Nordika Sewing : :

In these busy Summer days, when there is so much going on, there's just so little time for sewing. Which is perfectly fine most days since instead I'm at the pool, bike riding, and soaking up these sunny Summer days with my most favorite people. But, as you know I do love sewing, and I'm really starting to miss those long sewing sessions. When I do find some time, because of all my orders and other projects due, I feel as if there's less and less production and more just me running around in circles. There are alot of things piling up around here! So, you might think the last thing I need is another project, but nope! it was actually the answer -- some good, fun, selfish sewing is just what I'm in need of!!



On Friday a sweet bundle of Nordika arrived from my friends at Art Gallery Fabrics! It's the brand new collection by the wonderfully, talented Jeni Baker, available in stores next month. I'm so completely in love with this entire collection. As is my girl, who begged for these fabrics to become a new quilt for her!!



I knew right away that I wanted to do something separating the darker volumes from the light.



As well as something scrappy and zig-zaggy, beginning with my very favorite print first!







The energy and excitement that comes with starting something new, with beautiful fabrics, and all sorts of fun possibilities is just what I desperately needed to regain some focus. This project will be the treat that's waiting for me to work on here and there after I finish up all those "must do's!"



So, how about you? Are you struggling to find Summer sewing time, too? I'm wondering how many of you, like me, thrive on the excitement that comes from stashing a new gorgeous stack of fabric or from starting something new?  

Wishing you a little fun, Summer sewing this week, too!  ♥ Maureen

Something New : :

Besides lots of family fun throughout the long weekend, I did some serious shuffling around in my sewing room, to make a better space for the kiddos who will be joining me in here so much more once this school year wraps up later this week. I did some very rewarding thrifting, which I can't wait to share this week! And just before the weekend started, I started something new!



This quilt, that I have so enjoyed making, although a little longish in the making - I know, will be headed to it's new home at some point this Summer. I'm excited to see it go, but of course will miss it!

In preparation for it's absence and because I've been holding onto several new, but vague ideas for these stitched sketches for a while now, I decided to begin a new one, finally! I shared a few quick pics on Instagram and my facbook as it was starting to come together, and the response I received was pretty wonderful, thank you for that. The encouragement really made me think that I should both be making more time for these types of projects and that I should put some real effort into it.

With this type of work I always just sort of begin, no sketching, no solid plan, but I think next time I'm going to lay it all out and see how that works for me.

I do know where this one is headed now and I'm excited! For my last one, because of who will be receiving it, I worked with almost all Anna Maria Horner fabrics. But this time I hope to use all Art Gallery Fabrics and, of course, I'll be sure to share how it all comes together!!



How about you, did you start anything new?  ♥,  Maureen

Spring Things : :

 






This morning I had Birthday Crown orders to finish up and an appointment, and to tell the truth I am completely out of my regular old routine. I need to figure out a new one now that the puppy is here and I'm getting up several times during the night. After just one week, I went from someone who stays up to on average 1am, to someone who can't keep their eyes open after 10pm! After sharing my wip evaluation post and reading all your comments and encouragement, I've deciding to let the pressure I was feeling go, to enjoy everything including this new pace, which just so happens to be a slow pace right now. Besides, there really is no point in rushing quickly into a new routine anyways. The kids finish up school in a little over a week, and then we'll all find a new groove together!

I can't believe how quickly May is going by! How about you? I love Spring and really wish it was a longer season here. I'm trying to freshen up the living room a little before Summer. I brought in some Forsythia for the mantel, I love the bright yellow! But when the temperature dropped and I was completely exhausted early last week, my living room sewing plans were delayed when I decided to make myself some gluten free cookies, recipe here, for breakfast. I'm sharing because they really were the best GF cookies I've made and everyone loved them! Now I'm planning to make an ottoman slipcover for Lily's new favorite corner of the living room. Penelope doesn't love the hardwood, she just slips all over the place, so Lily has taken retreat there. I picked out this gorgeous Portfolio Capparis print in Sunshine. I love it so much!! Once I finish my little home decor diy project, I plan to host a special giveaway sponsored by OFS right here!

Penelope is doing great! We had just a couple accidents last week, which were contained to her kennel, which kind of threw us, especially since she made them shortly after coming in from outside?  I keep referring to the comments you all left for us in my post introducing Penny for guidance! You guys really are the best!!

This week I'm having a sale in my etsy for 20% off any crown or felt purchase. Just use coupon code Spring20 at checkout.

Thank you so much for stopping by today! And a BIG thanks in advance to those of you who stop by my shop this week!  ♥,  Maureen

A WIP Evaluation : :

How many project wips (works in progress) do you all have right now?

This week I got the idea to make a quick mosaic of all the unfinished projects I have laying around! I will be the first to admit that I can get really off track. I realized long ago that I will never be the type to have just one or two projects going at a time and I decided I would never hesitate to begin something new, just because I already have several things yet to finish. Of course this adds a certain amount of unnecessary stress to my life, especially when they really start piling up! Like now!



I'm hoping that by sharing all that's unfinished here today, some of which I need your help with, and by reading your own wip problems or solutions, if you're kind enough to share, I can get back on track!

Here it goes,

The most popular project wip I have that gets asked about if or when it will be finished, is this quilt top. It is my favorite, it's very special to me, and has already been so long in the making! Well, it's been spray basted to it's quilt back, I began adding my machine quilting stitches, and something went wonky with my bobbin and I have to rip that all out!! So, it got shelved only out of frustration.



My Indie quilt is the project wip I am most eager to see finished! I really want to have it professionally long arm quilted as soon as possible -- which is where you come in! Can you recommend a service? Or maybe you provide one? I have reached out to four quilters now and for some reason I've never heard back from any of them or their schedulers? Since I live in such a small town, I don't have a LQS who offers this service, and since I have this sewing blog I was hoping and thought it would be fun to find someone here in the states who blogs their quilting!



Small projects -- I have a few!

Those bags I recently started for the kids? I was off to such a good start, but my measurements were off on the first one I finished. Haila still loves it, but the boys informed me that theirs could not look anything like hers or it would be too "girly." Back to the bag drawing board and time to turn this patchwork into something else!



This pillow top is pretty close to being finished. It's for my best friend who will be happy to receive it whenever. She knows I love her!



These pretties are waiting to become more of these pillows, that might be my most favorites ever!



This pieced house project that I started quite a while ago. I'm not going to lie -- I have no idea what I'm doing with this? I was thinking floor pillow, but now I'm thinking this could grow into something even bigger!



Completely planned out projects -- I have several!

All of which are quilts in the making. No need to rush any of these, I'm just excited about them!





More unfinished quilts -- My Carnaby QAYG and my Linen & Glimma Quilt Top! The big problem I have with finishing quilts is the batting. It gets so expensive, I never seem to have it on hand, and the closest seller of the kind I use is 45 minutes away. I almost bought a role to have here when I came across a great deal, but I didn't jump on it, and now I'm really regretting it!





Finally, my Tsuru Quilt Top. I just sent this off to Cloud9 for Quilt Market, so I have some time before it's even possible to see this finished!



Of course, I did start something new yesterday, as well. I know, but I couldn't help it! My brother and his wife are expecting and an Alphabet Quilt has been requested!! This one is going to be a tutorial, and I'm super excited!!

So, do you have a wip problem of your own? Secretly I'm hoping I'm not alone in this! Or maybe you have a successful tip on how to manage staying on track and seeing things finished before beginning something new? Please share!!

And, if there's any particular wip of mine that you would really love to see finished, pretty please let me know! That's just the motivation I could use!!  ♥,  Maureen
  
p.s. Today, as part of "Celebrate Mom" week on Happy Quilting, I'm guest posting with some photos of my family's shared creative space, along with some of our story, and a wonderful Fabric Giveaway!! 

Getting There : :

Yesterday, the scene at our dining table looked exactly as it at the beginning of last week-- Birthday Crowns! And, lots of them!! I didn't take the time to photograph them this time, and I didn't get anything else sewn up over the weekend with my husband away. So, rather than sharing another post on my plans for the week, I took the day to catch up on some computer work, do more crown making, including adding some of the newest ones to my etsy, and finally typed up my newest Design Team project for Riley Blake, using some of these wonderful RBD basics -- Small Cotton Dots!



Here's a little peek at tomorrow's new tutorial! I'm working on my boys bedroom now, which is going to be much more challenging than my girl's room. The boys are older and they have very specific ideas of what they each want. Which is wonderful! It's just going to take some time to bring it all together.



My husband helped me spray baste my QAYG quilt yesterday, as well. It was, just as you all said, so easy!! I was concerned about the chemicals, but it was totally fine, and now I'm excited to finish quilting it this week!!



After that, my selfish sewing goal is to dive into my bundle of Tsuru! I pulled out several, coordinating Pure Element solids from my stash and I'm planning out the design. I adore this collection so, SO much and really want to make sure I do them a justice!



This is my very favorite print in the collection, Blossom Festival -- now hanging on what will eventually become my Inspiration Wall!



Isn't it pretty?! I just love a good navy and this sweet floral pattern!



Tomorrow morning I have a couple of friends coming over to sew -- I can't wait!! We only have about two hours to sew together, so we're making some quick and easy pillowcases.

I'm really hoping to start some type of sewing club here in my little town. I've been spending a lot of time thinking about this lately, and could really use some feedback from all you wonderful sewing friends!

Questions!!

Do you belong to a club or guild? 
How often do you meet and for how long? 
Is it more of a show and tell, do you choose a certain project for everyone to create, or both?
What do, or would, you enjoy most about a sewing club?

I'm just in the planning stage now. Personally and honestly, I don't really want to teach during the club. I would really like to sew at it. I did put out a little post on my personal facebook and received a pretty exciting response, from mostly ladies with no sewing knowledge -- to people who could hopefully teach me a few things!

Thank you for all the help, in advance and always! I'm definitely not the best at planning/being organized, but I'm ready to at least give it a shot!  ♥, Maureen

Today's Plan : :

Back before we moved into our home, I shared a little post with some ideas we had for our daughter's room. Since then, with the help of Santa, some of the items on her wishlist have been crossed off, others just wouldn't work, and some things are just waiting to be made -- yay for me!



The Canopy Play Home has ended up being the biggest hit! Along with a high stack of pretty floor cushions. It is rather large and pretty dreamy with the addition of some twinkling lights, and she has even slept in it twice now!



The Enchanted Forest Mural totally wouldn't work, the dimensions were all wrong for the wall we had in mind. That's the thing about making plans for a home you don't own or live in yet -- measuring before planning is key! So, that was a bit of a bummer, but leaves an opportunity for some fun sewing!

First on my list -- a new curtain!



Her room is pretty little in size and is so super girly, with a bit of a Princess & the Pea theme happening, just like her recent party.



There's lots of color, mostly brights, but really anything goes!



For the curtains I would personally love to add in some applique and maybe some scalloping, similar to the that on this sham and her canopy?

We looked through my stash last night for some fabrics and she chose this LillyBelle print, which would work perfectly. So, I'm planning to use it on one side of the curtain, but want to have some fun, improv sewing time while stitching up the other!



I think our own Lily agrees, just as long as I get a move on it! This happens to be her most favorite room, as well, and I'm pretty sure that all the light coming through this curtain-less window is a problem for her.



Plus, I need to get busy crossing some much needed things off of my list before I'm busy making my crowns full-time! The orders have been really coming in this week and I wasn't expecting it at all.  My felt won't be here for a few days yet, yikes!



I'll be back soon with a finished curtain to share and some handmade holiday gifts that I've been meaning to share, as well! Until then -- Happy Sewing! ♥, Maureen

Our Living Room : :

I have had such a busy couple of sewing days!! I had originally planned to share some of my recent makings this morning, but decided to stick with the house tour I started this week and share some of the living room pics I took, pre-Christmas decorating, before the day ends! The enthusiasm our family, friends, and you all have for our little family right now is so amazing and moving! To have so many to share our excitement with, makes this home all the more special! THANK YOU.

This Living Room is the room I am most excited to make things for right now. For the first time ever I am trying to stay within a color scheme (I LOVE color, ALL of them -- you know that!), but I am trying to keep things to a minimum. I also want to keep it kind of nature inspired, with the calm earthy vibe that Kevin loves. Already, this is his most favorite room and has so many of our favorite things in it.























With pillows, a throw quilt, an ottoman on my things to make list, lots of artwork and a cozy wool rug on my wishlist, and several other ideas floating around like a photo wall and cool light fixture ideas -- I'm glad I have these couple of months with holiday decorations everywhere to plan and hopefully make!

So, this is our before and I can't wait to share all the after photos as it all comes together!! And, thanks again for being so sweet and encouraging!! This is so much fun! ♥,  Maureen