One of the Reasons for my Lack of Posting

I have been busy.  Quilting.  Among a million other things.

You see, I had this plan to make my sweet E's Grade 3 teacher a quilt for an end of year/getting married present.  I had the planning done, the timing all in order.  Things were going to be great.

And then we got an announcement.  The boys most amazing principal was retiring at the end of the year.  Now let me tell you, Mrs. Kenny is amazing.  She is a kind and compassionate leader who isn't afraid to set the children on the right path, even if that means a little tough love every once and awhile.  I can't tell you how much I appreciate her and how much my boys have benefitted from having her in their lives.

So what could I do but make her a quilt too.  Two quilts, one month, no problem.  But just to make things interesting, I decided that the quilt had to be from everyone.  And that meant getting all 130 students and staff to sign the back of the quilt.  On the sly, mind you.  And then have enough time to get it to the quilter's.

And we did it.  And this Monday, we had a surprise assembly for Mrs. Kenny and my sweet boys presented her with the quilt on behalf of everyone.  I choked up.  It was so touching to see E, who wouldn't even approach a stage when he was little, speak in front of everyone to let Mrs. Kenny know about the quilt and how we made it because we love her so.

The quilt is the Postage Stamp Quilt from Rachel at PS I Quilt.  I mean I couldn't have whipped this one up without her amazing instructions for the quilt-along.  I pretty much love the pattern and have plans to make more of these quilts (let's be honest, they look like they are a lot more work than they are - not that they aren't work, but you know what I mean).

The back was some older Cosmo Cricket that looks like an exercise book.  Not sure what line it is from but it was perfect and fit our theme perfectly.  The signatures (which you can barely see) are so sweet, it is really just something else.

So, there you go.  One of the gazillion reasons why it was so hard to get to the computer for the last 5 weeks.

L xo

So Much

It has been quite the week here.  I mean everything from taxes, to a death in the family, to Passover, field trips ... the list was endless.

I am exhausted.  

This may sound ridiculous, but one of the things that has kept me going is sewing.  Because we added 2 quilts to the list of things that must get done.  

And these quilts must get done.  

One is for the boys' principal who is leaving the school at the end of the school year (June 16th). 

One is for sweet E's grade 3 teacher.  E's teacher is super amazing and is getting married this summer. Also must be done for 

The principal quilt (for lack of a better name) is the postage stamp quilt that was on PS I Quilt recently.  I am already sewing up the blocks (there are 48) and the backing is done (I am having all the staff and students sign the back so am covertly getting that done too!).  I am using an American Jane Punctuation jelly roll from my stash for the quilt.

The teacher quilt (I am so original) is a pinwheel type thing called Summer Dreamin from Miss Print and Moda Bake Shop.  I am not sure what happened but I have a lot of Dream On fabric.  I mean a lot.  So I am using some of it up on this.  Using up a layer cake or two on this one.

I really am doing my best to use up my stash.  I cleaned up my sewing room last week (it took forever) and the amount of fabric I have was overwhelming.  Not that I don't love it, just that it has to be used.

And I have 2 quilts that need to make their way over to the quilters.  If I can get these other 2 done asap, it will be a record month.

But there is still all that binding ...

L xo

Charmed, I'm Sure ...

So my friend Greta talked me into doing hexagons.  I just learned to sew with a sewing machine last June and have never done any hand sewing so the thought of hexagons is a little daunting.  But, never one to say "no", here I am starting hexagons and attempting this little hexagon along with Texas Freckles (except there has been no alonging yet - this may be something that gets done to and from the drive to the cabin).

In order to have enough fabric to make all these little hexagons (I am doing the 1.5" ones), I have cut up a 4 charm packs and am going to do some swapping with Greta, Greta's mom, and my friend Ruth.  I have cut up a Flutterby pack, a Hushabye pack, a Nicey Jane pack and a Summer in the City pack.  Pretty good, I think.  I know the other girls are cutting up some beautiful fabric too so I am really looking forward to it.

I am also doing a little Porkchop Swap (I have no idea what that means) with some girls over that the ORBQ.  Haven't done anything with this group before so not sure what I'll be getting (we are cutting up 25 5x5 squares and sending them on to 7 other people).  Once I get my fabrics, if there are some that aren't my thing, I plan on putting a package of them all up for grabs.  I am sure that someone will want them. 

All in all, lots of fabric coming my way soon.  Got to love that, right?

L xo

PS - I sent out my May block fabric, my June block fabric and I know EXACTLY what I am doing for my July blocks.  Just need to finish everyone else's blocks.  If it is one of yours, sorry.  I promise it will be done shortly.

PPS - To my darling children - I realize the end of school is right around the corner and that you are oh so very tired of EVERYTHING but, guess what?  So are Dad and I.  So let's cut each other a lot of slack.  Before I send you to school with a for sale sign around your neck.  Love you always, Mom. xo

PPPS - You should see the blocks people are making for my Beatnik Bee month.  OHMYGOSH. 

Music Mondays

So, I have decided to start our week off on the right foot. And to that end, I introduce to you, Music Mondays. Every Monday (fingers crossed), I am going to post for you a video of some of the music I listen to while I happily sew away on all my quilting projects.

While the songs may not always be your cup of tea, I thought it would be kind of fun to share some of my favourite music with you. And I hope that, if you are so inclined, that you will do the same. Doesn't have to be every Monday, or even a Monday, for that matter, just share a little something you like too.

Might be a great way to get to know one another better. We shall see.

L xo

Guess Where I Am ...

[Image courtesy of Purl Soho]

Yes, yes, New York, obviously. But most probably, as you read this, I am inside those doors and am trying to catch my breath as I take in all of the gorgeous yarn, fabric and haberdashery that make Purl Soho the lovely store that it is.

Jealous?

L xo

All Cut Up

Well, the Beatnik bee blocks are done and are ready to send. Choosing 6 different blocks may not have been the most time saving idea I have ever had. But, you see, I wanted to make sure that this quilt was different - for me and my fellow bee-ers. And the way that I thought I could do that was to give everyone 2 different blocks. Which meant that I had a lot of figuring to do. I am sure that I've told you that numbers are my strong suit. So I cut everything up in a way that made sense to me and (hopefully) gave everyone more than enough fabric. It took more time than I would have thought.

To be honest, I really wanted to do my Charley Harper quilt. And one day I will. But it didn't seem right for this Bee. Not sure why.

L xo

PS - I am almost all packed.

PPS - Thank you to my sweet friends who left such nice messages for me on my Crocodile Tears post. You are very kind and I so appreciate your words.

PPPS - I'll have some surprises for you here while I am in NYC for 5 days.

A Pain in the Neck

I had plans for this weekend, let me tell you. I had plans. To sew, sew, sew.

They kind of didn't happen. Thanks to a lovely birthday boy and his 14 friends who had a great time at his birthday party yesterday. Thanks to the fact I went to bed at 6:30 p.m. last night and slept until 7:30 this morning. Thanks to a garden that needed to be tended to today.

All good reasons, don't you think?

Still, I got a few things done. There was a lot of washing of fabric. There was a lot of ironing of fabric. There was a lot of cutting of fabric. All of the washing, ironing, and cutting led to a very sore neck. Must have been hunching or something. I haven't had a sore neck before. Not so much fun.

So, I've packed it in for today. There is always tomorrow.

L xo

PS - I don't normally prewash my fabric. Now I know why. Too much work. A pain in the neck, if you ask me. (hee hee)

PPS - I cut the fabric in the picture a little while ago - they are for my Bee block in June. They aren't the ones that caused me the pain. I'll show you a picture of those this week.

A Quick Hello

Just a quick hello. Things are too busy around here. So here is a list:

1. Yesterday, my little big man turned 8. We are having "birthweek" not "birthday" celebrations. It is so nice to be around someone who loves having a birthday. This is in complete contrast to the adults in the family, who would rather skip them.
2. I am working on a quilt. I haven't said a word about it. I am hoping to have something to share soon.
3. I am completely second guessing my Beatnik Bee blocks (the Charley Harper quilt). It may be too much. And I don't want to stress anyone out. I have plenty of other ideas. I'll make a decision by the end of the week.
4. I leave for New York in 9 days. I have stopped myself from buying fabric twice this week. I am going to save it all for Purl Soho.
5. We have had snow twice this week. It is very grey here. I could fall asleep. Grey weather does that to me.
6. There is a new ezine for quilters - FQ - it looks like it has potential, don't you think?

Okay, that's it. Let's talk sooner rather than later and for sure before I leave for the Big Apple.

L xo

A Little Bit of Big News (for me) and a Big Thank You too

So, one night a little while ago, I was in bed watching tv and surfing the net. I like to go to PS I Quilt not only because I love Rachel's blog, but because she has a great blog list on her blog. Up until a week ago, I couldn't figure out Blogger/Google reader so I would go to Rachel's blog and click on her blog roll (is that a bad thing? Not sure). Anyhow, Rachel's blog roll has a lot of my favourite blogs and a few that I visit once and awhile.

Anyhow, I digress. There I was clicking away and reading blog posts when I clicked on Moda Lissa's blog. Now why I hadn't read her blog more is beyond me because that is one great blog. So I click on the blog, and start reading her post. And her post is about how she made the 55 Rad Blogs list in the April/May edition of Quilter's Home magazine. Which makes sense because she has one great blog (as I have already mentioned).

I keep reading and she goes on to tell about a few of the blogs listed, some of which she already knew about and some that were new to her. (Do you see where I am going with this?). And there I was. Which was so crazy. There I was. Unbelievable. For a million reasons. Me. Really?

But I wasn't really going to believe it until I saw for myself. Which I did today. Right after hot yoga, I went to the bookstore and picked up a copy of the magazine and, low and behold, there I was. Which made me kinda do that pee dance that preschoolers do when they really have to go. Because this is just really lovely. And I was a little excited. Just a little.

So a big thank you to Quilter's Home magazine (it is a great magazine, if you ask me). It made my month, that's for sure. And to all the other bloggers, I am beyond humbled because you are all so freakin' awesome. Really, really.

L xo

PS -The pee dance caught the attention of a wee little old lady who was reading knitting magazines beside me. Seeing me dance around, she directed me to the washroom at the back of the store. She was obviously hard of hearing because when I told her that I was just excited about being in a magazine and didn't need to use the washroom, she told me not to hold it in a minute longer or I would be wearing a diaper when I was her age. NO LIE!

PPS - Okay, you have to read the magazine. Because a magazine that has a margarita recipe is pretty much awesome. And even though I am not one to eat hardboiled eggs, the recipe for curried eggs is going to rock E's world. In a quilting mag, who would of thought? Awesome.

PPPS - The best 3 things to come out of being in the magazine:

1. the email my parents wrote me after I told them about the article and they went to my blog and read my posts. It was some of the kindest words ever. Even at 39, making your parents proud is an awesome feeling. If I am even half of the parent that my parents have been to me, I think my children will be just fine;
2. my best friend, Catharine, telling me that she wasn't surprised I was in a magazine but that what always floors her is how I come about these things. Just reading a blog and I find mine. She calls it serendipity. I like that word; and
3. my husband telling me that, just like Catharine, he wasn't surprised at all, that I had made the list because he knows that there isn't anything I can't do, if I put my mind to it.

All 3 things made me think about how lucky I am. To have people that believe in me in the way that they do. That is, by far, the best thing about all of this.

I am very lucky.

No Longer in a Bind

Can you see what is in that picture? Beside the most gorgeous 6 year old on the PLANET. A quilt that has a binding on it. Yeppers. The first full size quilt I have ever done by hand. Why doesn't anyone tell you that your wrist is really going to hurt after an entire day of hand sewing?

This quilt had to get done about 5 months ago. It is for my in laws 5oth wedding anniversary. Which was about 5 months ago. But 5 months ago, I had no idea how to bind a quilt. And I didn't want to mess this up. Because it is kind of special.

So after binding a baby quilt, I started to think that I could do this one. But whether I believed it or not, it had to get done. You see, we are off to Scottsdale to see my in laws for a few days and there is no way I could land in Arizona without this quilt. It has been far too long as it is.

I am so glad to have this one done. Binding isn't half as bad as I thought it would be. And if I am not been bombarded with "Mom, where's my ...." or "Mom, can you ..." or "Mom, so and so did this or that", I actually kind of find it meditative.

Binding done on this one means that I can do the binding on a few others. Getting that done will be a good thing. I am all about getting things off my plate these days.

Anyhow, one down, a few more to go. But they will have to wait a couple of days until we get back.

L xo

PS - here's the front side of the quilt

PPS - I am going shopping at Target while in Scottsdale. Just in case you were curious.

PPPS - In order to bind a quilt without interruption, I would have to do it in my car, parked in the drive way, with a flashlight on my head, between the hours of 2 am and 4:30 am, when no one in my family is awake. That's about the only way. No kidding.

Happy Spring

[picture from http://www.nestprettythings.com/]

So many posts in February, so few posts in March. And now, nothing to show you that I have been sewing. But only because I can't, for the life of me, find my SD card or USB thingy. Since Valentine's Day. So much for the Love Month.

I have been sewing. And sorting. But nothing I am over the moon about. Just Bee blocks. Not that I don't like doing them, I do. Just that I am missing that "making a quilt top feeling". You know what I am saying?

I have had a little flickr mail convo going with my Bee friend Greta. Greta and I are on the same page about a lot of stuff quilting-ish. It is really nice to have a Bee friend. Except that Greta had me thinking so much about blocks for my Bees that I couldn't sleep last night. I landed up cutting away at fabric until 1:30 am. And I am only about 1/2 done cutting. Lots of little pieces. But I think this block is going to be awesome. I stole the idea from Red Pepper Quilts and from Greta.

[photo from www.redpepperquilts.com]

But, I really shouldn't be working on those blocks because they don't need to be ready until June or July (I can't remember). The Bee blocks I need to work on are those for my Beatnik Bee blocks. Those need to be ready to go by mid-April because May is my month.

The Beatnik Bee is kinda a quilting out of the box kinda Bee (I think). So I came up with a out of the box kinda idea. One of my favourite artists/illustrators is Charley Harper. We love Mr. Harper around my house. We have books with his drawings, colouring books with his drawings and games with his drawings. Like I said, we dig on Mr. Harper.

So, my Beatnik Bee blocks are going to be all about Mr. Harper. 12 different blocks with sizes no smaller than 10.5" and no bigger than 16.5". The size will be determined by my fellow bee-ers. I am going to send each one one of Mr. Harper's illustrations and then have them interpret it in their block. It can be as literal or as figurative as they decide. I am going to do up 2 example blocks to give everyone an idea and then I am going to let them loose.

In case you don't know who Charley Harper is, here are a couple of examples (not saying these would be the ones I would choose - something a little simpler will work better, I think) ...

I am going to send out lots of different fabrics - solids and smaller prints that match the picture the bee-er gets sent.

I actually think this is going to be a fun family thing to put together - I'll have the boys choose the pictures and then help with the fabric. With all these Bees, I think my stash will finally be mangeable.

Anyhow, I think I have more than made up for my lack of posting through March with this beyond long post. I am off to enjoy the sunshine and hot yoga.

I'll post pictures of all my quiltalong and Bee blocks soon.

L xo

PS - I bought myself that necklace today. How Springy is it? So cute I can barely stand it! I love Spring. Love it.

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.

Bees - The Sequel

So Bee Season is in full swing. Fabrics have been sent out, received and blocks have been made. Except by me. Because I haven't received any fabric. Which has nothing to do with the lovely ladies sending the fabric and everything to do with my new arch nemesis, Canada Post.

Canada Post and I have had our share of problems lately. It all stems from the fact that Canada Post delivers my fabric purchases mainly on the days when my husband picks up the mail (it doesn't come to our door but rather a "super mailbox" in our neighbourhood - kind of like a central location where everyone picks their mail up). Now I get that I bear some of the responsibility for the whole fabric purchase thing but really, some assistance in keeping my dirty little secret, my little dirty secret, would be appreciated. Greatly. The request has so far fallen on deaf ears.

But not one to miss an opportunity, I have decide to take lemons (otherwise known as the tardiness of Canada Post) and make lemonade. You see, February is my month for the Modern Tradition Quilting Bee. The Bee is all about making traditional blocks out of modern fabric. And since I can't make the blocks for my fellow bee-ers (see rant re: Canada Post above), I have decided to get my packages ready for February.

Deciding what to do has been hard. Super hard. Harder than I thought. And I really thought it would be easy. Probably should be. Anyhow, I digress ...

For my blocks, I have decided to go with the good old log cabin. It isn't a block I have done before but I really like the idea of straight lines with all sorts of gorgeous fabrics. So now I have pulled fabric, as you can see, and I'll start putting things together and getting it all ready to send out soon (envelopes are already labelled and ready to go).

See, lemons ... lemonade.

L xo

PS - It is my wonderful Dad's birthday today. Happy Birthday to the best dad there ever has been and will ever be. I love you.

Bees

Here we are.

I never in a million years thought I would start a blog (isn't that how most people start off their first blog post?) but here I am. And all thanks to bees. You see, two of the girls (Alissa and Kristen) involved in the original Block Party swap are writing a book. All about quilting, community and quilting bees and stuff. And through all that, it has brought tons of people together to start up their own quilting bees. And I jumped at the chance to join (and join, join and join).

While I have a flickr account and post pictures there, it just seemed like a blog was in order - another way to share the blocks I'll be swapping with the great ladies I'll be swapping with and other quilting goodness. Which I think, is kinda the whole thing about the Block Party - community and bringing people together and the great possibilities that can come from that.

So here's to new blogs and bees (and figuring out how to put links and buttons on the side of this thing ....).

Here we go ...

L