July. (So far.)

This month has flown by, and oy, I've been busy! There hasn't been a lot of sewing time, and I've neglected to blog, a state that probably won't be changing any time soon. With my fourth year of homeschooling on the horizon, I've been knee deep in curriculum choices, co-op decisions, and training to be a substitute tutor at our co-op. We start in less than a month! I've also been hard at work editing my second book, which is coming along slowly but surely. You might think I'd be exhausted, and I am a little, but I'm also oh-so excited, especially now that the most stressful bits are hopefully past.

I did sneak in a bit of sewing, including this super cute sunbonnet for my daughter. Of course, Vanilla wants nothing to do with it, probably because it's a bit too big, but hopefully she'll love it soon. The fabric is leftover from a dress that was made for my niece. Using scraps always makes me remember good things.

I also finished up a pinafore and have fabric cut for a second one. This was my first time sewing with rayon, and while it wasn't the easiest to work with, I made it through! It is definitely not the best fabric to use for a pinafore, but it is super soft and comfy. It just doesn't do much to retain the shape. This pinafore is lined in a yummy shot cotton. Next up, we'll see how a voile and quilting cotton combo work out!

And I've finished up two Star Wars pillowcases for my big boys. Of course, Fava is now asking for his own Star Wars pillowcase. I should've anticipated this, but honestly, I didn't think a two-year-old would be that concerned about a pillowcase. Alas, he is, and back to the store for more fabric, but this time, enough for two as my nephew needs one as well!

But I think more exciting than those finishes are the fabric pulls I've had the delightful pleasure of assembling recently. This is for a Patina quilt from Tula Pink and Angela Walters' book. I'll be making it for my niece, and it's a big one! I better get cutting.

And the start of the fabric pull for my Magnolia Mystery quilt. I need a bit more lime, but I think it's a fun blend. Thankfully I had a big piece of that black batik chilling in my stash.

Finally, some yummy Alison Glass for the Coast to Coast Traveling Bee, which is on its last rotation. A couple of people have actually gotten their quilt tops back already, and if you've been following me on instagram, you'll know I've put together a few blocks. You also might know that my quilt top is done, and it's a beauty!

I feel like I have so much more to share with you, but that'll have to do for now as it's bedtime and two little boys are waiting for tuck-in service. Goodnight, y'all.

SS: Some Pretties!

There have been a few additions to my stash in the last couple of weeks, and I thought I'd share them with you. Did you know that they are making a Grunge Dot now? Oh la la, I love it in every color. I was responsible and only purchased it in three--and two of those are for specific projects!--but I had to buy some of that raspberry because it called and I couldn't say no.

I also picked up some Tokyo Train Ride by Sarah Watts for a commissioned 241 tote. I am all sorts of excited to be working on this! The first print is a canvas for the outside, and I thought the other two prints would make some good accent touches.

Finally, I won a super awesome giveaway from @bespokeoutlaw on instagram. I knew it was going to be exciting, and I just knew everything inside the package would be yummy, but what I didn't know was how pretty it was going to be all wrapped up! I didn't want to open it!

But then again, I did, and this is what lay inside. Isn't all of that super yum??? It was such a lovely giveaway, and I am so thankful!

I'm linking up with Molli over at Sunday Stash!

SS: Responsible Purchasing.

Oh Friends. I have been SO good lately. I've been buying stuff only when I've absolutely had to, and I've been using my stash, even bits I wanted to hoard instead! But seriously, when you use your stash, you use it. WHO KNEW? And I've depleted a handful of colors. So, when I had the opportunity to visit a super awesome quilt shop after a super awesome brunch with the super awesome Alison of Little Bunny Quilts, I jumped at it!

I have a healthy stash of green, but everything else is starting to run low, so I added this bunch of yum. From left to right: red polka dot from Sevenberry, orange something from Bear Essentials 3 by P&B Textiles, yellow dot without selvage information, Alison Glass Overgrown in Bluebonnet, some purple dot by Windham Fabrics, Timeless Treasures Sketch in Lipstick--had to replenish, I love this fabric!, Alison Glass Overgrown in Amaranth, C+S Add it Up, and the black is Imagine from Another Point of View fabrics.

But I wasn't completely good, though you could argue it would be irresponsible to leave these cuts of Tula Pink's Tabby Road behind. I'm totally in love with the center print, but I picked up some cats and 'Tula' cans--that name makes me laugh out loud EVERY TIME--because they were fun too.

What have you been stashing lately? I'm linking up with Molli Sparkles' Sunday Stash!

SS: New Pretties.

These are the additions for this week. Three of my projects were stalled until this package arrived, so I am grateful it is here and I can get moving!

Art Gallery Solid Knits in Strawberry Kiss (top)

C+S XOXO in Night Owl (far left)

Raindrops in Navy from Elizabeth Hartman's Pacific

C+S XOXO in Shag Carpet

C+S XOXO in Plummy Silver

C+S Netorious in Cloud Silver

The Art Gallery Knit is already in the wash, and I may have already cut into the Plummy Silver and Cloud Silver XOXO. This is my second (or third?) order of the three fabrics on the right. I didn't think I was that big of a C+S basics line fan, but apparently I am a big ol' fangirl as this order (and my stash) show evidence. I think I have that XOXO print in five or six colors now? How did that even happen? A quick stash check reveals: five colors!

I'm linking up with Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash, woo! (I'm kinda wishing I got some of those red raindrops from Pacific too.)

SS: Blues and Greens.

This is the haul for this week! From top to bottom, Kona solids in Pacific, Sky, and Peapod, Grunge in Bright Sky and Kelly Green. The Kona will be used for my middle son's big boy quilt--we start construction on bunk beds this week, so I've got to get moving!--and the Grunge is to finish off my Stash Bee quilt for this year. (Wouldn't it be grand if I actually finished that quilt before the end of the year?)

I also bought a hera marker because I've never used one before, and I'm hoping it revolutionizes my quilting-line-marking experience. So many people talk of how great hera markers are--I guess we'll see if it works for me!

I'm linking up with Sunday Stash at Molli Sparkles--it's been awhile!

Projects in the Work

I know about a trillion women who are pregnant. That may be a slight exaggeration, but I promise you, it's only a slight one. I might actually only know a million. And people are getting added to that number daily. Seriously, I found out yesterday that two more friends are expecting. Dude.

That means that you will probably only see baby quilts emerging from HPQ land in the next few months. I have some exciting plans for these particular bambinos, and thankfully, I like baby quilts, even if I'd really really really like to finish my bed quilt.

This is baby quilt #1 in the works. Rainbow log cabins, low volume sashing. I feel like the hard part of this one is done, but I don't have the LV in stash to finish off the top. SHUCKS, I guess I'll have to visit the fabric store. My life is SO hard.

Fabric pull for baby quilt #2. I'm REALLY excited about this one, but I need a bit more LV fabric to achieve the scrappy pull I'm dreaming of.

And oh, the curtains. (And EPP.) This weekend, my husband will hopefully be getting the rest of our curtain rods installed, which means I should REALLY finish up the curtains I have in the works. That poor man. I feel like he goes to work, comes home, and I have a kajillion tasks for him to do. Build furniture, install curtain rods, fix stuff, buy stuff, haul stuff, lift stuff, etc. But I think the end of that is in sight as we've almost completely cleaned out the years of overgrown foliage from our massive yard and cleaned a ton of junk from the property, including numerous broken beer bottles and other random detritus that is unsafe for small kidlets.

Friends, I'm tired. The move was exhausting. The resulting work on the home and property was exhausting. But now, as I start to think about where I want to hang up my mini quilts and artwork, what kind of curtains would best serve our living room, and what kind of language arts curriculum is really going to be the best fit for my six-year-old this fall, I'm realizing that most of the hard stuff is behind us. This house is shaping into a place for us, and that is definitely exciting.

392 pieces.

When making a quilt, I really enjoy tallying up the number of pieces I will be working with. I know it's not necessarily the best indicator of complexity or anything like that, but there's just something concrete and fun about saying, "My current project uses 392 pieces."

It's true. The quilt I started cutting this morning for my quilting sensei's baby has 392 pieces. Normally I cut all in one go, but for this quilt, I'm breaking it up because a lot of those 392 pieces are tiny, and oh la la, I need a break from all of that intricate cutting. Maybe I should have waited to count up the pieces until after I'd cut them all? Probably so. (The above fabrics are not involved in this project, but aren't they fabulous? Y'all know I love a good polka dot and a good rainbow and a good ombre, and those FQs incorporate ALL THREE.)

Sadly, as my quilting sensei frequents this blog, I can't actually show you any fun pictures of work in progress. But the full reveal will be all kinds of fabulous. In the meantime, I *can* show you what else I've been working on.

I've basted the quilt for Baby H, and I was even responsible and picked up the thread I needed so I can start quilting. I have tossed around a couple of ideas on this one, so we'll see what I ultimately settle on. I hope to get this one quilted this week. I'm thinking of binding it in a navy print.

And I've worked more on my EPP tablerunner. I'm actually pretty close to finish up the top of this. I think I only have a few more solo diamonds to attach? Which is exciting. The plan has always been to put this on my kitchen table, but do I honestly want it anywhere near my children and their grubby hands? Maybe no...

On top of those three projects, I seriously need to baste my daddy's quilt and get moving on that one. I verified that my backing is large enough and I have the batting for it and even the quilting thread. Why am I stalling? Because I hate basting. I really really do.

So that's what's on the HPQ to-do quilty list this week. How about you?

Midnight Mystery Quilt Progress.

I never ever ever thought I'd want to do a mystery quilt. Because OMG, what if I hated the finished product and had wasted good fabric? But for some reason, the Midnight Mystery Quilt by Cheryl of Meadow Mist Designs sounded like fun.

Initial Fabric Pull.

It helps that I really liked last year's quilt.

August's Flying Geese.

And Yvonne is participating. And Alison. And all three of our quilts are going to be crazy different in totally awesome way, and I'm fascinated by how they are all coming together.

September's Square in a Square blocks.

I am SO excited to see how this progresses. Are you participating too? I'd love to see yours, so share a link with me, k?

A Baby Quilt Start.

Sometimes baby quilt inspiration is easy, and I know exactly what I want to do. But sometimes it's not. In that case, I usually use my go-to baby quilt pattern, Northern Lights by Jaybird Quilts. (I've made three different incarnations.) This time, my ideas kept conspiring against me. I couldn't find a palette that I was happy with. I waffled between colors, finally settling on a blue ombre, but then I couldn't find a blue ombre kona list online. True. Story.

I pulled out my blue stash, but wasn't feeling any inspiration there. I perused fabric stores online but couldn't decide on anything. I pulled out my blue scraps, more out of frustration than anything else, but they were a hot mess, so I started sorting them into itty bitty, larger pieces, and strings. And I had a mountain of strings.

Then, I remembered this idea that I considered a few months ago. Blue Elephant Stitches decided to pick a quilt book and make a version of every quilt in the book. I thought that sounded like a pretty rad idea, but I didn't know of a book where I liked more than three or four things. That changed when I encountered Modern Rainbow by Rebecca Bryan. I LOVE this book. I love almost every single quilt in it. Why not start my own quilt book journey and use this baby quilt as a jumping off point?

I'm working on my version of Bubbles. I used Bryan's hearth size and finished block size as my goal, but my log cabins are improv-y, mostly because my strings were all different sizes. I'm using fewer blocks as I only want a baby size, not a lap size. But this quilt is going to look rad when it's done, and I'm excited about it. I'm also really enjoying the piecing process. Sorting through strings, plucking out the one that works best, trying to keep my lights and darks balanced...ah. This is a happy Audrey.

Or I would be, if I wasn't fighting a cold. It's mild, and I imagine I'll be back to order tomorrow, but can I just whine about it for a minute? And also mention that I've been sucking down this tea, which I was recently gifted for my birthday. It's super tasty.

Can I also just mention that I find it hilarious and ironic that TODAY, Yvonne of Quilting Jetgirl posted the most perfect blue kona ombre list. I'm taking it as a sign that I was supposed to make this quilt instead of the other one. But it's still funny. And I'm totally bookmarking that list in case I need it in the future. And in case you were looking for a blue ombre list...you're welcome.

Slow work.

It feels as though I've spent a ton of time away from my machine lately. This past year was my first year homeschooling my oldest, so with school out of the way, I expected I'd have more time. That was incorrect. I somehow have much much less!

I've managed to keep up on my bee blocks, including this one for June. It was a fun block, but can you believe I had to go buy cream fabric? I had exactly zero in stash. And this was my only true red, which thankfully worked out. I've apparently been using my stash lately, which is excellent, but wow. I've cleaned out a number of colors.

I did pull this stack of lovelies from stash recently. I never thought I'd participate in a mystery quilt, but all of a sudden, it sounded fun, and as I saw the last mystery quilt that Cheryl created and enjoyed watching Quilting Jetgirl piece it monthly, I thought I'd jump in as well.

I turned my attention (briefly) to these blocks for my dad's quilt. I think I have sashing requirements figured out, but do I have kona white or any sort of white solid to sash it? Of course not. Do I have enough navy to handle it? NO. Which is lame.

Know what else I'm completely out of? Kona black! How my reserves got so low all at once, I couldn't tell you. All I know is that I need to seriously replenish my basics. I have finished quilting this quilt--more details on THAT in a later post--and I want to bind it in Kona black or charcoal. I want to get this very late quilt finished!

Off to the store I go! Or rather, off to soothe the teething baby.

Sunday Stash.

It has been awhile since I've had a fabric week of this magnitude. A LOT of fabric has arrived at my house this week. But in my defense, most of it is for my newest nephew's quilt. That bean-o will be arriving in late July/early August, so I have a bit a of time, but when I'm going to need several weeks to agonize over whether or not the quilt is going to be genius enough for someone related to me, well, it's going to be a tight squeeze to get it in the mail on time.

Fortunately, I started freaking out over the quilt about five seconds after my sister told me she was pregnant for the second time, so I got some of my worrying and planning out of the way early on, and I've spent the last few weeks awaiting the gender unveiling. The quilt I made for my most adorable niece--she takes after me, of course--is still one of my all-time favorite quilt makes EVER, and I couldn't have my nephew languishing with subpar Audreyness. Years from now, I want him to enter adulthood confident that he is one of the coolest beings ever because how could he not be with a baby quilt like this? (YES, it is that important. Don't try to downplay this! It will effect his FUTURE.) 

The quilt plan I chose required most of this stack. Okay, technically, the top three fabrics are for other things, but doesn't that stack look super sweet?

My first dive into the Architextures world with four of the cross-hatch prints. Poppy, Curry, and whatever creative names they're using to refer to White and Black these days.

Another first, these two are my Essex Linen purchases. Chambray and Indigo, and I'm pretty much sold on using them for my Tula Pink CS quilt top. You know, when I find some free time to layout the kajillion blocks and sash them together. Until then, they will look pretty in my stash and remind me of exciting future events.

Ah, Kona. I never knew I would fall so hard for solids. Yet, here I am, in a very serious love affair. (Kona, forgive me my brief flirtation with the Bella Charcoal near the end of the stack. No one had Kona Charcoal in stock, and I was not about to place a fourth order for just that. My love for you only goes SO far.)

Kona Colors, from left to right: Corn Yellow, Lipstick, Papaya, Amethyst, Sunny, Jade Green, Punch, Maize, Sunflower, Candy Pink, Hyacinth, Bella Charcoal, Kiwi, Lake. It's a weird color palette, I give you that. But work with me here. It will be (or at least should be) genius.

From the new quilt shop that opened a few weeks ago, some Fresh Cut by Basic Grey. I don't know that I've purchased much Basic Grey before this, but I really like some of the prints in the line. I especially liked this floral, and when I saw they had one FQ cut and ready to go, I couldn't say no. While I expected that I would hate EPP, I find it's quite the contrary--I really enjoy it. And I have a larger-scale project in mind for using bits of this.

Also from the new LQS, some green flannel to back my oldest's quilt, and some truck fabric. I made the mistake of taking my three-year-old to the LQS with me, and he was pretty insistent that we needed trucks. And then I thought, why not make my older boys matching cushions with their initials on them? Again, because I apparently have a kajillion hours of free time waiting to be filled up with quilting projects. Except I don't. Not at all! But it's a happy thought, and I'm sure I'll use it somewhere. Eventually.

That's all for today. I'm linking up with Sunday Stash at Molli Sparkles. 

Popping In.

I'm hoping to get a quick post in before an inevitable interruption claims my time. True story: with few exceptions, someone in my family has been ill at all times since just before Christmas. If I knew that that first round of flu would turn into this...well, I'm not sure what I would have done. Actually, it's probably better that I didn't know. As it is, all three of my kidlets are recovering from a nasty stomach bug, and I'm earnestly praying that I don't catch it.

There has been a bit of sewing. (This block is for Stash Bee, woo.) I've even managed a few tiny finishes. What I haven't managed is to blog about them. (OR celebrate my third blogiversary, which I fully intend to do. SOON.)

I like to finish one quilt per month, but that just might not be realistic for March. But I'd really like to have this one done. Actually, can I tell you my dream? I'd like to finish this one over the weekend. Top is done, backing is partially pieced, and I'm planning for really simple quilting. My mom will be in town. It's possible. It's a special quilt, or rather, it's a quilt that's headed to a special person, and it needs to be done pronto. But it might not happen, and I'm trying to be okay with that.

In the meantime, I've been handquilting this beast. As you can see, my lines aren't always very straight, as I'm not planning to mark it. But you know what, I think of all the quilts in the world, a gypsy wife quilt made of crazy saturated AMH fabrics will survive crooked lines and uneven stitches. I think it might even *add* to it. Is that completely crazy? I had hoped to finish this one too--the entry date for my local quilt show is looming at the end of March--but it would probably be a miracle.

And I've indulged in a bit of retail therapy. This is my favorite Tula line since Acacia, and I have plans that I'm pretty excited about.

And because spring equals kidlet birthdays in this house, I really really really need to finish up my oldest's new quilt. Because, you know, it was for those cold days in the car. And today will be over 60 (woo!) so he probably won't get any use out of it this winter, but at least it will be done. Thankfully, I finally managed to pick up some fabric to finish it.

The baby calls! I hope y'all are well. (And healthy!)

SS: Latest Acquisitions

Before the death flu descended on my house, I squeezed in a quick visit to the LQS. From left to right: purple star fabric to back Baby E's purple quilt, tree batiks (my fave batik ever) for a birthday gift, and the last four will be used for another birthday gift. I did not look at selvages because that would have been responsible. I do know the dark navy is a Moda weave, and I really like the look of it. Subtle texture, but awesome nonetheless. Wish I had picked up more of it.....

I'm linking up today with Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash, woo!

Black Friday Scores.

YES.

Sketch, Joel Dewberry's Herringbone print, some Priory Square, and CATNAP. The Sketch is a much more vivid blue than I was after, but it's a nice stash addition. I've been longing for that herringbone print since it pretty much came out, and NOW I have some. How freakin' awesome is that Priory Square? And the cats...I'm really allergic to cats, so I don't typically like them because they make me feel like dying, but I am powerless when it comes to happy kitty faces on fabric. I should make curtains and use them to ward off the depression that winter inevitably tries to bring. I can't see myself getting grumpy when seeing snow out the window if those happy kitties tell me to turn my frown upside down, know what I mean?

And shot cottons. Oh, how I love me some shot cottons. These are Kaffe Fassett--Aegean, Blue Jean, Jade...I think? And they're for a special awesome project of awesome. Did you hear me? Of awesome! To be continued...

I actually ordered more fabric, but one of my orders was canceled because they didn't actually have the fabric they said they had on hand. I was sad. (Serious frowny face.) It was the background fabric for my Tula Pink City Sampler quilt, and since you have to buy something like twelve kajillion yards of it, I was so stoked to pick it up during the big sales. I'll be waiting until another sale, I suppose. But that's okay. It's not like I could actually do anything with it other than just stare at it for now.

I'm linking up this week with Sunday Stash hosted by the super awesome Molli Sparkles.