Secret Project Reveal

So my secret project was this adorable mug rug for Momm!  :)

I used the free Peeps! pattern by Sewhooked on Craftsy and I knew on first sight that it would be just in time for Easter and Spring and perfect since Momm & I like Peeps.  Paper piecing it was so smooth and I love the crispness of the design, even though it needed some tiny pieces. 

The eyes and nose are embroidered on with french knots and I did a tiny stipple in the white fabric.  It's machine bound and just too. cute!

My March finish for ALYOF 2014 and I'm linking up with fiber of all sorts for this one. Happy Spring!

Sunday Snapshot #21

My birthday is later this week (yay!) and I think that helped put me in a baking mood this weekend.  I was determined to make cupcakes and even picked up several books from the library about cupcakes on Friday.  

#pearlsinthekitchen

After grabbing all of my ingredients, I realized I was keeping it classy & following Julia's example in the kitchen with my pearls and had to snap this selfie.

I already had some in mind to make though - recipes from the Cupcake Mystery book series by Jenn McKinlay.  These are such fun reads and the cupcakes always sounds delicious!  So I found the recipes at the back of the book, and made the Blonde Bombshell (almond cupcake with vanilla buttercream frosting) and Death by Chocolate (chocolate cupcake with chocolate chips and dark chocolate ganache frosting).

yumm!

While they took some time to create, they turned out well and taste really good.  I'll be taking these into work tomorrow to celebrate a co-workers birthday (and start my birthday celebrations!) and also to my small group tomorrow night.  That's the only way I can get away with making 4 dozen cupcakes and not eat them all.  :)

Hope you've had a delicious Sunday too!

Pantone Quilt Reveal!

Today I'm unveiling my Pantone Color of the Year Quilt top and linking up with On The Windy Side.

This quilt idea was sketched out while at the airport waiting on a delayed flight earlier this year.  I knew I wanted to go bold with the color choice and definitely managed to do that. ;)  I used some Kona Violet, which was close to Radiant Orchid, and Kona Chartreuse for the background.  The other solids are also Kona, though I don't know what colors, and a couple purple prints as well.  All the fabric can from my stash too!

I took some inspiration from the curved blocks I've made before and from all the Retro Flower and similar designs from around the web.  I wanted it to seem as though the flower is on the right and petals are being blown by the wind across the quilt.

To achieve this look from my original sketches, I had to figure out all of the math.  Really, that means I had an idea of what to cut and how much, but I also made it up as I went along.  I really like how it turned out and had fun working with the color of the year for this challenge.

::Quilt Stats::
Design: all mine!

Fabrics: Kona Violet, Kona Chartreuse, Kona purples and purple prints - all from stash

Size: 33.5" x 37"

WIP:: 3/12/14

Here's what I've got going on in my sewing room* this week::
    *and by sewing room I mean my living room where my machine and quilts have migrated….

finished:
 I've got my Pantone Challenge quilt top all finished.  It'll remain a top for now and I will be unveiling it and linking that up in a couple days so stay tuned!


Yay! - That's the name of my sample quilt for Junior Quilters Club at work.  I got the top pieced together and really love it.  This is inspired by the exhibit last summer of Regina Alexandra's works which are so much fun.  So my Juniors (ages 10-17) are working on their own face quilts too and so far they look fantastic!  

Yay!

in progress:

Swoon - I've started the quilting on this *finally* and am really enjoying the quilting process.  So far each block  has some quilting in it and I'm starting to echo the stars in the center of each block.  I really just need to have the time to sit and quilt this one - perhaps over the weekend I can find some.

Swoon back detail of quilting

Secret Project - well I can't share too many pictures or I'll risk giving it away, but this one is pieced and is ready for quilting now too.  It's smaller than Swoon and should be a quick finish in the aforementioned weekend time.


That's what I've got going on right now in between work, Doctor Who and the wonderful sunshine outside!  Linking up at Freshly Pieced for this week and hope to see you there.   :)

secret operation

Well March is definitely coming in like lion - we had our share of snow & ice this weekend to start the month! 

I've got a secret project for my March link-up of ALOF at Fiber of All Sorts.  It started with a fun paper pieced pattern on Craftsy and turned into cut out templates and quick fabric pull.  The plan is to get it pieced together this month and I will certainly reveal the finish as soon as I can!  


This definitely needs a fun code name - suggestions welcome.  :)