New on my bookshelf...

I must say that blogs are what really got me inspired to quilt and keep quilting...but Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr's The Modern Quilt Workshop really really got me inspired. So when I heard there was another book coming out, I just had to order it.

Quilts Made Modern is their newest book. It's in my hands now.

If you go to their blog Craft Nectar and scroll through pages 2 and 3 (way better photos than AI could ever take!), you will get an idea of most of the patterns in the book. I like them all...what I like about the book, is that it gives you colour variations and shows how different colour combos will affect the pattern.

I'm going through a phase right now of quilt design burnout. I'm on a wave of not wanting to design my own anymore, and just relax and use the gorgeous patterns that everyone else has worked on. I think this is truly getting in the way of enjoying quilting right now. I sit there and stare at my fabric and the ideas just aren't flowing. And then I think...who am I trying to be? I'm not trying to become a quilt designer. Why can't I use someone else's pattern? That's why they MAKE patterns! What a silly concept... sometimes I think blogland unintentionally gives that pressure. (perhaps it's actually home renovation burnout and I'm just lashing out at my creativity slump)

This book caters to my love of simple and clean design, and has beautiful patterns to feed that need.

The other two books that I am really interested in are Elizabeth Hartman's The Practical Guide to Patchwork (I wonder if it is overrated and it is more how to than patterns. I'll need to see for myself, I guess) and my all time favourite solids designer, Cherri House's City Quilts.

Actually...I think I'm going to go buy me some Cherri House right now. She inspires me.

**thank you for your feedback on Connecting Threads fabric. I won't order for now, there was a definate consensus on the quality. If you have any positive feedback, feel free to let me know. As for the threads, my favourite is Aurifil, and after numerous terrorist -like attacks of thread on my machine, I found Aurifil to be the one to keep the peace. I won't waver from it now ;-)

Connecting Threads

I was shopping online at Connecting Threads. Have you bought anything from here?
Solids are 3.96/yard, they have a great selection of basics and prints. Some really cute dots and stripes.
Shipping is free with purchases over 50.00 .

And CANADIANS, you know how expensive it is here. If you purchase over 50.00 at Connecting Threads, shipping is only 7.00 . It doesn't matter how much you buy...you don't have to worry about fitting it in an envelope. It's 7.00 They charge a 10% tax/duty fee on top of that. I still think that is an incredible deal.

There are some prints and solids on clearance for 2.96/yard. Kits are 50% off.

I've heard the thread is good too.

Have you bought any of the fabric/thread there? What do you think of the quality?
I'm planning on doing a big order and have done the math.
Local fabric shop here sells Konas for 8.95/meter. Add 12% tax to that. So let's round it to 10.00/yard.
I'd get about 6 yards for the 60.00 I'd spend at Connecting Threads.

At connecting threads, I'd get just over 12 yards of fabric for 60.00. That's if I bought the 3.96/yard solids.

Wow.

Bathroom Reno..

We knew there was some work to do on the house when we moved in... painting has been ongoing here and is almost done. Just a few more rooms to go. The bathroom was a biggie, one that we are just not experienced enough to tackle.

**insert cheesy sixties disco ambient music now...

Before:

Gorgeous sauna siding....

Yes, that's a yellow toilet, yellow sink, and yellow tub.

We didn't want anything fancy or upscale - just something up to date, clean, white and energy efficient. (That toilet tank took about 5 minutes to fill!)

When the contractors came to gut and reno...we found moisture damage...and HOW! The subfloor that was put in under the lino was fibre board - which totally sucks up moisture like a sponge.

After:

no decor yet...this is bare bones ...

toilet hasn't even been peed in yet in this photo!

We put up one of those curved shower rods for our bath - what a HUGE difference in space it makes when taking a shower! highly recommended.

Onto sewing related posts next time... promise ;-)

sunset...

First dusting of snow on the mountains... this was a spectacular sunset a couple of days ago(this is facing north east, however) Everything was reddish pink..

Ikea finds...

I've discovered that fabric shopping in Vancouver is worse than in Edmonton. Well...unless I want to travel 45 minutes. not.

I was looking for some Kona solids for backing my new quilt, and couldn't find the right gray. I didn't want to wait for up to 3 weeks for an online order to come in. I'm so impatient, I need instant gratification. I decided to head to Ikea and check out what kind of fabric and sheets they had.

Grey isn't easy. But I did find a charcoal twin sheet, 100% cotton, for 14,99 which I'll use. It's just a backing right?

On my maze through the aisles (and experiencing almost pedestrian rage as this woman and her cart stopped dead in front of me, in the middle of the aisle to start TEXTING for pete's sake. This is Ikea...do they not know I'm racing through so I can get the $1 hot dog deal at the end?)

I came across this whimsical fabric. They come on mini bolts - 47" x 118"

They are 100% cotton.

I bought two bolts - they kind of 'go' together. The characters are the same, the themes are slightly different.

I giggled looking through the different bolts. Do you know how awkward it is to

be a 6 foot tall woman, wearing a bright red coat, giggling at bolts of fabric? ya.

Some of it was worthy of giggling though.... no words needed here..oh how I love the Swedes!

(if you need me to explain, just email me privately LOL)

such a sweet duck, look at his boxers!

all of the characters are riding on different items, like teacups, shoes, cupcake liners...chairs!

The bolts of fabric were 9.99 each, and there were about 5-6 different kinds.

Now run, scurry, hurry!!! Go to Ikea! Buy some fabric! Send the kids to the SmalLand and take your hubby out for a date night at Ikea! Dinner tonight is only 1.99! Breakfast tomorrow is $1!