Bliss

So last weekend Wendy and I went to the quilt shop together to pick up our BOMs.  While we were there we noticed a class being offered this Saturday for a quilt we both liked.  It didn't take us long to rationalize that a Girl's Night would be a great way to start off the new year.  So we signed up.  Without calling our husbands to make sure our schedules were clear.  We're crazy like that.

I hadn't anticipated signing up for a class, and in an uncharacteristic effort to be especially thrifty, I wanted to try to make the class work without having to buy new fabric.  So, Wendy and I dug through my stash.  She noticed my jelly roll of Bliss by Bonnie and Camille.

It's my favorite jelly roll.  I was saving it for a special occasion.  No pattern could ever be deemed worthy of taking the coveted Moda ribbon off that jelly roll.  So, when Wendy suggested I actually use it for the class, I snorted all over her sweater.  It just so happened I had a little yardage of Bliss too.  Just the right amount.  And there really wasn't money in the after Christmas budget for new fabrics.  And then the nearly unthinkable happened.  My four year old ripped the ribbon off the jelly roll and untangled the entire thing into a heap.

FATE.

I've never had more fun cutting fabric.  I worked on it Tuesday, my "blissful" day off that I wrote about yesterday.  Those sweet and cheerful colors and patterns are just plain fun to touch.  I cut out all the pieces needed for my class, then I savored and squandered every smidge of scrap I could possibly muster.  I wasn't willing to let a snip of this precious fabric go to waste.  I made two blocks to use for pillows.  This was all that was left of my jelly roll when I was done with it.  Not too bad!

That sweet sign used to hang in my kitchen.  I took it down over Christmas break to hang something different in its place and it got set on my sewing desk just until I could decide where to go with it.  I've rather enjoyed seeing it there, so I think I'll hang it permanently in my sewing nook.

This is the first pillow I made from the scraps.  I'm thinking I need to trim it in pom poms, don't you?

My second pillow.  My first ever Wonky Block!  How much fun to make!!  This took me hours to do...I watched an entire DVD while puttering with it.  I have not squared up the outer edges yet to fully set the "wonky" angle because I want to get my pillow form first.  I'd love to do an entire quilt of these someday.  They are really fun.

I've got all my pre-cutting and sewing done, and am fully ready to head to class tomorrow.  I'm hoping to have a completed quilt top by the end of the night.  I'm anxious to see it all come together, and hoping it proves to be Bliss worthy!

How about you?  What's on your weekend sewing agenda??

Making Piece In Central Park

I ordered a jelly roll of Kate Spain's Central Park line and cut it into 2.5 inch squares with the intention of using it for a quilt along, but quickly changed my mind.  The colors were too bold for what I really wanted.  So, I've had a pyrex mixing bowl sitting on the corner of my sewing desk brimming with these squares and begging for some attention.  I immediately knew who I wanted to give this quilt to, but I've had a really hard time coming up with a pattern that excited me.  I think part of my problem is that although I really like some of these fabrics on their own, I'm not sure I love how they look as a group.  I tend to go a bit more traditional in my fabric selection, and this one might be a bit too "retro" and "hip" for a fabric frump like me!

I have a horrible habit of setting things aside, but for some reason I can't seem to let this one go.  I'm determined to see this thing through, so I keep trying to make some peace and fall in love with this design idea.  I've issued myself a little challenge; the daily half dozen.  I'm hoping to have enough fabric to complete thirty squares for this quilt.  So, if I do just six squares a day, I can have this baby ready to assemble in a week.  I'm making myself work on the six squares before I can move on to any other sewing project every day this week.

There are worse things than spending a little time in Central Park each day, right?? I'm off to tackle six squares!

Dino-Mite

My three year old daughter is crazy for dinosaurs.  I mean C-R-A-Z-Y.  When this first started I was a little concerned because it is really hard to find feminine dinosaur related items.  No worries.  The toothier and scarier, the better for her.  Gross.  I have no idea where this passion came from, and much as I have tried my hardest to introduce Disney princesses or flower fairies, we are SOLD on dinos.

So, it was no small wonder when, during a recent trek to Joann Fabrics, she had a small fabric fit over a certain something that she spied.  (She comes by her passions quite naturally.  It's in her genes, after all, and she may just have witnessed her Momma declaring true love for a certain fabric in the quilt shop one too many times!)

Anyway, she originally spied the green fabric, which was clearly a must have in her mind.  I just wasn't that sold on the idea.  That fabric is so.....boyish.  And so.....uncute.  So, I quickly found this little coordinate and offered it up as a suggestion.  

She doesn't like the white one as well because it doesn't have these....

Triceratops are our favorites.  I mean F-A-V-O-R-I-T-E-S.  Plus, we heart bright orange.  So, I'm headed into my sewing nook this week with my marching orders.  Use all the triceratops.  Make it happy colors. Some green fabric HAS TO be on the front of the quilt.  And, if I can add some pink glitter that would be great.  (????)

It's always good to have a well thought out plan!