A new use for baby gates

A new use for baby gates, originally uploaded by CreativeReveries.

What is it about fabric lying on the floor that draws all the attention of little furry felines?

As I was sitting at the dining room table, sewing together the blocks I so carefully laid out, my curious cats were eying the fabric laid out on the floor. And scheming. Yes, scheming.

One of them decides to go for it. He runs across the room, and before I know what is happening, stops and skids directly on the fabric squares. The squares fly everywhere! I scream! I shout! "Argh!"

Thank goodness I took a picture of the layout before the above scene happened.

Enter the baby gates - now called cat quilt gates in my household. We can now live happily together.

Quilting for baby

Quilting for baby, originally uploaded by CreativeReveries.

I finally decided on a quilt design for Baby D. Yes, I'm still on a half-square triangle kick. I think I will actually finish this one in a timely manner though! I'm hoping to finish it soon, because I have a gazillion other quilts and items I'd like to make for baby when I'm done with this one.

Twenty weeks

Twenty weeks, originally uploaded by CreativeReveries.

There's a little work in progress that 's going on behind the scenes over here. Twenty weeks down, twenty to go...and it's a girl!

Wonderland Baby Quilt

My good friends, Ali and Chris, had a baby girl in early November. Everyone was so excited to welcome their baby, Sophie. Somehow I managed to finish making her a baby quilt just in time for Ali's shower.

I used two charm packs of Wonderland fabric by Momo for the top and some Anna Maria Horner Garden Party dots for the backing. The Wonderland fabric is one of my favorite fabric lines. Sadly it seems hard to find now. Luckily, I bought two more charm packs of this fabric before they stopped making it and so you might just see another one of these quilts sometime soon.

Unsure

Unsure, originally uploaded by CreativeReveries.

I'm trying my hand at half square triangles, but I'm not sure I like the result so far. Are my squares too big (they will be 4 inches by the time they are sewn together)? Do I need more prints? I think I might. Perhaps it is too early to judge.

The beginnings of something

Now that wasn't so bad. Once I finally decided on something and drummed up the courage to cut into some fabric, I didn't want to stop! My inspiration wheel was turning and suddenly my project list grew longer and longer as I found several quilts and items I can't wait to make out of my stash fabrics. Yes, my stash fabrics! But of course, buying a small amount of new fabric never hurts...oh the justification of a fabric addict.

However, just when I was getting into the swing of things, a winter cold has stopped me in my tracks. Luckily I'm on the mend and I feel a good solid weekend of sewing in my very near future.

What are you working on these days?

Now let's see if I remember how to do this

It's been so long since I've sewn or blogged, and now I'm pretty rusty at both. Since we moved last April, I've unpacked my sewing machine and fabric, but both have been sitting where I left them hardly touched ever since. I keep going into the room we've designated as a sewing room (for now, that will soon change) and staring at my fabric, wanting to make something, but afraid to start. The picture above is actually a baby blanket in progress that has since been finished (since the summer) and given to its intended recipient. But, I'm rusty at taking photos and uploading, so it's all I've got for now. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to convince myself to quit staring and start doing. Just jump in. There's nothing to be afraid of. Right?

The reason I've been away

Although it's not over yet, I suspect that I'll always look back on this summer and think, "Geesh, what the heck did I get myself into?" With hope, I'll also think, it was so worth it. I ran a 10 miler, a 10k and in a week and a half I'll have completed my second ever triathlon. I went to Paris with my mom and sister and presented at a conference. I went to the beach with friends. I've also painted three rooms, and with even more hope, I'll have completely refinished a kitchen. Oh, wait, let me back up a little bit.

We bought a house. (Photo from one year ago of house with overgrown front yard. Don't worry, we got rid of all those plants soon after we moved in before they completely overtook the house!.)

After a very stressful and dramatic house search, we finally bought a house and moved in April. We soon learned that HGTV makes things look way too easy. Even painting a room is not simple. But so far, the end result has been worth all of the sweat and tears. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some kitchen cabinets to finish sanding .

Wishing on a Wednesday

Oh please can I stay home today so I can paint my toes red and then create something beautiful? Saturday can't come soon enough!

1. Half Square Triangle Quilt, 2. Dogs Allowed!, 3. spotted squares quilt, 4. a quilt to sit on it!, 5. Stacked coins quilt, 6. Front: Gray Tangerine Stacked Coin Baby Quilt, 7. Bridie's Quilt, 8. if only ..., 9. Shoo fly quilt on couch

Blossom Quilt

Thanks for all of the nice comments about the Bee quilt. After finishing that quilt, I just couldn't stop quilting. I decided to finally finish the Blossom quilt that I started last May.

As you may remember, I was inspired to make this quilt after seeing this lovely version. I pieced the top using a jelly roll and charm pack of the Blossom by Urban Chicks fabrics.

I used fabric from the same line for the back. I love this fabric.

I've got another quilt or two in the works. I really can't stop (and I'm ok with that)!

Bee quilt

There may be a blizzard outside, but we're cozy inside under our bee quilt.

As you may recall, I finished quilting this two snowstorms ago (three storms in less than three months = wild!). It was a beast to quilt, and that was just doing horizontal lines. I'm not sure I could have handled any other type of quilting. I love the horizontal lines though. I really do.

Let's talk a little about this blue. I originally wanted to use something a bit brighter (ala Amy Butler lotus blue) for the back, but my local fabric store is sadly lacking in solid colors these days. So I "settled" for this pale blue. After living with it for a little while though, I now think it's perfect blue for this quilt. A brighter blue would have been too much.


Thanks to all the participants of the Pieced Together Quilting Bee for helping me create this beauty!

Snow

I have a confession. I dislike January. It's the worst time of year. There, I said it. I didn't blog at all during January but now it's over. Let's move on.

Another blizzard hit Washington, DC this weekend. There's currently about two feet of snow outside my door. It's lovely. It gives me the perfect excuse to hole up inside and work on another quilt. Oh, it's good to be sewing again!

Here's lookin' at you, 2009

1. Asymmetrical skirt, 2. Kimberly bag modeled, 3. Ruffled Wristlet, 4. Fruition,
5. Flowergirl dresses, 6. Elissa's Quilt, 7. Chuppah, 8. Quilted and Binded,
9. Fabric bunting, 10. Hopscotch Quilt, 11. Wonderland sewing machine cozy, 12. Napkins!

A lot happened this year. I found a job I really enjoy, welcomed my best friend's new baby, created the most wonderful wedding Peter and I could have hoped for, got married, honeymooned in Italy, and enjoyed time spent with friends, family, and my sewing machine (but of course!).

I also participated in my very first virtual quilting bee.

1. Erin's block for PTQB, 2. May block for Allison, 3. Katie's block, 4. March - Sara's block, 5. June Block 1, 6. August Block - Punch Drunk, 7. String quilt block, 8. Mini log cabins, 9. Spiderweb block, 10. Block for Beki, 11. Oh Christmas Tree!, 12. August block for Kathy

It's been a great year. Thank you for visiting this little space o' mine through it all.

Up next

Just look at all those pretty colors. I'm finishing my Blossom quilt next, but this Good Folks fabric is after that. If only I could figure out what to do with it. I was thinking this, or this, maybe this, oh and wouldn't this look nice too...

Ohhhhh yes!

The feeling of satisfaction. Several tv shows and movies later, I finished binding it by hand last night. I'm going to throw it in the wash tonight and let it get all crinkly good. I'll post pictures of the finished quilt this weekend.

Favorite Things Week - Thursday

One of my favorite things is learning something new. I think most of the people that read this blog can relate. Isn't that one reason why we create things? To learn a new skill and learn how something is made. Of course there are many reasons why I love to create, but I think learning how to make something is a big one.

So what does the photo of the camera have to do with learning new things? Peter gave me photography lessons! I start my class in February. I'm so excited. I've been wanting to learn how to take better photos for a while. I guess you will all know how the class goes by the quality of pictures on this blog!

Favorite Things Week - Wednesday

Some flickr favorites: 1. in my studio, 2. Passarinhos estampados,
3. string block quilted pillows, 4. IMG_1599, 5. sewing room, 6. block 2 for sarah

Today I am 29 years old. I'll have a hot cup of tea as I do every morning. I'll eat at two of my favorite restaurants in DC for lunch and dinner. I have to work today, but tomorrow I have off, and tomorrow I will celebrate my birthday again by doing some of my favorite things. I will run in the morning. I'll browse the aisles of my favorite craft store, Joann. Maybe I'll do a little quilting. Maybe I'll pick up a new knitting project. Maybe I'll make a new skirt. Whatever I end up doing, I'll enjoy today (and tomorrow). I hope you will, too.

Favorite Things Week - Bo

Need I say more?

Favorite Things Week

Since my birthday is this week, I thought I'd celebrate it all week long by posting a favorite thing every day this week. I hope you'll share your favorite things too!

One of my favorite things is the first big snow storm of the season. Washington D.C had a record breaking snow storm this past weekend. It was a good excuse to stay close to home and make biscuits and beef stew to share with friends.

All that snow left my arms tired though. No, not from shoveling.

From quilting. I finished quilting my Pieced Together Quilting Bee block quilt! And oh, how I love it. Now I just need to bind it and throw it in the wash.

Monday morning

1. Christmas star ornaments, 2. olive & archie, 3. piecing, 4. single girl, 5. flock of triangles quilt 1, 6. Shalom, 7. tea wallets, 8. Smile Crocodile, 9. Children backpack - green flowers

I'm not making a lot of handmade gifts for the holidays this year. I just don't have the time or the motivation. If I did, I might make the people on my list some of the cuteness in the pictures above. But not this year. I'm slowly working on my Pieced Together Quilting Bee quilt in between looking at houses and work. It's nice to have a project that I can pick up for a few minutes here and there. I'm also working on a secret project that I'll share after the holidays if I get it done in time. What are you giving for holiday presents this year?