Where I Sew

Pink chalk fabrics is having a month long celebration of where creative things are made and I'm linking up -- you all know how much I love spending time in my sewing room and it's time to show it off. 

My sewing desk. The book case houses all the current WIPs, patterns, books and precuts. 

The little brown drawers that were made by my grandfather, houses about half my fabric 

My cutting table and wall of rulers. The kitty is overseeing the current project that's on the design wall 

On the other side of the room is my FAB 6 foot ironing station -- with most of my beautiful minis hanging above. 

The rest of the fabric lives in the armior, three of those drawers are -- you guessed it more folded fabric. I'm thinking of replacing this with another book case to balance out the room better. 

Now as you may have read, I will hopefully be looking for a new house soon and moving to place that I can create a new and more awesome space from all those ideas I have building on pinterest. For now this is my happy place and I think it's pretty great.

The Michael Miller Challenge

Our guild is participating in the Michael Miller Challenge this year and these were the challenge fabrics (except our circles fabric was orange not green). I wasn't in the guild last year in time to participate, but I did see all the wonderful projects everyone made and I knew if we did it this year I was in. 

After several initial ideas and changing my mind-- only to go back to my first idea, I finished up my project last weekend. I'm calling it "Organic Vines" 

I used the go baby again for the triangles and borrowed an accucutter for the hexagons. I knew I didn't want to have to bind this one so I did a stitch and flip so that I would maintain the shape. I then quilted around the outside for structure and quilted it up using free form triangles. I am not great at "straight line" quilting so my triangles are more organic in shape. 

Happy Quilting Everyone !! 

linking up at 

Schnitzel & Boo Swap received

Well after much wishing and hoping for all the beautiful minis in the world and even a suggestion by hubby that not all the ones that I was loving on could possibly be coming my way --- the anticipation is over and the results are so exciting. My partner turned out to be Chen O'Malley and she's on instagram as @mushyhed -- in all the excitement of the IG feed I actually missed seeing the mini that she was making when she posted it but I do surely love that it came to live with me. 

It had all these amazing goodies in the package with it. 

I am so in love with that kitty bag that brings together everything about me -- it's pink, kitties and Alison Glass with just a touch of sparkle. 

Even the kitty loves the quilt and decided that it was perfect for napping on the cutting table. 

I have my wire back up in my sewing room (thanks hubs) and it's got a new home of honor, where I can look at it all the time. 

Happy Quilting everyone!! 

JULY goals

Wow -- there are less than 6 months left in 2014 and that means that there is lots to do to get ready for those holiday projects and gifts. For me most of this will be waiting till next month because I have other things going on this month that are taking priority. 

Gypsy wife is basted and ready for quilting -- I had a helper of course. 

Along with this quilt I also have 2 charity quilts and my spider web quilt that are needing some FMQ love. 

I've got a secret pattern testing project to work on this month -- isn't this a lovely color pallet 

Before September I need to get Mason's quilt finished -- adding boarders (everything is cut and ready to be attached) then basting and quilting. 

I've signed up for another swap and am excited to work on this one for sure because my partner is awesome.

Then, I'll be starting on all those custom holiday orders and gifts. Luckily for me it's a holiday weekend and in another week and a half I will be taking some time off for a mini vacation with some day trips and lots of sewing!!

I've got several posts that I'm working on right now so stay turned for some finished projects and the reveal of my Schnitzel and Boo mini project that I recieved the other day -- hint -- it's awesome. 

The not so squishy happy mail

As history has shown, I love using my go baby cutter. I really like the results of the projects that I have made so far. I love the ease of making these shapes and the accuracy of the cuts. 

I initially bought the go baby to be able to more quickly process my scarps into usable squares and this little machine has surely surpassed my expectations. For the cost it's a great deal and I recommend it to everyone that asks me during various trips to Joann's, when they see me on the accucut isle or at checkout. 

The one drawback of the go baby --- the compact size, It's limiting. I love the new dies that have been coming out and there are many of the existing dies that I have not been able to get yet due to the size.  I still value and highly recommend this tool, but I wanted more versatility in the dies that I could use and after much deliberating I decided it was worth it for me to go through with the upgrade to a full size GO cutter. (stock photo)

I looked around waiting for them to go on sale at Joann's (since you can't use a coupon) and watched a few on eBay, just waiting for the right deal. I finally found one at a price I wanted to pay and it came with extras that I knew I would use -- the stock square triangle die and a 24 inch long 2.5 inch strip die, cutting mat for the 24 inch dies and a 10 x 10 mat for the larger square dies as well. Two short days later it arrived, and I am over joyed. 

Now I have to rearrange a little and find a home for it -- but there are worse problems to have, am I right. 

Happy Quilting everyone -- if your in the US (like me), I hope your holiday weekend is sew wonderful. I know I've got my share of projects planned. 

Schnitzel & Boo Mini Quilt Swap

I have been taking part in the Schnitzel & Boo Mini Swap and I had so much fun with this swap and probably stressed over it more than I should have because my partner loves it. 

Along the way I kept second guessing myself because of the level of freedom that my partner had provided me with, she likes little cutsie prints and modern designs but I didn't know her favorite color or even if there are colors that she doesn't like so this was a gamble for me to get it right.

Well, here she is all the quilted glory -- we have cutsie, modern and a good variety of colors. I took a vote on instagram on how to quilt it and the resounding answer was the mums -- I decided to go with framed chrysanthemums. Framing my quilting was something new for me and I really like the way it turned out -- I don't know how many times I can sing the high praises of Angela Walters free motion quilting book and my wonderful teacher Kelly Wood who's always encouraging me to do new things. So how's about some up close shots of the quilting? 

Here's the back -- 

I put in a few goodies for her and sent off the parcel.

Including a mini hippo -- for her or her little girl.

Kitty even had a hand in the shipping process. 

I love finishing off that last space of quilting with the person's name or something that has meaning to the recipient. Luckily for me she has a short name -- this is a mini after all. 

In this case my partner is Linh @ Calling all Stitchers. And she's been watching this mini closely, so I know she's thrilled to see it come her way. 

I am waiting on my mini to arrive but when it does I will be sure to share with you. If you want to check out all the minis and your on instagram, check out #schnitzelandboominiquiltswap -- it's filled with awesome-ness and great inspiration.

Happy Quilting Everyone!!

Linking up @ 

Kitty goes to the Playground

Earlier this week, I was taking pictures of my Schnitzel and Boo mini and the kitty was in the car so the kitty got to take photos in the playground also.

Be sure to observe all rules

Test out the awesome-ness of the slide

Take an imaginary trip 

Climb around on the jungle gym

Silly Kitty -- get out of that tree

Pick some flowers 

is this the snack bar?  

I'm hoping to name the kitty soon and am looking for your suggestions.