Pillow Talk

It was time for a new look for my bed. You all know I have a short attention span, right?

Here's what I wanted:

My Road to Redemption quilt. It's coming along, just slowly. And definitely not ready for a bed yet. Sigh.

So, I made a couple of new pillowcases with some Tanya Whelan fabric and put on a quilt my sister so graciously gave to me a few years back. It's beautiful. (Oh yes, there is some Heather Bailey in there too. I don't usually get too far from her, do I?)

Not to be outdone, Emilie asked for a purple pillowcase. Purple is not my favorite color, so I don't tend to have a lot around. But I did have some of this vintage tablecloth left. It's surprisingly soft. Add in some Jennifer Paganelli and Amy Butler and this was the result:

Now everyone's happy! (except Anna, she wants one too!)

I need to thank you all so much for your sweet comments. I love feedback and my husband is always like, "Oh, that's nice." Such a guy! So you all are my confidence builders.

O God, thou hast taught me from my youth, and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Psalm 71: 17
Love,

xoxo

Hook, Line and Sinker

used with permission from the Rose hip blog

Jennifer Paganelli recently featured Beata from Rose hip on her blog. What I saw was such an inspiration to me! I have become one of Beata's biggest fans. Anyway, one of the things she features is a pattern to make these flower pillows. I haven't crocheted since I was pregnant with Nathan, over six years ago. When I mentioned that I thought I wanted to crochet again to my mother-in-law, she gave me a huge box full of yarn that belonged to her mother. It's all wool, even some mohair and in perfect condition. And every color of the rainbow. This really touched me. It also was full of crochet hooks and knitting needles. I don't know how to knit, but if I ever want to learn I definitely have the equipment. Anyway, these are the products of my inspiration:

Anna

Emilie

Maggie my niece.

Don't forget Holly.

Moms like to feel pretty too.

Love,

xoxo

Me

Oh, I hope you still read my last post, but this just came up! I'm a contestant in a contest called, So You Think You Can Quilt and I've just been introduced on the blog. Go there and check it out. And make sure you go back at the end of February to vote. We can't tell which quilt is ours or anything like that, but isn't it fun? All the suspense and lots of great quilters. I got two people to sign up that I know about and they are both better quilters than me, so I'm just hoping to last more than one month. (Oh please don't let me be the first to go!) This feels like a reality show or something. So here's the link, check it out: http://sugarnspicecreations.blogspot.com/

Love,

xoxo

Two New Chefs

Ever since I bought this fabric last fall, Anna has been telling me I could only use it to make her an apron. And today I finally did -- for her and Holly! Aren't they sweet? I just love wrap-around aprons.

The fabric is Tina Given's Cloe's Imagination.


'This is what the Sovereign LORD says:


" 'Put on the cooking pot; put it on

and pour water into it.  Ezekiel 24:3
 
 
Love,

xoxo

Something Pretty

Love,

xoxo

Coming Up Roses

Have I told you I am ready for spring? I am SO into Jennifer Paganelli and Tanya Whelan's older lines right now. It's a good thing for me because they are still available but mostly on clearance! So I've been buying a little spring over here at Lilac Lane. Now what to make?

Oh, you see a little Heather Bailey Nicey Jane in there too? Yeah, that wasn't on sale! Or the Amy Butler Love. But so beautiful.

Here are the Fiskars scissors I won from the Sew Mama Sew challenge. Go over there now! There are so many great prizes they are giving away in February. (Including something from me pretty soon!) Thank you Sew Mama Sew and Fiskars!

Love,

xoxo

Craft Hope

Hi! Go on over to Craft Hope's Etsy page.  They are raising money for Haiti. All proceeds go there. I donated a child's apron. (It sold already.) But check them out. Everything is beautiful.

Love,

xoxo

Child's Activity Bag Tutorial

My second Moda Bake Shop project is up! This time it's a child's activity bag to keep your kiddo occupied in the car, at church, or just when they need a little something to do. Fill it with crayons and coloring books, books to read, puzzles, games, toys, etc. I absolutely love this fabric, Love U, by Deb Strain. It makes such cute bags and they are distinctly boy and girl. I hope you can use this! I sure have over the past year. It's one of my very best sellers at Creations Gallery. Let me know when you make one and post it in the Moda Bake Shop flickr pool.

Love,

xoxo

a Skirt Day

It's 60 degrees today! In Kansas they say if you don't like the weather, just wait an hour. It's practically true ( last week we had -25!) This January weather must have the girls ready for bright days. They picked out their own outfits this morning. (Although Anna fed off of what Emilie picked.) I made all these skirts including Holly the Dolly's.

Here's a better picture of Emilie's bubble skirt, which she absolutely adores.

Anna made herself this awesome necklace this morning. Isn't it cute? Such a good idea to add flowers.

I'm ready for spring too.

Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. Song of Solomon 2:12

Love,

xoxo

a Dozen Quilters

Last fall I started a quilt group called A Dozen Quilters (there are twelve of us.) It has been such a fun experience. You should really go over there to be inspired to make more quilts! Anyway, here are the blocks I've made so far. Each month I make one for me and one for the person whose turn it is. Here are mine:

Our first month was Becky's month. She wanted a red and aqua 12" square.

Then it was Carmen's month. She wanted a twelve inch block of Shabby Chic strips.

Last month was my sister Christy's month. She wanted a square called Jack-in-the-box in a bright 60's print with a white background.

Now it's Gayly's month. She sent us this "oops" fabric and told us to use a color from it to make a 15" star of our choice. This one is called Missouri Puzzle.

I haven't sent the packages out yet. I'm waiting for a couple more addresses. Make sure you send me yours if you left a comment earlier.

Did I mention it feels SO GOOD to quilt?

Love,

xoxo

Fabric Giveaway Winners

It's a warm 20 degrees today here at Lilac Lane! I mean, that really feels warm. Leisel at Brown Paper Packages is having a quilting contest. It requires you to make one quilt a month for several months (10 or 11, I can't remember). And just to be in it, you have to audition! Isn't that fun? Go see her beautiful blog and sign up!

Drumroll . . . and the winners are: everyone! If you sent me a comment saying you wanted fabric, e-mail me your address at pharmacist4444@yahoo.com Your comments touched me so much. And there is plenty for everyone who commented. Thank you! And if you need a little post-holiday cheer-up, read these comments. They are beautiful.

I won Fiskars products just for making Christmas presents. Sew, Mama, Sew! had a giveaway for making reusable grocery bags, and I won! I can't believe it, but I am so, so happy. By the way, you really should follow that site. They always have something going on.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, rejoice! Philippians 4:4

Love,

xoxo

Lilac Lane Giveaway

It's ridiculously cold here at Lilac Lane. The weathermen say the wind chill will be -25! Tomorrow school will start two hours late, but I'm hoping for a complete call off. I don't want to go out in that!

Well, it's a new year and time for new goals. My sewing instructor, Kim, suggested I make a word goal for the year. I thought about it, and I decided I am tired. I stressed myself out so much this past year with deadlines and making so many, many things to sell. I actually went through 250 Lilac Lane labels! So, this year will be all about family. I will sew quilts, which I love, and things for my kids. Maybe something here and there for family and friends. And I will continue with Moda Bake Shop and a couple of other projects in the works. But no more sewing to sell. Not this year. When I told my husband, he said, "Thank you!"

And my word for the year? Beautiful. I will spend my time making life here beautiful. I will not waste my time on things I don't consider beautiful. And I will be VERY selective with my fabric choices. Only beautiful will be bought.

How does this affect you? I don't think very much. Most of you sweet friends are sewing people as well. I've only sold two things in my Etsy shop since it opened. It will mostly affect my actual store.

So I cleaned out my sewing room and here is what did not make the cut:

That's a lot of fabric! So I'm giving it away. I'll probably divide it into I don't know how many packages. If you would like some, and only if you do, please leave me a comment. Tell me the best or funniest or most touching Christmas story you have. I'll pick the ones I like and send you some fabric! Some is current, most is a little bit older. Some is designer, some is not. There's lots of every color if you would like to specify one. There's also this embroidery kit, partially started.

It makes a baby blanket and pillow.

And this panel:

And He was saying to them, "Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him." Mark 4:24-25

Love,

xoxo

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! My husband and I spent the weekend with Todd's brother and his wife at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs. It was such an elegant and beautiful place.

Then my little Nathan had to go and turn six. He had a John Deere birthday party.

And here's what is outside of my house this morning.

That's my world. Hope yours is beautiful for 2010 as well.

Love,

xoxo