New LQS!!!

Recently saw an ad in a local magazine for a new fabric store. Right now we have Stitch-n-Frame (LQS), JoAnn's and Hobby Lobby.. all are 30-40 minutes away and all in a different direction!  Oh and we have 2 Hancocks.. same distance as the other stores. Would love to have an LQS closer, but alas... the new one is.. you guessed it.. about 30-35 minutes away.  But what a fun shop!  It is in an older building that looks a lot like an old house.  Very charming and while open enough, there are rooms and nooks for browsing.  The staff was super friendly.  They had a very nice selection of quality fabric at typical LQS prices, enough notions but not tons.. same with books.  They do classes and have long-arm services and sell Baby Lock machines.  One exciting thing was a great selection of Kona Cottons and Moda Bellas.  Love using both those for solids!  We were not looking for anything specific, but did snatch up a few goodies....  a pack of 20 Kaffe Fassett 10 x 10 squares, 2 random fat quarters and a pretty rose fabric from their end of the bolt selection.  

Be sure to check out their website for Internet sales and if you are in the area go visit in person ... 

Cotton Blossom Farm

While at the fabric store....

While at our main LQS (Stitch-n-Frame in Bovina, MS.. check out their website!) getting the binding for Jack's LSU quilt, I found some gorgeous fabric to use for a sewing machine mat.  The cover I made a while back is a bit wild... bright green with pink, turquise and purple. Decided to play us the purple and pink a bit with a larger scale fabric.  The cover is a contemporary graphic pattern.. the new fabric more traditional. They definitely juxtapose each other, but I think they will be great together.  They are both very much "me" fabrics. I am very ecclectic in my tastes!

Also found this great Christmas fabric that will be transformed into a stocking for a sweet friend who is a nut about owls!  Isn't it cute!?

Bye Bye 2014!

2014 ended with a trip to the fabric store (10 guesses how 2015 began???). A great-nephew was born in Novemeber. I knew exactly the theme for his quilt when I learned he was going to be a he.. LSU.  His dad is an alum who bleeds purple and gold and obviously I adore him.. why else would any self-respecting Hotty Toddy Rebel play with LSU fabric!  

Went with a very simple pattern to show up the fabrics... most of which were gifts from one of my sweet quilting sisters who lives in Baton Rouge and likes those purple and gold kitties too. Once I got the blocks done and the top together, the hubster quilted it up and it was time to bind away. And there was the problem. What to use for the binding strips. There was plenty of the gray used for the border, but it seemed.. well boring. I liked several of the fabric used in the quilt, but there wasn't enough of any to cut binding strips. So off to the quilt store we went and there we found a cut purple with gold polka dot print (we used the reverse of it in the quilt).  I think it turned out great... gives it a bit of childlike whimsy.  Afterall, this is a kid's quilt!

Next week it will wind its way down the road in a big brown truck to Tigerville where I feel certain it will be received with love. 

Slowly I return...

I am slowly returning to the land of Fabric!  I've worked on a couple of small projects over the last couple of weeks and today I started a Baby quilt for my great-nephew, Jack, who was born yesterday! I have a few small holiday goodies I want to work on, but most are handwork and I am thinking of making a mat for my sewing table with a drop down pocket to hold scissors, seam ripper etc. Although, I am not sure how practical it would be to sew with those thing between me and the machine!  Gotta think on that one.

So here's what's been happening in the Study-O concerning sewing / quilting / fabric...

My machine did not come with a sewing machine cover and honestly, when I first started sewing / quilting I didn't think there was a need for one. Wrong!  Machines get so dusty (at least mine does).. even when it's being used fairly reguarly. I have a clear vinyl cover I bought at a fabric store some time ago and it definitely does the trick, but I wanted something cute.. fun... and so I whipped this up...

I love the bright colors and especially the pink and green ribbon for the ties!  Goes very well with my bulletin boards.

I have seen several scrappy pillows on Pinterest that include a bit of Embrodiery.  There were lots of 2 1/2" squares left over from the Christmas Granny Squares quilt, so I decided to play a bit. I created a pillow front.. here it is turned 2 different ways.. a bit raggedy and such right now.

I plan to embrodier Merry Christmas in the white space and then finish it off with some cording or trim and backs (I do 2 pieces and create an envelope so it can be removed and washed).  We shall see how it turns out.. no matter.. it is fun to do something.. well, just for fun!

For months now I have had plans for a baby quilt for a great-nephew due in Novemeber..the fabrics have been ironed and draped over the back of a chair for weeks.. and today I finally cut the up and started sewing!  Baby Jack was born yesterday!  His dad went to LSU and loves the Tigers! As soon as I heard a baby boy was coming, I knew I'd do an LSU quilt. I am not an LSU fan.. I bleed red and blue and yell Hotty Toddy quite often (my hubby's alma mater, Mississippi State, is ranked #1 in the Nation right now.. we are a rather diverse bunch!).  You know I love the boy if I'm spending my Saturday messing with anything purple and gold! LOL!

And lest you think the mad quilter (a.k.a. my hubby) has given up the hobby, he has taken the granny square blocks and is adding a frame to each one.  This will create the look of white sashing between the blocks.  Can't wait to see this on the iron bed in the guest room!  It's going to be lovely!

Hope you are having a fabulous day doing whatever makes you smile!

"Belle"

The "Study-O"

The beginning of this year brought the beginning of a new season for me (and my husband).. our nest is empty and I am working full time again. We were also exhausted having started off the year with our son's Wedding on Jan. 4, 2014.  Very little sewing / quilting has happened this year as I strive to find a new rhythm to life.

One of the "new" things in this season is a sewing room / studio / study for me. :-)  I have sewn on the dining room table for years... and that has been fine, but we are one of those families who actually use their dining room table. So we were constantly packing up sewing central and then taking it back out.  I toyed with the idea of taking over one of the kids' rooms once they were gone, but then felt a bit selfish doing so. Obviously that feeling left! LOL!  One bedroom is now a lovely guest room with a wonderful iron bed (belonged to my husband's grandparents) and one of our quilts adoring it.  And the other is the "Study-O"  (combo study and studio.. so clever! LOL!)

There are still a few finishing touches to come, but here are some photos of where it is now... the color is Benjamin Moore's Grant Beige.. a grayish Beige that we are using throughout our house right now. A HUGE change as we have always had lots of color on the walls.

This is my bit of a reading nook.. and also just a great place to sit and pray or meditate or rest.  We bought this chair 23 years ago for my sweet husband. He lost it to the kids and I very quickly. Poor fella!  It's been in several rooms over the years and has been my quiet time chair for at least 15 years. I love it! The table was made by my husband's grandfather. My husband never knew him (though they share their first and last names). This is a treasure for him and he is sweet enough to let me use it.  The lower shelf is perfect for holding a few of my Bible study resources and books.

This shelf came from a local second-hand store called When Pigs Fly.  It was dirty and brown and rather ugly when I bought it (for $15).  Lowe's was giving away a free sample of some specific paint colors. I grabbed one in this tealish color and transformed the ugly ducking.  It now holds some pincushions (I love pin cushions and most of these were made by friends for me) and some dachshunds.. to say I love wiener dogs is an understatement. The painting hanging from the knob was done by our daughter's best friend who lives in Ireland right now.  She is a precious young woman whom I love like one of my own kids. 

My sewing area is a bit blah but that will change!  I plan to hang a design board above the table. I also hope to create a skirt / cover for the table and a cover for my machine. I plan to use the space under the table to store some of the necessities of a sewing space (a.k.a. more fabric!!!)

I inherited this table desk from our son.  I am debating painting it, leaving it as is, or covering it to match the sewing table when I make its cover.  The box on top was originally our daughter's, then our daughter-in-law had it and now it's mine. We are into hand-me-downs here!  I spend a lot of time at this desk working on Bible study. It has quickly become one of my favorite places.  I am thinking of recovering the chair. Anyone every recovered a task chair? I've read several how-tos and a mixture of comments on whether it is worth it or not.

I did add a bit of color to this area since this photo was taken. Bought 2 bulletin boards and with my amazing husband's help, they have been transformed from blah to fun! 

For a number of years, my husband worked out of our home. He stored some of his drawing items in this cart.  It's been tucked away in his closet for the past 2 or 3 years and he was thinking of getting rid of it.  Instead, he passed it on to me. Again, that hand-me-down thing at work!  I have it tucked in the corner, but can roll it over to my sewing table when needed. The cat on top is yet another hand-me-down. We bought this for my younger sister-in-law years ago.  She later gave it to our daughter, who left it here when she moved out. I have a feeling there will be a granddaughter one day who will enjoy this kitty in her room. For now, she hangs out with me. This is the only kind of cat allowed in our house.My allergies and 2 wild wiener dogs prevent a real one. 

Our son and daughter-in-love gave me the top print... a water color of one of my favorite places, Square Books in Oxford, MS.  And my husband surprised me with the bottom print. Our daughter took these photos and had them framed a long time ago. They were at my mom's house. The frame broke and they've been sitting in disrepair ever since. He had the frame repaired and painted and now I have a bit of her talent to inspire me. 

Had to include a shot of the dog bed for Mac and Mia. Mac loves it.. Mia prefers hanging out under the desk or table as close to my feet as possible! And the door to the closet.. we are painting all our doors (which are now white) with this dark brown called Sweet Molasses and adding the molding to dress them up a bit. There is new hardware coming in an oil rubbed bronze finish. It all looks great!

And last but in no way least.. in fact.. this is probably my absolute favorite thing in the room.. a place to hang quilts!  And the one there now is soo special to me!  It's actually a quilt top (soon to be quilted).  A small group of quilting buddies who live in different states.. Let's see, I believe this top traveled through MS, IL, NC, PA and VA or RI (Cannot remember which state that friend lived in when we did this).  This was a Round Robin. I did the center with the house. Then my friend's added the additional pieces. It is so fun and cheery and whimsical. I adore it!

Hope you enjoyed this peek into my Study-O. Not fancy as some, but I love it!  Looking forward to creating gifts of the heart here and spending time digging into the Word. 2 of my most favorite things to do!

"Belle"

Quilting in February

Slowly getting back into the swing of things and carving out some time for quilting.  I have had a bag full of t-shirts waiting to become a t-shirt quilt for over a year.  These belong to our daughter's fella, but the quilt isn't for him.. it's for her. I hit the ground running and got the top made and then hubs used his mad quilting skills to get it quilted in time for her birthday (Feb 14.. she's our best Valentine!) She loved it.. knew she would.  :-)  I love how hubs quilted it. I even love that he didn't use invisible thread this time. 

I also start a baby quilt for a little one due in April.  Here is are the blocks put together. Just need to add a border or two and the top is done.

"Belle"

Sewing Central is on the Move

I started quilting 11 years ago  and from day 1 I've used our dining room table. There was no other spot available.  It worked great until we needed the dining room. Yes, we use our dining room... mostly for holidays, but really anytime we have more than 6 at the table (that's all the kitchen table can hold) and more than 6 has become more and more the norm. So down Sewing Central would come and then up it would go again. Not the worst chore.. but not the most fun either and as life has changed and I've gotten busier..working full time again as well as other outside activities, the up and down of SC has made it more difficult for me to get motivated to sew.

Well the times they are a changing. The nest has been emptied... all the chicks have flown... we now have a bit of "free space" and I've decided to claim some as my own!  LOL!

It is will a while before it is fully set up.. we are slowly painting and redoing throughout the house, plus there is furniture to move once walls are painted. However, this belle was ready to stake her claim, so I set up shop in the corner bedroom. Son decided to leave his desk / table and I find it makes a great sewing table.  Eventually there will be a skirt on it (Going to use the space underneath for storage).  The double bed is being moved to a different room too and other things will make their way to what will be the new and improved Sewing Central, but for now I am excited about this humble start...

And it appears the pups are pretty happy with it too. They just want to be close!

There has been sewing happening too!  I put together a special t-shirt quilt top and the mad quilter (a.k.a. my sweet husband) has it quilted and bounded. In fact, it is swishing away in the washer as I type.  I am in the midst of a cute construction themed baby quilt that is looking super fun!

So be on the lookout for quilt pix soon and updates on Sewing Central as it evolves.

Belle

Baby Quilts!

My sewing / quilting time has been greatly diminished the past few months. For a short while I was working 2 jobs.. both part-time but they added up to full-time together. Then one of the 2 asked me to go full-time and so I have been settling in to that position since the first of October.. and settling into balancing life working full-time (I came home when we had a newborn and 4 year old who are now 21 and 25).. add to that normal life stuff. and oh yes.. a wedding.. our baby boy is getting married Jan. 4, 2014 and so we are in wedding mode here.

So I accepted that some things would have to wait.. like my Granny Square Christmas quilt... and instead finished up the have-to stuff and now sewing central is packed away for the year. Sewing Central is setup in our dining room and any time we need to use it for holidays or such, it has to be moved. That will change this spring!  We will have 2 extra bed rooms with our empty nest and one is going to be a sewing room! I am thrilled!

The Have-tos were 2 baby quilts. Our soon to be daughter-in-law had put together a top for a cousin's baby but had not had time to quilt it.  She also had fabrics for another cousin's baby, but had not made a top. I had a top for my latest great-nephew just waiting for his arrival in Oct.

So... I whipped up a top with the fabrics she had chosen.. hubs and I sandwiched everything and he put on his mad quilter hat and went to town. Got them quilted and bound.  I think they all turned out too cute!

This first one is the one our soon to be DIL made.  Her cousin (the baby's dad) is a big Mississippi State University fan and so she decided his son needed a Bulldog quilt. I love the companion shirting fabrics we found at Stitch N Frame (This is a LQS for me, but you can also order online. Sign up for their Thursday deals. Great selection and prices!)

 Next is her other new little cousin.  Future DIL and I went to Stitch N Frame and browsed their fabrics. She picked these out and brought them home. I decided to do a simple patchwork pattern to highlight their cuteness.  I really like how it turned out. This is (I think) my first borderless quilt. I love love love the biding fabric.  Really sets everything off.

And last is the top by I had made earlier for my great-nephew (born in Oct.)  This is absolutely one of my favorite quilts ever!  I love the pattern... love the fabrics... love hubs quilting.. it is just precious, I think.

And now we are settling in.. not for a long winter's nap (which we need!) but for a busier than normal holiday season as we move towards the Big Day! I'll be back in January.. there's a Granny Square Christmas to finish up... another baby coming in February who will need a quilt... a rag-t-shirt quilt I have been trying to make for 2 years... and a Wedding Quilt to make for the happy couple (the goal is to have it done by their first anniversary!)... oh and a sewing room to create!!!!

"Belle"

Changing Seasons

Big changes coming our way.. the nest will be empty after January 4, 2014.  And so when the hubs and I decided to create a Fall Wallhanging it seemed appropriate to name it "Changing Seasons."  My sweetie loves batiks and has been buying up scrap bags of them from our LQS (Stitch N Frame).

I found a maple leaf block.. he pulled out those batiks.. we looked at various layouts and came up with one we think like and off we went. The results is a lovely collaboration between 2 creative people with different tastes and preferences.  It is hanging proudly in our breakfast area for now. Soon it will be put to rest until next fall. Can't wait to see what that change of season brings!

Baby Wyatt

Another baby on the way in our family.. a great-nephew.. Wyatt.  I did a bit of research via his Mom's Pinterest account and found great inspiration for his quilt. Lots of blue and orange... some jungle things... and I knew I had to toss in a bit of U of TX fabric for these Longhorns!

This went together very quickly and I think turned out great!  It will be quilted after Wyatt is born and I add the label with his name and birthdate.  I like to add labels before quilting, so they stay nice and secure!

"Belle"

A Colorful Summer!

My husband loves batiks and has wanted to make a quilt using them for some time. He has bought up several scrap bags of batik scraps at our LQS and been saving them for just the right project. Well, he came up with 2.. so far!  Both of these tops have been shown on here, but he quilted them in the last few weeks and I wanted to show off the finished product!

Here is the first one.. Summer Breeze.  Very modern looking quilt.

And here is the 2nd one that we were calling Summer Breeze 2, but its final name is Island Breeze. Not quite as modern looking as the first one, but still not super traditional. This one is my favorite of the 2. I love the purple border and the focal fabric.

So when I am cold next winter, I will pull out a bit of summer sunshine to warm me up!

"Belle"

Starflowers

Earlier this year I saw a lovely Starflower quilt on a quilt blog. I have always loved this pattern, but have never made a quilt using it.  I shared it with a group of online quilt friends and we all commented how lovely it was and started sharing pictures of other Starflower quilts. And then... we decided a swap was in order. 4 of us participated.. small group, but still fun!  We made 5 blocks for each person participating.. the thought being you would receive a total of 15 blocks and then could make how ever many more you wanted to complete your top. Because we were small, we were able to choose individually what we wanted.  One friend wanted all primary colors and she wanted each quarter of the block (so 2 points) to be the same color family.  And she wanted white backgrounds.  The other 2 ladies wanted each point a different color using fabrics that had an old timey look.... small prints.. darker shades.. not 1930s repros.  One wanted cream and light tan back grounds.. the other wanted tans and creams and really preferred tans.

My original request was cream or white backgrounds with any colors other than pastels or neons... and I wanted each point to be different.  I later changed to say cream or tan backgrounds. I never thought of tan as a background.. felt it would be too dark, but once I worked with it and saw these blocks I fell in love!

I have received 1 set and they are great.  Will post pictures of them and the other 2 sets once they arrive.

BUT here are the ones I sent out...

The primary colors with white backgrounds...

And the "old timey" ones with the cream / tan backgrounds...

I can't wait to see all the ones I receive together. I have 2 made to go with them so far. Will probably make 3 more to end up with 20 blocks. I like square quilts. :-)

"Belle"

A bit of fun...

One of my favorite things to do is take figure out how a quilt or block is made.  I will see a quilt I like or a block and be intrigued by it which starts my mind to whirring.  This happened recently as I was looking through some of the quilt blogs I enjoy.  I saw a block and it intrigued me. So I played around on paper and came up with what I thought was a close proximity to the block.  It was a fun process.

Here is the block I saw:

I found this and others at Pleasant Home.. one of my favorite blogs!

Here is my version:

Baby Quilt Fun...

I love making baby quilts.. they are without a doubt my favorite quilts to make.  2 years ago I made 2 baby quilts that I loved.. one was for a sweet little girl and is, to me, the prettiest baby quilt I have made ever.  The other was a fun cowboy quilt for a little fella.  Well this year I have made 2 more quilts.. same mommies... different genders. The little girl is now a big sister and the cowboy has a big brother.  I had as much fun making quilts for their younger siblings as I did for them.

 

When I found out the little fella was on the way, I immediately new I had to do a quilt based on his dad's alma mater.. Mississippi State University. This quilt shows how much I love this family... because I am a dyed in the wool Ole Miss fan who bleeds red and blue!  LOL!  Still I watched this little ones daddy grow up into one of the finest young men I know, so I wanted to do something he would love.  So Bulldog fabric was purchased along with some fun coordinating fabrics and this quilt was created..

Very simple strip quilt with simple straight line quilting.  I love how it turned out. I wish you could really see the fabrics up close.. that maroon and white gingham is great!

I learned that little girl's room was going to be done in gray and white and shades of pink / rose... not bright, but light and dusty.  Chevron or Zig-Zag quilts seem to be all the rage right now, so when I saw a gray and white Chevron I knew it was the quilt for this wee one. But how to add some pink into the mix?  Easy!  What little girl doesn't need a few flowers in her room. 

 I was so excited to find the polka dot fabric in my stash and there was literally enough for the flower and the border. I think it adds a great touch!

I think my favorite part is the quilting on the back!  I had a blast quilting this!  

Thought I might be done with baby quilts for 2013 but I am not. Yeah!  My niece in TX has baby #2 on the way.  Her little daughter was born 2 years ago too and yep, she is having a boy this time around! Not 100% sure what I will be doing for them. Mommy and Daddy met at University of Texas and are huge Longhorn fans.. so I thought about another team themed quilt.. but I also love the idea of a little boy quilt and his name is Wyatt.. doesn't that just scream cowboy hats and boots!?  Gonna be fun coming up with something special for this little buckaroo!

"Belle"