Stocking Up

One of my favorite shops was advertising a sale last week.  I could hardly wait for Saturday to arrive, I nearly cancelled school on Thursday so I could go earlier.

But of course, the fabric was still there on Saturday when Miranda, her little girl, and I went to Belle Fourche.  

I had a list.  

I bought backing and bindings for three of my Bonnie and Camille projects.  

Handmade, Little Ruby, and my Vintage Modern quilts..... Since Vintage Modern is obviously not in print still, and I'm not going to obsess about hunting it down, I went with the pink large scale for the backing, and the grey/aqua print from the Miss Kate line for the binding.

I bought a fat quarter bundle of Handmade.  Picked up a charm pack of Little Ruby to add to the two I had.  Couldn't resist the Mon Ami charm pack. And I found two Gooseberry charm packs.  I sure love that line.  I grabbed some Juniper Berry mini charms for fun.

I couldn't resist some fun I-spy prints.

I also scored a Farm Fun panel.

So the big decision was to get this Passports print for my Fancy Forest backing.

I know it isn't animal-y at all.... but the shades of blue and that bright green compliment my fabrics.... plus it was just fun.

Especially since we have been to Toyko so many times!

Us at the Meiji Shrine.

A pic of my sister Jackie when I took her to Asakusa.

Me and the Monster at the top of Tokyo Tower.

Us at the Imperial Palace.

So, it'll be a special backing for a special quilt!

My First Week of Fancy Forest-ing

Last Friday night, after possibly too much hard cider, I started my Fancy Forest.

Cutting was way easier that I had anticipated.

I got my foxes done last weekend.

My bunnies too.

I spent this past week ( a busy week by the way) working slowly in stolen moments on my owls.

I finished them up yesterday.  

So in my first week, I have three animals sewn.

I am having so much fun!

I started on my hedgehogs, but again too much hard cider.... 

So maybe tonight after dinner is done I can get back to work.

Baby Hourglass Quilt

A friend of mine is expecting a new baby on Christmas day... but I got my little gift for him/her to the expectant mom before Halloween.  

You know I dislike gender neutral quilts right?  Well, I do.

I found this fun zig-zag print at my LQS and decided to use it as my starting off point.

I think this is my favorite neutral baby quilt that I have ever made.  

Which isn't saying much, cause I really try to avoid them!

But I think this one is sweet, and I hope her sweet new baby will love it up.

Lil Red Butterflies

Another finished Christmas gift.

I hope my niece likes this one.

Fabric: Lil' Red by Stacy Iest Hsu

Pattern: Butterflies by Kate Henderson from her book Strip Savvy

Hand Sewing

I managed to get both quilts quilted, and bindings attached the other day.  

North Woods is nearly done.

I went to Miranda's for sewing night, and managed to get a lot of it stitched.

I like having hand sewing to do, and since both are Christmas gifts, I'm in no rush.

I do have to tell you that my friend Kristen sent me some fun notions recently.

 I tried this Peel last night and totally LOVE it!

It will be in my binding pouch permanently! 

I hate having a spool of thread unraveling in my pouch.  

Problem solved!

 Since all I have left are those bindings I decided that I should start a new project.

It's a secret, but I am confident I will be able to finish it and gift it before Fancy Forest begins.

Progress and Prepping

Remember when I said I'd share progress soon...

Here I am.  

Last night I did manage to get both quilt tops basted. 

This morning the little dog needed an urgent trip outside at 6:44 so I was up early, which meant I had time before the monster woke up to get Lil' Red quilted!

After I finish this post I'm going to get started on the North Woods.

After I get those two finished I will be ready to start my Fancy Forest, which I am now ready for supply wise.  

I created a small frenzy at the HoLo cutting table yesterday when I was buying my whopping five yards of Kona Stone for the background.  The woman asked if it was for a quilt backing, and I explained the project to her, showing her screenshots of some fancy forest beauties.  

Which I have a lot of on my phone.  

 Well, she called all the girls over, including one over the intercom, and everyone went nuts for it!

Those ladies sure are nice.  I'll miss them once Jo-Ann opens!

Anyhow.

I'm off to go quilt...

toodles!

Lack of Sewing

I'm not sure if it's actually having time, or if it's just a lack of motivation.

Maybe both!

But I took some time off from sewing.

I didn't like the way it felt, but it was still hard to carve some time to get myself going again.

Sewing night last week helped a little.

 I had a big heap of trimming and pressing to do, and didn't want to.  

Nothing works better than an evening sewing with a friend.  

Especially when said friend brings a surprise mini for my wall!

I did manage to get the top I had been working on finished.  

Also, I should note that I finished the North Woods top before my slump.

 To celebrate I cleaned my Juki well, and even oiled it!

I'm sure as these nice days dwindle, my sewing time will benefit.

I am going to get out for a walk tonight after supper, then I'm planning to baste my two tops.

I'll check in soon with progress.