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!

Sewing, crafting, dreaming.

Happy Monday!
The sun is out and about today - warming our chilly Vancouver toes. I have been busy working on things around the house. Nesting, nesting, nesting.

Speaking of a nest. Here is the completed bird mobile I posted about making in this blog post using this tutorial. We switched it up a bit - making it circular but everything else is about the same. The hardware we hung it on swivels so the mobile can twirl around.

 

I used all sorts of fabric scraps for the birdies. I love that when I look at each birdie I can think about what that fabric was used for in another project. Some of the fabric was used in the babe's quilt and many others in various projects around the house. My lovely beau picked out the structural branches from our yard - drilled holes in them and strung them together lovingly. It was a fun weekend project and I'm so glad that the babe will have something we both made for it. 

I have been a little fabric obsessed lately. I decided this week (at 38.5 weeks pregnant..) that I would make a throw quilt for my Mother in Law's birthday gift. I'm using this interesting looking tutorial from a cuppa and a catch up. If I have leftover fabric I'm planning on making some Dresden Plate pillows using this tutorial from Sew, Mama Sew!

Have a wonderful start to the week. 

Lots of love,

Happy Monday!

Okay, so most people don't celebrate Monday morning with that much zest. I am still on vacation though and relishing every Monday morning that I am not at work. Life has been quite busy lately, but not incredibly interesting. Whenever I watch a great fulfilling movie and it ends I always imagine every day in those characters lives as being continually interesting and rich. It's a pity to think of great characters doing laundry and cleaning the bathroom.

We have been blessed with lots of sunshine lately which has triggered something within my garden - my once weak plants are exploding and happily soaking up the rays. While weeding the other day I spotted some tomatoes growing. My tomato plants have become so thick that it was almost hard to spot them.

So lovely. I love gently bending back tomato plants, just touching the plant makes my hands smell of tomatoes. Delicious.

My many cucumber plants are all flowering. I had great success growing cucumbers last year, I'm anticipating a nice crop for this year. Pickles perhaps?

I've also been knitting lately, still working on a scarf for my beau. I took a break yesterday to work on a new pattern I had seen - It's called a seed stitch. I think it turned out quite nice. I'm still working on some tension issues, but I'm sure that will come with experience.


The pattern in front is the seed stitch, the one behind is just a plain garter.

I should mention that the happy apple and pear fabric is from Daiso. I have oodles of fabric to use up and shouldn't have purchased it, but it was too adorable. I keep dreaming up projects to use it up.

That's my little update of what has been going on here. I am still working The Quilt. The Quilt has become a title in itself, no longer is it a sweet fun project that was intended to amuse me in the summer months. Instead it has become this massive endeavor that is now covering my kitchen table. I am in the actual quilting stages which is exciting, but hard on my back. I will probably finish quilting today and just need to do the binding on the edges. I have no idea how people make these regularly for fun, the amount of work is immeasurable. I can't wait to be finished, I know it will feel like a big accomplishment.

How is your week so far?

Loves!

Fabric Love

Happy Sunday!
I hope your weekend was restful and rejuvinating. Our weekend felt very busy and rushed. I am hoping for an easy coming week.

Yesterday I went to a few fabric shops with my Mum. I have some sewing plans this summer and these lovely fabric pieces will certainly be used in them.

I loved this pattern so much. I think this fabric will become some cute pot holders or oven mitts.


This print was so fun and had a bit of a vintage feel to it. I haven't decided what it will become. Under this fabric is a lovely teal fabric that wouldn't photograph nicely (the print is rather light).



These next few fabrics are actually from Stampin' Up. I adore how feminine they look.




I purchased this lovely set for my summer quilt project. This set of fabrics is called Breakfast at Tiffany's. I think it's a fitting title for such lovely vintage prints.


Have a restful night tonight friends, tomorrow life begins once more.

Loves!