Stitched in Color

a Living Picture

2013-05-22T12:22:00.000-04:00

Guess what? My mom and I had a date for mother's day.... a succulent date. Look what I made!

I've long been drawn to succulent wreaths and vertical gardening. Not that I have/do any, but I admire them. From afar. I like succulents, plain and simple, but bringing them inside, away from weeds and bugs and the hot, hot sun - genius! Discovering these beautiful redwood frames, made by Succulent Gardens, absolutely pushed the idea over the edge. For some reason, I'm just not a circle person. The "square" version... I LOVE!

So this Sunday my mom (who is a total green thumb, btw) came over and together we gardened... inside. In case you'd like to try your hand at it, here are some tips.

First, read this tutorial on Prudent Baby. We mostly followed those directions, except that we got our succulents from Succulent Gardens. A brown paper bag full of beautiful rosette succulents came with my frame shipment. They were in excellent condition and already ready to root! I kept them spread out on paper towels and misted them occasionally, until our date.

You could also try buying succulents at your local nursery. If so, buy a few big gallon-sized plants and make cuttings from them, rather than buying many small plants, to keep costs down.

We used: one 12" redwood frame, one wire wreath (same as tutorial), sphagnum moss by Miracle Grow (which was more like dirt than moss...), wire and fishnet stockings to hold the "moss" in place on my mom's wreath, rooting hormone and bobby pins to hold each succulent clipping in place.

These frames are made as one solid piece, so you must drop the moss in through the wire mesh. It took some time to really work it in, which my mom said was important. Didn't like this part. My sink and I got pretty dirty.

Since the Miracle Grow sphagnum moss was soooo loose, my mom figured she'd need to net it to prevent it from falling away from the wreath. A trip to the store was avoided when I found an old pair of fish net knee highs. Whaaaaat? Yeah, don't think I need those.

Then the fun part... the plants! We dipped the stems into the root hormone or used a spoon to sprinkle the hormone directly on the dirt. Once the plants were in place, we'd attach them by sliding a black bobby pin around some bottom petals and into the wire mesh frame or wreath. At first I was going really slow because I hated to hurt the plants. But, my mom says succulents are really resilient. I hope so!

Here's mom's wreath! Because we used bobby pins, she could hang it right away rather than waiting for the plants to root. Even so, I noticed she had it still sitting flat when I came by her house today for our walk.

Me too, mom. I just love, love, love how it came out and want to give the plants every opportunity to relax and survive after being brutally bobby pinned. I'm keeping this baby flat for a bit. It's kind of like a center piece like this. So pretty!

This is how it really goes... vertical. When it's upright the plants show off their texture.

When I feel ready, we'll hang it on the wall among the picture frames and little shelves we've arranged on that (previously) Big Empty Wall. See that spot kind of center and to the right?

I'll have to take down my succulent frame to water it by misting with a spray bottle. Succulents don't like much water, so it won't be about soaking the soil. Fingers crossed it survives!

Well, that's another home decor project tackled and thoroughly appreciated. Our dining room exudes so much more personality now. But just wait 'til I get those curtains up! Mmmmmm, it's going to be good!

know what i love?

2013-05-21T13:09:00.003-04:00

how every day is a chance to start fresh! I am so enjoying today, the long silent moments, the opportunity for working rest, the pretty bits of fabric brightening up my table.

See there? What first, you say? Mmm... let's talk about that stack of Anna Maria Horner voile trimmings. I've cut up all my voile for dining room curtains, which created a tempting little pile of slinky voile remnants. Hmm... what to do with glowing bits and bobs of voile?

Meanwhile, I'm working away on The Penny Sampler. I you think those Comma periods served handily! I wanted understated centers for these petite square blocks, which are just meant to be little embellishments tucked here and there in finished quilt.

Oh, and quite to my surprise... yesterday a package of Sarah Watson Indian Summer arrived on my doorstep. I vaguely remember sharing my address with Sarah months and months ago. I don't often receive fabric gifts, so yesterday was such perfect timing. I've actually been hankering after this collection. Love that Menagerie print and the Basket prints especially. I want to make a pillowcase for Liam!

Look, I just finished something! It's a zippy pouch for a Camper who'll use it to store her hand piecing on the go. I referenced this zipper tabs tutorial, since I don't make pouches often enough to have internalized the flow. For this side I used scraps from my Sparklers quilt...

and for this side, I went with a favorite Field Study print. Did my quilting on this side in little x's over the raindrops. Too fun!

Lined it with a medium gray text print from Tim Holtz' Eclectic Elements, which is a new fabric line by Coats brand premiering now at fabric market. A sneak preview was sent to me by the folks at Westminster. Yes, sometimes, I get crazy lucky.

But, anyway, it has an very earthy, rough vibe with some interesting text prints. It seems text prints are not going to be hard to find anymore. Everyone is doing it now. Which is fine with me. I still like them!

But, you know what I love most of all? I love all the kind, encouraging comments you're sending about yesterday's post. Thank-you for celebrating with me! It means a lot that I can be real and messy around here and even so you're still willing to listen. Thanks!

p.s. this post is a wee shout out to my friend Ara Jane, a sweet friend who blogs at "you know what i love?". Thanks for reminding us, Ara Jane, to share the things that we love!

the big Good News

2013-05-20T15:30:00.000-04:00

I'm struggling to find the words to write today, not because anything is significantly wrong, but because we had such an "off" morning. For the second week in a row we've tried to insert a new outing into our Monday rhythm, a morning Bible study at a friends house. And for the second time in a row we left emotionally tuckered out.

I knew it would be hard to add this in because I don't like to go out in the mornings and Monday is our weekly Laundry Day. The outing interrupts so much of our flow. Even though it sounds fun and it is good, it undercuts the supportive currents that nurture the kids and I. It's that flow, that rhythm that enables me to do so much and for us to feel good and balanced and connected despite that productivity.

But not today.

So, here I am sitting down wanting to tell you some really good news and instead my heart is heavy and crowded. Liam's heart broke at playgroup. He was just not in a place to process and deal with some things that went poorly amongst the kids. It makes me see that he is like me. For us, the details matter, routines matter. I've given him my hugs and my love and now we are all having our rest time. I trust we will come back together refreshed.

*******

Now this is my time to write. I could have waited until later, but today I wanted to share my heart. Mess and all. I know the internet can allow us bloggers to give the impression that we have everything together, that our life is all sunshine and beautiful snap shots. Today I choose to write now, to bring this very special announcement along with my tears.

We're planning to have another baby!

In February my husband gave me the best gift of all - he decided we will have another child, something I've been longing for for years and years. He wanted to keep it to ourselves a bit, so I've been holding it in, not even telling Aria and Liam. Then just last night we celebrated a late Mother's Day with his mother and gave her this present...

Two yellow bottles, our way of announcing that we're going to try for another little one after all. We thought the grandparents would enjoy seeing the kids' original reaction to the news, so I included some little gifts that I though Aria and Liam would enjoy using someday with baby. It does not escape me that the baby gown is pink...

No, we're not pregnant. There's a reversal between us and that goal, a surgery not scheduled until December, but we're going to at least try. And I am so happy. And grandma was SO happy. And it really is THE happiest Good News.

Sometimes I'm fearful as well as joyful. Fearful about finances, ability to keep working, to keep homeschooling, and to make a child happy who will be so much younger than my other two and probably have no siblings (unless we have twins, please God!). But, you know, the good things usually are Hard. They can be SO HARD. Just like a fiddly, tricky quilt that's in some ways a true pain in the arse, but if you can relax and enjoy it and take it one day at a time...

Today I claim joy. And I pray God that joy would come. I've been keeping this verse by my side, as sort of a personal motto. Today it seems fitting to share it with you...

"Seize life! Eat bread with gusto,

Drink wine with a robust heart.

Oh yes - God takes pleasure in your pleasure!

Dress festively every morning.

Don't skimp on color or scarves.

Relish life with the spouse you love

Each and every day of your precarious life.

Each day is God's gift. It's all you get in exchange

For the hard work of staying alive.

Make the most of each one!

Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily!"

- Ecclesiastes 9 from The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language

with blessings and
such gratitude for this space,

Rachel

String Fever: more Prizes

2013-05-17T13:39:00.001-04:00

Thank goodness it's Friday. This week has been a bit rough for me, just some things that didn't turn out as expected and also some disruptions to our regular routine that leave me feeling lurchy. Sorry if yesterday's melodramatic post made you worry. Everything's ok. Just life, which has its ups and downs, really does require one to be brave.... often. And, yes, I was also mourning the news of Kathreen of Whip Up's passing.

Today I spent a quiet morning being with my children, stitching while Aria copies a book and prattles on, listening to Liam's sandbox play drift in through the open windows and later giving my much-requested feedback on the piano pieces they're practicing. It's funny, actually, how much like homeschool is our summer vacation. But more restful. Yes, it was restful.

So now I have a moment to spend with you, and I'd like to share a few more prizes offered by my sponsors for our String Fever quilt-along. Each string quilt top (finished in 2013 of any size) that you enter in our Festival of Strings will give you a chance to win one of these door prizes. The festival will be open for entries May 28-30th.

Thanks to Fabricworm, one of you will win 2 yards total, winner's choice, from the Yay Day Collection by Emily Isabella for Birch Fabrics Organic! There are 8 happy little prints to choose from, so you could have a fat quarter set or narrow it down for more yardage of your favorites. How sweet for children's clothes or a baby quilt!

This prize ships internationally too. Appreciated, Fabricworm!

From Lark Cottons we have Spring Lilac, a custom fat quarter bundle. It's a 16 piece mix of prints and solids created by Heather, the owner of Lark Cottons, just for our festival! I spot some Anna Maria Horner, Joel Dewberry, Lizzy House, Denyse Schmidt... quite the collection of pretties.

This bundle ships to the U.S. only. If an international festival participant wins this door prize, he or she can choose to gift it to a U.S. friend or pass it by to another participant.

How about some thread? Connecting Threads has it in spades, so they're providing one winner with a double pack of thread.

This door prize includes both the Salt & Pepper basics set AND the Rainbow set in all it's colorful glory.

That's 15 large spools of thread - oh... just 18,000 yards!

How incredibly useful! This prize ships to U.S. or Canada, and again, if that's not you, we're sorry that international shipping rates are limiting the fun. But, if it helps, you are welcome to direct us to send this anywhere in the U.S. or Canada. Could still be some fun!

I hope you've been enjoying this bit of motivation to get creative with your string scraps. The first round of prizes were announced last week. I'll have more next Friday, and then it'll be time to celebrate!

Here's to a productive and refreshing weekend!

brave

2013-05-16T16:55:00.004-04:00

Trying to be brave today... on a couple different levels.

May you also be brave today.

There's color, there's life on the other side.

Registration Open for HOMESCHOOL. handmade.

2013-05-15T09:34:00.001-04:00

"Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in the wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by. And that has made all the difference."- Robert Frost

artist unknown

If your road less traveled begins at home, then this lovely month of May is just the perfect time for you to make a start. Today registration opens at my pattern shop for HOMESCHOOL handmade at Stitched in Color! This two-week course will get you acquainted with all your options, while helping you discern the unique path that's all your own. I wish with all of my heart that your journey is sweet, rewarding and true. Class begins Monday, May 20th. And guess what? You're already ready.

Do you know what made me first consider homeschooling? A friend. And over the years I've seen other friends (not all, but several) decide to give this road less traveled a hesitant try. Not one of them has regretted it. I absolutely love helping people find their own way - their very own way - on this path, so when a Stitchy friend suggested I write a class, well... I couldn't resist. It turns out I have really a lot to say!

Like many big life decisions, learning about homeschooling tends to be incredibly overwhelming. There is so much out there to discover, process, categorize and consider. I've been in research mode for about 5 years and I can still while away endless hours online learning more. My goal here is to provide an easy-to-digest course that saves you time and energy, yet still gives you a generous taste of diverse options, so that you can go about the important task of choosing for yourself.

This class is designed for anyone just thinking about homeschooling, wanting to understand it better and visualize how it works. It's even more ideal if you've decided to homeschool and are kind of starting or Not Starting Yet or turning around in circles, not quite sure if you're starting... or not. Ha! Yes, this class is a big sign that says, "please, Start Here".

And if you've already started and are feeling stalled, then this class is going to help you gain a fresh momentum by looking at all the choices you have. So often folks start out just buying regular old textbooks to recreate school at home. Ok, that can work, but is that best for your family? Is that really the way you want to do it? And, even if so, are you taking charge to make those resources work for your family or are you feeling a bit trapped? Time to get some fresh air.

How does class work? HOMESCHOOL handmade is a two-week course delivered via a private blog interface (check out the screen shot below). Soon after you purchase your spot ($55 at my shop) you'll receive access by email to the HOMESCHOOL handmade blog. Class runs May 20 - May 31st. Each "school day" I'll be publishing bite-sized posts as well as an audio compilation of the day's lessons, so you can listen or read. You'll also have homework. Mmm-hm. To help you get the most out of class, I have a series of exercises designed to help you get your ideas, questions and "aha" moments onto paper so you can figure this thing out. At the end of class you'll receive the complete audio file as well as an eBook version of HOMESCHOOL handmade for your personal use. This course is packed with uber useful links, so you'll want that! I guess you don't have to take notes...

Your access to the blog will remain open throughout the month of June, during which time I will continue answering questions pertaining to the material I'm presenting. After June the blog will be closed and you will no longer be able to login, but you'll still have the audio file and eBook. This provides much-needed motivation for us to get everything we can out of the class in real time, rather than leaving it open ended for "someday."

As a special bonus, I am making myself available for private consulting to those who take HOMESCHOOL handmade. It's been a blast to write this course with the aim of creating a comprehensive introduction to homeschooling. But, homeschooling is such a vast topic and so personal that there's no way one course could answer every single question that's important to you. If you find yourself needing some personal support, I'll carve out time to consult by phone or Skype (your preference) in 30 or 60 minute sessions for an extra fee (based on a $50 per hour rate).

What's covered in HOMESCHOOL handmade? So glad you asked! I'm a tidy thinker, so this course is divided into 5 segments. Some segments are longer than others, but still they're like 5 chapters each with one or more exercise each.

We're going to...
- pinpoint your motivations for considering homeschooling
- get to know a bunch of diverse homeschooling styles
- find a match between your unique family and the options
- go through curriculum possibilities for all of the above, including shopping tips
- and finish by tackling common concerns that keep you up at night

Of all the segments, I think Your Family is the most important. This is where you can refine your vision of all that's possible in the big old world to understand what it would look like in your own home. Yep, that segment is longer than others!

At the close of each segment you'll also find a post about My Story as it relates to our focus. I hope that this vignette of my family's personal journey will add color and context to the entire story. Plus, it's fun!

Homeschooling is not for everyone, but if you're reading this far... it's probably for you. I'm excited to help you get started with all the stuff you need to make a strong, personalized homeschooling start. Please do join us at HOMESCHOOL handmade. I can't wait for Monday!

testing. testing.

2013-05-14T09:41:00.000-04:00

After the great iron discussion of April, I narrowed my shopping list to these four replacement irons, each of which comes highly recommended by readers:

*Black & Decker D2030 Digital Advantage- affordable. It does shut off automatically (which I like), but it also beeps when it's not fully heated (which would bug me).
*Reliable Velocity V50 - this orange iron has looks, but it's also twice as much as I'd usually pay. Seams very well made and the auto shut off can be disabled.
*Rowenta DW5080 Focus- this is one of the most affordable Rowentas made in Germany. The Germany Rowenta's are famous for steam and longevity, but it's not cheap.
*Panasonic NI-C78SR - my same old iron is the most affordable option. I liked its auto shut off feature and loved the detachable refill tank. But, it only lasted 2 years...

After hemming and hawing, I was about to pull the trigger on buying another Panasonic - the exact same one. It seemed like the most practical option since I do use water in my iron and leave it in all the time, both of which are known to drown irons. May as well kill a cheap one that I know I'll like, right?

I'm so cruel.

But, at the last minute, I asked Reliable to donate this Velocity V50. Happily they agreed. So now I'll get to test this baby and report back to you! Score. I can already tell you it's going to be close for me, comparing the Reliable to my sainted Panasonic. They both have pros and cons. But, look how great that sassy orange looks with my aqua shelf. Ooh-la-la!

testing. testing.

P.S. Uncle Sam wants me to tell you that my links for products on Amazon (like the irons) are linked to me so that if you buy something I get a little Amazon store credit. I started doing this because I was linking to Amazon anyways (hello, we all shop there) and I figured you wouldn't mind if Amazon has to send me some free books or rotary blades now and then. Just FYI to keep things legit around here. Tally ho!

Ziggy Strings

2013-05-13T13:41:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday! We're back from our annual camping trip at Hunting Island, and it was a grand way to spend Mother's Day weekend. My mom and dad ended up joining us this year. I'm so thankful! Such a great way to make memories together. I hope all you mothers had a sweet day yesterday as well!

Feels so good to start the week off by finishing my Ziggy Strings quilt top. Tutorial here.

Now I think I'll start to work on the quilt back and get her quilted, before going on to a sunny do. Good Stitches project waiting in the queue. In between I'm starting audio recordings for HOMESCHOOL handmade. Registration is this Wednesday! I'm soooo excited with how it's coming out. Turns out I really have a LOT to share, more than I realized.

Isn't it neat how a pile of fabric bits that might otherwise get tossed can metamorphose into a soft new cloth? Aaaah the magic of patchwork.

So totally hooked.

String Fever: Prizes!!!

2013-05-10T12:51:00.000-04:00

Hullo! It's Friday again. Today I'm heading out for our annual beach champing trip (woohoo, I've got cookies!), so this will be a short and sweet edition of Scrap Attack {String Fever}. If you're just arriving, checkout the quilt-along and join us for a festival this May!

Ok, people, let's cut to the chase. There are 2 weeks left until our Festival of Strings, when you'll want to have your string-y quilt top finished to share at the festival. That's a total of three weekends from today until the big event to get her all stitched up. You. Can. Do. It!

A little extra motivation never hurts, so let's talk prizes. At our Festival we'll have random door prizes, so anyone who makes a quilt might win. We'll also have 5 finalists, whose quilts I'll hand pick for their string-fabulousness. You'll vote to choose our grand prize winner from those 5 finalists. And the grand prize winner gets....

A humungous roll of batting! Because we all love our fabric, but we need our batting! Thanks to the good people at The Warm Company one lucky quilter is going to be rolling in the good stuff. It'll be winner's choice of Warm & Natural or Warm & White batting in a gigantic (and quite valuable) 90" wide, 40 yard roll. So you'll be set to make a whole lot of quilts!

Plus, each of the remaining 4 finalists will receive a package of queen-sized batting, again your choice of Warm & White or Warm & Natural. This is my go-to batting. It's soft, sturdy, affordable and low-loft. Enjoy!

Note: Because these are bulky shipments, all batting prizes must ship to the U.S. or Canada. Sorry! But the next one is international...

Ok, ready to hear about those random door prizes? Let's start with one of my favorites! My friend and long-time supporter, Ruth of Sew Love Fabrics, is donating this drool-worthy bundle of Anna Maria Horner's new Field Study linens. I have yet to see these in person, but I can just imagine Anna's rich colors mixed with linen's earthy texture. It's got to be heaven!

photo by Anna Maria Horner

One lucky winner will receive this fat quarter set of the entire Field Study linen collection! Thanks so much to Sew Love Fabrics for such an awesome prize!

In the coming weeks I'll continue announcing more door prizes from my lovely sponsors. Stay tuned and keep sewing!

Have a great weekend.

Aqua Quartz

2013-05-09T13:28:00.001-04:00

Drumroll please.... the shelf is painted. Finished! Finally.

It only took like three weeks? Ugh. There was the color-choosing, paint-buying, sanding, cleaning, priming, painting, painting again, painting again, painting again, even more painting, finishing, and lots of waiting in between.

Let's back up.

Did you know that Kona cotton can be really handy for choosing paint colors? This piece of Kona Candy Green is about the same color as the swatch I had chosen, Aqua Quartz by Valspar.

So for a few days I left it out on the shelf pretending to be paint. Helped me take the plunge! I also researched how to paint furniture and found these two online resources: Bless This Mess and Centsational Girl. Armed with new how-to knowledge and The List, I went shopping. Only somehow I let the paint guy at Lowe's talk me into buying a high gloss paint so that I wouldn't have to use finish. Don't know how that happened? Everyone who's anyone (just kidding, I am such a newbie) says you should put a finish on painted furniture.

Heather and I tackled the project together. We learned to use my husband's power sanders and got all sticky with the tack cloth (great product, by the way) cleaning up between layers. Everything went pretty smoothly (and as slow as molasses) until it came to the 2nd coat of paint. Which was supposed to be the last coat. But wasn't.

I'll not bore you with all the gory details, but we eventually put six, yes SIX, coats of paint total on the top of the shelf, in an effort to get it right. I threw 2 temper tantrums. And this reminded me of what it felt like to be a new quilter. So, so many questions! You halfway suspect that the questions are trivial, but also wonder if going the wrong way might somhow make or break the project. Stress! Confusion! Need of friends.

At the end we did spray on Minwax finish (As recommended by those online paint tutorials. Ask them, not me). I've always hated how my husband's homemade furniture is slightly sticky if he paints it. Turns out that the Minwax finish eliminates that stickiness. Next time, I'll say "no" to expensive high-gloss paint and buy more finish. Totally worth it.

I absolutely love the aqua shelf! This image, taken in the early morning, shows just how much it brightens up that corner of the room. Looks great with the baskets too! I forsee lots of stitchy photographs in my future with aqua backgrounds.

But, I think someone else is going to have to paint that piano....

Chevron Journal Cover

2013-05-08T11:16:00.000-04:00

Ta da! Yes, I like it so much I have to say "Ta da!" And it's for you, Miss Anne. I won't try to hide it. Please say you like it?

This scrappy covered journal was an extension of that wall art I made last summer. I have a little baggie filled with 1/2" x 5" pieces, where I put teeny strips of my favorite fabrics when I can't bear to toss them.

So, this journal cover (general tutorial here) is covered front and back with raw edge applique. And, gee, there is a lot of Anna Maria Horner round these parts. Good. ness.

In fact my first image was taken right on my worktop where that fantabulous pin cushion (from Anna's first book, Seams to Me) gets nigh constant use. It's my only and favorite pin cushion, received once upon a time in my first swap. I'm still in awe of my luck!

(There I remembered to give you the low-down on the pincushion. I always, always forget!)

And inside there are a few more bits and bobs of Anna Maria Horner fabrics, as well as a little "Stitched" tag to finish her off.

I count myself blessed to have "assignments" like these - small works with lots of freedom to be gifted to people who I know will appreciate them. Almost doesn't get better than that. Thanks, campers!

p.s. Oh, did you notice the AQUA table top? Hmm... yes. Do come back tomorrow...

Homeschool... questions please!

2013-05-07T10:02:00.001-04:00

Psst... I have been working on something secretly. Oh, so quietly. Did you notice? And it's almost ready. Hurray!

"What's that?" you ask.

A homeschool class! Yes, a class for my online friends who are very interested in homeschooling, only a wee bit curious, totally wanting to make it happen now or anywhere on the spectrum. A class for all of you to help you get started, or at least figure out if it's right for your family. My two-week course is coming this May to a private blog near you, with an included Audio Version by yours truly for busy-mama listening ease. And journaling questions, prioritizing exercises, quizzes, a million-bajllion resource links... all the stuff you need to make a strong, personalized homeschooling start.

We're going to...
- pinpoint your motivations for considering homeschooling
- get to know a bunch of diverse homeschooling styles
- find a match between your unique family and the options
- and even go through curriculum possibilities for all of the above.

Towards the end of HOMESCHOOL handmade I want to tackle all your big, hairy homeschooling questions. You know, the reasons why you can't see it working (even though you wish it could!). More politely known as... "Common Concerns." That's because we've all been there. In fact, here's the list I personally faced once upon a time...

***Aren't homeschooling kids weird and socially-awkward? What about socialization?

***How on earth would I find the time? I'm already busy with a baby, working part-time, other important life-thingies....

***I don't think I could make such a huge commitment. What if we hate it? What if my kids don't learn anything? I don't want be responsible for their education.

***You don't understand, I need a break! How can anyone spend that much time alone with their kids? Sorry, but my kids would drive me c.r.a.z.y.

So, that's a good start, but I bet you have more. I don't want to miss something important to you, so please, do tell! Even if you're not going to be joining our little learning party, feel free to pipe up with your homeschooling questions. Because this one's true too...

Thanks for your help!

a tisket, a tasket

2013-05-06T13:33:00.001-04:00

Hey, I made a basket. Lots of little crumb pieces, some just 1" square sorted out into columns and sewn up like a coin quilt...

Yep, remember this crumb patchwork?

Well, it's been signed, sealed and delivered in the form of two mini baskets for Handstitched campers!

This is not my first time using Ayumi's great tutorial. Every time I whip one up, I think that I really could use one by my machine for thread waste. It'll happen, someday.

Both were lined with Glimma Kita in mineral. The mineral/dust color definitely reminds me of linen. It's such a versatile neutral. But, I actually meant to order the Kita in fog, which is a pale gray. Might need to try that again....

Figured if I used up what I bought I wouldn't feel silly ordering the other!

Today I plan to hit the scraps again, this time making something for a camper that's been waiting patiently for ages (I'm talking about you, Anne!). I keep starting on her project and then it turns into something else. Fingers crossed it works out this time!

String Fever: Filler Strings

2013-05-03T17:00:00.000-04:00

Hello and welcome to another dose of inspiration as part of Scrap Attack {String Fever}. If you're just arriving, checkout the quilt-along and join us for a festival this May! We're making quilts of any style composed of long, thin fabric scraps. I'll start announcing festival prizes next week!

I just finished another row of my Ziggy Strings quilt, with just 2 more rows to go. I feel another row coming on this weekend. It's so satisfying to watch a messy pile of strings transform into beautiful, quilty cloth!

So, one of the more creative ways to use strings is to piece them together to create a sort of cloth and then cut them into shapes as needed for any quilt style. I think of these as "filler strings" because they are placeholders for another shape. The sky's the limit! Here are some examples I've found in the wild...

This is an old favorite by Philistine Made. She's using strings to fill out half square triangles laid out in a Roman Stripes. Her cut strips are just 1 1/4", so that's really small scale. How inspiring for those tiny bits, right? (psst... my limit for saving is 1" wide)

More recently I pinned this pretty piece of genius by Nova at A Cuppa and a Catch up. Her strip scraps were put to good use standing in for equilateral triangles. When I've made scrappy quilts before, I often feel frustrated with the visual effect until I control the color make up somewhat. Otherwise it just get's so chaotic. I like how Nova alternated with plain white so she could use every random thing. Looks great!

The Peace circle of do. Good Stitches is actually doing a filler strings project right now, using a heart tutorial by Don't Call Me Betsy. The strings are replacing small square and half square triangles. This green example is Handmade By Melissa.

Here on a much larger scale, Simply Robin used solid strings to build squares and rectangles for this improv-style quilt. The effect is like a textured print - simple, but with such depth.

Well, I'm definitely feeling silly for ever looking at my string scraps with contempt. Seriously, I was acting like there was nothing much exciting to do with them. So many possibilities, right? I'm glad you guys were game for a string-along. I totally needed it! Hope it's been as cathartic for you as well!!

Sweet Contrary Winners!

2013-05-03T13:50:00.004-04:00

Happy Friday! I think it's going to be a very good weekend. A very good weekend indeed! Let's start by congratulating the two winners of our Sweet Contrary fabric mosaic contest...

First we have this very sweet mosaic by Astrid of Red, Red, Red Completely Red, dubbed "My Garden on a Cloudy Day"! Her combination of pinky purples, aqua blue and grays definitely draws me in. So very spring, so very pretty, and lots of lovely low volume. Limited quantities of this bundle are available at Lark Cottons now.

{Fabrics} Line 1: Flea Market Fancy, Eyelet Pink; Little Folks Voile, Pastry Line Lilac; Nest Berries Aqua Line 2: Glimma Kulla Rosey; Noteworthy Squiggle Blue Mist; Shelburne Falls Deco Fans Willow Line 3: Glimma Tove Rosey; Textures Crosshatch Silver; Beauty is You, Tiny Seeds Grey Line 4: Valentina Skinny Vines White; Commas Slate Chalk; Bella Dot Grey

Our second winner is Julia of Lia's Handmades, whose Tangy Contrary mosaic is a delicious mix of coral, creamsicle and gray. Julia's saturated and very cohesive mosaic is definitely has the makings some beautiful projects! Limited quantities of this bundle are available at Lark Cottons now.

{Fabrics} Line 1: My Minds Eye, Bloom and Grow Floral; Moda Bella Clementine; Glimma Marby Grey Line 2: Flea Market Fancy, Eyelet Grey; Flea Market Fancy, Bouquet Grey; Moda Bella Etchings Slate Line 3: Sweetwater Reunion, Avas Apron Cherry; Lush Running Stitch, Creamsicle; Bella Bella Gray Plank Line 4: Flea Market Fancy, Posie Grey; Glimma Marby Dust; Architextures Crosshatch Grey

Congratulations to our winners who will receive their bundles in fresh, delicious cotton real soon! A great big thanks to Lark Cottons for sponsoring our fun.

Thanks to all of you for participating with your mosaics and your votes. You all have a wonderful weekend!

{Tutorial} Chrysanthemum Quilting & FMQ Tools Review

2013-05-02T10:59:00.002-04:00

Chrysanthemum quilting is not that hard! Once you've gotten used to pacing your movement for free motion quilting, so that you feel some control and are able to make relatively even stitches, you can totally rock this. Don't be afraid!

This simple video is the easiest way to show how it works. Take a look and then practice drawing chrysanthemums on paper, especially noticing how to work with the size and shape of your petals to nest flowers close together and near the edges. As a reference point, my large chrysanthemums on the quilt are about 7" across.

After some practice on paper, give it a go with your sewing machine on a small, practice quilt sandwich. Remember to drop your feed dogs, set stitch length to zero and attach a free motion quilting foot. I used one of the hopping feet that came with my Juki sewing machine. The hopping motion is subtle, but useful as it helps the foot travel over any bulky seems. Here's how to pull up your thread tails or "bobbin thread."

On this project, I also used some free motion quilting tools from Purple Daisies. Purple Daisies is a free motion quilting (FMQ) specialty shop, offering tools and instructional DVD's for learning to FMQ. I met the owner, Cristy, at QuiltCon, where I had the chance to try out my Juki for the first time as well as a Quilt Halo and Supreme Slider. On my request, Cristy gifted these tools so I could test them out at home and share the review with you.

The Quilt Halo is that red ring. It's a heavy metal ring covered in a red plastic that's tacky so that it grips the quilt slightly. You simply set the ring on the quilt top and then move the ring to move your quilt. The idea is that the Halo keeps the quilt flat and easier to maneuver, especially on the edges where it can be hard to hold the quilt. A QuiltCon Cristy had two Halo's stacked on each other. This doubles the weight and makes them even easier to grasp.

Although I loved using the Halo at QuiltCon, it didn't work out so well at home. At QuiltCon I was working with the sewing machine set down in an inset table and only quilting on a small practice sandwich. At home without that ergonomic advantage and with a baby-sized quilt, the Halo did not seem to control well enough. As I tested different scenarios, it became clear that I prefer to grasp my quilt with both hands actually holding onto a chunk of fabric. The Quilt Halo requires that you use the "hands flat on the quilt" approach to control the quilt. Above I'm demonstrating the flat hands approach (other hand is taking the picture, but it would be on the other side of the Halo!). I find this works OK when I am making small movements like the center of the chrysanthemum, but doesn't work when my petals and movements get larger. Unfortunately, once the Halo is on you cannot take it off until you cut threads.

This is how I like to hold a quilt (other hand is taking picture!). Free motion quilting can be a head game as much as anything else. When I grab the quilt, I feel in control which helps me stay calm.

I tried using the Halo just near the edges where I often struggle to grab enough quilt to control well. Unfortunately, it didn't seem to work well with this baby-sized quilt. I did have two Halo's so I tried the double-stacked method as well. Also, the chrysanthemum pattern travels around in a big circle, bigger than the Halo. It was frustrating to keep moving the Halo so that it remained clear of the needle.

I also tried the Supreme Slider from Purple Daisies. This is a slick plastic sheet that clings to your sewing machine bed much like a vinyl decal. It peels on and off, leaving no tacky residues. There is a small rectangle cut out at center for the needle hole. I cannot overstress how easy this is to put on and take off. There's nothing to it!

If you do use a Quilt Halo, you need a slider. The Quilt Halo creates extra vertical pressure on the quilt which the slider counters by creating a slick surface. Also, if you don't use a Halo but like to use the "flat hand" approach to control your work, the Supreme Slider will totally help! Again, I tested different set ups with and without the slider, with and without the Halo, etc. My favorite set up is to grasp the quilt with two hands and use the slider. The slick surface of the Supreme Slider does help the quilt slide more smoothly, even with my hand-grabbing method, making for a calmer, more pleasant FMQing experience.

I hope I've answered all of your questions about Chrysanthemum Quilting and these tools. Let me know where I can clarify! And, thanks to Purple Daisies for making this review possible!

Improv in Shelburne Falls

2013-05-01T12:05:00.000-04:00

All finished! This little baby quilt began one quiet March day, in which I found myself improv piecing for the fun of it and enjoying the use of a design wall for improv for the first time. Such a delight!

The fabrics are mostly Shelburne Falls by Denyse Scmidt, with a few odds and ends thrown in. It's so easy to improv within a tight color scheme or collection. Everything goes anyways!

I'd had my heart set on chrysanthemum quilting, which meant I was first waiting on my new Juki and then some new free motion quilting tools and then my replacement Juki.... Finally the stars aligned and here we are.

So, the quilting? Love it. Fun to do, soft to the touch, kind of gorgeous.... I mostly can't believe that I can do this now. It seems like so long I wanted to try things like this and the dogwood quilting and just didn't. Because of fear. And because of machine failure. And because I thought I should take a class or something. Turns out the machine failure was the only relevant point for me.

If you find yourself in the same boat, get a machine that's not temperamental for free motion quilting (this Juki is awesome, btw) and make some small practice quilt sandwiches. I find that practicing my design a few times on a quilt sandwich gives me the guts to go for it on the real deal. And once you commit to the real deal, you can't help but get better and better!

Oh, also start pinning or saving the free motion ideas you really like. You can take a day and just practice different styles to see what's easiest for you. I find that defined paterns, like both of these flowers, are easier for me than stippling.

Let's chat more tomorrow about my free motion experience on this quilt and the tools I used!

I backed this baby quilt in one large cut of Flea Market Fancy dots. The little flowers between the dots echo the chrysanthemums, at least in my head.

For the binding, Shelburne Falls Plaid & Dot in maple. Love how that little diamond-y pattern looks as a binding! It's a zigzag binding finish, as usual. Don't think I've even once done a straight stitch binding since trying the zigzag. Check out my tutorial if you're ready for a quick and foolproof binding experience. I think you'll be so glad you tried!

Shelburne Falls by Denyse Schmidt can be found online in Canada at Mad About Patchwork & Fabric Spot, or in the States at fabricworm, Pink Chalk Fabrics, Sew Modern, The Intrepid Thread & Fat Quarter Shop.

::Voting:: Sweet Contrary

2013-04-30T12:24:00.000-04:00

Good morning! It's totally not fair that my "job" this morning was to look through your Sweet Contrary mosaics and choose finalists. I mean, how fun is that? (Don't worry, after lunch I'll do some real work.) I've narrowed it down to 10 finalists, choosing mosaics that felt cohesive and inspiring. I also made sure to have a good variety of color schemes. Thanks for the lovely start to my day!

Enjoy perusing these lovely fabric mosaics from Lark Cottons! I've presented them first at large size to help you find your very most favorite one, with the name of the artist under each mosaic. Voting is below with smaller images for reference. Vote now through midnight (eastern U.S. time) on Thursday, May 2nd. The two winning mosaics with the most votes will be announced on Friday.

Good Luck Everyone!

by ScrapsFromTheCuttingRoomFloor

by Factotum of Arts

by Fabric Mutt

by Annabelle Gardner

by Trio Stitch Studio

#1 by Red Red Red Completely Red

#2 by Red Red Red Completely Red

by Lia'sHandmades

by Free Range Knitter

by Uska

Homeschool Chronicles {That's a Wrap}

2013-04-29T14:21:00.000-04:00

The first day of summer vacation seems like just the time to wrap up our chronicles for the closing school year. I'm so glad I started sharing about our journey here! It's been helpful for practical record-keeping purposes and for sparking great conversations with readers who are curious about homeschooling. Thanks for joining the conversation!

March

In my last homeschool post, I shared enthusiasm for a new math program we had begun, Singapore Math 2B. The program's style really fits Aria and me to a "T". It's not a lot of busy-work, with a nice run-along pace and interesting practical applications. I couldn't be more proud of how well Aria has grown in her math skills!

To keep her engaged (and slow her down a bit) I decided to buy an extra work/extra challenges book produced by Singapore called Intensive Practice 2B. About mid-March I gave it to her as a "fun" extra thing to do, mostly self-paced. (Because, tell her she has to do it and she'll drag her feet; tell her she "gets" to do it when she "wants to" and she'll grab a pencil). Anyways, this book is definitely challenging. It asks questions in new formats so she has to reach with what she knows to get to the answers. Besides "intensive practice" for each unit, it also has extra challenging questions for each unit (she didn't try those), a long test and a section at the back with really challenging problems that even stump us parents sometimes. Seriously.

We generally don't do tests in our homeschool. Mostly, they're unnecessary. I am well aware of what she understands, where she needs more work, etc. But, I decided Aria ought to do the math test as record of all she's accomplished this year. After I sold her on the idea, she countered that she would need a week to prepare for the test with the intensive review book and all weekend to take the test, so she'd have enough time to double check it. OK.... I think we can accommodate such demands! She got 91% out of sixty-something questions. Congratulations, Aria!

By the way, it seems Aria's enthusiasm for math is rubbing off on Liam. On request, I prepared a Quality of Numbers unit for him this March, a traditional Waldorf math unit for early first grade. The Quality of Numbers block is a brilliant way of experiencing the essence of each number 0-10, involving fairy tales that correspond with the numbers. For each number, he also records a special page in his "good book" with the Arabic and Roman numerals, a shape that embodies the number, a representative dot pattern and a sentence about the number, such as "Liam has ten fingers", that he composed. Gosh, he loved it!

April

During our last month of school, the children worked to finish up their handwriting and phonics books. Aria also plugged away at her favorite spelling program (Sequential Spelling 1) and Easy Grammar, a straightforward, minimalistic grammar workbook. Speaking of grammar, at the beginning of the school year I was pumped to teach it for the first time. I loved grammar as a kid. Maybe I talked it up too much, because Aria was not a fan of the workbook. She also studied grammar at her homeschool school (she goes Tues/Wed), so maybe it was just too much?

This spring we had lots more fun reading a series of books by Ruth Heller. Each one introduces a part of speech and correct usage through playful poetry and colorful illustrations. The language is beautiful, including many words likely to be unfamiliar to a 2nd grader. Titles like Up, Up and Away and Merry-Go-Round were Aria's first choice, but our library had a total of 8 from the author. I had Aria read them aloud to me, one each week, to practice her pronunciation and decoding skills. She read the same book twice before I'd return it to the library, so I could see her improvement and she could get a little grammar review. And guess what? That's vocab for us too! We've decided we prefer learning words in context, instead of through vocabulary programs.

Ok, but I was going to tell you about our nature study this April! For Easter we gave the kids bug-hatching kits. Yep, Aria got a kit for raising butterflies from caterpillars and Liam one for praying mantis. Perfect time for an insect unit, right? I checked out a bazillion books from the library on butterflies, praying mantis and stick insects, and we got to reading. Lots of reading! And then observing as our insect pets grow and molt and change. So exciting! Our favorite book, by far, was An Extraordinary Life, which is about the life and migration of monarch butterflies. It's told from a butterfly's perspective, with beautiful artwork and lots and lots of details. Great for kids 5-10, I'd guess. (Links in this post are Amazon affiliate links.)

On the last day of school, I asked them to write a summary about either butterflies or praying mantis to show what they have learned. Liam narrated his sentences to me and then copied a few in his own hand. While he and I were working together, Aria popped out of her room to ask if she could write her summary as a story in the first person. "I'll still share the things I know, mom!" Later on she came out to say she'd need more time because her story was going to be loooong. While I was quilting this morning, she brought me the final copy. If you were here, I'd totally have her read it to you, but...well.... this is one of those times when moms tend to overshare. Let's just say it includes words like ""oooooh", "oh no!", and "yummy, yummy, yummy!" in addition to the science-y stuff. Mission accomplished.

And I guess that's how I feel overall. Mission accomplished! We had a great year. No, we didn't do everything as planned. We left out some things that weren't engaging us, adjusted our plans to keep things challenging and followed emerging interests. That's what makes homeschooling incredible, my friends! Not only is it the memories and time together and multitude of (sometimes exhausting) opportunities to teach them the important things about life; in a big way it's about being flexible in our education to best meet the needs and interests of these two unique people. To make sure they're learning... yes. But to make sure they LOVE to learn... that most of all!

I am so lucky to be here.

String Fever: Coins + Bits & Pieces

2013-04-26T15:11:00.000-04:00

First, thanks for your helpfully reassuring comments about my very AQUA shelf. I realize that if you ask a room full of people to weigh in on a paint color, you're bound to have a group of people give it the double thumbs up. But still, I needed that. And for those of you who honestly felt it was way, WAY to bright, well... thanks for not saying anything. Hehe.

I have a few bits and pieces to share today, so let's start with the most important. Have you heard about Quilts for Boston? The Boston Modern Quilt Guild is collecting quilt blocks for folks directly affected by the bombing. Get all the details here or join the Flickr group.

Since blocks can be any length, so long as they are 12.5" wide, I made these block segments to fill odd spaces between the other, more special blocks they'll receive. I know from composing random sized block quilts, that little, plain-ish blocks can be just as useful as the more showy ones. I hope this set will find it's place!

Today I also want to share some simple inspiration for Scrap Attack {String Fever}? If you're just arriving, checkout the quilt-along and join us for a festival this May!

Since May is going to be here before we know it, you may be wondering if it's getting on the late side to start your string quilt. Well, I say "No!" Not too late, just be realistic. How about a coin quilt? Those are soooo easy and have such a simple beauty.

Strip scraps (long, narrow pieces of fabric) if sewn together in stacks with even, tidy edges officially qualify as a "coin quilt". Picture the fabrics as a tall stack of coins and you've got it. Probably my favorite coin quilt and also one of my first Flickr fav's is this beauty by Nova of a cuppa and a catch up:

You can see how you could use this style to make a nice sized quilt out of a modest pile of strings. I love how Nova quilted vertically to draw the eye up and down the long lines of this quilt.

Last summer I made this pair of coin quilts for a brother and sister. My coin stacks are set to run across the width of the twin bed, with quilting running in that direction as well. I'm telling you, these are some of the easiest, fastest quilts I've made. Such a great way to use scraps! And, so classic too.

But coin quilts don't have to be tidy and traditional. They can be wonky too! I recently came across this work of art by Karyn of Make Something (and The Workroom). The tall columns are pieced with tidy straight edges, but everything else is happily helter-skelter. Doesn't that look like fun? Love the way she used color to bring order in the midst of it all. So well done!

Alrighty then, I hope that gives you something to run with if you're not off and running already! As always, please feel welcome to share your String Fever work-in-progress at the Flickr group. I'll be by to visit this weekend.

Now enjoy your weekend! We're going to be eating strawberries and fruit salad and strawberry ice cream and green smoothies and more strawberries, no doubt. School's out for summer!

the Voiles

2013-04-25T13:50:00.000-04:00

After such a speedy start at home re-decorating, my nothing-to-show-for-it pace as of late is driving me a little bonkers. Hoping to turn that around this weekend, since I get to stay home and make things. Yay! This pile of pretties is definitely calling me...

So part of the "lag" is that I'm not being a project monogamist (thanks, C, for the helpful terminology). Instead I have my hand in quite a few pots.

Let's see, there's those pom poms I'm spinning up on some nights for that garland. They look seriously unimpressive, so no pictures yet, but I'm still hoping.

There's the wall of photos (or lack thereof).... it still looks the same.

The big work-in-progress is the shelf I'm re-painting. Heather and I did manage to get the first coat of color on yesterday. It's really, really, really bright. I might be cursed when it comes to choosing paint colors? Seriously, I've said it before... never let me choose the paint. But if Brandon chooses it will be black, so.... For now, it's living in my husband's wood shop (a.k.a. the garage), awaiting more layers. More on that later.

Notice that none of those projects involve fabric? That may be the problem. Still, I think I need to finish at least one of them this weekend before allowing myself to cut into the fabulousness that is Anna Maria Horner voile...

This pile is a collection of her voiles from Little Folks and Innocent Crush. They are leftovers from other projects, cuts I bought before I learned Not to Mix Voile with Quilting Cotton, and ones I just bought lately to round out the colors. You can find some of these voiles at Pink Chalk Fabrics, Lark Cottons and The Intrepid Thread.

See how nice they look with my chairs? That's because they're going to be patchwork curtains for the dining room. Eeeee! How excited am I? Just imagine.

I also picked up these two Field Study voiles from Fabricworm to add in. The big saffron dots might help all those small floral prints not read too "Little House" and the aqua mind's eye print... well it's the same color as my shelf. So, that's good???

We are experiencing color uncertainty.

Catching Up

2013-04-24T13:21:00.003-04:00

Phuuuuf, I'm so not centered right now. My brain is a whirlwind of ideas, projects, concerns. I had another post in mind for today, but maybe what I need more is to put some thoughts on paper, or screen, or whatever. Wanna come along for the ride?

*Backpacking... it was nice. Not like, "When can we do this again, pulleeeeease!?!?" kind of nice, but I will do it again. I can see why my husband is such a fan. It was peaceful and simple (thanks to his good planning!). And I enjoyed the physical challenge of the 6 mile hike on Saturday.

*I did not enjoy the challenge of navigating said hike and most of my backpacking experience with one good eye. I lost one contact on Saturday morning, so there went my depth perception and the leaves on the trees. Not the best way to enjoy nature. Next time, extra contacts!

*Also, I thought I might be pregnant. My otherwise clockwork self was 10 days late. Confirmation of "not pregnant" has followed. Ahem. Thanks, God, for saving that gift for later. But next time... can I be pregnant please? Pulllleeeease? It was a very slim chance, given our situation, but - hey - I believe in miracles!

*Let's see, back at the ranch this is our last week of homeschooling. Yep, I run our year August through April, so this is it. I always feel like I should be doing something clever to end the year out. We'll settle for strawberry picking, again, I guess. I really need to post a bit more about our homeschooling year and plans for next. Noted.

*New iron? Nope. I was actually hoping to do a little iron Olympics here on the blog, but the iron companies don't seem to be interested. Hmmmm? At the moment I"m leaning towards buying my same old iron rather than trying anything new and more expensive. But, still undecided. And, hating my interim iron more and more each day.

*If you made it through all that long, windy text you are very special indeed. Here, let me show you something on my table...

Yesterday I made this patchwork fabric from tiny fabric crumbs. Thought it was going to be a journal cover, but turns out it wants to be a fabric basket. Since we're in the business of making even crumby dreams come true.. Just kidding, I think it's a great idea too. Will do.

*And now I have a date with miss Heather to prime our furniture project. Wish us luck.. and maybe a little color? Will catch you up on the home decor progress tomorrow!

a little Vintage Tangerine

2013-04-23T11:56:00.002-04:00

This morning I put the finishing touches on a little camper gift. She has a soft spot for my Vintage Tangerine quilt, so I pulled fabric scraps from that project and did some brainstorming.

I was very much inspired by this delightful Flickr favorite. Back before Pinterest I often stockpiled ideas in my Flickr favorites, so these days I"m always bouncing back and forth between pin boards and Flickr to find things. Anyone else doing that?

Anyhoo, this project is all squared away - stitched, tagged and filled with a graph paper composition book, just awaiting a little inscription. It's a little Vintage Tangerine she can take home.

Should you like to make your own, I used folded ribbon for the stem and layers of raw edge applique secured with Steam-a-Seam Lite 2 for the leaves. Raw edge applique is not as durable as other methods, but for an item that is likely to be rarely washed, it's nice and quick. And, I always like how clean and simple it looks! For more details on how to sew the journal cover itself, see my tutorial.

Gee, look how well it matches this DIY decor book I've been enjoying... Uh-oh, looks so at home. Good thing I've already committed myself here!

If you're also a fan of the Vintage Tangerine color scheme, you can still buy my custom bundle at Sew Modern. And, you might also be interested in these new stashings. Quite without trying I bought practically the same mix of fabrics! What can I say, it's what I needed.

From top we have: Glimma Kite in Mineral, Spot On in Ivory, 2wenty Thr3e Fox Trot in Pavement, Comma Swinging in Chalk, Comma Periods in Chalk and in Mustard, Sunshine Linen Stripe and Summersville Spring Bloomsbury in Aqua.

Glimma is in stock at: Marmalade, Fat Quarter Shop, Fresh Modern Fabric, Sew Modern, Lark Cottons, Mad About Patchwork, Intrepid Thread, Pink Chalk Fabrics, and Fabricworm.

Comma is in stock at: Pink Chalk Fabrics, Intrepid Thread, Fabric Spot, Fabricworm, Lark Cottons, Fresh Modern Fabric, Fat Quarter Shop, and Sew Modern.

2wenty Thr3e is in stock at: Fresh Modern Fabric, Sew Modern, Fabricworm, Intrepid Thread, Lark Cottons, Fat Quarter Shop, and Pink Chalk Fabrics.

Summerville Spring is in stock at Knotted Thread, Lark Cottons, Fabricworm, Pink Chalk Fabrics, and Sew Modern.

Sweet Contrary {a mosaic contest}

2013-04-22T14:04:00.000-04:00

Slow down a minute, my friend, and ponder with me in color.

via Pinterest

Bare branches, beautiful blooms. Whispers of sunshine followed by blankets of snow. Warm balmy days, delicate smells and glorious new color all coming and going in an uncertain trail of days.

via Pinterest

Spring is a season of contrasts. Mostly sweet, mostly charming.

drinks via Creature Comforts, little table, flowers, ribbons & trim

Today I am drawn to the contrast of warm and cool. Tart raspberry pink, sweet strawberry red, or tangy apricot orange nestled so comfortably, somehow, amongst cold steel gray, shadowy teal or icy aqua blue.

pink and aqua collage, Worn Hues from Design Seeds

Just as warm and cool fronts collide to make magic that shakes up our lives and turns plans on their heads, so these hot reds and pinks sing a sweet contrary note when paired with cool grays and blues.

orange and gray via Nova's board, pillow via Nova's Board, Color Weave from Design Seeds, vine graphic

And then for those days that aren't so sweet, but quite a lot more spicy... then orange or coral combine just as well with all our cool friends for a tangy contrary too!

I invite you to join us for a Fabric Mosaic contest sponsored by Lark Cottons.

Carefully craft your mosaic of 12 fabrics from among the offerings at Lark Cottons. Choose fabrics to express your interpretation of Sweet Contrary. Your collection of fabrics can be pretty, tangy, dramatic, or even entirely understated. Just make sure to include a contrast of warm red, pink or orange vs. cool colors like aqua, gray, teal or blue to a greater or lesser degree.

Once you have your fabrics, the free Mosaic Maker tool makes it a snap to create a mosaic by copy and pasting image url's from Lark Cottons. To find url's, right click on the image you want to use, and then choose "copy image URL".

To enter the contest, add your mosaic image to our collection here. If it suits you, link to a blog post explaining your choices - that helps us spread the word about our contest. But no blog post is required (you can put your image url in the url space). Anyone can enter, anywhere in the world.

Add your mosaic by midnight April 29th. You can make up to 2 mosaics! On Tuesday the 30th, I'll open voting. We'll have two winners! The 2 Top Mosaics will earn a complete fat quarter set of their mosaic fabrics!!! Plus, Lark Cottons will create a bundle like yours available for others to buy. Winners announced May 3rd. Enjoy!

String Fever: Classic with a Twist

2013-04-19T11:36:00.000-04:00

Serving up more inspiration for Scrap Attack {String Fever}! If you're just arriving, checkout the quilt-along and join us for a festival this May!

Were you reading quilt blogs in 2010? If so, I'm betting you were inspired by Ashley of Film in the Fridge, a talented modern quilter I still follow these days. In 2009 she made a classic string quilt and posted a tutorial, much to everyone's glee. She also made a few more string quilts in 2010. Every one is a gem!

Ashley's foundation paper method is quite the same method demonstrated in my Ziggy Strings tutorial. In fact, you can use the Ziggy Strings tutorial to make a classic string quilt with a diamond instead of square layout!

Amy, of dot dot goose, is using Ziggy Strings with the zig-zag layout and totally scrappy colors. Totally awesome! Want to trade, Amy?

Ok, back to the classic string style. I just spied this version at the Scrap Attack flickr group. Carla of Cora Quilts is planning ahead to set out her colors in rainbow order. How lovely!

If you tend to lean towards defined patterns and less scrappiness, here's another great option from Ashley of Film in the Fridge. Unlike the scrappy version, the Ruby Strings layout intends for the strips to line up throughout the quilt. Ashley has a free PDF chart so you can make yours!

I recently spied another awesome style that seems to be a twist on the spiderweb quilt (also often foundation paper pieced). This quilt is by Rachel at Second Avenue Studio. So creative! I love that it still creates stars but diamonds instead of webs.

You could also make something completely wonky like this number by Dirt Road Quilts. It's inspired by Denyse Schmidt's Any Way you Slice it quilt, from her book Denyse Schmidt Quilts, but made free-style without templates. Sounds fun!

Well that will do it for this week's String Fever inspiration. I am off today for a weekend backpacking with Brandon and another couple in Panther Valley, NC. It's my first time. Nervous? A little. Brandon packed my bag so it weighs a mere 18 pounds. That's love! Wish me luck.