Stuck : :

I've been hanging out with my sketch stitch wips for a while now and still haven't decided on a plan for any of them just yet. I have several different ideas, but nothing solid? Above is what both the back (left) and the front (right) look like in print form, you can see how making a copy picks up both the wrinkles and the fibers of the fabric. So, I'm not sure that turning these into prints, like I had hoped, is going to work? I want to be able to see that they are stitched, rather than drawn, but I want them to look nice enough to put in a frame to hang as artwork.

So...I'm asking for your thoughts today! What would you like to see these thread sketches become -- continue on with prints? a mini quilt? keep as a focal (or make more) for a large quilt? applique for pillows, bags, etc??

I'd love your help!!  ♥ Maureen

News & A Favor : :

I have some great news and a HUGE favor to ask, but first I wanted to share a little progress I made on my most recent sketch stitching project.

I started adding color with a little of my Urban Cowgirl winnings for the collar and dress-band, and some of a Bryant Park print for the rest of her dress. I had planned to make this a mini for my girl, but now I'm dreaming of making a large quilt combining these special sketch-y blocks with patchwork. I do have a plan!



And now on to the BIG news and favor! I'm hoping that you all might take a second to vote for this years Handmade Olympics happening over at the rikrak studio blog. I was nominated by a couple of my regular followers here and now I've been chosen as a finalist!! I'm in event 7 : :  

Favorite Blog with a Hand-making Focus!

The judge for this event was Dana from Made, who won the gold medal last year, and had to narrow all the nominations down to the top 10 shortlist. I am just thrilled to be listed amongst these other blogs!

Again today, I thank you all for supporting my blog the way you do! I said it in my Handmade Giveaway post and I want to mention it again -- It's you all who keep me motivated to keep on creating and who are making so many of my crafty dreams come true! So many blessing keep emerging for this little blog, especially this week, and I'll have some very exciting news to share in the weeks ahead! I Thank You for visiting, nominating, sharing, and for the sweet, encouraging words you leave me here each day!

Thank you in advance for voting (you can click here to do so)! I wish you all a beautiful day!!

♥ Maureen

My Favorite Girl : :

I'm not sure how much sewing I'll actually get done today. If I'm not sewing, I might as well be dreaming about a fun project for when the time comes, right? It sure makes the waiting much easier to handle.

So, I'm writing down the ingredients for that next perfect sewing session.

-- Plenty of my favorite fabrics, good music, the beginnings of an exciting new sketch stitch mini quilt, and of course - my favorite girl! I know she's just as excited about this new project, as I am!

 How about you? What sewing projects are you just beginning or looking forward to starting these days?

Color : :

Well...I couldn't wait after all! Once I got my "work" done this afternoon, I went right on to adding the COLOR!!

Prepare yourself for picture overload!











I think ??? It's finished! Well...for now anyways!

I hope everyone had a great day!

Goodnight, friends!! ♥ Maureen

Sketch Stitching -- Part Two : :

Last night once the kids went to bed I decided to try another machine sketch stitching idea. The last one was for my son, who has it taped up on his bedroom wall with his other special posters and drawings. Mothers, you can imagine just how special that made me feel!! For this one, I have a very specific plan that is going to involve a few different stages. Last night I stitched away and finished stage one -- Black & White. I tried to remember to take photos as I went, so I could better share how this part came together. Want to see?







First, please forgive my dark photos! Hopefully, you can see that the first thing I do is stitch in a basic outline, next her face, and then add the details. The first photo shows me stitching on the felt side, which is what I use as my stabilizer. I've never done any machine embroidery, although my machine is capable. From playing around with this type of free motion sewing, I know it's important to have a stabilizer to support the fabric your stitching on during all that multi-directional machine stitching, to hold the fabric as flat and inflexibly as possible. Since I am just palying around right now, and these pieces won't be something I need to wash, the felt works just fine for me. I certainly have enough of it! If this is something I decide to keep doing, I definitely plan to pick up real stabilizers to have on hand that will either tear, cut, wash, or heat away. Do any of you have a recomendation?

I'm really excited for stage two -- Color! But I have many crown orders to get back to this morning! Happy Wednesday, freinds!!

Improv Kite Mini Quilt : :

I haven't seen much sewing time this weekend, besides more birthday crown making, but I did finished my newest, little mini quilt. It's made up from the scraps left over from my Fly A Kite Pillows and what I had left over from that gorgeous Fly A Kite fabric stack. All that's left now are a few scraps and these three...



I kept with the Kite theme again for this project. I am noticing a trend here with some of my projects -- the quilt I made for my sister, my last mini, and on our new aprons. Several years ago, I went through a dream analysis phase after having the same recurring dream for a few months. I was in a field of calla lilies, wearing white, flying a kite. The wind kept changing from calm to strong and I kept holding on. Of course, I had to learn all about it!



I learned that to dream of flying can symbolize a desire to be free from problems and enjoy a more carefree and adventurous lifestyle. The kite symbolizes the same connotations, a desire to be free in your life, except in a more controlled way. Just as a kite is tethered by a string, you fly, but can never let go completely.



Since my sharing post a few weeks back, I've gone through some major ups and downs. I've wanted to share an update here, but decided to wait until I have it all figured out. I've been feeling like that kite for a while now, flying against the wind, getting further away as the wind gets stronger. Well, a week from today I'm headed to Hershey Medical Center here in Pa. Where I'm hoping to finally get all the answers. So many of you have been sending me sweet messages and prayers, I appreciate it all so much. Thank you! I am feeling much better this week, and you may have noticed -- I'm staying extra busy and very motivated to keep on creating! Many thanks to all of you!

Today, I'm wishing you all a wonderful, healthy, and productive start to your own week!! ♥ Maureen

An Improv Valentine Mini Quilt : :

Hooray, I finished up my mini quilt just in time for Valentine's day!



I added some black and white binding as planned, although I did mess this part up to tell the truth. I must have been thinking of bunting making while I was cutting, piecing, and pressing my binding because when I finished I had made a double folded role of binding? The type I'd use for bunting making, not quilt binding?? I decided just to work with it and I think it turned out just fine.



I hand stitched it on using some of my very favorite red & white baker's twine. I think it adds a sweet little touch and matches the baker's twine pom pom Heart Felt Garland I made for our fireplace last year.



My favorite part of this mini is definitely the pieced heart! Of course, I'll never get tired of seeing red & aqua together.



The more I look at the reverse side of my mini, the more I like this side, too! It's a little dark, but I'm happy with the way it looks like a simple sketch.



This was a fun project for sure! A nice new little Valentine's Day decoration, but not too themed that I'll need to put it away right away. I think decorating with sweet, red hearts and "love" themed projects is perfectly acceptable all year round, don't you agree? I do still have plans to make this pieced heart pillow by Anna very soon!

Making these improv blocks and mini quilts is some of the most fun I have ever had sewing and making, ever!!



Yes, I quite like these mini quilts! I actually started a new one yesterday that I can't wait to share later in the week!

Happy Monday, friends!

Improv Blocks -- I Love You : :

I finished up two more scrappy patchwork blocks yesterday by early afternoon. I thought I was done sewing for the day and had planned to share them today. I made some tea, and then I had an idea that I had to try right away! With my tea in hand, I headed back up to my room, I did a little sketch, and then I started piecing.



I know that my other scrappy patchwork blocks are considered improvisational quilting, but this felt SO much different. It was the most fun I have ever had sewing! I couldn't believe it was coming together just how I had hoped. And, it looked good? And YES!, I was doing it all on purpose! LOL



If I wasn't working from just my scraps, it would have been much easier, that's for sure. Finding enough white-ish colored scraps for piecing around my girl was a challenge. I used every last one! Good news, I still have a few more Bottled Rainbow Quilt Blocks to make, so I should have a few more soon.



My new (new) plan is to have this block be the bottom left corner of my Scraps Quilt. So, the quilt corner she's holding becomes the quilt itself?



Now I am wondering if I should just leave this as a mini scraps quilt and keep my other all scrappy patchwork? I am quilting as you go, so it's already quilted. I would just have to figure out how to finish off the back if I were to leave this a mini? And, I am seriously in love with improv quilting now, so this certainly won't be the last time I make something like this. What do you think? What would you do?



I wish I had better pictures to share today, but it's a dark and rainy day here, so these are all I have. I look forward to hearing your thoughts! I really appreciate all the comments on my scrappy progress post from yesterday! You guys are the best!!

p.s. I have a giveaway (here's a peek) starting tomorrow, along with a few others throughout the next couple of weeks in celebration of my two year blog-iversay on January 30th!!! Be sure to stop by for a chance at some gorgeous bundles of fabric!!

Take care, friends! ♥ Maureen

a wip and a winner : :

To those who just found me this weekend and from Julie's blog, The Intrepid Thread, welcome, welcome! 

While finishing up a stack of Birthday Crown orders late last night I was dreaming up the idea for my next quilt. It's a continuation of the wip I shared a while back, with lots of color, appliques, and free motion quilting. I'm excited to see it all come together! Here's a little peek.



What are you working on this week? I'd love to see! Feel free to leave a link for us to visit in the comments.

And now... we have a WINNER! 

First, I want to say a big THANK YOU to The Intrepid Thread for offering such a sweet giveaway!!! If you've fallen in love with these fabrics, you can find all the brand new Little Apple colors and prints, in 1/2 yd and full yd cuts, as well as a large variety of bundles in The Intrepid Thread's fabric shop right now!



Thank You to all of you who entered, I'm so glad you all liked our Giveaway! I know that not winning is not much fun at all -- my apologies for that! So, good news -- I'll be hosting a new giveaway here again this Friday and as often as I can, hopefully each Friday! Be sure stop back. I think it's such a wonderful way to end each week, I hope you think so too!

So without further ado, from 893 entries Mr. Random says our lucky winner is comment #57, pasqueflower!!! I hope you enjoy your winnings, I can't wait to see what you make! Both The Intrepid Thread and I will be in touch!

Thanks again and Happy Monday!!!

A Big Winner and A Little Something : :

First, here's a little peek at something new I started this week. Fun, fun!

I ♥ applique and free motion quilting!!! Have any of you tried it?

And now...We have our winner! 

I want to say a big THANK YOU to Accuquilt for offering such an amazing prize!!! From 514 entries Mr. Random says our lucky winner is comment # 39, Hilachas!!! I hope you enjoy your GO! Baby Fabric Cutter and 3 Free Dies! Both Accuquilt and I will be in touch!

Thanks again everyone!!!

Another Giveaway!!!

Yes, it's Sew Mama Sew!'s May Giveaway Day!!! Since the Giveaway I ran over this past weekend was all a generous gift from my sponsor The Fabric Farm and an all around huge success (thank you!) -- I decided to give something handmade away myself! Why a pillow, of course!

The Prize!
This Giveaway is open to anyone and includes a 12x16 pillow cover handmade by moi with lots of my favorite polka-dots, a bit of Anna Maria Horner fabrics, some cotton linen, flower appliques, and a little free motion quilting. A pillow insert is included as well!

I even used a little of my precious Good Folks fabrics!

I chose an envelope style closure for the back with this pretty coral pink polka dot fabric. Choosing this color was very much inspired by the gorgeous tree blooming in our yard.

Isn't the color amazing!


Enter to Win!
To enter, simply add your comment to this post. For a second entry, let me know that you follow my blog by making a second comment to record that entry. If you're a "no reply" commenter, please remember to include your email address in your comment so that I can contact you should you win! Enter now through 10 o'clock pm (EST) Wednesday, May 25. I will announce the winner this Thursday morning here on the blog.

Thank you all and a big thank to Sew Mama Sew for hosting such an awesome Giveaway event!!!

* Just in case you missed it -- the winner of the Innocent Crush Giveaway was announced right here *

Sketch Stitch Tree Pillow : :

Yes, today I have yet another pillow to show you! My second Sketch Stitch Tree Pillow -- you can see the first one here, if you'd like. This one is a little funkier, a bit bigger, and much more colorful. Are you calling me the pillow lady yet? B'cuz I've been wondering.

The thing about me making so many pillows is simply this -- it's how I learn. I have only been sewing for 1 year now, and just like I found making my dollhouses and dolls my niche with knitting, I'm trying to find that with my sewing as well. I've learned that quilting isn't it. Well, not yet anyways. I'm thinking these "sketch stitch" pillows I am making now, might just be "it."

It's fun for me. I get the same feeling I used to get when I would draw something, a good feeling. And, the possibilities are endless. Anything I can draw, simplified, can become the applique. I will admit I have the habit of overworking the things I've made in every medium, be it drawings, paintings, knitting, felting, and sewing. Taking my ideas too far has been a criticism I've had of my own work for as long as I can remember. With this, I am allowing the length of the bobbin thread to tell me when to stop. I like to try to keep as much of a single continuous stitch as possible, always staying aware of that dwindling line of thread.   

Is there anything better than red and white polka-dot fabric? Really, I just love it!

This little check fabric is also becoming a favorite of mine. It's actually a holiday print by Michael Miller, but it's so very versatile. I'm patting myself on the back for buying up three yards after Christmas when it was marked down to a great sale price. I just found a little here, but that's it!
This is also the first time I framed an applique on felt with quilting cotton fabric. I wasn't sure if the thickness of the felt would keep it from laying properly. It stitched up, ironed up, and lays like a dream! I will definitely be doing this often!

I still have two more pillows to share from last weeks sewing adventures. But for now I am off to the sewing room to make more birthday crowns with the balcony door and window open!

Hope you have a lovely day!   ~   Maureen