sweet life quilt blocks

Last Friday I received some more Atsuko Matsuyama fabrics and they are the sweetest!!  One of the fabric is from Astuko's Sweet Life Collection, and it super A D O R A B L E!!  The other ones are from her 30's collection including a couple nursery prints! 

I simply had to cut into them right away as I knew they would make the cutest little baby quilt. I've been meaning to start a quilt for my little niece that is 4 1/2 months old.  What a great excuse to start...new sweet fabric!! 

My sister and I both have a love for all things vintagey so these sweet fabrics are ones I knew she would love and adore just as much as I do.  That makes it even that much more fun when you're making something for someone else.  :)

Monday...Wash Day

Sunday...Gardening Day

Sweet little Lambie

For making the blocks I did foundation paper piecing. It had been quite some time since I'd done this type of paper piecing and a YouTube tutorial helped give me some tips I didn't know, which made it even easier. For the block, Tamiko has a printable pattern, and I enlarged it to be an 8 inch block size.  This block is perfect for beginners too, or if you'd like to make a bunch for a pillow or quilt. :)

Here is the YouTube video if you'd like to learn how to foundation paper piece. It is the best I've seen on explaining it. By Karen Johnson, of Connecting Thread.

It is such a fun and simple method that makes it so you can get perfect points easily!  I first did a couple blocks the traditional way and got really frustrated.  The first one I did with a 1/4 inch seam allowance and the block below I did with a 1/4 inch scant. 

They both had the cut off points which really bugged me...so foundation paper piecing was they way to go.  And, surprisingly it didn't take any more time than the other way, but much better results that equaled happier sewing!  :)

Hope you have a lovely week!!

granny squares quilt top!

eek!! I am beyond excited that my granny square quilt top is done!! I think it may be my favorite quilt thus far. It was such a fun quilt to make and really like how the Essex linen makes the fabrics so soft and pretty!! It was a bit harder working with the linen rather than Kona that I'm use to with this size of quilt. The seams are a bit bulkier so the blocks are a little under 9 inches. It also made the ironing a bit more of a task but I think it was well worth it. :)

I love quilts blowing in the wind!  There was just a slight breeze.  

Last week I had two more to finish up so I thought I'd take a close-up of them.  I was needing a little more blue and green to balance the quilt out a little.   I really like how the blue and pink one turned out!

Bunny on a line!

Hedgie and Squirrel!

And a couple more of the finished quilt top!! 

This week-end my girls had a camp-out with their Girl Scouts troop so we took the boys up to the Tulip Festival, and they sure had a lovely day!  It was so fun seeing them run up and down the isles enjoying the beauty of nature!

And me matching with the red tulips.  :)

Now to decide whether I should start sandwiching and quilting the granny squares quilt top or maybe put together another quilt top.  Maybe this one, or this one?? It is always so fulfilling to get a quilt top put together.   hmmm, what do you think?

a granny easter

This last week we've enjoyed having lots of family gatherings. With Easter and a baby shower I kept quite busy. I did get a couple more granny squares done in between, and a little trip to the beach!! It was also beautiful spring weather so I couldn't have had a lovelier week!!  Did you have a lovely Easter?

Here are my new granny additions.  I only have two more to make and then I can put the top together.  Yay!!

A lovely little stack!

A little bird told me block!

a granny Easter block with a sweet little bunny and chick!

I hope you don't mind some pictures of the kiddos!  They had such a fun Easter with seeing lots of cousins, and of course LOTS of candy.  :)

It was quite the task to get them all to look and smile at the camera at the same time!!  Does anyone have any secrets on taking pictures of all their kids together?
 

Maya

Savannah

Ashton

We enjoyed part of Easter with my Aunt and Uncle and my cousins little ones.   Most my family lives out of state, so it was great being able to spend part of the day with some of my family.

Xander the egg hunter

Later in the day we had an Easter gathering with my hubby's family and who wouldn't have a ton of fun with so many little peeps!!  :)    Aren't they such a cute group of kiddos.  You can tell there is lots of excitement!

 Sweet little Ava and Ashton...they are quite the little buddies!!  

Now that Easter is all over, hopefully I can finish the top of the granny squares quilt this week.  I can do it...yes, I can!! 

surgery + recovery time = hand stitching

This last week after having surgery, I've spent quite a bit of time on the couch.  I have to confess, I'm a bit of a baby when it comes to pain.  I know, can you believe it?!?  The mama with 6 kiddos is a complete wimp.  Ha!!  Too funny, I know.... but this last week having something to keep my mind occupied...pretty fabrics and a new English paper piecing set to work on has sure helped!   I have to say my dear hubby has been the biggest help too.  I don't know what I would do without him!

The new English paper piecing set I've worked on is using Jewels, 1 inch hexagons and then 2 inch diamonds.  My dear friend Heather made a lovely pillow for the Pillow Talk Swap out of these, and I'd been itching to try my hand at it ever since!!   I'm thinking of making a nice size wall hanging out of them.

Don't they look pretty with all the new spring blossoms!!  Spring is one of my favorite times of year just because of all the lovely scented spring blossoms!!

 

Most the fabrics are from Leciens Old New collection that will be coming out this month.  I can't wait to see it on the bolt!! It will truly be like Christmas opening those boxes from Lecien!!  :)

After staying inside for an entire week, I had a bit of cabin fever.  So I had to get one ready to take to the pool to work on while I watched the kiddos swim.   It was sure nice getting out of the house!

Today I'll be taking it easy again so I don't over due it.  I seem to do that too.   The joys of getting stir crazy.  :)