Rainy Sunday

Some wonderful storms have been passing through our part of Florida today making for some fantastic nap time on the couch this afternoon. Both of my cats decided it was also time to curl up for a nap, so they joined me on the couch. I love moments like these. Makes the weekend all the more sweeter.

I took off Thursday and Friday last week from work and it was nice to have an extra long weekend. I made good use of the little bit of extra time and finished the remainder of the quilt blocks I need for my quilt top. On Saturday I sewed all 24 blocks together and got this:

I did not use any particular pattern, or plan. I simply strip pieced 12 inch squares and then chose them at random to sew together. I plan on adding a yellow border to it but for now I am beyond happy with how it turned out! For the photo I turned the top horizontally as to better clip it to the clothelines. I know, we are a no frills photo studio here at Chez Swing Kitten! Hopefully this week one day after work I will have time to put on the border.

Saturday I was pleased as punch to receive 2 vintage purchases in the mail. The first is this oh-so-charming vintage pattern. Just in time for some spring/summer sewing! I plan to sew up the short sleeved version. I purchased this pattern from a great Etsy seller estateofmind.

Great shop and sweet shop owner!

The other fantastic find was a piece of vintage feedsack. It's about 1 1/4 yards in length. Just enough for a sweet summer blouse. I think I have the perfect pattern in mind!

As if the weekend wasn't swell enough, I went to the Sabres vs. Panthers game last night in Sunrise. A great time was had by all and Buffalo took the game. Let's Go Buffalo!

Confessions

Hi peeps! Happy Monday is the new Funday, right?? Right?? Well maybe I'm the only one on board with that concept. I have to admit that getting up today was a *tad* bit tougher then usual. Something about the darkness at 6: 00 am makes me want to snooze.....But I digress.
On this Monday Funday I have a couple confessions to make.

Confession #1 is that I am a *tiny* bit obsessed with those chocolate lave cakes I made last week. I made them again on Saturday night and promptly ate one. Then on Sunday I ate 2. Yum.

Confession #2 is that I secretly, or not so secretly, want to be British. I dream of my own Mr. Darcy emerging from a lake, preferably shirtless, and he says "I like you just as you are". Oh wait, I think that's a different movie, same Mr. Firth. Anywho, I share a love of scones and tea with the British, as well as, lush English countrysides and English manor houses, and Liberty fabric. Do I really have to lead my relatively boring little life here in the U.S.??

Okay, enough of the confessions. For today anyway. I was busy sewing over the weekend and finished my 1972 wrap skirt using my lovely Amy Butler Love fabric. I really like the way it turned out. I used this pattern: ___________________________>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I don't recall where I bought this pattern but it was years ago. I made view 1, without the pockets. I think the skirt has enough going on with
just the wrap and the tie. Sometime soon I'll take a photo of me actually wearing it. Still waiting for the weather to warm up!

I also worked some on my strip pieced quilt. I am slowly plugging along on it. I am hoping to make it full size for my bed. I made blocks 17, 18 and 19 this weekend. I am aiming for 24, twelve inch blocks with a sizeable border.

Hopefully one day inthe not so distant future I will have enough blocks finished to start piecing the front!


Well peeps, I am tired on this Monday Funday night and it's almost time for bed already! I will leave you with my ode to the British.....scones! Hot from the oven. Will make getting out of bed on Tuesday a great time!

Spring Wardrobe Preview

Perhaps it's the cooler then normal winter in Florida but lately I have been itching to make some new spring/summer tops. As usual, my project list is a mile long but over the past 2 weeks I made a concerted effort to sew up a couple tops. The first is a top I made using the Spring Top tutorial at the Sew Mama Sew blog. I whipped it up using a Heather Bailey floral print from the Nicey Jane collection. Now I am just waiting for some hot summer temps to give this top a go!

The second top I made using Simplicity 2599. I had seen this top made in a couple different versions over at Angry Chickens blog and finally broke down and bought the pattern. The bonus is that the fabric cost me less then the pattern; $3.00 a yard on sale at the local fabric shop. Score! I like the way it turned out, and the ruffles weren't as difficult as I had imagined.

Next on my list of projects is to sew up a wrap skirt using a 1972 Simplicity skirt pattern, and some fabric from Amy Butler's Love collection. I have used this pattern once before and liked the results so a second wrap skirt is in order! While I'm at work I tend to daydream about all the things I want to sew, and look forward to the sewing time that the weekend will bring. What are you dreaming of sewing lately?

Chocolate Lava Goodness

Welcome to my small corner of the internets! *Rolls out welcome mat*. I have been wanting to start a blog for, I don't know, 2 years maybe. I figured today was as good a day as any and here I am! I was wishing today, like most Mondays, that the weekend was longer. After work, I needed a pick me up. I started reading Lunch in Paris by Elizabeth Bard last week and I am already feeling inspired; the chocolate lava cake recipe has been calling my name! Tonight was the night and I must say, I am mighty happy with the results. Delish!

Another thing making me happy this Monday is my toy poodle Lola. She never ceases to put a smile on my face! Happy puppy = Happy Mama. Monday can be the new fun day, right??