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

Spring Cleaning

Since I have 4 quilts in progress which are all at a standstill awaiting various components to arrive, and since that is more than I have ever had on the go at one time, I couldn't bare to start anything else. I did pull the fabrics for #6, but that was as far as I let myself get with that. Instead, I sorted my scraps, as I have been meaning to do for a very long time. I can't remember where I saw this idea, but I liked it when I saw it and I like it even more now! It makes getting at my scraps exponentially easier than my previous storage (crammed into one bin that was too small to house them all.) Now, when I want a certain color, I can just grab what's in the pouch, dig through until I find what I want and stuff it all back in there when i'm finished. Perfect. I (the Mr.) hung it on the inside of the closet door so that it is easily hidden by closing the door. Again, perfect! Did I mention it was $2?

Once that was finished, I moved on to my stash. The situation is getting a little bit out of hand. I can't fit much else on that vintage potato chip rack! A normal person would destash, but I've never claimed to be normal! I can't let go of any of it and I kind of treated myself to some new fabric on Friday...oh where will I ever put it when it arrives? I'm sure I'll figure it out somehow!

Where/how do you store your stash? Are you good at destashing? How often do you destash? What do you do with the fabrics you're ready to part with?

~Sara

A little more finishing and a lot less starting

I know I said I just had to add the binding to another strip quilt and it would be all finished, but I kind of don't like the binding choice, so while I percolate on that, I decided to jump in to not one, but two more projects (on top of my bee quilt - eeps!). I rarely ever start another quilt before I finish the one I'm working on, so we'll see what kind of precedent this sets. Anyhow, here are some shots of what's been swirling around in my head (doesn't it always feel so awesome to get those swirling projects out and in progress?!):

First up on the cutting mat, an all yellow wonky stars quilt. I cut out a whole bunch of pieces from most of my yellow fabrics. I started with 5" squares and had the bright idea to hack them in half. About half way through that brainwave, I realized I'd be better off leaving them as full squares so that I'd have more room to be as wonky as my heart desires. The polkadot squares you see at the bottom will be the center for each and every star. In my mind's eye, the yellow stars will look more like the sun because I already have my heart set on naming it "You are my sunshine." I guess if that doesn't go as planned, "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" also has a nice ring to it!
And since I don't have enough white in my stash (how is that even possible?!), that project got shoved aside and out came these fabrics for the long awaited fishy strip quilt, completely inspired by these little bits of sweetness. Again, I'll need to secure some solids to mix in with these (and lots more just like them) strips.

One more thing to report, I received an email from a friend lastnight announcing that she's expecting! Six just turned into seven. It's a baby boom and I am not complaining!

Do you have any projects swirling around in your head just waiting to be put into action?
Do you let them swirl or are you a sketch book kind of crafter?

~Sara

Ready.

I am so very, very excited for my month in Sew Modern Bee! Donna and I began this Bee journey in May of last year so it's been quite the wait for our turns to roll around. Donna is on deck for April and I am up next in March. I've been searching high and low through the millions of quilts online for the perfect inspiration quilt (good thing we've had since last May!) and just a few weeks ago stumbled upon this beauty. The search was over. All of the fabrics are packaged up and just waiting for mailing labels. I just can't wait to see what the ladies in the Bee come up with!

~Sara

Gift Tags for Craft Show

Gift Tags for Craft Show
Originally uploaded by Kindred Crafters

Holly and I banded together this past week to whip up some little paper and fabric gift tags for Craftalicious. We're thinking we'll share a table this year. These were super fun to make, especially once we abandoned the method we had read about in Sandi Henderson's newest book, which involved cling wrap as a fuser...we used glue sticks and then stitched them down and added a little grommet to finish them up. We'll add some twine and package them in sets of five for the show.

It's so hot here it's hard to imagine sewing but I'm going to work on some garlands tonight. More to show later this week!

- Donna

I think I've succumbed to fabric alarmism

Yesterday I read Heather's post in which she mentioned that Laura Wisburn's Tufted Tweet line was on backorder in many stores. She listed a few stores where some was still available. I clicked over to check out the stock and found it had been cleared out. I quickly googled the line and found an etsy store (SewFreshFabrics) that had some and ordered up a bunch.

I focused on this colourway but not entirely.

Honestly, I read that post and imagined myself in two years, pining for a fabric that I could never have .... I pictured a Flea Market Fancy scenario where I would click wistfully on etsy listings like this or this and lament the fact that I just can't justify spending 45$ for a yard. So instead I horde my little scraps and use them in every project I can....

Do you stockpile fabric like I do? Am I being smart or silly...it's just fabric after all!

- Donna

Liberty of London Crazy

I was down in DC this week for work, and made sure to hive off a bit of time to hit Target to scout out the new Liberty of London clothing line. I was sad that the women's dresses that I found weren't cotton, as I was hoping to grab one for cutting up purposes. I also couldn't find any clothes in my older daughter's size (5). But the toddler things, oh the toddler things. I walked away with these little gems. Little m has already modelled them all and cute doens't begin to describe these items on that girl. Come on summer so she can wear these things around town. Is it weird that I'm already mentally throwing them in the memory quilt box for m's memory quilt?

- Donna

July 5x5 in my hot little hands

Once again Donna has outdone herself with the 5x5 swap. What she calls mismeasurement, I call a happy accident! They may not all measure 5x5, but I do believe it worked out to my advantage! This month inspired me to order myself some of those "O's". They're actually called "Mingle" and they're designed by Jennifer Moore. I ordered a yard each of leaf, summer and blossom from fabricworm. "O" dear!

Thanks so much, Donna. You're the best!

~Sara

June 5X5 - so very thoughtful

I've mentioned before how much I love a certain vintage fabric I scored at Value Village a while back. I loved it so much I passed some to Sara with her Christmas gift.

This month, it made its way back to me, along with several other vintage finds that reminded Sara of the vintage piece I love so much. If you only count four there, that would be because I already cut into one of them to encorporate into my coasters I made for Suzanne.

Sara also sent a cute pin . .wherever do you find these things, Sara?

- Donna

- Donna

My Fabric Incentive

In an attempt to find ways to get my butt in gear and get more exercise, I've decided to offer myself an incentive. Starting last week, I'm transferring $3 into a separate account every time I do an hour of exercise.

Last week I managed 6 hours of exercise and I treated myself to some cute FQs from a local quilt shop and a few vintage pillowcases from the thrift shop that is conveniently located just next door. A good haul, and a few dollars left in the kitty for next time.

I love fabric. I don't always love exercise, but I think it makes sense to push myself a little in this regard, and 'earning' fabric seems like just the push I need.




Off to go to a spin class . . .there's fabric in it for me!



- Donna

The Mother Lode

My mother-in-law to-be got to cleaning out her stash and ever so kindly gifted me with a lot (to put it lightly) of what she was getting rid of. This is just a small portion of what the boxes (yes, boxES) included:

I have big plans for this stuff and of course, would love to jump over the rest of my ongoing projects and in to those boxes. I'm thinking something like this for the fabric in the pictures? What do you think? Thankfully, I know better than to clutter up my small sewing space with too many WIPS, so I got a few things cleared away today in prepration for my grand plans.

Trying my hand at one of these quilted pillows has been on my to do list for a while...

...and those poor oven mitts (made with a pattern from Lotta Jansdotter's book) were a half finished Christmas present for my mom.

Glad to finally have those off of my conscience! The only thing standing between me and the boxes now is that baby boy quilt. Almost there...

~Sara

Local Find

I found these gems in a little quilt shop downtown. What a pleasant surprise. They're Moda, but I forget which collection. What would you use these for?

~Sara

The only way fabric is being used at our house

No time for sewing these days. Can't seem to squeeze it in during the odd naptime, what with such scintillating activities like laundry (2 kids, 2 adults plus cloth diapers - for the kids, not the adults - makes for many trips to and from the basement!), cleaning the bathroom, making dinner, trying to get my workouts in, etc, there just hasn't been time.

So for now, the sewing room/office has become a haven for little Minous (French, for kitten). Big M is constantly making beds for her animals and tucking them all in. She has good taste in linens, I'll give the girl that.

- Donna

SMSFQS #4

Last, but most certainly not least:

The wonderful Regina of Creative Kismet sent along this super cute fabric. All of the pieces sent to me were great, but I'm pretty sure this one is my favorite. Thank you, Regina!

~Sara

SMSFQS #2 & #3

The mailbox has been so very kind to me lately! Two more swap envelopes arrived in the past week and I love them both a whole lot. I thought it was very sweet that one partner sent some of her very first fabric. Do you remember your first? I've been at this too long to remember! Thank you so much, ladies!

Pitter Patter

I'm pretty sure I'm not alone when I say that this kind of mail makes my heart flutter. Strangely, I was really anxious to cut in to all of it this time around. Could I have been miraculously cured of my terminal hoarding illness? Probably not. It's more likely that I've come to realize that the quicker I use up what I have, the quicker I can order more to feed the addiction.

Is there some kind of support group out there for fabric addictions?

~Sara

I <3 scraps

This bag of gold, err...I mean scraps came in the mail today. I followed Donna's lead and ordered it from here. I managed to get a few more charms for the newest quilt I'm working on out of these beauties. I'm trying to have no repeats in my charms - not an easy task.

~Sara

March 5X5 Received

Sara's 5X5 arrived today. Don't these fabrics make you think springy thoughts?

Sara might know my love of flowers, or maybe it was just luck. Thanks, Sara.

- Donna

March 5X5 - Perfect timing!

Donna sent me a note today telling me that she received her 5X5 swap from me in the mail. As chance would have it, mine was sitting in my mailbox today, too! She sent me a polka dot theme this month. She knows my weaknesses!


Thank you, D. You know I love them!

~Sara

SMSFQS #1

(SMSFQS = Sew, Mama, Sew! Fat Quarter Swap)

Who's the lucky duck to get a fat quarter of this gorgeous Amy Butler Nouveau Trees fabric, you ask? None other than little, old Moi!

(photo courtesy of Bee Square Fabric)

Thank you, Jessica!

~Sara