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!

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,

Full.

Full. Life has been so full lately. Full of baby celebration. Full of anticipation and excitement (and nerves of course). And full of food. Gosh I want food all.of.the.time.

The middle photograph is the babes quilt which I made. I'm really becoming fond of quilting - it's so soothing. 

Lots of love - have a wonderful Easter Weekend.

A Quilt For My Nest.

The quilt is done. If you are curious about the process I've had making the quilt and the cost/material breakdown click here (a side note, I did end up adding 12 more quilt blocks to the original design, thus increasing the cost a bit).

Here are two different views. I love how the quilt always looks a bit different depending on which pattern block you focus on.



I used a few different tutorials but the most useful I found was on the blog Diary of a Quilter. In particular I used this tutorial for piecing all of my layers of the quilt together. There are thorough directions on this lovely blog to help you complete a quilt from start to finish.

I used a lovely vintage sheet for the inside lining of the quilt. The price was right and I adore the print.


The vintage sheet came with matching pillow cases so I have matching pillowcases for the quilt. I think it's a unique addition to the set.


There is something so satisfying about making something for yourself start to finish. I also adore indulging in activities that were done over a hundred years ago. I think I did underestimate how much work this project would be - but I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Have a wonderful Sunday.

Loves!

Have a Wonderful Week

I'll be away most of this week on lovely Vancouver Island visiting some relatives and doing a bit of sight seeing. I cannot believe summer is almost over, my heart has been heavy lately at the thought of September. Fall is such a beautiful season with lots of lovely festitivites and food - I'm certain I will perk up soon awaiting the coming months.

P.S. Do you see the quilt folded on the bed? Yes! It is finally finished, I'll have some new pics up soon!

I hope you have a lovely week!

Loves!

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!

Weekending and Sewing

Happy Tuesday! There was a long weekend here in Canada so today feels like Monday. Our long weekend was lovely and busy. We made our first big purchase in forever, some outdoor furniture. It felt like such a grown up purchase, but we did so enjoy having a little bbq last night and eating outside on the new table and chairs. The photograph above is my favorite way to have salmon. Sea salt and a bit of lemon juice. Let the fillet sit for 10-15 minutes to mellow then bbq.

This week work commences on the quilt. I think I underestimated exactly how much work this project will be, but it is enjoyable. I'm certain I will be proud of the finished project. I keep sidetracking and starting on other small sewing projects for fun.

Recently I made this cute pincushion. I used a pattern from paper.string.cloth it was easy to follow and only took a few minutes to complete.


I also started on a Dresden Plate. I read a few quilting blogs and kept seeing these lovely quilt blocks everywhere. I love the history of sewing. For example the Dresden Plate was popular in America in the 1920's and 1930's when making quilts. I love that people are still making quilts that were made almost 100 years ago. If you are curious about Dresden Plates the tutorial I used is here. I need to remember to take some photographs of mine.

I'm planning on a quiet morning here, perhaps working a bit on my knitting and enjoying a cup of tea. Have a wonderful Tuesday.

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!