It's a GIRL!

We had our 20 week ultrasound yesterday and were thrilled to find out that we're expecting a little sister for Lucia! I really wanted another girl and I think Mark had resigned himself long ago to the fact that he would always be outnumbered. More importantly, she looks like a very healthy, strong girl. We even got to see amazing 4D images of her moving around like crazy. And she already has plenty of hair!  I'm a bit worried she's topping 15 ounces this early- we make big babies. But I guess I had better lay off the cupcakes a bit!

It was a pretty epic day. In addition to the good news, we finally bought a new car! The 1998 VW Beetle I've been driving for the last twelve years crapped out - again. Being pregnant toting around a toddler with a smelly, hairy dog riding shotgun has been less than fun. Believe me when I tell you how elated I am to not have to use a lint roller on my pants every time I get out of the car. 

We decided on a Ford Edge, which will be perfect for hauling babies with a space in the back all for Norman. 

So today I'm feeling happy and content and ready to do a little work on my Single Girl Quilt. If I'm not back beforehand, I'll see you all here next Monday for step two of the Single Girl Quilt-along!

Lucy's Big Day

I am totally wiped out after last night's festivities (and so is my big one year old girl!) and trying to finish packing for our trip to Mexico. We all had such a fabulous time with lots of tamales, guacamole, wine and cake! Now we're excited to get out of town tomorrow but I didn't want to leave without showing you a few scenes from the party.

Lots of friends to help open the multitude of lovely gifts....

But who needs all those presents when you can have a balloon?

If you're not down with Yo Gabba Gabba just don't even bother comin' around here!

Check out the audience for that first candle being wished upon!

We love you, sweet girl. Thank you so much for all the joy you bring. Happy First Birthday.

Sometimes I knit...

I haven't had much time for knitting these days......or sewing for that matter. Add to the list cleaning, laundry, dishes, oh and sleeping! This little pea you see here is a very busy girl! And she is not even crawling yet. I am really in for it.

While I was pregnant I spent every evening after my hubby went to sleep sitting in bed knitting, and this little sweater was my proudest accomplishment from that time. It is knit top down and the sleeves are added later so all in all it was fairly simple to do. The pattern is the Easy Baby Cardigan by Diane Soucy and I found it for free on Ravelry . I really loved the yarn used too. It is the Desert Bloom colorway from the Taos line by Crystal Palace. I got lazy and haven't yet added the ties, but it fits her and I am hoping to get some wear out of it all winter.

Going a Little Hexy

So this is what I have been up to this week....

It is pretty addictive! I don't know why I was so intimidated to try this - they are super easy! I found this online tutorial, and here is a link for the hexagon template (mine are 1.25 inches). What a great way to use up scraps. I also dove in and fussy cut a few of my favorites, like the Munki Munki kittens and dogs and my new Cloud Nine Happy Garden birds.

What will I do with these, you ask?

Well, I joined the new swap group, Pillow Talk (see the button to the left). I am so excited - this will be my first swap piece ever. I am thinking these hexes are going to make their way into my pillow. If you were my partener, would you prefer a hodge podge of hexes or should I go for a color theme?

Also, does can anyone tell me how to respond to people's posts on my blog? I just can't figure it out!

Also here is a new pic of Lucy - 5 months old! She has her first hair-do (I did NOT do this to her, my silly friend Kari did!) and she is eating her first veggies, carrots, which she loves! And yes, that is my gi-normous sewing mess in the background!

Zig Zag Quilt completed!

Yay! My zig zag for the Old Red Barn Co. quilt along is finally quilted and bound. Now I just need to learn how to take a decent picture of it! I apologize for this one, but I took about a hundred and none of them were any good. I think quilts are pretty hard to photograph anyways, and this one in particular is just SO much prettier in person. I think because the prints are so delicate it is hard to get a good idea of how lovely they are in the photos. The fabric is from the My Folklore collection by the Japanese manufacturer Lecien.

This is my first completed quilt. I have about five other works-in-progress and about fifty others planned in my head but it is so satisfying to have made one beginning to end. It is a throw size and it will live over the back of a chair in our bedroom for now.

Here is Lucy chillin' on the new quilt. I think you can see the fabrics better in this one

.

And I thought I would give you a little peek at what I am working on for Round 3 of the quilt along - Wonky Log Cabins. I'm sure I don't need to express the thrill and sheer joy of cutting into all this Flea Market Fancy goodness! Most of the prints came from the jelly rolls mentioned in a previous post (Aka biggest fabric score of the year) and I am also cutting into some of my yardage as well. Such a beautiful collection I think deserves a quilt all it's own. I am having a ball making these since I am not such an accurate person and accuracy is unneeded in the making of these blocks.

It's not too late to jump into Round 3, just click on the quilt along button to the left and follow the links to Quiltdad.

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!