ready...set...

all purchases are done.

i am ready to make my quick(er) version of a quilt for our bed.

using the pattern and directions in my new martha stewart book, i'm going to make this:

except, not as a duvet cover, on the top of a store-bought quilt.

still figuring out the best (easiest) way to do the applique- but i'm not worried.

so, picture the design above with this materials:

the quilt (in white):

(i got it at home goods for a deal!)

the fabrics for the applique are from the fat quarter bunch i posted earlier:

(of course, all mixed together, not separated by color as seen here)

photos of the fabric from fancy tiger

reason why i like this project: it is a modern design using traditional fabrics.

fun!

odds and ends idea

hi all.

we have been so very busy that nothing besides pure requirement has seemed even appealing to me. however, after spending five hours at school yesterday getting the next two weeks in order, i am feeling a little better about everything i need to do. the next two weeks are crucial at school in terms of paperwork and deadlines, so i won't be blogging very often. and my poor husband has to close 16 homes this week... 16! so he will be busy too. i was lamenting our lame, un-creative, un-productive selves this past friday by tallying up the time we were spending laying on the couch. i said, 'we're lazy.' to which he replied, 'no, we are exhausted.' and he is right. which leads me to my point.

distractions and busy-ness completely stifle creativity.

and sanity.

and peace.

and i am slowly trying to reclaim creative time, sanity, and peace... especially the peace part. we are just going to get through it and be better on the other end. not sure if i mentioned it in my last post, but i am really going to try to see all of my ventures as a collective whole rather than one keeping me from the other. because i am the same person through all of my efforts, and i'd like all parts to be manageable together and fuel each other. the key will just be to be as intentional and efficient as possible.

if i am not making any sense, let's take a big sigh of relief as i end my late night rant of being overworked, overstressed, and overwhelmed at all the duties of life.

ahhh.

now, at school i had this big huge bag of remnant yarns that my mom gave me. they are super cool and were intended for use at school to teach kids how to knit. except they are sort of tricky- not the michael's type yarn that would be so good to just teach someone on.

so i have an idea. i want to make something like this:

i saw this picture recently (like in march or april) but i didn't write down where. so i'm very sorry to not give credit where it is so very much due.

this would be a great way to use remnants. i'd like to perhaps even sample some different (but complementary) stitch patterns in the various colors.

i just have a few questions:

-how will i determine what size needle to use? what if different remnants need different needles? how will i join them together if that is the case?

good moms hook their daughters up

acquired:

photo from the fancy tiger blog

this lovely set of fat quarters from fancy tiger. my mom just called and is buying herself a new project at the store. it was a good thing i wasn't there with her because she brings out the shopper in me. i had seen these fabrics on their blog a few days ago and made a mental note to check them out. so i asked her to take a look and she said they are wonderful. she also picked up a copy for me of mary thomas' book. awesome! i'm not sure what i will do with the fabric, but i am hoping to try a little embroidery inspired by richard saja.

fun!

bucket brigade: toile embroidery

so, we are remodeling our place, and i don't have much time to blog but wanted to pass along what i found interesting and inspiring today.

image source

i was reading design*sponge during my lunch break and read all about embroidering on toile, in a way that modernizes such a traditional fabric pattern. i thought it was a really fun, refreshing idea. here is the original blog post, by Richard Saja.

image source

on a sidenote, i'm new to writing online, and i'm not sure if i am following blog etiquette. i've referred back to places i've visited, but i hope that richard saja is okay with me also using his photo to link to his site.

update: "Hi Maura, Thanks for the mention...I expect people to take images from my blog - - it's just nice to know where to look when it happens so thank you for pointing me in the direction of your blog. Best, Richard"

there, i feel better. :)

my lofty knitting goal

i want to knit this 'tree of life' afghan.

it's beyond my current ability.

the directions seem complicated, and i vacillate between thinking, 'i bet i could do that' and 'i'm going to need to work up to this.'

but i love it. i love the trees. i have a necklace just like those trees at five green boxes and wear it all the time. it also reminds me of my mom's piece sleeping forest.

the only thing i am not sure of is the tulip border. sometimes i think a straight edge would be more modern. you can access the pattern for free through lion brand yarn.

i think it's good to have something to aim for.