Periwinkle and Pink Rag Quilt--LOVE!

Just finished this rag quilt featuring fabric by Dena Designs (the Monaco line) and some fabric by the all-mighty Amy Butler. It is a custom order, but I just love it! Thought I would share it with you before I have to send it off!

Also made this cute pincushion (pattern is from the book, Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson).

Gave this away too. Looks like I'm gonna have to make something for myself soon!

Blog Carnival: The Great American Hot Dog

Did you know that July is the National Hot Dog Month? Well, it is, and the Fourth of July is a perfect time to celebrate American traditions like hot dogs, cookouts and parades.
My family goes to Bristol, Rhode Island every year to celebrate, "The Fourth," as they call it "up there" and to have some classic American cuisine (hot dogs included) and traditional New England fare as well, like "stuffies" (stuffed quahogs) and chirizo (sausage). My nephew and two nieces above (all cousins to each other) are happy to get to feast, laugh and "chill" with each other.

My daughter Molly ate her first lobster (she ate the whole thing) and appropriately followed it up with a hot dog. It doesn't get much better than that, does it?So, happy National Hot Dog Month, America. And, as they say in Bristol, Rhode Island, "Happy Fourth!"

Featured Etsyblogger: The Creative and Happy Miesmama

Miesmama (aka Becky) is one of those crafters on etsy who stands out. She's a cheerleader for everyone, is very active with her etsyblogger group and has a happy blog, flickr page and etsy shop to follow. Her etsy shop is full of creative felt creations like these clips:Congratulations to Miesmama for being the featured etsyblogger of July! This honor is well deserved.

Blog Carnival: Summer with the Kids!

My plan for this summer is to spend lots of time with my kids and my husband, doing lots of fun things. My husband and I have a tendency to always be working on a project and forget to have a little fun, so our goal is to relax a little more.
We've managed to do this a little more already this summer, as you can see by the picture above. This is Molly and Sara in the Severn River last week. We were shocked that both of them got in, but it was great to see that they were brave enough to do it. I was in the boat with the four-month-old. I eventually got in after he fell asleep. It was so much fun!

So, I guess our plan is to plan a little less! Just have fun.

All People Quilt

OK, so maybe all people don't quilt, but have you been to the website, allpeoplequilt.com? It's the Better Homes and Garden website for several really good magazines, Quilts and More, American Patchwork and Quilting and Quilt Sampler. The projects in these magazines and on the website are very fresh and happy. I just wanted to share this website with whomever shares that passion that I have for some of those new designer fabrics out there that are bright and happy! There are great projects using designers that we all know and love...Amy, Joel, Heather, Anna Maria, and the list goes on.

This is a project they have on their website, called "Pink Bliss," and is a great use of all of those Amy Butler fabrics you have in your stash.

I sewed through May!

ohmygoodness. May is over, and it's already June 3rd. I feel like I've finished so many projects this month. Isn't that always a great feeling? I thought I would share a few of the things that I did this month....

This cute little marker holder that I made for my daughters (to share, yeah, right!) is the best use of all of those fabric scraps. I have enough scraps to make about 946 more! The pattern is from a great book called Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson. She has a series of high-quality books out with great ideas. There are even a few groups on flickr dedicated to showing off works completed from the inspiration of the book.
I've also been lucky enough to become a member of an on-line quilting bee called Sweet Dreams Quilting Bee. Each month a member sends out a variety of fabric and the other 11 members make her blocks for a quilt. We send back the blocks and she makes the quilt. July is my month! I'm so excited to do this each month. There are a lot of quilting bees on flickr. I encourage anyone to check these out. Whatever your craft may be, there are so many opportunities on flickr to "meet" and interact with people who have similar interests. It's really great. Who needs facebook?

Anyway, I made this pillow with some of the leftover fabric from the first month's swap.

And I tried a new quilting technique that I call, "bubble quilting." It might be my new favorite way to quilt. I love to freeform quilt--no lines to trace, just go with the flow.
This month was also the finish line for a quilt that I've been working on for quite some time. I think that the reason it took so long is because I knew it was for me, and those projects always get pushed to the back burner when you are a quilter. Now my super-colorful quilt is hanging in the hallway where I get to see it everyday.

I also finished this quilt for a customer. I was glad to have this project because it really forced me to think outside of my box. I don't normally use these colors, but I enjoyed getting "back to my roots" and using some of the fabrics that I started out using when I first learned how to quilt. It was also neat to see the person's reaction to the quilt when I gave it to her. Very gratifying!

I hope your may was a great one and that you have lots of projects lined up for June. I've already got a list longer than my arm of things that I have to finish this month. I better get back to the sewing machine....

Sew Cool! I'm featured on Amy Butler's Softwares CD

Amy Butler has a new gig: softwares! That's a play on words for her new endeavor of providing projects with patterns on CD by Electric Quilt Company (retail is $29.95). And, I'm excited to be one of 31 featured sewers and crafters in her "inspired by amy" gallery on the CD.

I've looked through the CD, and I have to say it meets and exceeds the standards that we have all grown to expect from Amy's products. I can't believe the price either...a steal! You get all of those projects with patterns plus a nice gallery of inspirational photos for just $29.95. Unbelievable!

Awesome Strawberry Avocado Salsa Recipe

I made this strawberry and avocado salsa recipe today for mother's day. Thought I would share it! (It is from Cooking Light Magazine/May 2009)

1 cup finely chopped strawberries
1/4 cup finely chopped peeled avocado
2 tbsps finely chopped red onion
2 tbsps chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 tspn grated lime rind
2 tbsps fresh lime juice
2 tspns finely chopped seeded jalapeno pepper
1/4 tspn sugar

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and toss gently. Serve immediately with chips (or on top of a roast chicken entree, fish or grilled pork).

Happy Mother's Day!

Blog Carnival: My Dream Craft Room

As a member of EtsyBloggers, each month we have some common topics to write about on our blog. This month is exciting because it really gets ya thinkin' about your creative space and what would be included in your "dream" craft room/studio. I'm six years into being "a quilter," but I've been creative my whole life, so I've been working on a list for this "dream room" pretty much my whole life.

(this collage is from Nianau's photostream on flickr)

So, here goes:

1.) A vast expanse! My dream craft room would be large! I have a lot of "dream equipment" to fit into it (see the rest of the list) and "dream supplies," so everyone needs a room of one's own, right? Yeah, well, mine is a big room . . . with bright green walls.
2.) Sewing machines! An upgraded Bernina (one that is whisper quiet, with lots of alphabets and lots of bells and whistles), a separate space for my serger, a large long-arm quilting machine (brand TBD) and a cheaper sewing machine for sewing paper and other cool stuff (without ruining my Bernina).
3.) Tables! A separate table for my sewing machine, a cutting table, a gi-normous craft table with nothing on it except the thing I'm working on at that moment, a nice table for my computer, and a few more tables for other things that I'm sure I'll need a table for!
4.) Shelves! Think old-time pharmacy meets modern craft room. I'm thinkin' a cool piece of furniture for storing all kinds of cool things to display but also wall storage for my fabric.
5.) Fabric! I want bolts of fabric separated by collection, color, purpose...every which way one can organize fabric! (This oughtta be enough fabric: http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplysheree/553437425/. Can you believe that stash?)
6.) Walls! Bright, happy ones! With space to display some of my quilts (on the rare occasion that I keep one for myself).
7.) Windows! Overlooking some mountains (like the Blue Ridge Mountains or the Adirondacks -- since this is my dream craft room, it must be in my dream house in the mountains of the East Coast, right?)
8.) Hardwood floors! I want to be able to roll around in my extremely comfortable chair to each of the stations that I have!
9.) Music and TV! A girl's gotta have some good tunes and watch Survivor, Grey's Anatomy and Lost!
10.) A Play Area! Note the word "area." And by area, I mean something with a picket fense around it that I can keep closed and keep the kids in. It would contain their "dream toys" so that they would be occupied and require little supervision. Boy, this is a dream!
11.) Stuff! Since my list is quickly expanding like the walls of this dream craft room, I will end it with just "stuff." I want creative stuff at my fingertips. This includes all of the stuff one would need to create masterpieces on a daily basis: fabric, thread, glue, glitter, a comfortable chair, a sitting area to brainstorm with friends, scrapbook paper, printers, ribbons, pins, a fridge full of nothing but Coke, needles, chocolate, scissors, batting, stamps, ink, markers, colored pencils, notebooks, books, magazines, inspirational websites, an unlimited supply of petty cash to shop with ... oh, and maybe even a #2 pencil or two!

So, what would you have?

Monsters are Hot! Just Ask Etsian TwoZanyZebras

Monsters are hot! Just look at the latest star-studded, animated movie: Monsters vs Aliens. Kids love monsters -- the friendly, kid versions! So, check out the collection of kid-friendly monsters on onesies, t-shirts and all at kinds of cuddly things at the etsy shop TwoZanyZebras!

The creator behind twozanyzebras.etsy.com and this adorable onesie is a stay-at-home mom from Southern California who loves to create things that are as zany as her two little ones! Her zany-ness carries over to her blog: Two Zany Zebras: Notes from my Zany Life!

If you're a mom looking for a laugh after a rough day, you have to check this site out! It is full of stories from her (Mama Zany's) everyday life that every mom (and dad) can relate to! She updates her site frequently, so there is always something new to read and relate to ... and laugh about! It is good stuff!!

Congratulations to TwoZanyZebras for being selected the featured EtsyBlogger of April!

Featured Etsy Blogger: DesignbyNora

Nora of DesignbyNora is what some people may call a "jack of all trades!" She loves making cards, jewelry, playing around with polymer clay, reading and geeking around on the computer. Her shop on etsy features some really cute polymer earrings and some purses that would look smashing together. As orange is one of my favorite colors, I was immediately attracted to this cute orange purse and earrings that she has listed separately:

Don't wait to check out Nora's etsy page! She is having a kickin' sale!

Nora's blog has some great information, like her post on March being National Craft Month and her delish recipe for a puff pastry called Napoleon!

Congrats to Nora on being the featured Etsyblogger for March!!

Blog Carnival: What I've Accomplished in '09

So, it's 3 months in to 2009 (twenty-o-nine if you're Charles Osgood). It's 51 days into Barrack Obama's presidency. It's 3 weeks and 6 days into my son's life! So, what have I accomplished?!?!

As you may have guessed, I had a son! That was a big accomplishment, but one that I worked on mostly in 2008! Well, I guess the real work starts now, huh?

I've managed to fold every piece of fabric in my craft room and get a little more organized in the craft room (Evidence: see photo).

I actually figured out how to thread and use my serger that I got for Christmas! That is a huge accomplishment. If you have serger, you know what I mean! It's a daunting piece of equipment that just stares back at you saying, "Go ahead. Make my day."

And, I sold some quilts on etsy! I also have three custom orders that I'm working on right now, so I'm on a roll! AND, I designed a new logo/avatar that I still have to "go live" with. Let me know what you think:

SALE on Etsy -- The Joey Sale!

That's right, folks, it's the Joey Sale! My son was born on the 12th of this month, so I'm having a 12% off sale on my etsy page! Check it out. I have some great quilts for sale. If you order a custom order while this promotion is going on, I will honor the 12% discount.
How can you resist that face? Order something today!

Blog Carnival: What I like best about being an Etsy Artisan

I started my etsy adventure almost a year ago and there are so many things that I love about etsy, but there is one thing that stands out most for me: being able to sell my creative stuff and be home with my kids at the same time. I would NEVER be able to work in a shop and sell my stuff as a stay at home mom. Etsy really enables me to feel like I have an outlet for my creativity while not being held down by fulfilling hour requirements at a shop. I don't make a ton of money on etsy, but it's enough to keep my projects going and have a little extra to spend on all of my craft stuff -- i.e. FABRIC!!!!

My five-year-old has also learned that you can make and sell stuff, which is an interesting concept to introduce to a little person. She is intrigued already by that idea. I can't wait to see what she will be when she grows up, maybe a quilt designer, fabric designer or something of the like because of what she sees going on in "the craft room."