Stash Busting

Look, over there on the right (unless you are reading this in an aggregator, in which case carry on). I finished two WIPs! Here they are:

These were requested by my mom and I've had the fabric since January. The shoulder bag has a magnetic closure and the handbag a zipper closure, both with the usual interior (zip pocket on one side and patch pockets on the other).

I also made progress on a couple of other items. I finished the (modified) top of this quilt -- started in 2007 (!!) -- and pieced the back. I bought batting today so I have to work up my machine quilting confidence. I made some practice squares but have yet to actually practice.

I also made progress on another quilt that I bought the fabric for a year ago, and pieced most of in a class. I finished the borders last night. So to celebrate I am starting a new quilt! I know, it doesn't make much sense, but last year I wanted to make a picnic/beach quilt and I never got around to it. Because we are planning a beach trip this year I thought I better get started now.

I'm thinking of big easy blocks in bright colors that will go together fast. I've been online browsing for fabric ideas...when I remembered a few things in my stash that would be perfect:

I bought the retro states fabric at the end of last year thinking of a quilt for around the house. The rest was bought at the Super Bowl sale at my (kind of) LQS. I picked up a couple more prints at JoAnn today, but they are in the washer so you'll have to wait until the reveal of the blocks to see!

Dreary

Things around here are just dreary...rainy and chilly. I'm beginning to feel like the cold has crept into my bones. Where is spring?

I did get a couple of crafts done before Easter for a little decorating in the dining room.


I turned my bunny embroidery into some eggs to adorn branches. I've seen branches used around blogland to great effect (like here and here), but it didn't work so well for me. I didn't actually want to cut anything off the trees, so I took twigs from a pile that Jaxon and I had collected earlier in the week. Once in the house they *tormented* Jaxon. I kept finding him offering them to the dog to chew.


And these little stuffies were great fun to make. Two bunnies and a kitty from the Chibi Rabbit tutorial...


I made some Rugelach to celebrate my Jewish friends, and brother-in-law, and that cheered me up for a bit (although I had to eat them with hot tea because, once again, I am cold).

But this guy could cheer up a pig on Easter eve:



PS You might have notice a couple of additions to the right column. I updated my books list and added the Spring to Finish button. I am joining Jacquie in hopes of finishing some WIPs. The WIPs list (which I believe is still incomplete) is also now in the right column.

PPS The results of the Dr. Seuss contest are in and I didn't place...which I am slightly bummed about but there were some seriously cute quilts in the competition. I'm blaming my loss on poor photographic representation. So it's my fault either way.

Bunny Love

I had a rough week, way too much bad news. I needed a quick pick me up, so I planned a little embroidery to add to some Easter decorations.

I snatched up a yard of this fabric about a minute after I saw it on Pickled Pear Lane (from Anna Griffin's Riley line). I thought maybe I'd make some fabric eggs or a bunting for Easter. I taped the fabric to our french doors to let the light shine through...

...and held some leftover linen over it. I traced a few bunnies onto the linen with a water soluble pen.

Can you make out the bunny I drew? Maybe if you click?

And here are my three completed bunnies ready to adorn some eggs. Are the tails too big, do you think?

By the way, thanks for all the comments on my Dr. Seuss quilt over at Flickr. Because there were less entries than expected, Diane has moved voting here. Please feel free to cast a vote for my pieced letters!