Picnics and Fairgrounds by DS Quilts

Picnics and Fairgrounds by DS, a photo by Red Pepper Quilts on Flickr.

My favorite blog I stalk daily,  Red Pepper Quilts, just got this today.  And needless to say I have some serious FABRIC ENVY.  I know, I'm crazy.  I'm really happy for Rita, because if anyone should get it first, it should be her.  She makes the most amazing quilts.  The one she made in the US prints was lovely.  She so inspires me.  I comment on her blog (and probably annoy her), but she really does inspire me.  If I ever go to Australia, I'm gonna want to meet her.  Rita, if you read this, I've been meaning to tell you something...I think you should design a line of fabrics.  No, seriously.  From an experienced quilter like yourself, I think you'd really have something special and unique.  And of course, you know that it would be a smashing hit.

OK...back to DS Quilt fabric:
 I want this so so so bad. Its like a drug to me. Anyone in Australia want to buy me a half yard bundle?
Pretty please?
With cherries on top?
I'll be your best friend!

Progress

Here is an update on my latest quilt.  Just thought I'd share and update of my progress.

Again I really love these fabrics!  The piecing came together so easily and fast.  I almost feel like I under-challenged myself with this one.  But really the challenge is yet to come.

I plan to use a walking foot for the quilting this time!  It will be my first time using the Walking Foot, but I think it'll be pretty easy.  Since my one and only quilt shop is closing today, I am dependant on YouTube for direction and teaching.  Thanks to all the quilters on the interweb for sharing your knowledge for free!  Wish me luck!

Hugs,
Lindsay

my week so far

Wow!  Its only Wednesday.

Don't those lips look so sweet? 

I mean I just want to kiss my little man all the time.  But I can't, right now anyway.  Jack woke up on Sunday from his nap with a fever and it hasn't ceased since.  Poor little guy.  Hope it breaks soon.  Its not like him to hardly eat and lay around all day.  You may be wondering about that rag under his chiny chin chin is.  That the baby blanket, aka 'Silky,' I made him when he was born.  The silk is left over fabric from my wedding dress.

 I still love my dress.

And then I used a grey flannel for backing and had his initials embroidered on it in orange.  Can you tell how much he loves it?  The travel sized one looks pretty new still.  Most of its wear and tare happened during the lovely teething months.  Yes, he chewed on the corners.  It was totally grouse!  I may end up re-sewing more silk on the front for him soon.  I'm afraid he's gonna choke himself in his sleep.  Well back to my sewing table since he is ocupado with off and on napping and watching tv.

♥
Lindsay

Up next!

All I have to say is Yummy!  I am so in LOVE with this stash I've collected.  Turquoise, brown, peach, and yellow.  This is gonna be a really cute one.  Stay tuned:D

XO,
Lindsay

I ❤ Play Dates

My I ❤ Play Dates Quilt is finished.  Yeah!  This is my first quilt up for sale.  And I must say, it will be hard to part with.  It was really fun to make and I really enjoy looking at these prints.  I envision my mom playing with them when she was little.  She really was a cute little girl.  I hope it becomes a loved favorite of a very special little girl.  Well, all little girls are special, but you know what I mean;D  I learned quite a bit making this quilt.  Its my second time machine quilting; so there was definately some learning there.  Now I know what Rita over at Red Pepper Quilts means by 'quilt wrangling'.  She so inspires me.  There were a couple other things I learned while piecing the blocks too.  Being a child's quilt I'm sure my little errors will go unnoticed.  

the front has 16 blocks

 detail shot of 4 blocks

and the backing in white flannel:)

Quilt measures: 39" x 49"

Front fabrics contain 100% cotton designer 1930s-50s reproduction prints from 'Play Date' by Nancy Mahoney for P&B textiles, Aunt Grace Classics, and Kona cotton solid White.

On the back is solid white FLANNEL for a cuddle up feel, and stripes of Polka Dot in Scarlet by Bonnie & Camille for Moda Fabrics.

Prints: Valentine Hearts & Bows, Girl with Toy Dog, and Mini Flowers.
Colors: Royal Blue, Barbie pink, Minty/Sage Green, and a soft Ruby Red.

I ❤ Play Dates Quilt is for sale here.

And I got a little carried away and went ahead and made a coordinating mini Doll Quilt just for fun.  I think I like it even more than the lap/toddler quilt.

 

The mini Doll Quilt is a simple coin quilt and fit perfectly on my left over coordinating Fat Quarter.

The 'I ❤ Play Dates Doll Quilt' measures 16" x 19" and is for sale here.

Both quilts are for sale in my Simply Mae Shop.

I think I'll try a using the walking foot for my next quilting experience.  The darning foot is gonna take some getting used to and lots of practice.

Have a wonderful Monday everyone!

Linds

Modern Amish?

Okay I realize I need to explain where the name 'Modern Amish' came from. 

 

Last summer we vacationed in Montana, as we do every summer, and visited an Amish community there.  We've had it on our to do list for a few years, but finally made the drive from Kalispell up to just below the border of Canada in the middle of no where to dine with the Amish.  I have to admit it was not what I was hoping for.  We paid a $10/person fee to eat at their diner/gift shop/market open on Fridays, which was actually very pleasant, but seemed very modern.  They used central lighting and had lot of amenities like refrigerators, freezers, a bathroom, processed foods and a cash register!  Lets just say they were prepared for tourists like us.  I'm pretty sure they set it up this way so we city folk can get a taste of their lifestyle w/out getting uncomfortable.  I heard beforehand that Amish people host these dinners as a way to educate others and bring in new people to their community, but we had little interaction with them.  Yes the did serve us food, but were much like any other waitress.

After we ate, I explored the gift shop with my girlfriend (also a sewist), and thats when I fell in love with quilts (again).  They probably weren't the typical Amish quilts, but I still loved them and wished I had photographed them.  They were made with all sorts of colors and fabrics.  No colors any Amish pupil would ever wear, which is probably why they became a quilt.  There was lots of handmade items in their shop from soap to jams and cards to cookbooks.  Hmmm and the Huckleberry Jam!  I wish I still had some.

After the shop we went for a walk.  Above, is a picture of me and my family in front of the school house.  The school house reminded me of Little House on the Prairie show with a teeter-totter, and merry-go-round.  The school also had outhouses; one for boys and one for girls, unlike the shop where tourist need proper sanitary restrooms.  Next we headed to their furniture warehouse.  The business' receptionist (not Amish), gave us the tour.  This my husband was very excited about (he has a masters in furniture design).  How did the Amish do it?  I'll tell you...very modern.  Yep thats right, they used machines!  Big machines.  Factory machines.   Although we only saw one or two Amish men working I'm sure they had more staff, possibly not Amish.  I was shocked...although they used machines, they did a lot of wood working by hand.  Beautiful pine cabin style furniture which was sold and shipped to various stores in the States.  Again, no convos with the Amish here. 

As we were leaving a family pulled up on a horse drawn wagon.  I stopped and stared.  I caught myself in embarrassment, but kept on checking them out like a girl does at a High School prom.  The wagon had huge rubber tires, not wooden or metal as one would expect.  The ladies were lovely, in their traditional solid grey, navy, and brown dresses with their delicate white bonnets.  The little girl caught my eye.  She was staring at me as well.  First I wondered what she thought of us.  Then I wondered, what does the world look like from her perspective?  How do they deal with life?  What are her biggest dilemmas?  What are her dreams?  We exchanged smiles.  Again, they didn't seam interested in introductions.  We headed to our big black truck and drove away.  I kept thinking that was odd.  I wish we had a chance to talk.  Now of course I have to visit again someday.

About a month later, Joe and I were on a date, parked watching the sunset over the ocean.  I told him I was thinking of starting a small business and I had visions of bonnets, quilts, aprons, simple garments... and I really liked the name... Modern Amish.  

So there you have it.  Sorry, I'm a wordy one.  Hope you don't mind and come back to visit.

XO,

Linds

Mo Mo Quilt is Ah Nun!

Sorry for the long pause between posts.  Its been rather busy around here, but the good news is, I've had time to work on my quilts.  This makes me happy.

Jack calls motorcycles, 'mo mos' and "ah nun" is Jack's way of saying 'all done.'  Here it is:

This is the top of the quilt.  

It being my first time I've machine quilted I must say I'm very proud of the way the outline quilting turned out.  To add detail to the panel I outline quilted the racers/bikes in each block and around the tire marks that frame the blocks.  Can't wait to wash it and see how the crinkle turns out.  Machine quilting is gonna take some getting used to, but I like that its faster than hand quilting.  Being a perfectionist, however, it hard for me to be happy with its imperfection.  Thankfully my first subject is only 2 years old and loves it.

This is the back.  

My favorite print in this line is the bottom one (also used for binding).  Its stripes of tires, and chains. 

The happy boy and his quilt.

Quilt measures 41" x 59"
Fabric Panel, Backing, Binding, and Outer Boarder:  Xtreme Sports Motocross by South Sea Imports
Inner Border:  Hit the Gas Racing Checks Black by Dan Morris for Robert Kaufman Fabrics


And here is an update on the Play Date Quilt. 

  The top is finished and I'm all set to begin the quilting.

  I'm thinking hearts...what do you think?  We'll see how well this goes.

Keep you posted.