Let Me Be Honest

I'm loving the FWQAL. But I'm disliking very much these teeny tiny triangles.....they seem to be in all the blocks lately. To save myself from having to choose which blocks to make each week, I am going in the order in the book. Lately, each block has anywhere from 10-24 tiny triangles in it! Tiny triangles and me do not get along. Not to mention I am having trouble getting my blocks to be roughly the same size. I decided that once all 111 blocks are done, I'm going to add borders to some of them to even them up.

These blocks are: (from left to right) Darting Birds #27, Cups and Saucers #25, Cut Glass Dish #26. I like the Cut Glass Dish the best. I fell a little behind. I made 1 block last week, and 2 blocks this week. Ah well. Here we are. I realize it's not a competition so I'll just take it nice and slow.

As a distraction from my fwqal blocks, I stitched up this mini bow tie quilt top. I quite like it!It measures 24 1/2 by 24 1/2 inches and I think it will be bright an cheery on the wall. Not sure yet which wall but yay for fun sewing!

What have you been working on this week?

Getaway

Last weekend I hopped on a plane and went up to Boston for 2 nights. Though 2 nights are not nearly enough in that glorious city, we made the most of our time there for sure. My friend LD (0n the left in the photo below) met me there from Arizona. We got together with our friend Anne Marie (0n the right) to see Jordan Knight perform. (or as I told the guy at the car rental counter "my teenage dream") :) It was quite the adventure navigating our way from our hotel in Waltham all the way down to New Bedford, MA where the show was. But we found our way there and all was well, and we had a fantastic time!

After the show, LD and I had tickets to an exclusive VIP event with our teenage dream. It was swell. There was a professional photographer there and we'll get those photos in about a week. However, I was lucky enough to grab Jordan for a photo towards the end of the night.

On Sunday, we met up with some other friends in the city and strolled around the public gardens. It was so beautiful! I almost cannot believe how vibrant all the flowers were!
Here in Florida it has been so, so dry for so, so long that we don't see green or flowers like that here. It was quite the treat!
I loved this splendid rose garden with a elaborately shaped shrubbery situated in the middle of the garden.
I am feeling so happy that I had the chance to spend some time with good friends, and take some time away from the routine of my life here in Florida. Though my trip was short, it was much appreciated! I find that I always return from a trip with a refreshed and energized spirit; feeling ready to tackle creative endeavors with new perspective.
I'll end this post with a clip from the concert Saturday night. *sigh* I do love that man.

Sugar Creek

Denyse Schmidt has new fabric at Joann fabrics! I had heard she was going to be designing more lines for Joann's but had no idea when it would be in the store. I was perusing the aisles earlier this week, and low and behold! Here it is. In all it's beauty. I like that it coordinates with the last line, Picnics and Fairgrounds. At my local Joann's it was mixed in with the other designer fabrics. Not on an end cap, or on a special display. If I hadn't been looking closely, there's a good chance I would have missed it!

I'm in love! Again. At some point I will actually start sewing a quilt with my Denyse Schmidt fabric. So many projects, so little time. ;)
I have been a busy bee however. Here's a sneak peek at some Halloween goodness I'm working on. I love Halloween.
Have a great weekend peeps! What do you have planned?

In the Kitchen

So, on Saturday I made this block, block 23 Country Farm. It nearly made me cry. True story. I'd be lying if I said it was an easy block. All these tiny pieces....no bueno. After this block I decided to take a break from sewing, and moved into the kitchen. I was feeling inspired by Giada De Laurentiis, and this cookbook.

I made the Caponata, and it was absolutely amazing. Seriously the best dinner I've ever eaten. Certainly the best dinner I've ever made.
For the vegetarians out there, this is a very tasty vegetarian dish. Eggplant, celery, onions, red pepper, diced tomatoes, raisins and capers sauteed, and then mixed with a little red wine vinegar, sugar, oregano, salt and pepper. Smelled great cooking and tasted even better!
I couldn't stop there! Let's not forget dessert. I baked the Chocolate Amaretti cake from the same cookbook. SO good. Really. We ate half the cake in 2 days.
Notice my FW book in the background. I was hoping the next block would make itself. :/
After my success in the kitchen I was feeling more confident about my blocks, so on Sunday I whipped up block 24, Country Path. More tiny pieces. I keep reminding myself how great it will be to have the whole quilt finished.

Yesterday the pets all wanted to go outside on the front stoop. Here they are. Kitties being enticed by a pine needle, and Lola, less interested, probably wanting a walk!
Hope your weekend was good! Have a great week peeps!

Brought to you by Harry

This post is brought to you by Harry. Harry likes to supervise. Harry also likes boxes. A lot. He would love a home with boxes laid out everywhere.

Harry made sure I finished my fwqal blocks this week. He's a tough supervisor! But here we are at week 10!
This is block 21, Contrary Wife. Not too difficult to put together.
This block, however, block 22 Corn & Beans was not as easy. Tons of tiny triangles! 32 tiny triangles to be exact. Whew! Glad this one is finished.
Is it any wonder I want to start yet another new project?? Harry is trying to keep me on task but I am feeling the pull of the Bow Tie.....
I read Pam's post over at Pam Kitty Morning. Pam was inspired by Rita, and I am too! I'm only aiming for a smallish wall hanging sized quilt. I'm hoping it all goes together rather quickly once I get all the pieces cut out.

Happy Sunday peeps! Harry's back at it and telling me I must get sewing! See you back in this space soon.

I'm Ready For Fall

It could be the oppressive heat hear in Florida but I'm ready for fall! Cooler temps, all things pumpkin, and fall fabrics! I stitched up this table runner in the past couple weeks. I enjoyed playing around and making wonky stars. They could easily become addicting really quickly! :)

Here we are in week 9 of the FWQAL. Week 9! I can hardly believe I have managed to keep up. This week's blocks are #20 Churn Dish (on the left), and #19 Checkerboard (on the right).
I do like how they came out!
It's going to be fun times to see all these blocks finished and ready to sew together. All 111 of them....sometime in 2012! :)

Hope everyone had a good weekend! What did you do?

Have a great week!