the first step is...

admitting you have a problem! Last week I received five packages of fabric that I had ordered, all pictured above (Denyse Schmidt, Jennifer Paganelli, and just a smidge of Amy Butler). It was a glorious occasion I must say. But, oops. I didn't realize that I had ordered quite that much. Ok, so I love fabric. What can I say?! I have big plans for all of this! What do you think I should do with it?!!

p.s. don't tell, but I ordered more this week.....

tutorial: bookmark this!

Hi! Welcome to my first tutorial! Forgive me if I leave anything out! Also, this is my first try with altering my photos with text, so forgive the differences in font sizes. I am trying to improve my tech-savviness so just bear with me.

This bookmark came about this morning while I was working on an order. I cut the ends off of a 2" strip I had cut to make ruffles and I was left with 2 2"x 6.5" pieces of fabric. I thought to myself, 'hey, this looks like a bookmark', and the idea just flowed from there.

I missed pictures of the very first steps, so here is how you get started:

1. Cut 2 2"x6.5" strips of your choice fabric.

2. Draw letters (inverted) on to the back side of your fabric with pen. (you can also use any shape that you want. I cut around a floral shape on one of my scraps to enhance my design a little bit).

3. (this is text on the picture below, but I wanted to type it again here as it turned out so small). Following manufacturer's instructions, iron your letters to fusible web (that you can sew on).

This is a little small too, so this one below says:

cut your letters/ shapes out.

Now you take your 2 pieces of fabric and sandwich a piece of felt between them. The felt should be just slightly larger than the edge of the fabric.

This was really easy and quick to do. It is great for a gift for a teacher or friend, or even do a manly one for your husband. You can personalize it with a name or monogram, a school logo, or any holiday or theme. Really, the possibilities are endless with this one.

This only took me 45 minutes, including the time it took me to locate my fusible web, and retrieve my camera and take photos, so you can do this one too!

**A little off subject, but something really cool of a personal nature. I had chosen in January for the word LOVE to be my 'one word' for this year. I chose it because I am always repeating the word LOVE in my head when I am feeling frustrated towards someone. It helps me remember this:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

I didn't even realize when I was making this, that it was my 'word'. I was only thinking of Valentine's Day and trying to have something small to give my kids' teachers as a gesture. (remembering last year when I didn't and was left thinking 'teacher's gifts for Valentine's Day?! really??!)

But then it hit me.

This was my word.

So I'm keeping this one.

in the land of pattern testing...

Lately, I feel like I have been living in the land of pattern testing. In December I had the opportunity to test a quilt pattern for Patty Young - the Hummingbird Quilt. I was very happy to be chosen to test the pattern and overall it was a very rewarding experience. The best part was getting a big box of fabric from Patty's newest line in the mail! I actually used some of the scraps from this hummingbird quilt in the quilt I made for my daughter for Christmas. (see 2 posts back, quilt of love 2) Patty released her newest set of patterns towards the end of January and all of the patterns look great. I got my copies of the pattern from Patty last week and it was really neat to see the quilt I had created on the pattern.

The down-low on making the quilt.... aka pattern review:

The quilt was really easy to do, great for a beginner that wants to try quilting but hasn't had the confidence. Using Patty's new double border daisy design in her newest collection, Flora & Fauna, there is virtually no work at all for the background. Just simply cut it to the correct length. The backing is also just one piece of fabric. I love the back almost more than the front! The daisies are irresistible! All the flowers and the hummingbird are raw edge appliques and Patty explains each step in her pattern very simply. It did take some time, but not the kind of time some quilts take. All quilts take some time and that is why they are so lovely. *This quilt used the mustard colorway of Patty's new flora & fauna collection. And I have to mention that I love all of the polka dots in this collection!

There will be more to come from the land of pattern testing in the weeks to come. I just finished testing a pattern for another fabric/ pattern designer last weekend, and received another in the mail yesterday from yet another pattern designer. Keep watching for reveals on these but for right now I'm not allowed to say anything. Mums the word.