Baby Love or a Short Story Long

Oh Fransson 9 Patch
Originally uploaded by lnwcohen

So last week, we went skiing on Sunday. I only tell you this because I thought skiing lessons started this Sunday not last. I did not plan to be skiing on Sunday. I planned to finish this quilt on Sunday. Because the teacher it is for, left on maternity leave TODAY.

Last Sunday, this was still only blocks. Blocks that needed work because my type A personality didn't like that, somehow, in my effort to be all random with the colours, I had made the majority of the centres of the blocks with grey Kei fabric.

I took apart a lot of blocks. Then I sewed them back together. Sewed those into strips with the white and then sewed the whole darn things together.

And then I had to make a quilt sandwich and quilt it. And instead, on Wednesday night, I fell asleep with my youngest. From 9 to 11. At 11 pm, I got up and started all that business. Thank goodness for a little 505 spray - no time for pins at MIDNIGHT!!!!

What did I have time for at midnight - quilting the whole thing. As in "my first time ever quilting anything" quilting the whole thing. Again, I remind you I started at midnight. But I did it - and I loved it (I did not love the air disappearing pen though - eventually went with Crayola washable - desperate times).

At 2 am, I finally went to bed.

Then came Thursday. The day before our Grade 1 teacher left on maternity leave. And I had to bind this lovely quilt. I have never done that before either. But before that, I had to work all day.

I was getting tired before I even started.

BUT, I had help. You see, I went to my fav quilting store to by a big yellow ribbon to wrap the quilt up with. And my fav quilt store owner said if i came back with the quilt she would show me some tricks of the trade and how to sew the binding.

Never one to stare a gift horse in the face, I ran home, picked out of the binding, sewed it together, ironed it, sewed it to the quilt and was back at that store in an hour and a half.

The only thing quicker than me was my fav owner who helped me sew the binding. By the time I left, I was half way done. It was 9:15 pm and I naively thought I'd be in bed before midnight.

Not the case.

Sewing the rest of the binding by myself took until 1 am.

But it got done.

And I did it. All-ish. Start to finish.

The only thing I didn't do - take a good picture of my sweet quilt.

In all the rushing to get to school and deliver the gift I couldn't find my camera. Which meant Blackberry photos. And it was the morning, so not great light.

But believe me, this quilt is lovely. I love it. I was so happy to see the look on the teacher's face. She is a lovely lovely Grade 1 teacher and has taught my boys back to back and is deserving of so much more than just a baby quilt.

So happy with this quilt. Really.

L xo

PS - I did the back in Valori Wells Flannel. It is such beautiful fabric. I am going to make myself a pair of pjs out of it.

PPS - The pattern I used is the 9 Patch Lattice by Elizabeth at Oh Fransson. It such a good pattern - easy to follow and the end result is just so sweet. I have had Elizabeth's Mixed Tape pattern for awhile and think it may be my next quilt.

PPPS - I am going to make this quilt in the exact same way again. And then I am going to take great pictures. The quilt deserves at least that much.

When Love Becomes an Obsession

I know we all keep it very family orientated around the Quilts A Bit blog (which is a feat considering I have a mouth like a sailor) but today we are going to cross the line. We are going to talk about what happens when that crush you have becomes an obsession.

We have all been there. Don't lie. For some of us (no names mentioned), way back when, the crush that turns into obsession would have been about a boy. But when you are over and done with the boy crushing (see post re: 39), where does that obsessive nature go? It would be ridiculous to think it just goes away. Wouldn't it?

I may not know everything but I know something. That obsessive nature that once was boy crushing can turn into fabric crushing which then turns into fabric obsession. I am not sure if this condition is treatable. I am thinking not.

The latest fabric obsession (otherwise known as the dark side of quilting) is the fabric in the picture above. Heather Ross' Mendocino Mermaids in aqua. I love it. I don't have it. I would like to have it. I can't find it. Anywhere. If I had it, I would share it with my friend Melissa. She likes it too. I doubt she is obsessing over it though. She seems too nice for that looneytoon kind of behaviour.

So, in order to manage my latest fabric obsession, I am putting my want of this fabric out into the universe. I am optimistic that if I am meant to have it, it will be mine. I am not limited by narrow thinking or the negative. I am manifesting my own fabric destiny and after I finish this post, I am letting it all go. No more fruitless searching on the internet. I am surrending to the universe.

L xo

PS - Can you tell by that last paragraph that I went to hear Deepak Chopra speak last week? It's a bit much, isn't it? I am cracking up re-reading it though. If nothing else, I do find myself quite funny. I know I am probably the only one.

You Like Me, You Actually Like Me*

So I got an email from Greta this weekend letting me know that she had nominated me for a Beautiful Blogger award. Shocking, I know seeing as I have only been doing this since December and only 5 people, at most, read this blog. But I am flattered nonetheless and owe a big thank you to Greta for the nomination.

The nomination has a few rules:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award. DONE

2. Paste the award on your blog. WILL DO (after I finish this post).

3. Link to the person who nominated you. DONE (see above).

4. Tell 7 or 8 interesting things about yourself.

• I love to read. A lot.
• I just started quilting in June. I am obsessed. This is a good and a bad thing.
• I am celebrating my 10 year anniversary this Fall. I am completely in love. True.
• My children are 15 months apart - we like to say that one was planned and the other was destiny. They make me want to be a better person. And they can make me laugh like no one else.
• Even though I am not a very religious person, I am big on prayer (not sure if that is all that interesting).
• I am a big gift giver. I love it. Never because I think I have to, only because I want to.
• I am addicted to Hot Yoga and I think that my practice makes me a better person.
• I am blessed with the best friends in the world. Especially my best friend. She is way more interesting than me. She is my sister in all the important ways.

5. Nominate and link to 7 or 8 blogs you think are great.

• Heather
• Rachel
• Dana
• Katie
• Marlene
• Lesly
• Shelly

There you have it.

L xo

PS - *The title is that Sally Field comment that she made at the Oscars decades ago. Seeing as how the Academy Awards are right around the corner, I thought it appropriate. I am not really that vain. Really.

PPS - The picture is of our room at the cabin. I bought the pillows on etsy and they are one of the reasons I started quiliting. I'll tell you the story sometime.

Very Specific Love (Nothing to do with Quilting Whatsoever)

The E Man
Originally uploaded by lnwcohen

My sweet E turns 8 in just a little bit and today I ordered treats for his birthday - personalized MandM's. Now, for those in the US, this is probably not a big deal. But here in Canada, as in Canada where they didn't ship personalized MandM's until very recently, it is. A very big deal. At least for me. But, shhhhh, it's a secret.

L xo

PS - I think the MandM's are going to be a hit.

PPS - I do still sew. It is all about quilting blocks right now. And a baby blanket. That baby blanket needs to be done by Friday. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can ....

PPPS - I got more fabric in the mail yesterday. Which is good. But, sometimes, it feels like I will never get to all the projects I want to do though. I think it partly has to do with making blocks for the bees I am in. Not that I don't love doing them. I do. It is just that I always get my fabric so late and then I am rushing, rushing, rushing to get them done by the end of the month. Which kinda takes the wind out of my sewing sails when I do have time to get to other things. Anyhow ...

Happy Love Day

Hope your Love Day is filled with as much love as this!

L xo

39

Yesterday, I turned 39. Yep, 39. Not 34, again. 39.

And had you asked me even 3 months ago, how I felt about it, well, the answer might not have been super positive. But something happened somewhere between December and January. It is hard to describe. Like all of me shifted 1 or 2 degrees, to the left, to the right, I don't know. Not visible to the human eye.

But after that minute shift, I stopped hearing "39,39,39" chanting in my head after every lull in conversation, while in downward dog in yoga, at every red light. There was no more stress about 1 more year until 40. Gone.

And in it's place, calmness. And joy. And absolute peace with where everything is in my life right now. Because this life I have, is wonderful. It really is. I know it. And I cherish my life and the people in it (you know who you are) beyond words.

On the first day of being 39, I woke up and saw those 2 faces. Those are the best reason for being 39, or 55 or 92 that I could ever think of. I will gladly grow older so as to watch them grow older. They are a gift that I am overwhelming blessed to have and I give thanks every single day that I get to be their mama. Amazing.

So here's to 39 and the second cupcake of the day (and 3rd of the weekend - you don't turn 39 every day, you know).

L xo

PS - I really love my husband too. Like really love him. Like a teenager falling in love for the first time, love him (but so much more wise than a 16 year old falling in love - 39 years is good that way) .

PPS - I am really thankful for my parents, my brother and my best friend too.

Random

I know I promised some Kei dot 9 patches today but I am still so sick that I don't have the energy to go downstairs let alone go downstairs and sew. So instead, I bring you a story about the Siggy Swap.

I loved making these blocks. Especially because I have these little triangles as scraps and I have plans for them. Yes, I have plans. I also had plans to send off my blocks right after they were done. But then kids got sick, I got sick, etc. etc. etc. But I had the envelope and the little card ready to go ...

Now, last time I counted my blocks, I had 83. So I made more. So I had 83 signed and 19 unsigned on the corner of my bedside table (I signed them while watching tv with my husband, you know, quality time).

Today, no matter what, I was going to send the blocks. All 102 of them. That didn't happen. What happened was that I stood up, thought going anywhere was a bad idea, and promptly cancelled all plans to step outside my house.

So, I decided to count my blocks.

In an Advil Cold and Sinus haze, I counted my blocks. Twice. And there are 83. Where are the other 19? Good question.

After some searching, I found 3 tucked into some magazines underneath my bedside table.

But that's it.

Now this long winded intro brings me to the point of the blog post, the strange and arbitrary ways of my cleaning lady. Don't get me wrong, I am quite aware that I am lucky to have a cleaning lady. No argument about that. But I just can't figure her out. Which causes numerous problems when trying to find things she has "put away". Oh, and I know she has "put away" the 16 blocks.

Where the heck are my other 16 blocks? Really. Why would 3 be in a magazine and 16 nowhere to be found? I don't get it.

Usually, I can figure it out by chanting "If I were quilting blocks, library books, note for school, ugg boots, etc., where would I be" (random, I know) but this one has me stumped.

Now it could be Advil Cold and Sinus that is dulling my ability to find the blocks but I just have no idea. Will look again once I can put my head down without horrible dull sinus pain.

L xo

PS - It could be that the Advil Cold and Sinus has me believing that this a blog worthy post.

PPPS - Last week I received material for some quilt blocks and with the material were two newspaper triangles that were part of the pattern for the blocks. I left the material and the newspaper in a little pile on our breakfast bar. Return home after the cleaning lady has been for a visit, and fabric still there, newspaper no where to be found (in garbage, I am assuming). Again, no idea why. It didn't look like garbage. It was with fabric in a baggy. Like all together and stuff. Random.

PPPS - One time, at band camp ... Just joking. Oh, how I love Advil Cold and Sinus ...

Book Love

So, there has been some sewing around here. Promise. But I have come down with a nasty cold thanks to my youngest. I didn't even make it to work today. I think I have slept more in the last 24 hours than before my children were born. Even with all this sleeping, I have managed to read The Help. The whole thing. In 2 days.

Now let me tell you, I wasn't planning on reading this book. It has been number 1 on my Kindle list since I got it and that, usually for me, is a sign to stay away. But a very good friend of mine told me that it had to be read. And so I downloaded it. It took me exactly 3 pages before I couldn't put it down. It is a beyond amazing book. It is so so good. Really.

I even called my mother, made her promise me she'd do me a favour, and then told her she had to go to our local bookstore and get the book THAT SAME DAY! And she did. (No review from my mama yet).

I promise that if I feel like I belong in the world of the living tomorrow, I'll post some 9 patch squares of Kei goodness.

L xo

PS - I also read the whole Percy Jackson and the Olympians series with my oldest. All 5 books in two weeks (that kid reads fast). That series is fabulous.

PPS - Not to be outdone by his older brother, my youngest and I also made our way through 3 Magic Tree House books.

PPPS - For the record, a lot of reading goes down in this family. I LOVE it.

Parcel Love

Parcel Love
Originally uploaded by lnwcohen

I finally put my Bee Blocks in the mail today .... finally. Have the fabric for 1 of my February blocks already but no block making until I do some pj making (my birthday present to myself - some Amy Butler flannel Love pj's) and some baby quilt making (Grade 1 teacher having a babe at the end of February) . Then I'll get to those February blocks.

L xo

PS - Think I am going to use the Oh Fransson quilt tutorial posted today for the baby quilt - am thinking Kei dots and white with Valori Wells owl flannel for the back. Love baby quilts. Love babies. Love the fact my boys are 7 (soon to be 8) and 6 (soon to be 7).

Travel Love

Oh yes, I do. I love New York so much that I am going twice this year. Yeppers. First trip is in April (just booked flights) and the second in June. First trip is with my girlfriend. The second is with my husband. Both are going to be fantastic.

A long, long time ago, my husband and I went to New York every year in the Fall. EVERY YEAR. And then we had a baby. And then we had another baby right after having the first baby. And then ... well, I don't remember much between years 0 and 3 of baby 2 but I do know there was no New York.

There was New York somewhere between years 3 to 6 (maybe year 4?) but that was the trip I saw rats. Three rats. I hate rats. And one rat looked like it was a product of incest or something. All regular rat looking except with tuffs of bearlike fur on it. For reals. I almost fainted then and thank goodness I am sitting down now. Would be lying if I told you it doesn't make me dizzy just thinking of that horrid incestuous rat. Obviously, I am not so good with the vermin.

Even though I have an enormous fear of rats, I still love New York. I cannot wait for the end of April .

So here's to some New York love in the Love Month.

L xo

PS - I also love Paris, Seattle, San Francisco, Edmonton (where I am from), Vancouver, London (but holy expensive, Batman), Dublin ...

Love

Today is the first day of my favourite month. And it isn't just because my birthday is just around the corner. Or Valentine's Day, either. I just love the Love Month. And the colours are my favourite too - pink, white and red.

So get ready for the mushy stuff. A whole blogging month of hugs and kisses (not literally, of course ... there is only 3 boys in my life for that kind of business), heart shaped chocolates and roses.

Happy 1st day of Love Month.

L xo