Hexagon Quilt

I finished a quilt for my daughter! It took a few years:) I started collecting vintage linens in pinks and yellows until I had a nice stack..

I was inspired by this hexagon quilt...

...which is in this book. 

Here's my quilt!

It turned out to be a nice queen size, about 80x90 inches.

 

My mom, sister, and friends helped me hand quilt this quilt. We double-quilted all the seams and I love the way that turned out. Now it's looking pretty on my daughter's bed!

Dickies Work Wear

I've ordered online from Dickies.ca more than once. Here are the links if you want to buy farm work wear for the family without dragging everyone to town. I'm signed up for emails from Dickies.ca and I get an email about once a week. These shop coveralls are a great price. Shipping is free when you spend $75.

A month ago they had a sale where these kids insulated bib overalls were $18 with one of their emailed coupons.

Beautiful Printable from Ann Voskamp

I just had to share this gorgeous printable page from Ann Voskamp. I love it.

On Pinterest

pretty things on Pinterest

I see on my screen

beauty, fresh and lovely

all neat and clean

dream houses and décor

food, ideas, art

you could click forever

each time you start

I look at our mess

scattered over the floor

grace is here somewhere

I just have to dig 
a bit more

find the joy in the clutter
and try not to mutter

of chaos, and going insane

even a house full of love
is still not a house without pain

mine is broken beauty

not the Pinterest style

colours clash, ideas crash

after a while

living is imperfect

grace in the strife

Pinterest is there,

it won’t go anywhere
but I have to believe

I do have a beautiful life!

just a minute I'll take to pin it
something pretty and new

then I’m off to play games

with Thing 1 and Thing 2…

Trish Boese

Did you know I like Well.ca?

Yes, I am an online shopper and Well.ca is one of my favorite places. I feel so smug when I can get everything on my list without getting in the truck and heading for town. Shipped for free, too. If you haven't ordered from Well.ca before, you can use this coupon:

Trish2012 

for $10 off your $40 purchase. They sell many unique things:

board games

kids games

toys

baby food

loose leaf tea

coffee

grains

baking mixes

first aid and bandaids

green cleaning supplies

school and office supplies

candles

a well stocked clearance section

and of course the entire spectrum of drugstore items.

A Quilt Finished

I finished a special quilt. My grandma embroidered the squares and I had fun adding some boyish prints to go along with the cars.

The embroidered squares are cut 6.5 X 6.5 inches, and the little squares and strips were cut 2.5 inches square or 2.5 x 6.5 inches. So the figuring is easy! With a 6-inch border this quilt ended up being about 38 X 46 inches. I'm linking up to The Blogger's Quilt Festival.

Blogger’s Quilt Festival Stats

Finished quilt measures : 38"x46"

Special techniques used : hand embroidery

Quilted by : Trish Boese

Best Category : Baby Quilt, Hand Quilted Quilt

Kona Solid Fabrics at Contemporary Cloth

Contemporary Cloth has a good deal on Kona solid fabrics right now. Half-price shipping for Canadians, and a coupon for 25% off your purchase means the Kona solids work out to be $5/yard. Enter the coupon ThanksMaureen at checkout. This deal expires Wednesday, October 10, 2012.

Off To School

off to school…

what a grand thing

out from mama’s sheltering wing.

off to school…

out the door

home doesn’t matter anymore.

off to school…

with her friends

waiting the next when this day ends.

off to school…

teacher new

“Mom, she’s so much nicer than you.”

off to school…

big girl shoes

mama’s home now cryin’ the blues.

Trish Boese

Spoonflower

I love Spoonflower! It's a fabric website where you can upload your own designs for printing onto fabric. Think children's sketches, photographs, words, cut-and-sew projects, labels, or anything one-of-a-kind. Right now Spoonflower is giving away free fat quarters, 1 per customer, so it's worth your time to shop around and find one you like! Or upload one yourself. Enter the code ETSYPARTY12 to claim your free fat quarter, and only pay $2 for the shipping. I don't know when this coupon expires. Here are some of my favorites (some of my own designs, even!)

For This I'm Grateful

for this I’m grateful - skies of blue

peace of mind when day is through

for this I’m grateful - mercy given

friendship with a God in heaven

sights and sounds, feelings deep

these are mine, are mine to keep

the things no one can take away

for these I’m grateful every day.

Trish Boese

Savouring Winter

Savouring winter… the last settled days
before we get ready to soak up the sun.
The pace will pick up with spring 'round the bend
so I’m savouring winter until it is done.

Time to make doughnuts, read one story more
wrap up in a quilt when it's windy outside.
Work slowly, and quiet, on projects I love...
savouring winter, and all things inside.

In spring we’re alive! all the world’s in a twirl
the rush will be on to get seed in the ground.
But I love the slow days, and the peace… ah, the peace
I’m savouring winter…  til spring rolls around.

Trish Boese

Vintage Sheets

I've fallen in love with vintage sheets! Here and here are some Pinterest boards with beautiful projects made from vintage sheets. They are so pretty... I've bought a few sheets and my plan is to make a quilt next winter. I'm on the lookout for more sheets in pink, white, yellow, orange, and green. Since I won't use all of the fabric, I've cut some of it up and put it up for sale in my Zibbet shop. (Zibbet is like Etsy.)

Two Quilts

I became an auntie at the ripe old age of 28! Anyone else been older than that when they became an aunt? I sewed 2 quilts in anticipation. The baby's a boy, so he got this one. (inspired by Jo at BlueElephantStitches.)

This girl quilt is up for sale in my Zibbet shop.

Activity Tote

Papers, pencils, crayons, books, papers, markers, stickers, papers, scissors, glue, flashcards, and more papers...
This is my attempt to keep it all in one place - an activity tote made from fun fabrics.

 I'm kind of fond of Thing 1 and Thing 2 :)

The dimensions I cut this cube tote:
2 sides 9" wide by 11" high
2 sides 8" wide by 11" high
Bottom 8" by 9"
I put pockets of different shapes and sizes everywhere - on the 4 outside pieces plus the 4 inside pieces. I used heavy interfacing on the pieces so the cube would keep its shape.

Bandana Dress Cutting Instructions

I've been making some cute dresses like these for charity. I got the idea from DressAGirlAroundTheWorld. Here are my simplified cutting instructions to print, use, and share. I'm trusting you to sew it up all right on your own.

It makes a great project for the ladies at church, and for using up neglected pieces of fabric, especially polyester and knits.

My Girl and Me

My Girl and Me

she is me, I am her

we are one and we are the same

she is what I used to be

when I was young

I am the woman

she will one day become

we are one

my daughter and me

the lines are blurred

is she me, or was I her?

dark blond tresses

spilling out of ponytails

that once were mine

now they are hers

excitement at a carousel

hers or mine? I cannot tell

non-stop talk at suppertime

comes from her lips, or was it mine?

I see two selves

in my house each day

her face a mirror

from yesterday

eyes of brown, and freckles sprinkled

mouse-brown hair that waves

where it will wave

the way her tongue moves by her lips

with concentration grave

her daddy is her hero

her mommy is her friend

baby brother is a willing slave

and that’s the way life goes

like mother, daughter

can’t help but wonder

where I end and she begins

she is my extension

into the next generation

I am roots from which she grows

we are strands of a single thread

bonded by love and heredity

we are one

my girl and me

Trish Boese

My Insulated Picnic Tote

I was inspired by this post over at Sew Mama Sew to make an insulated tote. I hope to use it in place of my bulky cooler this summer.

It's large, it's sturdy, it has strong handles and it will haul plenty of food - either out to the picnic or home from the grocery store.

I used recycled denim for the handles and (though you can't see it) the bottom of the bag. The tutorial for this picnic tote was so simple and easy to follow!

A Well.ca Coupon code

This is a coupon for new customers. If you've never ordered from Well.ca before, use the coupon Trish10 for $10 off your $40 purchase. (Expires October 23, 2012) Shipping is always free in Canada.

They have quite a selection of stuff! Some things I like:

                 

A Much-Needed Cell Phone Cover

I once sewed a little drawstring bag out of black velvet as a cover for my cell phone. I always meant to embellish it with some artistic beadwork but before I got to it, my little bag was lost, and when I looked in my stash for the fabric I had used, it had vanished too. So I was inspired by my friend and blogger Jo at Blue Elephant Stitches when she made her cell phone cover.  (Note to Jo: Better not blog if you don't want copycats!:)

Here is my version, in some Michael Miller fabrics. I love it so far! I managed to get it to fit my Blackberry quite perfectly. The credit card pocket, key ring loop, and wrist strap make this cell phone cover one I do not intend to lose, ever.