things...

I finished a few blocks for my bees - this one will be a zig zag quilt. The blocks were easy. I loved the colours. I'm not one that has much, if any, purple in my stash, but truly loved the crisp eggplant, mauve and blue colours against the white. There's also an avocado green which is such a beautiful complement. I think I may write these colours down for a future combination in a quilt.

The next blocks are for my scrap busting bee. The child fabric was to be used as a focal point somewhere on the block. I loved this fabric, so cute! There was a ton of selection of prints to choose from, but I cannot move away from solids, I just think they frame things so nicely.

Still awaiting news, but it 'should' happen this week. It was supposed to happen last week but things were interrupting the process. It's good news, a little scary, but good!

Suki and I were reunited and we've been sewing smoothly...so far so good!

This week, I'm going to be working on that set of linen napkins and placemats and see what I can come up with. Perhaps I'll show you my progress on Wednesday!

Workshop in Process...

So I don't have anything processing right now, except on paper. But since I really need to start sharing during Workshop in Progress, I thought I'd share some of my sketchbook plans that I've recently been tinkering with.

I'm thinking of changing up some of the colours of this one, and it would make a neat bed quilt for one of my boys....this actually was going to be what I used with the Avignon prints, but the fabric just didn't look right in this block setting in the end.

I want to use bold colours in this woven ribbon effect quilt...I'm still trying to figure out measurements though, and colours (ideas?) I just want to really make the weaving look like weaving.
Taking my Bedford quilt to a subtle change. I just love the colours in that quilt so much, I have to make something else in the colours - bigger too.
This was my original plan for a solids quilt, and when I put it together, it just wasn't happening.

I think this is one of the hardest things about working out your own patterns from scratch - you really don't know if it will look good at the end.
I want to get a few smaller wall hanging quilts for seasonal stuff - not cutesy though. I definately want a Canada Day wall hanging for June/July and this is what I'm working on right now. As you can see, I'm having a hard time getting away from those squares and rectangles.

So there you have it... things going on in my head.

I totally emptied out every nook and cranny of sewing space this weekend and folded, sorted and purged a bit. Holy moly do I have a lot of fabric! (Well, for me at least - ever see the show "Hoarders"? well, let's just say, I'm the complete polar opposite of one of them...I had to talk myself out of purging fabric) So my solids are all in one drawer, my prints all in one drawer, and my scraps - one drawer for solid scraps, one drawer for print scraps.

My bigger guy is home sick with a fever today. I'm hoping to get my bee blocks sewn up. This week is a big week. Lots of sleepless and restless nights for the past few weeks. Perhaps that's the reason for my lack of sewing? Big news and we're hoping to hear today or tomorrow. Fingers crossed!!! (and it has nothing to do with a book deal or magazine appearance or quilting related anything! LOL)

Next post - the secret world of Moda Bake Shop. I know you all want to know. hee hee!

39 years old today!

Yikes! I have one more year until I need to begin my mid life crisis!!! LOL

It's my birthday today! Nothing special happening, but I make it a point of saying happy birthday to me to make my kids think I never have an issue with getting older.... ( I don't)

I don't tell people outright, as I really dislike the attention. Never been one to throw a party about it. ;-)

Sewing mojo is just NOT happening this week or last ....it's the pits! I can feel it start to come back slightly though, so I hope this long weekend will afford me a few minutes of creative time to get back into it.

39th birthday year goal - to be able to run a 5km without stopping. I've never been an athlete, but I really want to be able to say that 'I can run'.

(quilting goals - duh...many!)

Hey...anyone read the new(er) magazine The Quilt Life? There was a great article in this months June issue about the quilting journey and process. Just kinda hit home is all.

Moda Bake Shop project -

My newest project for the Moda Bake Shop is up - it's called Avignon Picnic.

Hope you like it!

I've got a chest cold (thanks little ones for sharing) that's kicking me right now... there's nothing girlie and graceful about a chest cough let me tell you. LOL!

Small Sewing Projects...

I won this gorgeous fabric from Australia - Umbrella Prints on the Modern Quilt Flickr Group - I guess I posted and was randomly chosen some weeks ago. Anyways...isn't this beautiful fabric? It's hand screen printed organic hemp. It would/will make beautiful projects such as handbags, totes, wristlets...whatever. It has a linen like quality... beautiful, and the colours are so fresh. Thank you so much!

I made a couple of itouch covers for my sister with the blue fabric. I was reminded again at how I dislike sewing little things like that. I don't know why. I think I'll use the remaining for some zipper pouches or similar items. They may make some cameos in a quilt or two. If you butter me up enough, I'd be willing to share. (they are just smaller 44x50cm squares)

Confession - is it wrong to LOVE LOVE LOVE the swatch postcard they sent me the most?

My Moda BakeShop project will be posted tomorrow!

Thrifty finds...

I couldn't pass these up today..

Mint condition linen placemats (thin though - not doubled fabric) and matching napkins, 6 of each. Seriously, I don't think these have ever been used or unfolded. I love the aqua border and thought these would look really cool somehow as a quilt. I'm going to do some figuring out, but I think I may need some Workshop In Progress advice soon!

6 yards of 60" white cotton with charcoal polka dots for FIFTY CENTS! It was supposed to be 12.00, but it was green tag day and all green tags were fifty cents. yay!
It snowed here yesterday, blizzard like, like a good 10cm. Isn't it May? I don't think we got it as a bad as south of us, but still, snow in May??

Irony...

After writing this, this morning, about giveaways....I find myself in a totally ironic position... Check this out. I feel very sheepish, actually! I didn't tweet, or grab a button, or post about it or facebook about it. LOL!

I am a facebook 'fan' of CT Publishing - and have become a member of their Creative Troupe (still figuring out what that all means)

I'm quite excited to receive valuable learning materials!

A bit of this, a bit of that

While photographing my latest quilt, this is what happened....

Seriously, why do all cats seem to do this? He was in the back yard and FOUND me. See how smug he looks?

My machine is at the shop. It's getting one more chance. ;-) My dealer told me not to trade it in. But I do have a new machine in mind if it doesn't cooperate after.

Do you ever get into a blogging/internet funk? I get that way a few times a year. I just feel 'done' with it. I get tired of giveaways and completed projects coming out of every corner (but mine) and join me on twitters and become a fan on facebook blog about this on your blog and my sponsors this and that....

I don't dislike individual blogs/bloggers because of this...I dislike the trend to where it's all going, commercialized I guess. I'm happy about people becoming successful and becoming business women and all the aspirations that they are striving for. It just gets tiresome to me sometimes. I just want to see your life and your projects! And one day, if I ever meet a pot of gold at the end of my rainbow, perhaps I will ask you to twitter me too. Except you most likely will never find me on twitter. ;-)

I wonder if the seasonal change has to do with it...the garden is just starting to show some growth now, a few daffodils and tulips up, and weeds too (why are they always out first?) I feel the need to get out there! Or maybe because my machine has been so mean to me that it's transferring over?

So I've been balancing and enjoying things outside of quilting too. Awhile back, I was even dreaming/nightmaring about quilting. That's bad.

We've been on a few road trips....

We had a fire in our backyard this weekend....

Taught Ethan all about twigs catching fire and then running to our pond to extinguish it and the 'pssss' sound it makes when it goes out in the water.

I'm amazed at the bond that Ethan and Mandy are developing - this is a terrible night shot, but if you could see how proudly Mandy was sitting for Ethan while being brushed, it brought tears to our eyes.

Ethan is in an all boy class this year (because there are only 4 girls total in all 3 grade two classes!) and his boy class was invited to sing at the music festival this year. They got dressed in white shirts and ties...and we treated him to a MonsterMudPie afterwards. Usually it's just a cone at McD's, so this was pretty awesome to him!

And Cameron, well, let's just say he's in the ham it up picture phase. I can't get one serious one!

And lastly....are there any blog friends that you have that just sometimes put a smile on your face or warm your heart or cheer you up for no real reason? I have to say thanks.... sometimes I get an email/comment or a reply back and maybe it isn't something you think makes a difference in someone's day, but don't ever underestimate the power of the written word, they do. :-)