Baby Jane

Oh my goodness. I can't figure out how I survived my "downtime" without quilting, but I think I'm making up for it these days. I had the annual "New Year's Resolution: FINISH all WIPs" moment like I'm sure ALL quilters do... and then, I nearly have! I was looking around my sewing space today and realized that I barely have enough unfinished projects to cover my design wall and sit in my machine! **insert maniacal laughter here** Yes, that is an accomplishment around here. :)  

So up first to enter the blog-o-sphere is this little number in Cosmo Cricket's Baby Jane fabric line for Moda. Very gender neutral. Very vintage adorable fabric. I just need the baby to go with it. HA! 

I love the motion this quilting design gives it.

And this one is in the shop since I don't have the perfect baby for it. Then again, when did I have time to quilt with babies around?

Sloops

Sloop /slüp/ noun : a one-masted sailboat with a fore-and-aft mainsail and a jib.

About a year ago I started this project for my biggest little man. I designed and constructed it just for him from one of my all-time favorite fabric lines - Salt Air (by Cosmo Cricket for Moda). It fits his personality perfectly and he LOVES it. In fact, he's been loving it almost a year now. 

And it took a LOT of love for me to let him have it once it was complete. A queen-sized paper-pieced quilt in lovely fabrics... and he still occasionally has bedtime accidents. It's a good thing he's cute.

And it's about time I shared it on the blog. This seems to be the two hardest parts of quilting for me lately. Photos and journaling. Oh, and I'm sure you'll notice the fish pillow with clamshell pattern I made for him too. He jumps on it. Yes, I love him very much and he's very very cute. HA!

But back to the sloops. 

The paper-pieced little boats are offset to emphasize the equilateral triangle design and create continuous visual lines on the diagonal across the quilt.

And you can have one too if you like. Pattern here and here.

Derailed

In the shop. 

Coral Salt Air

 I've been having fun this week with some half square triangles.

Specifically, the coral and gold colorways for the Salt Air by Cosmo Cricket for Moda.

This lantana and this fabric match almost too well!

The whole quilt.

Went with striped binding. 

Love striped binding.

I took picure this just for an excuse to take the kids to the railroad tracks. 

I love trains.

Yellow flowers on the back.

The straight line quilting shows up really well.

More beautiful blooms to match. :)

In the shop.

Surf's Up Quilt Pattern

Pattern is now available here.

That's all I had the energy for today. 

I'm exhausted. 

So I'm going to bed. 

Here's to hoping two kids sleep in tomorrow.

zzzzzzzzz

Salt Air

Hello, 

It's been a while. 

I know most of you are enjoying spring but for us, summer is practically here. 

Houston only has Summer and Fall/Spring - no winter.

I spent half the day outside playing in the water. 

It's amazing how much fun they can have with a plastic box half full of water and a few boats. 

I should have just gotten out the blowup pool though. 

Pretty soon both kids were squished together in the box completely unable to move.

Then, they both were upset with me when I called it done.

Summer is so fun with kids and I can't wait for our first beach day.

Believe it or not, I used to surf. 

The Hawaii Northshore even (got my undergraduate degree out there). 

Lest you think I was good, let me clarify that it was not Pipeline or Waimea.

But it was still a lot of fun. 

I actually wore board shorts for almost 3 straight years.

So I have a serious soft spot for surfer and ocean anything - so naturally I needed some Salt Air!! 

So you can probably see how this next quilt happened.

Because these things do just happen.

All on their own.

I can't be held responsible.

The whole quilt. I only used the blues and greens from the line for this quilt though I love the reds and yellows too. 

I choose the large print paisley-ish water spout-ish print for the back.

I'd love to know what they called it.

They being Cosmo Cricket of course.

The fabrics close up.

I love my little painted quilt rack I found at the antique/consignment store by my house.

And now to dream of beach days with a little surfing in my near future :)

In the shop. 

Sweetheart and Heart Throb

We are so ready for Valentine's Day now! 

It's funny how things change as you get older.

I remember in high school thinking I had to be dating someone to make Valentine's not such a drag of a holiday, ya know, "single awareness day". 

Then when I was first married, it was all about having the perfect gift and dinner to spoil the husband. 

Now, it's all about cupcakes, cute outfits, and crafts to do with the little people!

(That husband, however, must still do something remotely romantic. hehe.)

While waiting some more for that fabric to arrive, I made my "Heart Throb" a little appliqued shirt.

(Note: His faucet, a.k.a. mouth, is still leaking. Grrrrr....)

Applique and other fabric selections are from Chemistry by Cosmo Cricket for Moda.

Both kiddos together.

I love a fun matching set for brother and sister.

The endless ruffles of this skirt with binding edge!

It's three tiers of ruffles with a drop waist. 

All that ruffle and the heart appliques for the little who.

Being perfect (at least in my humble opinion!) in her new outfit. 

She loves it! 

My Valentine

I had a very good weekend sewing up this little table runner in Cosmo Cricket's Chemistry for Moda. 

Oh love.

I'm actually excited about Valentine's Day coming now!

Driving around today I found some fun places to photograph it. 

Like this one with the little scallop chain in the background.

And this one on the barb wire fence in a bright green (in January) field.

It's 26" x 26" and in the shop with the pattern for your personal sewing pleasure :o) 

Happy Valentine's in advance!