What's Orange and Black and Comfy??

What's orange and black and comfy??

My first Halloween lap size quilt and throw cushion!

This was originally destined for my Etsy shop..but these Halloween fabrics are my most very favorite EVER. I couldn't part with it..

I did not plan making this matching pillow.. what happened? Well... this was my first large quilt on the midarm and I underestimated how large the back fabric needs to be.. So while the top and batting were all quilted.. one whole row did not have adequate backing. What to do? I was pretty annoyed.. I adore this fabric and I didn't want to toss it. So I had my first try at improv piecing and I love it! It has a fleece back just like the quilt, so I'm pretty confident it is the comfiest throw pillow ever.

Fleece back you say? Yup! This is the back of the quilt. While fleece may not be modern or the hippest back to a quilt, it is comfy and durable with two little ones that like to curl up in it with juice boxes. Do you like the traveling star? My first time with it..it took awhile to grasp the motion, but it ended being a lot of fun.

Are you making some Halloween quilty goodness??

My Mojo, My Kiddo, and My Latest Quilts

No event or person should have the power to strip us of our joy. I was losing that joy at a rapid pace this past summer. There is something to be said for determination and seeking big, HUGE things. There is also something to be said in the quiet joys that feed our soul. I'm working on finding a balance between the two. It is safe to say my mojo is back. I'm hungry to quilt, to design, to share in the hopes of inspiring anyone that finds this blog. Thank you immensely for sticking around.. Really, thank you...

Kiddo is finally back to her crazy self. It was a rough recovery.. Ugh..Just in time to start her last year of conventional schooling. Wait, what? Yup, we have committed to homeschooling. I'm so excited to offer my girls this amazing new path. I'm not sure how much I'll be blogging about it, but if anyone is interested in learning more - please shout!

And on to some eye candy..

The finished baby Tetris quilt.. So much fun and it was pretty quick with the Accuquilt square die. The polka dot fabric came from a MQG swap last year. I love how my fellow quilting ladies are shared in this project.

 The polka dot binding makes me a little giddy.. My super talented friend, Ebony Love, has an amazing YouTube video on how to cut bias binding with the AccuQuilt - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mItQREJSs30 She also has an amazing die cut book coming out soon!!

Here is a picture of the back. This is the first project I quilted on Fiona (my mid-arm).. and yes, I will finally post about her later this week.. Yay!

And on to my "Bricks and Blocks" Halloween quilt.. Oh I want to wrap up in this with a pumpkin latte outside in the crisp fall air. I changed the layout a ton of times. If anyone wants a tutorial, please speak up.. It is a simple quilt that is fabulous to showcase some fabric favorites.

 Like these tidbits..Seriously.. Hands down, my favorite Halloween prints ever.. That is saying something...

 The top is done and will go on Fiona later this week to be quilted with a light grey fleece back for extra snuggly fun.

Both quilts will be going up in the Etsy shop later this month, but if the Halloween one doesn't sell by October 15th..then it is mine baby..oh yeah!

Lots more posts this week and no more blogging breaks for the foreseeable future. I even have a super easy booster seat tutorial coming in a day or so.

Lots of love,
Me

Charlotte's Web - Embroidered Cover Art

I've been wanting to open Kiddo's literary world beyond picture books. Unfortunately she gets very antsy with chapter books and it doesn't make for an enjoyable evening for either of us. I thought I would try audio books since we seem to always been in the car. Fabulous! Not only do I get a break from the kid's music channel, but we all enjoy richly written classics. I adore "Charlotte's Web"! The descriptions are amazingly rich and the story is so tender.

Every time we would jump in the car, the beautiful cover illustrated by Garth Williams, always made me smile. I loved Fern's pensive expression and the pastoral scene. I wondered if I could create an embroidery that would do it justice. I thought that if it worked out, that I may create one for each my daughters every year.

I pretty much love it and hope you do too. It took me the better part of the last week and I ended up doing Fern's face twice (the first time she was more reminiscent of Samara from "The Ring"..eek!!)

The thread/floss? Lots of lots of my favorite Muddy Monet from Valdini, a few DMC, and the bright glistening white came from a brand called Artiste (new to me...a bit fiddly, but loved the sheen!)

The best part of it, is that Kiddo adores it. She's been watching it transform and is very eager to have it in her room. I'm not sure how I'll display it. Maybe just as a simple hoop art. I went through pains to make it serene, I really don't want to ruin that feel at the end.

I am going to be doing "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See" next for Baby. It's been a favorite board book of hers for months.. Embroidered book scenes.. pretty much the perfect art for this librarian!

And I promise to all my Instagram followers, this is the last of Charlotte that you will see! Want to follow my pictures on Instagram? I'm listed as "allthingsbelle" but of course..

It's Done, It's Done!!

This is my entry for Project Modern II.

It is called "Vertigo" and was inspired by one of my

all time favorite Hitchcock movies.. Vertigo.

It was a beast!

I love it, but I'm very happy to put it to rest...