Sunday at the Aquarium

We had to get out of the house today...it has rained for like a week here.  And it wasn't looking to promising this morning.  So we decided we would take a drive to Boothbay and check out the Maine State Aquarium.  I love this little Aquarium, I really do.  It is basically one room with about a dozen different displays, a Shark tank and a touch tank. It is big enough to get some variety but small enough for even the littlest of kids to avoid getting too overwhelmed and antsy. 
Liam loved finding all the Cat Sharks in the shark tank and Fynn totally got into the touch tank.  Both boys thought it was hilarious when I squirted Patrick with a scallop.  The boys met lobsters, hermit crabs, starfish, sea cucumbers....all sorts of great critters. 
And wouldn't you know, when we left the Aquarium the sun came out.  So off to the beach we went!

Multi-Tasker Tote - Finished!

I love this bag, really I do!  I finished my new tote just tonight and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. 

B,L,D Kitchen Towels

Well, I'm a little late in getting this linked up with the Zakka 2.0 along.  But I did get them finished.   I decided to use some Moda Toweling instead of linen, so the towels were all finished on 2 sides already.  I used some 1930's retro fabric I had hanging around for the appliques.  I think they turned out rather nice and after I give them a good press (ahem...)  they will be on their way as a shower gift. 

WIP~ or What I've Been Doing Instead of Blogging

I have apparently decided that now is the time to start all kinds of projects.  It happens occasionally, I go in spurts starting about a dozen different things and then I decide I need to hurry up and finish everything at once so I can start something else.  So lets go through all the different projects I currently have going.  Part of this has been facilitated by the wonderful sewing retreat I went on in Spruce Head Maine.  It was so much fun!  Sewing, knitting, eating food I didn't cook, friends, no children...perfect for being creative. 

B, L, D Towels

These are part of the Zakka 2.0 Sew along and they are going to be so cute.  I will finish these by the end of the week so there will be a much more in depth post in the works. 

Knit Alien

I know it doesn't look like much so far, but my quilting guild's retreat on Saturday I started this little guy.  I found the pattern in Knitwit by Katie Boyette.  I think he will probably be part of Fynn's birthday present...it is coming right up.

Applique Star Mug Rug

We had our monthly quilt guild meeting last night and it was a great one!  Our guest was actually one of our members, Paula.  She came and taught us all how to do needle turn applique.  Something I have been wanting to learn how to do for a while now.  One of the perks of being the program chair is that I get to find people to teach me all the things I've always wanted to learn how to do.  And even though my points look a little drunk, this is really a fun project.  

Bloom Quilt

I have been procrastinating on this one forever...My sister got married 4 years ago...it's a wedding present.  But  I do have all the petals done.  And all I have to do is sew the petals together and stitch them down on the back ground.  Oh yeah, and piece the back, quilt it, yada, yada.... But I do love this Bloom Pattern from Aneela Hoey.  

Jelly Roll Races

Yes, multiple.  One from when I taught the class at Alewives, it is waiting for borders and quilting.  

This is from the Jelly Roll Race sew in that we had at the May Clamshell meeting.  It was really fun!  We had 14 people sewing quilts that night.  I made this top using the Noteworthy Jelly roll from Sweetwater for Moda.  

Multi-Tasker Tote

Have you ever made one of these.  It's a pattern by Anna Maria Horner and it is a fantastic bag.  I'm currently teaching a class at Alewives making the Multi-Tasker Tote.  I have made a few of these in the past and it is a bag that I totally love.  I am just cutting my bag out with my students this week and next week we are sewing it together so there will be more on this to come.  For those that are interested, the black fabric with the bird I got from Ikea and the Orange fabric is from V&Co Simply Color Collection for Moda.  I love this fabric so much.  You can find what we have left at Alewives of this collection if you follow the link and scroll a bit down the page, but unfortunately this particular fabric is sold out at Alewives.  You can still get it here at Fat Quarter Shop, however. 

So yeah, that is basically what I've been up to.  I want to knit some toe up socks but need to find a good pattern first, I have another 2 bags in the planning stages that I want to finish in the next bit.  I did quilt Patrick's quilt on the long arm for him and there will be pictures soon, but it has been very rainy and not so good for the picture taking.  I hope everyone else is doing something creative with their free time.  

I am linking this post up with WIP Wednesday over at Freshly Pieced so if you want you can hop over their and check out what everyone else has been up to.

This Moment~Waiting in the Car Edition

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Hot Peppers!

When I decided to go for this sew a long I knew it would be fun, but I didn't know just how fun these awesome peppers are.  I decided to go with the hot pads after seeing the awesome version made over at Sew Take A Hike.  I love the idea of pepper shaped hot pads and they came out great! I'm already thinking up all kinds of different shapes to make into hot pads and coasters.  Maybe I'll make some apple shaped hot pads to go with my Dad's kitchen for them for Christmas this year. 
I am linking up with the Zakka 2.0 Patchwork, Please! Sew a Long over at LR Stitches. 

Patchwork, Please! Sew-A-Long

I follow a lot of blogs, rather religiously, and one of my favorite is LRStitches !  Lindsey is awesome, she does some the the neatest stuff out there.  And one of my favorite things to watch was last years Zakka Style Sew A Long.  So...when I heard about this year's Patwork, Please! Sew A Long I decided I was in!

 

For starters the book is fantastic.  Every project is a project that I wanted to do anyway, so why not do them as a part of a sew-a-long?  Ayumi Takahashi is a fantastic write and I always looked forward to her contributions to Threads magazine.  And the book, the exact same quality and detail.  

Tomorrow I will start showing you my projects so I can link up with everyone else doing the sew-a-long. This is so much fun! 

New Bundles in the Shop

I have 2 new bundles in the Etsy Shop. The first(blue/orange) is 10 fat quarters measuring approximately 18"x22".  It includes designs from Anna Maria Horner, V&Co, Nani Iro, Michael Miller, and more.  

The second bundle (orange/pink) contains 10 fat quarters designed by Anna Maria Horner, Jennifer Paganelli, Valori Wells, Mo Bedell, and more.  

Each of these bundles have been cut from fabric in my stash.  I have so much that I'm just never going to be able to use it all and I don't think it should just sit there. I will have more bundles available as I sort through my stash to make room for new fabric/ideas/projects.  The bundles will be available for $25 each through my etsy shop.