Stocking Up

Though it is Christmas season, I don't mean that kind of stocking! At my local Fabricland (a store I visit more for notions than fabric, to be honest) there was a 50% off sale for members on everything (pretty much) in the store.

I picked up some batting (two queen-sized and two crib-sized) and these goodies:

I also got some needles for my machine. It was one of those trips that doesn't have much eye candy, but sure ends up costing tons! I got great prices, though, and I now can get to work finishing the FMQ on my Seuss quilt.

As another update, I pieced the backing for the baby quilt on the top of my "To Do" list. Here is an idea of what it looks like (sorry for the shadows but with dark coming so early at night I am always gone before the sun comes up and home after the sun has set!):

Notice the ever-present helpful feline? Having two means there is always a furry friend to lend a paw.

I will be basting this quilt as soon as I can (seems that the realities of life are getting in the way of productive sewing time!) and I will get to work quilting it (I'm contemplating some FMQ stippling, but who knows what I will end up going with!).

Lynn (aka Buttons)

Are You Jealous?

Honestly, is there anything more delightful than a giant stuffed envelope of fabric waiting for you in your mailbox? There is certainly no better mail than fabric mail, and this package from Pink Castle Fabrics finally arrived at the end of last week!

 Their sale section is absolutely huge, and I just could not resist losing my mind a bit and buying some prints I have been coveting. Prepare to be jealous as you scroll through my photo-heavy post of my yummy new treats!

From top to bottom: Hello Pilgrim Jewels in Turquoise by Andover, Nests in Celebration by Robert Kaufman, Lady Bugs in Sky by Free Spirit

A whole delicious yard of Nap Sack in Lake by Free Spirit

From top to bottom (all from Andover): Royal City in Blue, Towers in Blue and Peeps in Blue 

Spot On Fat Quarter Bundle

I love these dots!

There is the whole stack, above. Now come on, admit it. You're jealous. 

Lynn (aka Buttons)

Cozy November Kona Solids & Blogathon

If you have not heard, Sew Sisters, an online and bricks-and-mortar Toronto quilt shop, is hosting a Canadian Blogathon. What a great idea! Check it out here:

And speaking of Sew Sisters, my November Kona Solids of the Month Fat Quarter bundle showed up in my mailbox this week. Each month you receive four fat quarters (and no shipping!) of Kona solids, based on an inspiration photograph.

Here is November's inspiration photo:
 

And here is what the bundle looks like:

From top to bottom: Kona Cayenne, Kona Moss, Kona Dresden Blue and Kona Espresso.

I love, love, love the Cayenne. It is the perfect red, in my opinion, and if I ever need red for some reason I think this is the colour I would choose. The Espresso reads as almost black, but when you see it up close the brown becomes more evident.

It sure reminds me of a cozy November night, with a cup of hot chocolate.

Lynn (aka Buttons)

WIP Wednesday: The Pre-Christmas Edition

My work-in-progress list does not seem to have advanced very far from my last checkpoint, but here are the updates for all my pre-Christmas sewing (noting that my list of January/February projects is super long!).

1. Baby quilt for shower December 13. The top is pieced (isn't it cute?) and the backing is chosen. I have the batting ready to go, but the top needs to be pressed and the backing needs to be pieced (plain is boring).

Backing. Flannelette!

2. Remember this stack of sweet blocks using Vintage Modern? It is destined to be a quilt for my mother-in-law's birthday December 17. Alas, I have made no progress, using all spare time on the baby quilt since that event happens first.

 3. My Seuss quilt is partially quilted. I ran out of white thread to FMQ the borders! There is a 50% off sale for members at Fabricland Thursday through Saturday this week, so I plan to stock up and get  back to work. I haven't made the binding yet, either (but the fabric is picked, at least).

 4. My stockings are not progressing, but here is what is done. This is meant to be a pair, for my sister and her husband. The one of the left (my sister's) needs a loop, and my brother-in-law's needs a cuff and a loop. I have the fabric cut, just not assembled.

I also have finished some things on my list (quilt for my mom, bag for my mom, birthday quilt for a friend) so I don't feel too worried about my list.

How is your list coming for Christmas? Are your sewing projects getting finished in time?

Lynn (aka Buttons)

Too Busy for Blogging?

After an insanely busy week at work, with an even more insane week this coming week I have been using my spare time to actually quilt rather than blog about quilting. I guess if one has to go, I better get the actual work done!

I wanted to give an update on what I have been working on, but first I wanted to say that First Snow was given to my dear friend at her birthday celebration Saturday night and she absolutely loves it. It was the first quilt I ever pieced and I am so glad it is in a home where it will be cherished.

I discovered that a pregnant friend, whom I thought was due in February, is actually due in January. Oh, and her baby shower is mid-December. Ack! I need to get that baby quilt done pronto!

There is always a helpful feline around while I am trying to work. I need an actual board on the wall!

I have since repositioned some of the stripes, but the above gives you a taste of the quilt. I am backing it is lime green and white flannelette. They don't know the sex of the baby, so this was my take on gender neutral!

Other updates include:

• Stockings- my sister's stocking is 99% done (just needs a loop) and my brother-in-law's is about 60% done. The others (my grandmother, mother, husband and me) have not even been started, though I did press some fabric for my grandmother's.
• Vintage Modern Quilt- I decided (in my craziness) to try to finish this for my mother-in-law's birthday December 17. I'm an idiot. And I have lots of sewing to do.

Here's hoping a crazy work week will still allow some sewing time!

Lynn (aka Buttons)

Iris Spring

I have to be honest. The Guest Curator contest over at Sew Lux Fabric had me playing with virtual fabric bundles and creating mosaics for much more time than I thought was possible. The truth is, this is a fun way to try out fabric combinations!

I had to make one more (the contest allows two entries). My second entry uses a delicious green and purple colour combination that makes me think of beautiful irises and the spring time. Perhaps I am getting a bit wistful for spring weather now that winter has hit?

Here is my bundle, Iris Spring (instead of Irish Spring, get it?): 

Fabric selections:
First row, left to right: Flea Market Fancy Eyelet Green, Bella Solids Ivory, Cuzco Citadel Orchid
Second row, left to right: Bella Solids Purple, Moda Crossweave in Apple
Third row, left to right: Half Moon Modern Ovals Lime, Simply Colour Dotted Zig Zag in Eggplant, Kate Spain's Good Fortune Lantern Flower Reflection

I love purple and green together, don't you?

Lynn (aka Buttons)

Owl Be Up All Night

SewLux Fabric is having a Guest Curator contest in which you are invited to select eight fabrics from their store and put them in a bundle. They will choose their favourite 10 for voting. I have never tried something like this before, but thought I would jump in. After all, putting fabric bundles together can be the best part!

I have about 10,000 baby quilts to make over the next six months thanks, I think, to an extremely fertile group of friends. It sure is keeping me busy!

I have always been drawn to the collection Ten Little Things by Jenn Ski, and so the first selection I made was the Owl Aqua fabric. I love a cute fabric in a baby quilt, but I don't feel it needs to be all cutesy. I like using other blenders- dots, chevrons, solids- to make the quilt feel fresh, modern and not too busy. I think this combo of turquoise, green and yellow works perfectly for a baby if you don't know the gender (something that, as a quilt maker, kills me!). The rainbow chevron adds a pop of fun colour than blends well with the colourful owls themselves. 

I've decided to call this bundle Owl Be Up All Night. :)

Owl Be Up All Night

Details of Fabrics:

Row 1 Left to Right: Bella Solids Turquoise, Flea Market Fancy Flower and Dot Turquoise, Chevron Rainbow by Riley Blake

Row 2 Left to Right: Simply Color Dotty Ombre White Aquatic Blue by V & Co, Ten Little Things Owl Aqua by Jenn Ski

Row 3 Left to Right: Bella Solids Buttercup, Circa 1934 Davis Sage, Moda Crossweave in Apple Green

What do you think of my selections? Couldn't you see this bundle combined into a beautiful quilt, maybe for a spring baby?

Lynn (aka Buttons)