Saturday, April 28, 2012

Pinterest Finds...

I swear I find the cutest things on Pinterest! Today I was trying to catch a few moments as the grandkids are visiting for the evening :) Always a fun time. 


So they are playing on the Wii and I'm playing on Pinterst... sounds good to me :) We spent the afternoon at the Boston's Children Museum, so they had a blast climbing the climbing structure, playing with the bubbles, and off to the golf ball room to make those golf balls fly! We also went up to the Construction zone room, the Indian Culture (temporary exhibit) and back to the climbing structure. Then we topped off the visit with a gift from the gift shop. 


Back to what I found on Pinterest! It is the cutest pincushion and it is an oldy from Sew Many Ways Blog  



But is too cute!!! Now to find someone who is eating small containers of ice cream. Oh, yea, this is made from an Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Container! And to boot, she wrote it 3 years ago. 

So now Sew Many Ways Blog  has a sewing Saturday... She has a good point as I do the same as her because "for me, Saturday seems to work the best. During the week, work gets in the way and night time I usually  do my projects for my blog post, not to mention computer time for Pinterest and catching up on emails. This is why I love my new "Sew Sew Saturdays"" I think that I'll join her :) 

Thanks for stopping by! Ciao for now! Time to put the little ones to bed, story time :)

J :)

Friday, April 27, 2012

Sashiko

So I was surfing the web this morning and came across Pat Sloan talking about Sashiko... She said very much what I have been thinking of late... This is her discussion about Sashiko from Quilting Galleries. Do you personally challenge yourself to learn something new in quilting every so often? I do! This year I’ve become interested in not only learning more about embroidery but also taking a dip into the world of Sashiko quilting. I don’t know much about this.. but I have friends that do! Today I’m going to give you a little overview... What IS Sashiko? Wikipedia says “Sashiko (literally “little stabs”) is a form of decorative reinforcement stitching (or functional embroidery) from Japan. Traditionally used to reinforce points of wear, or to repair worn places or tears with patches, this running stitch technique is often used for purely decorative purposes in quilting and embroidery. The white cotton thread on the traditional indigo blue cloth gives Sashiko its distinctive appearance, though decorative items sometimes use red thread. Many Sashiko patterns were derived from Chinese designs, but just as many were developed by the Japanese themselves. The artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) published the book New Forms for Design in 1824, and these designs have inspired many Sashiko patterns.” Source Sashiko is an embroidery pattern you put on the top of the fabric, just like the crazy quilting and regular embroidery. I’m drawn to the traditional navy with cream thread, it’s so beautiful! I can’t wait to try this! If you can’t wait and want to try Sashiko now.. there is a nice tutorial at Purlbee. Here is more info at About.com with some freebies to download. Off to get ready to go to work... Thanks for stopping by :) Ciao for now! J :)

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Blogger's BOM

Hmm, did I miss it once again? The time seems to be flying! I have been working my tail off and yesterday was Administrative Assistant's Day and it was not until I got home that anyone mentioned anything to me. Oh, yes, I am working as an Administrative Assistant and no, there was no acknowledgment. Ah well, I am only a temp...

In the mean time I hopped over to Jackie's Blog at Canton Village Quilt Works to check out the next block. She has some wonderful pictures over there! If you go to Canton Village Quilt Works you will see the past 7 months of Blogger's Block of the Month.

Sot the Block Number 8 is brought you by the fabulous Amy of Mrs. Schmenkman Quilts.  This block is a beauty. Now I need to grab my fabrics and start sewing! I am a tad behind... 


Time to play catch up!

With that I am off to dinner with my hubby. Thank you for stopping by :)

Ciao for now!

J :)

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Swoon Block

Have you wondered what is a Swoon Block? Have you been seeing them all over the different blogs that you read? Do you see it on Pinterest? Do you have a Pinterest Board for this particular block?


So back in February of this year, Erika Mulvenna, from Miss Sews-it-all did a post over at the  BERNINA's We All Sew Blog did a fantastic post about Swoon. Erika was talking about Camille Roskelly’s newest quilt design Swoon, I needed to check out some of the Swoon inspiration she found! So here is her post (from BERNINA'a We All Sew Blogabout the Swoon pattern and where to get it.


Here is Camille’s version of Swoon from the Thimble Blossoms website – isn’t it pretty?
We’ve also found some beautiful Swoon quilt blocks popping up all over the web. Camille has shared a whole bushel of Swoon blocks at her blog, Simplify. This beautiful example of Swoon was made by Amanda from hey porkchop! 
We’re amazed at how many different varieties there are of the Swoon block, and you can check some of them out at the Swoon-along Flickr photo group:

To get your own downloadable Swoon quilt pattern for only $8, visit Camille Roskelly’s online store,Thimble Blossoms.
So, now that I have learned about the Swoon pattern I won't feel so silly questioning why it is called that... 

Monday, April 16, 2012

Is this Sunday ALREADY?

Well... yea, I have gone a week and been way too busy to jump onto the computer other than at work. I don't have the time to jot down anything on my blog...

Yesterday I spent the day in Worchester, MA at the Sewing Expo. I had a great time, got to meet a few people, saw some people that I have had the opportunity to meet before, and got lost in Worchester. There where some quilts, a lot of vendors, and a lot of classes going on through out the day. I think that I would go to more of the classes if I go next year. The one that I was in was Peggy Sagers the founder of Silhouette Patterns. It was a great class! Now I just need to make some of the pants from the pattern that I purchased.

It is a good quality knit fabric that I need to get from Jo-anne's and when it comes, I will need to Use it Up right away! I hope I will get over my 'fear' (for lack of a better word) of working with knits.

Off to get ready for tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by :)

Ciao for now!

J :)

P.S. I wrote this on Sunday and forgot to post it... so, I'm not going to change it, just post it. Hope you all have had a wonderful weekend!

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Oh No!!! I'm really late this month!

Yes I have been among the missing... Thought I would check in before you all thought I’d disappeared altogether. Nope. Still hanging around. Still hanging in. I am very sorry it’s been so sporadic of late, I’ve begun posts in my head many times but as I haven’t been near a computer to post they have not made it online... I’m sure you understand.


I have had my share of good days and bad days, there has been a lot of activity! I credit a very busy schedule of getting back into the grove of working, trying to blog, trying to get some much needed sewing time, and a new grandson's arrival this week with my being among the missing more often than not... So, with out much further ado...

I have to admit that I know that  I am really late this month for the BOM's! And I have gotten my month's confused!



So for Blogger BOM, hosted by Jackie from Canton Village Quilt Works it is time to do my February block tutorial from Amy Smart @ Diary of a Quilter.  It is a cute block...


I also have to do March's block which is a visit to Allison Harris @ Cluck Cluck Sew blog for the directions check out her super cute block! 
IMG_0618

I have not even shared the love at the FLICKER GROUP with the February block... 
In the meantime here is the Roll Call for all the members of the Blogger's BOM...


So the other late BOM is with Amy Gibson in The Craftsy Block of the Month. I need to catch up with the March block, which was Foundation Paper Piecing... April's BOM is Hexagons in the English Paper Piecing method... I'm going to be buried in paper!


Wish me luck! I'm off to try to catch up with everything... Oh! I need to finish the little girl quilt 1st! Order!!! I need to make a list of my projects and stick to it!!!


I hope you have had a chance to chuckle today! Ciao for now!


J :)

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Quick Check in...

Today is a big day... Our daughter-in-law is on her way to the hospital as today is her due date! Our 3rd grandchild will be born today :) Such a wonderful blessing.

The other news that I think I will take the other two grandchildren to is that today, Tuesday, April 3rd is Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry’s, and you know what that means... time to take the kiddo's for ice cream!

I'll be back :)

So we did get to meet our new grandson who was born at 1:15pm today. He is in the NICU as he was not breathing very well. This was taken this afternoon with our grandson, son and grandson.

 

We did not get a chance to get a ice cream... bummer... Now that M is sucking on a binky he'll be getting out of the NICU soon. :) Now time for dinner.

Thanks for stopping by, Ciao for now!

J :)