Conquering the Quilt, One Block at a Time

Strip by strip, piece by piece I say. Earlier this summer I started working on a few different strip pieced projects and got hypnotized by color. Kaffe Fassett stole my heart and I ran with it! I actually started with a collection of tropical bright batiks that I will be constructing into various semi-freeform projects inspired by "Strips 'n Curves" by Louisa L Smith. I started cutting strips and realized I could work on Allison Quilt Designs: Color My World at the same time - which is so much fun to put together. I got carried away with my strip cutting and forgot to cut the larger strips for the border so I'll have to go back to it hahahaha. So here are some samples of my stratas and my first finished block!

Strata 1 for Strips N Curves : Louisa Smith inspired project

Strata 2 for Strips N Curves : Louisa Smith inspired project

Color My World Strips

Color My World - First Block - phew!

Felting: Fiber Trends Alpine Boots

Finished and felted, these cozy little boots are to die for!! Not only are they completely adorable, but they are really a cinch to make, and knit up in no time flat! I think I actually finished them in a few nights, which is amazing with two little ones keeping me on my toes at every step of the way! My son is now insisting I make him a pair as well so I'll have to find a way to boy them up a bit :-) We don't have this pattern available yet but it is on it's way so I will repost the link when it arrives. One little flub I made was when combing the eyelashes of the decorative yarn through to make them stand up, you should make sure if you are going to fold them down to fluff the inside of the boot, not the outside - when I cuff them down they aren't as fluffy which is how little Vivian has to wear them because otherwise she has boots up to her eyeballs. Ahh well, I am still in love with them. I have really been on a peach streak these days and will post a pic of her Dream In Color sweater I made - I ammended it a bit to have short sleeves so I need to crochet a decorative edging and voile! Coming soon ;-)

Vvi Lu sporting her Alpine Boots...awwwwwww

Holiday Shop Hop..prizey prizey

p>Ahh it is much too late for me to be making entries in ye ole blog, but alas I am down to the wire and want to be sure all information is circulating. I am really starting to feel festive especially with the hint of snow on the ground here in our lovely frozen tundra. I don't know that I am quite ready for the subzero temperatures but I simply cannot wait for Christmas lights and pine sap! So we are kicking off the weekend (yes a much overused term !) with our annual Holiday Shop Hop, hosted by Fab Shop Network. We've got lots of goodies in store including a drawing for a Moda Santa Sack. You could fit a whole toddler in there! (seriously. you could fit a whole toddler in there.)

Look! He spent a long time in that sack trying to get everything out. I thought we were going to have to send out a search party!

And now we move on...I keep threatening to post my current projects and I may be able to get them up before the weekend. I have pieces of this Allison Quilt Design trip around the world pattern done - it may be months before all the blocks are ready, but that is simply because I keep starting new projects! And I am ready to felt these baby Alpine Boots by Fiber Trends for Miss Via. Ohhhhh can't wait to see the finished product!

Make sure you visit the store for other announcements!! I must sleep now or I will pay in the morning....

Aslan Trends Knitting Contest 2009

We are so excited to be a part of Aslan Trends Knitting Contest 2009! We will be posting reminders and updates to our line of Asland Trends yarns over the coming months to keep you ahead!

ASLANTRENDS KNITTING CHALLENGE “THE CONTEST” will be an annual contest in which, through the use of AslanTrends Yarns, we ask entrants to create their own designs based on a set of creative guidelines. A panel of prestigious judges from the professional Knitting community will take part in determining the winners. Top tier winners will receive cash, AslanTrends Yarn and other prizes.

The ASLANTRENDS KNITTING CHALLENGE creates wonderful opportunities for Knitters to express their creativity and share their talents with the rest of the Knitting world. As a company, the competition allows ASLANTRENDS the opportunity to witness firsthand the diverse wealth of ideas and methods by which our yarns can be utilized by the Knitter. We encourage all of you to take part: novice or advanced. The goal is to have fun and share in an inspiring creative event!

 

Shop Aslan Trends Yarn Now!

Yarns & Yummies!

This week has been a terrific whorl wind of yarn, fabric, and well, candy.  We are still soaking up every last bit of sunshine we can in these uncharacteristically warm November days, and trying desperately to recover from the sugar induced coma brought on by Halloween.  I am more than excited to announce our upcoming expansion into knitting yarns!  I can't tell you how many gorgeous and unique fibers I have had the pleasure of viewing and slowly but surely we will be adding more and more to our storefront.  We also had the great pleasure of seeing some fantastic new fabric prints at Quilt Market and are itching to have them available to you!!  Trends this season are marked by bright pastel colors coupled with a hint of The Partridge Family.  Kitchy retro mod styles and gorgeous colors make for a fabulous palette!!

 

What's Up & Coming in November??

Amy Butler : NEW colors and patterns for Midwest Modern

Free Spirit:  Adorable juvenile robot prints & a great new flannel line from Valori Wells. 

Michael Miller:  A great mix of bold retro prints

YARNS!!!  Featuring yarns by Great Adirondack, Aslan Trends,  Sublime, Debbie Bliss, Pagewood hand-dyes.......