Thursday Already?!

This week has been going by super FAST.  I feel like I've hardly had time to take an Instagram photo! (but I have!)

Well, I've been busy quilting Lillian and Oliver and now she is all ready to be bound!



I have also been busy finishing up January's installment of the Woodland Sampler.  The next installment comes out tomorrow and I didn't want to be behind so soon in the game!

This is my first experience cross stitching and it has been so fun!



Another thing that I checked off the to-do list this week was this new quilt top!



I saw something similar that someone else did, but I couldn't find a tutorial or anything.  So... I figured one out!  I'm still writing up the tutorial, but by the time this quilt is done, I should be ready to post it!  It's an easy, fun quilt.  I'm calling it Baby Zig.  :]

And while I have been busy indoors, it has been snowing like CRAZY in Salt Lake City.  Seriously.  We do have sun today that I am thoroughly enjoying and I am so happy that I haven't seen a single snowflake fall!

While I was outside taking pictures this afternoon, Omi decided to venture out into the deep, white... I couldn't help but take some photos of her carefully stepping and hesitating her way to me... She is so sweet!

 



YAY for some wins and finishes this week!  I hope your week is going great, too!

Currently Listening to: City Dreams by Antonio Paul

Oh, Hello Monday

This morning I woke up kind of in a funk.  Like, my brain was like "yeah! Let's go! Stuff to do!" and my body was like, "10 more minutes..."  It's been a conflicting morning.

So last week... went by fast.  Here was my list for last week:

• Organize the basement: You know, I really tried.  Since it's been below freezing in Salt Lake for like two weeks, our basement is so. cold. I put on gloves and a jacket and I went down there, but I just couldn't do it.  I brought up a few boxes and unpacked them, but it is just too cold to spend a good amount of time down there.
• Finish sewing kit: Yes!  I posted pictures here!
• QAYG sewing kit:  I started this, but I wasn't in love, so I stopped.  
• Finish the Lillian + Oliver quilt top: Yes!  I blogged about it here!
• Buy the binding and backing for the Lillian + Oliver: Yes! More Notting Hill and some new Summer House!
• Baste Lillian + Oliver: yes!
• Wake up at 6 am: not once.  I have not been sleeping well.  :[

I'm going to decide that last week was semi-successful.  Here's to a better week!

• Plan the garden: this will be our first garden! I'm so excited!
• Quilt Lillian + Oliver
• Work on basement/unpacking: See what I did there?  I can still check this off if I only bring up boxes and unpack them.  I'm setting myself up for success!
• Wake up at 6 am: I hope I can do this at least once.  I really need to get up earlier!
• Finish painting the kitchen: It's been half painted for weeks now.  I'd really like it to be done!

It doesn't seem like a long list for the week, but there are other things that I need to accomplish, too.  I am putting together a little baby quilt (and tutorial!) that I also want to work on.

Also, inspired by Amanda at A Crafty Fox, I started a "Quilts to Make" Pinterest board!  I am so excited!  I super love the idea already.

Well, I better get to work.  Here's to Monday!

Currently Listening to: Little Secrets by Passion Pit

Lillian + Oliver: Quilt Top!

I am so excited to have finished this quilt top already!  Once I had the fabric, it took me like a week to start it, but once I did, it came together really fast!

Well, here's the quilt top!



Doesn't snow make a pretty back drop?



Because the weather forecast for today was going to be snowy and icy, I supported my LQS yesterday and I bought the backing and binding for this quilt!



The backing is Summer House by Heather Mulder Peterson and this arrived at the shop sometime after I purchased the fabrics for the quilt top, because if it had been there, it would have made it to the top instead of the back!  I think it's just perfect for the back, though.  The colors are perfect!

For the binding I decided to get more of Joel Dewberry's Notting Hill that I used for the sashing.  I think it will tie it all in together.  I am excited to baste and quilt this baby!  What's the likelihood that I can have it done by February?

Currently Listening to: Saw You First by Givers

Little Sewing Kit

Last week at the South Jordan Modern Quilting Guild (SJMQG) meeting we made these cute little sewing kits!  I did not finish my little kit at the meeting, but it's finished  now!

I think it turned out pretty cute!



I just love that postal fabric!



Since this one turned out so cute, I have already started a quilt as you go version!  I've been wanting to use up some scraps...  Hopefully it won't take me too long to whip up another one!

I hope y'all are having a "cross off your list" kind of Wednesday!

Currently Listening to: Demons by Imagine Dragons

Lillian + Oliver: Progress

I have been having so much fun with this Lillian + Oliver quilt that it's been hard to work on other things!  I finished all the blocks last week and I even have the sashing cut.  All I need to do is decide on the layout and sew it all together!

I wanted to share a few of my favorite blocks... starting with my very favorite:

This quilt is going to be so darling!  I super love my fabric choices and I am so glad that they play well together!

Well, I am off to make this week a success.  I hope you have a successful week also!

Currently Listening to: Warrior by Kimbra

(Kind of) Making it Happen, Monday

I'm just going to go ahead and say that last week could have been more productive.  But I tried.  I really did...

Here was my to-do list for last week:

• Finish the Neighborhood Charm quilt: Yes! The post about it is here!
• Finish the cross stitch frames for the Woodland Sampler: Yes!
• Pattern design every day: Yes, but the every day part didn't happen...
• Cut the fabric for the Lillian & Oliver quilt: Yes! and I sewed all the blocks together!
• Organize the sewing room: yes!
• Organize the basement: no... it is way, way too cold down there.

So, here we go for this week...

• Organize the basement: I really want to do this... I just need to bundle up and do it!
• Finish the sewing kit that I started last week at the SJMQG
• Start and finish a QAYG sewing kit
• Put together the Lillian + Oliver quilt top
• Buy backing/binding for Lillian + Oliver
• Baste Lillian + Oliver
• Start waking up at 6 am: Apparently 7 in the morning just isn't doing it anymore...

Alright! Here is to a successful and creative week!

Currently Listening to: Fluorescent Adolescent by the Arctic Monkeys

Neighborhood Charm Quilt: Finished!

Good Morning, Friends!  I am so, so, so happy that I was able to finish the Neighborhood Charm Quilt last night!  That's the last of my WIP's from 2012!

Well, here it is finished!



The fabrics are Domestic Bliss by Liz Scott and Kona Bone.



The pattern is from the Moda Bakeshop and you can find it here!



This quilt was easy to make and, when I was working on it, I made progress really fast.  It was that whole move thing and the holidays that set it back this long!

I hope you have an excellent Friday!

Currently Listening to: Breaks in Paris by Wolf Gang

Lillian + Oliver: Progress

Good afternoon, Friends!

I have been busy working on the house and the Lillian + Oliver baby quilt for my best friend.  I've also been busy finishing that Neighborhood Charm quilt so that I can share it tomorrow!

Anyways, I just wanted to post a few pictures of the progress on the Lillian + Oliver quilt today.







I think this block is going to be my favorite.  I very carefully cut this Outfoxed fabric so that I could maximize the foxes in the square.  And avoid the purple.  I successfully avoided all the purple.

I am so excited for this little quilt! I think it's going to be adorable!

Currently Listening to: Something Unusual by Wolf Gang

Neighborhood Charm + New Project

Good afternoon, Friends!

Yesterday I finished up the quilting for the Neighborhood Charm quilt!



I quilted the "empty lots" with garden inspired quilting, just like Debbie did for her Moda Bakeshop quilt.  I stitched in the ditch for the rest of it.  I really like the way it turned out!



The fabric is Liz Scott's Domestic Bliss line with Kona Bone.



I used my favorite print in the line for the back!

I made and attached the binding on this quilt earlier this morning and that means that it's on the fast track to being done!  Because I hand stitch the binding onto the back on the couch... for sewing room purposes, this quilt is done, and I now feel free to start something else!

My best friend is having a baby in March and I told her that I would make a baby quilt for her little boy.  So, that's up next!

I am using the Lillian and Oliver pattern by Kati Cupcake that I used to help my mom make a baby quilt for her co-worker here.



Since any one line did not appeal to me, I made my own mix.  The fat quarters are (starting with the corduroy bird print that I don't know...) Ikebana by Dear Stella, Pearl Bracelets by Lizzy House, Frippery by Thomas Knauer, Outfoxed by Lizzy House, Notting Hill by Joel Dewberry, and In My Room by Jenean Morrison.  The yardage is Bella White and Notting Hill.



I super love these fabrics together!!  I am so excited to cut them up and sew them together!

I hope ya'll are having a great day!

Currently Listening to: Angsty by Best Coast

Monday, Making it Happen!

Good morning, friends!

It's Monday and I love Mondays!  I understand why most people don't like Mondays as it signifies the end of playing and the beginning of working, but weekends feel so odd and off track for me.  Some weekends I am over the top busy and some weekends I sort of float around without a real direction.  The former is exhausting and the latter just feels awkward.  Weekdays feel much better for me.

Anyways!  I think last week was pretty successful...

• Change address on driver's licence: yes!
• Put Christmas away: yes! 
• Quilt the Neighborhood Charm quilt: I have it halfway done!
• Finish January and February frames for the Woodland Sampler: Yes!  And I did more than that!  This is January through May!

• Go through closet and sell/give away unused clothing: yes... this one is always bittersweet for me...
• Organize: Yes!  My most proud organization moment is the pantry.  This is a process picture:

• Quilt Tree Study: Yes! And I finished it!  It's so cute and I love it!

So, I got a lot done last week and I want this week to be just as productive.

• Finish the Neighborhood Charm quilt
• Finish all the rest of the frames for the Woodland Sampler
• Have you heard about the #365Patterns (a pattern a day) on Instagram?  It's a daily design challenge put on by @fifthandhazel and @almaloveland.  I may not make a pattern a day, but I want to make some!
• Cut fabric for my next project! More on this tomorrow!
• Super organize the sewing room.  It's become a bit of a mess!
• Organize the basement. This one will not be my favorite.

Well, here's to a happy Monday!  Have a great day, Friends!

Currently Listening to: Nicely Played by Greg Laswell

Tutorial: Little Pouch

Happy Friday, Friends!

Today, I wanted to show you a little pouch that I put together for my holiday traveling.  I wanted to take a little bag of vitamins, but I didn't want to use a plastic sandwich bag, and I didn't have anything else available.  So I sewed one up real quick!  It was super easy, super fast, and it did just the job I needed it to!



The best part was that I was able to use some scraps!  For the pouch I show you in this tutorial, the fabric measured 5" by 10".  This pouch is bigger than the first one I made, but I wanted it to comfortably fit gift cards.  I think it's the perfect size for that!



So, start with your fabric and fold the short ends over about 1/8" twice each and press in order to create a hemmed edge on the inside and outside flaps.



Once they are pressed, sew an 1/8" top stitch to secure it.



Next, with the right side of the fabric facing up, fold down the top 1 3/4".





Then pull up the bottom edge and over lap the first edge by 3/4".





Press the entire pouch.



Sew both of the raw ends from top to bottom using a quarter inch seam.





Using the pouch opening, flip the pouch right side out and push out all the corners.  Press the pouch one last time and presto! Cute, easy pouch!



I hope you'll enjoy making this cute, fast pouches whenever you're about to travel or would like to fancy up a gift card!

Have a great day!

xoxMegan

Currently Listening to: The Police and the Private by Metric

Tree Study: Finished

I started this little Tree Study before Christmas, and I'm happy that I got it done while it was still winter!



I used this tutorial that was on the FreeSpirit blog.



I used fabrics from Jennifer Paganelli's Poodle line with Kona white and Joel Dewberry's woodgrain for the trunk.



The binding is an old Alexander Henry that I fell in love with a couple years ago.  I think it's from the Victoria and Albert line...?



For the back I used Aneela Hoey's Cherry Christmas.



This is my first mini quilt and I just love having it hanging in my sewing room!  It brings a nice touch.

YAY for a finish! One down, one to go!  Then I will allow myself to start other things!  YAY!

I hope y'all are having an excellent day, also!  Come back tomorrow for a quick and easy little tutorial!

xoxMegan

Currently Listening to: Eyes On You by Greg Laswell

Two More Holiday Highlights

For anyone that doesn't know, I made three quilts to give as Christmas gifts.  I shared some pictures of my dad opening his quilt on Monday.  The other two quilts I made were for my biological father and for my beautiful sister, Adarsh.

Unfortunately, I could not physically be there when my sister opened her quilt, Apples in the Orchard.  However, I did make sure it was arranged that we could FaceTime (I LOVE technology!).  With this I was able to watch her open her quilt and I took a screen shot!  (Sorry for the poor quality... it is a screen shot...)



It was a super touching moment.  I really wished I could have been there to give her a big hug!
For more photos of her finished quilt and such, visit this post.

I was able to be there when my biological father opened his quilt, the Curved Log Cabin.  He is a little different and he doesn't really like photos to be taken of him... So out of respect, I did not take any photos while he opened his quilt.  My dad (adoptive dad, who was also there) didn't care and he took a couple photos with his phone anyway!  This one is the best of the bunch.



I am grateful to have this little photo, though.  I posted the finished pictures of this quilt here, just last week.

I really love making quilts and all sorts of sewn goodies.  But I do feel like giving them is really the frosting on the cake.  And it's undeniable that the frosting is the best part!

Who did you give something sewn to over the holiday?

xoxMegan

Currently Listening to: Block After Block by Matt & Kim

Cross Stitching Progress

I decided this year that I wanted to learn how to cross stitch.  So I joined Amanda and Ashleigh's Woodland Sampler.  I sat down to start stitching on Saturday night.  And this is what I did...

As soon as I was finished, I knew that it didn't look right... So I emailed this picture to Amanda and Ashleigh.  Amanda so very, very kindly told me that it wasn't quite right and she set me straight.

So I picked it out and did this:

As soon as I finished this row, I knew it was still wrong.  I knew that the placement of the little x's were right, but I was holding the floss around the needle all wrong.  It was way too thick!

So, I picked it out...

And, ta-da!  I finally figured it out.  These are the boxes for January and March.  February is in a different color of floss, and I just hadn't wanted to pull it out.

I do want to say that Amanda and Ashleigh have both been so kind and nice in helping me figure this out via email!  They're pretty prompt in responding to their emails.  I know that if I run into any other problems or questions, they'll be willing to help me work through it.

Are you doing the Woodland Sampler?  It's so much fun so far!  And I'm just on the boxes!!

xoxMegan

Currently Listening to:  The Sun by Portugal, The Man