Stash!

I have been on a bit of a "fabric diet" of late. Just though I had "enough."

Well, I was mistaken.

So, here are some of my new goodies! Happy happy!

First off, some Tanya Whelan Dolce. Love this line, but had resisted, until it was on sale at Pink Panda Fabrics, my favorite online Canadian fabric store. Cheryl, who owns it, was super sweet and even threw in a few pieces of Heather Bailey and Sandi Henderson as a treat- thanks, Cheryl! Also from Pink Panda, I picked up this Michael Miller print which I have been eyeing for awhile. Plus I got me a stack of solids from my local quilt store- I have a plan.....
Finally, I am going to let you in on a secret. Sometimes, I buy NON-DESIGNER fabric. Yes, it is true. I am not ashamed. Because, sometimes it is super cute, and at under $4 per yard, this birdy line was "cheap" as well: We all know diets don't last...boy did I have fun breaking mine!

Back to school (Thank God)

Am I the only mom who was eagerly awaiting this moment? I love my kids, and we had a great summer together and all, but I have been longing for just a wee bit of time for ME..... This is a big year at our house- my baby is in preschool. That means I have TWO HOURS, two mornings a week to myself. That feels like Christmas. What will I do with all that time? As I look around me, I should probably pencil in some house cleaning, and maybe organize a closest or two (or all) before all those carefully packed items fall out and give someone a concussion. But for now, I am going to have me a cup of tea, put my feet up, and blog away....ahhhh!

But yet....I would be remiss if I didn't admit that I do feel a little pang, you know that place, deep in the chest cavity of moms, seeing their little ones walk off into the unknown. But I won't dwell on that. A cookie with my tea will help- chocolate therapy.

Last But Not Least, my 3 year old, was the first to start. Her first day was Tuesday. She has been begging to go to school like her siblings for the last year.

Despite the chilly weather marking the onset of fall here, she insisted she must wear a sleeveless dress with pockets for her first day. Far be it from me to argue with that sassy little thing unless necessary (pick your battles, right?), so away she went. My most outgoing, she still clung a bit to me, though no tears. Afterwards, she chatted about all her new friends, then dug a notebook and pencil from the drawer and declared, "Well Mom, I am in school now, so I better do some homework" and proceeded to scribble away. Be still my heart!

Wednesday, it was time for my oldest, age 6, to start his first day of Grade 1. Full days! And it seems like only yesterday..... He is my most resistant to change, shy as can be, but he handled it so well- so proud of my boy.

Thursday, it was The Middle Child's turn. Kindergarten! She basically ran in the door, with a "Bye, Mom!" wave over her shoulder, leaving me with a tear in my eye.

So here I am, enjoying a rare moment of piece and quiet... I am such a lucky lady, in so many ways!

We have a winner!

Thanks to everyone for entering the giveaway! I went to Random.org and the winner is.....

Robyn of Coffee and Cotton!

Robyn said "I love the look of your redesign...and I am very picky about graphic design =)" Thanks! Robyn, your blogger is set to "no reply" so I am trying to contact you via your blog...I need your address to send you the goodies! You win this nice bundle of Nicey Jane Fat Quarters:
And a lovely set of notecards, personalized to your liking by Paper by Paperdolls. Here are the ones that were made for me- aren't they sweet? Speaking of Nicey Jane..... I didn't give away ALL of it! I may just be working on something. Maybe..... ;-)

Wow....

So, I came home from the long weekend to an inbox full of awesome comments! Turns out my Bias Tote Tutorial was featured on Someday Crafts, and then was picked up there and again featured on Craft Gossip. And then again on One Pretty Thing. Wow! I am blown away. Thanks so much for all the great feedback!

Linking up at Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story again today. Go check out all the great creations!

"Feminist Boy" baby quilt

Note: Don't forget to enter my "New Blog Design Giveaway" here.

Yes, there is a story behind the quilt name!

A good friend of ours, who incidentally introduced my hubby and I 17+ years ago, had finally settled down with a lovely wife a few years ago. Both busy professionals, they started trying to have a baby, and as sometimes happens....well, it wasn't so easy. They had suffered several miscarriages, when finally, B. changed jobs, and things came together for them. She is certain that it has to do with leaving the stress of her prior job. They are due with a little boy this fall! Both from families with mostly females, when asked how they would deal with a boy, B. replied, "No matter, he will be a feminist regardless." Knowing them, this is certain to be true :-) Thus, the name of the quilt!

I used mostly Joel Dewberry Modern Meadow fabrics for this quilt- I absolutely love this line! The colors are fantastic, and a great go-to for a masculine quilt. I added a few solids, as well tried something new by adding some fabrics of texture.
I am terrible with the names of fabrics....the white is velour-like, and the corduroy is extra soft- I used this for the binding as well.

I also added just a single square of red (non-cotton, kind of suiting-type?) material to both the back and front, just to draw the eye.
As another first, I tried out some hand quilting using my Perle 8 thread in conjunction with some machine quilting at 1/4 inch from the seams. I loved hand quilting! I found it very therapeutic to sit and stitch. I just did some random lines, using colors coordinating with the quilt, and again just a touch of red. These added a bit of something to the front, but where they really shine is on the back:
I used a dark navy solid for the back, which really highlights the hand quilting, and pieced it with with some squares. I love a pieced back, it is like a bonus, a happy surprise. Of course, this quilt has lots of "character" (i.e. crooked and uneven stitches!)......best admired from afar :-)
In another quilting update, the twin quilts (plus 1) are complete! Just waiting on those babies....at 38 weeks already! Their Momma is a trouper! Here is a preview....the full reveal when these little guys finally make their debut, so I can do the finishing touches!

p.s It is Sew and Tell Friday at amylouwho again today....go check out the great accomplishment of the week :-)

New blog design and a giveaway!

This giveaway is now closed. But don't worry, new ones in the works!

Well, I have been fooling around with this blogging thing for about 4 months now having a ton of fun, and I think it is going to stick! So I thought it was time to give this blog some style, and make it a bit more "me." I have absolutely no skills in the graphic design area, so I asked my incredibly talented and generous and generally awesome friend Sam if she had any ideas, thinking she could design me a banner across the top. And then she emails me THIS! No, she is not a professional web designer, she just "figured it out." How the heck she does these things I have no idea, but she is amazing. Now I feel like the quality of the crap I make is going to have to be turned up a notch to fit in around here, eh?

I was giddy and decided we needed to celebrate- my first giveaway! So, I have set aside a stack of 8 fat quarters of my favorite Heather Bailey Nicey Jane material for you!! I know my favorite giveaways often involve fabric (not that I have ever won one....not bitter or anything). Also, Samantha, who, along with her Jack & Addy website also has a new personalized paper company called Paper by Paperdolls, has generously donated a set of notecards, in a gorgous linen holder (much like the sweet ones she gave me here), that will be personalized to your liking. Sweet!

Here's how to enter:
1. Leave a comment! Anything will do! Please make sure your blogger is set so that I can e-mail you if you win.
2. Blog about the giveaway on your blog with a link, and then leave a second comment with a link to your site (I love checking out other sites!)

That's it. The giveaway is open to followers and those who just drop in from time to time- I am not into that whole bribe-to-follow-me thing....if you want to follow, do (and I appreciate you guys!), but no need if you want to just be casual in our relationship :-)

I will post the winner next Thursday. Good luck!

Black thumb canning

Hello, my name is Kristie, and I have a Black Thumb. The exact opposite of a Green Thumb, that is. I cannot grow a plant to save my life. Just ask this guy: A kind friend did a kind deed by giving me this orchid (at the time, it was really pretty). Little did she know, she had made herself an accomplice to MURDER (insert eviiiil laugh). It took me less than a month to kill it.....I do read the instructions (and mostly follow them), but no matter. Any plant entering my home has its days numbered. My excuse is that I keep 3 kids, a dog, my husband and myself alive- isn't that enough?

But, in Manitoba, there is a mighty hearty perennial called the rhubarb plant. We inherited a super strong and healthy plant when we bought our current house, 3 years ago. It was HUGE- produced stalks as tall as my kids! Great for all sorts of cooking and baking.
Last summer we had our yard redone, and I asked the landscaper to save my rhubarb plant. He forgot, and it got folded into the soil, and covered in a layer of tarp, and then rocks (when the landscaper asked what I would like in my garden, my answer was "rocks"). Wouldn't you know it, but that darn plant managed to push up from under the tarp, break through the rocks and grow! That is a serious survival instinct! So, I made rhubarb cookies (seriously amazing). And rhubarb crisps. And today, rhubarb jam. I got an awesome apple rhubarb jam recipe that tastes like apple pie on your toast- yum! While I was at the canning, I also made some of my favorite peach tomato salsa (with all store-bought produce, thank you very much!). I had an enthusiastic little helper, too :-) So, as much as I would like to be that woman with the thriving garden full of fresh edibles, I think I will resist, buy my produce, and let those plants live. Except for my unkillable rhubarb, that is!