Favorite Blogs

You can see my blog roll to the side there and although I like most of those blogs I have a few that I adore and when I see they have posted something new I immediately head on over to stalk them.

So here is my list of all time favorites.

Amy Smart of Dairy of a Quilter. Amy has no idea that I secretly want to be like her in every way. I stumbled upon Amy's blog in April of 2009. I instantly fell in love with her. Amy inspired me to start quilting so I got myself a sewing machine and started. She is open, honest, and sweet. I admit I love her so much I secretly went to American Quilting where she works just to see her. But alas I have never met her. Check out her blog I promise you will fall in love.

Amanda Jean of Crazy Mom Quilts . Is anyone else ecstatic that she is back? This woman is literally crazy. No seriously. I have never known someone to produce a quilt in the time she does. It really is ridiculous and inspiring. You won't regret getting to know Amanda Jean.

Allison of Cluck Cluck Sew. Allison is amazing. We are probably about the same age and in the same stage of life: child bearing and rearing. Yet I am constantly amazed how much more time in the day she finds than me to quilt. She really had a passion for it and produces the most amazing quilts that she sells in her etsy shop, Cluck Cluck Sew.

Camille of Simplify. I secretly covet her job. Ahhh to work for Moda as a designer. What could be more fun. The excitement and anticipation of producing a line of fabric and then to release it to the masses of screaming and adoring quilters. I don't know about you but I can't wait to get me some Bliss.

Rachel from P.S. I quilt. Rachel is funny. Her obsession of Twilight is amusing. She is creative and personal. Honestly, the thing I love most about Rachel is her pictures. It is fabric eye candy. I often find myself daydreaming about what I would do with that jellyroll or honeybun.

Julie from Jaybird Quilts. The talent this girl has is unbelievable. She does it all: Moda Bake Shop, magazines, tutorials, and sponsored givaways. Julie is also the glorified town crier for blog givaways. Seriously, if there is a blog givaway Julie knows and posts about it. I honestly don't know how she stays up on it all.

Vanessa from V & Co. Vanessa is witty. Oftentimes I laugh out loud at her blog. She comes up with the most random things and the stories about her family make me laugh so hard. Her home decorating and DIY skills are out of this world. I have never seen someone use spray paint the way she does. If you need ideas about home decorating Vanessa is your girl and she will make you laugh along the way.

Okay so there it is the girls I blog stalk. You know I have only left one comment on one of these blogs (Jaybird Quilts). I don't know why I haven't done more to express my undying love and devotion to these creative geniuses. I guess I just feel weird because I don't personally know them and I know they get so many comments, my comment would be just another one that said "You are amazing" or "That quilt is to die for". Does anyone else feel that way? Anyway so who do you love to follow? I am always wanting to find new people to secretly admire.

And a picture of my crackhead for good measure.

Modern Siggy Round 2 ...I'm in.

It helps having friends in high places. A couple of months ago I made a comment on Julie Herman's blog Jaybird quilts. Then she came over to my blog and saw my post about being disappointed that I didn't get into the Modern Siggy Round 1. Anyway it just so happens that she is the one spearheading Modern Siggy Round 2. She promised me a spot. Like I said I have friends in high places. I promise this will fill up fast they are only accepting 101 people so jump over to Jaybird quilts and sign up. It is going to be so much fun. All the details are over there. Good luck and I hope you get in.

Progress...

We are back now from house hunting in Arizona. After spending a week there and viewing over 50 homes we finally put an offer in on Friday. The home is in a great location and is a good price and size. They are practically giving homes away down there. $71 a square foot. Have you ever heard of such nonsense? Well on Tuesday our Realtor contacted me to let me know that another offer came in for the house that was a cash offer. So we lost the house it was really heartbreaking. Especially after all our hard work. So we are back to square one. We have other homes that we like but nothing that we love. I feel a bit frustrated with it but something will work out right?

I am back to sewing and working on my quilt. Here is my first block.

I am definitely making progress with it. It is so fun to have a creative outlet. I don't really view myself as a creative person but I am working on my creativity. I am hoping that it comes with time.

And a hello from my laundry. Isn't he cute?

Discount!

Some of you might be familiar with the Fat Quarter Shop. Well they are offering 20% off your order of $50 dollars or more with the coupon code FACEBOOK20. I might just have to indulge in a Make Life or Verna fat quarter bundle. Who can resist a discount on fabric? Not me. Oh Fat Quarter Shop I love you. The offer goes till 3/2/2010.

My First WIP

So this is a preview of my first ever quilt. You might recognize that fabric. I got me some Simple Abundance by Camille and Bonnie and I love it. I am so excited about this project. I am attempting to tackle this pattern. I am really excited to see how it turns out. Wish me luck. I will keep you posted throughout the process.

Kitsap Quilters Quilt Show!

On Saturday morning my wonderful husband burst in the house from basketball with his buddies and said "Lauren, hurry up and get ready. I am taking you somewhere." We got out the door and to my delight we drove down to the local quilt show (what an amazing and thoughtful guy huh?). We both walked around and admired all the local talent and let me tell you it was quite a sight. I was completely speechless with many of the quilts. Don't worry I took pictures. You will have to excuse me though there were so many quilts and I didn't write down all the artists. However, if you are dying to know who did the work email me and I will see if I can track it down. Here are some of the goodies.





The quilt below is all done by hand and is made up of hundreds of 1 inch squares. One word: Incredible. Close Up
My Favorite



Oh there were so many more. I wish I could share all of them with you but these were just some of my favorites. Isn't Kitsap County talented? Some amazing women out there. I hope the talent is just as good in Arizona.

Moda, Moda, Moda

So I know I have been MIA for over a month now. My apologies. We went to Disneyland, then the little guy got bronchitis, the next week my husband flew out for an interview for graduate school (he got in!), we have been scrambling to get things together to move to Arizona come August and have been working with a realtor to purchase a house, then the flu hit us and to top it off I think the little guy is teething. No complaints here just a busy month. I obviously haven't done much sewing. That should change shortly.

I am waiting on a Moda Snow Jelly Roll I purchased from Piece N Quilt. I am wanting to do a double hour glass pattern with my Hushabye jelly roll. Don't you think that will be cute? Allison over at Cluck Cluck Sew posted this easy tutorial for a double hour glass block. I am so excited to try and tackle it. I admit it is my first major quilt. Wish me luck.

I frequently check Moda and look to see what they have lined up for the coming months. They just released the swatches for their spring lines and I am so excited. I am definitely loving Hunky Dory by Chez Moi to be released in March and 1933 by Chloe's Closet to be released in April. I could definitely see me doing a quilt like this with the 1933, although I love Allison's with the Hello Betty.

I am also coveting me some Verna by Kate Spain and the Make Life line by Sweetwater. Wow the endless possibilities with Moda. Did you know that they put out a new fabric line every 6 weeks. I can't even keep up with all their goodness. You should watch this video. It made me appreciate that company even more. Anyway hope you have a fabulous Valentines day tomorrow.

Disneyland!

Here I come! Last time I went to Disneyland I was eleven. I was at the age where I was too cool for little kid stuff so I really didn't enjoy it. My memories include: waiting in line for an hour and a half for the Roger Rabbit ride which was really lame, being really excited to ride the Matterhorn and Tea Cups which were both closed, and standing in line at Splash Mountain behind some Europeans with long arm hair that smelled like B.O. Not the best memories. I remember feeling disappointed with it. I haven't been back since then. When I got married I married into a family that is full of Disneyland fanatics. All of them buy annual passes every year and make it a point to go at least 3 or 4 times. When I first heard of all this nonsense I was like, "What is the big deal? I didn't really love Disneyland." They were all in shock and horror of my indifference to the "Happiest Place on Earth". So when my husband graduated from University his graduation gift, was of course annual passes to Disneyland. We are leaving this Sunday and will be there till Thursday. I have to admit I am really excited about going. Maybe it is being older now and wanting to feel like a kid again or maybe it is being surrounded by people who love Disneyland. Whatever it is I am excited. So wish me luck because I hope round two at Disneyland is all it is cracked up to be. Any suggestions on things we should do? Places to eat?

I will give a full report when I get back. Maybe I could even find a cool quilt shop out there.

Disappointed...

Was anyone else disappointed they missed the Modern Siggy Swap over at P.S. I quilt? I was totally and utterly gutted. I kept following Rachel's posts waiting for more information and when I did see that she posted about it, I clicked to go and sign up only to have already been beaten to it. I was shocked that it filled up so fast. I guess I shouldn't have been though Rachel is pretty popular in the quilting world. What I loved most about this siggy swap is that it was such an easy block. Maybe we should hold our own siggy swap. What do you think?

Happy Birthday to ME!

Today I turned 27. I had a wonderful birthday and received a wonderful package from my mother in the mail complete with this fabric. I love it. Perfect for my little man. I can't wait to cut into this fabric. The pattern it came with is to die for too. I think my favorite part is the backing. It is the fabric behind the tool panel. It has dump trucks, cement trucks, rollers, bulldozers, scrapers, escavators and many more. Since we are a construction family this is perfect for our little guy who is growing up around all this heavy equipment. My husband loves the fabric and wanted me to cut into it tonight. But I thought i should share it with you first.

A Spin on the Bookkeeper

Many of you have seen this beautiful creation by Kimberly Walus of BittyBitsandPieces. The Bookkeeper was featured on the Moda Bake Shop last May and instantly I wanted to do one for my MIL. I finally got around to it this holiday for her Christmas present. This was my spin on her design. I have to say I was really pleased with out it turned out but I think my MIL loved it more than I did. She is a pretty fashionable lady so the shoe applique was perfect. Do you love the applique shoe on the front?

The inside.

I think the only thing I would have done different now is added a magnet or button to secure the flap.

Getting Started!

So I thought I would start this blog to keep track of all my sewing adventures and to follow all my sewing idols. I am relatively new to the sewing world. I wanted to pick up a hobby to do in my spare time as a new mom. I was sorely wrong when I thought I would have loads of time now that I am staying home with my little man. My day is filled with changing diapers, feedings, tickle sessions, tummy time, baths and trying to keep up with our little apartment. However, I am collecting lots of great fabric and learning to manage my time so I can whip out the sewing machine. I sewed quite a few gifts over the holidays. More to come on that later though. For all of you stay at home moms how do you find the time to sew?