Stitch Rabbit

Quilt Binding and Tiny Sewing Lessons

I'm almost done my quilt...just finishing the binding - and I have to say I love the mitered edge of the binding. I've been following along in a book I received as a giveaway prize (Thanks Sew Mama Sew!) The book is called Simplify - Quilts For The Modern Home by Camille Roskelly. Camille does an excellent job explaining how the different components of the structure of a quilt and she gives some fantastic tips to make a great quilt. Being new to quilting, I found the book instructions simple to follow, the pictures beautiful and of course, her quilts inspirational. Next up for me: Freehand Machine Quilting. I practiced a bit with some scraps and did pretty well, though not well enough that I felt confident not to ruin this quilt with uneven scribbling, so I opted to straight line quilt this one. I think I would like to take a class in Freehand. Can't wait to try it out on a real quilt! (Maybe just a tiny, tiny quilt to start).

 

Somebody tiny and adorable also got some sewing lessons this weekend...though after the whole "Mommy sewed a needle through her finger and then almost fainted" incident, I thought she'd never go near my sewing machine again. Yikes. But she wanted to make a tiny bag for her tiny treasures, so she hand sewed for awhile, but then decided she wanted to join the big leagues. So I pulled her onto my lap and she held the fabric and stitch, stitch, we've got one tiny little bag and one very proud little girl. She'll be making her own dresses in no time!

 

Needle Holding Birthday Gift

It's my Mom's birthday and I knew she had admired the first knitting needle holder I made, so I decided to make one just for her. It's such a fast and easy project and uses elements of bag making so it's fun to construct. Maybe I should make a tutorial?

 

I have to say though, the entire time I was working on this one all I could hear in my head was  "Put.A.Bird.On It!"  If you don't know what I'm talking about watch this:

 

This clip from the new comedy show Portlandia had me howling - as I'm sure the rest of the craft/design community! Have a great weekend - see you on Monday!

 

 

A Goup of Lovelies

Here's to a great weekend of new bedtimes and happy children and creative moments and love.       Love, love love- all the time.

Posting a few of my favorite lovelies around the blog world this week. Click on the picture to take you to the link!

 

Hearts by Dottie Angel. Love her photos!

 

Adorable sweater and turban by Pickles. Makes me want another baby. Now.

 

Crocheted Hearts found via Blair at Wise Craft

 

Felted Hot Pads Tutorial over at The Purl Bee

The Issue of Sleep

I've said it over and over, shouted it to the roof tops  - I need my crafty time - the evenings are mine all mine. After the kids go to bed I spend the nights wandering in and out of the sewing room, working on projects, taking pictures, sewing or knitting until (sometimes) the wee hours of the morning. My kids have an earlier bedtime compared to most of their friends, it's almost a golden rule around here, so Mama can do her own thing. Like make pants and skirts. For them.

But I've gone and got reeeeal greedy.

It happened slowly, an evolution that, like most parenting evolutions, looked so obvious and predictable in hindsight that I should've seen it coming. A few nights here, a few nights there, the bedtime was a little *tiny* bit earlier than usual, due to Mommy being tired, the bath ending quicker than usual due to soap in the eyes, or - I'll admit it - due to an exciting sewing project waiting impatiently in the wings for the ol' nighty-night. So the kids were going to bed early. What the heck, it was winter. It was so nice. It was so...quiet.

My kids sleep a pretty clockwork twelve hours and we've always been pretty lucky in the sleep department with Charlie, there were never that many sleepless nights with him. (Second time around, I think you just know better than to let your baby get up in the middle of the night) So it's been awhile that the whole family has been rising together at the very reasonable hour of 8:00 am. Unfortunately the luxury of the longer quiet evenings came with the earlier wakey-wakey. The 8:00 am wake up smack on the head or book in the face became the 7:00 am wake up call. And the earlier they got up, the earlier they were going down because they were exhausted. It snowballed on me.

So I have something I have to confess here. For the past few nights, my kids have been in bed - snoozing - at 6:30 pm. Not by my choice. By their own, exhausted little made up minds, because they have been waking up so early. And now, even earlier than humanly thought possible....at (I can barely say it) FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

I've created two early-rising monsters.

This is all changing tomorrow. I, along with the help of Gabriel, vow to keep our children up way past their bedtime for the next week, no matter how tired they are, no matter how done we are, no matter what quilt/hat/pants/doll/spring dress needs my immediate attention in the studio. We vow to break this vicious cycle and rid our children of the early-morning tyranny that has leaked into their souls. I am hoping that in one week we will be harmonious again in our beds, happily snoring until the sun has fully risen over the east.

We will sleep in again.

 

The one plus side to this family walking around like zombies today? We got us a brand new quilt to snuggle under. 

 

 

Stash-Tastic.

I got my stash cupboards cleaned out and reorganized. Like I've said before, when my cupboards get messy so do I. I become a much more careless (carefree??) sewer when everything is in disarray...and I don't do well in carefree. Not when I'm supposed to be quilting....

I'm only showing you one cupboard, I'm feeling a little embarrassed to bare it all to you.... my mother reads my blog and she will forever hold it against me - she is fiercely made fun of for the size of her yarn and fabric stash - by our entire family.

 

I also cleaned house a little - not a lot, but enough to make a dent in that basket of scraps-turned-strips for that rag rug I've been talking about for the last five years..

 

I also finished my quilt top!! For the new quilt, not the old quilt. The old quilt has taken a back seat again. Again, I have to reinstate - it's not that I love any quilt more, it just happened this way. The old quilt is still a lovely, lovely quilt, it's just more time-consuming and it's just going to take me, well, more time.

I dropped by Spool of Thread last night before their evening Beginners Sewing Class (the cuties were making pillow cases!) to pick up the backing for the (new) quilt. FYI: Spool of Thread has EVERY SINGLE Kona solid now. I saw it with my own two eyes, some still wrapped in plastic. Also have a lot more fabric in, though I didn't dare look cause Gabriel was with me and I've been to the fabric stores twice this week. I'll have to go "grocery shopping" later this week.

Came home ready to make me a mean quilt sandwich and realized the batting I had planned for this quilt had a large, ironing board shaped cutout in it....oh yeah, right. I forgot about that.

So, (sigh) the quilty sandwich of love is going to have to wait till tonight...

 

 

 

What Things Are Waiting For Me

I have finally - FINALLY made myself a new ironing board cover. I just spent the last month and a half ironing on a towel - it doesn't work at all, and isn't nearly as pretty as this Free Spirit fabric...

(and to those of you that don't SEW - I do NOT iron already made clothes. Not at all, not ever. I use my ironing board for SEWING purposes, which somehow makes me less domestic, more artistic. Right?)

What is waiting for me is the piecing of the old quilt, the finishing of the new quilt and the beginning of the thirty other projects that I have waiting in the wings. That towel was holding me back, I swear.

 

I picked up some (non) floral fabric at the shop the other day and a few Kona solids. I actually muttered to myself while gazing fondly at this beautiful fabric "No Floral" and this woman next to me laughed. Glad to know I'm not the only one. I am trying to even out my stash so it's not so much the big and tiny flowers, more stripes and solids so my patchwork doesn't end up looking like a garden. Though I love me some floral...Aims will vouch for that.

What is waiting for me is my stash cupboard to be cleaned and organized. It is looking nothing like this, this or this right now. But I want it too...soooo much.

 

I went on a mama trip last week - a whirl wind one day on ferries and everything with no kids - no kids!! It was fast and hilarious and we brought knitting and I loved every second. I love being with my friends, my mamas.

What is waiting for me is the start up of a stitch and bitch, or a witch and stitch, or a drink and stitch...whatever you wanna call it I wanna start it up. Cause we all deserve a little drink with the witches and the sticks.

 

I got the very awesome privilage of watching my beautiful daughter skate with her Papa at my childhood ice rink last week as well. I can tell you that I couldn't really hide the big, wimpy, nostalgic tears that were coming down my face watching them both have So. Much. Fun.

What is waiting for me is Tuesdasy Toonie skate with my daughter, so we can make some of our own nostalgic memories.

 

I hope you all have things that are waiting for you this week...I'll let you know how the list goes.

 

 

 

Around Here On A Sunday.

Lazy, easy Sunday mornings...

 

A New (Family) Room.

I took the kids to my parents house a few days ago so we could clear out of the house. The reason being was that it was finally time for us to rip up the carpet (yuck) in our bedroom and lay some laminate down instead. We were out for only a few hours when Gabe phoned to tell me just what he unearthed under the carpet. Hardwood! We always assumed it was a plywood floor as the room was an extension off the original house. Two days later, we came home to this:

 

Beautiful.

 

Of course, with the room empty and the floor newly transformed, we decided it was time for an impromptu paint party. We set up the kids on a living room bed for the night (very exciting - there was a lot of pre-sleep giggling) and got to work. Now Gabe and I have very different ideas on the use of color in wall painting. I'm a rich, darker, jewel-toned kind of girl and Gabriel is, well, a Mexican fiesta kind of guy. Really. Oranges, pinks, reds. We met in the middle with little fuss and each chose a color (though he snuck in the pink in Frankie's bedroom color. She loves it, there for so do I. Here's a few photos of our brand new room:

 

 

 

The corner with the mini-recliner is a great new spot for the kids, a tiny rug under their feet and a tiny bookshelf stocked with all their quiet-time favorites. Every time it gets quiet in the house I peek in and there they are, reading in their cozy new spot.

Above our bed is the sign that Gabe made for our wedding day. It was lit up and perched on this amazing vintage adult tricycle (thank you Auntie Susan) at the top of the driveway for all our guests to find their way. Now it lights up our bedroom with that great glow you can only get from multi-colored Christmas lights. Perfect.

 

 

Coffee Shrine

In this house, coffee reigns supreme. Coffee is the root of all existence in this household - for real.  Having a husband like Gabriel means that it isn't just any old coffee either. We don't own a drip machine. We used to use a french press - and I made a damn fine pot - but he would scoff at almost every cup. No no, in this house we drink cappuccinos for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We wouldn't have it any other way. We use an ancient manual lever La Pavoni and I love it for its eccentric looks and its gift of life.   (We also have a vintage four shot La Pavoni in our basement but it's WAY too huge for our tiny, tiny kitchen.) I recently bought Gabriel the bean grinder sitting on the left of the machine. But it was getting a little crowded on the kitchen counter and Gabriel has been dreaming up this coffee shrine cabinet for a long time coming. That dream finally came true.He makes great stuff hey?

 

 

I love our new Ode to The Cappuccino Station. It's the central hub in the morning, already. One of us making the morning cups while we chat about the day, the kids eating breakfast, the hiss of the machine ready to steam frothy milk for our coffees. A piece of our life.

 

Coming tomorrow - the real reason why I haven't been quilting for the last four days...

 

 

A Quick Thrift in Mennonite Land

My parents live in Mennonite country. This means a few things. Great produce, great dairy, and incredible thrifting for the crafty. I rarely take a trip out this way without slipping away for a few hours to do the thrifty rounds. Lots of great dishes, lots of vintage sheets and aprons, and LOTS of fabric. For stinking cheap. Here's a peek at a few things I picked up today. Can't wait to get home to the work my husband has been up to at home. ( not telling you yet - you'll have to wait!)

A Guilty Conscience Grows A Good Quilt

 My guilty conscience has gotten to me.

During all that adoring over the new quilting fabric I had picked up at the store the other day and all during the quick execution of the blocks for it, I couldn't help but keep looking up at that suitcase on the top of my fabric armoire. I would stare at it from my sewing table, sighing heavily, thinking of the quilt inside that I had so carelessly tossed aside in favour of this new fabric. It wasn't that I loved the new fabric more - or the old quilt project less...it just happened. My attention had shifted, my enthusiasm departed for something else for the moment. A thin layer of dust blanked the top of the suitcase and the handle, the luggage tag swaying ever so gently when the heat came on...it's words haunting me in the night..."Quilt Projects"...unfinished...still..

So I've brought it back out and am bringing it home. In all it's glory. I forgot how much I love making this quilt. It's a great quilt.

 

And the blocks I just finished for that new quilt? They're at the back of the line, rightfully so. 

In Her World.

in Her world everything is pink

and purple and sparkly

and there is nothing cuter than puppies

nothing better than homemade cookies

in Her world twirly skirts and felted crowns

are the only thing

anybody ought to wear

any day of the week

in Her world her Daddy is the strongest Daddy

and her Mommy can fix anything

with a kiss

in Her world

every song is a broadway dance number

filled with tippy-toes and bends

and a captivated audience at the kitchen table

in Her world there is only peace and love

no complicated relationships

no money, no bills, no demands

in Her world, I like to be

wishing for Her, that it would always be.

 

 

A finished product of cold rainy nights, and one beautiful snow day....I have made something for myself. It wasn't originally supposed to be for me - it was a hat for Frankie - but I cast on far too many stitches for a four year old head and besides - I haven't had my hair cut in a couple of months and I need a hat - really. I used a hat pattern from Erika Knight's book "Mens Knits: 20 New Classics", but elaborated to make it more of a slouchy hat, less fitted. And I added stripes. I like stripes.

 

 
The winter knitting has far from slowed down around here - I still have projects on the sticks - some of them slightly ambitious - possibly turning into spring projects as well... but I am definitely feeling the sewing surge again after the holiday crash. No deadlines, no gifts, just pure and simple "I wanna make it so I'm gonna" sewing. The new quilt is on it's way...a block here, a block there. It's very moody looking with all the purples and reds and greens, and I like it like that.

 

 

Follow Me!! (Wherever I May Go) On BlogLovin'

Elsie at A Beautiful Mess turned me onto a great blog subscription website called BlogLovin'.

For those of you who don't know much about blog subscription websites here's the deal:

So you have some favorite blogs you like to read, on the daily (like mine, ahem.) But it's really annoying and time-consuming to go to each site separately or find them in your bookmarks, and then discover that they haven't even written in four days (baaaad blogger, baaaad) Well with BlogLovin' you simply - and I mean SIMPLY type in the URL of the blog you want to follow and it's added to your list, which then acts as a newsfeed giving you all the updates, to all the blogs you read, in ONE PLACE. Amazing.

Follow my blog with bloglovin

A Finished Dress and A New Quilt

A new dress for my baby girl...who's not as little as I seem to recall because the dress is shorter than I expected it to be...she loves it regardless. I didn't follow the pattern and prefer the way it turned out. Rather than just the lace on the front I added a bib with a different fabric for some pop, shortened the sleeves and added a gather on the shoulders - I'm a sucker for a sleeve gather.

 

 

I took a trip to the fabric store to add one or two more patterns to that blue/yellow/green quilt I've been planning on. Yeah right. "One or Two more fabrics"... I came across this palette of colors, got all hot and bothered in the store and walked out with an armload of fabric wondering how I was going to sneak it past my husband. I've nixed the green/blue quilt for now in favour of these fabrics...I started cutting my squares tonight. I think this one will come along quickly as my next week looks sweetly empty on the calendar...

 

 

Nice, hey? Just don't tell the year-long unfinished quilt stashed in the suitcase about this, alright?