Bloglovin' Bandwagon

Hmm, let's do this thing...

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Did it work? Why am I doing this? I have not read all the issues surrounding blog following and Google peeps, but when some of the folks I truly respect hop on, I figure I might as well.

A Tiny Little Critter

I have a graduation to attend this week and decided to make a hostess gift for one of the mamas. Not knowing her or her style, I decided to make something I'd enjoy!

A hedgehog pincushion using this tutorial! But as the little critter came together, he began looking armadillo-ish. So I added a skinny tail...

And gave him a wooden spool of vintage thread to complete the present!

He has to pose with a dime and a British pound for size because my worldview now spans two countries.

He is made of muslin, quilter's cotton, and scraps from a cashmere sweater I chopped to bits for another project.

Posing him with the thread reminded me of a favorite children's book by Kate DiCamillo.

Tres chic little critter, no? I hope he is well-received! I certainly put a lot of love into him - and a little pouch of rice in his belly to keep him upright.

So now you've seen him, what do you think? Hedgehog, armadillo, mouse, or just a tiny little critter?

The Accidental Baby Quilt

Hmm... this one came together all of a sudden! I so enjoyed making the Baby Quilt of Many Colours for my friends that I decided to make a(nother) top to keep!

Awhile ago, I'd pieced that pinwheel chunk and tacked it on a wall. As I was cleaning up some scraps, I pulled it down to start adding to it. Working on this quilt helped me with my Lovely Year of Finishes goal because it allowed me to continually chain piece, alternating between the projects and making time spent at the ironing board more efficient.

I haphazardly threw on scraps from my March (unmet) LYOF project goal, thinking the colours were preselected to blend.

And I'm happy to say, I like the results!

This one's a whopper of a baby quilt - about 53 x 63 inches unfinished. Yipes! Thankfully I have a stack of vintage sheets that should do the trick for backing. One of these days I'll just have to binge-quilt... My wardrobe is filling with tops!

But my LYOF goal for May still isn't complete, so I've started another scrappy baby quilt! I just love the fluid process, making something one of a kind and unplanned, and I love that I can work on two things at once! So refreshing to find a new way to enjoy something I love so much!

Linking up with Whoop Whoop Fridays!

May Goal

Preparing to be abroad kept me from completing my March goal or setting April goals. I won't revisit those, though, because I want to keep moving forward! Hopefully I'll get to them anyway.

I have many May goals for the Lovely Year of Finishes, but I'll officially just have this one!

I want to turn this...

... into this!

http://www.modabakeshop.com/2011/09/castle-stairs-quilt.html#more

Well, I want to piece the jelly roll into a top, at least. I know exactly who will get this quilt. The fact that it's another bit of Urban Cowgirl and the pattern is called Castle Stairs is significant. I have been wanting to do this for awhile and am excited to start!

Linking up with A Lovely Year of Finishes!

Fusion Blanket - Complete!

Last stitches finished during our last SOSL lecture. I asked every guest speaker if they minded me crocheting in class. None prevented me. Thus this blanket is soaked in the wisdom, love, and brilliance of my 8-month experience. And I wouldn't trade it for the world!

First and Last Day Dresses

Last night I graduated from the School of Supernatural Life. Undoubtedly they were the wildest 8 months of my life. I am forever changed. My life is going in a completely different direction now (more on that eventually). But I'll keep sewing!

Long ago I made a dress for the first day of school. I also made one for graduation - so here are my first and last day dresses!

First day dress (Simplicity 2363)

Hmm, seems to have drawn up a bit! Or my legs have grown longer... you never know!

Last day dress (Simplicity 1804)

I added a hook and eye at the back so billowing fabric wouldn't make me look like I was swimming!

I felt a bit like a river nymph - and certainly there were rivers streaming from my eyes! It will take quite some time to comprehend everything in my heart that has caught on fire these past 8 months, but these last few weeks were particularly powerful. Thankfully I do my best thinking at the sewing machine - and if I have to stop to dry tears as the power of a memory hits in a new way, so be it! Better out than in - and further up and further in!

Sewing Binge

Sewing can help with jet lag! At least that's one explanation...

Being abroad kept me from finishing my March goal or setting an April goal, but I am making up for lost time anyway!

The Guild did a jelly roll race awhile back, and I'd always wanted to follow up with a quilt in greys. When I found out that Moda's "Puttin' On the Ritz" came in grey, I bought my roll and added in black and pink pieces to evoke Himalayan pink salt and cracked pepper crystals. The mindlessness of the piecing was wonderful for mentally processing my trip!

And although my daffodils were spent, my tulips were happy to be photographed along with the top!

I also whipped together a backing but didn't take photos. Then I moved on to finishing my March BOM. 

One of the people I met in England loves to sew, but she confirmed that quilt fabric is hard to come by over there. I pulled some pieces from my stash for her, but then I visited a local quilt shop as well! The name "Durham" popped out to me and plucked strings of my heart, immediately bringing me memories of cobblestone streets and St. Cuthbert's shrine in the cathedral. I didn't take any of it home with me, though.

I found fat quarters on sale, instead! Behold my first personal fabric purchase of 2013! Hopefully it will be my last. (Mmm... greys... and donkeys in wellington boots, who could resist?)

I also snagged a few for my new English friend!

These are now finding their long way across the pond to Northern England, hopefully with no hiccups along the way! Meanwhile I will sip a cup of tea and nibble a biscuit (not the kind with sorghum molasses and butter!) and link up with Whoop Whoop Fridays!