New Office Adornments!

I have been a lucky happy gal with a few amazing things hitting my mailbox recently!

Mostly, I would like to say a big thank you for the goodies I am enjoying!

Just look at this oh so cute calendar from Sugar the Golden Retriever!  I smile each time I look up from my computer and see your adorable balancing nose there.  Thank you!!

I also was the lucky winner of not one, but two orignial posters from MJ over at Wander Wander Discover

Isn't her husband talented?  I am so inspired when I see them starting my day!  Thank you very much!!

I mean just look at the colors and detail!

This one is still hands down my favorite! 

Says lots about how we are treating our planet on daily basis and it really resonates with the tree-hugger side of me!

How cool is that earth and the brush strokes!!

You can see more Right Brain Terrain work here... fun to check out all the posters!

And there you have it.  Lazy start to the week for me. 

I do have some exciting progress to share with you about Confetti (quilt), the breakfast bar in the house is spackled, primed and ready for real color -- it's bold... and I am ready to post the first materials list for our totally cool Sew-a-thon! 

Plus, I even have a valentines origami tutorial this week -- I know.. thrilling, chilling, shilling and grilling!!

Hope your Monday is rocking your socks!

FNSI and Saturday Happenings

I really ended up not doing FNSI this time around; at least not to the extent I thought I would.  Instead I ended up hanging with Mr. Happy last night and enjoyed a quiet evening.

I did play around with one block and  here is what I did...

I took two blocks that I had made with really tiny squares...

Sandwiched them right sides together...

Sewed 1/4 seam all the way around the outside...

Cut them apart again in triangles...

Looked at how I wanted to piece them back together...

Found a pinwheel that fits my Central Park pinwheel quilt...

And sewed it back together and pressed it.  The end.

Cute shot with the cow eraser... because, hey, why not?   And yes, that was about the extend of my FNSI (Friday Night Sew In -- see the button on my sidebar for more details and how you too can join us next month!)

My morning started off with a hawk sighting in the backyard.

These guys were going through as I was making up sunny-side-upside-down eggs (over easy) with dipping soldiers!  The family ended up being five total with two babes in the mix.  Adorable!

It's been cold and here is the result of some icicles dripping off the roof a then freezing again.

Katie thought the ice was yummy.  Roar!

The sun was shining (thank you!!) and the sky a beautiful kiss me blue!

I spent the afternoon sledding with my sister (in law), her bf, and the mister, and my father (in law) and the dogs... I could not have asked for a better day!

I heard a good quote the other day that went like this... "Bloom where you are planted"

Makes perfect sense, right?  Sort of like be happy with what you have or make the best of things!  Hope that you are having a lovely weekend and laughing so hard your sides and cheeks hurt!

Happy Moment #14: Gimme a Smooch

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 

Can You Find the Bird?

Games like this are so much fun! 

I saw a bird bouncing around in the wood pile during the last storm.  The cute little thing must have been taking a break from the snow. 

Can you find the bird here?

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bird circled below

How about in this one?

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bird circled below

Ok, this one is a bit tougher.... where's the bird now?

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bird circled below

Can you see the bird-dog in this one?

Ain't she the cutest thing ever? 

...unless of course she is chasing away my cute little birds.  And this funny little bird-dog (from what I understand golden retrievers are mean to be used in bird hunts) thinks she might actually get one if she tries relentlessly enough.

Smooches!  Hope your Thursday is treating you well.  And yes.  We are bracing for yet another snow storm -- goodie!  Snow is starting to mean 'sew' for me. 

Hoping to get a lot of progress!!

Central Park Fabric Therapy

It's been a bit of a loony weather week which I think is throwing me off.

Snow, ice, extra days at home, lots of baking.... loony balloony indeed!  But, the good thing with being cooped in the house is all that access to extra glorious sewing time.

{Sew,} -pun intended- here are the things I have been up to!

Ongoing Projects

X Marks the Spot

Does taking this off my design wall and digging out my yardage count as progress?  The yellow isn't Fandango, but looks nice with it, doesn't it?

I feel like this one is going to pop this week and I even included it in my One Thing, One Week challenge hosted by the lovely Amy at Amy's Creative Side

[total side note here (allowed due to aforementioned looniess!):  have you seen The King's Speech (the movie) yet?  There is a priceless line when the Dutchess says something about royalty not "popping" -- which makes me giggle now when I use the word pop.  Like... I think I will go pop over and see so-and-so... or this design really pops.  Totally throws me into giggles!  

Go see it, then come back here and laugh with me.  I wasn't sure about this movie going in... I was joining my MIL and SIL for a little gals afternoon.  But, let me tell you I haven't felt that touched by a movie in sometime now.  I cried.  I was proud.  I thought of my family and husband. I cried again.  I wanted to give it a standing ovation.  Doesn't happen often!]

Confetti

I have fallen so badly for this one!  I am in finishing mode and pulled out these things which I believe will be the finishing touches!  I love things that practically make themselves... means they are so meant to be!  You can see the full post here.

And, I think several of you may even make one... can't wait to see what you come up with!

Tulip Runner

No progress.  I went to pull out my tulip pattern and it is no where in sight.  No internet bookmark, no email to myself, no notes with measurements.  I have let that stall me. for the moment.  Argg!

New Projects

Working with Central Park (no name yet)

I lifted the label off my Central Park charm pack (5 inch squares) and got busy with pin wheels.  Don't you adore the playfulness and silliness of pin wheels? -- I do!  And I think it is really bringing out the spirit of this fabric!

As it turns out the Java Lotta Steam Cream that I showed you last week (which was meant for another project) was a perfect mix to make up these pin wheels.

I also found myself starring at certain charms that I. could. not. cut. uggg!  Standing defeated I decided that I will accept defeat and instead incorporate these blocks whole.  See, can't outsmart me ;) 

And, here are the pin wheels on the design wall.  Yes, I think I will be re-arranging these a few more times to get it exactly right.

Having gotten through the stack of charms, I pulled a bunch more fabric from my stash-pash-prickly-ash  

(anyone else love rhyming?)

 
All in all, I am totally loving what this quilt is shaping up to be... not sure I will be able to part with it -- and that is why this week can't only be described as much needed happy fabric therapy!  *contented sigh*

Not to be confused with puppy therapy which I have to admit I have also enjoyed to the brim!!

This Week's Work in Progress (WiP) Stats 

Last WiP Wednesday Total: 3
New Projects: 1

Finished Projects: 0
Total WiP's: 4 -- added one!

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

Creative Tuesday: Scarf

Happy Tuesday Loves!  It's time for  Mr. Toast's Creative Tuesday's.  Still hands down my favorite pencil and paper creative time!

This time around the theme was Scarf.  And there was an extra requirement to make sure we put a scarf in our piece.  Easy enough, right?

It's interesting for me to admit that my original ideas and sketches were leaning toward a cute animal all bundled up against a snowy background.  But, I just could do it.  I had previously done animals in scarves (you can see that here). 

I needed something fresh; something to take me away from the fact that we got more snow and I'm getting a wee bit done with winter already (I know -- I can hear you saying, but it's only January and NY winters are supposed to be cold.  I know.  But my shovelling muscles are already bulging!)

So, my idea centers around where do all the scarves go once it's spring?  I know that my winter ones are rotated out, washed and packed away, but what if scarves were like say.. Santa ... and they went on vacation during the spring?  (yes, the snow may be making me a bit more loopy than usual ...go with me on this... after all this is me, the same one who dreamt up faerie apples!)

Here are the results!  Spring Spa Day for Scarves!  That ladybug must be prepping them for a facial and massage!


Cheers to the creative juices flowing in your favor today!  You can check out the other artists or join us here.

Confetti Quilt is ALIVE!

Confetti began here with cut pieces that were one inch by one inch in a wide range of colors from my scraps.

As I began playing with the squares they begged for a background, so I dug around came up with this square which is about 21 inches square.

I started arranging them into cute color coordinated flowers.

I even pinned the heck out of it. 

The it hit me *bam* that in order to stay true to confetti... that this had to be a celebration of chaos!!

I began to rearrange and re-pin.

I added more and more until I exhausted my tiny square pile.  Yes, I already see more of these in my future!

I went right to layering this with batting and and a backing and safety pinned things in place.

Quick sneak at the picnic yellow backing -- so cheerful!!

And off I went.  Round and round and round I went with the free motion foot on.  I just did the edge around each square with some simple swirls between to draw a connecting line.

I decided I wanted frayed edges.  It's organic, it's chaos, it's true to confetti!

Here you can see the back right corner is sewn down.  Slow and steady progress.  

I finished nearly 1/2 of the squares in one sitting.  It was also fun to come back over the next day or so to sew a few more squares at time.  It's a really easy project to pick up and put down again.

I'm getting to the end of them now.

When I finished I squared the mini quilt and the results are the trims below.  Is it funny that all I see is stuffing for more birds and strips for more tiny squares??!!?!

I have yet to put the binding on as I am still trying to decide it Confetti is finished.  I showed it to Mr. Happy and he said that I should add more color.  More color?  Hmm... but I do see what he means.  I think it is still too uniform, like I am still fighting the chaos.

I am debating adding embellishments like beads or buttons. 
I am debating if I want to do more quilting with all sorts of colors of thread. 
I am debating if I should take this chance to try embroidery.
Yes, I am still debating.  Which is why I am leaving you on a trim pile and not the finished thing. 

Fun to see things develop isn't it?  And I also have to report that I have Central Park fabrics are cut, sewn, ironed, and adorning my fabric wall. 

Hoping to show you more tomorrow and seriously all your thoughts and ideas are welcome!  I can't wait to hear what you think too!