Inspiring Monday

This week's inspiration stems from a single quilt block...



Block by the insanely talented Ayumills.  For more of her work check out her blog and her flickr.

I cannot say enough about this block! Look at all the details - the bite taken from the chocolate popsicle, the ice cream truck fabric on the left, the fact that the entire popsicle on the right is a penguin with a clock on his tummy and times on his feet - so many wonderful details!

This is what I aspire too. This is what I wish I could create. Thankfully just being able to see other's work like this one makes me hope one day I will be able to.

On a Roll!

Wow, yesterday I was on a quilting roll!  Was it on a one of my Christmas projects? NO. Was it on a Christmas gift? NO. Was it on a swap project? NO.

I am making Amy Butler's any way you slice it quilt from her EQ pattern. I have loved this quilt ever since seeing this one. And it will be ALL FOR ME!! (*insert evil laugh here*) I keep starting quilts for myself and have yet to finish 1!  Maybe this one will run the whole race!

I got 4 yards of fabric cut/pieced...



Ironed - Cleo was unimpressed...



And trimmed - she did seem to enjoy this stage in the process...



I thought about taking a picture of that pile after she finished playing with it, but really the carnage was just to much.



Also I got my A Little Fabric A Little Chocolate swap package ready for November and will officially be on it's way to my partner tomorrow! Hope she likes it! Here's a sneak peak (with really crappy lighting since it's dark!)





Hope everyone has a fantastic Thanksgiving this week and gets in as much sewing/crafting time as possible!

Covet

Vinatage Sewing Machine Necklace by ohhellodear

Inspiring Monday

This weeks inspiration...THREAD!

I Heart My Mailman

But he probably despises me! And this is why...



This has been the best mail week ever!

Goodies:

• Moda Lily and Will yardage for backing and binding.
• Tula Pink Hushabye for backing and binding.
• Tula Pink Full Moon Forest birch trees just because!
• Tula Pink Parisville because it is GORGEOUS and I have so many plans for it...
• Moda Arcadia stripes that I won from the lovely Sheree of Sheree's Alchemy! 
• Not pictured...Michael Miller key fob that I won from Pink Chalk Fabrics blog!

So again I say... best mail week ever (unless you are my mailman).

Round and Round We Go v. 2

You know I consider myself to be a fairly intelligent person.  I have a graduate degree, I have common sense.  I can even do calculus - but can I do simple math when working with half-square triangles??

Apparently not.

Good grief...I cut it close with Safieh's row for the Houston Modern Quilt Guild Round Row Robin (only finishing it last night when the meeting is today) because I messed up the math on not only the original HST triangles, but on the borders I had to add to try and make the blocks big enough.

In the end though, it finally came together, though there was a bit of swearing on my part.  Either way I am super happy with the final look and I hope Safieh is too!

Me in a Bee!

I joined my first bee! The String Me Along Quilt Bee! So excited! Can't wait to get started come January!

EDITED TO ADD:
Just found out I have been accepted as a stitcher in the do. Good Stitches {Charity Bee}! Every month you make 2 blocks to contribute to a quilt that will be made and donated to charity. My group within the bee -"Joy"- will be donating blankets to My Very Own Blanket, an organization that donates blankets to children in the Foster Care system.  I am so pleased and excited to have been included in this bee for such a great cause!

Inspiring Monday

This weeks inspiration comes not from Flickr but from some of my favorite quilts that were exhibited at the Houston Quilt Festival this month.  I absolutely love festival.  I leave the convention center completely exhausted but beyond inspired and all I want to do is going home and sew all weekend.  This year was no different. 

Click the photos to get to the Flickr page which has a little bit of extra info.

2 Hours Later...

One basted and pinned twin sized quilt!



Pattern: Material Obsession
Fabric: Michael Miller Jam Session/Kona Cottons

Fabric and Chocolate!

What could be better!?  I received my swap package from Tara from the A Little Fabric, A Little Chocolate swap on Flickr!  There were so many wonderful goodies!

This was my entire package. There was fabric, chocolate, a hand crocheted pot holder, a box of notions like buttons, pins, and needles, an awesome Sublime Stitching pattern, and a few more goodies!



Included was this amazing hexagon pouch with the most adorable little space girl!



And these awesome little cards were so incredibly adorable!



All in all a fantastic swap experience!Can't wait to participate again next month!

I've Got a Crush for my Partner!

Well partner your Scrappy Hoops Swap will be in the mail tomorrow! I am so excited for you to get them and all the lil goodies I have included with them! Here's a sneaky peek! (Sorry for the lil paper on the right one - had to cover up the monogram!)

Inspiring Monday

Mug Rugs seem to be the new fad in the crafting world.  They are big enough for a mug and snack, and come in oh so cute designs!











Here's to having an inspired week!

Scrappy {Hoops} Swap is here!

One of the swaps I am participating in on Flickr is the Scrappy {Hoops} Swap where you create a scrappy embroidery hoop for your partner and cross your fingers that you stalked them well enough to know their preferences and they will like it!

I haven't quite finished my hoop for my partner, but it should be mailed off by the end of the week.  I did get my swap package from Suzanne though this past weekend and could not be happier with it!  I LOVE IT!  It was adorable both on the outside and inside.



My hoop was tied up with pretty ribbon and some matryoska doll fabric covered buttons which I adore.  I am thinking I will attach them to some hair ties for when I put my hair up in pig tails.



I also got some adorable Sublime Stitching Cowgirl embroidery patterns and floss.



But the best part though was this - 'Rainy Daze' - an embroidery based off an illustration that her brother did.  I adore it!



All in all it was a fantastic experience thus far and I am loving participating in these swaps and getting these amazing gifts! And I hope other are loving the packages I am sending just as much I am!

Quilt Festival Anyone??

This is where I am heading today!!! (*insert girlish squeal here*)

So excited and so glad I live in Houston! No doubt I will have lots of goodies to show later so stay tuned!

**EDITED TO ADD** Holy cow did I get some amazing goodies including Tula Pink, MoMo, and Kaffe shot cottons!  But wow, what an exhausting yet awesome day!

Inspiring Monday

This weeks inspiration...pincushions!