A Gift for a Gift - Quilted Ipad Cover

A couple of days before Christmas, Santa showed up with a gift for HS for Christmas AND his birthday.  The excitement generated by the gift should be understood, since never before has HS agreed to a dual-occasion gift.  Santa brought HS an I-pad. In our discussion of this event, HS happened to mention that he thought it would be cool to have a quilted cover for his new toy.  Moreover, he had some very definite thoughts on the subject, particularly about things he would like to see in said cover.

Never one to let good scraps  go to waste, the morning of his birthday, I sat down to make a cover similar to the one he described.  I did OK, except I chose invisible zippers, which, he said, felt entirely too fragile.  Consequently, I spent the day after Christmas tearing it apart and replacing the zippers with heavy duty purse zippers that open from both sides.  As much as I hate ripping seams, I have to admit that the purse zippers were a much better choice.

HS seems very happy with his new toy AND its original design quilted cover.

Happy Birthday, HS!

HS has the misfortune of having chosen Christmas Eve as his birthday, and it has been a torment to him.  We do our best to make Christmas and birthday separate and special, but in the craziness of Christmas, it is difficult.  This year was perhaps better than most in that he was an "only child" this Christmas, with his sisters celebrating the holiday with their in-laws.  

Last Christmas, both of his sisters made a Sugar Rush Quilt, and he casually mentioned that he would like one too.  

At age 1, Abby thought that all quilts were her particular property and must be sat on - or danced on - to be appropriately appreciated.  Her mommy made this Dolce Sugar Rush quilt for her Auntie Kimber.

Ari's Fandango Sugar Rush quilt.

Never one to let a good hint go by, I decided to make him a Sugar Rush quilt of his own for his birthday this year.  HS's fave colors are blue and brown (because they remind him of the beach, he says), so I made him a Sugar Rush quilt (without the flowers) for his birthday this year from Bunny Hill Designs' Lily and Will by Moda.  I've been planning for awhile - I bought the jelly roll in February and found the yardage at Porter's in Rexburg when I went for a visit last May.  (Note that that was just before all the wedding craziness began!)  I actually started the quilt in early November, but was still in the process after he arrived for Christmas, and finished it only a couple of days before his big day.

 Despite the look on his face in this photo, he seems pleased with his gift.

Eye Candy

BD#1 speaking with Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs

 Today, we're going to have a little fun with three or four of my favorite fabrics and experiences at Quilt Market.

First, is Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs.  Anne was so nice and we had a wonderful time talking to her.  Maybe the best part was that she and her colleague thought I was BD#1's friend instead of her mom "because I didn't look old enough to be her mom."  Sure made my day!

Puttin on the Ritz, in blue

Puttin on the Ritz in pink

Her new line is called Puttin' on the Ritz, and comes in three colorways - pink, blue and gray.  As you may know, I'm not a big fan of gray, but I am learning that it has its place.  This is lovely fabric and great for kids.  

While BD#1 was conducting some business...

I had probably my favorite experience of the whole market - meeting Camille Roskelly and Bonnie Olavesen of Bonnie and Camille fame.  I loved Bliss when it came out, and their new line doesn't disappoint.  

It is so bright and cheerful - I love it.  It's called Ruby, and BD#1 must love me, because she brought home a Fat Eighth bundle of Ruby for me from Sample Spree.  Am I the luckiest mom ever, or what?

Isn't it just yummy?  And I had such a good time talking with Bonnie and Camille. They were so kind.  Check out their own blogs for their own stories.  Suffice it to say I'm in love with both the fabric and the patterns.  Can't wait til Ruby hits the stores.

One of the things that really impressed me about this line is that they are producing coordinating flannels in some of the prints.  The flannels are maybe the softest I have ever felt.  Too yummy!  Bonnie gave me a free receiving blanket pattern I'm dying to try - maybe in Ruby flannels if I can find some.

And we met Sandy Klop of American Jane.  Her booth was so fun - and I didn't get a single picture.  Too busy talking, I guess!

And I loved this quilt by Oliver + S.  Wouldn't this be sweet in a nursery?

This is Dazzle, by Melissa Averinos.

And this is 1001 Peeps, by Lizzie House.  Here's a close-up.  Fun, huh?

Well, I've got to save something for tomorrow, so I'll wish you sweet dreams of yummy fabrics and fun quilt designs.

Catching Up - Times Three

Charms received from Laura

 This morning before work I had a few extra minutes and I decided to take a couple and go through the mail which was falling out of the basket onto the floor, which is a pretty good indication that it had been several weeks since I had done this oh-so-boring (usually) task.  If you have been following this blog, you will know that the last couple of months have been stressful at best, and I have been coming home, collapsing in a chair, and getting up the next morning to do it all over again.  The arrival of these yummy little packages of Flickr mail, along with some serious fabric therapy, extra kindness from WH, and some thoughtful packages from Beautiful Daughter #1 have kept me going.  Thanks to all of you.

When I wrote my catching up posts last weekend, I had the tickling thought in the back of my mind that there should be more of these fun little envelopes floating around my house, but I didn't take the time to go back and look.  Well, today when I went through the mail, I rediscovered some of these great little pick-me-ups that have brightened my days over the past few weeks.  All of these items had been opened, then left with the mail and shoved in the basket in an effort to tidy up.  We won't make any judgments about how effective my tiding up might have been.

So, there was this delightful package (photo above) from Laura which included some truly yummy fabric charms.

Charm Swap package from Judy

Then there was this package from Judy.  I love the flowers.  You can always use flower prints in a quilt.  Very nice.

Charm squares from Lynn

 Lynn sent this great package of really fun prints.  Such an interesting mix. These will be fun to add to my quilt.

Charm square package from Bev

Bev's package included some of my all-time favorites, including some Bliss prints.  These will make great additions to my quilt(s).

I also rediscovered two jelly rolls I bought on ebay a couple of weeks ago.  The lady had a great sale and shipping was FREE!  Who can resist that?  The Central Park is such a fun print.  If I can bear to cut into it, I'm thinking I will make this into a quilt for the Silent Auction at the Opera Ball in April.  Not quite sure what I'll do with the Lily & Will, but it would make a great boy quilt.

Earlier this week, I received my third postcard from the Fabric Postcard Swap.

Fabric postcard from Mary (13 insane penguins)

Isn't it Valentine-ey?  Mary (13 insane penguins) was brave enough to put a stamp on it and stick it in the mail.  It came through just fine, but I'm still not sure that I'd be brave enough to do that.  With my luck, a thread would get caught in one of those postal machines and rip it to shreds.

I mentioned above that BD#1 had been cheering me up with fun packages.  I received two great books in late January that I've been poring over in my spare moments.  I have even made a project from one of the books already.  Today, I received this

in the mail all the way from Australia.  BD#1 traded a layer cake she had for this one because she knew I liked it.  It is always so much fun to get international packages.  They seem so exotic somehow.  Anyway, I think that this will be the fabric for my Single Girl quilt.  I think it will be perfect.  I'm getting excited!

So now, I THINK I am all caught up.  Maybe.