Here's What's Going On...

Has anyone else (like me) just blinked and realized that it's nearly mid-December already?  My brain is still telling me that it should be Halloween time.  Heck, we just broke open the last of our pumpkins in the woods yesterday.  I guess it was getting funny to see pumpkins on the stoop with a backdrop of Christmas lights.

> We woke to a tiny coating of snow last week which is serving as a reminder of the month we are in.  So pretty as it coated all the tree limbs and wood pile!

> I have been sewing like frantic to finish off some cool gifts and am making a lot of progress.  I am also giving a demo at tomorrows art quilt guild meeting.  I'm so excited, but need to finish my demo piece tonight. 

> I am spending most of my down time outdoors with the mister and pups trying to soak in any available sunlight... or just plain day light for that matter.  It's helping beat back the winter blahs.  It's been fun to take my camera with me too!

> I love the frost crystals on the moss. 

> I am amazed at how green the moss looks.  Makes me wonder if it's always this green, or if I am just noticing now because everything else is so gray?

> I got a henna tattoo last week.  You know the kind of temporary tattoos that originated in India?  It was my first one... and it's been so much fun to have! 

> Having a henna is making me want to pick up the dye paste and try it again on myself.  The designs are limitless and it was so darn quick/easy.

> I am amazed at the crispy-frosty edges on the leaves and how they all get so much texture when they are coated like this.

> I am head-over-heels in love with this girl.  She's a silly as she is beautiful and I wouldn't mind spending every minute hanging out with her.

> Meanwhile, this one is reminding me what it is like to be puppy to the max.  Everything is being hunted, tissues and shoes aren't safe, and running circles through the house is great entertainment.  For every moment I am cross with her, there are fifteen that I want to cuddle and adore her.  She's not quite ready for prime time yet, but we made it through puppy school and I can tell she is a great dog in progress!

> And as if the season and time of year aren't confused enough... I walked through my garden to find these flowers in bloom... despite the snow fallen around them.  I also saw other plants and bulbs like the crocus budding and thinking of blooming too. 

Sorry to be quiet for so long, but hoping to get back into the routine this week with blogging and show you some of the things I am working on... even if some have to be kept secret. 

Cheers to a great start to the week!

Seasonal Sewing Free-for-all!

--FINISHES--

Crewel Spring Flowers - showed you this one last week!!
Confetti: Dog Path in the Woods - started this week off with this finish!

Big Blue - I have been quilting this one like a maniac so that I can have it to reveal this Saturday for the Blogger's Quilt Festival hosted by the lovely Amy from Amy'sCreativeSide.  I think I am going to just make it!

Oh and of course the mister is going to be thrilled to have his very own quilt to curl up in!

--IN PROGRESS--

Laughing Leaves with Frieda Anderson

Showed you this project yesterday. 

Can't wait to roll up my sleeves and dig back in!  You can also check out what I learned about using fusible in an art quilt!

 

--NEW--

 

And I have three new projects to introduce!  I know.. three!!!!

 

Winter Birds

This is a mostly top secret project that will result in a birthday/Christmas gift.  Yes, Mom, if you are reading (Hi!!) this is the start of your quilt and.... you are going to have to wait to see more. 

 

But, I couldn't resist a teaser shot!

 

NY-NY

This is also a last minute, mostly top secret venture that I am looking to start and finish in the next 2-3 weeks.  Here is one of the starring fabrics!

 

Timber and Shadow: confetti style

I look forward to telling you more about this new project separately next week.  The main idea is that I am going to translate these two awesome labs into the confetti quilting style that I just did for Dog Path. 

 

It's going to be a cool one!!

 

 

Confession... and I have more fabric on the way for a fourth new project that I will probably be introducing next week (Yes, Beka... it's with you in mind... and you'll laugh... it's more birds!!).  Keeping busy makes me pretty darn happy!!  And who says I can't start/finish another four big quilts this year and probably about 3-4 smaller art quilts.  I love a good challenge!

 

--ON PAUSE--

 

Star Struck
Star quilt-a-long by Melissa at Happy Quilting.  I am still standing at one block.

 

{Insert Name Here}: Bottled Rainbows {ticker tape quilt-along}

I'm glad I had no deadline for myself on this one, but I am sure it will be an awesome winter project and just the right thing to pick up after all this crazy holiday sewing!

 

This Week's Work in Progress (WiP) Stats:

Last WiP Wednesday Total: 6
New Projects: 2

Finished Projects: 3 (Crewel Pillow, Dog Path, and Big Blue)
Total WiP's: 6

(and I'm back to six again? this must be some sort of mental capacity for me -- too funny!)

Laughing Leaves with Frieda Anderson

So, I took my first ever quilting class last week.  Exciting isn't even close to describing how awesome it was.  The class was called Laughing Leaves with Frieda Anderson.  Her blog is here.

I think part of what made it so incredible was how many firsts it was for me:

* It was my first time playing with hand dyed fabric
* It was my first time working completely with applique -- like which side do I iron?
* It was my first time using decorative rotary cutter blades
* It was my first time spending a whole day quilting with a group of awesome ladies
* It was my first time (in awhile) that I tried to take creative direction and didn't just do my own thing.
* It was my first time quilting in anywhere, but the safety of my sewing room

We had a beautiful cabin on the lake setting...

...which was pretty, even as it poured outside for most of the day.

Frieda hand dyes all her fabrics.  The evening before she described her technique in detail at the guild meeting.  Really makes me appreciate all the effort that goes in to creating fabric like this.

I think the initial cutting of her beautiful fabric was fairly challenging ... since we dove right into the background and did things a bit differently than I normally approach things -- the idea was to let the design develop naturally. 

Each of her yards of fabric had between 7 and 14 colors on them in gradient.  Really cool!!

Here I am arranging my background and the strips between.

At some point I decided the oranges and yellows in the background were too much.  I also started to add other elements in the gray boxes.  Looking at it now, one week later, I have to laugh because I have so many ideas for how to finish this!  The day of the class I think I was getting a little overwhelmed.

All in all, I feel like I accomplished what I set out to do and that was to push myself out of my comfort zone and create something I wouldn't have done on my own.  I also really enjoyed the experience of hanging out with a group of other quilting enthusiasts for the day. 

Here are few other things I learned:
* Clean fusible (or any sticky goo) off your iron with an unused (and unscented) dryer sheet
* The release paper on fusible can be reused and makes a good working surface and you are building up layers and adding elements
* Placement of fusible isn't permanent until you steam it.  That means you can lightly tack your design (as I have above), and go back and remove/move something if you want to try something else. 
* When trying to cut out leaves or any shape for that matter... it doesn't hurt to look at the real thing (or a picture).  Don't always have to work from memory.
* Stand up to cut with decorative blades.  They really require a bit of force to cut.
* Cut with decorative blades on the back of your mat... they do scar cutting mats.
* Putting a hanging sleeve on your work is much easier to do that I previously thought!
* Oh, and last thing I found really cool.. you can fuse to card stock!!  Can you say holiday cards?

I am going to add this unnamed piece to my in progress stack, but I'm already looking forward to pulling it out and finishing it up so I can take it to the November quilt guild meeting for show and tell. 

And since this features a few firsts for me I am joining Melissa at Happy Quilting for TNT (Trying New Things) Thursdays.  If you have tried something new... doesn't have to be quitling related join in!

Have you ever taken a quilting class?

Crochet Leaf Garland

I'm getting a little seasonal over here!!  With all the rain we've been having, I'm finding ways to keep my hands busy.  Enter crocheted leaves!!  I found the pattern here at Craftstylish and using bits and pieces of yarn I got to work.

My little shadow, Sammy, is always interested in what I'm doing. 

"Hello Mum... can you show me how to crochet a leaf?  I promise not to eat the yarn this time."

"What do you mean I need thumbs to crochet?  Can't I try anyhow?  Why, I'll just hold the yarn in my mouth."

Katie was present, but was a lot more interested in the squirrels and chipmunks movements.  As the weather is getting more chilly... they seem to be moving around more finishing their winter preparations.

I had spent the last two weeks making up a leaf here and there.  Today was the day to link them all together into a garland of seasonal goodness!

I went to tug at my yarn only to find this stinker had laid down on my yarn.  See the yarn dangling by her left ear?

Lots of leaves in my lap!  And do you see that?  We had sunshine this weekend!  I was glued to it!!

All linked together (and wow, those colors are washed out).  I'm loving the combination of rust, orange, yellow, green, red, and tan.  Awesome!!

Katie doesn't seem thrilled to model my garland, but I promise you it brings out her eyes!  It's all the rage in dog fashions this fall!

And here it is up on the fireplace.  Ignore my less than clean mantle with no decor.

Yup, cute... simple.  Warming.  Fun contrast of yarn against the brick.

And do you know what the mister said when he saw it?  He said I need more -- and I totally agree!  More strands of leaves to be exact.  I'm excited to make a bunch more.  They are quick and easy to do! 

Here is the pattern from Craftstylish incase this inspires you to break out your hook and make a few!

Leaf Pattern

Yarn and Hook: any yarn weight with a hook that corresponds to that weight.  {I used worsted yarn -- since that's what I had in bits laying around and an E hook, I believe}

Round 1: Ch 4, 11 dc in 4th ch from hook, join with a sl st to top of beginning ch—12 dc.

Round 2: Ch 6, sl st in 3rd ch from hook (picot made), dc in first st, 2 dc in each of next 2 sts, (dc, ch 5, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in next 3 chs to form stem, dc) in next st, 2 dc in each of next 2 sts, (dc, picot, dc ) in next st; (sc, hdc) in next st, (dc, picot, sc) in next st, (hdc, dc, tr, picot, tr, dc, hdc) in next st, (sc, picot, dc) in next st, (hdc, sc) in last st, join with a sl st to 3rd ch of round.
Fasten off and weave in the ends.

A big thank you to Linda who created this pattern!!  You can also see her website here.

Happy Moment #27: Home Tweet Home

A Friday ritual with Soulemama.  A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary, happy moment.  A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments too!

Tonight, I will also be sewing away in the hopes of finishing the quilting on my king size Happy Garden as a part of this months FNSI (Friday Night Sew In) with Heidi from Handmade by Heidi and Bobbi from Crafty Vegas Mom. 

It's all about taking a few moments for yourself to indulge in a crazy amount of sewing time!  Take a look and hopefully you can join us -- after all there are prizes involved!

“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.”

~Omar Khayyam

日本のための多くの愛
Much love for Japan

Katie's Hiking Adventures

There is now about an inch of snow on the ground... funny how these photos feel like they are from so long ago... even though its only been about a month.

Oh how things change.

I thought we could use a comic break from the crafting, sewing, and prepping overload and tune into Katie's Hiking Adventures with her best friend.

And they hiked happily ever after -- the end.

We are certainly way overdue for another one of these.  I dug my snow boots out last night and plan to take advantage of the sunny weather and get outside with the pup over the next few days.

The frolicking and silliness will be the same, but the setting will be more frozen, gray-blue-white, and chilly.

Don't forget to take a break from all the holiday madness and re-center yourself so you can enjoy the next few days.  Yes, that's right.... deep breath in through the mouth and out slowly through the nose. 

That's better!

Come Walk in the Woods

Even with fall setting in and the weather cooling off I still can't resist a walk in the woods. 

Come for a quick walk, won't you?
There are seed pods releasing seeds and old rock structures looking camouflaged in the orange and red leaves.

The lake is looking gorgeous with it's surrounding pop of color.

There are bushes brightly changing and giving off one last show before the snow.

The fluffy tails are blowing in the wind.

It's blustery... leaves blowing this way and that, dancing down the sky and landing softly on the water.

Yup.  It's fall alright.  Hard to believe that Thanksgiving is next week too. 

Hope you enjoyed the slower pace today.  More projects and creative goodness coming tomorrow!

Happy Moment #6: Photographer

A Friday ritual with Soulemama.  A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary, happy moment.  A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.”

~Omar Khayyam