Looky looky!

In spite of this sweet baby girl (try to deny it, but she really is the sweetest little girl!):

And these four crazy trick-or-treaters:

I was actually able to do this today:

I wanted to participate in Rachel's quilt-a-long many moons ago, but I was in my second-to-last quarter at UW and just didn't have the time.

Funny that I think I have the time now that I have a newborn, am homeschooling my two oldest kids and I have three birthdays to celebrate this weekend. But hey, it's all relative, right?

I'm halfway through on my blocks and am so excited to get this quilt top done this week. The weather here in Northern Idaho is chilly-dog and we're in need of more quilts.

Blogger's Quilt Festival

I like things to be matchy-matchy. I made my first quilt when I was 18 or 19. This was back in the day when you chose maybe three coordinating fabrics. I made a double Irish chain using a yellow solid, a French blue check and a white on white floral. I still have that quilt and I still love that quilt.

But I needed to move on. Scrappy quilts scared me. I liked looking at them, but wasn't sure if I could make them. Now I know this quilt isn't as scrappy as it could be. I've since done scrappier, promise. But it was a challenge for me to mix the fabrics, even from the same line, and make something beautiful out of it. I loved this pattern so much, I'm ashamed to say I've made half a dozen just like it. But I've given two away, so that's a good thing.


I waited a long time to quilt this quilt. It's funny, but when my Henry was born (over 2 years ago), my Gran gave me some money to spend on me. I, naturally, bought fabric. I bought the fabric to make this quilt and while I got the quilt top done forever ago, I didn't quilt it. Well, Aaron bought me my Juki in May, just a few weeks after my Gran passed away, and I finally, FINALLY worked up the nerve to quilt it. What did I learn? That straight line quilting can be a better idea than free motion quilting. I learned that imperfections should be expected and not fretted over. And I learned that finished quilts are so much nicer than unfinished ones!

Enjoy the rest of the festival - I know I am going to do some serious blog hopping! So many great quilts with great stories.

Oh. And in case you were wondering, here are the specifics on this quilt:

Pattern: Matchbox by Abbey Lane Quilts
Fabric: Oh Cherry Oh by Me and My Sister (don't try to find it - I'm buying up all that I can!)

Finished!

Laurel, as Abigail Adams. I think it turned out beautifully. She was very happy, and that's what counts. I am hoping next year she opts for something simpler, but she's already talking about being a cobra. Sigh. That's what happens when you raise a geek.

And I wouldn't have it any other way!

Future Project

Oh, who am I kidding? I want to get started right away on this. But I won't. I will finish up that costume and the dresses for November before I allow myself to get going. But I want to, so desperately.

I was cruising around on etsy when I discovered this stack o' lovelies. An Oh Cherry Oh fat quarter bundle. Someone was destashing and I was going to reap the rewards. This is my all-time favorite line of fabric and I keep buying it for different projects.

What will I make with it this time? Well, I'm so glad you asked. I plan on making this quilt, times two (one using the pinks/greens and one using the reds/aquas). You can buy the pattern here.
Can I just say I love Allison's patterns? This isn't the first one, or the last one, I've purchased. I've got a Kaleidoscope in the works, and I'm dreaming of what I'll use to make the Seville quilt and the Basket Case quilt. I still need to buy the Shortcake and Sugar Dish patterns. But that's for later. I've got too many WIPs and future WIPs to add to the pile.

But that won't stop me from making these little fabric baskets. I will have some yellow FQ left over from that bundle, and as my sewing room is decorated in yellow, I thought, why not? I'm always need storage spots for scraps and "stuff" - these will be perfect!

Okay, baby is sleeping now (I was taking a nursing break, so don't think I was just wasting time - I was multi-tasking!). Back to the Abigail Adams costume.

To Do Tuesday

The trunk or treat is Friday night. Laurel's costume is cut out, but I have to get sewing. Thank goodness for Gran last week and Opa this week. I'd never get this done in time without their help. The only reason I have time to blog this at all is because baby Caroline eats all the time!

If I get it done early, I'm going to make trick-or-treat bags for the kids as well. We'll see. I'm not going for crazy ambitious, but I would like to check these off my list. After Halloween is over, I get to bury myself in white fabric to make a blessing dress for Caroline and a baptism dress for Laurel. Oh, and Laurel's scripture bag as well. Sheesh, then we jump into Christmas sewing!

Have a lovely, productive week!