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Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Spring Bloom Blog Hop

HAPPY EARTH DAY!!!!

I am very excited to be part of the Spring Bloom Blog Hop---and there couldn't be a better day for it!  I hope you will follow along to be inspired by all the amazing projects that have sprouted up from this beautiful fabric from talented designer Amanda Caronia!


Be sure to check out all the stops:




April 23 Jessica Darling









May 2 Bella Caronia Blog That’s a Wrap



Now...on to the sewing...


Did you ever have one of those weeks?  I am sure you have---all the time right?  Ballet recital weekend, which means rehearsals, performances and family dinners, then work all-day meetings followed by dinners, and of course it is April, so...taxes.  *sigh*

Anyway, all that to say, I did not get as far as I would have liked with this project, but here goes...you will get the idea.  And, for the record, my bedroom is filled with clothes not put away, my kitchen floor is filthy and I am pretty sure there is a stack of bills to pay somewhere, but I don't think I have lost one of the children yet, so that is a plus.

In the midst of all the to-ing and fro-ing, it is nice to stop.

Take a deep breath.

And go do something that adds beauty and creativity to your day.  How refeshing!



I was really excited to mix Spring Bloom with Artisan Cottons---both arriving (conveniently) in stores now.  These two fabrics lines play so nicely together, I was having a hard time narrowing down my choices.  Thanks to those who helped me pick on IG!




I went with the cool colors.


I am currently obsessed with triangle quilts, so I busted out my Hex'n More ruler from JayBird Quilts.  Be sure to check out Julie Herman's site to learn more and find amazing triangle quilt inspiration!


I hope you can see where this is going and how gorgeous these fabrics are!  I knew as soon as I saw these bright and colorful florals that they would be making an appearance on my sewing table and I can't wait to keep playing! (screw the dirty laundry)


Leave a comment here, on IG and repost the link to the blog hop to be entered to win a FQ bundle of Spring Bloom!

This giveaway is now closed!  Thanks to all who stopped by. The winner is Donna C.  



Saturday, April 4, 2015

New traditions

This weekend being Easter, I have been reflecting on tradition, religion, family and celebration.  Even though I was raised as a Catholic, I haven't been a practicing Catholic for a long time---and neither was my mother, for that matter.  Even still, we would always celebrate together.  This was our celebration last year at her house.  As this holiday rolls around again, without my mom, I feel even less cultural connection to it and yet...I yearn to mark it in some way.  

It occurred to me today as we finished up these hand-mades for my soon-to-be niece, that my mom is with us.  She---generous, festive, maker, lover of babies, do-er for others---would be happy and proud that we are marking our holiday by making for Dazzle.  I just wish she was here to see the results.

I recently brought home some scraps of this fabric line, "Rumble" by Whistler Studios for Windham Fabrics from the office.  The samples were just kicking around and I thought I could make a quilt "Charm Box" quilt for an upcoming school auction.


My seven year old quickly jumped in and decided he wanted to sew a quilt for his new cousin, arriving at the end of this month.  Once this boy gets something in his head there is no stopping him, so off he went.


By the end of the weekend we were pinning.


Quilting.


Binding and labeling.  


Since I can't pick up the phone and tell my mom...I will tell you.  My favorite part of this experience was when he got a big smile on his face and looked up at me and said, "Mom! Now we have something in common---because I love sewing too!!"


All this one-on-one mom time (and a MACHINE) made his siblings want to join in the fun.  This Ahoy Matey fabric (also Whistler Studios for Windham Fabrics) was perfect for my ten year old to stitch up into baby washcloths backed with terrycloth.


Any my five year old had just enough patience to make a pillow top (with some help from mom of course---basically he just wanted to step on the foot pedal of the machine).

 



Doing their grandmother proud, by the end of two weekends they ended up with a sweet pile of hand-mades for their new cousin.



Wishing you and yours a Happy Easter filled with love, traditions---old and new---and the hope for new beginnings.

xoxo Nell