New Tools!

Here is the long awaited picture of my new sewing machine (Singer Confidence Quilter), purchased about a month ago. I got a crazy deal on it at JoAnn Fabrics. The sale price tags were still on the machine even though the sale had ended 2 days before, so the saleslady honored the sale price. Apparently JoAnn doesn't usually keep the machines in stock, but instead they order it to the store after you pay for it...however, I got the last one they had on hand! I rock!

I couldn't be happier with the new machine. I had been agonizing over getting a new machine and picking out what kind I wanted for the past 6 months or so, and it was so frustrating. I was looking for a machine with a wide opening and only needed one that did straight and zig-zag. Apparently this seemingly simple machine is a thing of the days of yore (as is now my Stitchmaster Zig Zag Deluxe machine). I now have 99 stitch types, and an extension table that came with the machine - you can see it attached on the left of the picture.

Now I cannot wait to get my sewing table to I have more of a flat surface to work with! Whew! Feel free to ask me any questions about the machine, because I love talking about it! Here is also another link to information about the machine, because the Singer Confidence Quilter site (link above) is sorely lacking in information.
Lastly, I needed a new pincushion, so I made one this morning from the Heather Bailey tutorial found here. It is so cute, but unfortunately I think I need something a little more substantial - perhaps I should use a heavier weight stuffing or more of it next time!

Three Quilts and Tea

Quite a busy few weeks quilt-wise lately. I still have a color wheel quilt in the works for my friend Maggie, but it is on hold while I work out a problem I'm having with it. However, I finished the quilt top for my friend Soraya's quilt. Here is a sample of the turquoise, gold and black beauty:
I also finished the quilt top of a blue and yellow quilt, but I have no one in particular in mind to gift this one to yet. Here is a sample of that one:

I also actually finished (in record time) a quilt for my roommate's friend who is having a baby. The pink side is the front, and the green paisley is the back. It is edged with eyelet lace.


Lastly, I have fallen in love with the Marani tea from Tea Gschwendner. I was actually looking for a tea akin to the Queen of Babylon tea from Teavana, and the Marani stacks up well. It is far cheaper, and has a more rounded, less sweet flavor. Brew me up a cup!

Two Tickets

Two tickets, each more valuable than the next. Wait, actually one was far superior to the other and, ironically, more magical.

Making My Morning Better

On my way to the El most mornings, I see a car whose license plate brightens my day, so I thought I'd share it with you:

And here are the fabulous cupcakes that I decorated for our Halloween party. I think my favorite is the scared little looking cupcake near the middle of the bunch.
Finally, here are some of the pumpkins carved at the party. Mine is the one on the left. And it is totally coincidental that there are two pirate themed pumpkins - we were keeping our designs secret from each other until we had finished carving. Could it be that we were subconsciously influenced by someone's recent move to Tortola, an island once inhabited by pirates???

Things Made and Eaten

One of these things is not like the other, meaning that I made all of them, but one never got eaten. Okay, I didn't exactly "make' the apple either, but I picked it. That's right..I went apple picking for the first time ever this past weekend. It was splendid, and the weather was perfect...I don't think I've had this enjoyable of a day in months! Look how pristine that apple is!
This is the baby swing seat that I made on commission - I got the check for it in the mail the other day and I am still super psyched about the whole experience. Speaking of selling things, I brought a bunch of the scarves I'd been working on to Wolfbait& B Girls last week, and they have them in their front window! Woo Hoo! Now get in there and buy them! Or contact me directly!

And here are the two things I actually did make and eat...this was a sweet cherry bread, perfectly crisp and delicious when warm...mmmmmm!!!
And this is salsa made from tomatoes straight from our own garden!!Get ready for a Halloween party post soon!!! I just finished frosting some sweet looking cupcakes (including a pirate pumpkin)!!!

Loving Everything Equally

I am enamored with the emails I get from storypeople every day. They are usually a little bright spot in my inbox. I really loved the story open heart the other day, and it turns out my sister did too, so I think I need to share it:

He told me one time he forgot himself & his heart
opened up like a door with a loose latch & he tried
for days to put it all back in proper order but finally
he gave up & left it all jumbled up there in a pile
& loved everything equally.

[Here is a picture of a heart, just for show...] [via metrohealth]
[and here is a picture of a heart latch, because it fits the theme of this post, and it is pretty sweet itself] [via Van Dyke's Restorers]

Anti. (And Quilts)

But not anti-quilt.

I have been feeling extremely anti-consumer lately. My motto as of late has become "simplify." I saw this picture, and I just had to post it. There were rumors that Banksy was behind it, which is doubtful. But I do still love both Banksy and the billboard.
Picture by sepultura [via the girl in the green dress]That being said, I will now show a quilt I completed for my friend Amy in New York earlier this year. When I asked her for some inspiration, she said she wanted primary colors, so primary colors she got - I aim to please.
More quilt posts coming soon!