Innocent until Proven Guilty

I'm just hoping you'll let me off for good behavior ...

We've been sick around here. Not really really sick. Just that icky yucky feeling that makes you a tad grumpy, impatient and tired. Just the kind that interrupts naps and sending papa to sleep in the babies room so that when he wakes at 10pm after going down at 7:30 and stays up until 1am momma is right there so that when he wakes at 4 coughing ... well you get the picture right.

So in between wiping noses, drinking lots of *peppermint* tea and doing my best to keep the household running

one innocent project lead to another

It started with this 

which lead to this and along with all this talk of peppermint

got me to thinking about this

and this

Then this happened

and then this

I think I might be guilty ..

.. but after awhile it's just fun to take pictures and dream about hexagons

And think of doing a swap / exchange .. of so many types, things and kinds.

But I think that will have to wait .. until I can find the time between wiping noses and
cups of peppermint tea.

In fact somewhere there is a cup with my name on it. I'm off now to follow the strewn tissues in the hopes it leads me to a mugga easily warmed to enjoy before that little guy is awake again.

Ha, spoke to soon! Off to wipe a nose, plant a kiss, change a (cloth) diaper and conjure up some lunch. Maybe even plan dinner. Or order dinner .. it is Friday after all .. and boy am I glad to see Friday.

Disclaimer: In the writing of this blog post, a candy cane or two may have been dropped into a cuppa or two of coffee purely to aid the writer in staying awake and alert while nursing her obsession with peppermint. Did you know they are impossible to find here? You can occasionally get candy canes, in fact they are becoming more frequent during the holiday period. But they are alarmingly not peppermint flavoured. Strawberry, vanilla and even tasteless we have seen, but no peppermint. Not even at Starbucks .. shame on them, right?  Thankfully I've got a few friends and a cousin who send and/or smuggle peppermint candy canes on a random basis. Special enough that they get their own jar with a ribbon tied around it's neck.

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Contagion Alert!!

I would love to call this a Friday Finish, but alas I must still quilt it ... if you know me, you'll know that can take a while, but I could not wait to share this little piece I whipped up!

Everything was all set for our Patchwork "Garden" Party last Saturday but I was itching to work on something last Friday night. The first section was nearly finished before we clocked off and went to bed.

Something bit me and it was something very contagious.

It's probably the fasted start to finish I've ever done. Made especially simple by no pattern or lines to follow. The only pattern I drew carefully was the bird. All the leaves were cut and appliqued free-hand. For the dots, I used the same method as I do for "GOT DOTS."

The story of this quilt started with seeing this quilt. I was in LOVE and even pulled a stack of backgrounds from my stash to make my own. But there was no way I could justify starting another big project or even a swap. I'm happily drowning here as it is ... so many projects including GOT DOTS, Contemporary Jane, various BOMs in the shop, plus ... all.of.these.

But when inspiration and creativity strikes 
what.is.a.girl.to.do?

By the way, Nifty's was inspired by this quilt featured in this book. I don't think I dare even admit to myself that this quilt is now calling my name.  For now I think I've got a handle on this bug .. although that stack of backgrounds is still there and loudly calling my name.  When it calls too loud I tell it to hang on a minute ... this creativity is brewing and plans are starting to take shape ... later, much later.

In the meantime "Set Her Free" is really shaping up too! Tomorrow I can start adding the finishing touches and hopefully quilt her next week so I can tell Mary I mailed it on July 1st! Pin It Now!

I Made a Mini for Me

I spent this week tackling one bear of an unfinished project and felt like I was entitled to do something fun for myself.  I figured it'd take me a couple of days, a bit of sewing here and there.  But color me surprised ... from cutting out to the border only took me about 4 hours!

It all started while I was reviewing Quilting Gallery's 2011 list of BOMs, Quilt Alongs and Challenges which included a mini-quilt tutorial by Terrie Sandelin of Bits and Pieces.  Well, after the mini quilt swap that Liz and I just did I absolutely had to go check it out.

Civil War Crossing Quilt Tutorial
by Terrie Sandelin of Bits and Pieces

Terrie's four-part tutorial was fantastic and uses the methods in her book Miniatures in Minutes and a super simple cutting method by Anita Grossman Solomon.

Here are the steps I followed and comments where I might have done things a little different than Terrie.

For the twelve blocks I chose twelve, four each of three colors: Turquoise, Red and Pink

I followed Terrie's cutting instructions and cut twelve 4-1/4" squares (one from each fabric).  Instead of using the diagonal lines on a mat, I used a 1" wide ruler I centered it corner to corner on the square and cut along each side.

I did not foundation piece the blocks like Terrie did - I pieced them like any old patchwork with a scant 1/4" seam.  This did mean that all my seams were on the bias, but I sewed and pressed carefully and did not have any problems.   Here's a couple of pics of what my blocks looked like after they were sewn.
FYI - I've added two links to tutorials for foundation piecing.

Once my blocks were pieced I could have trimmed them to 2-7/8" squares so they would have finished at 2-3/8" but Terrie's finished at 2" and I wanted a small quilt so I went ahead and trimmed them down to 2-1/2" (I am going to check if 4" squares would have been big enough).

Terrie and I add our sashings differently.  Regardless of whether I'm sewing a large quilt or a mini I always add my sashings to each individual block. First one side strip and then another strip that already has the cornerstone attached.

I left off the last row of sashing and cornerstones all the way around before adding a wide border (it doesn't show well in my pic) - the same white as my sashing.

I also put my side borders on before adding the top and bottom.

Needless to say, I am totally jazzed about having a finish for me!  For now it's pinned to the wall with this other turquoise and red lovely while I decide how to quilt it. And now I can get back to work ... it looks like another busy week ahead.

Happy stitching to you all ... and go check out Terrie's blog!  xox Jovita

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Mother May I Have ... "a do-over" ... please?

We're mid-way through January, you haven't heard from me for two months and 

I'm *finally* wishing you a !! Happy New Year !!

Yes, I'd like a do-over ... please ...

It was *another* stressful end to an old year and if I was a cynic I'd have to wonder if the holidays will ever regain that sparkle for us.  Suffice to say, I spent the entire month of December on bed-rest - doctor's orders.  Without getting into all the nitty-gritty and over-share that I'm never too sure about in blogs, facebook, broadcast emails and dare I mention Christmas letters ... I'm fine.  I'm healthy.  Things . are . going . to . be . ok.  It was a tough month and ended sadly but we're picking up the pieces and moving on.

But honestly ... two years in a row?  Last year we moved in December (never again!) and we were also dealing with highly-emotional issues throughout the entire 2009 holiday season.  So this is not what I needed, wanted or wished for Christmas 2010.  Our home in Kalken has yet to see our Christmas decorations.  For two years running no cookies or fruit cakes were baked - thank goodness for the very brandy mini mince pies that a friend sent from England and a sampling of cookies and sugared almonds that Axel's mom made for us.

So I'm just going to take a stand now - 'nuf said - it's a New Year, Clean Slate ... and I am going to make a difference!  I don't make New Year's resolutions ... but I can tell you that I'm 20 pounds lighter and the scale is still tipping in my direction ... yes, I'm loving that!

Most of all this year, I'd like to carve out more sewing time for myself.  I have a million QUiPs (QUilts in Progress) and it would be so nice to get a few finished.  Nope, ain't gonna do it - I will not set a number to this goal.  I'll do better just tackling them one at a time - some will be quick finishes ... others will just take ages.  One . at . a . time . is my motto.

But ... when my friend Maria announced on the 9th of January that she had not one but TWO finishes already for 2011, I figured I'd better get started so I grabbed the one closest to me.

Axel's Snails Trail started as a family project, the plan was that we would all make a quilt for each other.  We started off with the best of intentions but by the time we got to my quilt things didn't go so well ...  I thought that by using foundation piecing the results would be a bit similar.  Um, nope, eh-eh, not a chance.

Unfortunately I am having to do lot's of do-overs.  Oh well, it's for a good cause, right?  I think I'm up to about 100-ish blocks so hmmm, nearly half-way there.  But having pulled out the packet last Saturday, I've logged anywheres from 1 to 3 hours of piecing each day.  Not bad ... but sadly I've had to set myself a daily goal of minimum 5 blocks / maximum 10 blocks per day ... because unfortunately I have to "work" too ... and otherwise I'd just sew and sew and sew and ...

Here are the nitty gritty quilty details - in case you're interested...

• started in 2003 or 2004?
• 4-1/2" finished blocks
• foundation paper pieced (mostly *through* the paper, although now I'm using freezer paper and am finding I can re-use my template about 5-6 times)
• goal is for it to be about 63" x 76-1/2"

• need 238 blocks to make this happen
• the "black" fabric is a very dark batik that includes a touch of blue ... probably a Hoffman ...
• the "blues" are various shades of cadet, grey-ish blue and a bit of aqua-ey turquoise
• it will look gorgeous in his office - it was inspired by this poster that I've always loved
• I plan to hand quilt it ... if the batik isn't too much of a hassle ...
• debating whether or not to use black batting - to avoid bearding but will it muddy my lighter blues?

oh, PS, that Christmas card / letter ... we're still working on that ... honest :)

Happy Everything!  xox Jovita

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"Not I" Said the Little Red Hen

If you're saying this, you should head right over here to enter my give-away going on Under the Willow Tree.

Thanks so much for all the comments and ideas I've received so far for my first 9-patch.  I don't think you'll mind ... but I've decided to keep the drawing open for another week.  It's my fault ... I *finally* sent out a big email to all my friends in the States to give them the heads up that I'm blogging again.  Otherwise, just those who are on Facebook knew about all the recent activity.

Plus after reading a few of your ideas I browsed through my stash and found these ... I thought it might inspire a few more ideas :)

I have all these ideas about decorating my studio in these colors and would love for it to have the feel of the little tableau you see below.  But unfortunately I don't think it will work in this house ... it was built in the 1930's and has a wildly patterned cement tile floor in brown, greyish and creamish.  The fireplace is also quite a statement ... oh, what to do ... what to do ....

Still I thought I'd share with you one of my favorite inspiration pics ...

(i've lost my source, if you recognize
this please tell me)

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