Color Blocks Placemats + Napkins - a finish!

 I can finally share these photos now that Christmas has come and gone!

Four quilted place mats and four napkins went to my little sister, since I knew she had been looking for these particular colors for ages. 

 I had seen this free tutorial from Oh Fransson! and I knew it was the perfect project for Christmas!

Here's the links to Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4, should you be interested to whip some up yourself!  I don't usually follow patterns, but these turned out so great I may try a pattern again someday...  just joking.  Sort of.

 

 I did try some loopy free-motion quilting, which was easy, quick, and afforded a nice bit of texture and interest to the place mats.  

 

 Fabrics used:

Heather Baily's "Pop Garden" and Kona cotton in Aqua.

For the backing and napkin centers I used Essex Linen in Natural.

I know these are going to look fabulous in my sister's kitchen!  

And now I think its darn time to do some sewing for my new home!  Ok, I've already started sewing and the living room curtains are already done... but a table runner, sewing room and bedroom curtains, and lots of throw pillows are in order, just to name a few.  

Stay tuned!

And I consider myself back to blogging now that our big move (plus the Holidays) is over... I've missed my quilty friends!  Its good to be back :-)

Buddy the Elf! What's your favorite color?

Best. Christmas. Movie. Ever.

What's yours?

{natural backdrops}

Whilst trying to add a few items to my Etsy Shop left over from last month's handmade shows... I had no idea how to photograph some 9ft banners in a creative way- until I looked out the back window.

There - freshly chopped down and stacked along the property line - was a huge pile of firewood!  The neighbor who cut down this tree must be OCD like me since every piece was almost exactly the same length, thus lending this lovely wood pile wall for my shop photos!  

I'd say it does the trick! So before you drive all around town trying to find the perfect spot for a photo shoot for that newly finished quilt, or what-have-you... first glance out your window! You may be surprised at the beauty just waiting to be discovered.  Yes, even in the backyard.

When we move into our new home in less than 2 weeks I may still have to take my photos over here - on the neighbors woodpile.  Good thing its a NEW pile of wood - and won't be thrown into a fireplace for a year.  My fingers are crossed at least!

Moving Onward

If you've been wondering where I've been lately... here's the scoop:

We've finally found a house, closed on it, and have started adding a few personal touches!

Like removing the wallpaper in my sewing studio which has really opened the space... so much better!

This front hallway also had the pink and blue wallpaper, its gone!  Thank goodness it was properly installed (10 years ago when the house was built?)  so it came down easily with peeling off the top layer then using a wallpaper steamer on the glue paper. 

Here's the living room - yet to be painted a super light aqua green, which will hopefully go well with my choice for curtains - Sandi Henderson's Secret Garden in Paisley Garden.  I LOVE this fabric and I think I'll probably hate the paint color until the curtains are up.  And if I still hate the paint color, I'll have to figure out a new color, because I'm set on my curtain fabric choice!  Any suggestions for another color?  The fabric looks "turquoise blue" but is actually closer to the green family.  Eeek!

Here's our master bedroom.  And yes, I chose that shade of green!  Its inspired by Kona Grass Green so it will compliment my bed quilt.  Its quite bold, and a tad darker than I wanted, but I think it will grow on me once all the furniture is in and the bed is made.

(love the double closet that runs the whole length of that wall!)

And here's my lighting fixture tip:
Overstock.com has THE best selection and price on modern lighting fixtures!
I purchased this one for the eating area and this one for the sewing studio.... go ahead, try  to find decent pendants at a big box store. 

So this is where I've been hanging out for the last week or so.  I've been able to do a little sewing, mostly on a secret project for Christmas, which I'll share after the fact.  Sorry...  no sewing pics to share until then.  What have ya'll been up to?  Are you finished with your Christmas Sewing?? 

Fabric Love

 Some classics I needed to restock:

Erin McMorris: Weekends and Wildwood

Sandi Henderson: Henna Garden

Heather Bailey: Pop Garden

and... just for the fun of it:

Daiwabo: Blue Hippos

All these goodies are still on sale at Hawthorne Threads!