Spring Fever Projects

There is nothing quite like fresh cut peonies from your own backyard and enough daylight and the energy that goes along with it to bust out a few fun projects, is there?

Here is the fat goose mini quilt I turned into a cover for my Bernina.

I used a bunch a my favorite older fabrics and some new ones I've been dying to cut into. I had some yardage of these yummy Heather Ross dots I used for the back and binding and some button ribbon from an Anthropologie gift box to tie the sides with and here you go! It definitely brightens up the room now and Bernie is all cozy at night.

I also finally got around to making a new ironing board cover! The old one was pretty unforgivable how ugly it was. I used this tutorial and whipped it up during Lu's morning nap. I love this home dec weight print from Amy Butler's Nigella line and I had a bunch left over from my diaper bag.

(Those are all my cookbooks in the shelf behind it. If you're curious, a few of my favorites are Mario Batali's Babbo, Mustard's Napa Valley, New Thai Cuisine by Nathan Hyam, Baking with Julia, the Macrina Bakery -which I use incessantly - and the French Laundry - which really is just for looking at as I would hardly dare most of those recipes! Those are just a few.)

And I finally finished Jenni's Be-autiful Bee blocks. I can't wait to see her quilt all done. It will be a treasure. They're on there way and I hope you like 'em Jenni! 

Some of my favorite perennials are blooming right now so that means it's time to go blow my cash at the nursery on new flowers!

I think poppies are my all time favorite! What is yours?

Welcome Home New Baby!

Soooo, I made a rather large unexpected purchase this week. Here she is - the Bernina 440 QE! I really wasn't planning on this right now, after quilting my last two quilts it became painfully apparent that I really needed a new machine. My old Brother just wasn't gonna cut it anymore. Listening to it moan and groan and practically overheat during quilting was pretty pathetic. So I just went to investigate at my LQS who is also a Bernina dealer and all I had to do was touch this thing and I was sold. I'm easy, I know, but this foot pedal free stitch regulator is truly amazing (plus they were offering a deal and 12 month no interest financing!) So far I am absolutely thrilled with this machine.

I have had this Good Folks quilt top done since September so I have been using it to play around with the quilting function. It should be all finished up this week so I'll show it to you soon!

I have also joined Doll Quilt Swap 8 - my first time joining this popular swap. I have been hemming and hawing on what to do for my partner, who seems really sweet and easy to please, and I've been wanting to try dresden plates for a long time now, so here is a sneak peek:

My partner seems to like blue and dresdens so I hope this will be a good fit for her. I am totally frightened to stitch it on so I hope I can figure it out. Alright, I am going to go relax with the husband with a pizza delivery (diet breaker tonight, but a reward for the 7 pounds I have finally dropped this month!), some wine and my knitting project. I hope everyone is having a relaxing, crafty weekend!