The Rotating Bed Quilt Project

Believe it or not, in over two years and twenty quilts I have yet to make us a king sized quilt for our bed. Partly due to the obvious - making a king-sized quilt is a lot of work. Partly due to the fact that we're comforter-with-a-duvet-cover people and convincing Mark that a quilt will be cozy enough takes a lot of, well, convincing. And also partly due to the fact that I can't decide which of my beloved fabrics I'd like to see day in and day out on our bed. So since I couldn't decide on just one, I've decided to make THREE! The plan is keep our neutral colored bed linens, and interchange three different quilts with coordinating throw pillows as the mood strikes.

The above stack of beauties is my collection of double gauze cottons, both from the 2009 Chelsea line by Echino and various Nani Iro prints. I truly love, love, love all of these fabrics and have been longing to see them sewn up. I've waffled about going strictly Nani Iro or adding in the Echino, but when I lay them all out together they just seem to fit. This one will be large, simple patchwork with lots of emphasis on the creams and white prints (more are on order). I have plans to splurge on an all double gauze backing, too, so this will be one light and luxuriously delicious quilt. The final touch will be hand-quilting.

The second one is the grey/blue/gold/cream 'drunk love' quilt, and it's already coming right along. These are such fun and relaxing blocks to piece, and I've also been having a bit of fun amassing some more prints in this color scheme to add in. As if I needed an excuse to do more fabric shopping! Twenty-one blocks are finished so far, and for a king I have quite a few more to go, but it should go quick. This quilt will be the first one I'll send off to a long-armer. Honestly it makes me a little nervous, but not more than trying to machine quilt such a monstrous quilt myself.

And quilt number three is my long term,  paper piecing Liberty of London hexagon quilt. This one was started last spring and has reached a bit of a stalling point since all of my hand-stitching time has been devoted to knitting lately. I'm in no rush, though. I've bought, swapped and been gifted almost one hundred different Liberty prints for this and every time I do pull it out it's a joy to work on. I can't imagine how thrilling it will be to be able to put it on our bed. As girly as it is, even Mark appreciates the time, effort and beauty in this one.

So that's my goal for this year. Whether I'll be able to pull that off while having a newborn and a toddler remains to be seen. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that this new little one will appreciate the joys of sleep more than his or her big sister!

Mama's got a brand new bag (and scarf)

Can you believe we actually got some sun up here in Seattle this weekend? It is turning out to be an El Nino winter up here, which is a nice change of pace from the constant rain and cold we are usually experiencing up here this time of year. Mark even got outside and grilled some prime New York steaks and asparagus (grilling while smoking a fine cigar could be one of his favorite past times).

The sun allowed me to get outside and take some photos of my new finished projects. This made me happy since I really am trying to get used to our new camera and all the grey days have not been very conducive to photography. So here they are in a bright little spot of green lawn:

My new Noro Striped Scarf!

and my completed Multitasker Tote!

I'm really loving both of my new accessories. I've been trying to get back into my knitting groove and this was the perfect no-brainer project - 1x1 ribbing in the beautiful Noro Silk Garden self striping yarn. I just love how this yarn feels and the way it does all the work to bring such a simple pattern to follow. The pattern for the Noro Striped Scarf by Jared Flood can be found for free here. It does take four skeins of yarn so it is by no means an inexpensive project but very worth it for me.

I bought the Anna Maria Horner Multitasker Tote pattern awhile back and just knew I needed to make it using fabric from the new Echino line! If you have constructed a bag from a pattern before this should be pretty easy for you to follow. And it was speedy! I finished it up in about four hours, which is fast for slow little me. I love the size and the big outside pockets. This one will be getting lots of use.

I finished quilting my Good Folks quilt last night! Now just the binding. With so many unfinished projects lying around, it feels really good to finish a few things.

Help with quilting, please.... and early fall dinner

Good Folks quilt top, originally uploaded by Lucy & Norman.

Here is the finished quilt top I made for my girlfriend who just ran off and got hitched. I adore Anna Maria Horner's Good Folks line - so bright and cheery. I made this with the left overs from my mom's birthday quilt (WIP - I won't show you that one until I'm done) and bought a few prints in the blue colorway to add in. It is a Disappearing Nine Patch (great tutorial here) and I have no idea how to quilt it up. I know I don't get a lot of traffic through here yet, but any ideas or suggestions? I want the lines to be pretty organic so they don't draw attention to my less than perfect corners.

Here was last night's dinner. Chiogga & golden beet salad with fennel and grapefruit followed by simple roast chicken and baby red & fingerling potatoes. Pretty damn good if I don't say so myself. All washed down with some yet-to-be-released wine my talented husband made. I just wanted to show you the placemats I whipped up for Mark's birthday last month. He loves the Echino line and I thought this print with the little spider piggy was especially fitting - the man loves pork in any form. While I love our everyday plates (from Pottery Barn), some of them are a bit wobbly and it drives Mark crazy. I just but a little fusible fleece in between the linen and a canvas backing, and wah lah! Problem fixed and Mark loves them.

Socialite Dress

, originally uploaded by Lucy & Norman.

Wow! Can you believe I was brave enough to wear this to my friend's wedding? It is always scary to wear something out in public that you actually MADE. I really do like it though! I am still carrying around some extra baby weight so this was a great loose-without-looking-like-a-paper-bag dress. This was also the first time I have put on heels in about a year and I got my hair done! It is nice to feel a little girly again.

So anyways, the pattern is Anna Maria Horner's newish Socialite dress, and I used a print from one of my favorite designers Etsuko Furuya, or Echino. It is a double cotton guaze from the new Chelsea line. This is my first time actually sewing with this material (I won't show you my giant pile of Far Far Away I haven't yet cut into, not to mention my beloved Nani Iro fabrics!) and it was much easier than I imagined, really not that different from quilting weight - just softer. I definitely recommend this pattern, even for the beginner. The directions are very simple and clear and the finished product was true to size. Sewing the yoke on is really the only somewhat difficult part. I also love the fact that it has pockets! I will certainly be making another one of these, and I can't wait to use double cotton guaze again.