Friday Night Sew-In - Victory at the Park!

I am seeing the Central Park Pinwheels leap together!  I finished the last of the pinwheels last night (yippie!!) and began rearranging and then pulling it together.  A few snaps.  Hoping to get this sandwiched this weekend!! 

Hope you are having a lovely day/night/weekend!

Friday Night Sew-In Prep

I am getting myself together for a little Friday Night Sew In session with all the other lovelies.

Bobbins are full, fabrics at the ready, and plan in hand... bring it on Friday night, bring it on!!

Not to late to join in ... if you are in need of a little sewing timing in your week!!

Happy Moment #18: Zen Dog

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!

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

~Omar Khayyam

A Finish and Start

--NEW--

Happy Quilt-a-long Tribal

I told you about the quilt-a-long I am joining and here are the beginnings of the squares I cut last night. 

--ONGOING--

X Marks the Spot

Happy accident.  I was creating a block for Block Party at Quiltstory (wasn't that so much fun!) and I think I have come up with what will be the cornerstone block for the X.  Next step is to put it up on the design wall and then make a bunch more of the Friendship blocks!  See more here.

Central Park Pin Wheels

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

I have decided on and sewn the center of this quilt and I think that is going to push me over the finish line on this one shortly.  Remember all those charm squares (5x5 inches) that I couldn't cut into... well... here are a few of them!

And then all the other pinwheels will dance around the center working from cream out to brown!

Do you get it?  The fabric is called Central Park... and there is a 'park' in the center of this quilt design complete with flowers, animals, and sidewalks.  Go ahead scroll back up and take a look.

Yup, I'm pretty smitten about the idea too!!  Actually can't contain how giddy it makes me.... or does this just prove how much of a geek I am?  Ahh... either way, I will be happy to see this top completed and I can't wait to show you what I picked out for the backing and binding!  That will be in next week's installment.

You Can Sew-a-thon!
Read the intro to our sewing adventure here.  

And, look who has made the first project: strawberry pin cushions!!

Sugar the Golden Retriever shared that her Mom has tried her hand a making them up!!  Isn't Sugar just a doll!!!

How cute is this one over at Seaweed and Raine? (picture from Seaweed and Raine)

Kasey from Fabric Thread; Paper and Pens has also been busy making Strawbeeroos!!  Also, have you seen her hexagon and hand stitching work?!!!  (picture from Kasey)

I am still finishing up the luggage tag pattern and looking forward to sharing that as our second You Can Sew-a-thon project!!

--BACK BURNER-- *cricket, cricket*

Tulip Runner - still haven't even cut a single piece of fabric for this.  I am hoping I can find it some new wind this weekend and get a good start!! 

--FINISHED--

Confetti

This Week's Work in Progress (WiP) Stats

Last WiP Wednesday Total: 5
New Projects: 1

Finished Projects: 1
Total WiP's: 5

---Linking to W.I.P. Wednesday---

Creative Tuesday: Luck/y

Happy Tuesday!!  And not just any 'ole Tuesday, it's Creative Tuesday time!

Creative Tuesday is my time to open a drawing pad to a blank page and dig deep to fill in the page with inspirations of the theme over at Mr. Toast's Creative Tuesday's assignment!

This time we were challenged with the theme of Luck/y.  Easy right?  Eh, not so much.  I have been stuck with horseshoes, rainbows, pots of gold, and leprechauns in my head for the last two weeks.  Seriously. 

That's when it hit me.  What about a little Japanese luck?  After living in Japan for a number of years I came to understand the Japanese culture really knows a thing or two about luck!  Enter the Manekineko!!!

{the following snip is from About.com here and roughly explains what I was told when I purchased my own manekinko.}

"Do you know what manekineko is? Manekineko are cat-shaped lucky charms. Maneki means beckoning and neko means cats in Japanese. A Manekineko raises one of its front paws and beckons (maneku) by showing the palm of the paw. It's said that manekineko raising the left hand beckons customers and one raising the right hand beckons money. You see manekineko in many Japanese stores."

I choose to draw a raised left paw to beckon {welcome} you my 'customers' -- seems fitting enough!

And for those of you counting I only used six colors in this doodle... two pinks... two yellows.. black.. and red!

Mr. Toast, thank you for another fun adventure in, around, and through that crazy mind of mine... I have so enjoyed this trip and am looking forward to accepting your next challenge!

I hope you will consider joining in this or the next assignment and check out other artists in the community here.

Confetti is Done and a New Project!

Confetti quilt is done!!

Has been for a few days now.  I should have taken it outside over the weekend for a photo shoot in the sunlight-- and forgot to. 

It will have to wait a few more days to have it's magnificent unveiling... it will be worth it.. I promise.  And I had to at least post one finished photo, right?  Wait till you see Confetti in the sunlight!!

Switching gears have you heard of a blog called Happy Quilting?  Well, Melissa from Happy Quilting has a fantastic creative space that has inspired me to join her for a happy quilt-a-long that is just starting.  How can you resist that?

Here is a sneaky at the cool pattern we will be making!!  (picture from Happy Quilting)

I think the best part is that there is so much room to still be you in the design, size, and shapes, and I like that kind of creative freedom!!  You can read about the start of the quilt-a-long and many size ideas here. I think this pattern is going to be the perfect compliment for the African prints that I have been wanting to pull together for sometime now!

This week we start cutting.  Last night, I pulled out most of the fabrics I am thinking of incorporating.  This will be my first quilt with a mix of cotton and many other types (most I don't even know the name of).

These fabrics came from a box that was in the trunk of my co-workers car for what she said was a year.  She didn't have the heart to throw out the fabric (bless her!) and when she saw some of my work she entrusted me with the whole box!!  What a gift!  In return, I wanted to make her a quilt... and well... that was already almost a year ago now.

It looks like someone started cutting the lion fabric and joining them.  I think I will have to work this in somehow.

Cute, no?

This one is my favorite by far.  The little birds and fish... the black and white contrast... the little beige/yellow dots in the background!!  It's going to be hard to cut, but fun to see in a final design!

The photo washed this one out.  It's a soft chocolate brown color.  The swirls take my heart for a ride!

I like this one too.  It introduces another shade of brown and that awesome royal blue!

I have over a hundred 5 inch squares to cut tonight and am looking forward to getting ready to sew!

-- linking to Fabric Tuesdays over at Quiltstory!--

Love in the Sky!

This amazing sky greeted me this morning!

Hope you are having an amazing day so far!  Happy Valentines Day too!

I am still working through several things I would like to share with you and this week promises to be another jam packet week full of goodness!!

Can't wait!

Happy Moment #17: I *heart* You!

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!

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

~Omar Khayyam 

Tea Tag Wisdom

QuiltStory Block Party - Fandango Friendship

It's a bird...?

It's a plane...?

...nope... it's Block Party time!! ... at QuiltStory to be exact!!

It seemed to be the perfect time to open up this book that I often use for inspiration and construction. 

While contemplating this challenge, I decided I wanted to pick out a keystone for my in progress 'X' Marks the Spot quilt. 

And flipping through, my fingers landed here...

I see an X, don't you?  And the rest went together rather quickly!  I am reminded how much I *heart* Fandango and how much I missed working on my X design.  I had been stumped for a few weeks on the direction I wanted to continue and this has been the perfect reason for me to find my mojo!

I know I will be making a few more of these with different combos! 

Here is the block all put together and ironed!  Introducing Fandango Friendship!

So, glad this challenge popped up and pushed me in this direction.  It's exactly what I needed!!  I will be entering in the Traditional category -- have you seen the other blocks?  So many styles I would love to try ... so much inspiration all in one place!

Just look how happy Friendship looks with the other cross blocks.  They are all getting acquainted now and I am secretly wishing for a snow day to cut and piece a bunch more!  Hey, happy cow... are you saying hi too?  Did you spot the tiny Sew-a-thon cow in that picture?

Katie, my trusty assistant, even licked the block in approval.  The slobber was added after I took these pictures, but I assure you she is a top notch assistant and quality inspector!


Check out all the other amazing entries here!!