A Better Look

Here is a very wrinkly closer look at the Skipping Squares quilt for those of you that asked:

The fabrics are from the Denyse Schmidt collection now at Joann’s.  The only other fabrics I added are the grey and white polka dot, the Sherbet Pips red with tiny white squares (my favorite red basic to date), and the bright blue and white polka dot. 

I’ve heard a lot of positive and plenty of negative about this collection…but I really love it.  I don’t love every single print…but I never love ever single print in a collection.  Plus it’s at Joann’s….leave it up to Denyse Schmidt to make everybody run into Joann’s again.  Love that.  Now if she could just do something about the wait at the cutting counter?  :)

I made 13 quilt backs yesterday for the humanitarian quilts we are finishing up on Saturday.   My bed became quilt back central…and a huge mess.

My husband told me that if he never sees another piece of fabric it will be too soon….and can’t blame him one bit.   It’s taking over the world.  I’m really excited for all these quilts to be done and out.of.my.house!

Sweating the Small Stuff

This week I’ve been thinking a lot about the small stuff.

About how I need less "sweating the small stuff" and more forgetting about the small stuff that makes me feel guilty during the day. My small stuff for today:

- I didn’t eat one vegetable. - I keep meaning to make a good meal list/grocery list/ and actually make meals. - Ben watched cartoons for way too long this morning. - I haven’t exercised in a long time. - I didn’t fold the boys laundry so now its all dirty again. - I took 6 pictures of quilts today…and 0 of my kids. - There was grape on the floor and instead of bending over to pick it up…I kicked it under the fridge. - If I have to play Play Dough one more time this week I’m going to throw it all away when the kids are asleep. - I forgot to brush Ben’s teeth two nights in a row (and I’m a hygienist). - I wore my yoga pants (I don’t do yoga) two days in a row…all day. - We really need to start budgeting more. - I said I wasn’t going to eat out this week…but then I made a wrong turn into the Jimmy Johns drive through.

You get the point…it goes on…and on…and on. So silly isn’t it? And such a big fat waste of brain space. I’m making a commitment to work on it once and for all.

But in the mean time…I went on a sewing rampage last night and finished this top. I think its the fastest I’ve ever made a quilt (and stayed up late doing it). But I love it…and its one thing I don’t feel (too) guilty about. So here’s to positive thinking…and Jimmy Johns.

*After reading some of your comments I really really don't want you to think I'm complaining or that I want you to feel sorry for me...no way hosay. I was just sharing some of the silly thoughts I waste my time worrying/feeling guilty about. :)

Monday

My to do list is jam packed today.  I’m sure I’ll do none of it but I’m hoping I’ll have time for cutting out this quilt:

I’m making another Skipping Squares quilt….because to be honest I wasn’t really that fond of the first one.  After I finished it I felt kind of "bleh" about it.  But I feel that was 90% of the time I make a quilt from just one line of fabric.  I’m using mostly fabrics from Denyse Schmidt’s new line at Joann’s mixed with a few other basics.  I really love these range of colors in the line.

I’m also hoping to baste this bad boy today...but I’m pretty sure I won’t.   This one is for the Robert Kaufman booth at market from these fabrics.   And since I have to do this quilt…it means it will sit there untouched until the night before.

Today is also "clean the accumulated crap out of my house" day.  This day comes about once every 3 or 4 months….once the clutter starts piling up and the closets start filling up and I feel like my head is going to explode.  The thrift store loves me on this day.

Here’s hoping for a productive day!  But not likely.

Back in the Saddle

Yesterday we made it back to the north….reluctantly of course but happy to be home.   The unpacking and laundry is done (‘cause if I don’t do it right when I get home it will sit there for a month) and I’m getting back into the groove. 

I’m working on another Kaleidoscope quilt for someone else to hang at market.  The fabrics are beautiful…made from a line called "Summer House" by Lily Ashbury for Moda. 

I’m getting excited to attend quilt market in less than 3 weeks…it will be fun to finally get out of my little blogging box and actually meet some of you.   I already know what I’m going to wear:

Just kidding…although I would blend in nicely with all the quilts and you sure as heck wouldn’t miss me from a mile away. 

Also only a week late…the winner of the charm packs is Mandi…I just left a comment on your blog Mandi! 

South of the border

I’m soaking up the sun in Mexico….with four layers of sunscreen on mind you.   If the sun touches my bare skin I turn into a giant walking freckle within 2 seconds flat…no exaggeration.

We are being super duper lazy…. I’m a master at being super duper lazy.  My poor husband has been in the churro truck line pretty much the whole time we’ve been here fetching chocolate filled churros for his lazy wife and his kids sleeping on the beach.  He loves us.

Before we left I got these fun charm packs….this fabric line is so bright and summery…it reminds me of Mexico.  The fabric is Treasures and Tidbits by Piece O’ Cake Designs for Robert Kaufman.

And since I’m pretty sure I’m going to be stuck on the beach in a churro induced coma for the next week…I’m going to give them away.  Leave a comment on this post to enter….I’ll choose a random winner sometime in a few days. 

P.S.  If  you never hear from me again…its because I’m the proud new owner of a churro truck and I’m staying here forever.

Sprockets are fun

Turns out my kids really love sprocket pillows.  They can be rolled down the hall.…jumped on…thrown down the stairs…the list goes on and on.   So I had to make them their own…before mine were literally beat to pieces.   I started with this cute stack of fabric Ben picked out (with some mommy editing):

Aren’t those robots cute?  I did a trade with Ariel (it’s her own design) for it…and I’m pretty positive  got the better end of the deal.   After a quick sew and letting Ben do the stuffing…he ended up with a cute pillow he can play with.

So now his room has a robot pillow, pirate sheets, elephant curtains, a superman poster, animal alphabet flashcards and a batman cave in it.  His poor room has an identity crisis.

He loves his pillow.  I’m not sure the pillow loves him back though….we’ll give it a week and see if it still has the stuffing.

And ‘cause you asked…I called them sprocket pillows because my husband was assembling a bike while I was assembling these pillows.  Bike sprockets...round pillows...get it?  

Yeah me neither….just smile and nod.

Strawberries

Does anyone else put 4 tablespoons of brown sugar in their cream of wheat?  Its awful…and awfully good.  But I’m pretty sure it cancels out any healthy-ness.

I’ve been eyeing this line for months.  I’m not usually a pinky flowery girl but this line is a nice in between.  Those grey-ish tan and sea foam colors sucked me right in.  This quilt will hopefully be a quick sew since I have about 2000 other things I should be doing. 

Strawberry fields doesn’t come out until May…but pre-cuts are starting to pop up online (try here..or here).

Up to my eyeballs

Last night I started round 2 of humanitarian quilts.  My hands are sore from cutting these stacks into kits and quilt backs…but it makes my heart so happy to know that these quilts will help people rebuild their lives.   You’ve sent me so much beautiful fabric (and amazing quilt tops!) so thank you again.    These kits are going to super talented ladies to sew up and we’ll get them finished this month and sent overseas.  Back to cutting I go! 

29

I’m a year wiser today.   I told my husband all I want today is good Mexican Food and some free time to work on random projects:

I’ve never worried about getting older or the aging process….but I also figured a little insurance doesn’t hurt either right?

I’ll let you know if all my new wrinkles magically disappear tonight.  :)

In other news my friend Kim is giving away an amazing kit for the Skipping Squares Quilt paired with Anna Marie Horner’s Little Folks Viole.  Its really really pretty.  You can enter the giveaway here. 

She is also selling kits in her shop…and lets you pick your own fabric.