lucky me

Look what I got in the mail this morning! What a great package to receive, even the outside of the package was graced with the cutest owls.

Thanks, Christine! You rock. This is my new favorite piece in my jewelry box. It says "my heart belongs to" and my hubby's name on the back. I'm wearing it right now.

that was fast

My order arrived! Check out the "goods".

hot, hot, hot

Southern California has been hit by a heat wave. It's been in the high 90's the last few days, which is not very motivational. I've considered moving the sewing machine out by the pool, but don't think she's waterproof. My "fresh air" quilt is still coming together, but rather slowly. It's more like "the air's so hot I'm suffocating". Block #5 was completed last night and the determined size for the blocks has been established at 14" by 15". Rather large, but very powerful.

Amy, at Badskirt, posted about her recent package from Sew, Mama, Sew. And so, I bit. Half an hour later I found some awesome deals that I feel good about. Really good about. Especially this one from the Katie Jump Rope line. Something about this green gets me.

I'm enjoying viewing everyone's quilts from the Blogger's Quilt Festival. It's hard to comment on every quilt, due to time restraints, but I'm trying to get in a few words here and there. Thank you to everyone who's left a comment for me and mine.

Man, alive, it is HOT! Stay cool. Find a pool.

Quilt Festival Spring 2009

Amy, from Park City Girl, is hosting an online Quilt Festival. Fun, right? My entry was an easy choice. My improv quilt. Due to the first-time experience of improv quilting I have a fondness of this quilt. No rulers, no rotary cutter, no real rules! This form of quilting is a feel-good experience and compliments both red and white wines. (Actually, I found it also goes well with a "so dirty it's filthy" martini!)

There's also a proud feeling of contribution to this quilt. The first block I created for this project was actually sent to Jacquie for Project Improv. Since sending the block I've spied it on the Flicker group. My block has the Alexander Henry Mocca flower and I love it. What a happy print.

I suppose my entry quilt is emotionally satisfying. Kinda crazy statement to make about a quilt, but there it is, in black and white.

a breath of fresh air

And so the story continues.

Instead of turning off the sewing machine I decided to give her a new purpose. She needed to be cleansed of the negativity that the Fussy Quilt brought upon her. She got a good cleaning with the air can and brush. She was re-threaded and her foot was changed. A new woman.....(if she was human)

An improv quilt is just what the quilting crafter ordered, so that's where I'm at. My machine and I are starting a new adventure together and there's a good vibe in the air.

no more fussing around

My participation in Jacquie's Spring to Finish event has driven me to extremes. I pulled out an older project from years ago and went at it full throttle. The initial design was from a class I took for a vintage baby quilt. While taking the class it was determined that the weight of my chosen fabrics didn't match, thus throwing off my every stitch. The instructor advised that I take apart EVERY seam and recut the small squares.

And away it went into the dark corner of my closet.

April 2009 the dreaded "fussy" quilt was reborn. I no longer like the color palette, but decided there would be a reward of satisfaction once I finished. I wouldn't take it apart, as advised, but embrace the imperfections of my mismatched corners. I am not a fussy quilter. I refuse to own a fussy quilt. I added thick sashing to make it larger, no longer a baby quilt. My binding color changed to black for a modern touch.

I began the actual quilting.

The tension was off. I couldn't get it right. I sewed and tore apart stitching. I re-basted and tried again. There's just too much fabric to deal with. My little machine was jumping off the table in fear of this monstrosity. No more, I decided, I just can't do it. Off you'll go, Fussy Quilt,(yes, I have named it) to see the long-arm machine.

So, Jacquie, I am cheating a bit. I will have a completed project, but I can not commit to completing it with my own hands. I hope you can forgive me.

big winner

Christine from Chocolate and Steel has used Random.org to choose ME to be the proud winner of her last giveaway. Hooray! Thanks, Christine. You ROCK! I can't wait to wear your art......

stacked coins finished!

I love it! It's hard to tell from the pic, but the binding is a dark grey. It's kinda small, but will serve it's purpose as a lap quilt. Ahhhhh.....the feeling of completion is wonderful.

stacked coins

I free-motioned! So badly I had wanted to conquer my fear of free-motion quilting and last night I did it. Using Recess, by Moda, and touches of Peas and Carrots (that was gifted to me by a dear friend) I created a quick stacked coin quilt to work with. I finish the "quilting" process without any blood or tears and didn't even have to use the seam ripper. Today I'll finish the binding and celebrate a victory.

This weekend I finished another t-shirt quilt top. I dropped it off with the long-arm quilter this morning. I now know that I will never quilt a t-shirt quilt myself. The jersey cotton, fused with the interfacing, and fleece would be too thick for my little machine to handle. The cost of replacing needles would be more than my long-arm quilter charges me. I will get that back with my project improv quilt.

To continue with my Spring to Finish entries I'd like to complete another t-shirt quilt top by the end of this week. That would be good.

isn't this something?

This pic came in an e-mail.......I don't know where it was from, or if it was made using Photoshop, but just imagine walking down the road and coming across something so wonderful. Think of the time involved in making something this size, and imagine how many smiles it would bring. Simply amazing, right?

finished spring chickens....and egg!

My name is Autumn and I am a midnight crafter.


Last night I completed a Spring Chicken family, including an egg.

The Spring Chicken tutorial was created by Badskirt, posted on Sew, Mama, Sew. The Egg tutorial can be found on retro mama. Thank goodness for online craft geniuses. Without them I would sleep too much.


Happy Easter.......

pieces of handmade birthday gifts

A carefree bird perched on a handmade apron.....
A glittery zipper pull on my new cosmetic bag.....

me with a big, cheezy smile....(oops, no pictures of that)

scrambled or hard boiled?

retro-mama posted this easy tutorial on making these darling fabric eggs. Although I really, really would've rather made them with the Peas and Carrots line from Moda, like she did, I settled for my Alexander Henry scraps from my improv quilt. I love the way they turned out. Notice the one, lone, pink "girly" egg....she'll be gifted to a very special 2 year old I know.

Regarding the previously mentioned improv quilt......it took me a total of 5 hours to undo what damage I had done. It is now in the loving hands of my long-arm quilter to be quilted with care and precision. I'll see it again around the 22nd. (Oh, how that seems to be so far away.)

My birthday was last Friday and I received such thoughtful gifts. I'll be taking pictures of them and posting soon. I have a need to share and brag, as two of them were made by friends.....the best kind!

Lastly, Badskirt has posted a tutorial on Sew, Mama, Sew for a Spring Chicken. I'll just add that to my "someday I will..." list.

Did I mention I love "Peas and Carrots", by American Jane, made by Moda? I really, really want to find it. Ebay....no luck, etsy, no luck.....Stinkers!