Thursday, January 27, 2011

I hate quilting...#1


I really do hate quilting. I signed up for quilting classes a few years ago...Bought all the fabric and everything, and a few lessons into it I dropped out. I think if I were more patient I would love it. That's why I wanted to sew a quilt - as part of this whole patience and persistence mission I'm on. Anyway, I have wanted a beach blanket forever, so this is the most simple quilt in the universe - patchwork squares with no binding. I machine quilted it which turned out surprisingly well and now I think I hate quilting a little bit less...Now we are ready for summer and the beach! Unfortunately, when I woke up to finish this yesterday, there was a blizzard hovering over our house. So, for now we are laying on our beach blanket in our living room, imagining warm rays of sun on our faces and cool breeze in our hair....

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Too hot...



My dad has 5 sisters and every single one of them is overflowing with artistic talent. I'm currently obsessed with my Aunt Trice's new book 101 Tea Towels. There are SOOO many cute embroidery patterns in it, I've just finished the first in the three bears set, and I can't wait to start on the days of the week towels. Buy this book on Amazon, and check out her other books while you're there...

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Happy New Year!

So, a new year's confession....Duh, I'm not a good blogger. But that's still okay because my excuse is that my whole experience isn't about the blog, but about the outcome and the tangible things that I make with my own two hands. The only problem is that I'd love to have a record of all the things I've learned, so I'm really going to try to be better....So, here goes!
My favorite things from December....

I loved this idea from December's MS Living - hers was a little fancier with a big Christmas bow, but I like our simpler version. I don't think I'll be able to take the Christmas cards down 'til next Christmas...So many beautiful cards from beautiful friends!!

I got some pretty yarn and made this simplest wreath of the century - just wrapped yarn around a foam wreath blank. The sequin yarn is SO awesome and actually very soft. Trying to think of something else to make with the leftover....


I was so happy when I found this fabric for my girls' Christmas dresses. Another Simplicity so easy (really easy) pattern. My favorite part are the little red leather bows I found at Martha Stewart's Craft Sale...It was a lucky miracle that I got to go to her office in the big city with Angela and Paigie - we had so much fun and the people watching was pretty unreal. Picture a tiny set of twin men dressed in ultra-tailored suits and bowties...A guy wearing a sequin eye patch...Only it was non-functional and had a hole in the middle. The ultimate fashion statement.



We made some easy elastic thread scarves for gifts - the serger was my best friend...

Sometimes you have to let the little cooperative model call the shots...I swear on my life she comes up with those poses all on her own. Best ever.