I'm Planning a Party! Wanna Come?

I'm proud to say the tote is done. 
The handles are on, and it's ready for service. 
No more travelling in blue Ikea bags for me.
Woohoo!

Selvages and Pieced Oversized Tote WIP

 

Okay folks. I'm smitten. I'm, totally, head-over-heels Gaga over selvages. 

They are like gingerbread on a house to add the final zing.

Orphan Blocks and Selvages

 My sewing room is now 'cleaner', meaning there are still some piles of fabric waiting for another project or two, and, Woohoo! I found my lost ruler! Floors are swept, free of pins, and all table tops are wiped down. Cutting fabric causes a lot of lint and dust, but all surfaces are sparkly now. I was putting away some scraps, and uncovered a stack of orphan blocks. They were made with Kate Spain fabric, and left over from the "Daydream" improv quilt top I did a few months ago. They were begging to be put in a project.

Improvements and Refinements: Daydream

One of the most valuable tools I've been introduced to so far has been a design wall. It's a novel perspective, (and just really exciting!), to see a work progress from across the room, or to have the luxury of leaving it up, and then popping into the room later to see if I 'm still happy with things. The Daydream quilt has been up since Monday, and I was sure enough of the arrangement that I sewed together the border blocks one morning. Then I worked on something else, and even slept on it. When I'd pop in to peek at it, something just didn't feel right. I dreaded ripping out those 1.5 mm seams.

I'm In the Dog House & Daydream

While it doesn't look like loads of progress, a lot of things happened here yesterday. All the missing blocks were finished. I arranged and re-arranged. Border design was thought through, and fabrics picked from stash.

The Process: From Chaos into Order

We were home just long enough to unpack our few things Sunday afternoon, and I hit the ground running. The end of the week was gearing up to be a busy one, and I saw my window of opportunity to sew. Oh,... it felt good to be back in my space! I had my assortment of what my friend called 'my bits', and still no perfectly clear plan of what I was doing with them. That's where the design wall did its job. 

Sweet Sunday Daydream

I'd say this large block is very Florida-ish. 
Wouldn't you?

The zig-zag is actually a fussy cut chevron, and while I didn't try to match the lines themselves, I did try to balance them opposite each other. It only takes one time of not doing this to see how wonky your block can look--or maybe that's what you're after. Either way, look closely at your patterned fabrics to see if there's an interesting 'fussy cut' hiding inside.

Saturday Daydream

Today let me introduce two large blocks with bold color--one rectangular, the other square.  Both have simple designs, but they play well with others.

Thursday's Plan & Daydream

This is Away for a few days. 

We walked to the beach this morning, and it 
was nearly empty at 8 a.m. 

Daydream Tuesday

This is one of those weeks when my time is not my own. It's busy, busy! I sewed fast and furiously yesterday before mowing the pasture, so I hope to be able to show you a block a day while I'm off on a get-away later this week. I'm sure it will be back to 'regular programming as usual' next week.

A Daydream Taking Shape

Yesterday was a play day. I stole away to my basement space, and played with fabric and color. I did a lot just laying one fabric on top of another, and standing back a few feet to look. You saw my color palette yesterday, and you know most of the fabric goes with all of the others. The majority of the time I would say, "Yeah, that works." But I would keep moving it around until I would say, "Wow! Now THAT one is fantastic!"

An Original Fall Flavor--Not Pumpkin, Please!

There's no doubt when autumn blows in. The dippey cones disappear from Mickey D's, and then overnight, everything everywhere turns into PUMPKIN! Good news for you Pumpkin Lovers, but 'mehhh' for those of us who just tolerate it. Hold the Pumpkin Spice, ladies! I prefer to welcome the season with a project focused on some bright, fall colors.