My mailbox is hungry

My mother in law bought us a housewarming gift..oh yes, it's a shiny, kinda-even-sexy new mailbox. It replaced the old ugly way too small rusty jobby that was affixed to our new house. It can fit fabric packages nicely..I can't wait to feed it!

- Donna

Sewing vacation

I took a day off yesterday with the express plans to SEW!!! Holly came over to join me and we both jumped a bit from project option to project option before settling down at our machines. I ended up finishing two baby bibs for a baby gift (pattern by jennifer casa). I'm a little bit in love with the grey green one but the pop of orange on the blue one makes me smile I'll be shipping these off across the country later this week and I hope the newest arrival likes them.

I also made a bracelet using jennifer's awesome tutorial for wristlet's and Holly and I have plans to making a dozen or so for the most recent Craft Hope call out. More to come on that one!

Anyone feel like joining Holly and I in some bracelet making?

- Donna

Jelly Roll Wonderland

My grandmother used to make the best Jelly Roll. Actually, come to think of it, she was the only person I've ever know to actually make Jelly Roll, but it was fantastic! Each time I hear the words, I am thrown right back to my childhood, sitting at her kitchen table savoring every last bite of my slice! I really wish I had her recipe so I could recreate that same pleasure for my daughter, but I doubt I'd be brave enough for the rolling part. I could see my cake cracking in more places than one!

This wonderland was my first ever fabric Jelly Roll purchase. I got it on sale when Fat Quarter World was closing out. It's just been sitting on top of my stash for the better part of a year, so I decided to sew it into a simple strip quilt before the fabrics and colors went completely out of style! It sure did make for a quick finish! Gotta love those pre-cuts!

As you can see, I straight line quilted about 1/4" on either side of each seam. I love the effect this gave the solid pink back. I also used two different shades of pink thread to give it a little more interest on the plain back.

This one is going to the next one of my (many!) pregnant friends who announces she's having a little girl.

~Sara

Mug Rugs and Placemats {Swirling}

I am finding these little mug rugs popping up everywhere to be so very inspiring. All kinds of great quilting techniques, free piecing and color combinations - a real feast for the eyes! I've sat down to try my hand at making at least one, but get overwhelmed with the possibilities and end up doing something entirely different. 1. My 1st Mug Rug!, 2. mug rug, 3. saturdays, 4. Mug Rug Swap Round 2 for Emedoodle, 5. pink camper mug rug, 6. Hearts Mug Rug, 7. Red letter day mug rug, 8. flowery mug rug, 9. Ticker tape mug rug Placemats, much like mug rugs, have also been swirling around in my head for some time. I just wish I could decide on fabric and a design! I get so hung up deciding on the 'perfect' pattern and the 'perfect fabrics' that years go by and I still haven't made anything. I could have made and wore out about 3 sets by now! Does that ever happen to you? I do think now that I see that little ticker tape mug rug, that that idea would work so very well for some everyday placemats... I'm tempted to run upstairs right now and try one out, but lucky for the zillion WIPs I have going, I'd need white fabric and I'm STILL waiting for my order to arrive. Tap tap tap on the watch... ~Sara

Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice

In case you were wondering, this is NOT one of the quilts I mentioned I was working on. I am in deep! I had ordered a Bella Solids charm pack of all white charms from Sew Fresh Fabrics (super fast delivery to Canada!) and it was burning a hole in my stash, so I paired it with a Sweet by Urban Chicks charm pack and next thing I knew, I had another quilt top. It still needs another strip of white around the outer edge, but I am fresh out of white solid. Luckily, that's part of the order that is en route. Fingers crossed my orders arrive this week so I can get to finishing what I started around here. I sure will have my work cut out for me!

Had to include this shot of my little helper fighting the wind! A half decent picture was not an easy task today...

~Sara

IBOL

I found what I wanted to do with my surplus of fabric, I bundled it up in 3 separate bundles, added in some buttons, zippers, thread, measuring tapes and other miscellaneous sewing supplies and am sending them off to Iraqi Bundles of Love. Sounds like it will be put to great use.

I also came across this project in my search and wished I wouldn't have missed the deadline. I do see a message in the comments saying that the organization will accept kits anytime, so I think I'll dip into my flannel stash and put a few together to send off in the coming weeks.

What charity crafting projects have you been involved in?

~Sara