Monthly Archives

June 2014

work in progress

works in progress: orange edition.

Posted on June 25, 2014
Round Log Cabin Block by Kim Soper/Leland Ave Studios

Orange love.

I am excited to tell you, all of the blocks for my orange-y, queen-sized quilt top have been completed! There are a few left to square off before I can choose my layout and start assembling, but the end is near, and I’m not sure if I’m more excited. . . or my husband! Ha! He’s been living this quilt right along with me and I think he’s (rightfully) exhausted! You may remember, I’m making this quilt using a pattern I’m testing (that you are going to LOVE, by the way!!) for the talented Kirsty at Bonjour Quilts. It’s the largest project I’ve ever taken on, to date, and with a timeframe to work in, I’ve been sewing until late each evening to make sure I finish on time!  (er, uh, relatively on time?)

I’m not usually an “orange person” but this year, I don’t think I’ve made a single quilt that didn’t have at least some orange fabric in it. Which leads me to my blocks for June’s do. Good Stitches. It’s a very cool globe-shaped log cabin, which you can see in its entirety by Cath at Wombat Quilts. Doesn’t that look fantastic? Here’s where I’m at so far:

June do. Good Stitches.

Clearly, I need to hustle!

So how about you, do you find yourself in an orange haze this year? Or is it just me? I know Pantone picked Radiant Orchard as it’s color of the year for 2014, but I am convinced it should have been some kind of orange! Amiright?

Okay, and last but not least! At the suggestion of Michelle at From Bolt to Beauty, I’m going to try linking to Lee at Freshly Pieced! My first link party ever. . . so wish me luck!

creativity

our little garden.

Posted on June 19, 2014
kim Soper/ leland ave studios

baby tomatoes

Hi, there! Check this out! All of the rain we’ve been having has been great for our little garden. We are starting to see tiny buds of veg peeking out from under the leaves, and it is making us (me) very happy!  I assembled our raised bed garden from a kit that I purchased online, and it’s the perfect size for my little guys to tend.

As I assembled the garden bed, I started thinking about what it is that makes us want to both quilt and garden (for a little #growandsew inspiration, check out Jeni Baker’s community patch, Golden Willow’s lovely garden and of course the stunning garden of SouleMama)? I can come up with lots of reasons, but I’m not sure which one fits me. Is it the need to be doing? Both quilting and gardening are ways of being productive at home, inside and out. Is it the desire to make things from scratch? Making a quilt from scraps and seeing a seedling grow into tomorrow’s dinner is fulfilling. Knowing where it came from. It’s important. Is it a connection to a simpler time and how people lived before us? When asked, I usually explain to people that making quilts is a form of practical art to me, not necessarily about doing something that’s tied to tradition and the past. But maybe I’m kidding myself? Maybe it’s a little bit of all of the above.

pepper buds

 

How about you? Do you find yourself drawn to gardening in the summer? What’s your theory on why we quilt and garden alike? I’m not sure about where you live, but I am the only one of my friends that sews. A few have gardens. Most think I’m kind of a nerd for sitting at home making quilts! They’re both impressed and bewildered. Do you find you get that reaction, too?

work in progress

on my mind.

Posted on June 11, 2014
Kim Soper/ Leland Ave Studios

 

looking north

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about my home. Specifically our space. How we use it. How much we have in it. How it’s decorated.  I want our home to be a place of comfort, of safety; and I want everything in the home to add value to our lives. I want everything to have a place. And to feel calm, not chaotic. I know that sounds a little ridiculous with three boys ages 5, 3 and 2. (Especially if you read this, which is really accurate – and funny). But, to the extent that this can be achievable (and here’s an article that has some tips for doing so), I want to try. I want to pare down our “stuff.” And make the belongings we have, more meaningful. So far, I’ve been tossing or donating one item a day. It’s been a few weeks, so there’s been some progress, but in full disclosure — it hasn’t made much of a dent!

So, what’s this got to do with quilting you ask? Well, to make an already long story short (sorry!), you may remember that I currently sew at my dining room table. Which is not ideal, because it’s the only table in the house.  It means I have to move my works-in-progress and put them away. A LOT. But I do it, because sewing is my creative and emotional outlet. Amidst the chaos, it brings me calm. But lately. . .that’s just the sewing time. The rest of the time, when I see my machine on the table, and the ironing board out, and pieces of fabric all over the chairs, and I know I’m going to have to move it because it’s almost time to eat. . . well, it stresses me out!

So, can you help a girl out?!?! Please tell me: what are some of your solutions for keeping things related to your sewing manageable and contained? Do you have a dedicated “studio” space in your house? Do you limit yourself to specific-sized projects? a specific-sized stash? or do you have other ways to make sure your sewing doesn’t creep in and overwhelm the non-sewing spaces in your house? I’d love to know!

work in progress

sneak peekery.

Posted on June 9, 2014
Diamonds in the Deep by Kim Soper/Leland Ave Studios

Diamonds in the Deep by Kim Soper/Leland Ave Studiossneak peekery.I thought it was time to share just a glimpse of the project I’ve been stitching away on over the past few weeks. I’m so excited to be working on a project with Kirsty over at Bonjour Quilts! I’m testing the queen-sized version of her soon-to-be-released pattern, and I can tell you for certain, it is just lovely! I’m not going to give away the complete picture (because there’s no fun in that!), but I wanted to share a taste of how things are coming along, and maybe — just maybe — get you excited to purchase the real deal when it becomes available in the near future!

Because the quilt is queen-sized, this picture doesn’t even show where the blocks are laid on the carpet underneath my couch! It’s HUGE! I’ve never made something so big before, and it’s both daunting and fun in an am-I-crazy?!?! kind of way! So far, the pattern has been a breeze to follow. The instructions are so clear, with picture tutorials on how to cut and construct the blocks as well as for construction of the final quilt (once I get to it!). My biggest challenge is finding time to fit in sewing now that it’s the perfect weather to be . . .

Jones Beach

here.

But it’s raining today, which is a good thing for the garden and my sewing goals. I can’t wait to share the finished project with you! The final reveal will have drama and impact, and I promise, you’ll be totally in love!