Decisions, decisions ...

Who ever knew there were so many decisions to make when making a quilt?  Not me.  I want to make a quilt for Ruby when she moves to a big girl bed, and  thought I'd get some practice in on something a little smaller.  For Ruby's one I'm thinking red, and I love love love Hazelnuts red quilt, and the Red Pepper quilts one she got her inspiration from.

For this practice one I'm going vintage - using up some of my vintage linen stash.  I'm trying to decide how to lay it out and which fabrics to include.  I'm going basic with some big squares and some rectangles, and will quilt 'stitch in the ditch' style.  I think I have discovered that it's easier to combine fabrics when the pieces you're working with are small, which mine are not.  I was going to follow Flossie Teacakes tutorial to the letter but was too impatient to sew together all those rectangles so opted for squares instead with a few rectangles thrown in.

Here is my first layout:

Then I decided I didn't like the overly pink one in there (top left corner), so took it out.  What do you think?

 Our very kind cat helped mix it all up.

Now I need to decide on the batting, the backing and the binding.

The Writing Take-along

The latest in my 'take-along' series - the Writing Take-along.  The name might change, not overly catchy is it?

Anyway, for a moment please pretend you haven't seen this fabric - it's the same as Paige's wellchild book cover and my sister's journal cover.

The Writing Take-along comes with a journal and has a built-in pencil case, perfect for younger ones who are too old for crayons and who have lots of pencils, felts and pens that they absolutely must take everywhere.  This particular one is for my niece.  I've got another one in the pipeline for a girl who likes to write lists, although it won't be finished for a while seeing as I'm swanning it in the South Island.

Linking up here:

Girl. Inspired.

Green ..

... with envy is how anyone with a vintage linen fetish will feel when they see these photos.  I'm visiting my parents at the moment, not a lot of crafting going on but quite a bit of thrifting.  The local Red Cross shop had 'fill a bag for $3' sale happening today.  I filled a bag to the brim.  Many of them are pairs of sheets.

And the holy grail of vintage linen - something for the boys.  Although not sure one could actually call this vintage. 

I may just have to have a giveaway.

Baby Loss Awareness Week

Something you may not be aware of is that 9 - 15th October is Baby Loss Awareness week.  In memory of our daughter, Mila, we will be donating a portion the proceeds from our stall this weekend at the Titirangi Mums Craft Market to Sands Auckland Central.  Sands is a charity that supports bereaved parents; as a charity it relies on grants, donations and volunteers to be able to provide support and resources to parents who lose a child perinatally.