Liebster Award

I was delighted to discover that Anna of Fresh Dew Drops had nominated me for a Liebster Award, something I had never heard of but felt honoured that she selected me once I had.

Anna, for full disclosure, is my one and only official blog follower (I know of several friends who also regularly read my blog, but the lovely Anna is the only one to actually click on following me. It made my day when she became my first follower!). 

What exactly is the Liebster Award? I had no idea, but this information comes from Anna's blog:

"The Liebster award (German for favorite or dearest) is to showcase bloggers with fewer than 200 followers.  Upon accepting the award the recipient must then pass it on to five more blogs of note. A way of introducing other bloggers to the blogs they enjoy." 

There are some terms and conditions that come with accepting a Liebster Award, so I'm getting right to it:

The acceptance conditions are :
1. Thank your award presenter on your blog and link back to him/her. Done!
2. Copy and paste the award to your blog. Done!
3. Present the Liebster Award to 5 blogs that you think deserve to be recognised. See my list below!
4. Let them know by leaving a comment on their blog. Getting to this next!
5. Have faith that your followers will spread the love too! I sure hope everyone spreads the love!

I went through my many blogs and picked these five to nominate for a Liebster Award. I am not 100% sure about the number of followers some of these people have, but these 
are generally smaller blogs and I thought they fit the profile perfectly:

1. Holly from Vancouver, Canada over at Holly's Red Bike

2. Fingerthumb from Toronto, Canada.

3. How My Time Flies by Anita, from Mississauga, Canada.

4. Elaine, who blogs at Crazy Quilter on a Bike.

5. Karen at Sunburnt Quilts, all the way from Australia!

These blogs always have interesting, creative, beautiful things and their work inspires me and teaches me.

So thanks again, Anna, for nominating me, for following my blog, and for spreading the love you received by passing on the Liebster!

Lynn (aka Buttons)

When Free Motion Goes Wrong

Getting ready to do some serious stitch ripping. *sigh*
Do you feel my pain?

Lynn (aka Buttons)

Quilt Inspiration

I was in an Indigo bookstore a little while ago and came across a book display of beautiful, colourful Canadian books. This series is from Anchor Canada and is called Colour Your Library. The collection contains some of my favourite novels: Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri, Funny Boy by Shyam Seladurai and Such a Long Journey by Rohinton Mistry.

But what I see, beyond the literature, is a beautiful quilt! Wouldn't this be gorgeous in Kona Solids? I can envision it perfectly in my head! What a great use of a Kona Colour Card! Does anyone else have this problem? Seeing quilts in every day things?

Lynn (aka Buttons)

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)