Sketchbook Quilt Top : :

First, I want to say a huge thank you for all the sweet comments you left me here and on my facebook yesterday! It meant so much to me!

You may remember this little wip from my to-do list a couple of weeks ago. I had just received this Kona Grey that day and had every intention of checking this quilt top off my list first. I can't believe that it wasn't until yesterday that I finally got to it!



I waited patiently for the sun to shine for some good picture taking, but it just never happened. Around 5 pm Kevin held the quilt for me so I could snap a few photos to share today. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had anything and I have really enjoyed this project run I've been having here these last couple of weeks (or so), so that just wouldn't do! Forgive me, the pictures are quite dark.



Here are the other appliques that I never got around to sharing separately. They each have a special meaning.







My younger sister Catherine who lives in Hawaii (who first told me about blogs and helped me start this one :) is whom this quilt is designed for, as a thank you. I wanted it to be patchwork and scrappy with appliques. And silly and wonky and fun. I know it's busy and maybe even a little crazy, but that was all part of the plan. The idea is for it to be one big block, like a sketchbook page full of drawings, doodles, and scribbles. I am really hoping once it is quilted it will turn out how I imagine it will. Right now, I'm not too sure?



So there you have it! I don't care for this last photo much, this is definitely something that looks much better up close. Good thing it's quilt, right?!

To be completely honest, quilting truly just terrifies me. This is my second finished quilt top and I can't seem to get over second guessing everything I do and that feeling that I am just not good at this. How about you? Is there a sewing or crafting skill that you struggle with?

p.s. There's a new fabric giveaway (here's a peek) happening tomorrow, please do stop back! 
And, for those plugging away on their Bottled Rainbows Quilt, like me, I'll have three new blocks finished to share on Monday!!! I know it's been a while. :)

Oh, and don't forget to vote!

I forget to mention in my last post that the voting is now open for the September Celebrate Color entries! My little Fall Fox Pillow is in the running for the Home Decor category, hooray!

You don't have to vote for me, but you do have to vote!!! : ) 

Go ahead...what are you waiting for!

~ Maureen ~

Feeling Like Fall : :

I have an order for six pillow covers, large pillow covers! Each one will measure 24" x 24" finished. The sofa's these will decorate are a chocolate brown. The colors and main fabrics have been chosen. Doesn't it look like Fall!?


I love this combination of Loulouthi fabrics with the Innocent Crush print and the Kona solids. I'll be using the different colorways of Loulouthi in all six pillows, filling in with other fabrics from my stash. A few of the pillows will be centered around the beautiful design of the Summer Totem Print (once I can get my hands on more in Tart), as well as all three colors of the Loulouthi Clippings Print. How gorgeous are the butterflies and flowers in these prints!?


In-between the overload of Birthday Crown and other pillow orders coming my way lately, I found a bit of time this weekend to knock one out! I used my Quilted Stripes Pillow Tutorial from Friday for the pattern, adjusting the size of my cuts to accommodate the size of these covers.


These would make great floor pillows!


This avocado-mossy green might just be my new favorite color! I already began work on my Bottled Rainbows Block in this color. I'm hoping to have that to share later this week!


How about you? What are you working on this week?

Innocent Crush Giveaway Winner!!!

Well, I just couldn't wait until morning -- we have a winner! First I want to say 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 -- It's May Giveaway Day and I am having yet another Giveaway starting today! And, if you're still dreaming of that gorgeous stack of Innocent Crush fabrics, The Fabric Farm has it right here waiting for you!

So, without further ado Mr. Random says our lucky winner is comment # 202 , Rebecca!!! I hope you enjoy your winnings, I can't wait to see what you make! Both The Fabric Farm and I will be in touch!

Everyone had such great ideas for how they would use this fabric -- Here are just a few projects I have made with Innocent Crush!

My Innocent Crush Patchwork Desk Mat : :


My little girl apron, Innocent Crush in the ruffle : :


An Innocent Crush Simple Patchwork Pillow : :

Thanks again everyone!!! Be sure to enter my Pillow Giveaway here!

Pillow Talk : :

Throughout this past week a few little pillows were made that I thought I would share before I get too ahead of myself with other wips in the works. This one, made from Innocent Crush, is the scraps leftover from my patchwork desk mat. This was the first project that I have ever made that turned into zero waste right away -- Love that! I am not sure how it happened, but it worked out beautifully!

This one couldn't have been easier! Made of just a solid Joel Dewberry print on the front and an envelope style back in a coordinating solid. I thought that if I cut this fabric into smaller pieces for something else it might lose the wonderful pattern of those large dogwood blossoms. I decided to leave it alone and keep it simple. This pillow and the above are for my sister in Hawaii. (Love you Catherine!)

This little pillow I knew I had to share, since so many of you seemed to like our Sewing Buttons 101 project from earlier in the week. Isn't it sweet? It is the result of Haila's button tree, that just happens to be the right size for her puppy, that she named "pupperly?" I will be the first to say that all of my children are very creative, when it comes to naming stuffed animals....ahhh, not so much. : )

And finally, the finalists for February's Blogger Pillow Party were announced yesterday and I made the cut again this month with my purple stitches pillow! Hooray!!!

photo via Stitched In Color

All of these pillows have inspired me so much, so I bet you can guess what I'm making a few more of this weekend. I hope some of our pillows might inspire you, too!
Thanks for visiting! ~ Maureen

Patchwork Desk Mat : :

I have this old wood desk that I just love. I recently gave it new knobs and have been looking at all my favorite shopping sites in hopes of giving it what I'm calling a desk mat, or a desk pad or a blotter? I really wanted something in a fun and fresh print, like these office organizers and I haven't had any luck, at all! I started thinking and realized that all I really wanted was just a large place-mat, so...I got to work.

I measured -- My desk measure 22x42, but has rounded edges so I knew I wanted it to be just a little bit smaller than that.

I picked out the fabrics -- Anna Maria Horner's Innocent Crush. I've had these since October! I used a little on these aprons, but have been waiting for just the right project.

To make the patchwork design, I sketched out a little plan... (I'm keeping it old school here, I  have no clue how to do the fancy computer image breakdown just yet : )

My first cut into these fabrics was a little rough, it's that beautiful, I just didn't want to ruin it! But soon scraps were flying and Haila was making new hair accessories...

I sewed...we ironed -- I promise you hers does not get hot, although it does spray water which is pretty neat...

And soon we were finished! Here is the top...

And the reverse side is a light linen with a little patchwork...

We like it and I think Lily likes it, too...