**Sigh**

Remember a while back Susan and I asked for your input on favorite bits of fabric....

Well, now Basic Grey has found the perfect way to display bits of fabric ....

Introducing the sampler....

I think I may need a couple of these, but luckily we have them in stock at Sew To Speak...

This is such a busy time of year...Thanksgiving at my house this time round...

so I have been a busy bee....whew!

Happy Thursday!

mary

Details.....

When I was a teaching Elementary students, I would have a series of activities to accompany the books we were reading.  Activities that took the students back into the literature to re-examine the character, more fully understand the plot and focus on the details.

It was evident that a good author and a well written book would spawn a wealth of opportunities to explore the story further.

I have come to believe that a great fabric designer and a fantastic line of fabric can have the same effect.  Amy Butler is one of those designers.  She gives us fabrics that are complex and have depth.  Not just pretty fabrics, but fabrics with great dimension.

When I began my Lark quilt I knew it should reflect Amy's inspiration for the line, Maxime de la Falaise.  My initial design idea was strong angles along the lines of a Harlequin pattern.  A coexisting inspiration for this quilt was this very bohemian piece.  It seemed to fit the spirit of the fabric and story behind the fabric.


  

Lark is a series of large diamonds comprised of equilateral triangles.

  

The setting triangles are peaks of this rich Berry Couture.  It is hand quilted with perle cotton.  The center is quilted with diamonds to echo the diamonds in the quilt.  The setting triangles and the side {half diamonds} are quilted with a series of lines....pulling your eye downward to my favorite detail.

In the spirit of this bohemian quilt, I added small touches of fabric stuffed and pulled tight with perle cotton. 

They dance along the bottom and top edge....

I think this uniquely reflects the unfettered nature of Lark.

And the back is a plethora of Amy fabrics from my stash....

I must say, it has truly been a pleasure to develop this quilt and to be completely lost in the fabric.....thanks Amy!

       
Happy Monday!
mary :)

Quilt Story!

Well, one day it seems like the world is falling apart....and then the next the sun is shining and all is right with the world!

I am so extremely fortunate to be featured on Quilt Story this fabulous Veteran's Day!

And I am so thrilled that sweet Megan and Heather chose to feature the quilt I made for Baby Harrison :)

I met Baby Harrison for the first time earlier this week.  What a precious little guy and of course his mom, Lora, doesn't even look like she had a baby or even a bit dazed by the whole ordeal. I am certain a couple of weeks after having a baby, I was not fit for human eyes!!!

A perfect footnote to this Quilt Story....

Thanks for the lovely words, Megan and Heather....I am feeling very loved :)

Happy Friday and Veteran's Day!  Thank you to all our Veteran's for their service to our country....thank you, thank you!

mary      

When It Rains....It Pours.....

Just about a week and a half ago the youngest daughter was stranded at school....fuel pump went out......$800.00!

A few weeks before that the middle daughter had a repair {can't remember now what} that was $150.00 and I felt happy!

Now looks like the same daughter is going to need a new transmission....ugh....I don't even want to know the price tag on that....

Then this morning I threw some laundry in the dryer and.....nothing....nothing....no heat, no air, no tumble....nothing.  Ugh!

But on a happy note....

I am almost finished quilting Lark...

       

And I think I may just have enough of the red moon dot in my stash for the binding....I am sure the discretionary funds don't include fabric purchases now....for Pete's Sake!!!

And I will leave you with one other lovely shot....this is Jenny and her sweet Coin Quilt!  Jenny is one of my most favorite people ever!!!  I love her use of color....what a great quilt :)

I truly hope your day is free from stress {and car repairs}....it is almost the weekend after all!

Happy Thursday!

mary

The Christmas Rush.....

Are you starting to feel it?  The clock ticking as the hours and days click down to the big gift giving season....

Gift giving is even better when the gifts are homemade...

from the heart....

A few tiny scraps of fabric....

A plastic ornament form and some Modge Podge....

And there you have a scrappy ornament!

Or maybe your gifts will include those of a quilty nature...

  

A new old block will be stitched into something perfect for a special friend....

And here is something I found helps with all those seams coming together in one area.

Press seams open...

And where several seams come together, for instance, to join the two halves of a block...

clip at the intersection....

Press the little checkerboard intersection open and the other seams in opposite directions.

  

This helps reduce bulk in the seams.  I have found this results in a nice flat block...so give it a try!

     

And Happy Monday Sewing!

mary

Some Quiet Stitching....

Today is all about hand quilting.....

And adding binding to another project :)

Are you beginning a new project today?  Finishing a project?  What are you working on?

mary :)



The Lovely Lark....

Inspiration....

influences....

a mosaic....

of Lark.....

Happy Wednesday!

mary