Birdie Quilt WIP (The Extended Disco Version)

More Birdie quilt work in progress pictures because I decided I didn't like the binding fabric I got for it. Well not so much dislike... more of a seething hatred. I was asked to use a brown dot for the binding, and it just turned out to be too dark for this quilt. And I hate the feel of it too. So, no.

Anyway, here's the Birdie quilt all quilted and ready for binding.

I've nicknamed it the Pepto quilt because of all the pink dot fabric I used to sash it. I've been staring at it far too long to have an objective view anymore. I think I like it?

This is the back. I like the back. Even though it's still quite Pepto-ish.

And here's the current state of my studio. I haven't done a damn thing to it except shift the two tables at 3am this morning so that they sit right up against one wall. What, you don't move furniture at 3am?

I think the tables like that would serve me better... there was a huge square of unused table the way it was arranged before.

Anyway, have a great Halloween everyone! We're going to a memorial service this afternoon. Fittingly morbid, huh?

Flickr Favourites

1. garden quilt, 2. adelaide's room, 3. Hop on Spot., 4. Mermaid Garden, 5. summer quilts-ready for a picnic, 6. my first pattern!, 7. Shelf o joy, 8. Oh, 9. TADA!

Just a few things on Flickr that I like, and inspire me.

Fashion Inspiration

Love everything about this!!! Well, perhaps not the purse... I'm generally not a fan of Louis Vuitton handbags.

Work In Progress: Birdie Quilt

It feels nice to work on something different for a change. For the last few weeks it seems like I've been making quilts that I've made before to fulfill orders. Definitely not complaining, but it does get a little weary at times because I was just itching to do something different.

Over the weekend I delivered the Beep Beep quilt to my friend, and she told me she needed another quilt, this time for a girl. I believe I did a little hop, skip and jump :)

I was initially going to use the Treetop print by Alexander Henry for the centres but my sister quickly poopoo'ed the idea. Showed her the Birdie fabric by Me & My Sisters, and got the thumbs-up. On hindsight, I'm really glad I asked for her opinion.

Now I'm kind of stuck. I've got the blocks all done but I want to add something to the sides of the quilt without doing it so scrappy like the Beep Beep or Zoo Pool quilts. Should I do a strip of pink fabrics down one side, or on either side? Argh. If you hear screaming, that's just me.

Happy Birthday Steve!

It's my sweetheart's birthday today! Happy birthday honey! You amaze me with your mind, you make me laugh every single day... and you have a cute bum. I love you babe :)

And I can't wait for tonight so I can eat your damn birthday cake.

Now You Know Where He Gets It

My mum-in-law popped by this afternoon to drop off roasted chickens she bought from Costco. I just bought one and made a huge thing of chicken salad so I only took one to use in a stew or something. There's only so much chicken salad I can handle. But I digress.

We had this little exchange that still cracks me up.

Her: "Do you want a booty call?" Me: "WHAT?"

Her: "A booty call. Do you want one?"

Me: "Umm... Do you know what a booty call is?"

Her: "Oh my god! No! I meant Pirate's Booty!"

Me: "Oh geez."

Her: "So do you want one?"

So now you know, it's hereditary.

Fashion Inspiration

I. Want. That. Outfit.

Who Wears The Pants?

"Oh poo, you got the manly cup and I got the girly cup."

-- My husband at O'Rourke's Diner today.

Buzzy Bumble Bee

I just had to post pictures of my niece from the party we were at last night celebrating Oktoberfest, Halloween and Autumn.

How adorable is she! She kept going "Bzzzzzz!" at people, and it took a lot of restraint not to squish her.

And then she ran away.

My pictures of the night are sorely lacking because I was busy laughing at all the ridiculousness going on. When there's beer, there's crazy. But it was so good to catch up with friends and chat into the wee hours of the night.

I did take pictures of some stuff I brought though... cornbread muffins for the chili.

Chocolate gingerbread cookies requested by the hosts. I also brought a gingerbread bundt cake, but the picture turned out awful. The cake, was yum though :)

New Denyse Schmidt Patterns

How gorgeous are the new Denyse Schmidt patterns?! I absolutely love her fabrics and designs, and her Single Girl quilt pattern is the only pattern I've ever paid for. I just popped onto Heather Ross' blog and she had posted these.

I think my favourites are the Cog and Wheel and Hills 'n' Hollers patterns.

Between waiting for these patterns and the Hope Valley line, my patience is seriously wearing thin.

Fall Foliage

Isn't this tree gorgeous? It's in front of my house, on the opposite side of the road. I can see it from my living room and I think it's just beautiful. People go on about New England fall foliage, and you can sort of understand why. It pretty much looks like that all around these parts.

Oh fall, how I adore thee.

Home Sweet Home

We're home! We had a nice time in Rhode Island, but the funny thing is we spent a lot of our time away in Connecticut.

The house we stayed at was H-U-G-E. I can't believe this is just a "beach house"! It was really beautiful but I have to say it was extremely weird being in someone's house without them being there too.

We made our way to Old Mystic Village (or Olde Mistick Village if you want to be old-timey) and it was really cute! So many duckies everywhere. I enjoyed the sign on the fence almost as much as I did the duckies.

The mums they planted made me wish I planted some too... and I love that ornamental cabbage.

I'm not a huge fan of pizza (please don't kick me out of the country!) but I don't mind the kind with a VERY thin crust and isn't greasy. So this, I did like.

We had breakfast both mornings at The Cooked Goose, down the street from the house. The food was spectacular... I miss it already.

We both had eggs Benedict... his with smoked salmon, mine with country ham and spinach. So. Good. The hubs is normally quite conservative with starches, but he polished off all his home fries... and mine :)

I have to say the highlight of the trip for me was on the way home, when we popped into Colchester Mill Fabrics. I'm so predictable, aren't I? I didn't take pictures... it's difficult to take pictures when you're excited and hyperventilating.

And We're Off!

The hubs and I are off to Westerly, Rhode Island for a couple nights. A client of his very generously offered us the use of his holiday mansion, and since the hubs hasn't had a break since taking the bar exam, some time away is definitely in order.

Alright, I'm outie 5000.

(Picture from Preservation Nation.)

Wonky Beep Beep Quilt... And Another Wonky Zoo Pool Quilt

The two reasons I've been slightly quiet around these parts lately... wonky quilts!

The Wonky Beep Beep quilt's finally done, and I think I like it! I still struggle with wonk, so the blocks don't vary in size and shape all that much. I did make the inner squares of different sizes, so hopefully that adds some wonk.

For the binding I went with a dot print from the Beep Beep line.

I used a navy blue dot for the back. Dot on dot... love it!

Another Wonky Zoo Pool quilt. A lady on Etsy accidentally purchased the one I had listed and reserved for another buyer, and agreed to wait for me to make another one for her. And here it is :)

See that backing fabric? I got it at Ikea a couple months ago. There was enough for two quilt backings, and I'd used them all up. Then this lady ordered the quilt and I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to find the fabric anymore since I'd bought the second to last bolt. I looked everywhere for a fabric similar enough to use in its place... to no avail. So I made my way to Ikea, thinking there's no way that bolt's still there. And there it was. Sitting right on top of the pile. Lovely :)

I just received another order for the same quilt on Etsy this morning. The quilt's proving quite popular... it'd be the fourth I'll make. I don't really fancy making the same quilt for different people, so I try to make things a little different here and there, but it always seems to be that I'm the only one who can tell the difference lol Ah well!

Okay Then

The hubs has a way with words. As in, he doesn't. We were driving home today and...

Him: "Honey? You're like a laxative."

Me: "WTF?"

Him: "You get shit movin'."

Me: "................"

He needs to work on his compliments.

Kati Cupcake Giveaway

Vanessa of V and Co. is hosting a giveaway of 7 patterns from Kati Cupcake... go enter!!!

Amy of Kati Cupcake has a line of fabric called Marabella coming out in February and I think it's such a gorgeous line! It'll come in purple and pink colourways, but I think the pink's my favourite.

Can't wait for February!

Where The Wild Things Are Bento Box Style

Is this Where The Wild Things Are bento box not the cutest?!

It was made by Anna The Red, who has a blog dedicated to the bento boxes she makes. She's included instructions on how these characters were created on there.

I'm in awe of how she bothers to spend the time on her food and applaud her taking the time and effort in making her food so pretty. Especially when I'm pretty slap-dash when it comes to food. If my food lands in the plate, it's a good day.

(A big thanks to my sister Aurelia for finding this gem!)

I Won Something?

I couldn't believe it when I checked Amy's blog yesterday and saw my name amongst the winners' names! And to think I wasn't going to enter!

This Stars Align quilt has brought me a few bits of good luck :) Perhaps I ought to keep it!

Mobsters Get Crackin'

I'm not a Sopranos fan or anything, but this ad had the hubs and I laughing out loud. Enjoy!

Wildflower Kaleidescope

I just love this shot. Simply perfection.

Easily Amused

The other day I needed batting so I printed out a 40% coupon for JoAnn Fabrics at Printable Coupons... And it was whopper.

It took up the entire page.

See?! What crazy person made this coupon up? Utter madness. (It's a little crumpled because I folded it and shoved it in my bag. Crumply paper annoys me.)

The check-out chick was apparently as amused as I was. Before I handed it over, I said "I have a coupon but I must warn you. It's huge and it's funny". Normally they tear up coupons after they scan them in (she wasn't able to scan this lol) but she couldn't bear to do it. She kept giggling and holding it up so the rest of the staff could see it. I enjoy people who are also easily amused.

Apple Cake... Now With Lemon

I believe the best recipe for making your entire home smell amazing is Apple Cake. It's also a recipe I have to make while my husband's not in the kitchen because he keeps stealing the chopped apple covered in cinnamon and sugar. Can't really blame the guy though.

The recipe comes from Smitten Kitchen... I suggest you try it. Soon. I'm serious.

I'd started making the batter before I realised I didn't have any oranges in the house.I did have lemons though, so I used that. Thank goodness it didn't ruin anything. It just has a little bit more zing to it, and being a lemon fan, that can only be a good thing :)

So good.

We Have A Winner!!!

I went old school and wrote names on tiny pieces of paper and dropped them in a big jar.

I had the hubs pick a winner because I looked like the wrong end of a dog and was not willing to scar everyone like that.

*Drum roll*

Greg! You've won!!!

I'm so glad Greg won because he's been so great :) I'll be contacting you for your mailing info!

My thanks to everyone who entered. I'm hoping to do a giveaway every now and again, so there'll be more chances to win. I hear Christmas is coming... maybe there'll be something then!