Quiet Blogging Week

This week, I struggled blogging. For some reason, all the editing tools disappeared from blogger. Finally, they reappeared today. What a frustration - I had so much to tell you!

Let me start by showing you the cute new patterns I purchased for Olivia from Mani Mina .

I started working on the French Ruffle Dress - progress pictures coming soon!

The Worst Pumpkin in the World

Most kids get excited over finding the very best pumpkin in the patch. I was convinced this project - my first appliqué attempt - would inspire the same joyful feeling. Alas, it's a tad on the sad side. Lumpy, uneven, and, well, ugly.

Not for lack of trying, my poor produce looks like a 5-year-old was at the machine guiding the needle along it's pathetic journey around the edges.

Don't color out side the lines? Well, apparently that goes for sewing too. Oops.

In other news (better news), my package from the Fabric Shack came yesterday! (see Wednesday's post).  I cannot wait to take my scissors to this fabric and make some beautiful quilts. More on that to come.

Have a happy sewing weekend!

I Want It Wednesdays

I bought a TON of fabric from the Fabric Shack this week.

Here's a sampling of what is to come on my doorstep... Can't wait!

My plan is to make some Christmas gifts with this fabric. More to come!

Somebody Stop Me... I'm reaching for my debit card.

How did I not know about this until now!?

Pattern to Come?

I finished quilting this lap-sized quilt today. What do you think? Is it worth writing out the pattern to share?

On football Sundays, I have a tradition of putting the card table in front of the tv and going to town sewing.

Of course, there are plenty of interruptions with a two-year-old around. To keep her occupied (and happy that Max and Ruby is not on), I get her going on a craft. Here she is making a Halloween decoration. A budding crafter to be sure!

Quilted Cupcake Pattern for Donation

I've come to love the podcast Quilted Cupcake. The host, Jean, has a comfortable, approachable style that makes me feel like I've known her forever. She has a genuine soul and is totally true to herself.

One of her passions is supporting Alzheimer research in honor of her late mother, Lucy. A touching gesture, she and her sister are raising funds to participate in a walk for the team Walking for Lucy.

To get her listeners involved in Walking for Lucy, Jean is offering her pattern to anyone who donates $5 to the charity. Not only that, but she will send the pattern to a donor's friend as well. Her pattern is an adorable cupcake that can be made several ways (see pics above). Get info here . To donate, click here .

Tweet! Tweet!

I host a Stitch In every other Friday. Typically, each person brings whatever project they'd like to work on, but this time, we decided to do a theme and all make the Birdie Sling by Amy Butler (who else!?).

Even my daughter got in on the fun. Here she is on grandma's lap helping cut out the pieces. The group agreed cutting out this bag seems to take twice as long as actually sewing it.

Each person brought very different fabric - some traditional, some youthful. A beatuiful feature of this bag is that it works with all fabrics.

And here we are STILL cutting...

Soon our sewing machines started to whir. When all four were going at the same time, the neighbors probably thought we were starting a small jet engine in our home!

A few hours - and glasses of wine - into the evening, our Birdie Slings began to come together.

Here's my mom's...

And my mother in-law's...

And my friend's...

And mine...

I'm always sad when the Friday Night Stitch Ins come to an end and so look forward to the next one. Not sure what our next theme will be - or if we will do another theme night. But, I think every one had an enjoyable time making the Birdie Sling. After all, a woman can never have too many bags, can she?