Hope Valley

Busy days here! I'm behind in posting some Christmas swap photos. I really want to show off the gorgeous pillow BJ Mama made! It is so adorable and just perfect for my home!

Things are hectic as I'm moving this week and my place is a jumble of boxes. I can't wait to just get on with it, get the move done and get on with unpacking everything into my new home. Setting up the kitchen should be my priority, but between us - I really just can't wait to set up a nook for my sewing machine and get some shelves so I can organize my stash once and for all.

I have it on good authority from the birthday fairy that I can look forward to receiving a bundle of Denyse Schmidt's Hope Valley collection!

*happy sigh*

I LOVE the colour-wave of DS's new line! So soft, feminine and pretty!

The best prices I've seen for a 1/2 yard of each fabric is over at fabricworm. Cynthia is selling 1/2 yard bundles for $102 USD. I've been looking around the net, and that's a sweet deal! If you've found the collection priced lower, please leave me a note!

-k

Sunday Stash #4

Grey Stash
Originally uploaded by Confessions of a Quiltaholic

This is an older photo of some of my stash. I went through a black & white & grey phase last summer. I had big ambitions to do a Denyse Schmidt "Single Girl" quilt using this palette. I'd still like to, as well. Once I can wrap my head around cutting out all those templates and squares.



The fabrics are a mix of Anna Griffin, unknowns and a Heather Ross print. I do love Heather Ross! I love her sense of whimsy that comes through in all her designs.

-k

String Quilt for my Dad

String Quilt for my Dad
Originally uploaded by Confessions of a Quiltaholic

This is the first (and only) string quilt I've made. But I'm looking forward to making many more! Especially after being inspired by Penny at sewtakeahike. Love, love, LOVE her gorgeous rainbow-hued "With a Little Help From My Friends" scrappy string quilt!

The fabric in this quilt is predominantly Amy Butler Midwestern Mod range with an Anna Griffin and a couple of unknown others thrown in. The backing is also from Amy Butler 's Midwestern Mod collection.


I made it for my father for Christmas last year, mostly as a Christmas gift but also as a HUGE thank you for the awesome Pfaff sewing machine he and my mom bought me the year before.

After making this quilt, my eye grew very tired of muted shades and now I am addicted to working with brighter colours against a white background.



-k

Sunday Stash #3

Pink stash
Originally uploaded by Confessions of a Quiltaholic

Ooops. I'm a day late but thought I'd post anyway...

I went through a pink phase a while ago and pulled these fabrics from my stash. It'll be a while before I'm back into quilting with pink but still, I find these really pretty to look at.

I've been steadily building up my stash over the last year or so (read: let my addiction run out of control), and started to collect conversation fabric. No idea what I'll do with the cupcake print but it might be fun to see a square of it in an "I Spy" quilt.

-k

Christmas Gift Tutorial Swap: Reversible Apron

Christmas Gift Tutorial Swap Apron
Originally uploaded by Confessions of a Quiltaholic

This is the Cottage Chic Cooking Apron tutorial I made for the Christmas Gift Tutorial Swap. I waited on posting a photo until after my swap partner, BJ Mama received it in the mail. I didn't want to spoil the surprise!



The reversible apron tutorial came from the amazingly talented Kathleen Doughtery at Grosgrain Fabulous. I am not half the seamstress she is, in fact I am quite a newbie. She suggests two hours to make this apron. For me? I needed, oh, twelve! Granted, that wasn't in one sitting and I also put it down to the fact this was the first time in my life I've ever sewn an apron, let alone reversible with a ruffle.



All in all, the tutorial is really easy and the instructions are clear, easy to follow too। When I made a second apron, it only took me four hours, so I'm guessing the more familiar I become with the pattern, and more importantly, the techniques, the faster everything will come together (within reason। If you can knock this off in thirty minutes, you are super-human).

Things that I changed on my second apron: I made the apron ties longer, the ruffle wider, and I cut the apron front & back in a bigger, more rounded "U" shape.



While the pattern doesn't stipulate using fat quarters, I found that you can easily use fat quarters and fudge the width by making your ruffle bigger (a look I like anyway).

I will definitely make a few more of these for Christmas gifts!

-k

Sunday Stash #2

New Stash
Originally uploaded by Confessions of a Quiltaholic

I'm playing around with the idea of using these fabrics to make some more potholders and coordinating tea towels for Christmas gifts.

I'm in love with fresh lemon and zesty orange right now, punctuated with hits of bright turquoise, cool greys and sharp brown.

Last week I was all about soft orange, gentle green and baby blue. Funny how the eye needs change!

- k

Christmas Coffee Cup Cozy

When Starbucks rolls out its iconic red Holiday cup, you know the season is upon you.

But who wants to be like everyone else, running around with the same cup (or cup sleeve)? Not me. So I whipped up this baby the other night when my friend N came over for a potluck dinner (she made the best homemade pizza) and some crafting.

Bonus - I get to save a few more paper cup sleeves over the holiday

season.

-k

Block Party Quilt-A-Long!!!!!

Trust me, you do NOT want to miss out on this! Block Party is having a quilt-a-long and you know how I was just writing in my last entry about blogs that have inspired me and my quilting over the last year? Well this is one of them.

Block Party started as a virtual quilting bee for twelve women spread out over the U.S. and let me tell you, all twelve women are gifted with great eyes for colour and style.

They're having a give-away too, so if you leave a comment on their blog, sign up, and blog about it, you get a chance to win some fabric that will make your heart skip a beat.

-k