wild thyme, originally uploaded by Indie House.

I’m still debating whether or not to buy more of the prints in this line. These are my favorite but if I wanted to make a quilt out of them I’d want more variety. Hmm…

You can see more stashes here

Quilting on Tree Skirt, originally uploaded by mamacjt.

Every year my stepmom asks us for a list of stocking stuffer ideas and every year I’m at a total loss. What she wants is a list of cute, cheap, and useful gifts that we would appreciate. I usually end up asking for candy for lack of better inspiration. But as I cruised the local quilting shop with my sister yesterday inspiration struck.

1. Pins- can you ever really have enough?

2. Pincushions- there are endless choices that combine functionality with art

3. Rotary Cutter Blades- This won’t make me swoon with delight but I’ll adore the giver when I’m in the middle of a project and need a new blade.

4. Sewing Machine Needles- Same as above but you could dress them up a bit by giving them in a custom needlebook.

5. Quality Shears or have theirs professionally sharpened.

6. Charm Packs, Jelly Rolls, Honeybuns (no I’m not talking about food) or a gift card for his/her favorite fabric shop.

7. Quilt pattern or template piece. I’ve been dying to try a hex quilt and keep picking up and putting down the template pieces at the fabric store. I don’t need it but I’d love to have it.

8. Quilting Gloves. I’m personally terrified of stippling or anything other than straight line quilting because I’m afraid I won’t be able to move the fabric evenly. Everyone seems to agree that quilting gloves really aid in the smooth movement of the quilt through the machine.

9. Electric Quilt 6. Not exactly cheap but it’s supposed to be incredibly powerful and cool

10. Sewing feet. My favorite is my 1/4 in guide foot. But also handy would be a clear foot or a darning foot.

Does anyone have any other ideas? Please share!

Whirly Giggle Action, originally uploaded by Indie House.

I finally had some time this weekend to get started on my Red Letter Day quilt. I had a slow start because this guy kept interfering.

What is it about quilts in progress that is so attractive to cats? In our Philly house I had a room I could use to layout quilts away from the cats but in an 800 sq ft apartment the living room is the only place I can work which makes it a cat free for all. I ended up staying up late last night to finish the second row so that the cats couldn’t send the fabric all over the room during the night.

Today, when I put the decorations on our Christmas tree I was happy to learn that trees are more attractive then quilts so hopefully I can work in peace.

quiting bee blocks 004, originally uploaded by Indie House.

I’ve decided to try paper piecing. I’ve been simultaneously captivated by and afraid of this block since I first saw it on another blog. I never would have tried it accept I’m slightly more afraid of piecing circles

This month’s task for Bee Modern was to make “hug” blocks and “kiss” blocks and I ended up using triangles for both.

The “kiss” took some finessing but I’ve made zig zags before so I wasn’t totally out of my element.

Originally I was going to simply applique rings onto a solid block but I didn’t have a piece of fabric large enough to serve as the base for the block so I decided to go ahead and give paper piecing a shot.

It took me three tries to get one finished block. I kept underestimating the size of fabric needed for each section in a vain attempt to prevent fabric waste. After that I made sure to cut extra large pieces, I wasted more fabric but I saved my own sanity. Ideally I would have used the same solid for the entire background but I didn’t have enough (even before my multiple messups) so I made do with what I had and it ended up much more of a collage then I intended. I still like it and I’m quite proud of my accomplishment!

Kisses Bee Modern December, originally uploaded by Indie House.

This block and I don’t quite get along… It definitely needs some more ironing but I’m calling it a day. The task for December was to make a kiss block and a hug block. I love the saturated reds and purples, although I would never have the guts to try them myself.

I knew I wanted to make the “X” from triangles in a zig zag formation but I had trouble getting from concept to execution. I like the end result but I was too worn out to attempt the hug block. Maybe next weekend…

CIMG1760, originally uploaded by Indie House.

I finally finished the binding this week while everyone else was helping to cook Thanskgiving dinner I’m glad to finally get this one done and in it’s receipients hands. It went home with her to Colorado and will most likely be claimed by her cats as she as she arrives.

The prints are two different colorways of Lizzy Dish combined with a cream kona cotton. I saw this fabric when it first came out and couldn’t get it out of my head. I bought it and when I saw it all together I thought I had made a huge mistake but the cream solid really helps it balance out and sing. I LOVE it now! With this one done I can start working on my Red Letter Day quilt .

red letter day plus-sign quilt, originally uploaded by arajane.

Having not sewn in months I started wonder if and when I would feel motivated to create something new. I was happy to finish my bee blocks and I’ll be estatic to finally have Bob’s quilt done (sometime in the next couple days…) but I wondered when I would feel the urge to make something else. Not, mind you, that I don’t have a stack of “in progress” quilts to work on. I do it’s just they all need more fabric or more blocks or both. Once I order some new dark blue solids I can finish the back of my Bee Modern quilt but first I need to order the fabric… My single girl quilt is about 15 fabrics away from the point where I can start cutting. I ordered about 15 yards of fabric last night and I’m hoping that at least 3 or 4 will end up coordinating when I put them next to the rest of the fabric I’ve already chosen. I’m still waiting on a couple blocks for my Snip Sew Send quilt and then I’m sure I’ll still need to make some of my own blocks to make it queen sized, then I have to decide on the back. I have (I hope) all the fabrics and the pattern to make a quilt from Lantern Bloom but I’m just not inspired to work on it right now.

So what am I going to do? Make, or at least start, on a completely different quilt of course! I saw the photo above and fell in love. I have many of those fabrics and ordered a couple more to add to the mix. I also plan on ordering some kona cottons and maybe some shot cottons and then make a whirly gig quilt like this one. I think the fun pattern is the perfect complement to the Lizzy House prints. I don’t have anyone in mind for this quilt and I’m not sure what size I will make it. It seems like a good baby quilt but I think I’ll go ahead and make it twin sized if I have enough fabric. That way I can keep it and use it if I decide I can’t give it up.

J. and I are going to Va for the holidays so nothing will get done this week but by the time I get back the fabric I ordered should have arrived and I can get started this weekend. I can’t wait!

jons wedding 141, originally uploaded by Indie House.

So I moved, disappeared from blogging, fell behind on my quilting bees, didn’t get birthday presents done on time and the list goes on and on. And why pray tell did this happen? Because when it comes to moving and then unpacking I’m a little (okay a lot) OCD (obsessive, compulsive). I usually unpack within days of moving, maybe a week or two at most get all the photos on the walls etc. But this move has defeated me… We moved from a 1,500 square foot house with a 500 square foot basement into an 800 square foot apartment. Trying to make everything fit and be functional is like a 1,000 piece puzzle where all the pieces look alike.

I’m still not done and don’t know when I will be… but I knew I needed to get over it and get some other stuff done. Last weekend I set up my sewing space, such as it is for now. I ran out of time to actually getting any sewing done so that was my goal for today.

It isn’t very pretty but nothing in our apartment is very pretty right now, but I’ll have to deal with all that when I figure out how to get everything to fit!

In the meantime it’s functional and I was able to catch up on all of my quilting bee blocks and it only took seven hours to do it.

These were the first blocks I did and they are simply squares within squares. I figured I should warm up on something simple since I haven’t sewn since early September.

Next up were these wonky stars. I adore these stars and the gorgeous fabric that I got to use on them.

While I was on a star kick I knocked out my Snip Sew Send block for September (and yes I’m hanging my head in shame as I type this). I knew what I wanted to do as soon as I got the fabric but I thought I would be able to get this done immediately after I moved. Needless to say that didn’t happen…

The last blocks of the day were for Bee Modern October. They are going to be part of a baby quilt and I adore the muted blue, greens, and greys.

It took all day and I still didn’t the binding made and sewn on for a birthday quilt that should have been gifted in August but I should be able to get that done tomorrow. I feel great getting all this done and look forward to getting them out of my hands and into the mail first thing Monday morning!

Between my husband and I there are far too many little gadgets laying around. This simple basket is the perfect gift for the techie in your life.

They can consolidate their phone, IPOD, camera, wallet etc and charge things up without having cords running all over the place.

In the photo above the overall look is a little girly but done with solid blues, greens, or browns and it’s totally masculine. Check out the free tutorial by Oh Fransson here.

I’ve made the Barcelona Skirt and a couple skirts from “Sew What Skirts” with great results but if you want a free and easy skirt tutorial check this one out.

The tutorial is free and is designed to be used with a twin sized flat sheet. You can find great deals on these at any big box store or you can check out local thrift stores for a cool vintage sheet like the one above.

Any woman in your life would be quite happy with this swinging skirt.