Coming up empty handed

I'm a little bummed that my fabric design wasn't in the top 75 for the Project Selvage contest. There are some prints that I liked that didn't make the cut either, so in some sense I'm in good company. Oh well. At least I put it out there and it was a good exercise. My background is not in illustration or surface/pattern design, but I am a graphic designer. I would like to pursue fabric design still. OK... enough of my pity party.

Go vote for your favorite out the terrific designs here! There really are some fantastic choices.

Naptime Quilt

I've finished this for my daughter the week after Valentine's, but what can I say... things have been hectic. We've had one illness after another, after another, around here. I'm looking forward to spring! These colors are definitely a spring-y combination. The best is that my daughter loves it.

This sews up super quick. I added an extra fabric strip row to each side of the quilt so it will last my daughter a while. The green gingham on the back has some significance for me. When I was little, I had a favorite pillow that was green gingham satin. I couldn't sleep without that and my blankie.

Perfect for a two year old who loves pink

Quilted row by row, by me

Pattern: modified from For Ella's Sister from Jacquelynne Steves of The Noble Wife. Note that this pattern is better if you don't pre-wash. I did and mine had enough shrinkage that I had to piece the long strips and the sashing strips. I didn't pay attention to the 42" width. Ooops!

Fabrics: primarily Quite Contrary by My Mind's Eye for Riley Blake, Nicey Jane, a pink print I bought while in Australia by A Day in the Country, Flutterby, Sweet, Meadowsweet, Tracy Porter, and old pink print from Possibilities, plus some random scraps. The backing is a small lime gingham, which I think might be Moondance.

Project Selvage

Mod Monkeys

I just got an email thanking me for participating in Project Selvage. I'm crossing my fingers to make the top 75. There is some excellent competition! There are 1,092 entries, making the odds of being selected for the next round 6.8%, or less than 1 in 14. Many of the designs are just fantastic, so it will be interesting to see which ones Michael Miller selects.

I've never met a quilter I didn't like.

Life is too short to not have fun. When I think of quilting, I don't think serious. I think fun! It seems like some people are taking things too seriously lately. Live, and let live. What technique, fabric line, fabric style, quilt style, etc. that another quilter is using is cool with me. All of it will be created by a friend in quilting, someone who shares the same passion for a craft I love.

I've created this button to declare my attitude toward the art form. Feel free to put it on your blog too!

Starting a new kind of diet

1 yard in allowed for every 10 yards out. Starting..... NOW. :)

Recovery gifts for a friend

Chop, sew, chop, sew, chop, sew, quilt, bind.

Pillowcase

A friend and colleague has been terribly sick with cancer treatments, so I made these to help cheer her up. She said cool colors are what makes her happy. I made the pillowcase because she's been spending so much time in bed. The little table mat can go wherever. It could be nice for a large placemat, too. It is the first time sewing with batiks and with doing my own improv piecing. I hope they do cheer her up!

Happy St. Patricks!

Here are some green earrings I'll be sporting today. I just made them on Tuesday. May the luck 'o the Irish be with you.

Coral + Grey

I'm going to enter this necklace in a bead contest. It is sort of on a whim. I'm soooo not a professional beader or even someone who does it regularly. This came as a kit with some of the beads but you are supposed to make whatever you want out of it. It is due to be turned in tomorrow so wish me luck!

My favorite part is the waxed linen chain

It can be worn long or short.

In the works

I can't believe I'm finally cutting into these fabrics. They've been stashed away for awhile. Temple Flowers was Amy Butler's second line ever, I believe. The only thing holding me up from starting sewing is that I want to get my hands on a few Parisville prints to add into the mix.

I'm cutting out 10" squares and am going to make a potentially huge half square triangle quilt. I want to show off these fabric designs. I still have lots left over so I'll probably make another quilt out of them in the future.

I told my hubby I'd like to use these fabrics as a quilt for our bedroom and to redecorate. I think he just saw dollar signs and said no. I'm going to have to work harder than I thought to get him behind this one. Darn!