my constant desire to sew, sew, sew lately is to distract me from our sweet babe - who is set to come any day now. Last night while I couldn't sleep I spent many an hour swooning over fabric on Etsy. I feel an amazing tinge of excitement when I connect with a piece of fabric that inspires me.

Here is what I'm coveting,

The theme is linen. 

 

All of these fabrics are from UniqueShiny. Check them out and swoon with me. 

Lots of loves and a very happy Monday to you!

 

Quilting Love.

A little while ago I posted about a quilt that I was starting work on using this tutorial from a cuppa and a catch up.  I loved how easy and fun the process looked. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) when I began the quilt my sewing machine went kaput. I visited a locally owned sewing machine shop and fell madly in love with a very pricy but beautiful sewing machine. Before I knew it the machine (thankfully last years model so it was discounted) was on my kitchen table and ready to quilt. I still shudder thinking about the cost of the machine, however I try to see it as an investment for me and my family. I am a gal that loves to get her sew on. I made the quilt using various fabrics from my local Fabricland - nothing too fancy just nice quilters cotton. I also made the binding on the quilt (my first time ever doing this) - and I am sold on forever more making my own binding. The binding is soft (because it's made from the same cotton used in the quilt) - and it is much more homey looking then store bought. Sure making binding is labor intensive, however I think it's worth the results when you think about how much work you put into the quilt itself. As for what I learned during the making of this quilt? I really dislike sinthetic polyester batting or lining. I've only ever used cotton batting and this time I chose polyester. I can tell by feeling the quilt it just isn't the same - I also had problems with the batting shifting and morphing into weird shapes when I was quilting. Oh well lesson learned. On the back (or front, whichever way you look at it) of the quilt I made three Dresden Plate's using this tutorial from Sew, Mama, Sew! I've used that tutorial before for Dresden's and I really love the way the quilt blocks turn out.

Gosh I'm sad to see this little throw quilt go - the bright spring fabrics make me so happy! The quilt is going to a good home though - it's all ready for my Mother in Law's birthday this early May.







Up next on my sewing to-do list is this interesting looking playmat tutorial from Amy Gibson of Stitchery Dickory Dock via the Moda Bakeshop. I think the play mat will be perfect for our little babe (who is set to arrive any day now!).

I ordered some fabulous fabric off Etsy a little while ago (which was mostly Moda fabric by coincidence) and I spent today cutting out oodles and oodles of circles by hand for the play mat.

Have a wonderful Wednesday! We have fun plans tonight for my beau's birthday - staying in with a bit of barbequing and I made a yummy cheesecake which I'm sure will be devoured.

Loves!

The Summer Quilt

I mentioned my summer quilt project here and here and even here. I spent a few days cutting out about 200 of the white squares that I needed for the project. I already had my lovely contrast fabric details that were pre cut for me that I bought together.


Work has finally begun on the quilt blocks. I've made 20 or so and have only about 6 more to go.




I've made the quilt so far with frugality in mind. I spent 12$ on the pack of beautiful fabric that I'm using for the middle of the block. The white fabric I was going to buy by the yard, but instead I opted to buy 2 Ikea white sheets and just cut them up. The two sheets totaled 8$. I also spent 6$ on the lovely vintage sheet which is behind the quilt blocks in the photograph. I'll be using that sheet for the backing of the quilt. So far my total is about 26$, and all I have left to buy is some batting for the middle. I'm hoping this will be relatively inexpensive.


I cant wait to share some photographs when the quilt is finished.

Are you working on something fun and creative?

Loves!

Vacationing

I am still on my wonderful summer vacation. There is something very liberating about waking up in the morning and designing your day exactly the way you want it to go. Most of the time it doesn't turn out as perfect as I envision, but it is truly fabulous. I am slowly working my way through a list I created that includes all of the things I want to accomplish with my time off. I blogged a little about that list in my Quilting Inspiration post. My list is a lot longer then the one I described there, but I am happy to report that I can cross one project off.

I have learned a little bit about knitting.


This is just a simple Garter Stitch. So far I have just knitted squares, this is a slightly bigger square. I'm thinking it might be a nice face cloth. Isn't it wonderful making something from simple materials?

I have worked a little on my quilt. All of the squares are cut out and stacked up on my sewing table waiting to be sewn. I need some more motivation to start that project!

I have always dreamed of painting a water color. I love how happy and cheery water colors look. So here are my recently purchased supplies. I'm excited to listen to some soft music and paint something simple and fun.


Accompanying me today while painting is delicious homemade iced tea. I used this recipe from Babble.com. I have to say it tastes pretty fabulous.

Mmmm steamy tea steeping.


I added the juice of two lemons to the pitcher of iced tea.



Are you on vacation?
Do you have any projects that you dream of accomplishing?
What is your idea of the perfect day?
I'd love to hear your thoughts <3

Have a wonderful Thursday!

This Weekend

We went to Ikea with friends and I bought the fancy white quilt pictured above. I love layering fabrics and different blankets.
I made a big batch of chicken stock from scratch. My house smelled like soup.
We ran errands. There was a lot of driving involved but it felt successful to get it done.
I watched movies. Something like 6 movies. 4 movies alone yesterday. I haven't done that in years.
I made some cute felt food. I was inspired by adorable felt food from Etsy.

Here is my salad,



We also visited my landlords beautiful farm. He pulled potatoes right from the earth and tossed them in a bag for us. He also pulled up some onions and dill for us.


I cant wait to roast these babies up this week.

Otherwise I was in my sweatpants most of the weekend. It was lovely and relaxing. I just started a big pot of Chicken and Rice soup (recipe, Nourishing Traditions). I think a delicious soup for dinner will be the perfect way to start the week.

How was your weekend?

Loves!

Happy Friday and some DIY

Happy Friday friends! This danish has nothing to do with anything except that it was delicious and so beautiful I had to snap a picture of it. Mmmm danish!

I have had this lovely jewelry box for awhile now. I spotted it at the thrift months ago and scooped it up for 3$. At the time it had no hardware and the paint on it was peeling. I sanded painted this baby with Martha Stewart's paint in A Glass of Milk. The handles are from Ikea and cost 1.99 for all 6! The piece comes off a little yellowed in the pictures, it is in fact a nice white color. Our weather has been stormy here lately making natural light photographs tricky.


I lightly distressed the edges so the piece looked a little worn and well loved. I originally was planning on using it to store craft supplies, however I've decided to keep it on my dresser to store jewelry. I am just a little too in love with it to let it go into the dark sewing room.

Gosh don't you just love the scalloped edges at the bottom of it?


I recently tackled another little DIY project with this piece of art. I took an old beat up board and stenciled on some parts of Ingrid Michaelson's song You and I. I stenciled ornate swirls on before doing the letters, but I think it makes it look a little busy. A good learning lesson for next time!


It feels so good to have some projects completed that have been on the go forever. Do you have anything you've been meaning to get to accomplishing? I still have about a million other things I'd like to get done.

Have a wonderful Friday!

Quilting Inspiration

Another Wednesday is upon us!

Can you believe it is June? My heart flutters at the thought of it. Come July I will be on vacation.. for 2 months! I can just imagine all of the relaxing and reading I will be doing. I also have some small travel plans and want to get some things done around the house.

I've started compiling a list of things I want to get accomplished. Some of these things are,

• Learn to knit. I have needles. And yarn. And a how-to book with photographs. I will do this!
• Can tons of jams and soups - enough to last us the winter.
  
• Make a quilt. Just for me. Often whenever I hit my sewing machine it's for a gift for someone else. I have big plans to make a large quilt for us for the summer months that wont be as heavy as our duvet. I'm planning on making it white, using inexpensive white broadcloth and splurging on a beautiful fabric for some of the smaller details. I'm thinking an Amy Butler fabric as I did get a nice gift card for my birthday to a more expensive specialty fabric shop that does carry Amy Butler fabrics.
  

Here is a bit of inspiration - I love the idea of a modern quilt. Keep in mind mine will mainly be white with some pops of color.

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I know I haven't found the inspiration photo yet, but I am off to a good start. I'm thinking about doing a 9 patch pattern, but I'm still on the fence about it. I'm planning on going to my local thrift store to buy an inexpensive pattern book. I think this is one project I should learn more about before beginning.

Loves!

Porcelaine

Happy rainy Monday!

Today I thought I would share a ridiculously easy and inexpensive project. Porcelaine is a neat type of paint that adheres to ceramic. Best of all it comes in a pen dispenser so you can get fairly good accuracy.


I bought mine at Michaels, I think the pen was around 7$ but I used a 40% off coupon.

I purchased this lovely mug at my local goodwill for 2$. I took a before photo of the mug but I can't seem to find it.


I loved the detailing on the handle.

I was inspired by a few different Etsy pieces that I have seen. The design is basically a very simple little tea bag hanging down from the cup. I don't think mine is as professional looking but I am certainly no artist (I had to get the beau to help with some of the work). I wanted to start small as this was my first Porcelaine project.


The process is really easy. The pen is a lot like a sharpie, you draw on what you want. Let dry for 24 hours then bake at 150* in your oven for 35 minutes.

Then you are done! I think the instructions said it was dishwasher safe but I would still advise to hand wash and not scrub directly on the image to preserve it.

I signed the bottom of my cup,


I know I will be keeping my eyes peeled when vintage shopping for more cute pieces of ceramic that I can experiment on.

My gal pal at Reckless Bliss had showed me this beautiful mug from Anthropologie, I think making a copy cat might be my next Porcelaine project!

(Image Source)

Have a lovely start to the week!

P.S. I'm linking up to
Brag Monday at the Graphics Fairy.