I recently received my September 2008 issue of Cotton Time magazine.

Cotton Time is my favorite Japanese craft magazine.

This latest issue is filled with pages and pages of patchwork projects!

Here, you can take a peek!

Even the cover is cute!

Sorry for the shadows (afternoon sun).

There are pages of pretty quilt blocks.

A patchwork purse.

Teeny, tiny yo yos.

This last photo is from My Patchwork Time Vol. 3.

I may try to make this little basket… or a hundred of them!

: D

Cheers!

Jenn : )

I was planning on doing a post today about how I re-organized the little closet in my studio.

That was a big project that I tackled right before Josh and I took our vacation back in August. I have photos of the before and after, and how much more organized it is now.

I’ve always said that if nothing else, this blog would be truthful. And the truth is that sometimes our days don’t go the way we anticipate. Today, for instance. I won’t go into the gory details…. but let’s just say that my day began with:

Cat + Throwing up + First quilt I ever made.

So, instead of showing my tidy workspace, I’m more in the frame of mind to blog about what my To-Do list is for today. Along with the truths behind each task.

So here it is, my To-Do list, in no particular order:

1. Return emails.

(I read an article recently that said that proper etiquette is to return emails within 24-48 hours. Oh dear.)

2. Do a blog post. (Done!)

3. Finish sewing up these pouches. (For a project I started back in March.)

4. Decide the final image placement for an embroidery piece I’m going to frame and put in my shop.

5. List a new item in my shop. (Done! You can see it *here*.)

6. Come up with a solution to finally organize my embroidery floss, with wool/felt, dowels, and using this rudimentary sketch as a guide. (I started this project back in May.)

7. Call Williams Sonoma and Crate & Barrel to see if I can track down a bowl that says “Popcorn” on it for my friend Tammy’s birthday gift.

(Her birthday was last week.)

8. Decide what day I’ll test a tote bag pattern for Ginny. (Done! Thursday it is!)

9. Dust and swiffer livingroom.

10. Mail bills. (Done!)

11. Email Josh list of dinner ingredients to pick up on his way home.

(Done! Discovered I have all the ingredients already.)

12. Pick up all the fallen crabapples in the back yard.

(Done!…..but look how many are still on the tree!!)

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So, that is what’s on my plate for today.

If I can get all of that done, I’ll feel very accomplished!

Oh, and truth be told, my quilt has been washed and dried and looks good as new.

I’ve even forgiven the cat. ; )

Enjoy your day,

Jenn : )

Today I finished my green and blue little quilt. I also made a similar one to give as a gift to my Grandma.

I’m very happy with how it came out. I’ve used some of my favorite fabrics - a vine patterned flannel for the tree, soft wools for the birds, flowers, grass and tree, and a birdhouse patterned reproduction fabric for the backing.

To see more photos - you can check out my shop Thursday morning (Seattle time)!

Cheers!

Jenn : )

We’ve had a bit of rain here over the weekend and today. And a lot of wind. This morning I walked over to the post office.

I was able to work alittle more on my 5″ x 5″ quilts on Saturday. I’d like to finish up by adding some texture to the grass and water. I’m not sure if I’ll add beading or not - I don’t want to overwhelm the rest of the little embroidery details.
I also think there needs to be more contrast between the water fabric and the outline - so I might take out that bit of embroidery between the water and the grass and re-do it in a slightly darker shade of blue.

I’d like to use this bird house fabric on the back - to cover up the embroidery knots (you can click on the photo to see it larger). I don’t remember where I got this fabric. I’ve had it for quite a while and I think it’s really cute. Hopefully I’ll have enough for all three quilts, plus one more that I’m going to give to my grandmother.

: ) Jenn

Good afternoon everybody!

Thanks for your great comments - I love to read what other creative people are up to! Beading, sewing, knitting - tackling unfinished projects - all good stuff! Thanks to Christina for giving us those beautiful beading links to gaze at : )

Last night I got a bit more embroidery done on my little bird quilts. Thank you American Idol for giving me something to listen to while I worked. Man, the girls they’ve got on the show this season ROCK! Go Melinda Doolittle!!!! (she’s my favorite).

I almost titled this post “Beakless in Seattle” as my little birds don’t have beaks yet. Sorry, but when LOST comes on - my eyes are glued to the screen.

Tonight I’ll be baking cookies (with the help of my baking buddy Martha - her holiday cookie recipes are so good). I usually keep a few of what I make for Josh and I and then he takes the rest to work. That way I get to enjoy baking them but there aren’t 5 dozen cookies in the house calling my name, and his co-workers seem to like them. It works well for everybody : )

Cheers!

Jenn

Just a little bit to post today -

My little quilts are coming along - I got the basic flower shapes done on this one, and I found a great textured thread for the stems. (you can click on the photo below to see it larger.)

And this morning I found this fun tutorial at The Purl Bee. What a great idea for displaying your favorite pretty piece of fabric - I’ll have to try this soon!

Have a great Monday - and if you are in the middle of a creative project = leave me a comment! I’d love to hear what you’re up to!

Jenn : )

We got snow yesterday! Everything is white outside - so pretty. It’s funny that I get so excited about it. I grew up in New York, so I’ve seen plenty of snow in my lifetime - but it is so rare here in Seattle that now I get all excited, esp. when it stays around for awhile.

I have this great reproduction fabric that I’m making my kitten pincushion/sewing book sets with - today I’ll be embroidering the sewing books and hopefully will get the final set photographed so that I can get them in the shop Friday am.

I haven’t begun my plush kitten/bag project yet. Doesn’t it always happen that you set aside some time to work on a project and something else rushes in to take over? Not that I’m complaining - I had a custom order to do this week and some unexpected work to do for consignment. Busy , busy!

Here is a beautiful little quilt that I bought on Etsy, from a fantastic Australian artist - her Etsy shop name is tummyache and I love her work:

One of these days I will get it framed and then hang it in my studio.

Now it’s off to work for me!

: ) Jenn