Bettie Blogger

Fabric Love!!

2011-06-04T12:57:00.018-05:00

Dr. Seuss has arrived at Dillinger Fabrics and we have some great coordinates to go with it!! So many new fabrics coming and we are working on putting together groups to make it easier for our customers to shop.

We've also added a lot of blenders and still have more to come. You can also order free sample swatches of the blender fabrics to be sure they will match your project! We know how tricky computer monitors can be so be sure to check related items on the fabric description pages to look for matching fabrics. You are always welcome to call or email us and we can help you pick out matching coordinates!

Summer Song flannels are also in stock and a quick sew picnic blanket kit will be available June 15th! Lovely bright colors to wrap up in for summer!

Been a Long Time Since I Rock and Rolled...

2011-01-29T21:11:00.005-06:00

Literally. I have been on a long but temporary hiatus from blogging (and listening to Led Zeppelin with Ayden who recently discovered Robert Plant). The last 6 months have brought a laundry list of adjustments including having my 3 and 5 year old at home with me. However, I am on the upswing now and will not be a stranger. My New Year's Resolution is to be more connected!

Oh, to be a child...

2010-07-29T22:03:00.000-05:00

Took a nap today with Miss Vivi after swimming. This is how awesome my hair was when we woke up.

My husband thought it was cute. I think it reminds him of 80's crushes on girls with mall hair. Look familiar?

In honor of being nostalgic - Candyland is here and the cutest playmat/throw quilt kit and take-along bag will be ready for purchase next week.

Want to see??? Just a little preview :) Full pictures will be ready by Monday *fingers crossed*

Strawberry jam at the Krusty Krab

2010-07-19T22:39:00.003-05:00

Sandi Henderson's Meadosweet line is my perfect reflection of summer. A gorgeous palette of color and prints that make you want to make a pretty tablecloth or girly bag. Favorite things about summer...

making jam

Yummy strawberries picked off the vine by two little munchkins making it all the sweeter

coffee on my patio

sand in my toes

sewing pretty skirts

dusk

Cooking with fruit :)

Little LuLu in her sunhat

Just your everyday average strawberry picking outfits

If you would just let me steal the strawberries in peace I wouldn't be so crusty

All I need is brown sugar - okay mom?

last but not least Berries & Buttercream

Super easy and delicious recipe! * 1 store bought (gasp!) angel food cake * Click Here for Buttercream Frosting * Loads of fresh picked berries

Carefully slice the cake in half and set aside the top of the cake.
Frost the middle with buttercream frosting.
Put berries on the frosting.
Put top back on cake and frost top and sides Cover in scrumdidliumptious fruit (courtesy of Willy Wonka)

Izzy and Ivy Sally Sun Hat - sooo cute

2010-07-13T11:04:00.000-05:00

I spent the morning working on the Sally Sun Hat by Izzy and Ivy designs. Very excited to try it on Vivian I put it on her head and it was too small!!

:( I measured her noggy wrong so this one will have to be a gift for our new baby niece that is scheduled to arrive at the end of the month.

She has been bugging me all morning for her "at" so I have to get cracking and am going up 2 sizes. Hopefully it doesn't end up too big ! I had checked the band on her head as well and it seemed to fit but after all the layers were together it shrunk down a bit. :(

Cute though yes?

who needs movies?

2010-07-06T19:39:00.007-05:00

Ayden comes down to dinner in dress pants and a nice button-down shirt. "We're having a rock concert up in your bedroom. Me, Rocky, Chum-Chum and Cody. They are eating at the rock place while we have dinner. Except Cody, he is right sitting right there (pointing at the end of the table)" He continues on about tickets and band practice and his "bandmates" until I am under the table laughing to the point of tears. Ayden pats my head and says "What's wrong, are you okay mom?" *cough cough* "Yes I am just choking a little on my food, but I am okay now." (thank goodness this cover still works) A few minutes later I comment on his eyes looking puffy from too much chlorine. I tell him he should close his eyes under the water at the pool because he doesn't want his pretty brown eyes to fade (nice one mom) To which he replies "Well mom you know these cracks in your eyes? Sometimes it's hard not to get water in there." How can you argue with logic like that? This is my life. I couldn't make it up if I tried and I need to thank God for that every day. Sneak Peek I started the Sally Sun Hat by Izzy & Ivy Designs using these gorgeous colorful Sugar fabrics by Art Gallery. I will post pics tomorrow :)

Say hello to Fred, Elvis and No-Name Slob

2010-07-05T09:12:00.004-05:00

Our second cat of two brothers, George, passed away in March :( So to look on the positive side of missing my 20 lbs ball of grey fur and drool, I am now able to have two things - house plants and fish. And somehow, with out any planning, our fish match our personalities. Meet the Betta clan. Vivian's fish Fred: feisty, spits his food out, interested in everything everyone is "doin" Ayden's fish, Elvis : very calm and laid back, always hungry Shell's fish, No-Name Slob : likes to show off his pretty colors :), prone to mood swings I named him several times and kept asking my husband "What should I name him? " to which he would reply "You already named him! 'Poor slob with out a name!' " (A husband who watches Breakfast at Tiffany's with you more than once AND can remember a line from it is a keeper) And that is how fishy became known as No-Name Slob. Thank you Miss Holly Golightly

Hi, my name is...

2010-06-30T00:01:00.002-05:00

Rochelle

also known as (in no particular order) Ro, Roach, Shell, Gigi, Bella

This is the day I entered the world as a tiny, tomato-headed squishy, weighing in at 5 lbs. 8 oz.

I was a shy child - this did not last

I am a natural blonde

I absolutely abhor jell-o

I want to own alpaca someday

I am very mathematical and very creative and the two often fight

I love...

laying in the grass

baking cupcakes and jam

photographing anything I can

starting sewing projects

vintage eyewear

classic films

rainy days

nectarines on Special K

the smell of my children

laughter

record players

dancing in the kitchen with my husband

playing air guitar with my babies

Carrie Grant & Jimmy Stewart

making really weird faces in photographs rocking chairs

flowers in my garden or in my hair

revelations

and this week God has given me Psalm 46:10

"Cease striving and know that I am God"

aka chill out and let me handle it ;)

So many projects, so little time...

2010-06-23T22:33:00.000-05:00

The Jolly Stockings Quilt by Kari Ramsey at Fresh Cut Quilts has arrived! This is an absolutely fantastic Holiday Block of the Month which we are working diligently on putting together. We have carefully selected all of our fabrics and are in the process of putting together the blocks so we can have it ready for you to see in July. The pattern and preliminary sign up should be ready by about the second week in July. Somehow I am receiving a hint to slow down as I am now fighting off a lovely summertime cold but once I am back on my feet, the sewing will commence.

I forgot to share the lovely little dress I put together using my stash of Anna Maria Horner fabrics. I adore the bohemian feel of her patterns and was sad to see this collection go. I will be using it in Miss Vivi's quilt that I am currently dreaming up. I took the idea from a dress I saw on Anna's blog and I think it turned out quite lovely and colorful!

Little Lu Lu loved it as much as I did. She twirled and twirled and twirled some more.

icky sicky...

2010-06-17T22:23:00.000-05:00

I hardly ever get sick and usually when I do the entire family is laid out. The only perk of having the ickies this week was that my husband got off work early and I was the only one feeling cruddy. My dearest husband actually boiled water for my tub because I was so cold. Then my babies brought me gingerale and crackers and rubbed my head while I soaked. It was pretty sweet to be taken care of by my 5 and 2 year old. So now I am relaxing a little as we have to get ready for new carpet next week - and with that comes painting, organizing and every other crazy thing I usually feel the need to do when we change something in our house... Cheerios is an okay lunch when mama is sick right?

Strips & Curves by Louisa Smith...revisited (finally)

2010-06-08T22:55:00.000-05:00

In Reference To : This Blog Well after a host of mistakes and miscuts I am only left with 4 complete blocks. Eek! I made a mistake when making my template for the half clamshell so I strongly recommend buying the prefabs! Even when I fixed my mistake I still had to cut the small tail longer than the template called for. Hmph. I will say that I emailed Louisa and she was greatly helpful. She even looked at a pic I sent to her and was able to figure out what I had done wrong and was extremely prompt in her replies. Love it! Regardless of my mistakes and many many lost clamshells, I can still have a wall hanging. I wasn't really too sure what I was going to do with it when it was done I just loved the color. As per usual! I have the pieces cut and now need to tackle sewing the curves together. So mind all the masking tape to keep me organized :) Here is a pic of the work in progress. And just for fun - this is what Ayden does while I am sewing, emailing, making phone calls from my home office etc. He dresses up like a Rebel With Out a Cause, sprays his little mohawk up and strikes a pose. He takes after my husband and I so much it is ridiculous!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

2010-06-01T22:26:00.000-05:00

The week started with the kiddos syphoning stashed presents out of my closet. I guess I didn't do the best job of hiding them so I will take some responsibility for the discovered Star Wars guys and Barbie. Funney enough it couldn't have come at a more fitting time seeing as how we are receiving our Christmas fabrics at the store. The long awaited 12 Joys of Christmas by Lyndhurst Studio is here! This nostalgic fabric drips with vintage inspiration down to the records and lampshades. We've also got the Classic Christmas by Michael Miller and these go quickly so don't wait!

Owl By Myself Quilt

2010-06-01T11:30:00.000-05:00

While I did get a bit of sun over the Memorial Weekend I must admit I wanted to spend my days inside working on projects. It is baffling that I want to sew when the weather is nice and not when there is 6 feet of snow on the ground. I will have to work on that over the years.

Here are some photos of the Owl By Myself quilt that I have started piecing together using the Cinnamon & Ginger pattern. It has gone rather quickly and I wanted to show how the Allison Quilt Patterns can be used with different fabrics to create an entirely different look. This is the 2nd pattern of hers that I have done and I have to say I love her patterns. They are simple to read with color images to follow along making it a very painless project.

Kits to come this week.

Letter to my darlings

2010-05-25T18:04:00.000-05:00

Ayden & Pixie

Dear children, Your dad wanted me to make a list of what Pixie Girl is not : A wishbone (her legs aren't meant to be pulled) A dustmop (looks yes but not to be brushed across the floors) A knick-nack (please stop putting her on the shelves) A casserole (not to be put in your toy kitchen oven) and my personal favorite : A terminator (yes kids she is flesh and blood) XOXO, Mama

Miss Vivi Lu in Izzy & Ivy Designs Princess Bella

2010-05-25T16:20:00.000-05:00

The weekend came to an end with Ayden telling my husband and I to "go inside and cuddle up and get some sleep."

Us : "Why?" (wondering what the catch was as he and his cousin whispered in the bushes)

Ayden : "Well I am just worried that you guys aren't getting enough rest."

Trying hard not to burst out laughing - obviously he knows we are both way underslept - we thanked him and said we can't leave him outside alone. As it turns out, the two boys were planning a mission to fight a robot that was going to take over the world. Who knew? Now we are busy busy getting prepared for all of the lovely fabrics that are going to be pouring in over the next few months. Plus we have the annual June Fab Shop Hop starting here in a very short week so we are working hard to get new kits together as well as a sneak peek at our Christmas Block of The Month that will begin this September. So flippin' cute!

And later then I had intended here are pics from little LuLu's birthday party.

Strange little measle dog cake and all.I may have outdone myself with this one. Really.

Izzy & Ivy Princess Bella Dress (plus a pair of little shoes I had a first run at - not to terrible but hard as heck to draft)

My Buttercream Recipe (some guess work required)

1 Stick of Butter Confectioner's Sugar (powdered sugar) Vanilla Milk Crisco Cream softened butter it until nice and smooth then add: 2 heaping spoonfuls of crisco (I like less than the tradtional recipe would call for) Cream and add : Splash of vanilla (1/2 teaspoon?) 2-2.5 cups of powdered sugar (about half a bag?) Long splash of milk (1+tablespoon) Add milk slowly because this will dictate how thick or thin the frosting is depending on your desired taste. Enjoy immensely and eat from bowl or put in pastry bag, make pretty tops on cupcakes and decorate with delicious edible flowers. The kind that your daughter will eat off before throwing the rest of the cupcake away. : ) Little Lu on her rad Schwinn Tricycle

Spring Quilt Market Day 2

2010-05-23T00:39:00.000-05:00

Quite possibly still dreaming, the first words out of my mouth this morning were, "Why is Vivian putting post-its on my face?" To which my husband replied, "It isn't post-its, it's stickers." Eyes open. There she is, sitting on top of me grinning from ear to ear, "Puppy mama! Puppy 'tickers!" And so day 2 began with a lot of delirium and a family of puppies stuck on my face. Today I spent most of my time photographing booths, parusing patterns and chatting with different designers. My last meeting was with Art Gallery Fabrics and the only thing I could tell them was that they needed to make an ugly line so I wouldn't have such a hard time ordering. Their prints are stunning on fabric. There is really nothing like tactile viewing. These are a few of my Favorite Things....

Art Gallery Fabrics : Filigree (Available June)

Retro Mae Poncho (Fabric : Rainy Days & Mondays by Riley Blake)

Anna Maria designs and fabric for Free Spirit

Domestic Diva by Riley Blake

See more photos from the show Here

Spring Quilt Market Day 1

2010-05-21T21:35:00.000-05:00

The busiest of the days is over. Thank you! It is almost hard to recap the day because of the sheer volume and insanity of it all. So many faces and so many booths, there is a deep well of creativity to draw from. I had very little time for photos today, but tomorrow I will start the capturing process. On a comical tangent, there I was quietly browsing fabrics from one of my favorite vendors. Across the table I spotted a line sheet for a very cute, but unbeknownst to me, top secret, Dr. Seuss line. And so begins

The Dr. Seuss Conspiracy... Me : "Oh, I would like to see that line next" Assistant A: "Let me check...(returns moments later) There is a very tight schedule for that sheet and we only have one." Me : pause..."Will I be able to see it...or should I come back later? Assitant A: ....

Me: "Should I call my rep after market?"

Assistant A : ... Me : "Okay well thank you for taking my order, I will... just call them and find out about that....?? " 3 hours later The booth had died down and there were reps in between clients so this was the perfect opportunity to try to get a peek and put in my order. I stopped and quickly explained that I hadn't gotten to see the line and being that I was here at market I wanted to get my order in over the weekend. Rep A: "Oh, yes we only have 1 sheet. Let me see..." Rep B: "If you want to wait I can see if I can track it down..." Rep A and Rep B, still sitting, look around at ceiling, left right, at the ground, back at ceiling, I think I can hear whistling. Hmmmm where could that fabric be... Rep A: "I can't seem to find it..." Me : "Well can I just stop back tomorrow?" Rep B: .... Rep A: .... Me : "It is okay I will just stop back when it is less hectic...?" And then I had to leave, flabergasted and completely amused. I burst out laughing on the phone with my husband because I swear there was some crazy Dr. Seuss Fabric conspiracy taking place. I will go for try #3 and see if I can get my hands on it. Until then, good night!

Izzy & Ivy Designs Patterns now at Dillinger Fabrics

2010-03-31T23:39:00.000-05:00

My next project will be a birthday dress by Izzy & Ivy Designs for my dolly girl. We've added 4 of their patterns including the Jack & Jill hat which is tres tres cute. Reading through the pattern I think this will go together quite quickly which is ideal for my crammed life :) And Miss Vivi will be a tres tres fancy girl. Sorry, I have been listening to her tres tres Fancy Nancy phone for weeks now and it has seeped into my vernacular. It reminds of when Ayden was born and I was still adjusting to being a mamma. Back when you are learning to cope with the loss of precious memory and dialogue which is rapidly replaced with sleepless nights and rambling lullabies. I was sitting with my brother-in-law and out of either delerium or unconscious habbit I started singing made up baby songs only to be greeted with an "Okaaaay" look. I had to just laugh and excuse myself to nap with the baby. I will always cherish the days when Sponge Bob band-aids and bedtime stories make the world right.

Gray, Citron Black by Michael Miller Fabrics

2010-03-27T23:15:00.000-05:00

Shop Gray/Citron/Black Now As Miss Vivi says "Oooo! Birdy Birdy!" I love this line by Michael Miller - it is adorable for so many different types of projects! I love the novelty of it that appeals to both children and adults.

mama said they'll be days like this...

2010-03-13T21:10:00.000-06:00

I don't like a man to be too efficient. He's likely to be not human enough.

-Felix Frankfurter And most certainly he is likely to not have children. The delicate balance between running a business and raising two bouncing balls of energy has been, let's say, out of equilibrium. In one week I was hit with Mama Lu being in the hospital with a dreadfully severe case of shingles and two babies sick with strep. I could probably count the hours I slept on one hand and if there is one thing I love it is my sleep. Se la vi, next week will be more restful (isnt' that the white lie mothers tell themselves :)

At least it came after my little Ayden's 5th birthday so I was able to continue my crazy late night tradition of constructing some wild creature out of cake and loads of buttercream frosting. This year I even took a stab at fondont. I've probably been watching too much Cake Boss because there I was at 1 am with my Rowenta Steam Iron, steaming the cake. Picture it. Insert laughter.

Here is my final Star Wars creation (yes we live and breathe Star Wars in this house - even Viv who is not quite 2 has been singing the them song since she was about 8 months old)

The Bounty Hunter Cad Bane

Pink Fig Patterns

2010-01-08T14:00:00.000-06:00

In September I was contact by Chelsea at Pink Fig Patterns and I am so glad she did! She has the most adorable patterns for girls clothing and I couldn't resist! I made Miss Vivian an outfit using the Darling Jeans no. 12 pattern & the Mia Top with the Flights of Fancy collection for Michael Miller. Amazing I found time to complete the whole outfit but it really went together great and I can actually brag that I finished it ONE afternoon. (This is virtually unheard of in my life, just ask my dearest husband) I will sheepishly admit I am jealous of women who can sew until the wee hours of the morning - I am hopelessly chained to this desktop. I am hoping to share more project inspiration and photography of mine over 2010. (I will keep posting this as a gentle reminder to myself :)

Rotary Cutting 101

2010-01-03T21:10:00.001-06:00

Once mastered this technique is invaluable to quilting and sewing. Recommended Tools: Self Healing Mat Olfa 45” Rotary Cutter 6”x24” Non-Slip Ruler (This is a very versatile size that will allow you to create many different size squares and strips. An absolute must! I highly recommend Creative Grids – they are honesty the best and the most slip resistant, and they come in 6.5”x24” which will comes in very handy when quilting) ½ yard quilt cotton fabric *As always we recommend washing your fabric prior to use to allot for shrinkage. (Not as critical for bags/accessories etc) Also be sure to press your fabric. Begin... by folding the fabric selvage to selvage. Lay it on your mat, with fold closest to your body. (Don't perfectly match up the selvages, but allow the fabric to fold in half where it naturally wants to fall - this is likely a little crooked) Hand Placement: Use a firm pressure and spread your hand out wide, with your fingertips holding the ruler in place. Place your hand in the middle of the ruler at about the 12” mark so your pressure is evenly spread over the ruler. Note: Another way I do it is to use my forearm to hold the ruler down, but sometimes this makes all of the lines harder to see, and isn’t always easier on your back J Something to try later on perhaps! Now... Place the rotary blade flush against the bottom right-hand edge of the ruler and with steady pressure, run the blade from bottom to top. Be sure to keep the blade flush against the ruler at all times. Be sure no fingers are hanging over the edge of the ruler!! Very important!! Many proficient quilters have been injured this way so please always check your hand placement!! Voile! Zippity Boom Bang! You have made your first rotary cut :) See Cutting Strips for instructions on squaring up.

remind me, it is 2010

2010-01-01T13:24:00.000-06:00

Speaking to the banker last week I requested to have some items in for the 2008 tax return...

Hmmmm Could it be that I missed 2009??? It seems like the year has swept past at a pace more rapid than usual, possibly and almost certainly due to the whirlwind of raising two little peanuts and running multiple businesses. I don't believe I have made mention of my dearest husband who is also finishing school which adds to the hours becoming minutes. So to my dearest readers, in 2010 I resolve to keep in touch and write more often. Please hold me to it!

Kitchen Construction 101

2009-12-01T14:00:00.000-06:00

Toys. There is one thing I love about cooking above all else; the toys; knives, sauté` pans, spatulas, double boilers and cleavers, oh my! So, if you’ve ever wondered what you truly need to make your kitchen a well olive oiled machine here you go. Bon Appetite.

1. First things first, the most valuable tool in your kitchen will always be, in my opinion, your chefs knife. A good chefs knife will do almost all the utilities you need to do in the kitchen. Your blade will be a slight investment, but you don’t need to sell a kidney to buy one. If it can be found hanging on a display at your grocery store its not worthy of you time or money. Go to a good kitchen store (Williams Sonoma and the like) ask to see their chefs knives. You don’t need to buy the biggest blade in the block. I recommend starting out with a good eight-inch blade. This size is good for doing most large jobs but isn’t so big to be cumbersome and possibly dangerous.

There are many brands and styles that are great, (I will be doing a knife review in the coming weeks so I will refrain from the finer points of particular makers here) the main point is how does the knife feel in your hand.

*Is it too heavy?

*Is it too light? How balanced does the blade feel in your hand?

*Is the grip comfortable? How easy is it to sharpen?

*What kind of steel will you need to hone the blade?

These are questions I recommend asking with each knife you handle. After you have chosen your blade find out what the angle of the blade is and what kind of sharpener you are going to need, (hey if you are going to drop $70-$100 on a knife you need to keep it sharp) a good sharpener is inexpensive and easy to use. Once you get used to using your chefs knife and your ninja skills grow you will want to add to your arsenal. My beginning investment in my knives was about $300 and I have had them for over ten years now. Here is a condensed list of must haves to start your kitchen:

1. Tongs. Next to a good chefs knife a pair of tongs is probably the most important piece of gear in your arsenal. I recommend starting out with a pair that has rubber at the grip and the tip.

2. Sauce pan. A quality saucepan can be your best friend, if you’re lonely. I would recommend cooking with it though. I recommend starting with a 3 Qt. it will allow you to do a number of things.

3. Spatulas. I cannot stress how useful spatulas are. Get at least two, high heat resistant spats in different sizes. When you’ve made your first truly delicious sauce and your 3 Qt. saucepan is too hot to lick, you’ll thank me for telling you about spatulas.

4. Garlic Press. Until you get some wicked knife skills this little tool is pretty handy.

Anthony Bourdain would not be happy with me for recommending this!

5. A set of wooden spoons. Wood tools, in my opinion, are always good to have. Metal utensils could scratch and gouge your pans. Wood is fairly inexpensive, will not scratch your pans and wont melt in the pan if you forgot to buy # 3.

6. A pepper mill. Whatever style or color you prefer… just get a pepper mill. The difference between fresh cracked pepper and run of the mill (no pun intended) pepper is like the difference between a day of sunshine and 15 minutes in the tanning bed.

7. Whisks. There are a few sizes shapes and sizes out there that can be found for any number of jobs.

8. Cutting boards. Cutting boards will help extend the life of the blade of your knife and also aide in reducing your chances of growing bacteria and food borne illnesses. I have included pictures to show you what an item looks like but, if you need a picture of a cutting board, stay out of the kitchen... It would be safer for everyone. 9. Bowls. I have a set of three plastic bowls that are used in almost every meal I make. Look for 1,2,and 4 Quart sizes and you’ll be able to do almost any sized job. brought to you by Mr. Blogger....

It's Done! Harf by Spincycle

2009-11-25T21:37:00.001-06:00

I am dragging out the days of fall so I can wear my harf that I finally finished. The pattern is from Spincycle Yarns and unfortunately we do not carry it in our store. After a gorgeous weekend of sunshine and family time I had my dearest take some pics so I can share.

It is knit up in Noro Silk Garden Lite Color 32 and I absolutely ADORE this yarn - I used two skeins on a size 9 Needle and I made the scarf portion longer than what the pattern calls for because I like the idea of wrapping it more than once.

My beauty Vivian has been trying to overthrow my harf so I am in the progress of making her one as well that is more suited to her little bean head.

Loving the Season

2009-11-05T22:07:00.000-06:00

I just love the fall because of the transition into holiday season. Whether it is pure nostalgia or the new joy of watching my kids dress up, eat turkey and anticipate the arrival of Santa Claus, it never gets tiresome or boring. I have the same excitement hanging Christmas lights on the last warm day in November (which will be likely be tomorrow) and pulling out boxes of decorations. It also seems to be my more productive time as far as projects go. I always have at least 6 (likely more) waiting to be finished! I have a few knitting projects that I will post albeit complete or not! I did finish my baby girl's Queen of Hearts costume (thankfully!) just under the wire for a great night of trick or treating!

Star Wars Extravanganza: Episode II

2009-08-02T22:07:00.000-05:00

With a little extra time to spare I have finished all of the painting in my house and finally gotten to the actual construction of the Star Wars quilt experiment. It is going fantastically! I have quick-fused all of the pieces and am in the process of satin stitching the edges using Sulky single and multi-colored threads which looks amazing! Here is a glimpse at what I've done so far!

Star Wars Extravanganza: Episode I

2009-07-31T22:09:00.000-05:00

Now that things are winding down (can I really say this truthfully ever?) I am going to actually take out the 16 projects I have in my sewing collection and finish them up. The biggest and most involved current affair is the Star Wars quilt I have started for my baby boy. It is an experiment for me as I have not done too much in the way of art quilts but you have to start somewhere. So of course as per my usual M.O. I will start with the most difficult of tasks - recreating Darth Vader. I am SO excited to see how it turns out and *fingers-crossed* the Darth Vader Star Wars quilt will be a success! Here are a few pics of the drawing process. I got inspiration for the image from Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy by Mathew Reinhart - which if I may digress for a moment, is the COOLEST book ever to enter this house. If you have any interest in Star Wars and any little boy (or adult boy as it were - my husband is giddy) you should definitely get this book. It is hands down the coolest pop-up book I have ever seen, not to mention the light sabers that actually light up. It is loaded with Star Wars facts and each page is a layer upon layer of hiding pop-ups. It actually took us several passes to discover all of the folds and images. I could go on and on but I will let you discover it yourself!

So I first had to draw out Darth Vader and then had the image enlarged at Office Depot. I did add in the body elements and more draping pieces which will be an experiment using different shades of grey in Batiks and Blenders. With a touch of Michael Miller Fairy Frost for the actual "Star Wars" banner across the bottom.

New Fat Quarter Bundles

2009-07-14T21:44:00.000-05:00

We have been introducing more fat quarter bundles and will continue to do so over the next few weeks or so. Fantastic color combinations make projects a cinch!!

Flights of Fancy by Paula Prass in Spring and Summer colorways!

Amy Butler Midwest Modern Collection: A gorgeous array of color this bundle has loads of potential!

Kaffe Fassett Bundle : Fantastic for some our featured patterns by Allison Quilt Designs - gorgeous patterns for even a novice quilter!

A little crash...

2009-01-28T21:42:00.000-06:00

Well a major crash - !! Our computer hard drive failed (beyond recovery...!) this past week and it has been hectic and painful around here! We are taking a break from the blog for a few weeks until we get the new system up and running. In the meantime I have started knitting a cardigan for baby girl with the fabulous Debbie Bliss Cotton Kapok yarn and am getting ready to make some spring dresses for her with the new Flights of Fancy for Michael Miller. To be continued....

I've been avoiding it.

2008-12-15T21:42:00.000-06:00

So as we close in on the New Year and the holidays are keeping us busy, eating habbits are on the forefront of my mind. Namely because it is the time of year I slip down the oh so slippery slope and it is so hard to recover!! I have to admit that I am still trying to recover from my pregnancy - All I wanted was comfort food that reminded me of being a kid so my delicious gormet chef of a husband had to resign himself to ham sandwiches and goulosh (how do you spell that, really...this is a Midwest thing :-) Now between 2 little ones I have had little energy to make the delicious nutritious food happen but me and the hubs are gearing up for it. We've put exercise back on the plate and I am going to put together some Lifestyle Guides in the coming weeks for our blog. I will admit now that it may not be ready until after Christmas, but I am working on it ;-)

Robots are so cute!

2008-12-03T21:38:00.000-06:00

We just received 5 pieces from Free Spirit's Robots Collection, along with a load of cutie Michael Miller prints. The 60's partridge birds are making a huge appearance in the new fabric lines and I kind of like it. I'm glad to see all the color again - these will make awesome boho bags and I am dying to make some kind of home dec item for the kids' room with the Tweet Tweet fabric. Of course with the current theme, I'm not so sure it will work out but where there is a will there is a way!

Conquering the Quilt, One Block at a Time

2008-11-27T21:31:00.000-06:00

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

2008-11-26T21:28:00.000-06:00

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

2008-11-13T21:26:00.000-06:00

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

2008-11-04T21:25:00.000-06:00

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!

2008-11-03T21:23:00.000-06:00

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.......

2008-09-23T20:59:00.000-05:00

Introducing Daisy Chain – a fabulous new fabric line by Amy Butler. She expands her already unbeatable repertoire of textiles with more stunning colors and patterns! I absolutely adore the navy and turquoise in her signature bold patterns! It is even harder for me to pick a favorite collection! These fabrics make me long for spring and melted snow (and since we haven’t even had the first snow, this could be a long winter!) Shop Daisy Chain now!

Importance of Vitamin D

2008-09-16T20:57:00.000-05:00

As we leave summer and enter into shorter days and less sunshine, I am reminded of the urgency to remember my Vitamin D supplement. It was only in recent years that I discovered the vital importance of this vitamin that is rarely discussed. Instead we are instructed to slather on sunscreen to avoid harmful cancerous rays. Vitamin D is synthesized in the dermis by the reaction of UVB rays with a form of cholesterol - therefore making it imperative that we get some sun exposure daily. 8 SPF sunscreen decreases the production of Vitamin D by 95 % ! So before you load up for the day, try spending 15-20 minutes in the sun sans sunscreen – Vitamin D is honestly one of the cornerstones of good health. Though if you are like me and you live North of the old Mason Dixon Line supplementation during winter months is imperative, especially for children! How much? Adequate Intake levels are seemingly far too low, as suggested by numerous studies on Vitamin D intake. It has been shown that a daily intake for all adults of greater than or equal to 1000 IU vitamin D (cholecalciferol)/d is needed to bring vitamin D concentrations in no less than 50% of the population up.

Why Vitamin D?

Maintaining proper calcium levels in the blood :

Maintaining proper phosphorus levels in the blood

Without adequate phosphorus, bone cannot be properly mineralized, which contributes to the defects seen in osteomalacia

Maintaining normal cellular growth and function

This is our body’s means for communication – you can dial the number but if the phone is unplugged you get nowhere. (Related: Why cell communication is so important.)

Maintaining healthy immune function and preventing excessive inflammation

Inflammation may be one of the most important overlooked links associated with chronic illness.

Problems associated with Vitamin D deficiency:

Vitamin D's anti-inflammatory effects are seen across a wide spectrum of health conditions including hypertension, type 1 diabetes, and psoriasis.
High blood pressure has been correlated with living at higher latitudes, and, by implication, insufficient vitamin D levels.
Vitamin D deficiency has also been associated with heart failure in humans.
Children in Finland getting 2,000 IU vitamin D/day through dietary supplements were found to have reduced their risk of type 1 diabetes mellitus by 80%! Conversely, children deficient in vitamin D were found to have a 4-fold increased risk of developing type 1 diabetes.
Vitamin D deficiency has also been associated with increased risk of certain cancers. These cancers include breast cancer, colon cancer, and ovarian cancer - there is also a higher rate of prostate cancer in northern latitudes.

Vitamin D may play a role in the prevention and/or treatment of the following health conditions:

Atherosclerosis
Cancer: Breast, Colon, Ovarian, Prostate
Depression
Epilepsy
Hypertension
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBS)
Kidney Disease
Liver Disease
Multiple Sclerosis
Osteoporosis
Periodontal Disease
Preeclampsia
Ulcerative colitis

My Vitamin D Picks:

Metagenics Iso D3 for adults

Biotics Bio D-Mulsion : for children - this is a liquid supplement and can easily be added to juice

If you are having trouble finding a quality supplement, please contact me and I will try to help direct you.

Its raining its pouring....

2008-09-04T20:54:00.000-05:00

What a wonderful day for crafting. So many unfinished projects needing my undying attention, yet once again Star Wars takes precedence. Sometimes it is just a better decision to curl up with the kiddos and relax then worry about the mounting piles of laundry – for sanity’s sake. I heard somewhere that you should make your bed everyday – for whatever reason, maybe it is feng shui or maybe it is just a way to jump start order and accomplishment. I suppose it is both really… (some of you may think this is a mundane task and do it with out thought but when it becomes a matter of five more minutes of sleep vs. five minutes to make the bed it becomes a heated subconscious debate!) At any rate, I think I’ll reinstate this rule this week and see where it takes me. I was doing so good until the baby started teething and sleep became fewer and farther in between. I long for a latte but alas that upsets Vivi girl’s tummy (the life and times of a nursing mother – but that’s a post all on its own) Seeing that is Sunday I will set goals for the week – Make my bed everyday (*sigh*) Post my most recent project with photos, oh! And introduce myself. Post a new recipe that is First Line friendly Take a bubble bath. If I can do all four it will be miraculous, however now that I have it down on the proverbial paper, it may actually come to fruition.