::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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::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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::A Little Sunshine::

We all need a little sunshine, and I always feel like I’ve absorbed some when I leave The West Seattle Fabric Company or their West Seattle Stitch and Sew Studio.   Monica has put a lot of thought into the spaces and her cheery personality is very much reflected in the space.  She’s always excited about what you’re making.

I’m pretty drawn to these Moda Solids that Monica has a rainbow of in the back room.  It was hard to pick just one, so I went with this delicious combo.  I would say if you are looking for these soft fabrics that she has the best selection in town.

I was tempted by the array of Christmas fabric they have on sale, but went with my original plan of finishing the needle books for friends.  These squirrels and swallows are my new favorite colorway.

What are you working on?  I’ve got a few new ideas up on the design wall, but was thinking it might be a good time for the Bernina to get a tune up for the new year.  She never lets me down.

Happy Monday!  I feel like the countdown has begun.

 

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::Krista Withers Quilting::

Amazing.

Anja at Island Quilter has displayed some beautiful quilts in her monthly revolving exhibits, but Krista’s show truly shines.

Quilting a quilt is where I am often stumped.  Krista’s artistic brain embraces the art of the continuous line with thread seamlessly.

Krista had me covered on a few quilts.  I love how my Denyse Schmidt Sunspots turned out with all the linear lines.

Some of the quilts displayed were simple in the design of the quilting and the piecing.

Others were extremely complex in piecing and detailed with quilting that had a more organic feel.

Love circles.

Love the sun.

Krista quilted the remake of Opposing Triangles and the effect was beautiful.

I’ll have to make it back during the day for some better photos and to soak in some of the details more closely.  The evening was so well attended, there were plenty of interesting people to talk quilts with.

It’s so fun to see it all come together.  If you get a chance this month to head to Vashon Island in this beautiful weather go have a looksie.

Of course I couldn’t leave with out a stack of fabric.  I love Erin McMorris and this line will surely make it into some projects.

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::Invisible Zipper Class:: $45/ Thursday, October 11th from 6-9pm at the Quilting Loft in Ballard.

Installing invisible zippers if easier than you think. Come learn how to make professional looking pillows, you’ll be hooked! All levels of sewists welcome.

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::Sunday Stash and Easter Baskets::

Heather Ross’s dancing bunnies might win, but it’s time to make some Easter baskets for our trip.  Here’s the first fabric pics.

Off to use a friend’s long arm tomorrow to quilt Mom’s birthday quilt.  Pieced the back today doing a bit of this.  I’m so itching to start new projects but I’m trying to stick to my list of unfinished.  Scratching things off is becoming addictive.

Happy Sunday!

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::Sunday Stash #?::

I’m Destashing and clearing out EVERYTHING.  I have three categories: Goodwill, Destash, or Class.  The rest is reorganized.  I’m being brutal.  If it hasn’t been touched in a year it goes.

Some fabrics I’ve just been hoarding.  I grab them up when I see them online and now I couldn’t possibly use it all.  Some fabrics have that power over me.  So I’m letting a little under a yard of this favorite go.  It’s Alexander Henry’s Whisper Wing or Whispering Wing.

I’ll save what I have for the perfect quilt back.  I last used some in this simple half square triangle quilt made for little Sofia.

I made my Mom a traditional quilt with some of this fabric in the brown color way that was based off a butterfly quilt she made for me years ago.  I’m visiting my friend with a mid-arm quilting machine next week to check out some quilting possibilities.  Mom will want something flowing.  Her birthday’s in May, so time is still on my side.

Happy Sunday!

 

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::Sunday Stash::

My hubbie looks at real estate online and I cruise fabric.  Generally I like to seek out old Alexander Henry lines.

The swimming ladies are still pretty easy to find.  Roan picked it out for his swim teacher that is extra special and we made some potholders for a Christmas gift.

I stumbled upon these Alexander Henrys the other day at a normal price.  There is someone on Ebay that wants around $17 a Fat Quarter…I just can’t imagine wanting fabric that much.

Happy Sunday!  Time to go watch some Phinneas and Ferb and eat french toast.  I love Sunday.

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Quilting Classes

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::Stinking Cute/Sunday Stash 40::

Ok, it’s stinking cute AND it’s flannel.  I needed batting and zippers from Joann’s and of course I perused the flannel.  Not much there, but this yard-burner.  Jammies, pillow cases, receiving blankets… I bought a few yards at 60% off.

The aliens depicted are of the “peace out” variety.

And it has a coordinate already located in my fabric stash.

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