Getting ready?

If the blogosphere is to be believed, crafters love autumn and can't wait for it. Well, they can have it. Those of us living in cities where the annual snowfall can be measured in Shaqs aren't quite ready to let go of summer.

Hence, the springy palate of this week's projects, so far:



Ironically, these are holiday gifts - at least, in theory. The "loaf trivet," which was inspired by the mug rug craze, turns out to be just the right size to protect a countertop from a hot pan of bread, is for me. But it's made so quickly and easily from two charm squares, a 1.5" border, and a bit of binding, that, if your short on gift ideas this year, I recommend stitching up, like, a million of these. You could do it today. I hand-quilted it, because I like that look, in about 15 minutes, but stippling would look amazing, too. I like the idea of making these in reds and greens, or even, say, Halloween prints, and giving them away with homemade loaves of bread, or even empty loaf pans & bread mix. (Why bake when you could NOT bake, right?)

The napkins are in cutesy pastel colors, because they're cupcakes, and that's how I roll. If you live under a rock, you might not have seen these free patterns, which I stitched on some napkins I got during a recent Sublime Stitching sale. I'd show them all off, but they're a gift, and should the recipient stumble upon this photo, I don't want to spoil the whole set.

So am I ready for fall? Depends, I guess. Am I psyched for cider and falling leaves? Not particularly. Am I working at injecting a bit of spring into the colder months? Indeed.

Let's roll.

If there is such thing as a good roll of fat, I have found it.



144 partially sashed log cabin blocks, sewn into 1x4 strips. Soon to become a total of 9 4x4 grids. Putting the top together will be like piecing a giant 9-patch.

I'm not sure I've ever been so excited about math.

M-T-W

Is this the housewife's equivalent of dressing for the job you want? My initial goal was to press one of these and hang it each day, but they're cuter as a trio, I think.

I wish the photo light in the kitchen weren't so fug. It's really the cutest room in the whole apartment, when it's clean.

And while I'm griping, why did Martha ever stop making days of the week tea towels? I would embellish a set for everyone I know, if I could.

Hear that, Martha?

4x5! 4x5!

I'm so excited to finally be finished with my blocks for the 4x5 quilting bee! They were a challenge, but I REALLY enjoyed them.

In fact, I may or may not be planning a cute unisex baby quilt made up of nine of these stars. Because, you know, what's another unfinished project or two [dozen]?

3x6 Blocks So Far

It's August now, which means summer will be over soon (NOOOOOOOOOO!) and that the 3x6 quilting bee is starting up again (YESSSSSSSSSSS!)

I lined up my blocks received so far, so that everyone can match accordingly.



And I'm glad I did, because nothing is getting me ramped up for another round like seeing these all together! I barely spent any time on the layout; they are just so varied and so lovely.

So, sometime in October, I should have six more of these, enough for a twin-sized quilt.

It's almost enough to get me excited for fall!