Friday, August 28, 2009

Triple Threat!




So today I'm killing three posts with one big, beautiful bundle of Flea Market Fancy goodness!These delicious layer cakes and jelly rolls (and I now know why they call them that!) will serve as my Sunday Stash and also bring me to two other subjects.

You've probably heard by now of the giant uprising amongst the lovers of this long out of print line by Denyse Schmidt. Penny at sewtakeahike has just started a petition to get the attention of Free Spirit. Perhaps if she gets enough signatures they will consider reprinting the line! Click on the link on the right to join!

In addition, these jelly rolls I have decided will be my fabric selection for the Old Red Barn quilt along Round Three. I think the FMF deserves a quilt all its own and will make smashing Wonky Log Cabins. This is a great quilt along and I am super excited to learn from John aka Quiltdad - he does some amazing work.

Well I have successfully (?) quilted my zig zag and now it is just waiting to have to binding sewn so stay tuned.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Zig Zag Sneak Peek

Lucy took a nice, long nap yesterday so I actually made some progress on my Old Red Barn Co. Zig Zag quilt.

She is 16 weeks old today!

This is my first-ever real quilt (well, I do have a few WIPs) and I am actually loving how it is coming together. The fabric is the fabulous My Folklore collection from Lecien purchased at superbuzzy. They had fat quarter bundles! I am doing a simple 1/4 inch on each side of the zig zags, which is going pretty well - I did spend a good hour with my seam ripper however!
Thank you to Amy and Dana from the Flickr group for leading the quilt along. It has been so invaluable to a new mom like me who wants to learn to quilt but can't get away for a class to have this instruction and support. The next quilt along begins September 1rst and will be led by quiltdad, who is leading us through Wonky Log Cabin blocks. I'm super excited for this one and will reveal my fabric choices soon. I will hopefully be done with the Zig Zag this week and post the finished product!



Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Heather Ross Studio Sale!

Drawing from Heather Ross, not me! I hope this is OK to post here.

I feel like I won the Lotto today!!!! I skimmed by in mere seconds to what has got to be the coolest sale in the history of sales. Heather Ross herself announced this morning that she would be cleaning out her studio and putting together packages for varying amounts. All you had to do was write her a little email about yourself and what you like. I of course had to blow my month's fabric budget and order the biggest box available, begging for maybe a little Munki Recess or Field Trip! I can't wait to see what the little crocheted lobster looks like. I may pass out from anticipation! Thank you for such a rare opportunity, Heather. It is things like this that make us all adore you even more.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Sunday Stash!


Here is a little peek into my Japanese fabric stash! Besides the fairy tale prints, I have fallen head over heels for Shinzi Katoh, Kei Honeycomb dots, Lecien Color Basics, the adorable Kerchief girls and the Elephants. I am sure some of my Swap Friends will spy some of the fabrics they so generously gave to me - they are very loved!



Fairy tale Kawaii! The Wizard of Oz (thanks Bibi!), Snow White (thanks Lisa!), Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella (thanks
Sheridan!) and Sleeping Beauty



Peter Pan on two colorways and more of the crazy cute Snow White


If you were not already aware, I am completely, hopelessly, ridiculously addicted to fabric. I blame it on Amy Butler. When I first got back into sewing, it was her designs that made me realize that there were textiles out there a whole lot more exciting than the garden variety my local shops typically carry. It didn't take long for this gateway drug to launch me over to the gorgeous stylings of Anna Maria Horner, the elusive designs of Ms. Denyse Schmidt, the unmatched talents of Heather Ross and onto chasing that mystical dragon of Munki Munki!

This week I want to share my latest obsession - Japanese fabrics, especially the fairy tale prints. There are many great ones available right now, but of course the ones I have fallen for the hardest are out of print (referred to as OOP) and very hard to find (VHTF). I have left no stone unturned scouring the internet late into the night! These were some that I managed to get my hot little hands on. Thank you also to the lovely ladies who helped me to build my little collection.

These prints are no longer available, but a few of my favorite shops for buying Japanese fabrics include superbuzzy, This and That from Japan, Matatabi, Mwendas, Mountain of the dragon and Nuno plus.

I am glad I could share this with you. I think my mother, my husband, my non-fabric addicted girlfriends and even my daughter are quite sick of listening to me wax poetic about this subject!

Saturday, August 22, 2009


Well here I am! I finally caved and decided to start blogging. As I was racking my mind to figure out what to post for my very first time, I guess an introductory would be fitting. I am brand new Mama, new wife and very new "seamstress". I intend for this blog to be primarily about my journey of learning to sew, but I am sure it will incorporate my other loves - food (cooking and dining out), wine, gardening, travel, music, my family and yes, my dog Norman.

That's him, and my new little girl, Lucia Rose. Her blanket actually happens to be my very first sewing project (since college, anyways)! It is from the Amy Butler book Little Stitches. It's a great, easy pattern to follow and I have also made a few for shower gifts. Using a little soft minkee makes it super cozy.

That's it for now. I just wanted to get this up and running, more posts soon!