New vs. Old

Can you tell which fabric was bought for 50 cents from the thrift store and which was bought for $9 at the quilt shop? 

Lecien vs. Thrift Store

I thought not.

I am in love.

I'm so in love with everything Sally Nencini makes that I can't concentrate on anything else except clicking around her website and her Etsy shop.  Really, I should be sewing up orders for my own shop, or at least cooking up some yummy Christmas fudge.  But  no, I must gaze upon the hand-embroidered sofa cushions.  Or stare at the matching cowboy/cowgirl knit pillows. 

Sally Nencini.  Knit Genius.

Aaaaahhhh, so much goodness.  There are hearts where my pupils should be.

Learning: Fat Thread Quilting with Mary Mashuta

I've been wanting to take Mary Mashuta's Foolproof Machine Quilting class for awhile, and finally, the stars aligned, my Saturday was free, and the class had a couple of empty spaces.  I've been adoring Mary's quilts for a long time.  I had her Cotton Candy Quilts book continually checked out of the Berkeley Public Library for months at a time until I finally found my own copy, so I was really excited to take a class from her.

She uses a process of quilting that doesn't involve marking your quilt top.  Instead, you use contact paper cut-outs to create designs that you then stick onto your quilt and quilt around.  She also uses very thick threads, and I love that look!

Here are a couple of my class samples. 

I can't wait to use this technique on a bigger project!

Let the Cuteness Begin!

I'm an auntie!!!  My sister has a new baby, so I feel like that gives me a good reason to go gaga for cutesy.  Right?

Here's the stack I'm starting with, some thick cozy flannels.

Jumpin' Monkey flannels from Cathy Heck Studio

And when I've worked my way through that, I'm moving on to the cutest of cute featuring LOTS of PINK!

Emma, also from Cathy Heck Studio

Where did I find this hot off the press fabric?  I just happen to be in the East Bay Modern Quilt Guild with one of the design team!  Thank you so much, Ellen!