Color me inspired!

(I would include links but blogger won't let me paste them in for whatever reason! You can find them over here instead)

Firstly, Donna inspired me to do a flickr favorite inspiration mosaic! Secondly, by the looks of these pictures, I'm heavily inspired by improv quits! I have had improv on the brain for about 2 years now and haven't gotten up the guts to get at it yet. I am pretty sure I'm going to use some form of it for my month in the Sew Modern Bee. I best be getting my act together on that since my month is March and that'll be here before we know it!
Also, I know of 6 women who are pregnant this year...so far! The last quilt I made will whittle that number down to 5, but 5 is still a lot considering I should be studying and not sewing! I think I'll stick with patchwork for the new babies of 2011. Think they'll mind?

~Sara

January Bee Blocks X 2

I've said it before and I'll say it again, this quilting bee has been such a great learning experience for me. Sure, there may have been a few curse words here and there, but when the blocks are finished, I really feel like I've been challenged in ways I would never have challenged myself. This month's blocks in particular have me feeling like I was exposed to a whole other level of quilting. Not that the blocks were hard, just that the method Jen asked us to use was like a brilliant puzzle. Maybe following patterns isn't the worst idea in the world afterall! Pattern is an uneven star (for the big blocks) and the fabric is Dream On by Urban Chicks for Moda. I doubled up this month to cover off Donna's blocks since she moved into THE most beautiful new home just over a week ago. Donna, you can pick which one you made!

~Sara

Making lunches can be crafty!

bento lunch
Originally uploaded by Kindred Crafters

Lately I feel like my time and inclination to be crafty has taken a backseat. We moved into our new house last week and we're getting settled slowly but surely. Through it all, I've been striving to keep life as "normal" for the kids as possible. We drove away from our little house last Wednesday; the kids waved goodbye. We picked them up from daycare at the end of the day and drove to the new house. The kids ran around like mad but their rooms were all made up. Bedtime was a bit rough for the four year old but she woke up all smiles.

Making my kindergartner's lunch has been another exercise in keeping things stable. I've wanted to make sure that she has still gotten a healthy, balanced mid-day meal. This has been no small feat as we wound down our grocery stash in the old house, and rebuilt in this one.

My little crafty secret is that i kinda get a kick out making her lunch. I like making it colourful. I like making it diverse. I get a sense of accomplishment when her lunchbox comes out of her backpack empty at the end of the day.

I challenge myself to provide her with as much variety as I can manage. I use fun tools (like a bunny egg press and silicone muffin cups) to brighten it up and make her smile.

Is it weird that a lunch box is my most artistic form of self-expression these days?

- Donna

A quilt! Finally!

It's been so very, very long since I've produced a quilt. Come to think of it, it's been a long time since I've showed you anything on this blog besides bee blocks! I couldn't stand it anymore. Call me a procrastinator, call me what you will, but I could not take the studying in lieu of creative time any longer. Something came over me last night and before I knew it I had a quilt top. Unbelievably so, I didn't have the right fabric for the back in my stash, so I had to put it aside until today when I could make a trip to the fabric store. Solids were on sale - buy one and get 2 free, so I was happy about that! This quilt is for a baby that is due in two weeks, but is long overdue to the parents she is just about to bless. They've been struggling to have a baby for a few years now, so it's pretty exciting that their journey is just about to end...or begin, I guess! I used a charm pack of It's a Hoot (gifted to me from Miss Donna!) mixed with some Wonderland here and there as well as three different shades of pink Kona solids. I don't know the names of them, but wish I did because I really liked them once I pulled them out of my stash. I quilted it with straight lines, and I use that technique title very, very loosely, 1/4" from either side of all seams. I love the drape this gives to a baby quilt. The photos leave a bit to be desired (colors are way off - back of the quilt is a sweet bubble gum pink and binding is a deep fuschia, but I was trying out my shiny new iPhone 4 with the "Shake it" app. Fun stuff! And so quick to get blogged. Speaking of my iPhone, I thought I should whip up a case for it so I could just throw it in my purse without worrying what else is thrown in on top of it or the crumbs at the bottom of the bag messing with it. It's not a show stopper, but was a fun little project for the holidays. I quilted it with tiny little messy circles. Of course, my intention was not for messy, but that's what resulted. I think it looks fine as is and it gives such a great texture. I hope to be back here soon to show of January bee blocks that have yet to be put together and a WIP. Take care until then! I've missed you!

2011 - What's in store?

Hi everyone!

We hope you all had a peaceful and relaxing Christmas (if you celebrate) and a sparkly new year. I know I did. Lots of sleep, much packing (my sewing room is now completely packed up, and I'm embarrassed about the amount of fabric and other things I've acquired in my short time sewing.) This year's number one resolution in my sewing life is to USE WHAT I HAVE. I am pledging to go 6 months with no fabric purchases, except solids (if needed!) but my first focus will be some super scrap busting challenges to get some scraps used up. I'm gleaning some inspiration from the ScrapBuster Challenge 2011 group over in flickr. Things like this pillow and this growth chart really get my heart happy. While I was packing, I sorted all my scraps into bins by colour, and I'm hoping my organization will allow me to better see what I have, and crack on with it.

Sara gifted me this little treasure of a book. Yippee....I'm sure that this will inspire me to use up some scraps for sure.

Moving day is in two weeks tomorrow so things will no doubt be quiet on my end...but I promise to regale you with takes of the new craft space set up - I think it's going to be fantastic!

- Donna