Saturday Sampler - Let's lay it all out!

So FINALLY after over a year I've finshed my Blocks from the Saturday Sampler over at Sauder Village! The pattern was Star Light, Star Bright by Bits N Pieces.

I love the blocks, but not the layout... it was too busy. Plus I don't like to applique. YUCK! NOOOOOO THANKYOU.

So I took photos of all of my blocks and started to lay them out using photoshop.

First layout - Side by side alternating 12" and 9" blocks (with borders). I like this, but it's a bit busy and my eye just doesn't really rest anywhere. There has to be something a little better.

Second layout - I spaced the blocks out as if they had sashing between them. AHHHHH... much better. It's not nearly so busy, but it still seems a little plain to me. Sort of like Been there, Done That.

Layout Three - On Point. Oh. My. Goodness. Look at the different feel this gives the quilt! The blocks have room to breath, your eye has a nice flow. I think this is my pick!  I like how the 12 sashed blocks are on the outside, to give a little visual interest too. However, this layout calls for 25 blocks so I'll need to make another. Too bad it's not as easy to make them in real life as it is in Photoshop.

Select. Copy. Paste. Done! I wish.

So, now that I have my layout I needed a way to finish the quilt out. I decided to go queen size, since this is large enough to do that with (not to mention, my bed is a queen!). And using Photoshop once again, this is what I came up with. Granted, the layout of the blocks isn't final, but it does give you an idea of what the finished product might look like. Notice the borders seem to go under the blocks to give it some depth and visual interest. Yup... I think this is it!

The best things in life aren't things.

"The best things in life aren't things."
This has got to be one of my favorite quotes.

This morning while getting ready for work my son drew this on the shower door while my somewhat wrinkled shirt hung getting a nice steaming.

He was so proud of his creation. Every day he tells me he loves me. Every. Single. Day. Often times more than once. It can make the worst, most stressful and busiest of days just melt away to hear those words, even if it is for just a moment. 

As adults we get caught up with things; work, chores, bills, groceries, errands - and we often look past the little things that pass us buy every day. Opportunities to call an old friend, to play a game with a child, or ask someone how their day was are passed over so we can do something for ourselves instead. Other times we just overlook things, like that we believe our spouses or kids know that we love them, so we don't take the time to say it. 

Well we need to stop, slow down and take time for others. Call that friend. Play a game. Say "I Love You." It really can make a difference in someone's day. Even if it is for just a moment.

There's another quote that I've read somewhere that goes something like: While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about. I couldn't agree with this more!

So, thank you Wyatt for all of the life lessons. And by the way, I love you too!

Just One Star

Moda is participating in the Quilts of Valor program and is asking any and all quilters to help. They need to collect 1800 Star Blocks by May 1, 2011. I know the deadline is drawing near, but it's not that difficult to whip a few blocks out in an evening. For more information about the program, visit the Moda Blog. For the pattern and instructions, click here.

There's something to be said about doing things for others. It just feels good, you know? Did I have to make these blocks? No. Could I have used that time to work on something for myself? Sure. But honestly I got so much more out of this. I don't know who this block will end up going to. I don't know their name, their face, or anything about them. But what I do know is that I'm grateful that they're serving our country, risking their lives so that we can live our lives with our freedoms. So to anyone and everyone who has ever served, Thank you. From the bottom of my heart THANK YOU.

If you have some extra fabric sitting around, an an extra hour to give - please consider making a block or two. 

One of the finished blocks.

Sewn, pressed, signed and ready to go to their new home!

Ever wonder what happens to leftover frosting?

I made a cake for a little girl's first birthday this weekend. I had leftover batter so I did what anyone would do .... MADE CUPCAKES! I slappled a little of the buttercream I made onto them, and set them aside. Well, after I was finished decorating the cake, I had some piping bags with icing still in them. So I thought, why not let Wyatt have some fun?

He decorated and sprinkled a giant cupcake and a dozen and a half small ones and enjoyed every minute of it!

He put the sprinkles on so carefully!

And now you know where leftover frosting ends up!

Mmmmm.... now that looks like a sugar induced coma just waiting to happen!

3 x 6 Sampler Quilt Mini Bee

Done! Finished! Completed!

I've got my six blocks done for the 3 x 6 block swap! WHEW! They're not due until June, but now they're done and out of the way. I hope the girls in my hive like them, if not I guess I have plenty of time to make new ones! LOL.

These blocks will be sent to:

1. The_Cleof

Bright fresh and modern Colours: red, blue, green, yellow, purple, turqoise

Cleof, I picked green and went with it.

2. Lydia - [blog]

Gray, Green, Black

3. KarinKajsa - [blog]

Red, Green, Pink

4. Amy.Newbold - [blog]

Green, Gray, Purple

Amy, after I put this together, I thought they looked a little batik like.

Most of the fabric is by Marcia Derse.

I'll gladly remake it if you don't care for the fabrics. Just let me know!

5. Brakmack

Orange, Gray, Aqua

6. JustPlainLaine - [blog]

Gray, Lime Green, Aqua, OrangeLaine, hope this is okay!

It's mostly lime green with bits of light aqua and orange sprinkled in!

These ladies were WONDERFUL to work with and so much fun!
I'm glad that I was able to meet each of you, even if it was just online. ;)

New Vinyl Designs

I just added a Sea Life themed set of vinyl decals to my Etsy Store. Check them out and let me know what you think! Stop by OneDecalGal.Etsy.com

Lights, Camera, Action - Fabric Auditions

I'm auditioning fabrics for another block for the [3 x 6] Sampler Quilt Mini Bee

This block is for Cleo who's requesting a variety of bright colors and white. Here's what I was thinking...

I think the light teal and dark pink need reworked. But I'm pretty pleased with the rest of the colors.

Hopefully I can get some feedback to be sure that's exactly what she was looking for.

I didn't realize what little reds, yellows and blues I had in my stash. Guess I better start collecting! HA!

Tutorial: Foundation Paper Piecing (Freezer Paper Method)

I'll confess. I abhor pinning. I don't know why I just do. Maybe it's because I'm always jabbing myself with the little boogers. So if I can avoid it somehow, I do. Another peeve of mine is when my quilt blocks don't line up quite right, or are too small or large and my points get chopped off when I'm squaring up my blocks. Oh that just irritates me.I think that's why I really enjoy foundation paper piecing. My errors are practically eliminated!

So, here's how I do my paper piecing, step by step with photos.

You'll need some freezer paper. You can do this one of two ways, the quick and easy way is to purchase pre-cut sheets like these:

You can find them at Amazon.com

Or if you a roll of freezer paper on hand, or would prefer to buy a roll of it and make your own sheets, you can do that too. You can usually find freezer paper in the grocery store, by the aluminum foil and plastic wrap.

If you use the roll, the next steps will show you how to print on your freezer paper sheets.

Cut youself enough 8 1/2 x 11" sheets for your block. My block took 8, but I cut more than what I needed and stashed them away for later. Now grab some of your printer paper and head over to your ironing board.

Layer a sheet of freezer paper on top of your printer paper, shiny side down.

With a iron (no steam) on medium to med high heat, press the freezer paper onto your printer paper. You don't want to iron it too much or you'll have problems peeling it off later. Mainly make sure the edges are pressed down where the paper will feed into your printer.

Next, print your designs onto your freezer paper, and then peel your freezer paper off, and save the printer paper for later use! Pretty slick huh?

Cupcake Smash Cake

So my name is getting out there that I make cakes. WOO HOO! This one was a fun request. An oversize cupcake for a 1 year old's photoshoot for her first birthday. Come on, how fun does that sound?

So, without further adieu, here it is! (Hopefully I'll be able to post some pictures from their photoshoot!)

See? Isn't it just stinking adorable? I think I'll make one for myself when I celebrate the 3rd anniversary of my 29th birthday.

It's white cake with butter cream frosting, sprinkles and a marshmallow fondant & gum paste candle. It looks monstrous in the picture, but the plate that it's sitting on is 6" in diameter. A cake this size makes 4 nice sized servings.

3 x 6 Quilting Bee

I've signed up for another quilting bee through Flickr. This one is a 3 x 6 quilting bee. You have to complete 6 blocks in 3 months time and send them off to their respective owners. Each person gives you their color preferences and you make the same 12" block for each person, but use their color choices.

My "Bee Hive" consists of people from all over! California, Ohio, Utah, Sweeden and South Africa! Seriously how cool is that? My goal is to keep this up for 1 year and when it's over with I'll have enough blocks for a quilt top.

My color selection was a bit out of my norm. I'm one to pick neutral colors, something that will go in my very traditional looking home. However, I went rogue this time and chose ORANGE and AQUA. Below are some inspiration photos I shared with my Bee Hive.


I've decided to do a paper pieced block. I enjoy doing this method because my points line up every time, and my blocks always turn out the correct size. Here is the pattern I'll be using. Isn't it pretty???

The blockwork orange

For those of you who know me know I love to create. Whether it's a sewn purse made from my favorite Amy Butler Fabric, working on my monthly block from the Saturday Sampler at Sauder Village or baking one of my yummy cakes or other confections - I LIVE TO MAKE STUFF! And I'll find any excuse to do so.

So, with that said I've joined a group of quilters from Flickr in making and swapping orange quilt blocks using a tutorial from OhFransson.

These blocks are so easy to whip up. You need nine different fabrics which you stack, wack, sew, shuffle and repeat. I managed to get 18 blocks done in a few hours. It wouldn't have taken nearly as long, but my craft room is upstairs, and my iron is in my basement. So after every round of sewing, I'd trudge through the living room, dining room, kitchen, down the stairs and to my iron. Then back up to work on the next step.

Who says crafting isn't a workout!?!







25 of my 27 blocks laid out. And before you ask... NO! I will not be putting my quilt together this way! It's way too busy. I'll probably be following in OhFransson's footsteps and laying it out in a lattice pattern, like this.

Here we go .... again.

Okay. I admit it. I'm not that great of a blogger. I've started blogs with the best of intentions but then realized I didn't have much to write about. So I'm going to combine all of my little bits of life - my family, my crafts, my cakes, my vinyl and everything else that happens and document it here.

So please, bear with me on this journey and if I don't post enough, send me a message, toss a rock, give me a nudge and say HEY!!! DO YOUR JOB!!! HA ha ha!

I did manage to import some of my older posts from my previous blog. See? It's been a LONG time since I've actually posted something!!!