Comfort Zone? What Comfort Zone?

Last weekend I started foraging to find what I thought was going to be fabrics for a baby quilt. I've long loved the look of this quilt from Blue Elephant Stitches and thought I'd try my hand at making one of my own, but despite having a room full of fabrics, I didn't land on anything that really got me intrigued or excited.

Until I found this little pile. I bought this bundle of Kaffe Fassett fat quarters on eBay a decade ago when I went through a bit of a phase, but was disappointed when the mailman dropped it off (there are a few missing from this photo). Through the years I've been tempted to give it away several times but would change my mind at the last minute thinking that it would be a good excuse to try something new - you know, get me out of my comfort zone. Last Saturday was the day.

The palette is very soft and a little more washed out than the photos show - very much out of my traditional colour range, so I'm not finding much to mix with it from my stash. But I love the large, lush prints so I started to sew. And the white for the stars is a piece from mom - I can tell because she had it pinned to cut blocks from it.

I used 4.5" and 2.5" squares so a block will finish at 12", which suits the scale of the prints.

And this time, instead of using a strip of painter's tape as a guide for my diagonal seams I'm laying down a thin piece of cardboard and following it from corner to corner. No marking - easy peasy.

So the collection on my design wall door grows (note to self: make a design wall).

A few geometric prints were included in the bundle (you can see one off to the right) but I'm undecided as to whether or not I will use them. They look good in the bundle but I'm thinking that all florals might be a nice look too. There will be enough for 12 blocks, which would make a nice lap/baby quilt. What do you think - would you go all floral?....M

A Little Journaling

Jane has hinted a few times that she really likes the journal covers that I make, and I've been wanting to make one for her, but wanted to ensure that it was a surprise. I figured enough time had passed and this Christmas was a good time to deliver.

Because I don't make them that often there's always a bit of a learning curve when I get back into them, remembering the modifications that I've made to the original pattern and getting the dimensions right. This time was no different.

I spent a lot of time pulling colours that I thought suited Jane and came up with this combo of very organic prints, predominantly in a rose/plum colour.

A little extra detail was added to the inside cover.

And then I sewed it together. It was too small by about 1/8". Doesn't sound like much but it was enough to make it look like a mess, and there is no way that she would be able to switch up the journal once it was full because you couldn't slide it off. Grrrrr.

That meant making a second one. I tried to replicate the original as much as possible and I also included an aqua stripe because she is such a water baby; I always associate her with the lake.

It was wrapped before I had a chance to get a photo so you'll have to trust me when I say that the two are very similar. Not sure what I can do with the first one without lots of blue smoke rising from the sewing room so for now I'll just think on it. I may be able to resize it to a smaller cover, but I'm going to have to be in the mood for that!....M

Busy Bee

Dori's been busy lately putting together a new baby quilt for a women's shelter near her, and it's really sweet.

It's an Hourglass - lots of great brights combined with white.

She's getting better at taking photos of the whole process for me to share with you, for which I am  grateful - to me it's about sharing the process as much as the final product. The blocks are about 4.5" - she started with a 6" block.

She's only machine quilted a few quilts but with every one gets better and better. This one is quilted following the diagonal seams, which I like.

It's bound and backed with a large, multi-coloured plaid - you can see a strip of binding hanging on the left side of this pic. Just love bias binding in plaids - there's something about having the checks on the point that really appeals to me.

There was a baby girl born in the shelter about five weeks ago, so it will be for her. When it was bundled up for delivery Dori included a few soft and cuddly stuffed toys made by our friend Nancy - a thoughtful and wonderful parcel for any new mother and child....M

A Sweet Start to the New Year

Last night we got together with family and friends for dinner to ring in the New Year so it called for a special little dessert.

These Chocolate-Glazed Gingerbread Cakes from Martha Stewart make up quickly and the little bit of crystalized ginger adds just enough 'bling' to make them a festive treat. That combination of chocolate ganache and gingerbread spices never gets old with me.

Today will be a day of watching the Rose Bowl Parade and lots of college football, maybe go for a walk in the snow, so it's the perfect time to re-acquaint myself with Confetti for a little hand quilting, Happy New Year everyone; may it be filled with many blessings, new adventures, and of course, fun and interesting quilting projects. Here's to 2015!....M