Monthly Archives

July 2014

thinking about – but not actually – sewing.

Posted on July 30, 2014

Back of Chicopee Quilt for Jane by Kim Soper/Leland Ave Studios

In my mind, I am sewing. In reality, I am not. It has been a busy few weeks in our household, full of good things – birthdays, gatherings with friends, dinners out, another birthday (which happens to fall on our anniversary) coming up this weekend, and then a vacation. So, I’m sorry to say that while sewing has not been happening – it is not about to start up again any time soon.

In the meantime, while my dining room has been packed up from its studio-state and serving its original purpose as an actual place to eat, we have decided to split functions on the guest bedroom and make that my new home — once we have the chance. There’s an electrician involved so that I can actually have some overhead light to see what I’m doing, and an IKEA desk that arrived last Friday sans hardware. So progress has been slow. A few steps forward followed by a few steps back.

I’m also doing a lot of thinking about my Diamonds in the Deep quilt. Of concern: what fabric to use on the back; who I should use for long arm services; and whether or not it’s worth trying to enter it for QuiltCon. So, as you see, there has been much sewing on the brain and in fantasy-land. Just not here on earth.

Last but not least, above is a picture of my latest block for do. Good Stitches. It’s an improv flower based loosely on this tutorial, but also using the methods I practiced in Victoria Findlay Wolfe’s 15 Minutes of Play class. It’s fun. It’s easy. And a great scrap-buster!

Okay, party people. It’s time for me to referee a backyard game of something-or-other gone awry, so I will leave you until we meet again — hopefully in a new “studio”, with some new projects to share, and a much more committed schedule of communication. Until then, I hope you are having a great summer and I’ll talk to ya soon! xo

work in progress

an unexpected project.

Posted on July 11, 2014

Tooth Pillow by Kim Soper/Leland Ave Studios

I should have expected it. I should have known this day was coming. With kindergarten complete and a best friend missing two teeth, it was only a matter of time. But my oldest son – my first baby – has his first loose tooth. He’s elated. He can’t wait for it to fall out. I am So. So. Sad. I could handle hearing that he’s a “first grader”. I don’t like it, but I accept that he is starting to only want to play with boys (because girls are “icky”). I get it. But those beautiful baby teeth! Noooooooooooo! Here’s the photo proof. I hope you’re not squeamish!

So here I find myself, scrambling to put together a pillow for the tooth fairy, because with the way that thing is hanging in his mouth by a thread, I have a feeling she’s going to be here sooner rather than later. Waaaaahhhhh!

It was the first time using a decorative stitch on my machine, so writing his name took a significant amount of time, patience and love! I also made two sizes of piping, neither of which made their way onto the pillow because one was too large, the other too small, and unlike Goldilocks, my craft closet did not contain cording that was “just right.”

So I stitched it together just in case today is the day, and I’m linking up with TGIFF! Have a great weekend, friends!

Edit: I’m linking up with the small projects link party at Le Challenge, too! Be sure to stop by and check out the other fun small projects our crafty friends have been working on!

work in progress

2014 finish along – the solution to my problem.

Posted on July 8, 2014

long island modern sampler by kim soper/leland ave studios

I was just lamenting yesterday about all of the unfinished works that I re-discovered languishing in closets and corners of various rooms around the house this past weekend. And then I got a heads up from Michelle (who heard from Audrey) that The Littlest Thistle was hosting a finish-along, which was just the motivation I needed to commit to finishing some of these works-in-progress. What’s funny, is that some of the projects are actually quite close to completion and for some reason never made it to the finish line. So in the words of Billy Eichner: Away. We. Go!

1) My First, But Not My Last, Quilt – A picnic quilt.

You guys! This is seriously the first quilt I ever made. Kickin’ it old skool circa 2011! I lovingly cut each of my favorite fabrics into a triangle (I had no idea about half-square triangle tricks at the time). I sewed it together and was all like, “I’m gonna quilt it in the same pattern as the chevrons.” And then I realized just how hard that was, as a novice, to do with a twin-sized quilt. So I quietly folded the quilt up and stuck it in the bottom of the linen closet. And there it stayed for three years. It’s totally time to finish this baby up!

2) It’s a Man’s World – Lap quilt.

This is another early work of mine. I was all “I’m gonna make something with quilter’s linens and put a houndstooth flannel on the back.” It was actually inspired by* this pin. I think it was seriously, like, my third pin ever, and I was smitten. And then when I finished, I realized my squares weren’t perfectly straight. So I got discouraged and quietly folded it up and stuck it on top of the picnic quilt, in the linen closet. I recently took it out and quilted it, imperfections and all. But I still need to pick a fabric for the binding.

(*oh did I say inspired by? I mean I basically tried to replicate. I was new to sewing — forgive me!)

3) LIMOD sampler – size unknown.

This one is up to me. But I’d like to have it completed by the time our guild reconvenes in September. There are ideas swirling in my head as to how I will tie them all together, but I’m not quite sure as of yet.

I think that’s seriously all I can handle making promises on for now. I’d like to see some more progress on my birds, but there’s another project that I’ve barely started that I’d like to get moving on, too. So the rest I’ll just leave to fate!

Check out all of the fantastic finishes from last quarter, and all the potential for finishes ahead at The Littlest Thistle!

work in progress

weekend snippets.

Posted on July 7, 2014

Gypsy Wife Blocks by Kim Soper/Leland Ave Studios

Honestly, it is hard to believe the Fourth of July has come and gone! This year is moving much faster in reality than it is in my head. . .

I hope you had a lovely weekend (either here in the US, or wherever you may be). Ours was a little bit soggy to start, but by Saturday the sun was shining and there was no humidity — gorgeous! It basically doesn’t get any better than that!

While it rained, I got busy working on some of my Gypsy Wife blocks. (Here’s Crazy Anne and the Star Block complete.)

And all of that rain was great for the garden. . .

The rain was also a great opportunity to take stock of all of my unfinished projects and start making plans for when and how I am going to bring them to completion. Remember these guys???

I even pulled out the first quilt I ever made, which is still sitting half-quilted and waiting for a binding. I am making a promise to you all, my children will have a picnic on the beach sitting on this quilt before the summer is complete! I’m counting on you guys to hold me to it!

Once the rain departed, we got down to business celebrating with friends and family. Last night we made this delicious peanut sesame slaw with soba noodles recipe from Cookie and Kate for a BBQ at the beach. It was a huge hit!

So that’s the story of our weekend! How was yours? Did you get much sewing accomplished? Did you gain a few lbs? I’m happy to say that I managed both, the signs of a good weekend, indeed!

work in progress

crazy anne with a plan.

Posted on July 2, 2014

It’s been a while since I’ve worked on anything with a color palette that didn’t involve some sort of orange, and I can only compare it to this: it’s like eating pizza every night for dinner and then finally eating some vegetables. You still really love pizza, but sometimes a salad is just the thing you need to keep yourself feeling well. That’s what it was like to pull out these gypsy wife fabrics, which have been accumulating in the closet since April! They were a delicious, good-for-my-soul treat!

The fact that I am so behind the schedule of most others working on this BOM really helped me to enjoy the process, too. There was no pressure to get things done within a specific time frame. I just allowed myself to play with all of the pieces of fabric, (and my new Alison Glass stash) and feel the creativity flow. Ahhhhhhhhh.

Next up, starting to tackle the 60 or so filler blocks!

So! How about you? What’s on the agenda for this week? Will you be sewing much over the 4th of July weekend? Hope you have a relaxing time, however you spend it!

Linking up with Lee at WIP Wednesday!

July 2014

thinking about – but not actually – sewing.

an unexpected project.

2014 finish along – the solution to my problem.

weekend snippets.

crazy anne with a plan.

lelandavestudios