Monday, September 26, 2011

Inspiring Monday

This week I want to share with you some color pallets that have been speaking screaming to me to sew pretty pretty things.





Do y'all have a favorite pallet? 

If so leave me a link!  I'd love to see it.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Innocent...Something or Other Quilt

GIVEAWAY POST HERE!

Have you ever spent $100 on fabric, hours and hours in planning, changing, sewing, ripping, resewing, changing some more, and finally throw your hands up and just finish the quilt just to be done with it??

I now have. 



I finished this quilt a bit ago but just never got around to photographing it.  Lazy?  Me??? Or maybe it just has something to do with my apathy towards this quilt.



This quilt was definitely my first real foray into making an entire quilt improve style.  It started out as a charm square quilt, morphed into a charm square on point quilt, and ended as a charm square on point with sashing quilt with days/weeks of agonizing mental debate over each step.



After every change I made it still just didn't look right and I am still not sure if I got it completely.



I really did love this I first saw this collection of fabric, when the idea popped into my head, while it was making it - but now, I don't know, it's just kinda meh to me.  Either way I am hoping someone loves it because I am donating it to the Texas Wildfire collection.

Also as the title suggests I am totally at a loss as to what to call this quilt.  Any ideas?

Fabric: Anna Maria Horner Innocent Crush, Kona Sky, Kona Eggplant, and Kona Windsor

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Vintage Life

Giveaway post here!

Today I got to attend an awesome event through by Houston Vintage!




There were vendors, pin up hair and makeup demos, swing, tango, and burlesque dance performances, and a great time to be had by all!

First off the shopping was awesome and full of inspiration!  These were some of the lovely things I saw.  





And aren't these boots crazy awesome?!?!  Oh my goodness I wish I had the money to bring these beauties home with me.  I mean come on, linen embroidered go go boots!!  I'm swooning here.



This is what I ended up getting!  A beautiful hair piece/brooch from Violet Peacock, that I wanted to wear in my hair for the Jane Austen confernece I am going to.  I also got this amazing scarf for the simple  reason that as soon as I saw it I thought QUILT!!!  It would make an incredible quilt!!



What was the best part though was the dancing!  All the dancers were so beautiful and talented!  Check out this couple doing a fantastic tango!


Someone even brought this awesome car.  Y'all may not know this about me but I love classic cars because my dad has restored these kinds of cars and trucks my whole life.  And did anyone notice the baby car seat in the back??  Talk about coolest Dad ever!



On a totally unrelated note I was checking out sewing patterns at Joann's and they have a whole book dedicated to Halloween costumes and came across this weirdness.  Instead of models wearing the costumes they are using the cheaper illustrations, only do you notice how anime in style these are??  It just seemed a bit odd to me.  I made me want to run home and watch Sailor Moon!


Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Happy 1st Birthday to Me!

Star sprinkles cake pops
Star Sprinkles by Star Bakery via Flickr

Where has the year gone??  Seriously!  I have looked under every rock and cannot figure it out!

I had considered starting a blog for months before I actually took the plunge as I was stalking reading 50+ blogs already (now its like 3x that!)  Now after 'meeting' so many amazing people I wish I had started earlier!

I have constantly been flabbergasted (yes, FLABBERGASTED!) by the talent, generosity, and humor that I have witnessed in the quilting community.  You ladies and gentleman are, simply put, amazing.

Through see all of y'all talent I have been so inspired, and created so much because of it!

A Year of Creation

To thank all of y'all for sharing the last year of my crafty life with me, sharing all of y'alls knowledge with me through your own posts, comments, and tutorials, and sharing all of y'alls sweet and happy personalities I am doing a big giveaway!!  I also decided to give the blog a tiny face lift since I haven't really changed it since I started it!

Up for grabs are 5, YES 5, fabulous prizes!!

First prize:
150 yards of bakers twine - 50 in each color

Blog's 1st Birthday Giveaway!

Second prize:
Bundle of polka dots - most fat quarters, some smaller

Blog's 1st Birthday Giveaway!

Third prize:
Fat quarter bundle of vintage striped sheets

Blog's 1st Birthday Giveaway!

Fourth prize:
Fat quarter bundle of Moda Grunge

Blog's 1st Birthday Giveaway!

Fifth prize:
Layer cake of Moda Bliss

Blog's 1st Birthday Giveaway!

Rules for entry:
  1. Leave a comment - any ole thing is good.
  2. Leave a second comment if you are a follower (new, old, doesn't matter).
  3. Leave a comment if you decide to blog/twitter/facebook/whatever about the giveaway to help spread the word.  
I will pick winners on October 1st.  The first winner chosen by the random integer will get the 1st prize, 2nd winner 2nd prize, etc.

GOOD LUCK and thanks for reading.

Heart you guys!
Bry

Monday, September 12, 2011

Inspiring Monday

I am super excited because I bought a new Kindle 3 on Saturday.  I did have a Sony ereader but I was never all that happy with it, and the new kindle seems like it will be much more my speed. So for like the last 2 days I have been scouring flickr looking at everyones beautifully made Kindle covers for inspiration so I can make one for mine! And just look at some of these little pretties!


1. Deb's Kindle cover, 2. Kindle Cover, 3. kindle cover, 4. pac man kindle cover closed, 5. Sakizome Kindle Cover, 6. Kindle Covers, 7. Kindle Covers, 8. Ghastly kindle cover, 9. Kindle Covers

Anyone have an tutorial suggestions???? Pretty pretty please!!

Sunday, September 11, 2011

10 years.

10 years.  It's hard to realize it has been this long.  I was just coming out of an 8am archaeology class at UT Austin when I saw a number of students clustered around a huge tv in the pharmacology's lounge area.  I stood there with a bunch of strangers I didn't know, crying, holding hands, and just trying to understand what was happening.  I don't remember any of those people I shared something incredibly profound with them that I will never forget.

*****

I am happy to live in a place that allows me so many freedoms, and the ability to work in a good job and have the time to spend my free hours doing things I love like quilting and sewing.  Last weekend which was Labor day weekend I spent almost all my time sewing for various bees and myself.  I finished a tons of bee blocks and a quilt that I will show you later that I am going to donate to those who have lost everything in the Texas wildfires.

I got caught up on my String Me Along bee and finished Lee's July block and Vicky's August block.

String Me Along - July


String Me Along - August

I also got kind of caught up on my Bee Neptune and finished 1/2 of Yolanda's August bock (still working on the hand sewn hexie block) and Julie's September block.

Bee Neptune - August




Bee Neptune - September

Finally I got my August block done for do. good. stitches!


Do. Good. Stitches - August

I am so glad I got all of these blocks done and caught up a bit!  Keep your eyes peeled for a huge giveaway coming up real soon!

And remember to be thankful every day for what you have.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Helpin' A Girl Out

Last weekend a couple of us Houston Modern Quilt Guild girls got together to help a fellow member churn out a quilt top for an soon upcoming wedding gift.  Fi had a great idea for a quilt inspired by Ashley's recent creation.

The idea:



Which was followed by cutting by Amy (in blurred action!):



Sewing by me and Fi:

Modern quilt guild members helping each other out!

And ironing  by Liz:



(I caught Liz mid amusing story, which made me love this picture even more!)  Saf was also there but somehow missed out on picture time.)

By the end of a couple of hours sewing we made our way half way through the top!



And holy cow is this thing going to be huge!! Its made of 12x12 blocks and its 7 x 9 blocks!

I love it that the guild has helped us all find some kindred quilting spirits in this huge metropolis of ours! 

Last weekend I also got a HUGE amount of personal quilting/sewing done but more on that later when I can get some pictures taken. This weekend I plan on doing the same - getting some sewing done, relaxing (as I have to travel for over a week for work next week), and watching all the 9/11 memorials on tv on Sunday. 

Friday, September 9, 2011

My Stash...

Well one of them that is...

My fabric stash is one of the loves of my life, but another of them is my nail polish stash.  I have - well - a lot.  My favorite brand is OPI but I am also addicted to Essie, Orly, and Deborah Lippman.  And I tend to organize them just like my fabric stash - in rubbermaid systems and color coded of course.

This is one (yes, only one) of my polish containers that houses *most* of my OPI collection.

My OPI collection...

And color coding them like I do my fabric is just a given.

Red OPI's...

Blue OPI's...

Purple/Grey OPI's...

I love painting my nails. It is another creative outlet for me just like quilting is, but gives into my desire for instant gratification much more than making a throw sized quilt does. It allows me to play with color, texture, and lines in about 30 minutes.

This is my current manicure (which for me lasts about 2 days before I redo them because I have thought of another combo I would love to try!) inspired by this image on Pintrest.

My current manicure!

Essie Topless & Barefoot, Sephora by OPI Only Gold For Me, Seche Vite base coat and top coat (seriously the best top coat EVER! It makes your nails dry so much faster, and dries like glass leaving your nails with that wet glossy shine for days.)

Try it the next the time you are choosing quilt colors!  It's a fun way to combine colors and accessorize all at the same time!

Oh and here are some of my favorite nail art blogs if you want to check them out for some ideas/tutorials/color swatches!
Chloe's Nails
Nails by Asami
All Lacquered Up

Plus check out this video for Chanel's polishes! This is creative, cute, high end, and oh so Chanel!I especially love the "Cast listing" at the very end!!



PS. There will be a HUGE giveaway at the end of the month to celebrate the blogs 1st birthday!

Monday, September 5, 2011

My Maw Maw the Master

Meet my Maw Maw.

My awesome Maw Maw

She is 91 years old this year and was my first quilting inspiration and teacher. She pieces, bastes, quilts, EVERYTHING by hand with the most beautiful, small, and even stitches.

She has made both me and my younger sister each a quilt. Each one is gorgeous and so lovingly made.

And she still churns them out today. She is currently working on this quilt.


And she just finished this one which I LOVE!


I love her quilts, and treasure the ones that I have that she made.  Love you Maw Maw!