Soulful

I must still be on a color craving kick, because my latest project has bucketloads.

  This quilt top is made from a jelly roll of Amy Butler's Soul Blossoms, a handful of fat quarters

 from the same line (the prints missing from the jelly roll), with Kona Coal  cut into 1 1/2" strips for the solid.

As for the pattern - it is the same concept I  used on the Love quilt I made last fall, 

only instead of halving the jelly roll strips, I cut them into thirds.  I mixed it up by adding

 9 blocks instead of 1.  Unquilted, it measures 65" square - pretty decent sized.

You may think it a little busy (I have thought it myself a time or two), but really, it just has soul.

 A whole lotta soul.

I am also loving color on a softer scale.

Our nectarine tree is in bloom.  It is my favorite flowering tree of the fruity variety.

And, this was the vista from my son's soccer game this week.

Beautiful.

It finally feels like spring, and that is good for the soul.

Happy Easter!

Spring Time in the Desert 2011

Every Spring we vacation in Southern Utah - it is one of our favorite traditions.  It signifies the end of one  season and the beginning of another. The end of winter and the busy season at work for my husband, and the reawakening of life. Winter is tough on our family.  We are not our our true selves unless we are running free in the wide open, with the sunshine bouncing off our shoulders, exploring the beautiful world we live in.  It felt so good to be free again. Since I love looking at travel pictures (always looking for new ideas), and those of scenic beauty, I thought I would share a few.  All of the pictures below were taken at Pioneer Park above St. George, or in Snow Canyon.

(sis in-law feeling brave)

  

Of course, one of our favorite things to do is play in the sand dunes.  This sand is some of the softest ever - felt like heaven to walk on bare foot.

Can you see my nephew's head in the picture below?

The boys made it to the other side of this slot canyon.  Makes me feel a little queasy just thinking about it.

The people look like ants in this one:

Bring on the next road trip!

And, while we are on the subject of vacations, this is where we found our next home away from home.
I am completely sold on vacation rentals, especially when traveling with little ones.

(to see last year's version of Spring Time in the Desert, go here - we visited Zion's National Park & the scenery was amazing)

Happy Little Projects

My oldest daughter just celebrated her 9th birthday (cannot believe how fast it goes by!).  For some reason, her birthday tends to bring out the sewist in me.  Last year, I went all out.  This year I managed  a little more moderation.  Instead of a quilt, I made a festive little bunting out of my growing pile of vintage sheet scraps.

The girl loves to read.  I like to think it is a trait she inherited from me. :)  She also adores all things pertaining to owls, wolves, dragons, Harry Potter...I could go on.  Just depends on what she's reading. I was inspired by this beach tote, and decided to make her a personalized book bag for road trips. 

On her birthday, I checked her out of school and we went out to lunch and to Barnes and Noble to pick out a few new literary treasures. Is there anything better than a book store?!

  Here's the back:

I also found the cutest art print on Etsy.  Too perfect to pass up.

 As for bigger projects, I haven't forgotten about the Bliss quilt. I want to throw a bit of hand quilting into the mix, and just haven't had the time to hunker down with it.

Plus, I've been a little distracted by something new.  Maybe someday I'll learn to finish one project before starting another.

  But, probably not.

Finished Spring Vintage Sheet Quilt

Remember my ambitious plan - a different master bedroom quilt for every season of the year?  Well, I can check spring off the list.  This is the largest quilt I have made - I definitely felt more like a tortoise than a hare during every step of the process, but in the end it was worth it because I truly love it.  It is bright and colorful and perhaps a little crazy for a master bedroom, but exactly what I am craving right now. 

I used yellow floral for the binding and I love the outlined in sunshine effect.

  

For the back, I used strips of vintage sheets in various widths. It's a little wild, but perfect in flipped over increments.  Here's a little peak...

After waking up yesterday morning to depressingly find ourselves in a white and wintery realm once again, this quilt is color therapy!