Under Contract

For a House!

John and I have signed on the dotted line and are under contract to buy a new-to-us house in Lincoln!



So many good things about it: size, location, condition. Specifically, it's almost 3,000 square feet, we gain a huge garage. It's in the Sheridan Elementary school district, soclose to the bike trail, and it's still in central Lincoln (which we *love*). It's a 1947 ranch with additions that include attaching the garage, a room above the garage (can you say sewing space?!), and an updated kitchen/great room.

We'll be doing some minor updating and a few DIY projects, but it's pretty much move-in ready. Closing is in April. I'm so excited!!

k

Found: My Crafting Mojo!!

It's been lost for a while. Since October some time....loads of reasons why, but they don't matter anymore. It seems I've found it again and that's what's important!

I'll be busy making some toddler aprons tomorrow and Monday. Will be delivering some to a bakery in Fremont (Alotta Brownies, you should check it out!). Owned by a friend of mine from High School. So about five years ago now. ;-)

Also need to re-stock at the Pleasantview Gallery in the Haymarket and B Inspired in Central City. I'm so excited that the aprons are such a hit! Well, it shouldn't be too surprising. They are super cute! I use a much modified version of the Montessori By Hand apron. She has tons of great patterns available on her website. I'm the proud owner of several of them! I hear great things about her book, too...it's been added to my Amazon wishlist...

In other crafty news: I have finally decided on a pattern for Leith's 4th birthday quilt!! This is very exciting because I knew sort of what I wanted, but somehow nothing was really clicking. I've been hoarding scads of Japanese novelty-ish fabrics, especially fairy tales, and Heather Ross (esp. Munki Munki) fabrics, just to make this quilt.

Inspiration struck yesterday. I was flipping through my current issue (Feb 2010) of Quilter's World and there it was. The Diamond Candy quilt! Pretty sure it's a version of the Irish Chain (maybe Triple?). I've modified the magazine's pattern a bit, and figured out the "easiest" way to assemble the block. Now I'm in the process of auditioning fabrics. Whooo hoooo!

I'll update the blog as I go -- a sort of quilt-along if you will! Hopefully that will keep me on track because I need 48 blocks and each has 13+ pieces...plus a small border that may have additional pieces. Soooo 48 times 13 is (mmmm, 24, carry the two, 12, 14, one, hmmm) 648 pieces. At least.

Since creating the diamonds takes an additional piece for many of the blocks, there will be many more than that, depending on whether I want diamonds only in the middle bit or also on disappearing on the edges....so let's give a conservative 730 pieces. yowza. And since I want very few duplicates (other than the 'base' pieces), that's a whole lotta cutting and sewing.

My hope is that it'll be a "bed time" quilt, where we can wander the paths and make up stories about the characters we meet on the pieces of the blocks.

Corny? A bit. Totally me? Absolutely.

k

So Long 2009....Hellloooooo 2010!

I can remember a time when New Year's Eve meant all the "usual" things: parties, drinking, kissing at midnight....

This year, not so much! It's been a long few weeks, and I'm still recovering from having the flu (right before Christmas! I lost so many shopping days. grrrrr. Not that I'm still bitter.)

Which means that last night (NYE) while getting Leith to sleep, I also fell asleep. My sweet husband tried to tempt me with Christmas cake and Champagne, but I was having none of it. Couldn't be bothered to get up. He also came in at midnight to give me a kiss, and says that we had a little chat, but I don't remember it at. all. Poor honey. He deserves so much better than that!

Honestly, the past six months have been a little trying. Cooper was born prematurely. In and out of hospital for *weeks* -- poor guy. He's doing so well now, though. Then GiGi died. Not really unexpectedly, but still very sad. December was all about stomach bugs, snow days and flu. Suddenly, it's the new year.

Lots of possibility for good things this coming year. We're planning a vacation in Scotland (with visits to Wales and Ireland!). I've gotten several requests for more aprons/sewing. Leith continues to amaze us every day. That girl is smart as a whip and too clever by far. She'll be four in a few weeks and I am constantly wondering where has the time gone? Where's my *baby*? lol

Here's hoping that 2010 is a good year for all of us.

k

Grocery Bags for Peace

Well, sort of...Sew, Mama, Sew has had several "Quilting for Peace" blog posts, and now they're challenging you to make re-useable grocery bags. Make at least five and you're eligible for one of their prizes!



I've made so many of these "uglytotes" -- using upholstery samples! They're quick and easy. Maybe 15 minutes, including cutting...pockets add a couple more minutes, but not much!

Grocery bags are super easy to make, and there are dozens of styles. Loads of free tutes, as well, so you don't even have to buy a pattern! Grocery bags are a great way to improve your speed and skills, and try out new techniques.

Whether you make one or fifty, whether or not you enter Sew, Mama Sew's giveaway, you'll be helping keep plastic bags out of the landfill. Plus you'll be having fun!

k

Autumn Quilt Swap

Sure, it's just a few days until Winter, but I wanted to post the Autumn Quilt I made for a Sewing Mamas swap. It was a little late, but not this late. Just late posting it here!


It's called "Turning Over a New Leaf" -- because of the fabrics, but also because the binding is made with the back side of the leaf fabric. I'd wanted something that complimented, and didn't just blend into, the backing.




The backing fabric inspired the zig zag design of the front.

The quilting is simple: just four lines inside each zig-zag, using a varigated thread called "Autumn Leaves" (or something like that). It's a doll-size quilt, about 18" x 20" or so.

k

Crafting on the Radio

Want to hear a fun radio interview? Check it out!

Christy, Korinne and I recently got together and chatted with Jerry Johnson of NETradio. He was interested in how etsy brings together crafters, and of course we were happy to talk at length! We even encouraged him to put his music in an etsy shop!

I do believe that hand crafting will be more and more popular as people take stock and realize that mass produced doesn't mean "better" -- it just means "not unique"

My hope is that we'll become less "big box" thinkers and more of a "unique is beautiful" society.

k

Christmas Tote

It's been an exhausting week. My tyke's been "sick" -- not terribly, just enough to have her stay home from Montessori. Which means that crafting time is just not there. Don't get me wrong, we do crafy/creative things, but I don't have the ability to do my cutting/sewing/ironing while she's underfoot.

Last night, in spite of the exhaustion, I had an idea for this tote bag. Granted, it's probably not terribly original; what is truly original anymore? But I digress. It was too late to start it last night, because I know better than to try cutting/sewing/ironing while it's late and I'm exhausted. So it had to wait.



But not for long! My sweet husband put off his Saturday office time just so I could craft! I managed to draft, cut and sew up this tote within a couple of hours.

I totally love this bag! The applique. The size (huge!). The *look*. Even that crazily-shedding silky "fun" fur didn't make me curse (much)! It's made with bright red velvet and is fully lined with a Santa "vintage postcard" fabric.



What a blast! I'm soooo looking forward to doing some Christmas shopping now!

I'm thinking about doing a tutorial for it. Would you be interested?

k