Pure + Orange = love!

My guild is having its first challenge using a charm pack of Moda's "Pure".  Well I decided to bend the rules a bit and use two packs (shhh....don't tell anyone).  I met up with Julie for dinner on Tue to pick up my packs and we had such a great time chatting and catching up!  She even had a present for me!! A tote bag and a charm pack of Collections for a Cause-Hope.  Thank you Julie!

I've been itching to make a whirlygiggle quilt and found the perfect tutorial (thanks Katie!) over at Quilting on Turtle Hill.  Off I went to the quilt shop and came home with a surprising  fabric.  I must be really wanting fall, because I came home with orange and I'm loving it!

I've made 16 blocks- here's a peak at one of them:

My poor snowbound blocks are falling behind!

I also realized I never posted pictures of Karen's blocks!  They are so pretty- thank you so much!

Off to watch Project Runway~

A whole mess of stuff

Its horrible when technology turns against you!  Keep your fingers crossed for me that my computer stays working. 

I received more of my blocks and some goodies.  They're gorgeous!

First the postman delivered Marsha's blocks and a little ornament.  Beautiful!

Then I got Mary's blocks, more embroidery thread baggies, and a magazine.  I am so touched at her thoughtfulness!! 

And then came Ann's blocks, a magazine and chocolates.  Do you think there are any chocolates left? :)

Thank you all so much!!


This week I hit the halfway mark of the pregnancy and I'm enjoying the 2nd trimester and the return of my energy!  I finally finished up the baby's quilt.  The minkee did not appreciate being quilted so its a little wonky, but its so delightfully soft that I'm OK with it. 

Hank is still unaware that it is not for him. 

I also made a nursing pillow "boppy" look-a-like.  (Also from the book Simple Sewing Projects for Baby by Lotta Jansdotter).

Which Hank also thinks is for him

Poor guy,  if only he knew how much things are going to change!!

I LOVE the flannel fabric from Riley Blake.  I've been eying her latest line, Colorful Christmas, for a baby Christmas quilt. 

Other randomness just for fun- I've been  in baking mode.  These cranberry orange scones with orange glaze by Ina Garten are DELICIOUS!  It could be that I'm just hungry all the time now, but I really thought they were yummy.  Who's coming over for breakfast? :)

Now I'm off to eat some more of these, drink my one cup of decaf a week, and catch up on all your blogs!

Mr June

Don't you just love a big pile of buttons?

 Hooray for being caught up!!  Here's Mr June:

I've received so many goodies! I'm shocked how much you all have sent and feel like the horrible slacker of the group!

I received these blocks from Beth with a lovely needle case:

Then came Liri's blocks and a ton of goodies (the tasty cakes are now gone).

Isn't the embroidered Pennsylvania block amazing!?!
 

Then I received Kathleen's blocks and fabrics. 

Thank you all so much for the fun blocks!!!  My blocks will go out this week to Mary!  :)

My hubby and I took Thursday and Friday off from work to get some stuff done around the house.  Things are currently a disaster with holes in the wall from electrical work and the baby's future room all pulled apart.  Its transitioning from my my sewing room and so far it isn't pretty!  I'm hoping we can get lots done this weekend and I can actually get the baby quilt basted and start quilting it.

***EDIT: Here's a pre-shot of the baby's room (per Katie's suggestion).  Don't expect a post shot for a while- haha!  There are two bookcases against the wall the the left.  We had to pull one out for the electrical work that's why its sticking out towards the door.  Its a little room, so we'll probably have to remove the bookcases to make enough space for the crib/changing table.  The walls will stay yellow, but will get repainted after the repair. 

So where did all the books from the bookcase go?  On to my currently abandoned treadmill and the guest room bed of course.  See you in 5 months treadmill- can't say I miss you.

And here's a shot of one of the holes in the wall that will get patched and the sewing stuff that will get moved out.  We're planning on putting the glider in this corner and I'll probably keep the wall hanging up.

I'm trying to keep my need to nest under control- looking at this makes me want to freak out! :)

Getting back my mojo/Christmas in June

This weekend has proven more productive than I've been in ages!

Here's my baby quilt progress- the finished top in all its minkee glory:

I also prepped the last two snowbound blocks since I've been behind:

I also checked this book out from the library and I highly recommend it.  It is Simple Sewing for Baby by Lotta Jansdotter.  Such CUTE projects!!  The instructions are also much simpler than Amy  Butler's in her book Little Stitches. 

This week was like Christmas!

First I received a package from Ann that she had sent at Easter time.  I think my postman was holding it hostage.  Three delightful magazines (one decorating, one sewing, and one cooking!), an easter bunny, and edible goodies (somehow they already disappeared). I love the dragon softie on the cover of the Australian Homes magazine!  Its so cute!!  We'll see how ambitious I get.

Then I got a flood of my APQ swap blocks!
Here are Theri's blocks:  I love how she drew on Texas!!

Then I got Katie's package.  Blocks, scissor charms, kitty catnip toys (from the May kitties!  There is only one of them left on my table since the kitties have already taken off with the others), a super cute pincushion (I have to go rescue this from the kitties) and a chocolate bar (also not seen here.  I plead the fifth!):

 

Next came Joanne's blocks in the gorgeous blues:

And yesterday I received Ruth's beautiful blocks, a bookmark, and a tissue box.

Thank you all sooooo much!! I love all the blocks and goodies! So unexpected!!

Next up on the agenda is to get caught up on everyone's blogs!! 

Binding, Red White and Blue, and Babies

Happy Easter!

Things have been pretty slow on the sewing front/keeping up with the blogs.  I've been so tired!  I'll catch up soon.  Its amazing when you're away from the blogs that they multiply like bunnies.

I finished up all the APQ swap blocks. Hooray! 

I bought some new fabric to make a table runner for my boss for a birthday present.  He makes furniture and does construction work as a hobby. He's often commented on wanting something quilted so I've deamed him quilt worthy.  I had a hard time picking out "manly" table runner fabric so I settled on a patriotic theme. I'm using Rachel's vintage ribbons recipe again.  Its a great pattern if you're looking for a quick runner! Here's the progress so far:

I've been slowly working on The General's binding.  I'm about half way done and trying not to spend too many hours sewing at a time.  I'll probably take this with me to my sew in night this Friday.  I need to finish this up soon- its getting to warm for my down comforter!

I've had fun perusing amazon and barnes and noble for baby sewing books. I've requested Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little Ones and Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing for Baby: 24 Easy Projects for Newborns to Toddlers.  Such fun!! Does anyone have any other books suggestions?

Pink or Blue?

There's been so much going on the past week that I haven't gotten much quilting done.  My husband and I are sooooo excited!!!

I'm not very good at holding this sort of thing in. Many people/websites suggest waiting longer to announce, but I figure if heaven forbid something happens, you will all understand my absence.  My due date is somewhere around Nov 30th.  A Thanksgiving baby  :)  We haven't decided if we'll find out the sex, but I think the only reason I'd want to know is to pick out fabric.  You all understand!

Needless to say there hasn't been much quilting going on, but I did get a few things finished.

My cousin's T-shirt quilt is done!  Here it is with my husband holding it up.  I'm telling him to straighten it out and hold it up.  He's standing on a chair and telling me I'm crazy if I think he can hold it any higher or any more spread out. 

Its a monster!  I love the quilting.  I also embroidered my initials and the date on the back.  Don't mind the fuzz:

I've also been working on my swap blocks.  24 done (4 have already been shipped).

I'm thinking I need to make 2 more (2 for me).  For the ladies in the swap, is this right?  There are 13 of us right?

Then the last bit of show and tell is my purchase from the North Penn craft show two weekends ago.  I had a great time meeting Ann Hermes.  I bought this little ornament from her.

I'm off to sew the binding to The General.  I need to clear the sewing decks and make way for new pink or blue projects :)

Great Wall of Scraps & Ridiculous Rain

Last night was the first sewing night with the Philly Modern Quilt Guild.  It was such a great time!! There are some really lovely people in this group.

Of course I couldn't get out of the shop without doing some shopping.

Before the sewing night, I went through my scraps for the APQ swap.  Since everyone's been showing their scraps, here are mine. Look out!  Its the great wall of scraps!

Here are the next month's blocks:

This month's blocks went to the post office this morning.

I haven't been able to do much of any sewing today.  Its been raining since yesterday and today we lost our power.  UGH!  Every 15 min my husband and I were bailing out the sump pump.  Yeah the last time this happened we swore we were getting a battery back up. Good thing we followed through on that one...  Then the power came back and we realized the rest of the basement was starting to flood.  Its been a delightful afternoon.  Thankfully its slowing down.  Maybe tomorrow I'll be able to do some more sewing!

On that note- I love this rainy day fabric and the post over at Quilt Taffy.  She has weekly giveaways on Fridays.  Its certainly a rainy day!!

Ready to Swap!

Here are my March APQ swap blocks:

Two blocks with my more traditional fabrics and two with more modern prints.  This is so fun!  My favorite part was all the squaring up this pattern calls for.  I should really do that more.   I've never used  Pigma pens before and they were trickier than I thought.  I used Love's freezer paper idea (thanks Love!!) and that helped, but still tough to get it to write smoothly.  Good thing we've got 7 more months to go so I can perfect this.


So I really do have a problem.  I'm admitting it.  Magazines- in particular quilting ones- suck me in and I buy them.  Ugh!  Why??  I have so many and I'm sure I have enough patterns for a lifetime, but I can't resist them.  The latest Quilts & More called to me today with its cute patterns (these bibs are too funny!!).  I try and tell myself to page through the magazine at the store and decide if I absolutely need it, but I always end up needing it. 

 

Yesterday I took The General and the T-shirt quilt to the quilter.  They'll be done in two weeks and I'm really excited about the patterns (basketball for the T-shirt quilt and a vine leaf design for The General). 

I can't wait to send my blocks off to Katie and Lisa!!