Liberty London {Fabric}

I can honestly say after returning from our travels that I left my heart in London...

While sitting on the Tube headed to lunch our first sightseeing day, I sent a pinned place on Regent Street.

My husband knew that it was serious if I sent him a link so we walked from the restaurant to Liberty London. 

I was prepared for the boys and hubby to be groaning, but when they saw the interior, they were definitely willing to wander.

The best part is that they found the Haberdashery section because they knew that I had plenty of yardage already at home. Especially considering that I had two quilts loaded up right under my favorite Liberty Color Wheel before we even left! 

We spent a fair amount of time deciding which bundle from the choices.

I had a cute apple pincushion in aqua blues chosen until we spotted this beauty. I mean, honestly, how could I resist a coronation pincushion in Liberty Fabrics when King Charles III was just crowned just a few months ago.

When I got to the checkout counter, the gal that helped me out giggled when she saw my goodies. "You went a bit MAD for liberty fabrics, didn't you!". My husband immediately let her know that I definitely didn't need them. We had a thin tote bag I take along in case in my purse or totes when I think I might become a pack mule which we call a "Sad bag"   My boys added the Liberty shopping bag to the pile saying, "here mom. You need a happy bag instead". 

Of course, both bags became filled up as we continued our adventures along Picadilly....Next time I go, I will fill up my happy bag for some happy yardage!!

Hexie Caddy {Pincushion}

 I love mini swaps.  Making them.  Receiving them. However..... 

It's the extras that always confound me!

Enter in my go-to "extra".  The Hexie Pincushion Caddy

Tutorial is available at Penny Hands.

This time I chose three colors from the Cotton and Steel with Essex Linen

Made my Hexie and rectangle templates.  One of the rare times I use glue under protest.
Then I simply handstitch them together....

Our Favorite Part!

Add stuffing and you have a fun gift!

And for size, that is not a small pair of scissors and those are large corsage pins for scale.
I put some colorful gel pens so it can be a pencil holder too!

I think it went perfectly with her mini, if I do say so myself.

WIP: Enjoying the Process

I am amazed how by just focusing a tiny bit of time on me since I was feeling lost and in Need of Me.  Despite having a million and one things I want to do and have to do, when I did Lower My Expectations?  I really started enjoying myself.  No one is harder on me, than myself!

And the amazing thing is?  I have been dusting off some WIPs, have a few finishes, and finally had an epiphany for some other projects!!

Finishes:

Cathedral Window Pincushion 

A treat for my swap partner. 

 This is my very first swap, but I noticed in other posts that participants don't just send a quilt.  I didn't have any goodies to send, so I made another cathedral window pincushion.  The bandanna fabric with the red,white, and blue fabric are a nod to the origin that the package is coming from...

good Ole Texas!

Artist's Palette Mini Quilt

My Name Game Swap quilt is finished! 

 I mailed it off yesterday and can't wait to see what she thinks.  I can't reveal anything other than this Sneak Peak.

But I promise a full reveal later!!!  I sure hope she likes it!

 Refurbishing Project

I have had this bag that I have always loved.  Except for the scratchy handles...and the awful staining from some sort of trip to the pool with goodies!

A little ripping of seams, using the old fabric for a pattern, new handles and interior ala Amy Butler Midwest Modern II Fresh Poppies Ivory, and a cute pink zipper?

And I am in love with it again!!!!

In Progress:

Merry, Merry Snowman Quilt

I actually opened the package of BOM #1 and accomplished the first task!

10 square in a square blocks!

I also pieced the background, but still need to do the applique's and embroidery...so no exciting pictures of that part.

No Progress:

Retro Flower QAL

Button's Nursery Quilt for twin bed

Christmas Quilt

Baby Girl Quilt Kit

Thank You Quilt

New Projects:

The Teenager's Bedroom

I finally took the kid with me and forced him to wander the fabric store so I could finally get some window treatments up and throw pillows on the bed that has this bedding from Pottery Barn on it.

photo via Pottery Barn

 It was only a tiny bit painful for him, however, Mr. Boss is questioning the seriously abundant amount of stripes. 

 But I must carry on...can't return the cut fabric!

Another Halloween Quilt.

Yup.  I needed this like a need a hole in my head, but when I made the Spiders and Webs quilt last year, I loved it...but it really didn't coordinate with the rest of the black and white theme I had in the rest of the room.  I have a jelly roll that is all black and white, but unfortunately it is only 20 strips instead of the normal 40, so I picked up a few more fabrics to add!  

So, I might have derailed all of my efforts to de-stress, but I feel like my sew-jo is back!  When it is back you can't look back!

Now to catch up with all the rest of the WIPers and link up at

Go check it out!  It is worth it!!!!!

Blowfish Pincushion

 I wish I could say that I came up with this sweet girl, but I can't!!

 About a month ago, Bree at Distant Pickles posted a picture of her completed fish on Facebook. 

Image via Distant Pickles

 I immediately went goo-goo, ga-ga over it.  I think I even squealed when I saw hers.

And, first off, I am bound by duty to tell you that Bree is one of TWO contributors to Distant Pickles.  Their story of how they blog from afar HERE is too cool!  I love Bree, she is superwoman with amazing creativity and quilts like a mad woman.  Julie, on the other hand, is just as crazy with her skills, but her humor constantly gets me.  Seriously, the email banter that we have is out of control some days!

Okay...back to the point of the post!  Bree asked me if I would test the pattern for her. 

Ummm........YEEEEES! 

 I knew EXACTLY who I wanted to make this pincushion for!  My friend who not only bakes (and blogs at Baby Got Cake), but is really getting going on her sewing talent. I love to see her grow each day.  And I was waiting for a perfect thank you for sending me this shirt.

Why the shirt? I use DUDE at least once a day, but more like 10 times a day.  With four boys, it is a quick way to tell them most ANYTHING.    "Dude, can you please remember to take your shoes off before you come in the house before your dad yells?"  "Dude (random driver on the road), where did you learn to drive?"  "Dude, seriously, how many times do I have to tell you to brush your teeth in one day?"  "Dude, mommy is tired. I am really not in the mood for games" 

And probably the most used phrase "Duuuuuude, you have a stinky diaper!!!!!".

I digress......

Bree has her tutorial here for Riley Blake.  Go check it out!

Here is my girl in Riley Blake's Alphabet Soup Girl by is in all her glory. 

psst...confession time...I couldn't believe that I actually had a Riley Blake in my stash!

In case you are wondering...the bow was added because, in good ole Heidi-fashion, I was sewing late into the night and did NOT follow her VERY clear directions and did not do the panels in the correct order.  Also, I highly recommend you use batting like Bree did.  I filled mine entirely with crushed walnut shells, which are actually great for pins, but they made the entire pincushion VERY heavy and it all settled and made her fat more than round.

But, aside MY missteps, I think she turned out great!  

And my friend was pretty surprised and happy too!

Sunday Project: A Pincushion...

FOR ME!  

Cathedral Window Pincushion

I am in the midst of working on the Auction T-shirt quilt and needed to walk away from it last night and have something calming to do.

It really truly only took me an hour to hand piece it together!  I was inspired by all of the Cathedral Window pincushions I have seen lately, but I didn't use a tutorial because I already learned from my mom who learned from my Great-Aunt Kay!

A vanity cushion cover I inherited from her!

How convenient is THAT?

I admittedly, did not do the BEST job my first go 'round, but it was a lot easier than I had remembered. 

If you are looking for a good tutorial, I found this one on Moda Bake Shop HERE.  I also found a link on another blog (sorry..cannot for the life of me remember who!) to another tutorial that is closer to the way I learned from my mom HERE at Sunflower seeds. 
 I especially like how she uses contrasting thread on the white!

The inherent difference from those are that they are machine stitched and I did my cushion with hand-stitched hidden ladder stitches.

(I am pretty sure my mom did running stitches like my Great-Aunt Kay did below).

Rough around the edges...I sure wish I knew the date when she made this!

I loved how I finally used the crushed walnut shells that I found at the pet store (by the way, petco carried them in my area, not PetSmart!)

However, one simple problem...

Larry, our lizard...He is always sneaking in from the garage and I am always shooing him out the window in the studio!

you have to travel through the reptile aisle.

And one small pincushion doesn't even make a DENT in the 10 quart bag! 

Now I know EXACTLY why I see so many pincushions on blogs and Flickr...

We thrifty frugal ladies can't stand to have it wasted!!!

Button thought it was wonderful from the button at the top to the pins that he loves to play with that I am always taking away. 

  But more importantly? 

 It's very nice weight as a flying object. 

He used the word "ball"  when he picked it up.

Now my thinking cap is on...

But back to the t-shirt quilt I go.  

 Working on the layout....no more breaks for me.

T-shirt quilt countdown

10 days.