::Happy Mother’s Day::

We’re lying low for Mother’s Day.  We have a family dinner planned and the rest of the day is designated for cleaning out the new old Vanagon we just purchased. I’m promised a new hoodie from our neighborhood brewery once they are back in stock, but only on the condition that I retire my old Tractor Tavern one.  It said so in the card.

I treated myself to a spree at Stash in Columbia City.  Happy Mother’s Day to me!

The summer like weather in Seattle has gotten the best of me and I put together this combo while I was in the shop.  Stash is carrying a load of the Michael Miller Cotton Couture.  The quality and softness of these solids is incredible. I narrowed it down to these four and the prints.

I think I’ll splash in some dusty purple from my stash to pull in the Alexander Henry.  I’m so drawn to the colors of this print.

I’ve purchased this Tula Pink in another color way at Stash.  This is just another example of an good active solid.  Something to help meld other prints together in a quilt.

Roan, always such a serious child, gave me this for Mother’s Day.  I’m off to be as nice as a ninja, though I might skip being like a hippo and go for a run instead considering the amount of bacon and pancakes I just ate.

Happy Mother’s Day to you all.

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::Sunday Stash::

Sunshine in Seattle!  We might take a trip to Vashon today and that of course will involve a trip to Island Quilter.  Emily Cier has her quilts on exhibit there all month, so a trip is needed.  I love sewing in their windows on sunny days, but today will be a family trip.

I did some replacement shopping.  You know that feeling when you are running low on a favorite fabric and the panic sets in?  That’s how I was feeling with the red circled Aneela Hoey and the Wild Thyme in the dark green.  I love to have a dark value green in the stash, they are hard to come by.  The darker green has become a replacement for Amy Butler’s Wallflower in green that I still can’t believe they didn’t reprint along with the mustard yellow and pink.

A few of my stash additions from Island Quilter actually had purpose!

Out of print Alexander Henry Smitten Kitten is finally making an appearance in a quilt back and I needed the Aneela Hoey Circle Stripes to complete the binding.

The poppy red was a perfect match.  I’m so going to enjoy this fabric on the back and now am left with the blue color way for another.  I’ve got one more side to sew down and this quilt will be up for show.  Handling the wool batting takes a little getting use to.  I might create a little stability next time by serging the edge of the quilt before sewing the first side of the binding on.  But all is fine with a little wacky binding!

My other project was another ironing board cover.  I was excited to have the wider board, but Jefe didn’t like it for ironing his pants, so we went back to the old one.  I love this Dandy Lion home decor print.  It even looks pretty on the back of my bedroom door.

Island Quilter just got a restock of some new Alexander Henry fabrics, so off I go to get ready!  To me that’s like being a kid in a candy store.

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::More Napkins::

Have you seen these fun fabrics?!  I’ve been on a fabric binge for napkins lately, especially with the spring weather I want something new and fresh.  I think these could certainly be plugged into just about every project, but I really thought napkins were in line.

The West Seattle Fabric Company has the Urban Chiks Boho collection in all the colors.  The mix of brown in these speaks to me.  It seems like brown got left behind for a few years with the whole gray and navy are the new black thing, and this collection really mixes it well with its fun flowers.

I got each color way.  I like to add some larger prints to my kitchen to set off the bold colors of my Fiesta collection.

The low volume Urban Chiks flower has made it into my stash in every color now.  I’ve got a load of low volume ideas in my head in need of some crafty time for execution.  The flower reminds me so much of the Orla Kiely that I love and I’m sure was their inspiration.

Stitch Floral on the right is just a plain good active solid and is available in a load of colors.

And these pin dot flowers I want in every color way!

Be sure to check out The West Seattle Fabric Company’s fresh new website.  Happy sewing on this gorgeous Seattle spring day!  I predict the most awesome weather this summer.

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::Fabric Stash Additions::

I can’t help but shop when I have Open Quilting Studio at Drygoods.

I scoped out the new Moda Boho Flower Child and PBJ last week and had to stop myself from purchasing the blue color way too.  Since my stash lacks navy I made an exception with the navy Liberty.

I’m loving the reds thrown a little closer to orange and I can’t seem to say no to any mustard colored fabric as late.

The Flower Child fabrics reminded me of the Orla Keily’s designs I’m in love with.

Look what else has made a return!  Alexander Henry Heath in metal.  This fabric is a must have for any stash.

Today I finish my Value Quilt top.  Off I go!

P.S.  Class this Tuesday and next at Drygoods is open free-motion quilting studio!  Sign up for one or both.  Machines, all the tools and quilt sandwiches provided.  Should be a load of fun.

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::Spring To Stash::

Sunday Stash time!  I toured through the arboretum to take photos of Nicquelle’s Quilt last week and then made the most of my venture by heading to Stash in Columbia City.

Any excuse to head to a fabric store right?  I love the feel of fabric boutiques and Stephanie’s picks never disappoint.

I’ve been slowly collecting the Tula Pink Swallow fabric.  In my fabric quest I’ve been seeking out more ‘active solids.’ This tone on tone print is one of those that helps in binding all of my novelty prints together when digging through the stash with a project idea.

I felt the same when I discovered the Hexagon dots.  This citron color is climbing close to the top of the color list.  I love the brightness it brings when paired with lavender, aquas or crimson.

If you’re in the market for a great low volume fabric I would suggest nabbing some of this Dear Stella Paris Tower.  I am now thinking I should have bought more.

The Tula Pink Little Bits just seemed to jive with the whole stack.

So I actually got around to using some fabric this week.  This weekend I finished up the binding on this quilt that is currently in the wash.

I also am halfway through my new Value Quilt.  I am loving the on-point design.

And I picked new fabrics to make another Triangle pillow.  Looks like I could use a whole batch of spring pillows.

Happy Sunday!

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::Weekend Recap::

I headed over to Island Quilter for Friday and Saturday open quilting studio and two classes this weekend.  I spent some time Friday night producing some crazy piecing that looks very Easter eggy once I got it up.  It still needs a plan.

Anja and I also did some brainstorming about the space for the upcoming May workshops that Jacquie is coming out for (Check them out here.)

I did one of those random fabric shops.  Island Quilter carries a huge amount of Alexander Henry.  They have bolts from older collections that I won’t name because I want them for myself later and not at $25 yard from some ebayer.  The Modern Mecca line is my current favorite.

The Amy Butler fell in because of the color.  I’m addicted to the coral color way.

They carry the full line of shot cottons, so I always tuck one of those into every purchase to expand the variety of solids in my stash.

I’m pretty thrilled that Anja said she is bringing in the whole line of Lizzy House Pearl Bracelet, but to top that off, she is also bringing in the full line of the jewels too.  To me the jewels are the best active solids.

The weather was fabulous here, so we ended the weekend down the street at the brewery with friends before ordering pizza and lazing on the couch with a few episodes of Arrested Development.

Today I have a friend to visit and this mamma mamma to start sewing.  It’s a good thing the weather has turned.

Hope you got some sewing in!

 

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::Hello there Quilt Sandwich::

I’m sure most of you are familiar with Etsy.  My friend Becca has an awesome shop on Etsy called Quilt Sandwich that she runs with her sister.

I originally got to know Becca through her involvement with the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild.  We are both on the SMQG’s Board of Directors (she’s our secretary), so we spend a fair amount of time together.  Of course there is the diversion of quilt/fabric talk at every board meeting in between the business at hand.

Becca and her sister stock Quilt Sandwich with a great mix of fabrics, from the newest designer fabrics on the market to must have solids that make it all work.  I ever spied some Charolina Chambray there!

It was difficult to narrow down my selections, but the Modern Mecca has been on my radar.  It is incredibly difficult for me to pass up an Alexander Henry print that might disappear.

I built my selections around the Modern Mecca fabric.  Some shot cottons, a pearl bracelet and that great zig zag by Dear Stella.

I found the Erin McMorris print that I needed for my Nicquelle Quilt at Quilt Sandwich too.  Now I have a hand project for my drive to the Tri-Cities show.  Love that!

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::Constellations::

I can’t get enough of this Lizzy House Constellations, so when I walked into The West Seattle Fabric Company and saw it, I knew it was coming home with me.

I truly think Lizzy’s designs are some of my favorite currently on the market.

Her hit of whimsy is just the right amount and her colorways are always dead on in my book.

Behold, purple!  I love purple.

Genies, hedgehogs, cats…it’s all there.  Plus, I certainly can not have enough Pearl Bracelet in my stash.  This active solid makes blending other prints in a dream.

I’ve been itching to make a Supernova Quilt from the book with this line and with a class next week on it I’ve finally stepped into action.

Here’s the starts of my Night Owl quilt.  I’m fond of this owl fabric, especially this little guy.  Thought I would try my hand at some woodgrain quilting when I’ve logged some practice in.

It took great restraint to not add purple.

Quick, make a trip over before I go buy it all up!

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::New Colorways::

You owe yourself a trip into Drygoods Designs immediately if you are feeling an itch for Spring.  The fabrics flowing in are so inspiring.  Fresh for Spring and hopefully swooning me away from the colorway I seem to be stuck on.

That orange Cloud 9 is so rich in color and the secondary designs of the birds so subtle I didn’t notice it at first!

Pearl Bracelet…need I say more?

Do I see a replacement for Heath here?  Carolyn Friedlander’s Architextures is perfect and the value such a soft look.

It all created a little play for today inspired by my Improvisational String Block Workshop yesterday.  Now I’m on the look out for another coral orange-red to add into the mix.

Happy Monday!

p.s. did you see this Living Social deal from Bernina NW?  Great little machine to take to classes!

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Supernova block Workshop Tuesdays, March 19th and 26th from 6-9pm.

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::Stash::

Thanks everyone for your input on classes.  Tiffany, if you’re out there,  please send me your address and I’ll send you a copy of Quilting Modern.

Things are returning to their busy/normal around here.  There’s a new baby girl around here and for me that’s a good reason to make a trip to Island Quilter!

I’ve been avoiding these Alexander Henry Fairy Tale prints because I really don’t need to add another novelty print to my collection, but Alexander Henry always gets me.

I collected some active solids without having a quilt plan, but these colors are what is appealing to me right now.  You can’t go wrong with pomegranate and citron.  Lizzy House has become my number one blender woman.  Throw in some Tula, Violet and Denyse for good measure.

Sewing happened this weekend too.

Quilts to come tomorrow!

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Wanna double trouble,

or strip tease this weekend?  Classes available.

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