nanaCompany

Perhaps a Farmer's Mistress and not a Wife

Um.  So much harder than I thought it would be.  I guess I'm really not that much of a quilter because I found these blocks to be brutally difficult.  How is it that all of you are turning these blocks out so quickly and so seemingly effortlessly???

I don't know how much I love the colors in my fruit basket block.  I'll probably re-do it.  It's a bit too civil-war for my taste, yet I've been balking at too much brightness lately.  I think I might make a few more of these 6" blocks for a mini quilt, then start over... making larger blocks (12" maybe) using only the templates I really love for my grand "Farmer's Mistress" quilt.  Does that make me a party pooper?  I was so so excited for this and now I feel like such a ninny, but perhaps I haven't given it a full and proper try.  It took me hours to make both blocks.  Hours.

Mostly I wish there was a simple table with measurements for each template piece... my brain hurts from trying to figure out the math on my own.  Also, are you girls pressing most of your seams open, or off to one side?  I'm catching a lot of bulk in places and I don't like it.  Please please please let me know if you have any tips or tricks to share?  I'd so appreciate your help... xo amy

:: bits and pieces

There is nothing but desert between Los Angeles and Las Vegas...

5 hours of 110 degree hot barren dessert.  But everyone had a ton of fun once we got there.  It was just as I expected ~ a lot of swimming, a lot of food, and a lot of laughs with my husband's family.  They really are a riot.  Italian and Irish... what could you expect?   

(my kids with some of their cousins)

 We went to the strip only once, to get lunch at Serendipity 3... at Caesar's Palace.  I used to party in Vegas when I was younger, so it doesn't really thrill me now, but this very small dose was fun.  Serendipity is known for their sweets and we got giant mouth-watering ice cream sundaes...

Now we're home and I've got these several bits and pieces of hand-sewing that kept me busy during travel time.  I started an embroidery (will show you when it's done), sewed these hexagon flowers together...

... and started a new hexagon patchwork ...

Don't know exactly what I'm going to do with these... thinking about doll quilts, though.  And I now know what it's like to have too many unfinished 'wip's hanging around the house ~ each and every one calling out, "Finish me!  No!  Finish me!"  But I think I'd like to use my poor old sewing machine and give my fingers a rest. 

Coming next?  Farmer's Wife blocks, and the Cookies & Milk pattern/template thing.  Stay tuned ;)

xo amy

:: give me Liberty

Pretty fair to say we all love Liberty of London, right?  Well, get ready for The Liberty Book of Home Sewing ~ it is coming to bookshelves soon (September) and I can't wait.  Here's a sneak peek...

(all images from Quadrille Publishing)

I love that hexagon quilt, madly.  I've also been sewing up a bunch of hexagons all through the weekend... I'll show you when I get back home ;)

xo amy

sunny days

The postman brought my Farmer's Wife sampler quilt book (yes!), but I'm leaving for Vegas in a few hours, so I'll have to wait 4 more days before I can begin sewing blocks (boo).  But hey, yay for a mini break in Las Vegas!

Here's a pic of the snap on the back of Livi's dress (you can see how there could be two or three buttons going down the placket, but they're not necessary, the single snap works just fine)...

Also, it was about time for another one of these portraity things...

We're off for four sunny days of swimming, eating, and catching up with family.  I hear it's 110 degrees out there.  Yikes. 

Have a great weekend! xo amy

1. A very merry unbirthday to you!, 2. KG_337672, 3. It's just another manic Monday, wish it were Sunday 'Cause that's my funday! HBM :), 4. June 12, 2010 | 163/365 - [Explored], 5. cavalinho para meninas, 6. Quilt Around The World - round 2 starter block, 7. pants and skirt outfit all in one piece, 8. Untitled, 9. Make Mine Ava, 10. Tiny strawberries, 11. one day, 12. project wedding2, 13. saturday in the studio :: 2

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Olivia's favorite

"Is my dress ready now?" she asked all morning, while I sewed.  I drew up a pattern based on her favorite dress and sewed it up today.  Her favorite is the Liberty of London dress we got from Target last summer.  It barely fits now and I'd been planning to make this one for weeks or even months ~ today was the day and I'm so proud because she loves it!

It's simple, it was easy.  I used vintage fabric and eyelet trim.  There's a pearl snap in the back, instead of buttons.  It's also not nearly as full or swingy as her favorite dress but she didn't seem to notice.  She was thrilled to pieces!  Now if only I could've gotten her to sit still even for a second...

Oh who am I kidding.  This one never sits still.

xo amy

a little cheer

Since Father's Day I have been sleeping tons, taking meds, down with an ear infection, sore throat, yada yada yada.  Today the mailman brought something to cheer me up... it's one of two reasons why I've been getting out of bed to check the mailbox even though I'm feeling pretty rotten.  Let me show you...

Lecien's new Old New 30's collection!  I got a cue from one fabulous gal that the Material Girls Quilt store in South Jordan, Utah has yardage of it ... so I gave them a call (801-495-4290) and they were so nice and helpful... it's now mine.   I feel better now.

If only the postman will bring me my Farmer's Wife book so I can get started on my blocks for the Farmer's Wife Quilt-a-long.  And if you haven't joined in yet, c'mon!

xo amy

:: fancy cake for the father of the year

I had extra little helpers in the kitchen when I made this year's Father's Day cake, and I think it came out that much sweeter...

It's a simple chocolate cake with candy bar filling ~ which is the easiest way to make a cake fancy.  Just crush two of your favorite candy bars (we used Skor bar, which is butter toffee covered in chocolate, like a Heath bar) into tiny tiny bits, and mix into your favorite frosting.  Spread it between the cake layers... yum.  (Slice two cake layers into 4 thin layers to make it really fancy.)  Now close your eyes and imagine your fave candy bar in there... which one would you choose?

Well the recipient of this cake couldn't deserve it any more.  He definitely takes our award for father of the year.  Husband of the year.  Favorite person of the year.  He's pretty popular around here.  And besides the cards and presents that seemed to particularly please this Father's Day, I did finish (just in time) three "milk & cookie" mats for my three cookie monsters.

One for daddy...

Nicholas...

and Olivia...

Better than paper plates.   Reusable, washable, and handmade with love.  I'll try to get the template done up as soon as possible.

And I'll say one more time to my Dad and husband... Happy Father's Day.  Love you guys...

xo amy

:: secret gardens and cookie crumbs

On our walk home from farmer's market, Thursday, the kids led me to a "secret garden" they'd discovered with Daddy.  A garden that boasts a giant cactus...

... and not much else, but they loved it.  Mostly they just ran around and around on the stepping stones for a long time ~ happy as could be.

Today, Olivia got her own "cookies & milk" snack mat...

It's so much cuter in person.  (It seems I can never photograph my own work properly.)  I've already made one for the husband and I'll be making one for Nicholas next.  Those three eat chocolate chip cookies and milk every night just before bed.  Anne and I like our sweets a little cakier and pie-er and really, anything made or topped with whipped cream is good. 

happy friday to you all!

1. Untitled, 2. in my studio, 3. Vintage Wallpapers, 4. Untitled, 5. Our new kitchen, 6. Picnic Basket Insert DIY, 7. Inspiration, 8. IMG_2446, 9. Tattered Rose Necklace, 10. Roses livingroom, styling Selina Lake, 11. Little Yellow, 12. studio.sprucing, 13. Primele

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

xo amy

shhhh... don't tell my dad

... but I'm going to share with you his father's day present a few days early.  And, it all revolves around cookies.  Do you remember this from last Christmas?

Well, to sum it up, my mom has a talent for baking cookies and my dad has a talent for eating them... Not too many of them.  He is a diabetic and he has Celiac disease, but everyone deserves a treat every once in a while.  (I have just discovered that Poppycock can not be my treat because I have absolutely no control and I will eat the entire bag in one sitting.  Then I get a tooth ache.)

So I made my dad a snack mat.  A milk & cookie mat to be precise...

I picked up the plaid fabric a while back, with no project in mind, simply because it's so soft and lovely in person.  Well, it was perfect for this and I really love the end result, which can't always be said.  The simplicity of this cookie mat reminds me of those darling Japanese zakka crafts I love so much.  I saved the details so I can make a few more for my children and possibly even one for my husband ~ the biggest cookie monster of them all.  Let me know if you're interested in the template.

Well, I am off... to post this, to the gym, to the farmer's market.  (Nicholas' first words this morning: "It's farmer's market day!")  Love it.

xo amy

:: joy

All weekend long I was sewing and stitching, determined to finish a project (which I did), though I managed a few breaks here and there ~ during these, I was playing with my kids and their friends at the park... thoroughly enjoying a yummy brunch out with Anne... working up a sweat during my first run since the marathon... and holding hands with my husband at church, no kids, yes!  And then always right back to "work."  That's my kind of weekend.  So what did I sew?

Just a mini quilt / wall hanging.  A custom ordered piece... and I was given absolutely no pointers or guidelines, which tends to make me nervous.  But, I happily cut into my new fabrics for this one and I hand-quilted the whole thing.  I do love the stitches around the dresden plate.  I don't love all of my fabric choices.  I wavered back and forth, ripped out stitches, added stitches, and now that it's done I like it, but will she?

"For the Love of Joy"... isn't that sweet?  It's the name of her shop.  The word "joy" is meant to be the focal point here and it certainly did seem to permeate the mood of my lovely weekend.  I hope you had a nice weekend, too.  And I really hope Anna likes her new wall quilt.

xo amy  

:: dresden

Before the weekend officially begins I thought I'd show you some of the progress I've made on my latest project.  I'm being dragged out of the house by my family ~ it's time to get out of my pajamas, they say.  Darn it, is it really that time already?

I think this is my first dresden plate, I can't recall making any others before.  It's going to be part of a happy~ joyful little quilt in the end, but I don't want to spoil it for it's new owner, so I'll stop here.

Happy Friday!

1. mini quilt 05, 2. tumblr tuesday, 3. Untitled, 4. 13/01/2011, 5. leafy dress, 6. Sachets, 7. The Master Bed, 8. brooches: finished!, 9. a little tree..., 10. windows are open.... :), 11. green dress, 12. Cerf volant, 13. Jacob is such a sweet little model

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

xo amy

The Farmer's Wife

"I have had more genuine enjoyment in caring for and breeding up my beautiful flock of White Rock chickens; more real pleasure in tending my flowers and vegetables, more honest satisfaction in working with the lambs and bees, than I ever experienced in the varied round of activites that made up my life in the city."  ~Mrs. A.B.D., Park County, Wyoming, 1922

Have you seen the book, "The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt: Letters from 1920's Farm Wives and the 111 Blocks They Inspired"?

When I saw some of the blocks posted on flickr, I got excited, and then I found the quilt-a-long group, and got really excited.  Then I looked up the book.  I ran to JoAnn this morning to get it, but didn't find it, and now I've ordered it off Amazon and am waiting impatiently for it to arrive.  I can't wait to get started!  I love the idea of making traditional quilt blocks, some of which are really quite fancy, and using one's own personal aesthetic and color palette.  Check out the group.  (I was going to name names, but I love so many of the girl's blocks, I'd end up naming everyone.)  And join in!

No, I didn't find the book at JoAnn this morning, but I didn't come home empty handed, either.

The yellow and blue daisies on the bottom were my consolation prize.  I really love them because they remind me of vintage sheets and will look great in a picnic blanket.  The other fabrics I got in a package from fabric.com today.  The middle two are obviously Liberty of London lawn.  And the top two are called "More Antique Treasures."  Love love love.

Also got these tags (they're Martha Stewart).  I'm such a sucker for pretty paper things...

Yesterday I was so overwhelmed with my looong list of sewing projects, I didn't know where to begin.  So, what did I do?  I clipped and sewed more fabric tags, instead.

This afternoon I finally began a real sewing project.  In this case, it meant pulling fabrics and cutting a bunch of 2.5" squares.  That always seems to be a good beginning...

xo amy

:: published

Laying around like a limp noodle is no fun, but this is the perfect time for me to share with you some crafty books I'll be published in later this year.  I just got the go ahead from Stash Books (an imprint of C&T Publishing), so let's pretend I'm up on a rooftop... and I'm shouting!

The first title is "Modern Blocks: 99 Quilt Blocks from Your Favorite Designers" and it's set to publish in October 2011.  I think I've got two quilt blocks in the book and after seeing the cover and some of the other amazing blocks I'm just so pleased they've included me!

The second title is "Zakka Style", by the lovely Rashida Coleman-Hale, and it's a compilation of 24 projects that are sure to be cute because this girl's got style.  The book will be in stores December 2011.

Very excited to be a part of these publications.  Thank you Suzanne and Rashida!

xo amy

:: I did it!!!

Hello!  Did you have a nice weekend?  Me, too. 

I ran a marathon!  Yep.  Not a half ~ a full marathon.  26.2 miles in 4 hours and 38 minutes.  Sure, I was hobbling, whimpering, and gritting my teeth through the finish line, but the crowds were cheering me on... and I did it. 

Oh, how I love San Diego.  We stayed at a resort on Shelter Island and the kids loved splashing around in the pool all day.  At night we went into town for dinner and found the cutest seaport village with live music and a carousel and entertainment, and horse carriage rides...

Now, I'm home and I'm completely useless.  Seriously, I can't move my left leg without enlisting my hands to help.  My goal for the day is to unpack our suitcases and try to stretch my legs.  Otherwise, I'll be here, chilling on ice...

Source: designtripper.com via Amy on Pinterest

It'll be that kind of day.  Hope you're having a lovely Monday!  xo amy

my favorites

I don't think any photo of mine could do it justice, but here is a small pile of Lecien I got in the mail today... part of the old "Old New" Collection that I absolutely adore.

Thank you so much to those of you who helped me in my search.  These are my favorites of what I've received so far and there's still more on the way.  I love a good mail day.  The rest of our day was uneventful ~ involving a trip to my favorite burger joint, a trip to the farmer's market, the post office, and a little bit of time spent in the sewing corner.  I finished another set of ric rac cocktail napkins...

It's a colorful bunch.  They're in the shop.

Well, I am headed down to San Diego to run a half-marathon ~ no longer a full marathon, as I've injured my knee and I know it just won't carry me 26.2 miles.  13.1 miles?  No problem... I hope.  I probably sound all nonchalant but really I'm heartbroken, as this is the second marathon I've signed up for and haven't been able to run this year.  The first was the LA Marathon in March, when I was still recovering from pneumonia and bronchitis.  Dang it.  I have a goal to run one marathon each year and there are still 6 months left in this year... but.  I don't know how my family puts up with me and all my "hobbies."  They do it beautifully, though.  Thank you family.  I hope all you ladies are as well supported in your endeavors, too...

Cheers!  xo amy

p.s. Here are my weekly bits of inspiration gathered for you...  Have a great weekend!

1. Untitled, 2. vintage thoughts..., 3. Corbeille de mots, 4. itty bitty strings..., 5. cushions galore, 6. If It's a Girl quilt top, 7. audrey, beatty & her friends, 8. INSPIRAÇÕES, 9. snow day..., 10. Homemade Elephant Love, 11. Fairytale Necklace, 12. Silver & Gold, 13. vintage farfalle

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

the horses and the teacups

It's more than just rides and parades at Disneyland.  I really get a chance to enjoy my kids there.  I generally end up with one child at a time ~ because they each like such different things ~ and when I'm with Olivia, I get to hold her, we talk while waiting in line and I actually listen to every word, undistracted.  She's all about the princesses... the horses and the teacups.

With Nicholas, we hold hands ~ he's too embarassed to be carried anymore, which is just as well (according to my back).  He's all about rollercoasters and robots and the conversation is very different, but once again, I'm really listening to him.  My kids have the ability to charm me to pieces once I've given them my full attention... maybe I don't do it as often as I should.  At home, I tend to be distracted by millions of things.

We always have a good time at Disneyland, but we won't be going back 'til the end of summer, as it's tourist season now.  I'm so looking forward to this summer and finding different ways to connect with my kids... all three of them.  To really enjoy them, one-on-one time seems to be best.  How do you do it with your kids?  I'd love to know...

xo amy