I went on my summer vacation and this is all I have to show for it...

Hey everyone!

Summer vacay draws to a close tomorrow....and VERY little in the sewing department to show off. What can I say? The weather was hot and sunny (every day!!), I had a bit of a muscle injury from running in shoes that didn't fit well, and I just plain took it easy - it was great! But...I do have a few little things to show you.


I did manage to make up two little mug rugs - the bottom one is to send in my niece's first care package - she starts college this September so I put together a little box to help warm her new apartment. Tea necessitated a tea rug, and I had a tiny bit of binding left from her quilt, so perfect use, I thought. The top mug rug below is off to Victoria, BC to a fantastic friend who I miss dearly. We've been friends since we were wee ones, and I don't get to see her often enough (Like, um, a mere 3 times in the last six years, two of those times at our respective weddings).

My second little bit of sewing was a hanging hand towel for my kitchen...and contrary to how it might appear, it's not actually done. I still need to sew a button hole but couldn't find my manual to figure out how to do it.

And a last, gratuitous shot, 'cause while sour cherry season is sadly over, we did manage to pick a bundle for the freezer, many of which have made it into our bellies. We spoke to a farmer at the market this am, and may order a pail this week while we still can. Mmmmmm...sour cherries!

Oh, and our quilting bee has kicked off -and blocks made up from my fabric are beginning to show up on the flickr group. I'm super excited!

Back to the grind tomorrow!!

- Donna

Sweet Like Sugar

This is how I decided to use up my all white Bella Solids charm pack. Holly had suggested to just pair it up with a patterned charm pack to make a quick patchwork quilt. She was absolutely right when she said quick! This one was a breeze to put together.

I did think it turned out a little small with just the two charm packs, so I added a few borders around to add some size. I think it may be a little too big in the end, but lucky for me, babies grow and it'll be just the right size at some point in her lifeThe binding might be my favorite binding ever. It was a teensy bit more work because I didn't realize you had to match up stripes on striped binding, so I had to pull out some stitches (which I normally avoid at all costs!) and put it back together. It was well worth it in the end to have it look like one big continuous piece.

It is quilted in the ditch around the patchwork and then 1/4" on either side of each of the border seams. It made for an interesting pattern on the back...of which I only have terrible pictures, so you'll have to trust me on that one!

~Sara

Solids + Polka dots = dreamy

A sweet little baby girl was born last Sunday, a few weeks early. I had begun her quilt many months ago and thankfully had it done just in time to gift.

I knew as soon as I saw the Fat Quarterly Quilt Along posted back in August that it was a perfect way to use the Kona Rainbow Roll I had picked up ages ago. I stocked up on some great polka dots at our local Fabricland and away I went. I have learned several lessons over the years I've now been sewing. Squaring off? Muy importante. It's not perfect (Gah! How did two yellow polka dotted middles get beside one another??) and there are some wonky lines, but it's bright, colourful, and soft. It was nice to do some free motion quilting again, and I think I love scrappy bindings! This was my first, but I don't think it will be my last.

- Donna

Gifting is the Best Part

Remember my first quilt? I got to gift it this afternoon and I was just so proud and excited. I was so happy to wrap it up and I can't wait to see the baby (due in mid-June) all snuggled up in it!

- Donna

PS - Isn't that gift tag awesome? My friend Nadia, of Red Sonja Designs, designed a selection of tree tags in mod colours for the Christmas ornament swap I organized last year. It was hard to use it on a gift but it complemented the paper so well, how could I resist?

PPS - Don't forget to sign up for the coaster swap! Sign up goes until May 8!