A Day to Remember

Kawaii Winter Wonderland - Finished!

The flu took over our household this weekend (despite the fact that all members have received the flu shot a few months ago), leaving me with plenty of time to watch silly Christmas movies and finish up my Kawaii Winter Wonderland Sampler.

I really like how it turned out and am pleased with my choice to use the sparkly cloth...even if it did mean I had to make a few minor changes to the original pattern.

My favorite is the penguin and the owl...my husband likes the pickle and the partridge the best. Do you have a favorite?

Overall, I enjoyed working on this winter sampler...it provided some needed on-the-go sewing and relaxing and helped me get into the holiday spirit. Now I just need to figure out how to frame it!

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

It's time for me to announce the winner of the Joel Dewberry Fat Quarters. But before I do, I wanted to say thank you to everyone who entered and especially to my loyal followers - you guys rock. =)

I did find out that many people are excited for architextures and saltwater to come out. Me too! I just saw architextures in person and it was all I could do to not buy the entire line! =)

Anyway, without any further ado our winner is Julie!

I emailed her and am waiting for a response, if I don't hear back from her by Tuesday I'll draw another winner.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pantone Color of the Year: Emerald

Okay so every year I get super excited to see what color Pantone picks as their "color of the year." Yes, in my previous life I was an art director who worked in *gasp* advertising, so I am somewhat of a nerd on the design front.

Last year, the color was Tangerine Tango, which I personally enjoyed because it was so bright and lively, and it showed up in a variety of projects and fabric lines.  This year the color is Emerald.

I am super excited by their choice this year. I am fascinated by color theory and the psychology of color. According to the press release, Emerald is perceived by many to be "luxurious, brilliant, and sophisticated" perception. It also is the color of growth and the color green represents unity and healing in many countries.

Finally, it is also "a color of elegance and beauty that enhances our sense of well-being, balance and harmony."

Seems like the ideal color for 2013.

Are you excited about the new color of the year? Do you think you will be using it in any of your projects this year?

That time I won the lottery of all swaps!

**Note if you're looking for the sew mama sew giveaway click here**

So as I have mentioned before, I participated in the Post Sewing Summit Swap on Flickr awhile back. And let me just say that I hit the jackpot with what I received from the illustrious Deb who blogs over at Trio Stitch Studios.

She combined my love of all things geometric, gray & text prints into the most gorgeous mini quilt ever! And she even made me an adorable purple pincushion (would you believe that 'til now I didn't own one?!)

Here's a close up so you can see some of the awesome fabrics she used...so many of my favorites are in here. It's perfect!

And even the back is beautiful with these lovely fabrics and such a great label...it almost makes me feel bad that it won't be on display (the back that is)

And of course here's a close up of my perfect purple pincushion. 

Seriously I am so in awe of my package...which also included hot chocolate -- my favorite, might I add. I can't wait to hang my mini in my new studio so it can inspire me everyday. 

Have any of you ever participated in a swap before?

Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaway Day!

Hi friends! Today one of my favorite blogs, Sew, Mama, Sew is hosting a giveaway day. A bunch of blogs (including mine) are offering all sorts of goodies. It is way fun. So take a minute to enter my giveaway and then head over to Sew, Mama, Sew to see what else is up for grabs!

I am giving away this gorgeous stack of Joel Dewberry's new fabric line - Notting Hill. I love the brightness of these colors and think it can make a gorgeous baby quilt for a little girl.

To enter, just use the rafflecopter below - it's super easy. The giveaway ends at 5 PM on December 7. Good luck! =)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Modern Tennessee Block Tutorial

Hello friends! December is my month to design a quilt for the do.Good Stitches group I am a part of on flickr. With the holidays and all sorts of craziness coming up, I decided to whip up a tutorial for the Modern Tennessee Block. It's super easy and takes no time to put together - leaving you with plenty of time to make some holiday cookies.

Anyway, here's the tutorial:

Materials:

(4) 5-inch colored squares
(8) 3-inch light gray squares

Step 1: Cut all your pieces

Step 2: Draw a diagonal line with a pencil on the back of the 3-inch squares

Step 3: Pin a 3-inch square right side down on top of a 5-inch square in the upper left corner, and another 3" square on the bottom right corner.

Step 4: Sew on the lines and trim, leaving a quarter inch seam

Step 5: Press and arrange blocks into an x.

Step 6: Sew block together and square up to 9 inches.

Voila! Thanks ladies for making these blocks for me - you are awesome. =)

Finishing up on some bee blocks

It is almost December and I've been itching to do some holiday sewing, but I needed to finish some of my other sewing commitments first. So I sat down yesterday and whipped up a few bee blocks.

These blocks are for the cancer bee I am a part of on Flickr. It is a really friendly and talented group of ladies who each month work together to create a quilt for someone afflicted with cancer. This month, Deb of Trio Stitch Studios, asked us to make some improv blocks for a quilt for her brother-in-law. I really enjoyed making these blocks...and can't wait to see what the quilt looks like all put together.

Finally, Aprel requested these lovely blocks for her month of do.good stitches in rich golds and grays. At first I was a bit apprehensive of making them because they looked a bit complicated -- the texture is just so gorgeous. Luckily for me though these blocks were super easy to make. Here is the tutorial, should you decide to whip up a few for yourself.

I'm glad to finally finish these blocks and get a little closer to some holiday sewing. =)

Post Sewing Summit Swap

Now that the lovely Shelly has received my package, I can share what I made her as part of the Post Sewing Summit Swap hosted on flickr.

I combined my new skills of embroidery and hexagons to make a hoop pouch in her current favorite color combo of tangerine and teal.

I then filled it with some fun goodies - including a few fat quarters of Joel Dewberry's new fabric line, since he was, after all, the keynote speaker at the summit.

I really enjoyed putting this package together for Shelly and hope that whenever she uses it she remembers the awesomeness that was the Sewing Summit.

DS Chicopee Giveaway Winner!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway Yay Anna G!! An email has been sent and soon the fabric will be on it's way to you.

Thanks again to LiMaSews for their generosity!

Gratitude

I really enjoy this time of year because it is a time that is set aside for us to take a moment and be thankful for all the blessings we each have in our lives. Some years we might have to look harder for the blessings than others, but they are always there.

I for one am incredibly grateful for a loving husband who supports me in whatever it is I decide to do - quilting, blogging, design, and my more recent decision to begin graduate school this January.

Family really is the best.

I am also grateful for the friends I have - both near and far - in person and online - that have helped to guide me, support me, and really be there for me no matter what. You guys are the best.

Anyway, I could go on forever about what I am thankful for this year, but the kitchen calls.

Instead of my usual tamales, I have been conned into making a traditional thanksgiving spread complete with an actual turkey this year. Yikes. Although armed with Alton Browns "simple" recipe, I've been ensured that this can only be a success.

If all else fails, we can eat pie. Lots and lots of pie.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A few finishes...and a WIP

**friendly reminder -- today is the last day to enter the chicopee giveaway! Don't miss out and enter here**

I have been a busy little bee this week -- catching up on all sorts of projects. I managed to finish quilting one of 2 quilts I need to finish for do.good.stitches (a charity quilting group on flickr). I will take better photos when the weather decides to cooperate, but for now this sneak peek will have to do.

Not going to lie, I was a bit nervous about washing it -- although with some suggestions from my lovely instagram friends, I loaded it up in the washing machine with a few color catchers and voila, no bleeding! Thank goodness for online friends!

I've also been trying to piece together a back for my other do.good.stitches quilt, so I spent the afternoon yesterday playing with a few kona charm packs. I am liking how this is turning out - I have a fun idea, but we'll see if I have the time to execute it...and of course it involves a visit to the fabric shop. =)

Finally, I finished my swap item for the Sewing Summit 12 Swap that is hosted on Flickr. I had so much fun coming up with something I think my partner will enjoy...but since she hasn't got it yet I'll only show a sneak peek.

I'll link up to Lee's WIP post...and hope that you ya'all have an excellent holiday!

The only pie recipe you'll ever need

My lovely friend Tammie is hosting a series on her blog this week called sew full of thanks in honor of this time of year.  She has organized a lot of giveaways and guest posts -- you should go check it out!

As part of the event, today I am sharing with ya'all how to make the best pie ever - tollhouse pie. It is so yummy and super easy to make...click here for the recipe.

Enjoy! And do let me know if you end up making some -- I'd love to know how you like it.

PS - if you're looking for the fat quarter giveaway -- enter here

Chicopee Giveaway: A sponsored post!

Awhile back I was in search of some gorgeous chicopee fabric for my fall table runner tutorial. I came across this awesome etsy shop - LiMaSews and I fell in love.

I ordered a fat quarter bundle of chicopee and the service was excellent. Linh worked with me to get my fabric shipped as soon as possible (I was a bit of a procrastinator in my ordering) and when it arrived it was beautifully packaged.

Here are a few of my favorite things in her shop:

Chicopee by Denyse Schmidt 

Designer Cotton Solids by Riley Blake

Tone on Tone chevrons from Riley Blake

Serenade Moonlight from Poetica by Art Gallery

Linh also blogs over at Elvy Crafts where you can find up to the minute information about the goings on in her shop. You can also see some examples of her excellent quilting!

Linh has so generously offered to give away this fat quarter bundle of chicopee fabrics in push pop to one of my readers! It includes 12 different fat quarters.

Enter using the Rafflecopter below and good luck! I will leave the giveaway open until Thursday November 22 at 12:01 AM.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tutorial: Fantastic Fall Table Runner

Today I am excited to share with you a tutorial for this fantastic fall table runner. I used chicopee by Denyse Schmidt with some Essex Linnen.

Materials:

2" wide strips in various lengths of 11 different prints (I used a fat quarter stack of DS prints - there is still plenty leftover)
2 2" x 33.5" fabric pieces for border
2 2" x 20" fabric pieces for border
38" x 21" piece of fabric for backing
2" wide strips in various lengths for negative space
1 fat quarter for binding fabric
58" x 21" piece of batting
Thread
Rotary Cutter

**note: I used a yard of fabric for the backing, negative space, and borders with a little bit left over**

Instructions:

1. Choose an order for your fabrics.

2. Cut and iron all the pieces. See the diagram below for the measurements I used - or you can feel free to turn this into an improv project and sew strips of various lengths together to create a similar effect.

3. Make rows by sewing A to B, D to E and then AB to C and DE to C.

4. Repeat for each row. I found it helpful to stack the pieces of each row on top of each other and pin. I also numbered each row.

5. Sew the rows together.

6. Press and add borders. First, add the longer sides and then add the shorter sides.

7. Make a quilt sandwich by layering the backing (right side down), batting, and table runner top (right side up)

8. Pin baste.

9. Quilt as desired. I used a metallic gold thread and quilted in horizontal rows .75" apart. I really love the shine the thread gives to the finished project.

10. Bind - I bind by machine. Katie has an excellent tutorial if you need help.

11. Voila! Now you are finished and you can enjoy your new fantastic fall table runner!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial -- and if you'd like to make one just like mine, check back tomorrow --  I will be giving away a fat quarter stack of chicopee.