A very purple Ice Cream Dress

We've all been sick around here but this weekend I couldn't stand it a minute longer, and just needed a happy, springy project to distract me from the fever and coughing. I've been meaning to make the Oliver + S Ice Cream Dress for about a year now, but decided it was perfect project. I used 2 fabrics from Dena Designs' McKenzie line that I picked up as a prize from Project Quilting!

Love those pockets!

I goofed and left the button loop too long. :( It will work ok though. I may look for a prettier button to replace this one though.

The recipient sure loves her dress though! And that's what's most important!

This pattern was so quick to sew and makes a great summer dress! I have fabrics picked out for another already. :)

3rd Annual Bloggers' Quilt Festival: My Windy Days Quilt!

It's that time again! Time for another Blogger's Quilt Festival!

I almost didn't get a post done in time this year, but happily I've snuck in right on the last day with my latest finished quilt, which I've been talking a lot about these last couple days! This is my Windy Days pattern made with the MoMo Just Wing It! line, and it just debuted on the Moda Bake Shop blog earlier this week! :)

This is an extra-special quilt to me because it's my first "published" quilt pattern! My oldest daughter really loves it too and took it to school today for her "read-in," though she warned me she was going to keep the back side up because she likes it better. :) (I love the back too, so I can't be upset!)

I'm also thrilled with this little quilt because sweet Melanie of Above All Fabric is selling Windy Days kits to recreate it! (Another big first for me!)

You can see more close ups of the finished quilt over on my tutorial, but I thought it would be fun to share one of my quilt photoshoot out-takes. This is what happens when you have little helpers! :) 

And I also managed an adorable little scrunched-nose photo!

Thanks for visiting! :)

Introducing my Windy Days Quilt pattern!

I'm so pleased to have a new "recipe" up at Moda Bake Shop today, my Windy Days Quilt!

If you've been a long-time reader of mine, you may recognize this design! It originated as a scrappy quilt for my little boy (and I sliced a bit of my fingertip off during construction)!

I wanted to share instructions here on how to use yardage for the solid pieces rather than the charms packs in case you want to use a color not available in precuts.

If you wish to use yardage for your "solid" rather than 2 charm packs, you will need 1 1/2 yards of fabric. You could certainly use a subtle print too!

The quilt needs a total of 45  4 1/2" background squares and 36 additional 5" squares that will be pieced with the prints.

To cut these out of the 1 1/2" yards of fabric, cut as follows:

• 5 strips, selvage-to-selvage, 4 1/2" wide 
• Cut strips into 4 1/2" squares (9 squares per strip) 

• 4 strips, selvage-to-selvage, 5" wide 
• Cut strips into 5" squares (8 squares per strip, you'll have a few leftover)

Lovely Melanie of Above All Fabric has created kits with a few different fabric options for Windy Days!  I didn't have enough fabric left over to add a border to my quilt, but I do love how it looked when I set the fabric out! So, the quilt kit includes fabric to add a border for your quilt!

Here are the other options in addition to Just Wing It (so far): Hullabaloo and Happier! 

I sure hope you enjoy this pattern as much as I do! :)

http://www.modabakeshop.com/2011/05/windy-days-quilt.html

Introducing the Family Reunion Dress Sew-Along!

I wanted to show a few more photos of very latest project, the Oliver + S Family Reunion Dress and introduce the Family Reunion Dress Sew-Along on Above All Fabric's blog in June! (Grab this button and add it to your blog!) 

For my sample dress, I chose the cute pink floral from Riley Blake's Sugar & Spice line!  

I added a teeny bit of bias trim created from red w/ white polka dots fabric fabric from my stash around the button tab. This photo is a bit blurry, but I just love the pintuck details!

I love all the buttons down the back too!

So…start thinking! I will have a post up soon at Above All Fabric's blog with fabric inspiration to help you shop for supplies your Family Reunion Dress! :)

I'm planning to make another right along with everyone else, so I have to pick some more fabric too!

Lots of catching up! Quilts and little clothes and a fun meeting!

It's been a while since I've posted here, so that means I have lots of photos to share!

I have not 1, not 2, but 3 quilts in the almost-done stage right now!

Two are baby quilts for friends about to head off to sweet little newborns as soon as I put the finishing touches on. Here is one of the quilt tops before quilting-- it is now backed with light blue Minkee. I made up the pattern when I was inspired by the fabric. I'll do a little write-up on it when I get photos of the finished quilt!

Somehow I've managed not to get a great photo of the other baby quilt top, but I love it! Here's an early process photo. It's Basic Grey Sultry, and I'm using a Moda Bake Shop recipe. I'll post finished photos of it when it's done too!

And here's a quilt just for me! :) It's Kate Spain's Central Park line, which I absolutely adore! (And have plans for a 2nd quilt with too!) This is a Sudoku kit! (Bad photo though! See the 2nd photo for true colors.) The solid I used for the sashing and border is Moda Bella Basics Stone.

And here is the back, which I love just as much as the front! I used a set of little 2 1/2" Central Park precuts that Kate Spain sent me after winning a Christmas giveaway on her blog.

I joined in a Pincushion Swap hosted by Cara Quilts (also host of Talkin' Tuesdays on Twitter!). This is what my swap parter recieved! It's a modified version of my Moda Bake Shop Log Cabin Baby Block tutorial, made smaller and scrappy.

I finally bought the Oliver + S Little Things To Sew book! I don't know why I waited so long! So many cute projects in it! Within a week of receiving the book, my oldest had already chosen the bias-trimmed apron and fabric for it for her costume to wear to Career Day at school (she was dressing up as an artist). I think it's as cute as can be!

Now this cute little shirt was supposed to be my little guy's Christmas outfit, but I only got it cut out before Christmas, not sewn. Then it just sat neglected. I finally sewed it up, had a horrid time with my machine (which is overdue for service) cooperating on the buttonholes, and once I got the buttonholes done was so frustrated I set it aside again. Finally I sewed the buttons on a week or so ago. It's the Oliver + S Sketchbook Shirt in a fun Sweetwater Pure argyle print.

I just wish I'd made it a size 3 instead of a size 2 so it would fit him longer!

Here is my very latest project, the Oliver + S Family Reunion Dress! The fabric is from Riley Blake's Sugar & Spice line, isn't is cute? You will be seeing a lot more of this dress in the coming weeks! :) I will be hosting a Family Reunion Dress sew-along on Above All Fabric's blog in June! Stay tuned for more details!!!

A few weeks ago Liesl Gibson of Oliver + S had a book signing appearance at a not-too-terribly-far-away (and super cute!) shop, Fancy Tiger, so I had to go! Since the kiddies were dressed in their O+S favorites, Liesl kindly posed for a photo with us. 

Sweet Trish Preston runs a weekly feature on her Two Peas in a Pod Designs blog called Monday Morning Inspirations and in April she featured me! :) Hop on over to read my little interview. Trish is so nice, and so full inspiration herself! And this summer you will be able to watch her on PBS in a new show called It's Sew Easy!

And last but not least, here's a little sneak peek! I will have a new Moda Bake Shop recipe debuting on Wednesday! Here's a pic from the photo shoot. :)