::Multitasking::

1. Hexed In, 2. Classic Car Pillow, 3. { supplies }, 4. ready to quilt, 5. Auditions..., 6. Full view of DQS7 quilt, 7. DSQ 8 fabric downselection, 8. Pillow Talk Swap 2, 9. pillows for Shelly, 10. Couch pillows!, 11. Pinwheel Quilt, 12. pincushion, 13. hexagon pillow 2, 14. HEXAGON PATCHWORK CHARM, 15. Placemats, 16. house pillow

 

It's here.... Round #3 of the pillow talk swap. After sending this pillow to Wendy over in Alaska and receiving this pillow from Kerri, how could I resist another round. I have been struggling with how to organize my tasks to make everything happen more smoothly and less stressfully. Time management is a huge deal for me, however some days are unexpected occurrences. When people get sick, family needs you, and all things unrelated to what you really need to get done.

Being a person who enjoys many different things, I have been working on a way to incorporate them all into my day. I was very excited after talking with my friend Heather, about how she listens to the books she wants to read on her iPod. So after many grueling hours trying to figure out how audio books work and wiping the dust off my iPod, I started loading books into it. I got my first book free off a free trial website just to test it out and decided to just go ahead and read it. This is what I am listening to now. So far it's ok, I am not a fan of alien stories and this seems to be going in that direction, but I am going to see it through.

What a great time saver, now I can read the books I have been dying to read (like twilight) and still get work done at my sewing machine. Heather you're a life saver!!!!

Back to the point:: I am excited about the 3rd round of the pillow swap, and I have many ideas for a new pillow. I will be sure to share them with you when I begin. For now all I have is the mosaic here to show you my inspiration for this swap. Enjoy.

Happy 2 year Anniversery Quilt Dad

Through the wonderful circuit of flickr, I have met some pretty fabulous people. One of them being John of Quilt Dad. John is not only the first guy I ever met that can quilt and sew, but his work is extremely inspiring. I wanted to take a few minutes and invite you over to meet and visit with John to celebrate his 2nd year of blogging. Many generous vendors and crafters have teamed up together to help him celebrate with a GIANT prizapalooza giveaway. FIFTEEN PRIZES!!!

 

Stop by and enter, but be careful you might just get lost in the creativity that pours from john's blog.

Sunday Stash :: Voile

Sunday Stash, originally uploaded by Sew-Fantastic.

Nothing like some yummy fabrics to bring out a little sunshine in a long week. Sophie had a little cold bug and has spent the last 3 nights coughing herself awake. I wish I could fix her. As daddy took care of the little one yesterday me and Heather had some things to swap and decided to hit our LQS while we had a little free time.

Lucky for us there was a SALE!!! Don't you love those unexpected sale days when you just happened to show up. I picked up these Anna Mari Horner dobby dot voile fabrics at 20% off. They are fantastic in real life. Sometimes it's hard to buy online when you are unsure of the feel and how it can incororate into what you like to sew most.

Do you all chance the buy online, or do you like to see it up cose and personal first? Does it matter if the price is really great? How do you fabric shop?

I also found this FANTASTIC Sign for my sewing room!!
What do you think.

Sorry about the bad photo it was hard getting this shot with all the bright sunshine coming in today!

Everything but the Kitchen.........

As time winds down on the urban home goods swap, I knew I had to decide on a plan for my partner. I spent a few minutes at borders book store while waiting for Sophia to get out of preschool.

I picked up these goodies.

1. Patchwork Style

2. I love patchwork

3. Sublime Stitching.

My Inspiration could not be limited to just one book (that's what I told my husband for explaining my 80.00 book purchase,  after I had told him I just went for one. )  The Patchwork Style book was where I got the idea or my swap partner. A Kitchen floor mat. The concept is stack quilting, or similair to a ticker tape style of quilting. Arranging various fabrics in layers and quilting large peices in one direction, and the smaller pieces in another. At first glance it almost looks like a checkerboard in some spots. 

Since it does get used as a rug, I love this idea because as it gets used and soiled, you can just add another favorite fabric over the stain quilt it down and it's a brand new rug. Perfect for the patchwork lover, and changes over time as you keep adding patches.. I have a few more cool ideas coming that are not in these books, but were in fact inspired by them. I will share soon. What do you think? Do you like the concept? Would you dare actually use this a a rug?

You can see the bigger photos here

::{Thoughts}::

Does anyone have those days when they forget to think? Life gets so routine after awhile that you forget the small things that you really enjoy doing, or seeing. This week has been that way for me. Some realizations on family schedules, friendships, and personal things as well.

Those people who take the time out of there busy lives to smell the flowers, I envy just a little.

I always complain that if I had just a few more hours in the day my life would be easier, when in turn, would never be enough. It's true that most nights I am up late at my sewing machine sacrificing my sleep because I think it will make a difference in the start of how much work is left in the morning; when all it does it make it harder to function the next day.

If it was not for some dear friends keeping me in stitches this week, I might as well have lost it. I just need to take a deep breath, relax and enjoy life again without the stress, the drama, the things, and people that absolutely waste my time!

I have been incredibly inspired by some of you that read my blog here. Seeing the mothers with many more children or to do's then me; keeping it together. People with 10 extra things on their list more then I, and still making time to come into my little world and say thank you .

Through each post I meet new friends within the comments I receive, so I wanted to take a minute, breath, relax..... and say thank you ! Thank you to Dee for the card she sent me, telling me how wonderful my blog was and how excited she was to win the ott light a few months ago.

Thank you to Cass for not only being a customer of mine, but coming by to follow my blog and send me a handmade card thanking me for her win as well.

Thank you Jane, and Cindy for being there all the time when I need to talk about whatever creative explosion I am ranting up. Thank you to all of you who take that few seconds to give me some kind of feedback on a project or a thought. To everyone I promise to make more time to stop and smell the flowers and enjoy life, just a little bit more.

A little Destashing

Well, I am just about finished with a giant project (76 mini shoppers for teachers) And now am beginning to clean up a little and make room for some summer fun stuff. My husband was not to fond of the idea that he might very well be kicked out of the office so that I may store more fabric there.

So I cleaned out a little (I do mean a little) Planning on some more later this next week. I have added some fabric in the destash shop at what I like to call coop prices. What's listed is all I have so when it's gone it's gone until next clean up. All fabrics are new and unwashed mostly yard cuts or more.

I also added a few scrap packs again per requests. (BIG ones this time)  I will be back next week with a new tutorial for the kiddos! Have a great Day everyone.

You can view the shop here

 I am working on a hew blog look to what do you think.?

A Little Flora and Fauna For Sophie

(photo taken by Heather at Olive&Ollie)

A few weeks ago I contacted a friend from one of my fabric groups, Heather from Olive & Ollie. She makes the cutest peasant dresses and sells them on etsy. I loved the style, but unfortunately Sophie is not really a dress wearer lately. So I asked Heather if she could shrink them down to size and make shirts in the same style.

I choose the fabrics (flora and fauna), sent her measurements, and she got to work. They arrived yesterday as if she was in the room when they were made for her. They fit perfectly . I couldn't be happier with them. Sophie loved them so much, that me and dad could not get them off her just after trying them on. She wore this pink one until bedtime. (with bright blue pants I might add)

The product arrived so professional looking, The clothes had care tags as well as the size I had ordered, packaged beautifully as if I had purchased them in a very high end boutique.. I am glad that I hired Heather for this Job, I am thrilled beyond with the outcome, and my Sophie is happy as well. What a win win.

Just wanted to share my great experience with you all, Happy Easter!

Check out Heather on Etsy here.