Music Mondays - These Are The Days

For my sweet E who had such an amazing week. I can't tell you how much I love that little man.

L xo

I Am Making This Next

Loulouthi Tiles Quilt

{photo courtesy of Stitched in Color}

I know what you are thinking.  Add this to the Along list and the list looks pretty much impossible.  But I just love this quilt.  I think Rachel has done an amazing job of putting this quilt together.  And there will be hand quilting (with AMH's new line of perle cotton), which I have never done before.

I've bought the fabric in a little package (how easy was that) and it is just waiting for me to cut into.

And I have to say, after not crushing so much on Innocent Crush (but it is growing on me), I am loving this line. So much so that I asked my friend Deirdre to order an entire bolt of this

for me to make curtains out of.  Which will be awesomeness if my house ever gets renovated.  Let's talk about that some other time.

I don't think this quilt will take a long time to do since the tiles are so big.  To showcase the fabric and all.  I can't start it for a week or so.

I'll let you know how it goes.

L xo

Get Along

How about a list of the "alongs" that I have my eye on?

Supernova Quilt Along 

{photo courtesy of Lee at Freshly Pieced}

I started this one right when it started but I didn't get passed sewing part of 1 block.  Not because I didn't like the block or I wanted to give up, but because I had the two school quilts to do.  Those 2 quilts kinda threw a wrench into everything.  I'll get back to this eventually.

Kaleidoscope Quilt Along

I think that this is going to be a great quilt along.  I have never done a quilt like this so am looking forward to the challenge.  And there will be templates!  So no need to buy a new ruler.  No idea what fabric to use but I am thinking solids (which I have never used before).

A Zig A Zag Quilt Along

This might be a good one to use solids with, don't you think?  I have been wanting to make a zig zag quilt for a long time - probably since I started quilting.  And wouldn't this quilt match so nicely with my rainbow pillows that I can't seem to stop making.  My only worry is half square triangles - I think this one has them.  Not so good at those.

Warm Cool Quilt Along

I would love to do a value quilt.  And Jenn at In Color Order is amazing at explaining all about how you go about choosing fabrics and colors.  Again, there is the whole half square triangle thing but it may just be worth it for a beautiful quilt like the ones Jenn has done.  

Dresden Quilt Along

{photo courtesy of Lily's Quilts}

This quilt along finished up a little while ago but it is a type of quilt I would love to try.  And the instructions on the Lily's Quilts blog are really good.  And I have a whole fat quarter set of the Sherbet Pips ...

+ and - Quilt Along

{photo courtesy of Bad Skirt Amy}

This is a flickr quilt along based on Bad Skirt Amy's tutorial based on a Setsuko Inagawa quilt.  

I am in love with the this quilt

{photo courtesy of Where the Orchids Grow}

so I may have to give it a go.

Synchronized Squares Quilt Along

{Photo courtesy of PS I Quilt}

Let's talk about Rachel and her quilt alongs.  I missed the Postage Stamp along but used her tutorials and made an awesome quilt for E's principal.  Rachel is super good with instructions.  I am all over this because I know I can get it done and I have some Hullabaloo from Urban Chiks that needs to become this quilt.

Farmer's Wife Along

{photo courtesy of Fussy Cut blog}

Well if this hasn't caught on like wild fire, I don't know what has.  I have had this book for a long time.  Amanda and Angela started this up and it seems like everyone and their dog is doing it.  I am all in.  I saw pictures of Camilla Roskelley's blocks in her Bliss and Ruby lines ... gorgeous.  No idea what fabric to use.  Scrappy like the ones on the Twin Fibers Blog?  Dark with Liberty prints like the ones on I'm a Ginger Monkey?  Just using a few colours like A Life in Lists?  (the Life in Lists one is my favourite after Camilla's ... but Ruby doesn't come out until the fall and you can't find any Bliss to save your life ...)

I am going to be behind before I even start because of all the goings on over the next week.  But I am going to catch up and stay caught up (which is in no small part thanks to my friend Deirdre who got me started with the templates ... I am following her lead and doing this by paper piecing) by the end of June.

L xo

PS - "Get along" is a phrase used once and awhile in this house.  Some weeks are better than others.  Having children 15 months apart means that the boys do not know of an existence without each other.  This is more of a blessing than a curse but still has its challenges.  I wonder though, why we think siblings should always "get along".  I don't get along with everyone all the time (understatement).  I mean, I am not advocating all out brawling or anything, but the expectation that the boys will always get along is crazy.  I mean they drive me crazy and I love them to bits so how can I expect them to always be friends?  Maybe they have each other to learn how to get along with others - like having an almost twin sibling is practice or something for the big wide world out there.  Just thinking out loud here. 

I'll get back to you if I come up with anything good.

PPS - Are you still here?  This is the longest post EVER.

I Made This Too

I made this for the Goody Bag Swap on Flickr. 

I know I said "no swaps" etc. awhile back but my friend Greta told me about it so I thought I would give it a go.

I am back to "no swapping" now.  Not because I didn't like making the bag.  I did.  I sent lots of goodies too.

I am just not good with deadlines.  I want to be good with deadlines but I am not.  At least when it comes to this stuff.

I am good with deadlines when it comes to getting stuff done for the children (and let me tell you, June has been full of stuff to do for the children).  I am good with deadlines with work (although I missed a few last week because I was sick-ish).  

But when it comes to sewing, deadlines are not my thing.  Because of all of the other deadlines I have.  

I like to sew because I like to sew.  Putting pressure on to sew because I have left it to last minute because I have done 12 files, baked 7 dozen cookies, taken the dog to the vet, helped with school projects ... not so good.  And not so fun.

And I know that there are lots of people who sew like crazy, meet swap deadlines and do more than I do in a day.  I tip my hat.  Seriously.

L xo

PS - I am pretty impressed with myself with the quilt deadlines I had this month though.  The school quilts were done in advance of the dates and there was no rushing.  Even the pillow was a rainy Saturday afternoon thing.  All done with more than enough time.  I think that was a first for me.

PPS - I may not be good with the swaps and all, but the "alongs', let me tell you ... there are sooo many I want to join.  I have a list for you that I'll post tomorrow.  

Look What I Made

Yep.  I made a pillow.  And I love it!  I just wish it was for me.  It isn't.  I couldn't end the school year without making something for S's Grade 2 teacher.  She is beyond wonderful.  And it didn't seem fair to make something for the principal and E's Grade 3 teacher and leave her out.   Just couldn't do it.

I am not sure if she will like it but if she doesn't, she can always just leave it in the classroom.  Unless the classroom gets lice THREE TIMES IN ONE YEAR like they did this year.  Then she will have to burn it.  Let's hope that doesn't happen - and not just for the pillow's sake.

I took my inspiration from a pillow I saw on flickr.  Super easy to do.  It is a 19.5" pillow with a 20" pillow form because I like overstuffed pillows, yes I do.

If I didn't have piles of work to do today, I would be making another one of these pillows.  I plan on making a lot of them.  Have a birthday?  You are getting a pillow.  A baby?  A pillow.  Anniversary?  A pillow ... you get where I am going?

One of the things I noticed when I was putting together the fabric for the pillow (I cut a lot of extra - see above for pillow making factory reason) is that I have almost no red or purple in my stash.  And it isn't easy finding red or purple that I like either.  

Strange, but true.

L xo

PS - I also made a skirt this weekend.  You will never ever see it.  Ever.  Not good.  Not good at all.  I don't think I am cut out for clothes making.  Unless it is pj's.  I am pretty good at those.

Music Monday - Bananarama

Cruel summer?  Really ?  I would take that over no summer.  While it isn't raining right this minute, the weatherman says there is more in store.

Rain, rain go away.  If you don't, I may have to move.  Seriously.

L xo

PS - I am old enough to have loved this when it came out.  Hard to believe, I am sure.

Another Reason for the Lack of Posting

Another quilt done.  Except that this one was done a long, long time ago.  I did have plans for another quilt to make and give but that one did not come together very well.  At all.  We probably shouldn't talk about that one.  Maybe some of those blocks will become pillows one day.  Or not.

And this one just needed a binding.  

And we needed another quilt because we just had to give one to E's grade 3 teacher.  Because she is getting married in a month and is just the most amazing teacher ever. 

So we decided this was the way to go.  And I am so glad.  I love this quilt. 

Binding was pretty easy.  I think I am getting better at it.

We had a surprise shower for E's sweet teacher (which is another reason for the lack of blogging - so many parties to plan, end of year and all).  

I think the quilt was well received, don't you?

L xo