cover-up . . .

Since swimming lessons is starting up next week, I made the girls some cover-ups to help make getting ready in the morning a little quicker (I have THE pickiest girls when it comes to what to wear). Here's a pic of Chantel's.

some things I've won that I'm super excited about . . .

So I like to frequent other blogs for inspiration, reviews, and their generous giveaways! And it just happens that I've won on two of my favorite blogs lately! The Fabric Shopper is not only full of great inspiration and reviews for sewing and quilting, they are continually featuring trendy fabric designers and beautiful fabric lines. My Organized Chaos is a review blog featuring modern baby and kids items with the occasional items for moms. So what did I win? From the Fabric Shopper, I won an Amy Butler Sweet Life bag - so gorgeous, and something for me! And from My Organized Chaos, I won a gift set of organic baby products from Nature's Paradise - perfect for our little one due next month and especially great because my babes often have sensitive skin and their products have all natural ingredients.

disappearing 9-patches . . .

So I've been playing in the sewing room, trying to find some inspiration for what project to start next. I did make a new dress for myself (and even wore it to church), and a simple summer tank top for myself, and a pair of summer pj's for Alyssa (which I need to improve the design of). But I'm feeling a little at a loss of what I "need" to make - hopefully I figure it out this week since I'm down to just Alyssa every morning while the other girls enjoy a summer program.

I also made six disappearing 9-patches with a bunch of fabric squares from a swap awhile back. But to finish them into a quilt, I think I'd like to get a whole bunch more blue squares, or alternate them with another color? I'll have to see . . .

Quilt-Along Quilt

There's been a quilt-along hosted by the Old Red Barn going on and I joined in. It was great motivation to keep on track with my progress and last night I finished up the last bit of the binding. I did a smaller version and made the blocks 7 strips wide so I would have the least bit of scraps leftover. The quilt is for Alyssa and her transition to a toddler bed when the baby arrives. It measures approx 60" x 45" so that's big enough to hang over the edges of the mattress or tuck it in.

The fabric is from Sandi Hendersen's ginger blossom - one of my favorite fabric lines and it was part of the prize from the baby bootie contest last year. For the borders, I used a scalloped ruler which I got as a Christmas gift this past year, and really wanted to try it out after seeing this quilt. The ruler was super-simple to use and I LOVE the finished look! I will definitely be doing that again! For the backing, I used a soft minkie (that I picked up at a half price sale at our local fabric store). I made sure to pick out one that wasn't super-stretchy and found it easier to free motion quilt than I thought it would be - I was fully prepared for it not to work and so happy that it did!

I also added a label (something I am not good at taking the time to do!). I handwrote it out first and then free motioned over the letters - again, something that was easier than I thought it would be and something I'll do again next time! So I hope that Alyssa will trade in her baby quilt for this one (especially if the new babe is a girl).