Tumbling Cubes - Modern Basics

I was completely overjoyed when I opened the pages of Amy's new book "Modern Basics". The book includes gorgeous quilts, and wonderfully written patterns.

I started this quilt at our guild sew in on Saturday, then finished the top on Sunday afternoon. I was please to see it come together so quickly, as well as have such a remarkable result. The only thing I did differently from the pattern was to add a 4 inch sashing to the top and the bottom for extra length.

This quilt pattern is called Tumbling Cubes; one of my favorites in the book.   It measures approx 60x67 and it will be gifted to my brother who is autistic. He has not had a quilt made by me in 10 years and I think the little kitty cats on his first quilt do not quite fit an 18 year old boy.

I know he will love it, he loves everything I make.

Fabric Used

Robert Kaufman's Kona in

Ash Gray. Orange, and Navy

Amy is having a bloggy book tour right now and you can win a copy of her book.

Stop by her blog to try and win a copy of "Modern Basics" Easy Quilting to fit your budget, space, and style.

Happy Sewing My Friends!

{Scrappy Storage} On a Budget

If your like me, scraps usually pile up quickly and get thrown in a bucket like this. This bucket fills mostly from shop stuff but there are always those few that I would just love to be able to find on a whim while making a quilt. I think that if I just organize myself even with something as small as scraps, then my quilting productivity as well as my stash will go further.

This is what I have done...... I bought these small shoebox like plastic containers for .97 cents each at our local Target. Each one is designated a color for easy accessibility later on when looking for a certain piece. I keep everything in them that I think I will actually use, no matter how small. Every usuable peiece under a FQ goes in these and are considered scraps or remnants to me.

It may not seem like much, but making this small change has made my scraps more functionable. Plus I am saving money by using what I have..

Another idea from Target as well are these cute metal bowls found in a few different colors for 2.50 each add a nice pop of style to your fabric cubby if you don't want a large space dedicated just to scraps.

I have decided to put all of these posts under a new tab on top of the blog for everyone to reference later. There will be a few posts just this week on organization, as well as some pretty sweet ways to use up those scraps .

KEEP CALM AND ORGANIZE!!

How do you store your scraps?

{ Blessed } That's an understatement

Tomorrow is a new journey for me. After leaving my friends and family in the Vancouver/Portland area, I felt like a small collapse in my life. The first few months were hard to get by, missing my friends on a daily basis and wishing if I could only just attend a single guild meeting, I would be good for a moment.

Although I still miss my beloved friends, that moment has surpassed me; just now! This moment, as I think about all the things I have accomplished just since being here in Bakersfield. The new found respect I have for people as well as myself for that matter.

Tomorrow starts a new chapter, our first official guild meeting! We have met the locals, held a meet and greet and after much hard work, and the help of our local quilt shops, as well as a few online friends like Meg and Jen. We have done it! My email is exploding with people here in Bakersfield excited about our group, excited about meeting us, and excited about modern quilting. Some emails that were received tonight just by some locals that I have never met, have brought me to tears (with Joy of course) It's truly is amazing how quilting can bring a community together. I am so proud to be a part of this, and I think God brought me here for a reason. Some days I may not understand that reason, but I know it was well thought out before I got here.

Happy Sewing  My Friends

Sunday Stash Report :: Notebook paper Please

I saw this on flickr ..... from the talented Claire Baker seen here

The embroidery is so clever, but the fabric background choice to me was top notch. I have had a craving for these fabrics that look sort of like paper. This piece was machine stitched to get the notebook look, but you can buy some to. The perfect addition to any fun piece of embroidery.

The Girl Friday line had a fancy graph paper with lines that I loved so much and still cannot bring myself to cut into. Then I also stumbled upon some paper like fabric at Pink Chalk. Thanks to another flickr friend I was led to Kathy at Pink chalk for some Basic Grey Basics by Moda Fabrics.

And now I have 4 lovely prints that I love to look at, and oogle over.

I love her online shop because it's full of things that inspire me to create. I just recently joined in on her solids stash of the month club. Have you joined in yet?

This will be a great way to preview colors and make things for holidays, or even just to incorporate more solids into your quilting.

SIGN UP HERE

I have been a playing tug of war with a pretty bad cold this week, but I hope to be back with some super fun scraps ideas next week. If you would like to share and idea for using or storing scraps. Leave me a comment, and make sure I can contact you to get involved with postings next week. until then

HAPPY SEWING!

{A little Progress} FMF Flower Garden Quilt...

A few months ago I shared this lovely little number with you all. After being a little overwhelmed and frustrated that it wasn't looking right I decided to make it a flower garden quilt and break up the prints with some solid kona snow.

I am happy to report, that even though this has been a slow going project, I am still in love with it and look forward to finishing it up this year. Right now it measures about a square yard. (3ft x3 ft)  I have already pulled the paper pieces from the middle, and love the way it flows. This is the most hand sewing I have done in a very long time.

If I was to start over I probably would have kept the flowers in the same colorways, but I still love it the way I ended up doing it as well. Even the back is pretty to me .

I am happy to be back blogging, we had my sister and her family in town for a visit this week and it was much fun letting Sophie play with her two little cousins. The coolest part is one is a week younger then her. They all got along wonderfully as usual. Her oldest cousin was a blessing helping us with teaching Sophie to use the big potty, I am happy to report we are officially potty trained!

WISHING EVERYONE A GREAT WEEK!

Another year goes by....

I do not usually make a big deal about my birthday..... ok I am so lying, I love birthdays!! This year however something was a bit different. In fact I almost forgot it was coming until people started reminding me that I was about to be another year older. My mother sending a gift 2 weeks early, the lady at the grocery store who carded me for wine (letting me know I was about to expire.. yeah in 2015), Hey, at least she carded me  my hubby who asked to take me to dinner.

This year I was just not feeling the birthday thing. All I wanted to do was take the day off, and spend it with my little girl. When I tried to explain to her this morning that it was my birthday, she insisted that it be her birthday to so she could have cake. Today we have agreed to share my birthday so she can have cake. I think that is the only reason she likes birthdays so much . LOL

Today I feel humbled by my family, my friends, my daughter, I am truly blessed in so many ways that it's hard to think about being another year older. I have had close people loose family members, get sick, or go through things that people should not have to deal with ever. I wish that some days I had a magic clap that fixed it all for everyone. I have met some of the most wonderful, compassionate people in the last year, it amazes me how strong people actually are. This year I will take it all in and enjoy every minute of life. Thank you to everyone who reaches out to me at just the right moment, those of you who read my blog, those of you I can call friends, and everyone around me who makes me who I am. This is just the continuation of a wonderful life.

A TOAST to 31!!!