A Look Back at 2010

Fresh Quilting

Fresh Quilting by Malka Dubrawsky (blog: stitchindye.blogspot.com)was on my "must have" books for 2010. It arrived right before Xmas and I couldn't wait to dive into it. Let me say, it did not disappoint! I love Malka's use of colour - I guess that's why she calls it "Fearless Colour, Design and Inspiration." It really has inspired me to use more vibrant colours in the future!
I'm intrigued by Malka's twinkle (aka circle) quilts and pillows. I know nothing about fabric dyeing but have begun to read up about it. I broke out Malka's other book "Color Your Cloth: A Quilter's Guide to Dyeing and Patterning Fabric" and started looking online at different blogs. I highly recommend r0ssie.blogspot.com as well.
In looking more closely at Malka's twinkle quilts/pillows, I realized that they are really an optical illusion. What looks like circles that are appliqued on the fabric are actually circles dyed onto the fabric squares. It's called itajime shibori which is a Japanese method of dyeing fabric. You can read more about this method on r0ssie.blogspot.com . She also sells the itajime products in her etsy shop.
Malka wrote an article about this method for Quilting Arts magazine in January 2009 which I have since ordered last night! I can't wait to find out more about it as I love all things circular when it comes to quilting.
Have any of you tried this method of fabric dyeing? I'd love to hear about it. What's inspiring you lately?

And the Winners Are...

How funny is this picture?!! Little Miss G came home from daycare on Friday with this card and a Christmas present for Mommy & Daddy - which she insisted we open right away. Inside was a clay handprint she had made in her class with "2010" written on the bottom. A total keeper!!! I loved it!

Thank you so much to all 197 of you who visited my blog and entered the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day! Giveaways are great aren't they!! I must say I truly benefited from my own giveaway as I learned of so many great new blogs and loved your suggestions for baby sewing/knitting patterns!! Thank you also to those of you who have become followers!

The winners of the nursing cover and car seat cover are Stephanie who wrote:
AWESOME giveaways!!!

A few of my favorite baby patterns/tutorials right now:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/64182785/san-francisco-window-boxes-lap-or-baby
http://www.bitofwhimsydolls.com/item/Butterbean_PDF_Pattern/229/c46
http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2009/04/basic-stuffed-animals.html
http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2009/03/cloth-baby-rings.html
http://everydaycelebrate.blogspot.com/2010/03/tutorial-color-fabric-book.html
http://www.cogknition.org/patterns/wave_of_babies_booties/

and Kristen
who wrote:

These are wonderful...I have been eyeing them for a while, wanting to make both a car seat cover and nursing cover but just can't find the time. My little one will be coming any day now and there hasn't been much sewing around here!

Congratulations ladies! I've sent both of you an email requesting your addresses so I can get these out to you asap!

Have a great weekend everyone:)

Sources of Inspiration: A Mosaic

I put together this mosaic today as these photos provide me with inspiration for the New Year. It also reminds me of the many unfinished projects I have on the go!! I'm really bad for coming up with new ideas but not finishing the projects I already have on the go!! Maybe that should be one of my New Year's resolutions:)

PS...the missing mosaic tiles can still be accessed on flickr.

1. bento box, 2. Red Aqua QIP, 3. Circle around quilt, 4. Fence Stripe Baby Quilt - Pink and Green detail, 5. Added border, 6. mermaid quilt top, 7. What's a girl to do?, 8. finished mermaid quilt, 9. quilt top, 10. red and white Hop Skip and a Jump baby quilt, 11. Bri's 20th Birthday Quilt, 12. my quilt, 13. Aviary-quilt-top, 14. Drunk Love Baby Quilt, 15. What a Bunch of Squares Baby Quilt, 16. darcy's quilt-detail, back, 17. Quilting detail, 18. Coin quilt, 19. circle around quilt, 20. modified bento box quilt back, 21. Up In The Air Quilt- Detail - Back Detai, 22. argyle_pillow_2, 23. IMG_6457, 24. For Jen 2008, 25. Orange & Aqua

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day

Starting December 13th, it's Giveaway Day at Sew Mama Sew - I'm happy to participate in this year's giveaways. Up for grabs is a car seat cover for the little one in your life and a nursing cover. As you can tell by my posts (for those of you who are dropping by for the first time), I recently gave birth to a baby girl 3 weeks ago. My husband and I opted not to find out the sex of the baby - so I crazily made almost two of everything to be prepared:) You can read about the making of these items in these posts - here and here.. They are very practical and make nice gifts as well!! I use my "girl versions" all of the time!!

I'll draw two winners on Friday, December 17th at noon EST. Don't forget to leave your email/way to get in contact with you! To keep it interesting, I'd love to hear your suggestions/links to your favourite baby patterns - whether knitting or sewing = hats, sweaters, quilts, you name it, I'm interested!! I'm happy to ship internationally.

Thank you for taking the time to drop by my little corner of the world! Hope to see you again (feel free to become a follower) and I'll definitely check out your blogs as well!

Proud Mama

Okay, okay, I can't help it! I had to include some more photos of my new wee one as I'm just so in love:) I'm a big fan of infant photography so these are some photos that were taken professionally. All of the photo props were made by me!

On another note, please check back on Monday, Dec 13th for some giveaways as I'll be participating in Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway Day this year! Check out the details on their website here.

It's a Girl!!

After 39 weeks of waiting and wondering, Little Miss P was born on November 22, 2010 at 1:46 am weighing in at 7lbs 1oz and 20.5 inches long! We feel very blessed with the new addition to our family:) It worked out so well...my OB was on that night, we were moved to a very nice delivery room and we had wonderful nurses. Ten minutes of pushing and Miss P was welcomed into the world! I was completely shocked as I was convinced we were having a boy!!

Life is very busy of course - I know I don't have to tell you Moms out there! Not a lot of sleep, but she is a very good baby. I'm lucky to have my Mom help us out too. Can't wait to share some more pics soon....off to feed baby:)