Makeover

I'm in the process of making over the blog-a-roo. I wanted something brighter, less pastel/shabby-chicy. What do you think so far?

Dear bloggieland,

Thank you for all your kind comments over the past few months! I love being able to share a lil bit of my life with you, and I especially love hearing from you!

Better late than never

Chris & I weren't going to decorate his condo for Christmas this year. We were going to buy all the post-holiday clearance goodies. That was our plan atleast, until I saw the display of trees at target and talked myself into buying one.





Hey, $30 for a 6' pre-lit tree and $17 for 48 ornaments... I can't complian! It needs a tree skirt but I think it's pretty darn cute! And it's our first tree, aww!

Lil' Zoo Boo is off to it's owner!

Remember seeing previews of this?

Well, it's in the hands of it's new owner now so I can finally show you all pictures!

This little guy was my first commissioned quilt, and only my 2nd one that I have quilted myself... so be easy on me!

Here's the front of the lil' zoo boo quilt. I used 6" squares Alexander Henry's 2D Zoo bordered with 3" strips of various fabrics. I had a color scheme to match, and an unknown sex of the baby. I'm really happy with the way it turned out though!

And here's the back. I quilted it in straight lines, similar to the last baby quilt, The Cindy Loo Who.

I like the simplicity of the straight lines, and they go really quickly. (Not to mention that the very thought of stippling still scares me!)  The teal binding, orange stripe on the back and cream on the front are Kona Cotton, the backing is actually something I got on sale at JoAnn fabrics - love polka dots, especially if they're on sale!

The best part about this quilt... is that not even 24 hours after I gave it to her, the lil one decided to make his grand entrance into the world! (Yep, he ended up being a he - a little Aiden in fact!). I guess he was just waiting on this quilt to be done before he wanted to arrive!

Santa Baby

Think of all the fun I've missed...

Think of all the jelly rolls I haven't kissed,
Next year I could be just as good (at making cute quilts)
If you check off my Christmas List.

So hurry down the chimney tonite! And into my mailbox for every month following perhaps?


I've joined in on Fat Quarter Shop's Deeeeear Santa fun. A membership to the jelly roll club is on my list.
C'mon Santa, I bet you like jelly rolls just as much as cookies! Right, right?!
But really, I've never joined any of the "we-send-you-good-stuff-every-month" clubs, and I think 2010 is going to be my year to give in!

Helping to put a smile on a strangers face

I joined Sew Mama Sew's Quilting for Peace initiative tonight. I know I can't change the world, but I do like to think that I can help put a smile on someone's face when they're down.  They are going to be posting simple patterns and it's a great opportunity to use up some of your old, non-favorite or just plain excess fabric!

I have also recently received a packet of information about donating quilts to our local kid's hospital here in Indy, Riley Children's Hospital. I can only imagine how much comfort a snuggly, fun quilt can provide to those poor kids in there.

Lastly, I signed up to complete 4 blocks using Amy Butler's Lotus fabric for the Cancer is Sew Done group. I lost a grandmother to leukemia about 9 years ago, and a little boy I used to baby sit has been fighting a rare form of leukemia himself these past few months. I love the idea that all of us quilters can do a block or two and those wonderful ladies will assemble them and auction them off, then donate the proceeds to Alex's Lemonade Stand. (Photo courtesy of www.amybutlerdesign.com - fabric can be purchased from http://www.westminsterfibers.com/ )

It's been so crazy around here I haven't had a chance to start on any of these projects, but hopefully I can find some time within the next couple weeks to get a jump start on things! I sure do sound ambitious!

Sneak peak

I'm spending my Sunday night crinkling a quilt and baking cookies (yes, that is actually the only thing I do in my free time- bake- or so it seems! Haha)

The commissioned baby quilt, my first quilt I've ever sold (and only the second I've ever quilted) is in the wash, it makes me nervous. I always imagining opening the lid to the washer and have a tye-dyed stained mess.






Here's a little sneak-peak-a-roo. I'm in love with that deep teal binding against the orange and brown. Yummy!

All solids are Kona, the front is a mismatch of different designers.

I am really beginning to enjoy the quilting process. Ask me again after I tackle somethin larger than a baby quilt though!!

Time to go put 'er in the dryer. Wish me luck!

Chels

A seriously good night

I just got home from work. I fixed myself a nice hot mug of green tea and I'm in the process of making spice cake cookies (new recipe... Wish me luck!)

Then I plan on putting in The Holiday and doing some sewing!

Looking to be a great night in the making. Ahh

I'm aching for a movie night

Cold cold cold cooolllldddd weather has hit us. We had 40mph winds yesterday and have a whopping 12degree high for today.

This weather has me yearning to stay in cuddled on the couch with a stack of favorites. I'm thinking the playlist would go as follows:

1. The Holiday

2. Serendipity 

3. Sound of Music

4. PS I Love You

5. The Grinch

I know, I know, some of those aren't even Christmas movies but I am a sap for a good love story here and there!

What have you been wanting to watch lately?

Yesterday was Chris' birthday, so I had a big surprise evening planned for him - everything worked out beautifully! He couldn't have been more thrilled. I will be back to share more later!

Keep warm (I am - I'm wearing my bright purple Ugg's under my work pants today - hah good thing I don't get up from my desk too often!!)

A thought on backs

I really love the look of pieced backs... But I just can't bring myself to get too wild with them. I usually keep it relatively simple with one stripe (a pieced stripe, yes, but just one!)

I see so many photos around blogland of these amazing backs that are about as intricate as my fronts!





This is my most recent back, I'm not gonna lie- I kind of love it. Even though it is super simple, it makes me smile!

(Those animals in Alexander Henry's 2D Zoo are so darn cute!)

How do you decide what your back looks like? Do you dive on with a plan or just start sewing and see where you get? Just curious!

Back to the cutting mat-
Chels

Things I Didn't Buy (1st edition)

In honor of the upcoming Black Friday (for those of you non-staters, the day after Thanksgiving is considered THE biggest shopping day of the year, people are out waiting in lines for stores to open early-most around 3am and 4am-to get REALLY good deals, and then running around like madmen trying to collect all you came for. It's a blast!)

But anyways, that's my cultural lesson for the day! So, in honor of Black Friday, I am posting my first edition of Things I Didn't Buy, although it may need to become 'Things I Have Yet To Buy', or 'Things I Have Added To My Shopping Cart, But Haven't Clicked Check-Out, So I Technically Haven't Bought Them Yet' because some of these are really stinkin cute...


1) Paper Heart Shadow Box Art by SarahAndBendrix

They sell these gorgeous paper-heart-cutout-goodness thingys that come pre-framed in a shadow box. You purchase them individually, but does this picture not make you want to buy a whole wall full?!


2. Don't Forget Aged Sterling Silver Bow Ring by Whimsy Wire and Wool

This one is completely rational... I'm forgetful! I don't know how I've lived to the age of 22 without a bow tied on my finger!


3. Ride the Wind print by SpreadTheLove

I don't know if I love the quote or the hot pink yumminess of the background more!


4. Chanel Lover print by EmmaKISStina

So beautifully awkward, I love little imperfect pieces like this. Maybe I can relate because my drawings in art school never turned out looking quite like what I was supposed to be rendering!


5. Lilac Fingerless Gloves by Afra

I love arm warmers...gloves... scarves.... leg warmers... anything knitted that keeps me cozy really. It doesn't help that these are so frickin cute i want to wear them all year long! (Be sure to check out the insanely cute shawls and caplets in the store too!)


Ok, ok, enough wishlisting for me for today. Have a lovely afternoon (and safe travels for the holidays!)

-Chels

Strippin a King!

I cut, I sewed, I ironed, I repeated. Whoa. After a few hours I now have 5 coin strips long enough for a king size quilt!

I will DEFINATELY be taking this to someone with a long-arm to quilt once I get the top finished!

(those aren't scraps by the way, that's a portion of the pile resulting from a chain piecing bonanza!)

Sunday [Fabric] Funday

Hello hello!

It's another beautiful, sunny day here in Indy. I woke up in a great mood and couldn't wait to dive into this pile that I've been mulling over for the past few months. I jut couldn't decide on a pattern. This plagues me so often - I have piles of pulled fabric sitting everyone but don't dare to bring a rotary cutter to it until I decide on the perfect pattern.

So here she is... a fun lil collection of teals, greens, whites and browns. I'm planning a coin quilt of sorts, but with a little bit of a twist. More to come later! ;)

What's on your agenda today?

Boisenberries and plums, cherries and red hots!

Check out this stash of lovelies that were waiting on my doorstep when I got home from work yesterday.
I've been dreaming of a reddish, purplish, pinkish, rich, warm, perfectly cozy quilt for months. After many disappointed trips to Joann fabrics (they never have the Kona colors I want!), I ordered a handful of 1/2 yards from Pink Chalk Fabrics.

I have nothing but good things to say! I ordered them on Tuesday (along with about 12 other fabrics but I will share those at a later date) and they were here on Friday. That was my first time ordering fabrics online, boy was I nervous. They came perfectly packaged and I dug into them like a 6yr old on Christmas morning!

What exciting things do you have planned for this pretty fall weekend? (Indy is sunny and 40's today, what a welcomed break after a week of rain). I'm spending today fabric shopping for a commissioned baby quilt and sewing!

Sew somethin' sassy! -Chels

When you wish upon a star...

You might be able to make a wonky star without being short on your corners!





This is what I've been working on lately. It's my first stab at wonky stars and Ive had my fair share of short corners on the blocks that have points. I guess I am laying my triangles down too wonky? Who knows! Anyone else have this problem?
It basically is like when I trim my points block to 4.5" x 4.5" there's one corner that is just shy of being squared up.

Practice makes perfect I suppose!

Not in our house!

That's been the slogan of the Indianapolis Colts for quite some time now. They really brought it back Sunday night against the Patriots!



I had a terrible sore throat and was tempted to leave about halfway through the 4th qtr but we decided to stay. Ssoooo glad we did!

Here's Chris & I celebrating the win! 9-0, I love my Colts!

Happy Tape = Happy Christmas!

Shh... I'm supposed to be working, but I had a revelation on my way in to the office this morning. And by revelation I mean I was daydreaming about crafty things instead of focusing on the road. It's almost a morning ritual nowadays.

I do my best thinking in the car. Or the shower. Where do you do yours?

Off track, sorry. Anyways I decided I wanted to wrap all my gifts in craft paper. Then I figured I would be more environmentally friendly and wrap them in leftover newspaper and paper grocery sacks.

This is where my happy gift-giving comes into play...


Hello, the answer to the worlds problems - happy tape! Those Japanese sure know a thing or two about making me smile - adorable fabric, spicy tuna rolls, happy tape, heck even my boyfriend is 1/4 Japanese!

But seriously, how cute will this look on a Classified-ad-wrapped-gift?!

Nothing says straight from the heart like last week's sudoko.

(Photo is property of Tina Rice at Happy Tape; product can be bought here. I purchased the Waterfall 5pk, but I must have snagged one of the last few because I see it's now sold out.)

Yippee!

I presented the Cindy Loo Who quilt at the shower this afternoon... Not only did the mama-to-be love it, I also got requests for three similar commissioned quilts!

So excited!

The Lil "Cindy Loo Who"

I did it! I finished my first quilt that I quilted myself (usually I just do the tops and pay someone to quilt them)






I am calling this one Little Cindy Loo Who because the letters have made me think of Dr. Suess all weekend long as I've been working on this. And since I love naming things, giving my quilts human-like names makes the utmost sense ;)

Lil Who is made up of 12 blocks that are a little larger than 13" each. I made up the pattern myself, but can pass it along if anyone is interested. I quilted her in a grid of sorts (will post a photo of the back tomorrow).

I have this amazing sense of accomplishment right now... I hope my quilt high lasts all week!

I'm giving miss Cindy Loo Who away Wednesday at a baby shower luncheon... This is a bog step! I can't believe I'm giving away the first quilt I've ever quilted! I'm like the queen of hoarding! Haha especially anything with the smallest spec of sentimental value.

Phew, I'm ready for a few days of rest... Rest and fabric shopping. I'm hooked!! I can't wait to quilt some more tops!

C'mon baby, just a lil bit left!

Things have been moving smoothly today! Love it when that happens! Finished the quilt top for the baby shower.




I plan on quilting it tomorrow- yikes. My first attempt at quilting on Bernie! Wish me luck!

Now it's time to get all the stray threads off my clothes and get ready for a night out with some friends. Italian food and good company- can't wait!

Let's give it a go, baby!

How's this for gender neutral? This will be the first quilt I'm making specifically for someone else. I'm a little nervous!

I hope the little peanut appreciates my gift! I'm spending my day cutting, piecing & ironing. That's right I took a personal day off work to hang out with Bernie!

Call me crazy, but I'd much rather sew than be in the office ;)

I need your opinion!

I've decided to make a quick lil baby quilt for a coworker who's due in January. It's a suprise that I'm giving to her at her shower but I need color/pattern suggestions!

Her & her husband aren't finding out what they are having, and the nursery bedding is light greens, browns, white & tans.

So, fellow fabric freaks, should I atfmept to coordinate with the nursery or find some bright childfriendly prints??

Also what is your ideal baby quilt size? Thanks all, I appreciate your help so much!

Pie in the pants!

Chris and I had been debating Halloween costumes for the entire month of October. We knew we wanted to coordinate (maybe that's silly, but it's our first Halloween together so we are allowed to be all cutesy!)

About a week before the big night Chris came up with the best idea...





We were Nickelodeon Double Dare contestants! If any of you remember this show you know how ridiculous it was. Teams had to do "physical challenges" that usually involved lots of slime and/or whipped cream.

We made our helmets, tshirts and flags so overall I was a rather cheap costume!

We went to a couple parties and were a big hit! We entered in a costume contest and got in the top 10, but were beat out by KISS and a rather large "Michael Phelps" (complete with teeny tiny speedo & medals!)

How did you spend your Halloween? I've seen lots of cute pictures of party decor & costumed kiddos!

Red Velvet Elvis

Does three posts in one day make up for practically three weeks of no posts? ;)

I've been baking! I made my favorite cookies today....

Red Velvet with Cream Cheese Icing. I could probably eat this whole spread of them! But alas, I can't. I have to save them for a Halloween party!

Just like Xmas morning

I had lured Chris into going to the local quilt shop for the first time in his life last night with the promise of Chipotle afterwards. Sneaky, I know.

Well little did I know that our quilt store has an awesome new addition- a scrap basket full of fabric scraps from their kits they make. I'm talking 8"x8" scraps for 10 cents... Talk dirty to me!

I'm pretty sure it was right about the time that my boyfriend rounded the corner to see me sitting cross-legged on the floor digging through a laundry basket of cut up fabric that he definately was ready to sign me into the looney bin.

I desperately tried to explain wonky and string and houses to him. And as I looked up wide-eyed and rambling, he had the best reaction I could have ever asked for. He plopped down right next to me and said "what colors are you looking for?"


What fun is Christmas morning without someone to share it with! :) (I should note, Chris has made it very clear that "while it was kinda cool, I don't want to go with you everytime you go" hehe)

Bon Voyage!

We've been in Miami since about noon yesterday. The warm weather is amazing, considering it's been in the 40's back home!





Behind our hotel is a marina. We sat out on one of the docks just enjoying the peace and quiet last night. It was so nice!

We board our ship in about an hour! I'm so excited, having never been on a cruise I don't know what to expect! I'm looking forward to all of our stops though: Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas,Grand Turk, San Juan and the most anticipated spot (where I'll be spending my 22nd birthday) St. Thomas!

I'll be back next week with lots of photos and good stories and a new passion for life! (doesn't that always happen when you get to enjoy some time away from the daily grind?!)

Bon voyage! See you in a week :)

Holy Cute!

I have to head off to a housewarming bash here shortly but wanted to share with you some of my finds at the antique stores the past week.





Metal kitchen canisters. One for flour, sugar and coffee. I love love love the typography on them!





A rather large box of ball canning jars. Is it just me or does anyone else want to put EVERYTHING in glass jars?!








(I've filled one with colored pencils and another with fabric scraps)


And lastly a hot pink & fuschia tablecloth. I have had a lusting for vintage tableclothed for about a year now. Now (like many of my Have To Have It things) I need to find the perfect use for it.





I also bought a set of 3 metal/wood drafting stools but sadly they haven't gotten their photograph taken yet. Soon!

I'm off to warm a house! Hopefully some packing and sewing will happen tonight! Have a rockin Sunday -Chels

Real job is getting in the way!

This is what I feel like lately! Completely torn. But more on that later. This poor guy was my bischon-poodle mix, Spencer's, favorite toy. He would carry it EVERYWHERE! That is until yesterday when my brother's dogs got ahold of it. Rest in pieces, Cookie!

I want to start up my crafting and start on the journey towards be able to do what I love for a living but it's so hard to make that transition. I spend my 8-4s in front of a computer designing artwork & ads for liquor brands. It's fun, don't get me wrong, but it's not what I yearn to do. I'm a hands-on kind of girl!

I love textures too much to be confined to a computer moniter!

Anyways, I need to get back to work just needed a moment to vent! How have you (did you) make the transition? Did you dive right in or are you taking baby steps? How do you balance everything?

End of the weekend Internet-ing

I hope you all had an awesome fall weekend! Mine was full of baking (chocolate cherry cupcakes and apple cinnamon oatmeal cookies - mmmm), sewing, football and relaxing! My favorite kind of weekends!

Now I'm veggin' in front of my computer finding all kinds of cute stuff that I need (yes, need. I know want is the correct term, but I promise you I need it!)

Numero Uno

Brooke's to die for illustrations that I've been drooling over -- and debating which one, or three I need! You can visit her blog or her Etsy store here to see the rest of her amazing illustrations. She even does commissions of women in their wedding dresses - what an awesome idea!

Numero Dos

Have you seen these Upcycled IBC Creme Soda bottle glasses by Yava Glass ?! I just want to sit in a porch swing & sip lemonade out of them all day long. Well maybe not today, it's a little chilly out. But in my mind it's a picture perfect scene! They do liquor bottles too, I have a set of their Absolut Vodka ones and they are really fun as flower vases! (Even better - the ones in the photo are on sale!)

Numero Tres

Cute flags, right.... but did you look closely? They're maps! I want these! I want theme for every party I ever host from here on out. I will have a closet full! They're kits made by Beppe Martha, a retired nurse. Mama mia, as if maps aren't enough of a sweet spot of mine, you gotta go hangin em from trees!

Ok, ok, I could go on for days but these are my top three. I've got to regain peace in this household. I'm dog-sitting my brother's two dogs this week and let me tell you, they are a handful. Poor Spencer is overwhelmed (my bischon-poodle mix) he's so mellow and just lays around and these dogs want to run and play and growl. What else would you expect from a boxer mix and an australian sheep dog mix?! Phew. I've totally taken for granted having a dog that I can just open the door and let him go out on his own and not worry about running off. I wasn't made for big dogs! Help!

It's a girl!

I wanted to give you the warning now - prepare for lots of pink and baby related posts, as I have a niece on the way! (Congrats big brother!)

I've been anxiously awaiting yesterday to find out whether I'd become a first-time aunt to a blue or a pink. And I'm SO excited to say the macaroni-with-a-heartbeat is a pink!

There she is, waving, probably to me because she already knows I will spoil her in the very near future! Truth be told, I don't know how they can recognize a boy from a girl. You could probably give me an ultrasound of a horse and I wouldn't know the difference. But I printed off a (better) ultrasound photo of her darling little head and body and have had it on my desk at work every since I found out at 8am yesterday!

I'm so excited for the new parents, they will be celebrating their 2nd wedding anniversary this month and I know they will be great parents with a little one come February!

I'm a follower

I've done it. I've hopped on board the wonky wagon. I've been dreamin about wonky blocks for weeks now- I see em on everyones blogs & flickrs and I finally joined the in-crowd!

And for someone who's as much of a control freak as me, that's a big step. Cutting into fabric for a pattern is bad enough, but hackin up perfectly good strips and blocks. Phew. Stress me out! Took a good 10min to wonkify the first strip!!

But... Alas I prevailed. And I LOVE IT! Why haven't I been making these all along?! Next time a hip improv trend comes along can someone make sure I join a heck of a lot sooner?!





I honestly have no idea who designed my beautiful fabrics, they were a fat quarter bundle that I had purchased a few years ago when I first began quilting. The blues, purples, teals and grays seemed fitting for the rainy weather we had today though. (If you can help identify please do, I would love to get more!)

I'm off to chop and sew a few more with Bernie before calling it a night!

-Chels

Santorini gone wrong

I come bearing both good news and bad news.

How do you want it? Good news first? Perfect... I've got 36 finished blocks ready to be sewn into rows. Fantastic, huh? Great work just like I planned. Right??
Wrong. Ready for the bad?

... I laid out the blocks and let me tell you, I'm not a fan. After I put 2 rows on my floor I was all "ehh.... Maybe it'll grow on me" but once I got every last block down, nooo way. No growing here! Everyone else likes it, it's a very cute pattern (from the Living Large book- see photo below) and I loved the fabric but somethin just ain't doin it for me.







But I guess on a good note, what better way to transition into selling my goods than with a quilt I'm not head over heels for?!


-- C is iBloggin from her iPhone

Santorini bound!

I wish that title was true! I'd love to visit Greece one day. Those beautiful white buildings perched atop the deep blue sea. Ahh

Back to reality! I'm spending some quality with Bernie today, bought a layer cake of Moda's Santorini a few weeks ago and now that I've finally decided to quit admiring it and cut into it I've got quite a jumpsart on some super cute blocks.









I'll post more on some new projects and fabric ive been pulling later. How are you spending your Sunday?

-- C is iBloggin from her iPhone

Anticipating

I've been browsing the web the past few days looking at yet to be released fabrics, I've added some of my favorites that I'm eagerly awaiting!

1. Chinese Takeout by Sheri Berry for Northcott Fabrics (coming any day, via Fat Quarter Quilt Shop) I'm eager to get a look at those first two.... they look super cute, I'm still a little unsure about the rest though....

2. Dolce by Tanya Welan for Free Spirit, expected at Fat Quarter Quilt Shop in November. Birds, flowers and hexagons - OH MY! I'm a sucker for bright graphic prints! Look at the beautiful gray and pink floral in the second row. Mama likey! I'm getting so many great ideas for these prints!

2. Polly Goes to Paris by Henry Glass Fabrics. This has wonky blocks written all over it, with the girl & her poodle staring in the middle of each block! Very cute bgq (baby girl quilt) potential..

4. And lastly, what's a wishlist without a little Amy Butler?! Her new Love collection by Westminster has some real lookers



I better start saving my pennies (and nickels... and dimes.... and quarters!!

Oh how I love old stuff!

So the darling boyfriend is doing some painting tonight and I'm pretty sure that means Ill be waltzing my lil booty to the antique mall.

I always fall in love with furniture- chairs in particular. Hope to find some goodies! Now that I can blog from my phone I'll be sure to post pics later!


-- C is iBloggin from her iPhone

Stitchin & stitchin

I was super fortunate to have a 3day weekend this past week and boy did I make the most of it! I spent nearly two whole days shopping for fabric and working on my quilts. I finished up four quilt tops (I'm not THAT crazy, two were nearly done)




They're all throw size. This was probably one of the easiest patterns I've ever done.




I looove this one! Here's a close-up, it's so fun and bright!



Please don't judge my lack of ironing!




Here's my crazy log cabin. I definately want to do one of these soon, it was so fun and I loved the way it turned out!

If there's one thing I learned this weekend it's that I have an obsession with fabric. It's all so beautiful! So many combinations & possibilities! You can't blame a girl for fallin head over 4" stilletos for some moda layer cakes!

What catches your eye at the local quilt store?

-- C is iBloggin from her iPhone