Up Coming Project

I showed a good friend of mine the last baby quilt I did and she loved it so much that she wants a quilt for herself. Since she asked me to make her a quilt and I just could not think of anything else. Her only request is vibrant colours. Very fitting for this girl! So I did a little web surfing and found the perfect color inspirations.

This collection of fabrics is designed by Amy Butler called Soul Blossom. Beautiful! This collection of fabric was photographed by Red Pepper Quilts. Rita from Red Pepper Quilts definitely has an eye for colour coordination.



Then I printed off the picture and went fabric shopping. Honestly, how desperate was I to go to the fabric store as it has not stopped snowing for the last 12 hours. I got in my car and drove through it and circled the fabric shelves hours on end. This is what I came up with. Some of the fabrics where from the fat quarter pile I made awhile back but I thought it worked well. The colours that are missing are gold, red, yellow and maybe more lavender and light pink.


The pattern are not as bold and dramatic as the original fabric collection but I think this can also work. I hope she likes what I found.

Twin's Quilts

Started to plan for the twin's quilt. I took a charm pack that had 42 pre-cut squares and I split it
between the 2 quilts. This gives each quilt 21 squares. There is one square left over and I hope to use it and sew their names on the quilts.

The pattern of this quilt is very simple so I am hoping to do some free motion quilting to give it more textural interest. That means I got to go to the store and get the right sewing foot and needles. I don't know what patterns I should do but it should be more interesting then the usual grid lines.

Change of Plans

Remember I mentioned 3 Christmas gifts I was going to make but I only made 2 jackets. The last one was an ambitious gift and was not able to make it on time. Another friend of mine welcomed a set of twins this past year. And how lucky to complete the collection in one shot.

The whole reason why I could not make the deadline was because I could not find the matching fabric to compliment the multi-coloured pre-cut squares. I used a "charm pack" and split it in half for the boy and girl. I found the blue and white polka dot fabric early on but could not find one for the girl. I made a many trips to the fabric store and I finally find the complimentary fabric. It was the same polkadot pattern but in girly colours. YAH!!!!!!



As soon as I get another break from work, I will get started. I also got matching gift bags so I won't have to scramble later.

Photo Finish

All is done of all the alternating squares. So let's not forget about the back side. I made sure I used ever inch square of the pretty fabric collection. Too bad I didn't have more, cause I would have made an even more complex pattern on the back.


Okay, back to the front. I saw this quilt that used the remaining fabric and made a border within a border. I think it makes the quilt more complex to look at. The centre squares isn't the only presentation but will be complimented by the other dancers.


It's all in the details. I still love this criss-cross stitch pre-programmed in my machine. there is something so pretty and delicate it gives the quilt. Despite the modern looks of the quilt layout, the stitches gives it a "homey" feel.


And the winner is......


Ok, bed time. Tomorrow got to rush out and get the gift bags. I hope the shovellers will come and take all this white stuff away.

Speedy Gonzales

Now remember the second "stacking coins" baby quilt I finished awhile ago? That was originally for my co-worker when she went off work to care for her new addition. She left too quickly so I was not able to finish it before I could give it to her. At least that is the story I tell others and I am sticking to it.

This weekend ended up being the perfect weekend to start a new quilt as she is coming back next week. I basically had a week to start and finish it. Old man winter was going to dump 30 centimetres of the white stuff and the plows were not going to be able to shovel the snow for the next 2 days. So bunker down and sew, sew sew! I used a fabric jelly roll that had 40 strips of different fabric. All I needed to do before the weekend was buy backing fabric, batting and matching binding. DONE!


Pretty Eh?


Cut, sew, iron and repeat. Cut sew, iron and repeat.

Assemble some, cut some, sew some, iron and repeat.

Stay tune for day 4 and 5.

First Arrangement of 2011

Can you believe it? It is 2011 and another year. Every year it seems the days go by so fast. I am not the one to make new year resolutions cause I know I never meet them or rather keep them. I usually forget about it by the next month. I just know that the last year has been a creative one and I hope this year will be just as creative or more! Let it be flowers or quilts or food. I am lucky to have found an outlet to be creative in a very structured world .

Here is the first arrangement of 2011. For a dear friend who has recently suffered a loss. But I know she is someone full of spirit and will make it through.

Despite old man winter constantly on our backs, the floral department gives us a glimmer of hope that warm weather is not far away. Spring flowers are here and growing in numbers. Stock was in store and so were tulips. This arrangement will change in a few days as the tulips will continue to grow in water and create different depth to the arrangement. Enjoy.

California or Bust?

Tomorrow is the Christmas lunch at work and I was contemplating what to bring or to bring anything at all. This really wasn't suppose to be so hard if I could use my car. The car is working but the roads are another issue. We had a big dump of snow today and the roads have yet to be cleared. Waiting patiently but they better have done something by the time I have to work in the afternoon.

Anyways, back to the original problem. There is a limited amount of food in the house so I have to make something with what I have. Savoury dish or sweet dessert? Silly question for me. Of course the latter. Here is my attempt to make chocolate cream cheese brownie bites. The recipe was not all that hard. Pretty easy but not sure about the end product.




As soon as I mixed the cream cheese ingredients, I knew this was not going to come out as it should. It was so runny. I halved the cream cheese recipe cause I knew I was no going to make so much. It came out with gravy consistency but I am sure it should be quite thick like meringue. Oh well. Tried my best.





As you can see, the cream cheese was more like icing to the thick brownie batter.

I'm sure it will be fine but definitely need work in the presentation department.

A Little Christmas Cheer

This was a special order for a cocktail party coming up. This first arrangement is actually for the hostess. She was so kind to host the party at her home and I thought she could have a little arrangement cause the other arrangements are to be given away. I wanted to add little ornaments but I ended up just adding ribbon and baby's breath. The baby's breath makes it look like snow. I just love the simplicity of it. Sometimes simple is better.

The following are going to be on the food tables and given away at the end of the night.

I was told there were going to be 2 food tables, one big and one smaller. So I thought a set of "twins" and a matching centre will be nice. They can be placed together or separated and still look nice.


Right twin


Left twin




Centre piece. When I delivered it earlier, it ended up on a stand in the living room. It was a better choice as it was in front of these huge windows and it really show case it's magnificence. It's hard to see in the pictures but I sprayed all the arrangements with this gold glitter. It definitely adds that little glitter and glamor to them.

Shopping Therapy

I couldn't help it. Fabricland sent me a flyer of their current sale. For me not participating would mean I have no means of being creative. And I am sure they don't want that.

I plan to make 2 packs of fat quarters. Can you believe all this was less than $35. I figure if Walmart sells a fat quarter for $2 each, then you have to beat them by finding fabric less then $7. This way, each quarter you cut out will be less then $2 each. I think I am so smart but I really hope my math is correct. So each fabric I found was $6.30/meter or less. Some were even $4 for a meter. Oh how I love a good sale find. I find that is what gives me the endorphins to keep shopping. So how I can't convince my wallet to grow with more sale finds.

I am sure I drove the lady at the store crazy. I would bring her 5-6 bolts of fabric 3 different time and only ask for half a meter each. So much writing for so little fabric. I had to restrain myself as I didn't even go into the other colors. I think the reds, yellows, greens were disappointed that I didn't pick them. I really was going to buy more but I set a limit for myself today. Seriously, if I didn't, I would have a small quilt fabric store in my sewing room.

I love that the big chain fabric store always cut more then you ask. That means I will have some scraps left over for a massive postage stamp quilt that I have been saving for awhile. I have been saving every scrap fabric and cutting it into 1 inch squares so I can create this kaleidoscope of a quilt. We will see how it will turn out as it is so many colors are involved. I will have to show another time.

I will have to get cutting and packaging the fat quarter squares like the companies. And I will have to come up with a catchy name to name my color collection. Then find a pretty ribbon to tie it up.

Sympathy

For the family of my parent's dear friends. I hope the flowers will express our sympathy for your loss.