Follow Your BLISS!

Last night I opened up my Bliss Charm Pack by Bonnie and Camille. I'd been mulling over some ideas for it this past week. I was going to wait to start a quilt with it until I had more WIP's finished. Since I have the Hunky Dory Whirlygig almost finished I gave myself permission to start cutting. I was ready to make something different than the last several quilts I've made. I was thinking Wonky Stars but If you've been reading this blog for any amount of time you know that my brain and wonky have an on going battle.
I love this star block though. I used it for a table runner a few years ago and thought it would be perfect for this. I'm using Moda Essential Dots for the star points and Bleached White Kona Cotton for the background. Each charm will be the center.
So what's one more project?!


Have a great weekend!

Hunky Dory Whirlygig Nearly Finished...

Because I love pictures of the whole process of quilt making.


Here is the Hunky Dory Whirlygig basted. I basted it and was able to quilt it and sew the binding to the front this past weekend. I'll post the finished picture as soon as I get my camera back:(

This pattern is a real hit with non-quilt people (yes, that's how I group people, quilt people and non-quilt people, is that bad?). I've been asked to make another one only bigger, which I will gladly do because this is such a fun sew. You really should try Cathy's tutorial if you've wanted to make one but haven't yet.

Charm Swappers - Pink!

Hi Ladies-
After reading your suggestions and ideas, about going with a colorway, I chose PINK! I want the swap to be fun. No pressure. So any pink, quilt shop quality material, as many different prints as you'd like or 9 from 5 different colors. You pick. Have Fun!

*Yesterday I said 8, but I forgot to count myself! lol! So there are 9 of us. I'll give the def. final count tonight.*


***Edited to say this swap is closed, sorry. If this swap is successful there will be another!!!***

Charm Swap Update

We have 8 people for the charm swap. My question is this, do you want to send out 5 different fabrics of 8 each? This would give us all the average amount that comes in a charm pack. It's enough to make something with and it would be really fun to see all the different fabrics. What do you think? I was thinking bright, fresh, pretty fabrics. Pretty much anything you like. I'd like to have them by September 15th and I will sort and mail them out by the 20th. Don't forget to include a self addressed stamped envelope. So I can send them back to you. What do you think? If all this sounds okay and you still want to swap comment here or e-mail me, if not, let me know too please:) I'd like to put a list on the my side bar when I know who definitely wants to swap. Thanks ladies, this will be a fun swap!!!

New Item For Shop and Charm Swap Anyone?

I spent the last couple of days drawing out a pattern for and making these cute little pincushions w/ attached thread catchers.

I used a Japanese cotton fabric and linen by KOKKA. Aren't they adorable?

These were some of my fabrics that I've been hording, not wanting to cut into. I decided it was time. The first cut is the hardest, isn't it?

I'm keeping one for myself because my pincushion has seen better days. The rest are for the shop. I also made one with cute pink polka dots but jr. quilter got dibs! I'll be making more. They are so fun! What do you think?


***I've been thinking about having a charm swap. I wanted to see if anyone who reads here would be interested? Just 5" charms. Something like we'll send out the same number of charms as there are people participating. Maybe modern fabric, or all of the same color fabric, or same theme fabric. Not sure yet. Just wanted to see what you thought? Wanna swap? Let me know in comments. I'll organize it if there's some interest!***

Have a GREAT weekend!

Aqua and Red Square in a Square...and it's Baby!

I was so excited to finish this quilt up and list it in my Etsy shop. I've been patiently working on it. I really love how it turned out. Super crinkled. I'm calling it Square in a Square, creative, I know.

It's another Red & Aqua combination, which I love. It feels great. I truly think pulling it out of the dryer is becoming my favorite part of this whole process.


I pieced a strip on the back. I am really enjoying it. I think I might have to do this for all of my quilts. I think it adds so much interest. My husband just laughs when I show it to him. Every.Time.


And here's my quilts baby. It happens.


Isn't it adorable.


It has a pieced back too.

So my shop is officially open. I'm so excited and really interested to see what happens.

*edited to add more pics...

Happy Mail!

I was so happy when I checked the mail today! My siggy blocks from the modern siggy swap #2 came today!

And if that weren't enough, this came too!


Remember I said I used every last piece of the Charm fabric by Amy Butler? Well I went searching and found some. I love it.


I was even more excited when I opened it and saw I had the Perfect piece of selvage. Yeah, I'm easily pleased!

I rarely order on the internet but I really loved this fabric. I would definitely order from her again. She was so courteous and prompt. And the packaging is just too cute.

Good mail day! Way better than bills!

How to Make Homemade Laundry Detergent

In the spirit of Laura Ingalls, with wash day being Monday, here's a little recipe for homemade laundry detergent you can use tomorrow, Monday!

wash on Monday
iron on Tuesday
mend on Wednesday
churn on Thursday
clean on Friday
bake on Saturday
rest on Sunday

from Little House in the Big Woods

* I use these utensils for detergent making only. They all stay in the pot until I make a new batch.

You will need:

1 bar of soap (any kind you want)
1 cup of Borax
1 cup of washing soda
a big pot ( that holds more than 2 gallons)
a grater
a funnel
a long spoon
2 empty gallon jugs/containers



Grate your bar of soap into your pot.


Fill one gallon jug and pour water into pot with grated soap. Cook until the grated soap dissolves.


Add the Borax and washing soda.


Bring to a boil. It will coagulate.


Turn off the heat. Add 1 gallon of cold water. Stir well.


Pour 1 gallon of your detergent into each container.


A funnel helps tremendously.

Now you have 2 gallons of homemade laundry detergent. I use 1/2 cup per load. With the prices of detergent being outrageous, I feel really happy every time I make a batch of this.

This won't make many, if any, suds. Suds don't equal clean. It took a while to get that into my head. This detergent cleans wonderfully!

Let me know if you make any or if you have any questions.

Happy washing!

******edited to add that I now just keep my detergent in the pot I cook it in with the lid on. When I run out I make up a new batch in that pot and it's ready to go. I like saving the step of transferring into the jugs.

****** edited 8/8/2011 to address those of you with the issue of the detergent becoming too thick. Try using 1/2 of a bar of soap instead.

***** edited 7/2011 to add that the detergent should thicken / coagulate when it cools. Usually within 24 hours! ****

* Edited 1/2011 to add comment from below about cost/savings!

estimated cost is $6.00 for 576 loads (depending on soap used and amount used per load, ONE BOX of Borax and ONE BOX of Washing soda)
The savings is incredible.

☆☆☆As with ALL cleaning products KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN particularly if you are using recycled food type containers!!!!☆☆☆

☆☆☆ My friend Amy's daughter did a science experiment comparing store bought detergent and this recipe! Very cool! Check it out here ☆☆☆