Recipe Exchange 2012

We're gearing up for another recipe/ornament exchange so I thought I would share last years invites with you -since I never got them up last year and this years will not be custom made....boo

 

I forgot how much I loved these! Maybe I will be on the ball again next year. One can only hope.

I also put together a cook book for all those who attend. Which is lots of fun to look back on. 

Will you be hosting a fun gathering this season?

 

Horse Quilt

So yes to answer Kelly's question this was my gift. 

The Mom-to-be is from Texas and loves horses (hence the theme) so I had the star-burst idea stuck in my head. Originally she was sure she was having a boy but it turned out to be a girl so I switched my original blue and green plans for light and bright pink. I am really happy with how it turned out. I did it in voile because they will always live in Florida so warmth isn't needed often. I didn't unfortunately think through how thin voile and piecing probably wasn't a good idea... so in the end I had to double the fabric. Which was a ginormous pain in the butt. Piecing a wonky design like this is bad enough with out trying to work with double the layers. In the end it definitely isn't the most square quilt but I think the funkiness of it will hopefully make up for it. 

I was originally planning to applique the horses but mom mentioned painting them - duh! So I cut horse stencils (using the same design that I put on the invites) So there is a horse for each family member. 

The stitching is hand quilted. I also stitched her name into the quilt just because it sounded awesome! 

Hopefully they enjoy it. 

Horse Baby Shower

We are apparently all parties here. 

We recently did a shower and it had a horse theme (LOVE) here are the invites. 

 We decided to simplify the spread this time and pack lunches for the guests. In case you think about doing this for a large party- it's not simpler it's a ton more work and energy. 

But it was fun and lovely when it was done.

Each box was packed with a croissant, chicken salad, potato salad and fruit salad. It was delicious! 

 blueberry and cherry trifles 

 peanut Butter and chocolate muffins

  

 We also had guest sign a book - how fun is that?!

  ,

Holiday Sale in the Shop

Just wanted to pop in here and let everyone know we are running a sale over at the shop. 

It will run through November 16 and is good for 

10% off your purchase. 

Just use HOLIDAY13 at check out! 

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Plus Quilt

Several years ago, while working at an amazing place, I bought a ton of this American Jane Recess fabric by Sandy Klop. I always meant to make a quilt with it. I made some other stuff, Jessica made quite a few things, yet it wasn't until this year that I finally decided to treat myself to the quilt I wanted. 

Almost six years it took me, I may be a bit slow....

I'm kinda glad I waited though because if I'd have made it back then, it wouldn't be this quilt. 

I love this quilt.

I used only one of each pattern/color for the pluses. The background is blue dot stripe. No pattern, just cutting up 4.5 inch squares and seeing what happened. Pieced and quilted with Aurifil thread. 

I backed the whole thing in Maggie's dress navy. 

It lives on my couch for now and it makes me happy every time I look at it. It made me even happier to come home one day to it being used as a fort by two sweet babes. 

Because that's what it's all about.

Backpack and Dress

There are so, so many things I haven't shown you. 

Way back at the beginning of this year, I had a request for a backpack. 

FYI - I am now a licensed seller of  Made By Rae Toddler backpacks. 

I gave her a few choices and this was the combo she liked. The fabric is Chocolate Lollipop Pink by Anna Maria Horner. The piping is Kona Cotton in corn yellow. 

I really like the way it turned out. 

This dress. 

I found some gorgeous linen on clearance at Joann. There was just enough to make up the Ice Cream dress by Oliver & S patterns for Bella. I bought it without Jess knowing. She pinned this dress about the same time. You can't see it much in these pictures but the neck and pocket facings are almost the same color as the inspiration dress. I actually had it in my stash! Of course, Miss Bella has grown so much in the last few months, it's now more of a top on her.

Maybe one day, she will enjoy modelling for us.....

Blogger's Quilt Festival 2013

My apologies to those of you who are tired of this quilt..... When Jess and I finished it, I had no idea that the Blogger's Quilt Festival  by Amy's Creative Side was just around the corner. It is so fun to see all of the amazing quilts people make! I've always wanted to participate, yet always manage to forget. This quilt is the one that made me go ahead and jump in. 

  For the long version, you can read more here.  The short version is, this was made in four very long days of sewing, for a special couple who are going through a tough time. We needed to send them a hug.

My daughter and I started piecing with no set plan other than ROYGBIV and the lyrics we would applique.

It measures 60 x 60 and is perfect for two to snuggle in. We backed it in a lovely herringbone flannel  from Joann, binding and applique are black Kona cotton, pieced and quilted with Aurifil thread, and we used Nature's Touch by Pellon for the batting. 

We love this quilt so much and are so glad to have been able to make it and send it to such a sweet couple. 

I have entered this into the ROYGBIV category. If you haven't already, go look, there are some amazing quilts there.

Thank you for stopping by!

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When a Quilt is Like a Hug

About two and a half months ago a sweet young couple, Andrew and Sharria got married. Six weeks later they found out that Andrew was very ill. When Jess and I heard about this, we felt pretty heart broken. We've known this family longer than My Guy and I have been married.  

The day after we found out, I read Sharria's FB post, she said she had been singing this children's Bible class song to herself. 

Then I couldn't get the song out of my head. 

The next day, I told Jess we needed to make them a quilt. 

She said of course. 

For the next four days we worked and it was pretty awesome. I don't like to be too publicly emotional about things but, this was, for me, a prayer vigil for this couple. Jess and I wanted them to have something tangible to hold onto while they are going through this time, something to help them remember there are a lot of people praying.

Jess and I knew we wanted a scrappy rainbow quilt. Rainbows are hope and promise.

 We were inspired by this quilt at crazy mom quilts.

 I knew I wanted the lyrics appliqued on the quilt and even though Jess thought I was a bit crazy for choosing to applique it, she went along with it and cut the all letters out for me. 

 I cannot tell you how much we both adore this quilt. How happy it made us to send it off in time for their journey. How much we hope they continue to feel the love we sewed into this.

 Because quilting is a community thing, I have scraps from friends. These are a couple of scraps I really enjoyed using in the quilt. Thanks ladies.

 Jessica found a lovely herringbone flannel at Joann. We did simple wobbly organic straight line quilting. All of our piecing and quilting was done with Aurifil thread. 

 Andrew goes in for surgery today. If you have a moment please say a prayer for him, and his family.

If you'd like to read more about this couple you can go here to their Rally for Andrew page or here for their Face Book page.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Bella's Birthday! ... Finally...

So 5 months later I am going to share Bella's party with you... 

I wanted a Fruhlings Fest theme... but people here wouldn't really get that so I just had that in the back of my mind with the decorations.

The invites. Oh dear I just LOVE them! 

A lovely girl who we met through worship took most of the photos. She is actually in the process of moving to New York so unfortunately I won't be able to continue to take advantage of her expertise. But you can check her out on Facebook here.

The party decorations turned out bright and festive. Just what I was hoping for. And the weather cooperated unlike on Micah's first birthday. 

 Fest cookies, a necessity for any party. 

I DIY'd the glitter letters. 

 and made a lot of Shot Cotton pennants 

 The pinata Beehive.... which may have been a little bit too well made....the bees are made of sculpey and painted. We removed them before destroying it. Instead of filling it with candy it was filled with confetti. Each kid received a cotton drawstring bag... which had bubbles, a squirt gun, a ball, and playdough. I tried come up with things that could be used up and purged easily when the parents were over it. 

 We went easy on the menu and just had Pulled Pork, fruit, baked beans, and cut vegetables. 

 Someone took the singing and cake much better then Micah. She never has minded attention! 

 I can't believe Bella is already one let alone almost one and a half now!