A Little Inspiration : :

I am completely in love with my newest pillow purchase, I have to share it! I have such a weakness for the Anthropologie House & Home section, it's a pull only comparable to my love for fabric! I think it looks pretty next to my Indie quilt, which I'm preparing to have long-arm quilted soon! I'm excited to have finally decided that our bedroom is going to be the "Indie Room". Indie is at the tops of my favorite fabric collection list, so I'm certain it will make a beautiful bedroom!



The color and pattern of my new little bowls and plates have me inspired to put together a new bundle of fabrics today! Aren't they pretty?!





These West Elm Modernist Mugs inspired one of my most favorite bundles ever, the Sweet Summer Dream Blogger Bundle I put together for Pink Castle Fabrics!



Which turned into my favorite quilt to date, My Improv & LilyBelle Quilt As You Go!



Which I had said was a quilt for me, but I actually gave it to my amazing Mom, who is completely thrilled with it!

So, today I'm thinking it's time to revisit the favorite-dish-inspired-fabric-bundle once again! And, I'm wondering and would love to know -- what inspires you?

♥,  Maureen

New & Finished : :

I had a really productive sewing weekend, and I'm excited to share it all throughout this new week! Of course, I have no clue where to begin. Gosh, I took so many pictures over the weekend! Before I do share any of them, I want to start by quickly saying thank you for being so generous and sweet with your comments lately. It's the greatest feeling and motivator to know that all this making I do, and that all the time it takes to share it all here, might mean something to more than just me. It's wonderful and I thank you!

On Thursday I found a new piece for my sewing room that I really, really like. I plan to use it as an inspiration board eventually. For now I'm using it to encourage some long overdue finishes! Which is working!!





After finishing up some crown orders on Saturday I finally turned my "Stitch Sketch" girl into a finished quilt top! I hope to share all the details tomorrow, but here's a peek!







In the sunlight I could easily see the imperfection of my stitch sketching, and I actually think my mistakes are beautiful. Hoping the recipient of this quilt agrees.

I finished up my Tsuru & Pure Element Quilt top, as well! I stayed up late Saturday night until it was done! I'll be sharing it with a special Tsuru Giveaway on Valentine's Day!!







Besides lots of crown making, I have plans to finish a few more wips this week. First in line is already hanging on my new inspiration board! And, I've already begun work on yet another quilt. This time, Chicopee was on my cutting table, and the laborious task of turning this gorgeous collection into a high stack of triangles is already complete!





Today, I've got Ray...



and some crown-making to do!

Happy Monday, friends!! ♥,  Maureen 

p.s. I just tried to "Pin" some of my photos and it won't work?? Does anyone know how to fix that?? Thanks!  Problem fixed! Pin if you're interested!!

A Glimma & Linen Quilt Top : :

Yesterday, after packaging up orders and one long, very cold trip to the Post Office, I decided to treat myself to an afternoon of sewing something not on my list, because I'm really trying to stick to a list these days!

I put on The Lumineers, my new favorite! and laid out that beautiful Glimma Charm pack on our craft table. I had mentioned making a pillow, but once I starting planning out a project for them, I just couldn't get beyond wanting to combine them with some linen and make a quilt! Just for fun, for once!!



To begin, I started cutting 5" squares from both my stashed grey and white linen. The idea was to do a simple patchwork, with each block consisting of two Glimma prints and two linen. After I finished those blocks, easy, I did a little measuring. Lucky me, turns out I had just enough linen for some sashing! After the kiddos were asleep, with a clearer head than I've had in months, I thought it would be interesting to add the sashing to create points towards the center -- now that was fun! And, just before bedtime for me, I took a few quick photos. Right away I knew it wasn't done!





This was my favorite corner last night!



After one more border of linen, I still love this corner!



I tried my best to take some photos this morning, a little too early, just after the kids were off to school. I completely froze and it was a huge photo failure -- way too dark and dreary!



Yes, I much prefer the comfort and warmth of taking pictures indoors these days! Once finished, I hope this quilt will be bringing a little more of those things to someone?

For now, it looks pretty right here...



Now, I'm off to see who I'll be sending that Glimma, too! And, then it's back to work for me!
♥, Maureen

p.s. Oh, and if you happen to have any good ideas of what I could name this quilt -- please share! I am terrible at it! :)

Gone Packing : :

The fact that I have just three weeks to pack up this house sort of hit me like a ton of bricks this week. I really need to get busy, and I'm not sure why I had been in lala-land thinking I had all this time to prepare? It's all still kind of surreal, I have to tell you. Each day I think about our house, of course, and even though I believe it is going to definitely happen, I can't help but to feel a little worry about this whole process of buying a house. I decided this morning that I am going to try not to live in the uncertainty, and try to let myself truly cherish and enjoy every single minute of this preparation time, and to not be so stress-y about it all. Which I have been, it's true.

I really want to just enjoy it all. Because I am, more than anything, thrilled!



First on my list of things to pack are "the collections" these are the things that my husband knows are here, but when they are all spread out on our dinner table in this fashion, it makes me look a little hoarder-ish?? And, that's not good since my husband is a purger.

So... today I woke up feeling that my much-loved glass, pyrex, pictures, wooden boxes, sea shells, "my stuff," needs to be carefully packed away by me, before it "mysteriously disappears." Anyone want to help?! 



p.s...

- I'm planning to leave the dust here. Yikes! You can tell I much prefer sewing over cleaning these days, that's for sure!

- I'm still hoping to get that new tutorial finished to share later today, but it might not be ready.

- Oh, and here's a peek at tomorrow's Fabric Giveaway!  

♥,  Maureen

Indie Quilt Outtakes : :

Thank you all for your well wishes in my last post, and all of your kindnesses here! It all means so much to me, thank you!

I haven't gotten as much sewing in as I thought I would. We had some pretty extreme weather here, and with family visiting and lots of Summer fun, all I have is this HUGE quilt top and some bee blocks to show for my sewing efforts throughout the last two weeks.

Today, I thought it would be fun to share some of the silly outtakes I took the afternoon I finished this Indie quilt top. I do LOVE this fabric! How could I not share??

I wish you all an August full of fun, flowers, fabrics, fresh air, food, sunshine, togetherness, and love. Just like I want ours to be!!

♥,  Maureen

At the Moment : :

This has been one crazy busy week! Every free sewing second has been spent on etsy orders. I actually decided to close down my shop for a while, until I get caught up, relax a little bit, take some time to see some of my new sewing ideas through, and until I have a handle on how our days will come together now that school is just about over. Yes, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment! I have five crowns, four pillows, two magazine projects, and a guest post project to keep me busy at my machine...plus lots of thinking, planning, and traveling to do this weekend.

Before too much time passes I really want to make something with Corals! This color might be my favorite at the moment. Every where I look I am seeing it, reminding me how perfect it will be to use in a new sewing project.

In the Kitchen...



This is my very favorite color combo right now! I have a fabric bundle plan for these...



And, of course the Poppies in bloom outside my kitchen window! They're not ours, they're our neighbors, but we have a beautiful view.



I had been meaning to take a moment to snap a photo all week and finally this morning... I was too late!



How sad is that?! But perhaps just the motivation I need to power through my orders and to-do list, to create a Poppy inspired project of my very own!

I'm really looking forward to having some exciting news to share, along with some Bottled Rainbows quilt photos, eventually! The weather is beautiful, now it's a time issue!

 ♥ Maureen

Really : :

This really just happened, I promise!

After dinner this evening I exclaimed, "I'm taking a bath, then I'm going to sew, finally, really I am!"

Well, someone was definitely listening. As I just walked into my sewing room to find this...



I had to grab my camera, it was just too precious to miss! And, then this happened...



And, she's not alone...



They are waiting for me, I better go!



Sorry for my lack of sewing posts this week. With our little vacation, all the celebrating, and so much wonderful company, it just wasn't happening. I'm sure I'll make up for it next week! Really!!

Until then, I wish you happy creating and a wonderful Easter weekend to all! Be sure to stop back tomorrow or throughout the weekend to enter yet another great giveaway!!!

♥ Maureen

Studio Snapshots : :

Yesterday I didn't find as much sewing room time as I had hoped to after being gone for several days.  Honestly, the only things I kept thinking about really wanting to make back here at home, were more of those wonderful Scrappy Improv Chevron Blocks and more birds!

I did find all of about 45 minutes, with a little helper by my side, to be in my room. I walked in, immediately putting on Pandora, noticing the mess I had left everywhere, sat on the floor with my camera and I started taking photos. Want to see?

It's safe to assume that this is where Lily spent most of the time while we were away. I had left my large order of  AMH's Loulouthi Coreopsis sitting on my sewing desk, waiting there to remind me they needed to become curtains when I got home. I think she's going to be upset with me when I do start sewing with them!



I had left a small pile of Art Gallery Birds to remind me, just in case I were to forget, that I wanted to put a bird on everything last week. This week, I still do!



I'm excited to add them to these lovely new Robert Kaufman Linens and Timeless Treasures Texture prints from JAQS Studio, in the form of pillows, tea towels, and possible a new bag!



I whipped up this block on a whim a week or so ago, after getting an idea while thinking of this pillow, and I'm still not sure what it should be? Ideas appreciated! I was planning to add it to a back of a bag that I want to make in the very near future, perhaps I should just stick with that?



I snapped a quick photo of my huge stack of Urban Cowgirl that I had won a few weeks back from the Fat Quarter Shop! I still can't believe it and still don't have a plan for them just yet. I think I'll continue to admire them all bundled up so nicely the way Moda always does!



After spending a very special stretch of days with my family, it was extra sweet to finally turn my calendar to April and to find this image. My husband and I will be celebrating our TEN year wedding anniversary later this month, so it felt pretty perfect! Isn't it sweet?



When my 45 minutes of sewing room time was up, I felt as though I had accomplished a lot in a short amount of time, even though I didn't actually have anything to show for it. It was a great reminder of all the things happening and waiting to happen, but mostly that some days the best thing to do is just to sit and notice and just be.

Today, however, I feel like sewing! How about you? Have you made anything new lately? I'd love to see!

This Week : :

Did this week go by fast for you, too? Holy smokes, it's Thursday already! I spent most of my sewing time this week working on etsy orders, all new versions of items I've already shared here. So today I thought I'd share a few of my favorite photos from the week --

Stitching with Stitch!



Have you seen Betz White's new fabric line Stitch? It's GOTS certified organic and was completely inspired by her love of handwork. It's so lovely and is available in the shop of my sponsor Fat Quarter Shop. I'll be sharing more of this project, along with a Stitch giveaway, soon!



Playing with Lily!



She's either serious, silly, or sleeping. Look at those beautiful blue eyes!



Vintage finds! More Pyrex --



And, I love the color of this large enamel bowl. I found these two on Monday along with my new quilt.



Thank you all so much for the thrifted quilt help, and for having a good laugh with me on my poor husband's behalf. He thought it was hilarious and I even put together a few more just for him that I may just have to share here, too! Maybe we should all make one and have a linky party or something? A Handmade Husband (or partner) day! It would be so funny!

Be sure to stop back tomorrow for my Poetica giveaway! I wish you all a wonderful day!!