W.i.P. Wednesday #18

Here is a sneak peak of one thing I sporadically started working on yesterday... what is it? We'll see. ;)

I really love these bright colors!!! Nest by Tula Pink

Otherwise for recent projects, I finished Mikaela's quilt! Yippy! :)
aaaaand that's about it. Oh well. The holidays get busy and I certainly get in super family mode. Everything else will just have to wait. :)

Linking up at Freshly Pieced

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Made It: Mikaela's Quilt

I finished it! and it turned out wonderfully!! :) I had a few bumps and bruises along the way (like my horribly skipped stitches on the binding). But I got them figured out and it has been mailed and is *safely* on its way to its new home! I can't wait to hear how it is received! :)

the binding

I was nervous about my spacing of stitches, but I really like how the texture came out after washing it! :)

Neil decided to start making funny faces while he was holding it for me, thinking I wouldn't notice. ha.

This was the biggest quilt I've made, and in record time... It was a lot of fun, though I think I just might hold off on doing another this size for a while.

Linking up at Canoe Ridge Creations for Sew Modern Monday, and if I remember, at Quilt Story on Tuesday. :)

Quilt Stats

Name: Mikaela Quilt

Size: ~80" by 90" - I forgot to measure the exact size

Fabrics: so many... solids are Kona cottons, centers are some of everything. Michael Miller, Hoopla, I don't even know.

Binding: Kona Bone

Thread: quilted with King Tut brand, "Cleopatra" rainbow thread

Back: Turquoise Minky

Our Story: Hubby had a birthday, shout Hooray!

Yea! We get to celebrate again! :) The Hubs had a birthday and we sure do love him!!! We had a fun, and relaxing day to celebrate. And I had fun practicing my "digital scrapbooking" skills in Photoshop Elements. Awesome. ;)

Happy Birthday!!! :)

read more here.

Little Quilt - Sew, Vote, Swap: Received!!

I received my little quilt last week and I Love it! :) The more I look at it, the more I like it too!

It is from Aunt-Mary and she did a great job! Thank you!

My boys like it too! It's getting to be a regular thing that Hunter will take it and cover up Mabel with it. ;) It's just her size.

And do you want to know the best part? She's German! :) And we've been chatting back and forth a little in German. Something I don't do enough of. (That reminds me, I need to write her back!) :D

I'm excited for the next round of this swap! and hey... there is still time if you want to join in! Especially since it only needs to be around 12" square... that's pretty small and easy. ;) I'll share my mini quilt once the voting is over and I send off the quilt. :)

Our Story: 6 Months and Growing!!!

I can't believe she is 6 months!!! Boy does time fly! I guess that means time for pictures... as well as new clothes! (Yup! I made a skirt!!! so easy... I'll post more about that later.)

Look at how much they LOVE getting their pictures taken! :)

read more here.

VT message: It's Better to Look Up!

Since we had General Conference last month, we can pick what we want to share for our visiting teaching message. As I was looking through the different talks this one stood out to me, "It Is Better to Look Up" by Carl B. Cook. It is such a good talk.

Anyway, to make it fun I decided to put together a cute card. I like quotes and although my collection of them is everywhere, I still like them, and suppose that others do to. If you want to use it you are more than welcome to download it here. :)  (just a warning. the font looks weird on the page, but when you download it, it looks a lot better.)


oh, and I made this with a free mini kit shared by MyMemories (they have a great digital scrapbooking software, along with lots of digital papers, kits, etc. - check out my sidebar for a code to save $10. I'm really not trying to advertise here, just letting you know where I got the cute stuff from! and trying to help you save money). ;) They have Friday Freebies on facebook.

My Christmas Project

I haven't really thought too much about Christmas sewing until tonight. I've been having the boys use their place mats a lot more lately (and I really want to make them new ones!!!), and as we sat down to dinner tonight I thought about how fun it would be if we all had a place mat... and if they were all Christmas-y! That we each had our own that we used each year! a new Christmas season tradition!

click on the picture to see all the links to the creators

Then I started thinking about what I could put on each of them! Neil said he wanted a Santa, but Hunter couldn't decide. I said I'd look for pictures and let him pick something. That's where the trouble began. There are TOO many ideas! and I feel like I haven't even begun to find things. Anyway, I made up a board on Pintrest where I'm putting most of my inspirations (I have a lot in my favorites on Flickr as well), some aren't my favorite, but in some way or another they are inspiring. I want to make each placemat specific to each of us so we can love them forever! ;)




Anyway, I'm super excited for this! So besides a few Christmas presents I want to make (most excited for the boys capes! I think they will LOVE them!) I want to make place mats this year. :)

I thought it would be a quick thing... but now I'm wondering if this is going to end up being a big project?! I always seam to make things bigger than they need to be! ;)

A few notes for me to remember that I want to include:
 - each one has a different picture (santa, trees, presents, etc.)
 - put our initial or something on it so we remember whose is who's (??? did I do that right?) :)
 - although I'm tempted, don't ticker tape them! piece them! I think they'll be easier to keep clean if there aren't a bunch of raw edges.



I can't seem to pin this link, but it has an awesome candle that would be fun to piece!
http://coloringbookfun.com/christmas/imagepages/candle.html


Dad - Santa
Mom- trees w/star
Hubert- train with presents
Jacks- snowman w/wonky trees
Mabes- snowflakes???

Changes

I changed my blog around a little bit. I don't know if you noticed. It was a while ago. Anyway, I am still doing my 365 Moments of Joy, but it's on a "sub-blog" I will call it. And sometimes I still post family stuff.... or "Our Story" posts.

Anyway, I like to be organized, and though I don't blog everyday, I still don't want a million things all jumbled up in one place. I like order. SO.... if you are looking for my daily Joy bits (which I do pretty good at posting daily! I missed a couple days last month, but I'm back at it again now), click on "365" under my header. Looking for Our Story... click on "Our Story".  "...to blank walls" takes you to that blog, which I haven't done much with since I've been involved with do.Good Stitches.

"Home" on any part of my blog will take you back here to the main page.

My tutorials, Made it, Sewing Basics, and other stuff still has yet to be modified. I'm still trying to fine tune my "signature design" if I can even call it that. Anyway, I want everything to be kind of the same, so I'm still working on it.

My Etsy Shop:
  I also changed the name of my Etsy shop! It is no longer "db By Design", but is now "FromBlankPages"(http://www.etsy.com/shop/FromBlankPages). So if you are looking for my old logo, it is different. I was kind of excited when Etsy announced some of the changes they were making last month, which changing your shop name was one of them. :)

While I'm on this changing hiatus, I also changed my email to FromBlankPages{at}gmail{dot}com. I don't know how I'm going to phase out my old email, but I think if everything is the same it will be easier.

I also want to change my Flickr name, but I'm not quite sure how to go about that, or if that will mess a lot of things up, so for now I'm waiting on that. Anyone have any ideas?

I think I might make a few minor changes to it all still, but it's getting there.
I just thought I'd let you know. :)

Also, I realize that I totally missed my blog anniversary... I think I just might do an "Un-birthday" one of these days if I can get caught up on some projects. :)

p.s.This morning I woke up singing the Beach Boys, "It's good to be happy! It's good to be happy.... oh wouldn't it be nice..." and that's about all the words I know. (If that is even the same song.) :) so I am wishing you all a Happy Friday!! :)

365 Moments of Joy: October

Well, being sick and all I kind of forgot about my 365 Moments of Joy... but I did get some pictures up. Here is my little mosaic from October.

I'd say it contains all the essential, despite the quantity!

I'm getting back on the bandwagon though, and the joy just keeps rolling in! ;)

Feel free to join me here, or just click on 365 under my header.

[3x6] Sampler Quilt Mini Bee

A couple weeks ago I signed up for the [3x6] Sampler Quilt Mini Bee on Flickr, and so far it's looking to be pretty fun! How it works is there are 7 of us and we each pick one block that we make for all the other members of our group - except that each person has their own color choices picked out and we make their block in their colors. So when I'm finished I'll have made 6 of the exact same block in 6 different color schemes. I think it will be a lot of fun!

For now the hard part is picking a block! 

Here's what I'm liking right now. The top two were my two original designs that I was going to try out (in my own colors) to see if I want to make 6 more of them. I think the top right I would maybe do a 4 square of that pattern for each 12" by 12" block, or it would be cool to do them really small and make it 3x3! That was what I was originally thinking.


But then I made this block

and absolutely LOVED working with HST's and so now I am leaning more toward the bottom two blocks.... and I think the bottom left might just be my favorite! It looks like it would be fun to make, as well as being visually interesting.

hum... what to do. After I finish up the quilt and my Christmas mini I think I'll get started with this and see what I can come up with. ;) I am loving my sewing machine! ;)

p.s. Thank you everyone for your wonderful ideas for the binding on Mikaela's quilt.  It's always nice to have another opinion. I think I would love to do black, but I just don't think she would love black. I would also love to do stripes, but I don't have any good ones for this. I think I've decided to go with  Kona Natural Bone and add a few sections of color. I was thinking white would be a bold border, but when I tried it it was too bright. Crossing my fingers that this will work, but I think it will. :)

For Sale: Cricut Expression and Cartridges

Yup, I am selling all of my cricut stuff!!! Need to get a gift for a crafter for Christmas! You can buy my cricut! ;) lol.

I have everything listed on KSL.com if you are in Utah, or if you just want to see what I have.

Cartridges: http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=17119466&cat=74
Cricut Expression: http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=18016593&cat=74

I found this picture here. But this is exactly what I have.

or I also have the cartridges on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/shops/ADEBEMFIQK8LG). and will be adding the Expression today.


Please let me know if you are interested! :)
or just buy them of course! hehe.

W.i.P. Wednesday #17

Well, it's only my 17th week of WiP Wednesday, but it's Lee's anniversary! So make sure to check out her blog to see some special deicated WiP Participants, as well as enter a giveaway! :) Fun!

Again I'm super excited to report on some progress!!!

First though I have to share my new favorite finish! (I will be overly surprised if these people read my blog, so I am posting this now and crossing my fingers that I am right.)  ;) 
A few months ago the former Bishop of our ward was released and someone else put in. The ladies decided to make a memory quilt for him. All of the families received a 7" quilt square to decorate however they wanted to. I decided to piece something....

This was my first real HST block and I LOVED it!!! It was super quick to put together, and I love how it turned out. I quilted it to the square I received to hold it together better, as I'm sure the final quilt will be tied, not quilted. I really botched it when I tried to stitch our last name in it though. Oh well.

I decided to write our first names with a sharpie, which I like much better.

another finish, check out my Little Quilt - Sew, Vote, Swap quilt here!



Now on to projects:

****************  Alisha, skip this part! ;)  **************

I am getting super close to finishing up Mikaela's quilt! Check this out!!!

It is so much fun! But I am STUMPED on how to bind it! Any suggestions? I was thinking a grey binding with splashes of color on each side, but I really don't want to do grey on such a bright quilt. I'm thinking maybe just something random...

otherwise that's about it right now... I just need to finish things!! :)

Anyway, I also am going to participate in the Christmas themed swap. Check out my post here if you didn't above. So FUN! I have my idea for it, so once I finish the quilt I'll whip it out. I also have a lot of blocks to make for do.Good Stitches as well as for the 3x6 Bee that I'm in this quarter (so excited for this!!). 

Mikaela's Quilt: Sneak Peak

My sister thinks it's so rude that I haven't posted any more pictures on my blog of this quilt. lol. :) So I decided that since I'm pulling it out to work on some more while the kiddos nap, I might as well give her a quick sneak peak! :) The quilting is half way finished... unless I decide to add a few extra surprises. ;) I'm trying to get it finished quick, but I also want it to be perfect! :)

the picture is awful, it's from my phone, but hey.... just image what it really looks like! I am loving it! :)

Little Quilt - Sew, Vote, Swap Group

Last month I participated in this swap group and it was SO. MUCH. FUN! There are a few guidelines, but pretty much you make whatever you want! Then the group leader, JanBran, posts all the pictures so you have no idea who made what, you vote on your top favorites and whom evers quilt got the most votes gets their top pick, etc. it works out pretty well I think. I still haven't received mine so I have no idea what I'm getting! The anticipation is driving me crazy! Lol. But I'll post it when it arrives!

Here is the quilt I made which sew.whitney received, and said she likes it! :) she had left the nicest comment on the original post of the picture so I was so happy when I found out that it was going to her! :)




The other thing about this group is that there is one more round of it going on this month, and it's Christmas themed! Yay! I really want a cute Christmas quilt to hang up. And the size guidelines are smaller, so it wil be easier to make it up quick. Check it or if you want to join! It's really fun! (and kind of nerve wracking). ;)

I'm linking this up at Canoe Ridge Creations' Modern Monday... go check it out! :) 

The weekend

Boy did this week go fast!

Remember last weekends pictures? Well I wish I'd taking more pictures today because the quilt is AWESOME!!!!! :D I am loving it! It's stinkin big too, but when I think about it on a bed it's just right. When I try to quilt it it's stinkin big. :)

I'm sad I didn't take any cool pictures of just the top, but it was too big for my tree and by the time I had help to hold it it was cold and cloudy and too windy outside. Oh well. I'm sure it would have been beautiful with the sun shining thought it!

I actually took it over to the church to baste it in one of the classrooms. Is that allowed? I don't know. But I didn't have enough room here, so whatever work, right?. By the time I was done I felt like I basted all my nose hairs! I touched my noise and thought my nostril was going to stay glued shut. I promise I wasn't sniffing it... I don't know what happened. It took about 40 min to baste, and I'm hoping it will stay together well. (I'm really nervous about it because it's minky on the back.) I also started quilting it tonight and I'm petty excited about it! I want to the final design to be a surprise for my niece, but my sister wants to see pictures. I can't decide if I should keep it a surprise for her too.... Mwahahaha! ;)

I was supposed to have it done by thursday and I feel really bad about it being late for her birthday. I'm hoping I can have it finished by sunday and mail it on monday! Sorry sis! I really have been spending all of my possible time working on it!

But what I'm really excited for is my first ever sewing class at Dave's Bernina tomorrow! (well first since jr.high). I get four free classes, so I'll be going every sat this month (minus right after thanksgiving)! I can't wait!

I've also been craving Dr. Pepper! But talking to the dr on monday I realize that I can NOT have caffeine. :( a sad thing, though I'm sure it's better for me. I noticed last weekend that it totally sets my heart off and then I just feel crummy. You know what else this graves disease affects? My sleeping. For some reason when I'm tired as all get out I think I need to play sudoku or read blogs until I realize that I am falling asleep every five minutes. "Just go to bed already." :) but I also can't do anything physical. I vacuumed the house yesterday and it felt like the hardest thing I've ever done! My hubby so kindly reminded me that it wasn't, as he named off everything else that I've gone through just in this year. I catch myself thinking to myself, "I'm too young for all of this..."and then I remember that I am almost 30, and then I feel so old. And that's when I turn and welcome it all with accepting arms wide open. It's going to happen some day, might as well be today. There's nothing I can do about it. Though the other thing that baffles me is that last year I was doing triathlons, and now look where I am. Huh?

My other struggle has been with my quilting guilt. I feel like with my lack of ability to do anything else, I should not be spending my time quilting. But them today I realized that it is the one thing I CAN do and I might as well enjoy it or go insane. It probably had been as bigger blessing than I realize.

Anyway, I'm off to bed. I have my secret project to share with you, so I'll have to post that tomorrow to make up for my lack of pictures here. 
Have a great weekend and happy sewing! :)

Blogger's Quilt Festival: Little Happier Tree Quilt

I know I just blogged about this pretty recently, but I thought it would be fun to share it along with all of the other amazing quilts that are linked up for the Blogger's Quilt Festival at Amy's Creative Side!

I originally started making this for one of my husbands co-workers. He had told them that liked to sew and make quilts, and said they would love to see some that I've made, and maybe get some. I'm not so sure what happened to that idea... but I really love it and am not sure what I want to do with it right now you can love it to because it is in my shop!. :)

My favorite part about this quilt is the tree and flowers! I wanted to add a little something that went along with the prints, and I had a blast drawing and stitching these up! I definitely want to do more applique like this on more projects! (Originally I started out painting and drawing, and I always have this itching to combine that with quilting and fabric, but never seem to actually get anything out... this was my first step and I feel like now the door is opening that I won't be so hesitant to try more things! This quilt is kind of exciting to me for that reason.)

I added the applique after basting.... so the stitching shows on the back as well.

I took all of these pictures before I washed it, but I am even happier with it out of the dryer! It has the perfect amount of crinkle, as well as some fun poofy-ness in the tree and flowers that I love! I've always been nervous about washing the quilt once I'm done, but it may be my new favorite part!

The orange binding was a bit out of my comfort zone, but it is what everyone liked best (over a turquoise that matched the back) but I'm glad I did it! This quilt was a stretch and a joy for me!

Fabric: Riley Blake's Happier Collection & Kona Snow

Binding: Kona Orange

Appliques: also Kona's

Size: ~ 30" by 40"

Thanks for stopping by! 

Make sure to check out the Quilt Festival to see everyone's beautiful work!

do.Good Stitches - October

I finished up my blocks for the Harmony Circle of do.Good Stitches bee a little late in the month, but they were so much fun to make, and I really love how they turned out!

The block is called a Greek Cross. We used the tutorial over at Fresh Lemon Quilts.

So fun! I am really loving this group! :)