Daydream

The only goal for most people in doing anything is to find more time to spend doing things that make them happy. Quilters neeeeeeed more time to quilt. There will never be enough hours in the day or years in a life for most of us fabric addicts. Maybe some people have their addictions under control. 

I do not. 

I like diet coke. 

And fabric. 

And apparently books and gardening and volleyball and piano and kids. 

Oh and science. ANYTHING nerdy and genetics/physics/chemistry related totally gets me going. 

I fully admit it. I'm an addict of MANY things. 

But if I could combine enough of them together and multitask my enjoyment I could create the most productive and efficient enjoyment machine for my life. I could sit in a garden drawing molecular models in my quilt designs sipping diet coke watching volleyball on television (no volume) while the children frolic through the plants nibbling berries and licking popsicles to classical music. It'd be awesome. And then maybe I could find time for the mundane cleaning and laundry type activities that seem to fill up entirely too much of my life at present. Hello sippee cups. And trips to the potty (Potty-training twins is a blast... said no one ever.). And endless dishes full of food that wasn't even touched. (No wonder my parents just took us to McDonald's.)

But constantly trying to whittle a little time from each of the necessary activities of life to make a little time for a hobby has kind of turned into a game. For instance, if I can get these dishes done while making dinner, flipping a load of laundry, and helping a kid get their homework done, I can free up at least 30-60 min that night for something else. If I do them sequentially I won't even finish today. One day when the kids are all grown I will probably find myself multitasking my hobbies. And then I'll miss the sippee cups and everything else. :)

So I'm sure a few loads of laundry and dishes have had to sit a few extra hours so that I would even have quilts to share on my blog. 

How do you find time for quilting? 

This little baby quilt is in Kate Spain's Daydream fabric line for Moda. 

I quilted a different texture pattern in each of the continuous negative space sections. Quilting multiple designs in a single quilt is so much more entertaining. I highly recommend you try it. You could get a new addiction! 

It could really use a name. I was thinking something along the lines of "party streamers." Any thoughts?

It measures 32" x 36" and is in the shop. 

Quilt Therapy

I think people sew for a variety of reasons. 

Mostly because it's awesome!

It also makes for some really good therapy.

Really, really good therapy.

For some reason, unknown to us, we really stink at making babies.

Of course, the ones we have are perfect ;)

Just sayin'.

But the "getting them" just hasn't been easy.

I actually REALLY started quilting like a crazy person after we realized we were going to have to deal with fertility problems back in 2009. 

I needed a lot of quilt therapy to get me through it.

After rounds of crazy hormone injections for months and months and months we finally had a baby boy to show for it. 

This last week I had another miscarriage (#4) and D&C. :(

So there was more quilt therapy to the rescue.

Bricks baby quilt in Sophie by Chez Moi for Moda.

Half Square Triangle Quilt in Make Life by Sweetwater for Moda.

Strips baby quilt in Sophie by Chez Moi for Moda.

Another strip baby quilt in Sophie by Chez Moi for Moda.

And the cute little man that reminds me it's all worth it and everything is going to be okay. :)

All better.

Little Apples

First, a little story.

Yesterday while I sat sewing, my 3 year old was playing with her little VTech toy that has a keyboard. She typed in "MODA" and then said, "Mommy, I typed the word Moda because I love them."

I asked her why she loved Moda.

Her response, "They are nice and send you all the pretty fabric."

HAHAHAHAHA!

So, not only does my 3 year old know how to spell "Moda" but she also loves them for sending me pretty fabric!

Brainwashing = SUCCESS!!!

Now if only they would send it for free. ;)

On to the quilt de jour...

I love the little drawings in Aneela Hooey's new Little Apples for Moda fabric line.

These little images DEMANDED to be fussy cut and framed.

Okay, maybe that's a bit much.

But they did politely ask me to do so.

I obliged them.

This line definitely has some fall flair to it.

The quilt is baby sized at about 36" x 36" and is in the shop.

Free Quilt Pattern for Applique Sashiko Circles

Download the FREE PDF HERE!!

So I thought I'd share this little pattern with all of you.
I would sell it but I wouldn't want to be blamed for someone's frustration with the time commitment, etc. of this pattern but I enjoyed it and most of the fun quilting projects out there are very time commitment heavy.
The smaller sizes are VERY do-able.
It's designed for raw edge applique with charm squares but you could also use any scraps that are appoximately 2.5" x 5" or larger.
Anyway, I'll stop talking so you can start quilting!
Have fun!

Modern Workshop

I also finished these little guys!

They are sooo saturated with color!

I had no idea how awesome they were until I had them up on the design wall.

Even hubby called them "vibrant."

It's Oliver and S's line Modern Workshop for Moda.

Pillow and table topper are also in the shop.

Fruitcake

Doesn't this just look like the perfect kind of presents?

Fabric ones that you don't have to wrap or clean up after... :o)

Definitely been in "Christmas mode" of late.

Fabric is Fruitcake by BasicGrey for Moda.

It's 22" x 25.5" and it is also in the shop.

A little project today... a bigger one tomorrow.

Well, this is all I have to show you today...

there's a larger project that hopefully will be finished tonight/tomorrow for your viewing pleasure!

These coasters are just a modified version of the tutorial I posted here.

For the top of the coaster you just need to sew 6 (5" x 1.25") strips together lengthwise and square each block to 5" x 5"... complete as directed in the tutorial!

Charm squares and jelly roll strip scraps work great for this!

Spring Table Runner Pattern

Another finish and a very happy me.

So, I'll give some quick instructions in case you think you neeeeed one of these. And we all do right?

I used 15 charms and 8 honey bun strips though you can you cut yardage if you like.

Cut:

- (4.5" x 4.5") squares from the 15 charms

- 4 (1.5" x 4.5") and 4 (1.5" x 6.5") strips from each honey bun strip

- 18" x 30" backing

- 18" x 30" batting

- 100" x 2" strips (sewn together)

Randomly pair the honey bun strip sets to the trimmed charms.

Sew the 4.5" strips to opposite sides of the squares. Press seams.

Sew 6.5" strips to the remaining sides of the squares and press.

Sew blocks together and press.

Layer backing, batting, and top together.

Quilt, bind, and enjoy!