do. good quilt ::for rachel::

Yahoo! Rachel's got her quilt! So I finally get to share this block. {yay!}
And seriously, the finished quilt is amazing. Go check it out. Stat.
Rachel is amazing, and I am so happy that someone had the idea of giving something back to her.
I have since stepped out of the do. Good Stitches bee, purely to simplify the different demands currently on my plate. All the same -- thank you, Rachel, for working so incredibly hard to give us all the chance to make a difference!

do. good stitches october: around the world

{First of all, thank. you. for both sweet and thoughtful comments + emails yesterday.

I think a lot more of us are in the same boat than we realize.}

This month's block for do. good stitches kinda kicked my butt.

We've talked before about how I'm a wonky kinda gal; I am seriously exact-seam-impaired.

Hence, it took me THREE TRIES (three!) before I finally got it right.

I'm sort of glad, though, because I like the final version a lot better.

{the 2nd version didn't make it to the block phase before I made a major cutting boo-boo,

so no picture there. you know what they say about 

measuring twice, cutting once, right? riiiight.}

Unrelated, but I made Lasagna Soup for dinner tonight. 

The girls were wishy-washy about it, but I am in love,

especially with the canned(!) fire-roasted tomatoes. 

Helloooo, how did I not know about these before??

Wishing you a happy weekend. 

Our plans are scant; I might just close up shop and hunker down with the chickies on the couch.

It's feeling like that kind of a weekend.

tutorial: the wonky triangle improv block

Wonky is my fave, ok my only, style of quilting. 

I really, really suck at sewing perfect seams and matchy corners.

So, wonky quilting is sorta my quilting salvation.

No pins -- no pressure -- no perfect.

Love it.

This block was inspired by this delicious snippet (thanks, Jeni!). It's so sassy and I can't get it offa my mind.

Let's haul out some scraps! 

I'm going to make a doll quilt... 3 strips... 3 colorways. 

For this tutorial: oranges and yellows.

We'll be making a 6.5 x 18 in (16.5 x 45.5 cm) block.

It's super easy to make any width/length block you like; just make sure your scraps are 2-3 inches wider than the finished width of the strips.

(The strip I made for the do. Good Stitches bee was 48 inches long!)

Since I'm making a 6.5 in block, I'll be using scraps that are mostly 8.5 in and longer, in a variety of widths, mostly between 5-9 in.

1. Start with 2 scraps.

2. Place them right sides together at an appropriately rakish angle and stitch.

3. Press and trim the block to about 7 in. We'll trim the block to 6.5 in when it's all finished, but for now, we want to give ourselves a bit of wiggle room while still ensuring that we're sewing on each new piece in a linear fashion, yaknowwhaddimean?

4. Pick your next scrap and sew it to the block, right sides facing, at a slightly different angle. Easy!

5. Press. Here's the block so far.

6. Some of the scraps can cover more than one piece of the block at more extreme angles. Make it interesting!

7. Be sure you trim up from time to time before pressing.

8. Press and trim to 7 in.

9. Add interest by using some smaller scraps. Sew that sucka on...

10. Press it open...

11. And add another small scrap.

12. See? You're getting the hang of it.

13. Another method is to pre-piece a few smaller scraps together.

14. It's a bit more manageable, especially when you're nearing the end of the block.

15. I like to add the small pieces to both ends of the block.

Ta-da! All done.

Time for a nap.

Thanks for joining me -- I love this block and it is so deliciously easy and mind-clearing. 

Hope you have some fun with this!

wonky triangle improv strip

I think maybe this is a record? 

The 7th day of the month, and my quilting bee block is finished?

{hot dang!}

This one's for do. good stitches {love}. Natalie is having everyone make a 48 x 6.5 strip in whatever design {those are my faves!}. Even better, I got to use some of my very fave fabrics & designers. I have a phobia of triangles that I am trying to get over, and I really really loved piecing this wonky improv triangle strip. If anyone is interested in a tutorial, let me know & I will put one together. 

she's 4 + pink

And I think she's already forgotten what life was like pre-mermaid Barbie.

We had a totally low-key birthday party, and it was the best. Lots of friends from church, hot dogs, fancy straws, and grocery store cake. 

I thought of some games beforehand (like duck duck goose) that we could play in case things got dull,

but the kids just ran wild in the yard for the whole 3 hours and it was awesome. 

I love my little crazy one. She is becoming so sweet and helpful and fun to be around. 

I've got a good feeling about 4, I do.

Tonight's project: glued to ebay -- the auction on my fingers-crossed-ball-gown ends tonight! 

That and my August blocks for the do. Good Stitches bee. I'm a leetle bit down to the wire, eek!

sisters in service: do. good stitches

Welcome to Sisters in Service!

Here we aim to lift, inspire, and motivate, and celebrate the (many!) different ways we can serve our brothers and sisters 

while we're here on earth. Today, let's give a big hip-hooray, 'cause it's Rachel from Stitched in Color!

Rachel has got to be one of the most got-it-together bloggers I know. If you've got a mind for modern quilting, you need to subscribe to her blog. Her quilts are drop-dead gorgeous, her ideas are inspired, and what's more, she knows how to organize lots of people to make a big difference in others' lives. Rachel is the mastermama behind do. Good Stitches, an online quilting bee that has grown to include a whopping 8 circles of sewists! 

Take it away, Rachel...

In a sentence, what's your project?
do. Good Stitches is a virtual quilting bee that creates quilts for people in need through many different charities.

Why is this project important to you?

Because I'm blessed with the time, resources, and passion for quilting, it's important to me to use that blessing to bless others. The online sewing community is filled with generous souls who feel the same way! 

concept + quilting by Natalie :: image source

Have you had any special experiences along the way you'd care to share?
I didn't understand at first that it's the diversity of the creative visions in any given circle that are the real power and excitement behind the quilting bee concept. My favorite quilt (that I've designed) for do. Good Stitches is Love in Wonky Stars. To me this quilt captures that power! It was such a joy to send it to a child through Wrap Them in Love.

concept + quilting by Rachel :: image source

What's your long-term vision for this project?
More circles, more quilts, more charities! Every month or so, we are able to launch new circles when folks step forward to lead as circle hosts and quilters. It takes some organization skills to be a circle host and it takes some quilting skills to be a quilter, but lots of us are capable!

How can I get involved?
While quilts of all styles are wonderful acts of charity, this bee intends to bring together active Flickr-users who enjoy a modern quilt style. If you have some experience with making quilts blocks, you can get involved! You don't need to know how to make all sorts of quilt styles -- directions are included, though basic sewing skills are assumed. You will create blocks from your own fabric stash. To join the wait list, please use this form. We always need more Quilters in order to launch a new circle. So, if you are able to act as a Quilter, please register as one!

concept + quilting by Ara Jane :: image source

You can read more about the guidelines for participating in do. Good Stitches right here.
I am in the "Love" circle and can tell you that it is an amazing bee -- impeccably organized, and I get to learn a cool new block every single month.

You can also drool a little at the d.GS Flickr pool of finished quilts. 

Thanks for coming over, Rachel -- your project is an amazing example 

of what can happen when we all put our heads {and our fabric stashes} together!

vintage sheet bee quilt top -- done!

Last night I got out my Vintage Sheet Bee blocks that I've been meaning to put together for-ev-ah. And oh! talk about a happy way to spend an hour on a summer evening. Vintage sheets just make me so stinkin' happy.

I sewed two blocks together really crooked, and as I was ripping them apart I thought of an article I read in the Ensign a while back. The author was talking about how ripping out just one stitch here and there can destroy a piece of sewn work, even though you might not notice it at first. Then she talked about how skipping scriptures and prayer here and there can weaken us without us even noticing.

I was adjusting my stitch length as I was thinking about that, then realized another parallel there -- the shorter the stitches, the stronger the seam. Likewise, I know that when I pray and read my scriptures more often and more consistently, I feel stronger and happier.

Parallels aside, I'm super excited about this quilt. I think I'm going to turn + tie it, rather than quilting + binding. More out of laziness/impatience than anything else. I can't decide whether to put in batting or whether to just sew backing + top together for a lightweight summer throw. Anyone have experience with that?

Epic thanks to the ladies of the Vintage Sheet Quilting Bee for this one! You can find my tutorial for this quilt block at my old blog.

Happy Thursday -- it's almost the weekend! Yay!

citron/acid green

Is anyone sick of this lovely limey color yet? Me neither. It has been popping up all over the place the past few days (gosh, like it's spring or something?)...



:: in this month's blocks for do. good stitches



:: dresses! I made 2 on Saturday to go in the shop (+ plotting to make many more), as soon as the zipper and neck facings are in.



:: and even in my mailbox. Golly, how did that get there?

quilting weather

Today’s forecast called for a 100% chance of something called wintry mix. If you’ve never experienced this, I’m very happy for you.



The Good Folks quilt returns! It is so delicious…the perfect thing to brighten up the bedroom in a rented house. I’ve (miraculously) sewn the binding to the front of the quilt, but hand-sewing it to the back is, shall we say, a work in progress.



March is my month in the Rosey Little Bee, and I have my heart set on creating something with this fun little stack of fabrics. I’m on the hunt for more solids and gray dots, too, and I think I might have found just the ticket.



The focus fabric is from a line of cult favorites called Munki Munki, which are sold as pajamas, then purchased, dismembered, and distributed by adoring Heather Ross groupies (I can say that ‘cause I’m one of ‘em).





When we got home from errands today, the girls rushed out to stand in ice-chunky, ankle-deep water. ‘Cause, you know, it’s fun.