I have a few things planned for the blog, including a quilt label how-to, the long-promised baby blankie tutorial, and what I've been doing on my new toy, but for now, I'll be gone again for a little while. We're heading up to the big wilderness of Alaska for 10 days! Exploring, hiking, kayaking, flightseeing... We're so excited. I'll be back at the beginning of August with tons of pictures - and maybe even some progress on my big granny square.


Photo credit: 1. Caribou Mt McKinley, 2. Prince William Sound, 3. Kenai River, 4. Aialik Bay

Labels: travel

This box was waiting for me when I got home. Everyone was excited to see it!



At this point my husband set the cat on the box to slow me down. I didn't put up with that long.



Ta da!! So pretty.



Maybe it will inspire me to pick up my sewing room a little??

Labels: sewing

I wanted to get started on the granny square blankie and realized I didn't really remember how to crochet. It's been a while! Thankfully there are some decent videos online and I have a few books, so that all helped jog my memory. This is my little practice square:



I switched to a smaller hook and got started on my blankie. I can't wait to see it when I get into the 2nd round of each color - I have that green to do after this turquoise which I think will tie nicely back into the center chocolate brown.



There needs to be a little more balance to all those warm colors in the middle but hopefully the green will help. I think it's going to be really pretty!

Labels: knit/crochet, wip

Nine of my second set of twenty nine-patches finished this weekend. I also got a good start on the granny square project but can't get a good picture of it. Combine that little bit of crafting with actually changing the sheets on our bed, having a very clean kitchen, and getting caught up on other laundry, and this was by far the most productive weekend I've had in ages!

Labels: quilting, sewing, wip

The wedding quilt is done! I have been relying on peeks of this quilt for blog material for far too long now, it is nice to finally share the completed project. I am so happy with how this came out. The pattern is inspired by the Sparks Baby Quilt and AmandaJean's Flea Market Fancy quilt.



I couldn't decide how to quilt it but since I am still limited to straight lines, I did a little grid pattern and think it works well.



I had originally planned on doing a pieced cotton back with bamboo batting, but when I was at JoAnns the fleece just kept calling to me. This is lap blanket size (50"x60") and I just love the cuddly fleece for curling up with on the couch.



Pieced binding, as usual. This is only my third finished quilt of the year... I think the second half of the year will produce a lot more!



Lauren, I hope it's what you had in mind!

Labels: 2009 Quilts, quilting, sewing

I actually had another post planned yesterday before I found out about Dana's giveaway! Some of you may have guessed, but I actually do have a big project in the works that I can finally share.


Baby Mikke, due January 20, 2010.

Now that this little one is sapping a bit less of my energy, hopefully crafting and blogging will return to normal. Which is a good thing - I have quite a list of projects planned before January! (And won't that be more fun on my new toy!)

Labels: family, wip

Thank you so much to all my commenters for the heads up - I can't believe I actually won Dana's giveaway. This is unbelievable! I'm still shaking. Thank you so much, Dana, for hosting such a wonderful quilt along and having such an AMAZING giveaway!!

Labels: sewing

Another WIP. Are you tired of these photos of craft supplies instead of actual finished projects? I don't blame you. As my sister said, "But your last post was just a pile of fabric!" Tomorrow's post is another work-in-progress but then hopefully the finished projects will be more common! Anyway, I couldn't resist picking up some yarn to do a giant granny square blankie. Loving these rich colors.

Labels: knit/crochet, wip

I didn't have the productive long weekend that I had hoped for but I did get the wedding quilt quilted and the binding is ready to hand sew. As for the rest of the weekend, I will allow Hitch to demonstrate our level of activity...



Remember our sweet little black kitty? Yeah, he grew a little!

Labels: family, quilting, sewing, wip

The lack of posting here is directly related to the lack of crafting going on at my house. But the arrival of this fabric in the mail is good motivation to finish up my other quilting projects so I can start on this new project! I have five in-progress quilts and I hope to finish up as many as I can before we go on vacation in mid-July. We'll see if that's overly ambitious!!

Labels: fabric, wip