April Tools Day

Last week I was contacted by Moda Lissa from MODA to see if I wanted to participate in her April Tools blog post.  Of course I said “YES”.

I have tons of favorite tools in my sewing room, so when it came down to choosing just one to send off to Lissa, it was a somewhat difficult choice.

I got to thinking about what I search for, grab for and use the most in my sewing room and besides the cutting mat, rulers, rotary cutter and all the other usual items, I just had to pick my calculator.

Now in this day and age of iPads and other technological gizmos that we have, and which I use the calculator on as well . . . my good old, over-used, still operating, little black pocket-style calculator serves me well.

So there you have it . . . simple personified!

BUT, if you want to see what other designers in the world are saying their favorite tool is, head on over to the

 Moda Lissa  blog

to read about them all.

Thank you Lissa for including me!  It has been enlightening to see all the tools that rank up there as the favorites.  It’s always a good day when you learn something new!

Here is my Whiskey baby . . . six weeks, three days old.  I think she is bird watching here – pretty intent on something :)

New Pattern(s)!

Introducing “All Cooped Up” and “Pickin’ Up Stiks”.

I have to say these are my all time favorite patterns right now.  If I’m looking for a quick gift or seasonal quilt, this is my go-to pattern.

Just choose 12 fat quarters and some border/contrasting  fabrics and you’re ready to get cutting and sewing.

You make the “All Cooped Up” version first and then from the scraps from that one, you make the “Pickin” Up Stiks” quilt.

I made this one for a little boy recently.  It’s hard to tell from the photo, but some of the prints are tires and the blue and cream fabrics are maps.  My goal was to use prints that he wouldn’t outgrow too soon and I think this is the type of quilt he will easily use for many, many years.

The next few quilts are from a class that we taught last year.

It was labeled as a beginner class, but everyone that sees the pattern wants one just because it is that go-to, easy as pie, suits everyone’s taste, type of patterns.

     Plus it is a “2-fer” . . . you get two in the package and they are just meant to be done that way.

The patterns are now available in paper or pdf format – take a peek up under the heading “Sipiweske Patterns”.

Sunday doings . . .

I was flipping through one of many magazines the other day and came across this project that uses pleats and ruching detail. 

A little inspiration to tuck away for future reference . . . a special little detail/technique that I think looks amazing and have not tried yet in quilting.  I’ve used the technique way back when I sewed clothes (many years ago), but never considered using it in a quilting application.

I love it!!  I need to work this into a project somewhere down the line.  Check out your copy of American Patchwork & Quilting December 2011 issue to find out the simple details.

Somehow I’m thinking this would look nice on some blocks in a baby quilt . . . ehm, thinking cap is now securely in position for brainstorming!

This is a pattern that has been sitting in my “need to/want to/have to do” pile for way too long and now it is finally on my cutting table.  I purchased a layer cake of Little Gatherings by Simple Gatherings (MODA) and thought the colors were all very similar to my little Bengal baby, Whiskey (see previous and future posts!).  Everyone needs a cat quilt, don’t they?

I couldn’t resist diving into this pattern any longer and now have all 20 cats ready to put together – except for those tails – they are yet to be done.  I’ve been on pins and needles :)  since starting this project . . . it’s scary not using the fabric requirements listed on the pattern . . . you don’t know if you have enough or just where it will all end up.  Turns out the layer cake is working awesome for the kitties . . . I knew from the start that I wouldn’t be doing the border like that, so not a big deal there.

It’s going to be so much fun to get these kittens all pieced and laid out on the floor to see what I have . . . right now they all look like little mongrels!!

We now have our island in place and are now looking for counter stools to finish this project off for good.  It’s only been six years in the making.  Perfection takes time I guess!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend of sewing and getting out to enjoy some of the nice, unseasonably wonderful weather.

Whiskey

Since I am expecting my new little arrival in the next couple of months, I just have to post some of the baby pictures that I receive every week.

I know that just because I’m finding it fascinating to see the changes every week doesn’t mean most of you will . . . but please bear with me .

I want to have these photos saved here so that they will all be in one place for me to look back on in the future.  I promise I will show my quilting as well . . . I’ve got lots of fabric on order and will be sewing up a storm, so please stop by and see the quilting as well as the occasional little oooohhh’s and ahhhhh’s over the new baby.

February 26, 2012 – two weeks, 3 days old

  March 5, 2012 – 3 weeks, 4 days old

March

10, 2012 – 4 weeks, 2 days old

March 10, 2012 – 4 weeks, 2 days old

March 10, 2012 – 4 weeks, 2 days old

This is Whiskey’s mom – “Summer” . . . maybe Whiskey will be similar coloring to her or maybe . . .

more like her daddy, “Cyui”, – a bit darker with a bit more gold.  Time will tell!

I’m told that Bengals (or maybe it’s only certain ones) are highly glittered, meaning that wonderful shine that the daddy has.  They love high places and also love to play in water – I’ll learn more as I go along, I’m sure.

It’s been 20 years since I’ve had a kitten in the house, so this may take some getting used to.  I’ll have to get busy and kitten-proof everything.

Next post will be more quilts . . . I promise!!!

Well . . . I’m Still Here . . .

I’ve gotten some of my mo-jo back and I’ve been back at a bit of quilting – what a long stint of uninterest!   Sure feels good to be back creating again.

This is a little tablerunner that is for an upcoming workshop.  Wool, rick rack, cotton and appliqué . . .

Lots of different techniques going on in this little project.  I love the colors that I grabbed out of my stash to use . . . that is half the fun of course . . . trying to use what you have sometimes.

Hard to believe that we’re in March already . . .

. . . certainly not our usual Canadian winter here . . . farmers will be looking for rain in the Spring to make up for the lack of snow cover.  The temperature forecast for Tuesday is supposed to be around the 20 degrees Celsius . . . ehm, wonder where my flip flops are?

This is another little quilt top that I managed to get pieced together . . . just need some backing now.  I love the colors . . . Oasis by 3 Sisters . . . very vintage looking.

This is a quilt that I finished for a seven year old boy that needed something special to hold while his Mom was away.

Now for the BIG news . . . I’ve saved the best for last!

I would like to introduce everyone to the newest little member of our family . . .

“Whiskey”

She is only 2 weeks old here and not looking too thrilled with the camera shoot, but I’m sure that will all change once she is a little older.

Whiskey is the cutest little Bengal baby and I located her only two hours away from us.  I made her owner an offer she couldn’t refuse - we bartered quilts for a baby!!!  So while Whiskey is busy growing and playing with her brother and sister, I’m busy making quilts . . . keeps me occupied while I wait, and wait, and wait.

She won’t be moving in with us until probably the middle of May almost . . . it’s going to be a long wait!

Carrying on . . .

January 2012 has NOT been a good month.

On January 24th we had to say goodbye to one of our special family members.

Mysty was a little stray that came into our lives over 20 years ago on a very cold December night . . . so very tiny that she fit into the palm of my hand.

She wrapped herself around our hearts and into every part of our lives - our house is so very quiet without her.

We miss you, Mysty.

How are you feeling?

Is 2012 treating you well?

Or are you feeling a bit like Mysty and me?

We would just kinda like to throw our arm over our eyes and bury our heads in the blankets and stay there for a while.

December brought us Mysty’s 20th birthday and a few new health problems to go along with old age.

And then . . .

A good friend of mine ran into some HUGE issues in December and we’ve been trying to make sense of these and work through them with her.  Non-health related but very life changing for her and her family, and just about everyone around her!  Sometimes it’s that slap upside the head that makes you look at everything just a bit differently around you.  But . . . life still trudges on whether you accept it or not.

The quilt mo-jo almost left the house as well . . . although I did dredge up a little ambition to pull out some leftover bright colored prints to make a little baby quilt.

It did kinda make me feel better for a while.  Then I made another one and another one – maybe the mo-jo is back?!?!?!

I received an email this morning from a very talented quilter in California.   Barbara from the Pointless Quilter made this quilt from my recipe on The Moda Bakeshop – she even made it bigger with more borders added . . . amazing!  I love how this email showed up at the same time as I was using the leftovers of the same fabric – this made my day.  Thank you Barbara!

How is your January so far?

2012 is gearing up to be interesting if nothing else!  Have a great week everyone . . .

Shopping and a Little Finish

All those tempting sales that have been going on for the past month have just been too much for me!

Fig Tree put together this lovely package of Christmas colored prints . . . I couldn’t resist.

And then there was the scrap bags that she had put on sale – those just sent me over the top and I had to have a few of those bags.  There are some of the strike-offs from California Girl and pieces of Buttercup and all kinds of other big and little lovely prints from other collections.  The nice thing about buying scrap bags from the designer is that all the scraps blend . . . bonus, or what?!?!?

I finished another little miniature quilt for a present – tick another one off the list.

The finished measurement on this one was 10” x 10” and the corner blocks were 1” square finished.  That makes the other ones about 3/4” finished.  Talk about using up scraps . . . now I know why I have been putting all the scraps from previous quilts into baggies!

Oh, and then The Fat Quarter Shop had a 50% off sale on Reindeer Games a few weeks ago . . . couldn’t resist that one.  I also ordered the background cream and the two border fabrics on spec.  Not sure which quilt to make with this line, but I do have my eye on this free pattern over at the Moda Website –

from the Basic Grey Jovial collection or maybe this one . . .

All Wrapped Up made with 

 Flurry by Kate Spain.

(click on the red link for the pdf pattern pages)

If you haven’t been over to the Moda site for a while (or ever) – head over and have a look at the collections and some of the free patterns they have to offer.  I found a couple new ones that I have added to my collection – just what I need!

Have a great week.

I’m still here . . .

The days have certainly gotten away from me.

I know I’m not the only one that is stressing over this but  as long as we are all participating in this full blown holiday season we will muddle through.  Why don’t I just start sooner?!?!!?  It sounds so simple.

How come we can think of great gift ideas during the year for people, but once December hits the brain goes blank.  I know . . . make a list.  Easier said than done sometimes.  There are already too many other lists on the go!

I really do enjoy getting the house in order and all the preparation that goes into the season.  This will be the weekend that we try and get all of the decorations done up and hopefully finish off the shopping, wrapping and other organizing.  Need to get some parcels in the mail early next week . . . I better put that on a list.

I am longing for some down time to quilt and create but maybe there will be a snowday to take care of that wish.   I sure hope so, because I’d like to make a few more of these little cards to use as tags – they are so simple and easy to make – once you get the graphics done up.

Here are some links to find the letters to use . . . some free, some not . . .

Alphabet Photos

or

Shanty-to-Chic

are great places to start looking at how you might like to use these alphabet letters in gifts.  Be warned though – this is time consuming, but hopefully a very appreciated Christmas gift.

I have managed to make a couple of big mittens to give as gifts . . . and I’m just in the process of getting my ingredients together to make up a few gift jars.

from Paula Deen

and

from Tip Junkie

and then maybe make up a batch of these to wrap up and put in the mitten also -

Budding Baketress

For some other great ideas for Christmas gifts head on over to My Pinterest and take a look around at my pins as well as cruise around and see what everyone else is up to as well.

I’m just finishing off this little miniature quilt (10” x 10”) for my MIL’s Christmas present.  She downsized this year and moved into a very small apartment so I thought this would be the perfect “little” giftie that would fit just about anywhere.

Plus these pieces make great conversation generators and I think she’ll really enjoy it.

I’m also trying to work on a couple of techie gifts that are very time consuming and I’ve also started another miniature quilt for a friend who may be moving in the next while.

Always something going on . . . have a great weekend.