And a few other fabrics that remind me of Fall ....
Happy Autumn Sewing ♥
A Craft Dabbler's Journey
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Autumn Sewing
A few of the autumnal fabrics in my shop, along with their beautiful counterparts in nature.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Making Progress
I am making progress on the pile of Xmas Stockings. All are pieced and sandwiched with batting. Next comes the fun part - quilting.
We have our littlest granddaughter visiting. She loves to read. Here she is curled up in the seat of my rocking chair with one of her books. Such a little pipsqueak, so cute!
We have our littlest granddaughter visiting. She loves to read. Here she is curled up in the seat of my rocking chair with one of her books. Such a little pipsqueak, so cute!
Happy Sewing ♥
Friday, September 24, 2010
Butterscotch
Just got in a beautiful butterscotch batik, which I've paired here with a kona cotton, also in butterscotch.
Mmmmm....I love butterscotch, how about you?
Here are a few different butterscotch items I found on Etsy.
Frilly Bag by bayanhippo
Butterscotch Chunky Scarf by crazyjaneknits
Butterscotch Leather Handmade Book by WeeBindery
I could really go for a butterscotch sundae right about now!
Here are a few different butterscotch items I found on Etsy.
Natural Fall Sardonyx Ring - Butterscotch Candy by HardCandyGems
Chocolate Butterscotch Bars by whimsyandspice
I could really go for a butterscotch sundae right about now!
Happy Sewing ♥
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
And the Winner of the Tonga Treat Is....
Cindy0707
Congratulations Cindy!
I know you will have lots of fun with this bundle.
Congratulations Cindy!
I know you will have lots of fun with this bundle.
Happy Sewing♥
Monday, September 20, 2010
Winners Announced!
The Winners of the Fat Quarter Bundles and Moda Charm Pack are as follows:
14 - Quilting Memories
11 - Serena
13 - Tracy
Each Winner will receive their choice of a fat quarter bundle, or a Moda Charm Pack.
I wanted to include a picture of the Random Number Generator with the winning numbers, but could not figure out how to save the picture and upload it to my blog.
Thanks to all who entered and congrats to the Winners!
Winners, please email me your mailing address, and indicate whether you would prefer a Fat Quarter bundle or a Moda Charm pack, and I will send out your prize.
14 - Quilting Memories
11 - Serena
13 - Tracy
Each Winner will receive their choice of a fat quarter bundle, or a Moda Charm Pack.
I wanted to include a picture of the Random Number Generator with the winning numbers, but could not figure out how to save the picture and upload it to my blog.
Thanks to all who entered and congrats to the Winners!
Winners, please email me your mailing address, and indicate whether you would prefer a Fat Quarter bundle or a Moda Charm pack, and I will send out your prize.
Happy Sewing♥
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Up to my Neck in Xmas Stockings
Yep, you read it right. I have been cutting, piecing, quilting, and assembling Christmas stockings. Some are for a custom order, some for my kimbuktu shop. I've been working semi-assembly line style. Semi, because of the different techniques I've been using. Some stockings are flip and sew, some are whole cloth with just the toe and heel in different fabrics, and some are pieced.
The custom stocking fabrics are from Africa (aren't they beautiful!). Most of the fabrics in the other stockings(foreground) are from In the Beginning.
The custom stocking fabrics are from Africa (aren't they beautiful!). Most of the fabrics in the other stockings(foreground) are from In the Beginning.
Happy Sewing ♥
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Bumper Crop of Tomatoes
Our little garden (3 ft wide x 15 ft long) produced a bountiful crop of delicious tomatoes this summer. We have had beef eaters, plum, grape, and best of all - cherry tomatoes starting mid-summer and still producing mid September. Nothing else in the garden did well at all due to the extremely dry summer we've had. The bright side of the lack of rain was that we had a lovely summer without mosquitoes!
In other news, there are some new hand dyed batik fat quarter bundles in my shop. I dismantled a few of the large Bali Batik bundles from Hoffman Fabrics into packs of four and five fat quarters. This way you can sample some of the lusciousness at a smaller price.
And don't forget, if you purchase from my shop either today or tomorrow, you will be entered into the Giveaway for a 40 piece Tonga Treat. The drawing is Monday, so don't miss out!
In other news, there are some new hand dyed batik fat quarter bundles in my shop. I dismantled a few of the large Bali Batik bundles from Hoffman Fabrics into packs of four and five fat quarters. This way you can sample some of the lusciousness at a smaller price.
And don't forget, if you purchase from my shop either today or tomorrow, you will be entered into the Giveaway for a 40 piece Tonga Treat. The drawing is Monday, so don't miss out!
Happy Sewing ♥
Saturday, September 11, 2010
The Sidewalk Project
This weekend (hopefully) we finish up a project that was started over a year ago. Our front sidewalk was badly in need of replacement, so we decided to take on the task of putting in a new one, using brick which had previously surrounded our pool area.
The new sidewalk vision includes a sweeping curve going out to the street next to our mailbox, and resurfacing our stoop with brick. Houses in our neighborhood all have entrances to their front doors via the driveways. I would love to have a more welcoming entry. However, for now we just want to get the sidewalk between our driveway and front door replaced.
As my husband started digging up the existing sidewalk, he discovered that it was not of a uniform thickness in the standard 3-4 inches thick. Instead the builders had simply poured concrete to fill in the area, making some of the concrete depth as much as 12 inches thick. It was very difficult to break up that thickness and carry it away piece by piece.
Then my husband dug a ditch and laid much needed drainage pipe the length of the sidewalk and down the edge of the driveway to the street.
Next a new concrete step was added to our front steps. This entailed building a wooden form and filling it in with wire reinforcement before pouring the concrete.
The walkway was then widened and piles of stone put in which had to be raked level. A layer of weed block fabric went down next. Finally it was time to lay the bricks. This is the fun part. Originally my husband had a decorative brick design in mind, but then realized with the eventual curve out to the street, a simple running design was more workable.
Today, hopefully the first stage of our walkway will be finished. We still need to finish laying bricks, putting in edging, and level the surrounding dirt out to the edge.
It has been a long project, of course winter, family vacations, and life in general have slowed progress. But the end is in sight, we have both learned a lot, and we are happy with the results.
The new sidewalk vision includes a sweeping curve going out to the street next to our mailbox, and resurfacing our stoop with brick. Houses in our neighborhood all have entrances to their front doors via the driveways. I would love to have a more welcoming entry. However, for now we just want to get the sidewalk between our driveway and front door replaced.
As my husband started digging up the existing sidewalk, he discovered that it was not of a uniform thickness in the standard 3-4 inches thick. Instead the builders had simply poured concrete to fill in the area, making some of the concrete depth as much as 12 inches thick. It was very difficult to break up that thickness and carry it away piece by piece.
Then my husband dug a ditch and laid much needed drainage pipe the length of the sidewalk and down the edge of the driveway to the street.
Next a new concrete step was added to our front steps. This entailed building a wooden form and filling it in with wire reinforcement before pouring the concrete.
The walkway was then widened and piles of stone put in which had to be raked level. A layer of weed block fabric went down next. Finally it was time to lay the bricks. This is the fun part. Originally my husband had a decorative brick design in mind, but then realized with the eventual curve out to the street, a simple running design was more workable.
Today, hopefully the first stage of our walkway will be finished. We still need to finish laying bricks, putting in edging, and level the surrounding dirt out to the edge.
 |
| Trying my hand at cutting brick |
It has been a long project, of course winter, family vacations, and life in general have slowed progress. But the end is in sight, we have both learned a lot, and we are happy with the results.
Happy Sewing♥
Monday, September 6, 2010
Adirondack Extreme
Over the Labor Day Weekend six of my family members ventured a treetop experience at Adirondack Extreme - an elevated obstacle course set in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains and securely suspended between the trees at 10 to 50 feet off the ground. Some of the features of course include giant Tyrolean Zip lines, suspended bridges, swings, slides, nets and even an aerial surf board.
We had quite an adventure!
First we received a brief 15 minutes of instruction, and got to try out our equipment on a beginner course, before climbing into the trees. Adirondack Extreme calls it setting loose your inner monkey. The route consists of five progressively more difficult obstacle courses labeled by color and titled with such names as Discovery, Adrenaline, and No Limit. I made it through the first three courses along with my ten year old granddaughter. I probably could have pushed myself to go farther, but it might not have remained fun.
We started late in the afternoon, so the furthest any of us got was completing four out of the five available courses. As darkness set in, we took our last zipline ride, and then headed off to Friendly's for dinner and a Sundae, tired but happy.
We had quite an adventure!
First we received a brief 15 minutes of instruction, and got to try out our equipment on a beginner course, before climbing into the trees. Adirondack Extreme calls it setting loose your inner monkey. The route consists of five progressively more difficult obstacle courses labeled by color and titled with such names as Discovery, Adrenaline, and No Limit. I made it through the first three courses along with my ten year old granddaughter. I probably could have pushed myself to go farther, but it might not have remained fun.
We started late in the afternoon, so the furthest any of us got was completing four out of the five available courses. As darkness set in, we took our last zipline ride, and then headed off to Friendly's for dinner and a Sundae, tired but happy.
Happy Sewing♥
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Win A Batik Fat Quarter Bundle, a Moda Charm Pack, or Sugar PlumTonga Treat
September 20 is the 1 year anniversary of the establishment of my Fabric Fascination shop on Etsy. I didn't officially open shop until January 1st 2010, but wanted to thank all my customers and followers with a giveaway this month. Two opportunities to celebrate and say thank you are better than one, right?
So, here's how you can win....
To be eligible to win a Batik Fat Quarter Bundle or a Moda Charm Pack, become a follower of my blog, my facebook page, and retweet one of my postings on Twitter. Then leave a comment here on my blog. If you are already a follower, just note that in your comment. I will be drawing three names from the random number generator on September 20 to chose the winners.
To be eligible to win the SugarPlum Tonga Treat Bundle, buy something from my shop between now and September 20th. I will be drawing a name using the random number generator on September 21st to chose the winner.
I want to thank all my customers and followers who have made this year so wonderful!
So, here's how you can win....
To be eligible to win a Batik Fat Quarter Bundle or a Moda Charm Pack, become a follower of my blog, my facebook page, and retweet one of my postings on Twitter. Then leave a comment here on my blog. If you are already a follower, just note that in your comment. I will be drawing three names from the random number generator on September 20 to chose the winners.
To be eligible to win the SugarPlum Tonga Treat Bundle, buy something from my shop between now and September 20th. I will be drawing a name using the random number generator on September 21st to chose the winner.
I want to thank all my customers and followers who have made this year so wonderful!
Happy Sewing♥
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Isabella's Quilt
Here is a baby quilt I have been working on for our niece's first baby - Isabella. The nursery has a forest theme with animals, in honor of the Mom-to-Be's hunting hobby. I am enjoying getting to use an extremely cute print from Amy Schimler's Creatures and Critters collection, a leafy batik, a lavender geometric from Hoffman Fabrics, and just a smidge of butterscotch kona cotton.
Not your typical baby color palette, but lots of fun!
I kept the pattern very simple by using just two blocks for the whole quilt - a six inch square , and a 3 x 6" rectangle die both cut with my accuquilt machine. I designed the layout in EQ7 to get the color placement the way I like it. So, it is all cut out and ready to stitch. I should have it pieced in short order, and then I will post pictures of the real thing.
Happy Sewing ♥
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