Pretty in Pink

I've started a new quilt...Without finishing any of my others... 

This "Mosaic" style is one I saw on Oh Fransson, I think it looks amazing. I have found the technique to be fun and surprisingly quick for all of the sewing, cutting and pressing required. I think that perhaps I have cut the pieces a little too small, but overall I really like what I've done so far.

I'm not sure yet what color I'd like to use around the blocks in the void space. I'm thinking about a rich chocolate brown, hopefully that won't be too dark.

Doughnut Disaster

Earlier this week I tried to make homemade doughnuts. I don't know what I was thinking.  They did not turn out well at all. The dough was weird and sticky and took a lot more flour than it should have, which of course meant that they were too heavy. It also seemed like my yeast never really took off.  It was a fresh jar, but it just didn't get very foamy.  Disaster.

Sad flat doughnuts

Now that I have failed I am determined to make a good doughnut. Perhaps I can achieve this in the coming months. If anyone reading this has a good doughnut recipe, please let me know!

Spiderweb Blocks

I'm working to finish this spiderweb block lap quilt this week.  I've had it sitting in pieces in the 2nd bedroom for months.  The fabric is Moda Mod Green Pod Free to Grow by Robert Kaufman. It was so colorful and exciting that I couldn't resist. Although, now that I'm seeing it all together it seems a bit aggressive...I'm sure it will be great from a distance.

I'm at the block assembly stage. Once that is complete I plan to take the plunge and quilt it myself, something I've been avoiding because I'm so intimidated by it. My friend Cortney has invited me over to work on it and for a little coaching (she is assembling two twin size quilts for her girls...Quite a project!).

It's also my goal to start a sheet quilt for the bed soon...something lightweight and easy for summer. OhFransson! has a great pattern. She is amazing.

Shopping Bag

I have a new favorite bag pattern. It's great and fits those plastic bag hangers at the grocery stores, so clerks like them too.  The pattern can be found at Keyka Lou. I've made this twice as a gift (4 bags total), they're simple to make and look fantastic. It's difficult to tell in this photo, but they are very spacious. Below are the bags I made for Madison's birthday in earlier this month. Happy Birthday Madi!

Casserole Caddy

First Christmas gift revealed.....The Casserole Caddy.  I got the pattern from the Moda Bake Shop here. I have some ideas for how this could be better going forward, but that's a subject for another day.

Here are a few pictures of the finished product.

I also personalized a casserole dish for Deirdre using some etching paste and my new personal cutting machine.

I haven't  quite figured out the best way to do the vinyl yet, but I'm sure that with practice it will get better.

Ornament Exchange

I went to my first ornament exchange last week.  At first I thought I would sew something, but with all of the Christmas sewing going on, it just wasn't working out. Instead I went with a beeswax ornament. This was my first experience with beeswax, but it went really well. The ornaments came out all beautiful and golden, and they smell wonderful!

Melting the solid wax

Mom, thank you for getting me an OveGlove last year for Christmas, it is fantastic for holding hot jars!

Hot wax in mold.

Semi-solid ornaments

Once the wax cools, it shrinks and the ornaments pop right out!

I stamped each ornament with the date right before the wax hardened. Be careful if you choose to do this, stamp too soon and it can really mess the ornament up.

Hang these babies in front of a light and they glow on the tree.  Merry Christmas!

But What Have You Done Lately?

I am terrible at this blogging thing. Lately I have not been sewing very much, too busy. Last weekend I went to the Esty Rain event in Seattle at the Intiman Theatre and now I'm all inspired for Christmas.

My current project is an Advent Calendar Quilt. The pattern is from SewMamaSew, I saw it last year and just never got around to the project.  I picked up a fat quarter pack of Robert Kaufman's Sparkle All the Way and Groove Holiday collection and I knew it would be perfect for this project.

It's still a work in progress, but I think it's going to be fantastic.

Each square is a actually a little pocket where you can store a little treat or something special!

This is the first time I've done any machine embroidery, kind of a challenge but I'm beginning to figure it out.