i have about eleventy-million quilting projects begun, but when inspiration strikes, it hammers hard until i react to it, so now i have eleventy-million + one quilting projects begun . . .

the wonderland fabric line by momo is utterly amazing . . . rarely do i feel compelled to own all the prints from an entire fabric line, but it was love at first sight for me and wonderland, and i had to have a bit of every print. and all of these fantastic fabrics have been waiting + waiting + waiting to become something . . .

. . . and now they are transforming wonderfully into 9-patch blocks. i’ve added in a muslin square to the centers of my 9-patch blocks (oh, how Ms. Red Pepper Quilts has shown me the light of the white-in-the-center 9-patch block!), and I’ve added in one square of a matching shot cotton solid to each of the blocks. I’m really pleased with how these first 9-patch blocks have turned out. Which, um, is a good thing, considering I’ve cut enough squares for 63 more blocks!

. . . more soon! . . .

i’ve been pining for spring for awhile now through my crafting, so i’m glad to see the return of daylight savings and birds chirping + fluttering around outside. soon, the trees will be filled again with leaves + the gardens will be full of blooms. hello, spring. i’m glad to see you are finally here.

The next round of { R O Y G B I V } goodies will include some more useful goodies for spring, including travel tissue holders, reusable coffee sleeves, and a restock on patchwork project pouches + notions pouches!

And, if you have some time to sew yourselves, go check out the Sew, Mama, Sew! blog for Fat Quarter February! There’s all kinds of sewwy fodder for fun, easy, and small projects! I’ve gotta thank the gals behind the blog for kindly linking to my pillow covers + travel tissue holders in their Fat Quarter February features. Thanks so much for the inclusion, ladies!

Stay warm, everyone + think spring!

And so Project WIPs-to-FOs commences! But first things first, I have been trying to get an accurate count on just how many WIPs I have that need finishing . . . and yes. The “have been trying” should be a clear indicator to you all just how dire the situation is. Just when I think I have them all accounted for, I find another something-or-other that I have totally forgotten about. Eeek!

According to my Ravelry projects page, I currently have 45 (!!!!) WIPs. But, oh dear friends, if only that were everything I actually needed to finish. I’m afraid there is more . . .

But I am nonetheless ready to get cleaning out the ol’ Rav closet and get some FOs brewin’ for 2009! So happy belated New Year, everyone, and get ready to see those FOs go marching across your screen! And hopefully Project WIPs-to-FOs will encourage me to blog more frequently in the coming months, as well!

And who am I not to help those in need of fine, handmade gifts this holiday season? {I’m no elf, but I do try my darnedest!}

I’ve always been a big fan of the stocking stuffers, myself . . . there’s nothing quite like finding a big, bulging sock full of goodies come Christmas morning — and since I’m such a lover of all-things-utilitarian as well, I stocked the shop full of nice little gifties perfect for stuffing stockings! Check out these cute + festive + eco-friendly coffee sleeves . . .

I’ve even got my own travel mug dressed up for the holidays!

. . . Or perhaps some cute little travel tissue holders are more your thing? It’s certainly the time of year when one never seems to have quite enough tissues on hand. Why settle for those sad, resealable plastic bags travel tissues come in? I say give your friends + coworkers a little class for their tissues!

And for your best mates? Perhaps they deserve the ultimate holiday goodie bag . . . a 2008 Winter Survival Kit — this little sack of treats will go a long way toward making the bustle + bluster of this holiday season all the more bearable, so check them out and give a little holiday cheer to someone you love!

Stay warm + toasty, all! A post with some knitting content coming up next!

Catching up on all those knitted items that I haven’t yet shown off . . . this pretty little lacy number was a particularly happy finish! Scarves knit with fingering weight yarn, I suspect, DO tend to evoke happiness upon completion–not so much as they’re being knit, though. This one seemed like it took me a little bit longer then for-EVER, but once I bound off and slung it around my neck, it seemed so, so worth it. I could even imagine knitting the same scarf in the same yarn again.

This lovely is, of course, the Lace Ribbon Scarf, knit using Chasing Rainbows Dyeworks merino/tencel sock yarn, a yarn I would definitely recommend. All in all, I’d chalk this project up to success!

And thank goodness for finished scarves, since it is already FREEZING here in Philadelphia–um . . . can someone please, please tell me me which crack Fall slipped into when I wasn’t looking? Winter is already here, friends. Stay warm!

Hello, all! I’ve been meaning to post a little blurb about some new 100% philistine made products that I’ve recently added to the shop . . . just for all you knitters! Somehow, time has really gotten away from me . . . so how delighted I was to see my products for knitters featured in the new Indie Spotlight section of the winter edition of knotions! I’m absolutely thrilled to be featured in knotions + many great big thank yous to Jodi for including me. And speaking of knotions, have you seen the newest patterns being served up? The winter edition is choc full of some incredible winter accessories that I want to make nownownow, including my personal faves, the Magic Mirror Mittens, the Lakeside Knee Highs, the Isotope Hat, and of course Kelly’s Hanging Vines Socks. I am itching to cast on ALL of them immediatelyNOW! So, after you’ve checked out all of the great new patterns in knotions, come back here and check out all of my fun + happy new fold-over knitting project pouches + notions pouches . . . for those who are like me and have eleventy million projects going simultaneously, there is no such thing as owning too many project pouches!

Speaking of eleventy million projects, startitis has hit me particularly hard recently, so I should have lots of new knits to show off very soon!

Happy Tuesday, all . . . stay warm!

Hello, everyone! Still busy, busy sewing over here . . . I’ve also been busy falling head over heels for Heather Ross’ Mendocino fabrics. They’re adorable, for one thing, and they come in the best color combinations! I saw them + immediately was inspired to turn them into . . . bathmats! And I couldn’t be happier with the results! Aren’t they fantastic? The perfect amount of retro fun for adults + super-colorful fun for kids, alike!

I paired up the Mendocino fabrics with some other really great fabrics to create the patchwork top panel + then backed the top with super-squishy, 100% organic cotton terrycloth backing. This stuff is absolutely dreamy to the touch–and I even added some squares of the terrycloth into the patchwork top panel so that you step onto cushy softness when you hop out of the shower.

And, look! Another great color combination–pretty blush, orange + gold! You can find both of these super-hip, super-fun patchwork bathmats in my shop now!

And you didn’t think I could stop at bathmats, did you? I mean, really, what’s a super-awesome new bathmat without matching washcloths? You can find a handful of patchwork washcloths in my shop, too!

Enjoy! + Happy almost-Friday!

And . . . and! I am always up for a good way to celebrate fall, be it apple-picking, playing in leaves, or sipping hot toddies . . . so I was inspired recently to devise little fall-themed goodie pouches to have a fun, on-the-go way to celebrate the season. These little pouches make perfect surprise gifts for friends or for yourself! Check them out now in the s h o p! I hope you all enjoy them + enjoy the season!