Breaking Trails

I've lived in Buffalo for almost 3 years now, and I just found a new bike path that I never knew existed. It runs along Ellicott Creek east from the "Boulevard" to the UB campus. We went for a bike ride today and came across it by happenstance. Glad I brought my camera. You never know what you're going to come across...

I AM MOVING.....

I am moving my quilting blog to a new site:

This Squirrel's a Quiltin'

Come join me as I continue this strange new journey through fabric and thread......

In the Good Ol' Summertime Mini Quilt Swap, Part III

I just wanted to post some pics...



Nice bright strips of fabric, the camera doesn't do them justice.









Now, what are we going to do with these squares, I wonder?












Is that a rose I see, or something entirely different?






Keep watching this space! More to come...

In the Good Ol' Summertime Mini Quilt Swap, Part II

I have finally gotten around to thinking about my Mini-quilt for the swap. Part of my problem was that I had bought the perfect fabrics without knowing what my partner would want... and they are the type of fabrics they asked for. Then I just needed the pattern. After my magazine run on Sunday, I found the perfect pattern. Now I just need to get to cutting... more sneak peaks to follow....

Brown Bear Elmer

I love teddy bears; always have. I found "The Teddy Bear Making Book" by Brian and Donna Gibbs several years ago in a discount book store for $5, and I wasn't really sure what I was going to do with it. I just knew that I liked teddy bears, and one day I might like to sew one.

Fast forward to this spring when I bought my sewing machine, and I decided to try my hand at making my first bear. I later made a second one for my husband's birthday to go along with the quilt I made him.

This weekend I finished my third. I will call him, "Elmer." Don't know why. Just looks like an Elmer to me. Elmer will be gracing my shelf and watching over me as I sew. I had planned him as a gift, but he's just so masculine looking. Look at those shoulders. Not at all cute enough for a 3 year old.

I guess I will just have to start looking at fabric for bear #4.

A New Find, A Great Giveaway

I was reading my list of favorite quilter blog sites (posted on the right side of my blog here) and started following some links within their blogs. I came across this great site Dye Candy by a woman named Chris, and she's having a Giveaway to boot!


This is from her collection... isn't it yummy? Almost too pretty to cut... almost.
Here are the links to her sites, enjoy!

Dye Candy Giveaway Link
Shady Grove Studios on Etsy - quilt block jewelry
Dye Candy on Etsy - her gorgeous fabrics

Good luck!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like... Not Really

As I sit here in 80 degree weather with high humidity, it's hard to think about the cool snowy days of December. That is, until I received a package in the mail the other day... It's the Crazy Eight fabric by Sandy Gervais for Moda.

I had found a pattern in the book "Scrap Basket Surprises" by Kim Brackett called "Christmas Ribbons" that I really liked and began to think about the fabrics I would use.

I love reindeer (all my Christmas decorations have a reindeer theme including the whole "Reindeer" dinnerware collection from Pottery Barn) and had been fabric "window browsing" online when I saw this fabric.

Voila! Pattern and fabric... what a perfect blend.

I am busy trying to finish several other projects, but as soon as I start laying out fabric and cutting I will add this to the project list.... till then, I'll just stare at it on the shelf... daydreaming... thinking of colder weather....