Fabric on Friday

I had to have this fabric when I spied it on the Sew Sisters quilt shop site.
It's called "Spiral Shells" by Philip Jacobs for Rowan Fabrics.

My husband said it would look good as a dress. (I did get the last 1.4 metres!)
Then I came across a sundress blog hop.
This fabric may not sit pretty for very long before it gets a new life.
(although now that I've gone and perused a few of the patterns it looks like I need at least 2 yards to make a dress. I'll keep looking - maybe I'll find a skirt instead)

Can you spy the rainbow spiral too?

My first rainbow roll. And it's Tula Pink.

I kind of mentally decided as I started to work on stash quilts that the goal would be to restock the stash in rainbow.
So far, so good!

Are you making anything in RAINBOW right now or planning something?

With Joy,

Sarah V

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End of September Update

I got my September Aurifil block finished just in time. Some of the flowers at my parent's house are still blooming so I thought this was a fun place to take a picture.

I enjoyed making this block. {Can you see the shoo fly?}
Part of what made making this block so fun, was that I WON last month's prize at the Aurifil flickr page!

  Yes, I won the BIG box of Pat Sloan's thread!!

 Inside the box - quilter's candy! Beautiful thread including a variegated spool {bottom right}

 Not a great picture, but a great find! I got this whole kit of fabrics, from a Holly Holderman Lakehouse Goods line, and the pattern for $4.00 at a local thrift store. It was still tied up with the ribbon from a quilt store with the price - $48.99. Not just a great deal, but I love these fabrics. The black is a print which will make it's way into my Halloween 1904 quilt. I might even use the orange and pink gingham. Maybe!

 My final photo shows how many mini spools I have made for the final quilty barn block. I need to cut the rest of the mini spools still. 


Now it's October! Enjoy some early Fall Quilting!

Sarah Vee

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Fabrics for Fun and Projects

I guess now is a good time to confess that part of the reason I was working away at organizing my space was that I was really procrastinating in anticipation of new fabric! This quartet is as close as I could get myself to come in purchasing RED fabric.  I indulged in some Kaffe fabric and am really glad I did! The black paisley fabric is a half yard but 108 inches wide. Some of it will go into my Halloween 1904 quilt.

I had to get these ones as well. I have the one on the left in a different colourway. The other one reminded me of gears in a clock and my Madhatter Tea Party challenge that is still a UFO. This fabric might make it into the pile of pieces that are waiting to be auditioned for that quilt.

This one I bought a yard of because I love it. The saturated colours inspire me. I have it draped over my buffet so I can see it all the time. Not sure if I will ever cut into it!

My first cut into the new fabrics. I decided this folk print looked Christmasy in red and green. This is the middle of a project I hope to share soon. . .

With Joy,

Sarah Vee

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What Delights are you Dreaming Of?

The Full Strawberry Moon today.

 Venus in transit on Wednesday. 

Jamie Ridler asks the prompt: 

What Delights are you Dreaming of?

Looks like as I prepare one house for sale and search for new one, I am dreaming of making a place a home! In transition with white walls, I am craving some colour and patterns to spark my creativity. I see rest, retreat and adventure this month. Sounds exciting!

You can check out more dreamboards through the link at Jamie's blog.

My local quilt shop had its 5th anniversary sale on Friday. I was delighted to find this beautiful water lily batik, the Monet fan that I am. I also brought home a half metre of a Woodland Bloom print for my daughter's Joy quilt, which for the moment has been packed away to work on in my new space.

The best thing about the sale?

I won a door prize!

 A beautiful fat quarter bundle of Abigail by Red Rooster Fabrics. I had spied this line in an ad in a recent quilt magazine so I am really delighted to have some to play with now. I even have a few ideas for it. We'll see when those make it into fabric reality!

What delights are you dreaming of?

Sarah Vee

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Little Leaps of Joy

I did a wee little bit of fabric shopping on Leap Day. 

One of my favourite Canadian online shops was having a sale.

Sew Sisters

 

I was lucky enough to spy some Melissa Averinos fabric.

Love the possibilities here.

 

I think it's going to play nicely with my Madhatter Tea Party blocks. 

{freebie from Pat Sloan}

 My heart did a little leap when I saw this fabric still in the online store.

I love this line from Denyse Schmidt.

Hope Valley.

I needed some little sewing to get me focused again.

blessings basket

I think I took a little leap into this mini quilt

from Temecula Quilts.

Everyone in my family said it looked like a coaster!

Here's the block beside a coaster from my sister.

With Joy,

Sarah Vee

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A Blog Break

I've been taking a bit of a blog break. Actually when I went to type the title I spelled it "brake" and that would be accurate as well! Life is busy outside of blogland - who knew;)

I am still working away at my Lady of the Lake quilt. My header photo is from two years ago when I laid out my blocks across my bed! I'm much farther along now and did a big sprint last night. I'm not sure I will make my July 6 deadline, but I'm hopeful! My biggest mental stumbling block right now is trying to decide what to use for binding.
My biggest Physical stumbling block is exhaustion after working outside the home and then INSIDE the home when I'm done! I know you know what I mean!



My mom knows me pretty well, don't you think? I love both of these almost equally! One is a package of BRIGHT paisley napkins and the other - a layer cake of Wildflower Serenade. Thanks, mom - I have plans for both!

Don't you LOVE plans? I keep making them and the more I'm at my machine quilting, the more I make!

I haven't forgot about the quilt along. In fact, I've given it a name:

Follow Your Bliss Make Along

I'm gonna say it's a 3 month adventure - July 18 to September 18.
I'm planning a blog roll of participants, so if you know you want to join me, let me know through email or a comment and leave me a link to your blog.

Stay tuned for more from me next week!

Enjoy the Long Weekend!
Happy Canada Day AND Fourth of July!

Sarah Vee

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Friday Fabric and Friends

Today I'd like to introduce you to a fellow Northern Ontario Canadian.She will have a tutorial at The Quilted Fish next Friday.

You should check out Jackie's blog for lots of 3D embellishment inspiration.
It's her 1 year blog anniversary at the end of the month and she is spoiling readers and followers with giveaways.

Go meet Jackie!

Here is some fabric I received for my birthday - some fat quarters of the Northcott Stonehenge collection. They are fun to look at up close with all the different motifs. My mom really likes the blue;)

Here are 4 more Lady of the Lake blocks that I received from a friend I met through Pat Sloan's Quilt Mashup Forum. I will need to unstitch a few pieces to get all of the outside triangles going in the right direction, but I don't mind! The real work has been done:)






Can you see the difference? Hint - look where the blocks meet. I know I really changed up the way the blocks are made to get that secondary pattern:) When the quilt is made there will be alternating dark and light squares on point where the blocks join.
At least that's the PLAN! LOL:)



I received on more set of 4 from another friend. I'm going to combine them with the other ones I already received and make a special friendship row in my quilt!


I'm so grateful for quilting friends!

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Catching Up

Layer Cake Quilt Along Block Four.
Fabric is Prayer Flag by April Cornell.


Layer Cake Quilt Along Block Four made with Fat quarters of Bejeweled by Susie Robbins.


Block Five is already up. I still have to pick out my fabrics for them.




I am trying to catch up and tidy up to get ready for the great luau this weekend!
Pat Sloan is hosting a UFO busting party. Check out her blog for more info.





There's still time to enter my giveaway for a free, 1 year subscription to The Quilt Pattern Magazine. Click here to enter. I'll be drawing my winner on January 3rd, 2011.


Here's a photo of the bright fabrics I received from my sister for Christmas. My stash is filling in again! Thanks sis, love all the butterfly prints. She made me the bag underneath too.


Here is the bag with all of the fabric inside. It's a perfect size for storing a project in. Thanks, sis!


I'll share more of my Christmas gifts given and received over the next few weeks.



With Joy,
Sarah Vee

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Thankful to Receive

My sister ROCKS!

I received this little package in the mail yesterday.

Sweet!

Squeal!

polka dot rick rack!!!

Thank you, sis!

I even cut up some of the selvages yesterday to use for some fall projects.
They blend in great with some already in my stash.
You might see these here tomorrow as part of my Fall into Fall giveaway. hint....hint....



During TV time last night I stitched down the pumpkin from Tuesday's Fall-o-ween hop project.



Last day of the month - time to crunch that to-do-list!

With Joy,
Sarah Vee

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No Orange!

Please.

That's what my husband requested when we decided my Sew Modern Bee Quilt would be for him. {actually, he said something like," you know what colours you usually use - not them". Once I dusted off my pride, we got back to planning!}



Too bad, because the orange from my Mystery Basket quilt looks great with the Castle Peeps fabric I bought! Some of the only 'designer' fabrics I purchased for his quilt. And I did get to purchase for this quilt!


Bonnie Hunter had an interesting quip/post/rant about labeling quilters. I'm enjoying being part of a Modern Bee, but certainly wouldn't label myself a modern quilter. For this quilt I have tried to pick out more geometric than floral fabrics, more tone on tone - and NO orange - which is out of my comfort zone.

I guess I think of being modern as always evolving with your quilting.
Not a specific technique or style of fabric - or quilting design (although I really disliked the early years of machine quilting and all of the meandering).
I have never made a pattern from beginning to end until this year! 14 years in!
I've never made the same quilt twice.
Basket quilts make my heart happy.
I am really enjoying playing with free form piecing and liberated making.
I am just discovering a love of quilting designs - especially on Welsh quilts.
I really want to make a traditional applique quilt - soon.

And very, very rarely {I can think of 3 times now} have I bought fabric for a specific quilt.



I shop my stash. I still use my husband's Granny's stash {the leftovers she didn't give away to her quilting guild in St. Lambert, Quebec}.

Am I modern? Maybe. Are you?

I enjoy learning from everyone! And sharing with everyone, too.

With Joy,
Sarah Vee

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Prepping for Vacation Fabric Shopping

I have been doing some online fabric shopping in preparation for my month in the Sew Modern Bee. It's not 'til November, but turns out I'm making a BIG quilt and will do some of the making on my own.


But, of course, I'm still looking for more fabric!
{Like some Joel Dewberry and Lizzy House}
Now that the 1st round of picks has come in, I'm getting them ready to tour with me so I know what I still 'need'.
Or, more precisely, which colour gradations are missing.


I"m keeping the selvages from these fabrics separate - in case I want to make a project to complement the quilt. Maybe a bed pillow or two?

I'm using this little scrapbook that I picked up in the $ store a long time ago. Decorated and never used. Until now:)

I won't have to guess when I'm looking at green fabrics which ones will work.



So far all of the fabrics fit into one of the drawers at the end of my cutting table.



With Joy,
Sarah Vee

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