iPad anyone?

I made this iPad cozy after Christmas for our daughter for her new iPad.  I popped it into the mail so it was  waiting for her when they got home from Christmas travelling about.  I used some of my precious typewriter fabric along with some leftover bits of grey home decor weight fabric.  The grey is quite heavy but it looks pretty snazzy quilted up with all those straight lines.   I lined the cozy with a crazy alphabet print from the stash.  Completed the look with some hair tie elastics and some buttons from the tin.  iPad cozy.  Life is good.  She loves it and told me that I could make a lot of money with these.  That made me laugh.  But it is nice to know that even when you are 23, you appreciate the things that mommy makes for you.  

Linking up with Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story.

Design Wall Monday... it's catching

I caught the bug.  These scrappy trip around the world blocks are taking over the internet and I just had to try them out.  I checked out the tutorial and pulled some fairly uninspiring fabric just to see if it was something I would have fun with.  Oh, man.  It is fun.  The first block went together slowly and then I got in the groove.

Then I decided to get a bit more serious and I went looking in the wall of fabric for some more interesting fabric choices.  This is the first pull.  I am going for organized scrappy and will try to have a selection of these colours in each square.  I may add a more neutral just for contrast... maybe a grey.  Hmm.  Still thinking.  What about you?  Have you jumped on board?

Linking up with Judy's design wall Monday.

Build Your Best Log Cabin... a review

Back in December, I was contacted by a media coordinator for Fons and Porter.  He offered me a copy of their free ebook "Building Your Best Log Cabin" and asked if I would be willing to share a review.  Well, it was December and I was knee deep in the school Christmas Concert.  I did say I would do this but I am only just getting to it now.  Yoiks!

This is a lovely ebook by the way.  Nice that it is free. I downloaded a copy onto my iPad and have it open in iBooks as we speak.  And while Log Cabins and books about them abound, it is always fun to see a new take on an old standard.  The fabrics used in the samples are predominantly traditional but I am confident that all of us modern quilters can easily see beyond that and imagine these standards made up in some lovely, vibrant modern fabrics.  I was particularly struck by the pattern for Chevron. I can totally see this done up in some amazing Oakshotts!  In fact, I might just have to make this one quick.  On the Dark side is great too.  Hey, this book is filled with good ideas.   I appreciated the ideas for layouts. The directions are clear and well laid out in typical Fons and Porter style.

On The Dark Side  from Building Your Best Log Cabin

I also enjoyed the wee bit about Liz's Lumpless Binding.  Nice tips!  Because we all want a lumpfree binding!  I even bought a handy dandy tool awhile ago but the directions were so convoluted I gave up and I think I do just what Liz is recommending now.  Check it out.

So there you have it.  Just a little review. Thanks, Fons and Porter.   And I have a link here too,so you can grab yourself a copy of the ebook too.

Clever Mum...

 I have a clever Mum.  This goes without saying.  She is a very talented weaver and she wove me an amazing scarf for Christmas.  It is beyond fabulous.  It is rayon chenille and bamboo of all things.  Each little fringe has been painstakingly braided.  OMG!  I love the grey stripes.  So classy!  It feels amazing around my neck and  is just the right length for me to double and loop.  Oh, I just am so spoiled.  Thanks, Mum.  I love it.  I wish we had touch-a-vision.  I wore it the other night when the buds and I went to see Les Miserables (what a movie!!!!!) and my scarf got much attention.  And did I say we really enjoyed the movie???

And speaking of spoiled.  Mum also gave me milk glass candle holders for Christmas.  Feeding my milk glass habit she is.  Aren't they awesome????

Off to finish the binding on the Another Star quilt... I know, how exciting is that?  Another wip bites the dust!

Finish it up Friday...

Here is a finish!  This is a Market Square tote bag that I made with the pattern I won.  I won the pattern at Felicity's blog.  Yay!  This is a lovely tote designed by Nikki from The Girl Who Quilts.  That is a long story. Anyway.  I made the tote for a Travel Handmade Swap that the Fraser Valley Modern Quilt Guild has going on with the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild.  My swap partner likes greys and pinks.  She also likes cute Japanese prints. Which is why I put the little cutesy Lecien print in the pocket.  CUTE!  That print also happens to have all sorts of travel references so it is like a pun in a pocket.  Or at least I thought so.  I do think I should have had the zipper tab on the left instead of the right but I think I can be forgiven on that one. I was most impressed with the zipper installation because it was awesome in its tidy completion!  For the base of the tote, the handles and the lining, I used some of my Marimeko decor weight fabric.  Sweet!  And for the contrast... Pure Style by Stof in the grey.  Love that fabric!  Love the grey.  Love the print.  Love the feel of the fabric.  It is just yummy.  I used a bit of multi grey pin dots for the contrast of the pocket.

All in all it is a great pattern.  Clear instructions.  Love the zipper.  And I hope my swap partner likes the bag.  I still need to tuck some goodies into that nice big outside pocket.  It has a seam down the centre for stability.  Good idea!  And this was one more thing off my list!

Linking up with Amanda Jean for Finish it up Friday!

Random Thursday...

I got these hilarious tea bags for Christmas from son and his lovely girlfriend.  I thought they were a perfect Random Thursday topic.  They crack me up.  Royal tea.  Love the one of Charles.  Too funny.

Then there is my sweater.  I tend to wear this when sewing in the winter.  Now I cannot wear it anywhere else because it is such a disaster.  I am my own thread magnet.  NOTHING can get the thread out of this sweater.  Ack!  I was going to throw it out but Husband thought I would potentially ruin another sweater so I should just keep it.  I actually have its twin in grey.  It is just as bad.  I can alternate.  Such style.

Then there is this mystery item.  Mum brought it for me.  Apparently it is a wool holder.  Yep.  You chuck your ball of wool in there to keep it tidy.  I think the multiple holes are in case you are working on something with multiple colours but I am only guessing.  I think this one is a vintage version.  Quite the thing.

Linking up with Random Thursday.  Just because.

Work in Progress Wednesday and Just Three

I have been systematically taking care of business with my work in progress list.  That is the beauty of a 2 week vacation!

1)  A new quilt (grey, red and black) that I just started and is now a quilt top awaiting a back and quilting!  Woo Hoo!

2) Another star quilt which was just a bunch of blocks on the design wall.  Now awaiting quilting.  Huge progress!  Yippee!  

3) Proverbial Sunshine which is a top without a back  So done!  Proverbial Sunshine is a quilt!

4)  A swap item for a travel handmade swap with the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild which is no more than an idea.   Done!!!!!  Photos coming!

5) A block or two for a block lottery with my guild for January.  Well... I made one anyway and I am calling that a finish!  Apparently I did not take a picture of that!!!

6)  Bee Blocks for That Stash Bee... pulled fabric so it is a start.

7) Super secret project which is almost finished and has been consuming my attentions!

8)  Hair cut!     He he he.  Thought I would just sneak that in there too.  

Okay so for last month's Just Three Goals... how did I do?  Not bad considering I did finish Proverbial Sunshine which I did not even put on my list!

1.  Finish the new quilt    Which was the GIANT garden trellis quilt and it has been gifted and happily received!

2.  Finish the another star quilt

3.  Make my swap item.  

My Just Three Goals for January 2013 are as follows...

1.  Finish the another star quilt

2.  Complete the new quilt

3.  Bee Blocks!

So easy.  I can do this!

Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced for Work In Progress Wednesday and with the Needle and Thread Network and Tracey for Just Three!