1,167

1,167 days since the last time that I posted on this blog.

My life has changed since then.  When I stopped posting on here I started working more full-time at a local quilt shop.  Believe it or not, there is a limit to the amount of creativity a person can have surrounded by beautiful fabric.  So I stopped posting on here when there was less motivation to be creative away from work.  We'll call it a vacation from crafting and leave it there.

About a year ago I accepted a job that's not very creative and stayed at the quilt shop one day a week.  That matters.  Enjoying small creative moments is more stimulating than 40 hours a week, and that's ok.  A friend recently asked me if I was still writing on here and I told her 'Nah, I gave that up when I started working at ...'.  She encouraged me to start posting on this blog again.  Thankfully I've had things to post about.

I've updated my Quilts and Small Crafts section with pictures of some of the things I've finished and photographed since 2014.  I can safely say that since I last posted, I do believe I've grown as a quilter.  I now know how to make Hexie's and have completed at least 3 projects, with one UFO waiting for quilting.  Thankfully there are 59 days until Christmas, so let's hope the creative motivation holds out until then.  I promise not to go another 1,167 days until my next post.  Who knows, maybe I'll post about something besides fabric! 😆

Low Volume & High Volume

So it's been a while since I've posted on here, not many excuses for it.  There've been a few life changes in the last 5 months, but I'll get into that in later posts.  You've noticed the title for this post is Low Volume & High Volume, so I'm sure you're wondering what that's all about?  Last February at quilt retreat I finished a quilt top in Low Volume fabrics.  I put it off to the side for months to work on other projects and then finally decided how I wanted to finish the quilt.  For those of you who don't know, Low Volume quilts are prints that, basically, don't stand out.  Typically a white background with a lightly colored design.  These are the fabrics you might use as a background for blocks.  We'll here's my first one.  I was inspired by a super cute Art Gallery Fabric from the Indian Summer line, white background with a light grey print of animals on it (it's got super cute owls!! : )  Anyway, because the

front is so very neutral, I wanted the back to really stand out.  I love that part about quilts.  If you don't love one side of the quilt, there is always another side you can look at.  Well I choose a bright Kaffe Fassett print with a jewel-tone purple as the binding.  I know some of you might be cringing looking at it, but hey, it's my quilt and I love it to pieces!  Hope your Summer's been amazing!  Mine....we'll let's just say I could use this quilt right about now and be pretty comfortable.

Pure Elements!!!

So, I've been eyeing up the collection of Pure Elements by Art Gallery that we carry in our local quilt shop for a while.  I finally found something that drove me to purchase!  I bought a new book called Playful Petals by Corey Yoder, which is all about orange peal quilts and learning to applique with fusible web.  I've been doing more work with applique and fusible web so I thought 'Why haven't I done one yet?'  Answer--Inspiration.  I needed it, and this little book is perfect!  Bright and cheerful patterns used in all of her examples, and the last quilt was the straw that broke the camels back.  Entirely of solids, but such a nice color pallet it sold me.  Here's my quick pic of the pattern.

It's my goal for 2014, to have this quilt done.  A little here, a little there and hopefully I'll get there.  After the post last week at Freshly Pieced about fabric on sale, I did buy some Voile for a Tova top, which is also in the works.  Well, of course once you start buying it get's easier to look for more.  I found a seller on Etsy, Tactile Fabrics, that had some Pure Elements for super cheap.  So of course I bought them.  They arrived today!  One step closer to having no excuse for not starting on it!  Happy WIP Wednesday!

Linking up with Freshly Pieced

Holy Crap it's March!

So this is my first post for 2014 and it's already mid-March!  Yikes!  Only excuse is that I've been busy and it's been too dang cold to care about much but keeping warm.  Brief share today is a lovely quilt I was asked to make--a New York Ranger's Quilt.

The name and the shield are all appliqued on Kona solids, with the back has a cute animal print.  Now that I've finished this project I'll be working on some sampler blocks and hopefully finishing a quilt I started last April!  

Linking up with Freshly Pieced today! 

So long 2013!

The holiday celebrations are over now and it's time to look back on 2013.  Was I productive?  It didn't feel like it, but the pictures say otherwise.  2013 was a year of endings and new beginnings.  I left one job and found another great one.  Co-workers have left and new one's have joined.  I finished paying off my car and began paying off more on student loans.  Where one thing finished, another one started. And that's the way it's suppose to be, right?  Finish one quilt, start on your next!  Here's a recap of my finished projects for 2013!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who's ready for Christmas?

It feels like forever since I've put a decent post up here.  I'm halfway through my Christmas 'To-Do' list and here's my results so far!  Last post I briefly talked about the applique pillows I was making for a friend.  Well they are finished and I'm very happy with the results!  Let's say me and the Satin Stitch got really well acquainted ; )  

The backs are finished with an envelope closure and were perhaps the trickiest part of the whole project!  They just would not lay flat!  Any tips or advice?  Some did fine, while others popped up.  I tried taking in the overlap of the edges (it's at 2 1/2" now) and that just made it harder to get the pillow into.  If my friend doesn't like them I'm probably going to have to put on some velcro, which I'd rather not do.  Any tips and tricks for doing envelope closure pillow cases would be greatly appreciated!

When I wasn't crafting this last month, I was very busy working at the quilt shop and helping others finish their Christmas projects.  I also went camping the day before Thanksgiving.  YES, it was cold.  Snowed a couple times too.  But I was with a nice group of pyro's who kept the fire going all night.  We had a great time! : )  I had a few family members ask me what I'd like for Christmas this year...sadly my first thought was...Time?  I want more time!!  : (  Sadly, not something they can accommodate.  Thankfully, after Christmas I'll be done with projects for others and I'll be able to start some of the stuff that's been piling up on MY 'I want to do this...' list.   Hope your Holiday season is wonderful and we all have our wits by the end of the year.    

I'm linking up this week with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.  

Life's a little crazy!!!

Not much to share this time, my lack of motivation may have something to do with it. Or the crazy amount of television I watch...  Up this week are some amazing appliquéd pillows I'm working on for a friend. I made this one last night and I'm pretty happy with the results!!  More pictures to come, since this is one of four!

I'm linking up with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

It's a Small World....and Christmas is Right Around the Corner!

Hello!  Happy Hump Day everyone!  I hope your having as much fun as I am lately.  The crunch time is upon us, with Halloween next week, I've got 13 projects to complete before Christmas and half of them need to be done by December 1st.

Who's excited for Quilt Market?!?  Even though I'm not going, it almost feels like it trying to read all the amazing blog posts about Market adventures.  I'm really looking forward to those posts, so anyone reading this that's going to Market--daily updates, please!!! : )  I'm also happy to share that I've finally decided what I'm going to do with my Riley Blake challenge fabric.  It's such an odd assortment of fabric patterns and colors I felt a bit of panic.  Yes, I know that you can add solids to it, or even more patterned fabric, however I'm going for the CHALLENGE.  Work with what I have and see what I come up with.  I decided a little research was in order, so of course I looked at my Pinterest boards of 'Crafts I want to do'.  I found this gem that I saw on the Purl Bee.

Molly's Sketchbook Liberty Hot Pads

I did get an exciting delivery last week that I got to play with last night.  Quilt labels!  : )  I ordered through Ananemone Labels on Etsy and they are great!  I'm very happy with them.

 On a random, it's a small world note, I recently found out that one of my co-workers knows my fourth grade teacher!  How un-real?!?  Then, to make things even more exciting, she brought her to work for lunch today!  It was a blast!  Very surreal, but amazing all the same. Here's us posing for a picture.  Anyone ever have that happen to them?

Finally, my next major project is four pillows with names appliqued on them.  I'm super excited for this project and I'm working with a friend who wants this done.  I'll be going over fabric with her tomorrow and then hopefully getting started on some pillow covers.  These are the pillows I created, they are 12 x 23 inches and stuffed, firmly. The themes are super-heros (3 boys) and fun, girly fabrics(1 girl).  Check back for more updates!  Linking up with Freshly Pieced this week for WIP Wednesday! 

Cotton Candy and our Festive Friend

Hello!  I'm finishing up a cute little quilt this week.  I've decided to call it my 'Cotton Candy' quilt.  It shouldn't be that hard to figure out why, and if you're having difficulties...you didn't eat enough cotton candy growing up! ; )

I used a soft, teal sheet that I found on clearance at Target for the backing.  I don't object to using sheets as backing for quilts (they are not quilts for show) because I think they are softer than some cotton backings.  I'm curious about how you feel about using sheets as backing?    

I also had a little 'festive' visitor while I was working.  I moved him once, went to work on something and he was back!!!  Anyone ever have insects that love quilts?  Maybe it's the bright colors?  Dogs and cats--I get, but spiders?  Like I said, festive.  

These next few weeks I'll be busy making some mug rugs, applique pillows, and working on a Christmas wall hanging.  Crossing my fingers things get done! 

I'm linking up with Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesdays.

Carrie Loves Designs

I'm sure you've noticed something new about my blog!  I found a lovely designer who had some amazing templates to use with Blogger.  Her name is Carrie at Carrie Loves Design Studio.  She was super helpful about options for designs and how to put things together.  If you use Blogger or Wordpress, I recommend you check out her page.  I've done a major overhaul of 'my brand' as you would call it.  Cozy Crafts is gone, but not forgotten.  In its place is Sweet & Sour Patch Quilts.  It's just a small change, but I think it will help to streamline my social network and quilty identity.  Hope everyone has a great week and enjoys the beginning of Fall! 

Random Squirrel near UWM

Not enough hours in the day...

So, September is National Sewing Month, right?  Well I think they need to tack on October too!  Things seem way too busy in quilt and blog-land!  Every blog I'm reading is prepping for Quilt Market at the end of October.  Even my boss at the Quilt shop is prepping for Quilt Market, which means I'm indirectly prepping for Quilt Market too!  Bundles...lots and lots of bundles cut, folded, and stacked!  But they are oh, so, pretty!!!! : ) I heart Kona Solids!  Speaking of Kona Solids, have you seen the latest 28 colors?  I stare at them while I'm at work....waiting patiently to have an excuse to use them!  Perhaps I can find a use in a Christmas gift this year? ; )  Check out Robert Kaufman's Pintrest board devoted to Kona Solids.  It's amazing!

I did make one thing this week, a cute little apron for work.  I used some Fat Quarters I picked up in Door County last month from their local quilt shop.  It's from Kate Spain's 'Sunnyside'.  I think the colors work nicely with the small stripe pattern I had on hand.  This is my FIRST apron, but it probably won't be my last.  Gotta have one for when this is in the wash...right?  And perhaps for every season, and a holiday or two? Wishing everyone a happy Hump Day and crossing my fingers that as you're reading this, I'm in my sewing lair, quilting one of my quilts and NOT watching television. : )

Wishing everyone a happy Hump Day and crossing my fingers that as you're reading this, I'm in my sewing lair, quilting one of my quilts and NOT watching television. : )

I'm linking up with Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday.