No sewing except in my head...and a WIN!

No sewing this week due to babysitting...cleaning...company coming..  I did do some quilt dreaming and I ordered some fabric online.  Had to stay sane somehow, didn't I?   But the BIG NEWS is I won a Lil' Twister Template Tool from a giveaway Jackie sponsored over at the Canton Village Quilt Works blog.  It hasn't arrived yet (maybe tomorrow)  but I can't wait to try it.  Jackie has made some beautiful things with the template shown here!

Because I should have a picture in my post, I'll show you something my daughter made to take to college 10 years ago.  (Seriously?  It's been 10 years?)  I believe this is her first quilt.  (The photo was taken with an old camera under flourescent lighting.  Bleh.)  I love it that she sews!

:o)

Another shopping trip...

I am trying to beat the rain blues here in the Seattle area.  Here is another fabric store I visited...Pacific Fabrics & Crafts...the Bellevue, Washington store.

It is sort of like a chain store, but a local chain of a local quilt and fabric store.  They stock many local quilt shop brands you would see at a LQS in Ohio.  But the atmosphere felt more like a small Joann Fabric store. 

I found some fat quarters of Moda's Max and Whiskers fabric to take home to preview for a possible kid's quilt for Grandma's house.

 I found some interesting pre-printed fabric to make tea towels, an apron and a 54" X 60" table cloth.  My SIL loves anything strawberry and most things vintage.  The quality of this fabric was really nice and very substantial.  It is a very similar weight as some vintage table linens I have that were my mom's.  I think my SIL will love the finished products when she receives them in our Christmas exchange.  (No, she doesn't  know I have a blog.)

There is a huge selection of notions at this store.  I do love to look for new notions!  I found this tape measure which I think will be very useful in measuring fabric for quilt backs and curtains.  Roscoe's Pa cautioned me to check the tape for accuracy when I get home.  I'll probably use an Omnigrid yard stick to be sure this tape is right on.

 And since I am often the family 'go to' person when it comes to shortening jeans and making repairs, I thought this thread would be nice to have on hand.  The terrible lighting in this picture prevents you from seeing the thread is lightly variegated in color the way many jeans are.  I already have a spool of jeans thread in the orange/yellow color that a lot of jeans companies use for trim.  I had never seen the blue before.

A little fabric shopping...

I need more fabric like I need to see more rain.  Yes, I am in the Pacific Northwest again.  The weather has been rain, light rain, heavy rain, more rain.  I can walk to an awesome fabric store.  And I have a fancy smancy windproof umbrella now.   I had to go visit, right? 

 I found these goodies at Quiltworks Northwest in Bellevue, Washington.

More yummy aboriginals...I kept it at fat quarters this time.  I apologize for the photos.  They were taken in some rather dreary temporary housing.   Dealing with the lighting here is beyond my photo taking expertise.  Here are some close ups.

And some fabric for pillow covers or mostly because I just really liked it...

:o)

The Matisse is Finished!

:o)

Recent acquistions

I have started the hand sewing on the binding of my Matisse quilt.  Roscoe's Pa has seen it and really likes it.  :o)  I will snap a picture of it after I finish the binding which hopefully will be soon.  In the meantime, I will show you some recent acquisitions.

Santa brought me the 16 inch Olfa revolving cutting board.  It has been handy with squaring up the 8 1/2 inch blocks for my Matisse quilt.  No more stretching around the cutting table in rather unnatural positions to cut each side.  Just turn the board.   It occurs to me now that this picture would have been better had I had a piece of fabric on it and a rotary cutter and ruler.  Next time...

Also helpful was the 8 1/2 Omnigrip square.

And finally, Santa brought me a sleeve board which I plan to use in constructing doll clothes and little girl clothes.  I struggled with the last few items that I made from this category when pressing on my over-sized ironing board.  I am hoping this will help get better results.

 I like that I can hang this when not in use.

:o)