Stitches in Play

happiness

It's Sunday night and I'm feeling happy.

 

Happiness is kiddos who no longer ask what's for dessert. 

They already know we're having apple oatmeal cake  (topped with semi-sweet chocolate chips of course).

Happiness is knowing that no matter how much things change, kids' crafts remain the same. 

I got this circa 1974 craft book at our library book sale.

 

Happiness is spying my febrile girlie (who spent the day in her pajamas) enjoying some restful quiet time.

Happiness is playing with gorgeous, simple, handmade toys that entertain children of all ages. 

Because when kiddos tire of playing the intended game they make up their own rules and keep right on playing.  Thank you Tonya.

Happiness is the opportunity to play with super cool fabrics for this months 12 squared quilting bee.

Happiness is when my ten-year-old son takes a photo of me for no reason at all.

He borrowed my camera to take a picture of an ice crystal formation in the woods.  He said he took this picture because he wanted to know what i was thinking.  I told him that it was fifty degrees out, the sun was shining, my kiddos were playing a game in the woods, and the birds were chirping all around - and I was thinking how happy I was.

What is making you happy today?

making for others = making fun

I made a basic tote bag.  It's for the super cool police officer who led and taught the fifth grade D.A.R.E. program at our school.  It will be filled with one hundred seven thank-you letters written by the fifth graders.  And presented to her at Wednesday's D.A.R.E. graduation.

I put together a quick tutorial because Jodi asked.  I suggested that she google instructions for a tote with a flat bottom - there are about a hundred out there.  But Jodi said she likes my tutorials best - blog friends say the kindest things.  So stop back here soon for yet another tote tutorial - the main focus will be on creating the bottom and adding a lining. 

I loved piecing these blocks for the 12 squared quilting bee.  These are for Chawne.  She requested one "intentional mistake"  but my blocks have two. One is not so intentional because I accidentally used one of the neutral blocks to piece the mistake block causing me to have to piece one of the background blocks because I didn't have enough to finish.  Makes perfect sense, right?  I still like them and I hope Chawne does too.  She is a quilting + stitching + knitting + crocheting + math genius and a total inspiration to me.

Aren't these the coolest fabrics?  I so need to work with neutrals more.

 

Happy Weekend Everyone!  I'm off to join my family for a romp in the snow - if I can find my hand in front of my face - it's coming down pretty hard out there!

things that need sending

I would like to thank my dear friend, Imene, for including me in her Blogview today. Imene shares her thoughts in the inspiring blog, A Journey To a Simple Happy Life, and I am honored to be interviewed by her.  Head on over to her space and check it out.

Right now I'm off to sandwich the front and back of this baby quilt so that I can finish it up and send it to its recipient.

And I need to get these December quilt blocks in the mail.  I pieced these houses using fabric received from Megan for 12 Squared.  These were so much fun to construct.  Megan will be bordering these with more of the white fabric because she underestimated the amount needed - these blocks require a LOT of fabric because of all the seaming and trimming associated with improvisational piecing. 

Here's a close-up.

Thank so much for all the tutorial love on my last post.  Just wanted to mention that you can use the chain piecing method of construction for all of your quilt blocks - be they plain, pieced, or displaying wonky houses. 

Sending you all big hugs and wishes for a happy Tuesday!

stitches + play

I love everything about autumn!  But most of all I love being outside, taking walks, and going on outings with my family.  We spent most of this past weekend at an outdoor art and sculpture festival and a pumpkin farm - so much fun.   All this left very little time for sewing - one hour in the past four days to be exact - because after ignoring my house, the laundry, and grocery shopping all weekend, Monday was full of cleaning up and running errands.   

I finished these nine blocks of the Leslie Quilt, modified last Friday.  See how you can rotate the same block to make this cool pattern.  Only eleven more to go.  (each block is 15"x15" so just 9 blocks make a 45"x45" square)

So what did I sew in that one hour?  These two blocks for Amanda for the 12 squared quilting bee.

These are so simple and so much fun to sew.  I  used this tutorial.  No measuring or exact placement of fabrics and you get a very cool wonky star.  I see many more wonky/maverick stars in my future.

 

Thanks so much Amanda for introducing me to this super simple way to piece stars!

 

Some fun photos from our weekend...

 

 

 

Hope you're finding the time to enjoy this beautiful season!

for Valerie

I had so much fun sewing these two blocks for Valerie.  They are a huge 14 inches.  I really enjoyed working within the constraints of the fabric  she sent.   Valerie's inspiration photos were comprised mainly of log cabin-y blocks and of blocks with a large center focal point so I sewed one of each.

This is the log cabin-y block using the courthouse steps pattern.  Here I juxtaposed the blues and browns against the pinks.

Since most of the fabric was already cut into strips, I chose to take advantage of the two fabrics that were square shaped and I pieced them into a 4 patch which I surrounded with more of the strips.  I ended up using nearly all of the fabric she sent and I added a few strips of my own. Oh, and did I mention how much fun I had piecing these!

I hope she likes them.