Birthday fabric.

My birthday was about ten days ago but I am a lucky girl to have birthday fabric keep coming my way! I saw my sister today and she gave me some gorgeous fabric I have wanted for awhile. It finally arrived in the mail and I am so excited!!!

I actually posted about this fabric and how much I was drooling over it back in August. Now here it is!!!! AHHH! So exciting!

In all my excitement to use this fabric, I completely forgot to share it with you! My sister gave me this fabric for my birthday. Not sure what it's called but I already used half of it in a secret project. Well, not secret, but I can't quite share the project quite yet!

For those of you in the S.F. Bay area, don't forget tonight's meeting of the East Bay Modern Quilt Guild at it's new location, New Pieces quilt shop in Berkeley. Hope to see you there!

Halloween preparations

Halloween is fast approaching and I need to put the finishing touches on my little families costumes. My b.f. and little puppy are going to be Luchador's (Mexican wrestler's). My b.f. already has his costume and mask. Today I am going to work on my dog's mask, since he also has his outfit.

Mason is wearing a Martha Stewart Halloween dog costume, but he still needs his mask. I found this really great pattern for a Luchador mask. I could not believe the total cuteness!!

Sewing FAIL

I was working on an applique project and a little fuzz ended up in the needle/sewing foot area. I of course decided I needed to get the fuzz off right then, instead of waiting, say like when I have stopped SEWING.

I broke the needle with my thumb!!! I couldn't believe it! Thankfully I was very lucky and I got a very minor cut/hole in the top of my thumb. The needle though wasn't as lucky.

On top is what the needle should look like, the bottom one is totally bent and the eye is completely gone. Now you know, DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME! I mean who would anyway?

Have a safe sewing weekend everyone!

Winner!

Last week I won 8 fat quarters of the Heather Ross Far Far Away II fabric collection! I could not believe it! It was a very wonderful surprise for my birthday!!
There is this awesome website, Talk About Fabric where you can do just that, talk about fabric! You can see what other people are doing with the fabric they have, gossip about the newest fabrics coming out and see upcoming stuff! So much fun!

Also check out Adrianne's blog, Little Bluebell a wonderful blog, one of my favorites!!

Ok, pics of the winnings! They aren't that good since it is dark and cloudy here today, but they arrived and I am super excited!

the package arrives!

Talk About Fabric, a little note

Winter wardrobe for my puppy.

I decided recently that I wanted to try to make some coats and outfits for my puppy. It's cheaper to make his clothes, mostly, instead of buying them.
 McCall's patterns were on sale this week at Joann's Fabric Store for 99 cents, not to shabby. I bought McCall's pattern M6218. This fabric was also on sale and bought a yard for $2.68!
It has been a little chilly here in the mornings so Mason will be wearing this when he goes out in style!

Studio tour

Let's take a look at my sister's cute studio. It really is such a great little space to retreat to and create.

Jenn's painting fashion. So cute!

Mini quilting retreat.

While my b.f. stayed home and played video games I went to my sister Katie's house. I brought my new sewing machine, some quilts and other projects I am working on and of course my camera. I like to have lots of options in case I get restless with what I am working on. I spent a nice, lazy Saturday afternoon sewing, laughing and chatting with my sister and her partner in their cute little art studio behind their even cuter house.

a small bit of my sister's fabric stash

My sister got this book as a birthday gift, Material Obsession 2 by Kathy Doughty and Sarah Fielke. I have the first one, but I can't wait to get this next one too! My sister decided to make the quilt on the cover! I am excited to see the end result!

strips of fabric for the Material Obsession 2 quilt

baby quilt my sister is working on

My sewing space. I was running around taking pictures, that's why it's such a mess!

my sister, look closely in between the curtains, hi!

My sister-in-law, Jenn Shifflett, painting. She is working on paintings for her upcoming show at the S.F. MOMA artists gallery in January. This picture does not do her work justice!

little Bohdi Snow, showing me his toys

Talking about quilts. Always good to get a different perspective!

Celebrating today.

Well, I am a year older today (as is my twin sister, happy b-day to you too). I thought for my b-day I would set some quilting goals for myself.

• Take some quilting classes
• Follow a quilting pattern for atleast two quilts. Doesn't seem like a big deal, but I really don't like using patterns, but I think it would help me learn even more about quilting.
• Complete more quilts.
• Join a online quilting bee.
• Keep up with this blog more consistently. Would love to post every weekday.
• Learn all the ins and outs of my sewing machine.

Ok, enough of the bullet points! Feels like I am in school again. I actually have been thinking of my quilting goals over the past week. I do want to accomplish even more over the next year. Let's see how far I can go with this quilt thing!

Blue Log Cabin Quilt continues

 Completing a quilt is like finishing a good book. You miss the characters and all the adventures you went through with them. I am feeling a little nostalgia about the pink baby quilt. It was fun to finish but I miss all that cute pink!

Onto the baby blue quilt. I cut out more blue fabrics to work on the Blue Log Cabin Quilt.

Check back to see the latest log cabin squares in blue.

Finished Pink Baby Quilt!

Finally, pictures!! I had some problems yesterday taking pics (technical difficulties) but today, success. Let's look at the finished baby quilt. Wow, it feels so good to complete a quilt.

I can't take all the credit for this quilt though! My sister designed and sewed the top of this quilt. She didn't have the time to complete it, so I took it over. I absolutely love the fabrics she combined for this quilt top. It was a really fun quilt to finish.

New fabric!

Let's look at all the amazing fabrics my sister just gave me! She is an avid quilter and often gives me fabrics she isn't using or scraps. I love that she is always so generous with her fabrics! Thanks KP!!


This blue fabric makes me think of the ocean, with the sun shimmering off the waves.

pretty browns

more blues

oranges and yellows, yummy

floral prints

the stack!

I can't wait to use these fabrics!!

Some quick notes

I found the fabric I wanted to use for the binding on the pink baby quilt. I came home from Joann's and made the binding roll.

While I was in the middle of sewing on the binding my dog Mason jumped on my lap, stuck his head out from under the quilt and laid his head on the sewing machine. He then closed his eyes and let out a big sigh. I think he was tired of me quilting. I took a picture and then stopped for the day. Anything for my puppy.

Ready for binding.

Fabric Friday (on a tuesday)

I wanted to show off what I bought on my weekly trip to Joann's with my sister last week. It is by Alexander Henry and is called "land of autumn".