Sunday, May 27, 2012

Vicariously Through You

Wow!
Thanks everyone for entering my giveaway.
I loved reading where everyone is planning to travel to.  
Many of you are traveling to places like the beaches of Italy, the Oregon coast, 
Ireland, Hawaii, and maybe my favorite IKEA!
Oh how I'd love to see Scotland or New Zealand, you lucky dog's!

On the other hand, lots of you are using your vacation time 
and money to do projects around the house.
This was our vacation last year....


A dry sauna!
It fits our whole family and we use it all of the time.
Yup, the sticker is still on the window.

Our vacation this year.....
a new deck.
Maybe next year we'll take a real vacay.

Ok I'm rambling.  You probably want to know who 
the winner of the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day is
It's Julia of Stars and Sunshine!
She's headed to either Colorado or Florida.
Julia I will email your patterns this morning.

In the meantime, I am playing with this pattern right now...


If you don't have this pattern you better go get it!

It's fun, easy, and fast!

And the fabric combinations are endless.
Go here if you want to see what people are doing with it.

Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Underwhelmed

This week I've been working on this quilt.
I went with a simple patchwork quilt because I wanted the quilting to steal the show.


It really didn't turn out the way I hoped for.
I free motioned loopy flowers and swirls but they hardly show up.
You have to look reeeaaalllyyy close in order to see them.


I love the fabrics though!
And I'm crazy about the Vintage Modern houndstooth that's on the back.


I bought extra because I know I'll need some more.  
And soon!


All in all, it's a pretty cute quilt. 
Very simple, but cute. 
And it does have a nice texture.
But here's what I'm wondering.....

1. Should I have used a thicker thread for this one?
I always use Gutermann cotton for my top stitching.

2.  I used a different batting this time.  Normally I use 
Warm and Natural.  This time I used Warm Blend.  
Does that change the results?  Has anyone used Warm Blend before?

Do tell

Monday, May 21, 2012

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!!!

Hey everyone!  
I am participating in the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!


One person will win my entire collection of patterns.....



















All you have to do is....
 leave a comment telling me where you are going on vacation this summer.
If you're a follower you can leave two comments.
Please make sure that if you are a no-reply blogger that you leave your email address in your comment.

Oh! and hop over to Sew Mama Sew to see all of the other amazing giveaways that are going on!

Giveaway will end May 25, 9:00 pm MST

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Friday, May 18, 2012

Playing with Ruby

This weekend I'm playing around with Ruby.


It's not looking too special at the moment.
But I have plans for some cute stitching to bring it to life.
Anyone ever used Warm Blend before?
It's more expensive than Warm and Natural but it's a little loftier.
We'll see if it's worth the extra pennies.

I bought some Vintage Modern for the backing.
I love that these collections work together seamlessly!
I'll be using some dots from Fly a Kite for the binding.


p.s. Did you know I have a dog named Ruby?


She's cute, isn't she?
A huge pain in the butt!
But a cute pain in the butt with pretty brown eyes.

Hope you have fabulous plans for the weekend! :-)

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

I couldn't resist!

Okay, first things first!
The winner of the Geared for Guys e-Book is.....

#28 Binks
"Man! Isn't that too far away to even think about... Maybe something Home Depot related?"

It is a relief to know that I'm not the only person 
who does things on the fly and down to the wire.
Thanks everyone for playing!
Binks I will email you.

Last week I spent more time with this stack.


I couldn't help it.
I love it so!
I should probably buy more.  I'll be SO sad when it's gone.
For some odd reason I have been wanting to play with HST's.
I don't mind HST's but I don't exactly love making millions of them either.


But these fabrics actually told me that that's what they wanted to be.
A half square triangle baby boy quilt named Safari.
Or maybe I told myself.



I used a Denyse Schmidt print for the back.


And Apple of my Eye Green Herringbone for the binding.
Have I told you before that I really love making baby quilts?  
They're my favorite!

This quilt is for sale in my shop.
You can find it here

Friday, May 11, 2012

Geared for Guys Blog Tour

You might know this friend of mine...


She designed Going Coastal, Hall of Fame and a gazillion patterns by the name of
Crazy Old Ladies.
Now she's written this amazing book!


I mean, it's amazing!
All of the projects in this book speak to me.
Maybe that's because I have a lot of boys/man in my life.
I am always looking for something ultra slick!
Look no further!
My favorite quilt in the book, that has been added to 
the top of my to-do list, is Odd Ball.


I love everything about it from it's simplicity to it's punchy pops of color.
So cool!
Trust me, you NEED this book!

Here's your chance to win your own Geared for Guys e-Book...

1.  Leave a comment telling me what you're giving your guy for Father's Day.
2. Make sure that you leave an email for me in your comment if you are a no-reply blogger.

Alright, you have until Monday evening to enter.
Ready, set, go!

p.s. check out www.amyscreativeside.com tomorrow for another chance to win.

GIVEAWAY CLOSED


Winners and a consolation prize...

Thank you all for entering my little giveaway!
It is always SO fun for me to meet new people as they enter.
The three winners drawn at random were...

Melissa (H2Oski_Cutie)
Alyssa Grace
Smileynannn

Ladies, I will email you today!


And for those of you that didn't win.... 


all of my patterns in my Big Cartel shop are 20% off until Sunday night.
www.forthelovedesigns.bigcartel.com

Also, be sure to come back tomorrow for a really great book review and giveaway!

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

3 for THREE

FINALLY...
I got around to taking pictures of this quilt and writing up the pattern for it!


I love this quilt so much!
Maybe you don't know this about me but 
I am a fan of all things understated.


I am drawn to things that are beautifully simple.
Not just in quilting either.
But also in the way I dress and decorate my home.
I really believe that less is more.


All of the patterns I create have one intention behind them....
I want people to look at them and think "I could totally make that!"
It is my wish that people who desire to take up quilting 
might be inspired by one of my simple patterns.
I keep them simple for that reason alone.

On that note, let's do a giveaway!


Three people will have the chance to win 
THREE PATTERNS OF THEIR CHOICE!
All you have to do is leave a comment telling me which 3 you would choose.
Look here if you're not sure.
If you're a follower you can enter twice.
This giveaway will end on Friday.

The Frankie pattern is now available in my store!


*I used Parisville, Heirloom, Kumari, and Cabernet in the making of this quilt*


GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Progress and a growing To-Do List

I sewed 2 more On a Whim blocks this morning...


Most of my fabrics are geometrics since it's for little Miss S.
The one above feels a little wrong to me somehow.
Maybe there's too much white in the main print?


I do, however, have 2 floral prints simply because I needed the color.  
Shhh, let's pretend like their not there.
Maybe she won't notice.


If I do 4 of these blocks a week that gives me plenty of time 
to finish her quilt in time for her birthday 
while still being able to work on other projects along side.
Wow, that was a run on sentence.  
You can tell I've been out of college for a long time!

3 babies were born over the weekend, THREE!
Lots of visits, lots of meals, lots of gifts.
I'm sure glad I cranked out those last 2 blankies!
I still have one more baby blanket to make.

I also have to make some more quilts for my shop.
I'm down to only 2 left.  

To do, to do, to do.....

1. 4 OAW blocks a week
2. Baby Quilt (gift)
3. Etsy store needs more quilts
4. Write a pattern (I've been ignoring that one for a while!)

Sheesh!  I better not get on pinterest today!