down unda

our very good and lovely friends Darin and Juice just had the most gorgeous baby girl ever all the way over in Sydney, Australia.  see image below:

ah!

so i felt it was my civic duty as aunt-by-association to make her a lovely little quilt with a hand-sewn binding.  it was really fun to make and i am already starting on another for another close person who is with child. lets hope i get it done before mine pops out.  i'm so busy making quilts for other people's babies i haven't even started making one for mine!

i really want to make the most special and beautiful quilt ever for our baby, and i want it to be all SUPER BRIGHT pink Liberty of London fabrics.  being that liberty is $40 a yard tho, i need to wait til i have some post x-mas cash flow going.

 anyway. i forgot to take pictures so they were gracious enough, even in their newborn days/daze to take pictures so i can share with all of you.

the pattern comes from old faithful: the purl bee.  i found the pattern for their zig zag quilt and immediately wanted to make it- down to the main fabric choice - Alexander Henry's Zoo.  I dont know if they make it anymore but they have it in a different size.  anyway. that's all folks!

xo

color wheel

my favorite color is rainbow. yes, its a color if you love it as much as i do. it's only natch that i'd quilt something in rainbow fashion.  i bought the materials for this quilt a LONG time ago (let's say one blerg and almost 2 years ago) and I don't remember when I started it - but I finished it sometime early this past late spring/early summer.  anyway, i love it and it's found a home in our yet to be decorated guest room in our new house.  i go in and peek at it all the time cause its so lovely.  visit Purl Soho to get the materials to make your very own (and completely do-able) color wheel quilt.  Pick up a much needed copy of Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts by my idol, Joelle Hoverson (owner of Purl).  I have all the Purl books and have made many many things out of all of them (some I've shown here and others I've forgotton to photograph before giving away!)

anyway, here's my color wheel quilt in all her glory.  it was a labor of love that makes me smile every time i see it!

xo

busy bees at the hive

hello again!

i know it's been a while, but i've been busy with work and life and moving and being pregs and eating all the time and what not.  i have had some time to do a bit of handiwork and honestly, i haven't felt this good in a while.  finishing something (even if its just an apple pie - baking, then consequently eating) that i make from scratch with my hands and time is the most satisfying accomplishment i can describe. not for everyone, but it is for me. i get very proud and show it off to my husband who indulges me and constantly calls me clever, which i'm not - but which i love. all i'm doing is what generations of people have done for years and years and years - some with no machines or task lighting or industrial ovens or pastry cutters or itunes. either way, i don't have pictures of everything. but here are 3 things i've been spending the last week on, besides work:

1. my husband, smiley and adorable

2. my animals (Charley, pictured here looking sullen and super emo)

3. a vintage hanky quilt for my neice's past due first birthday

 here's a better picture of the hanky quilt:

as you know i am obsessed with made by mosey quilts and while i love to support artists (i did buy one of her mobiles for the baby's room, so i guess we're even), i wanted to make something similar myself for my neice, so i sort of just off the cuff copied it.  since it's a gift, i felt okay about it.  i sincerely hope my brother and his wife don't see this as i haven't given it to them yet.  i really don't think they read my blog so i'm pretty sure i'm safe!

anyway, it was really easy to make, but the difference in textures in the vintage hankerchiefs really made it hard to have everything cut evenly. i did my best, and while there are some imperfections, that's sort of why i like it.

yet another thing my husband wants to keep. i'd better make something for us one of these days!

xo

and they lived happily ever after

so a few weeks ago i posted here about my friends' sam and ian one year anniversary gala (the four of us sitting in my makeshift dining room - very exclusive event).  they were married on june 20th, 2009.  i have known Sam since the day I was born, our mothers are best friends, I was the maid of honor.  It felt only right to make something special and elaborate for their gift.  I hadn't started learning to quilt at the time of their wedding but I had minor sewing skills (i made their ring pillow, seen here and here. you can also kind of see it on their bed below) and I knew I wanted to accomplish something ambitious. 

keep reading for more images!

Click to read more ...

perfect dinner for four

i'm not one to outwardly toot my own horn.

ok, maybe sometimes, when i'm really proud of something, or when it is really difficult, but mostly when it was really delicious.

well last night i made a really yummy dinner for my dearies sam and ian, my husband, and myself.  the dinner was to celebrate their one year anniversary and so i could give them what i've been working on for what seems like for-EVER...their wedding quilt!  i don't have any images but they promised to take some pictures so i could share with you.

alright alright - back to dinner.

obvi, martha. obvi, delish.

simple arugula salad

 mussels in white wine and garlic with a french baguette for dipping

oven frites

fresh cherry tart

i wish i was one of those people who could cook without recipes, but i'm not. i prefer knowing how things are going to turn out, how they are meant to look, etc etc. anyway, it was a simple and easy meal to make overall, but it really was good and i wish there were leftover fries to eat right this minute.

xo