New Website & Blog

Friends Old and New, 

It has been many (many, many) moons since I last graced this space with my presence. If this wild world history lesson we are currently living through has taught me anything, it is to focus my precious time on what is truly necessary to keep me whole in this one life I have. 

I've missed this dear space and the therapy it offers. In a way, it feels as if I have been clawing my way back here all year. This longer format of documenting is a ritual I have been yearning for; just the thought of engaging with my community again in this way gives me butterflies. 

I will restart journaling on my fancy new website The Ginkgo House. Indulge me in my creative whims as I continue to ... dun dun dun ... craft my life away. 

xo
Lauren

We're having a baby!

Like, soon. 

We're due on May 12th with our first baby girl. Much of the past year (or two or three) has been spent getting to this point and we couldn't be happier. 

I've been working on some baby projects and I will post them here as I start and finish them. I have also been using instagram more, so check out the link to the left for my instagram (craftmylifeaway) and please, friend me on there, I have like negative friends. 

Holler!

Seriously Summer Quilt

I've had this quilt pictured in my mind for a while now. A long while. The fabric has been sitting on my Anna Maria Horner shelf for what seems like forever and the whole project was on hold until I found the perfect quilt pattern to compliment the fabrics. The fabric here is cotton voile from Anna Maria Horner's Little Folks like from like 7 years ago (I said I've had it for a while).





This quilt is entitled Seriously Summer because these colors perfectly reflect my summer mood. This summer has been filled with brightness and sheer joy so far. A close girlfriend from high school is getting married and her wedding has spurred a reconnection between our group of girlfriends from high school. We were such a tight-knit group and I can't think of another word to describe our relationship other than that were were simply obsessed with one another. While these colors don't exactly mimic the colors that were ubiquitous in our high school wardrobes (think hot pink, cheetah print, puff paint, and glitter), they emulate the excitement felt when we are reunited.







The pattern I finally chose was Anna Maria Horner's Mother Goose pattern. I've always wanted to try my hand at Flying Geese blocks (see my Bucket List), and I am pumped to knock another quilt off the list.

The pattern uses a combination of solids and prints to form the flying geese blocks.

Here is the construction of one of the blocks, following all of the instructions Anna Maria provided with just a few adjustments, which actually makes (4) finished flying geese blocks:

 (After testing out a block, I determined that it was necessary for me to scoot the small squares in a bit so that I had a little extra seam allowance in the point of the block)

After some sewing, pressing, and rotary cutting you magically end up with (4) of the same flying geese blocks.

Some more piecing pictures for your pleasure:

 

The pattern uses 105 of the finished flying geese blocks made from 26 main blocks, which means you actually don't use (3) of the blocks which is no big deal. 
 




Overall I though that the pattern was great. I think that it produced a great looking quilt. A couple of notes that I have are as follows:

1) It makes the quilt look better overall if you arrange the blocks so that there are some "Full V's". I'm not sure how else to describe what I mean, but if you look above and see a combination of the Goose and the Sky blocks in the same fabric, they make a much better looking quilt. 

2) I would HIGHLY recommend using either plain or non-geometric prints for the "sky" blocks because it was a PITA for me to match up the correct way for the sky part of the blocks to go. I also didn't pay that much attention until about 1/2 way through the construction of the blocks, which is totally my fault obviously.

3) I would highly recommend scooting the small sky blocks in a little bit when sewing them to the goose block, just like I showed in the picture above. It really helped with my seam allowance so I had nice and perfect points about 95% of the time. 

4) I also kinda like the look of alternating the direction of the geometric prints for goose blocks, but that could just be me.

I have actually decided to try hand quilting this baby. I figured that for my first try at hand quilting cotton voile would  be a dream because it is so light, soft, and airy. I thought that if I couldn't hack it with the voile, then I knew hand quilting is totally out of the question for me. I am going to use Anna Maria Horner's hand quilting tutorial using perle cotton, and I am so excited!

Check back soon to see results, maybe within the next 2 week (hopefully). 

HOLLER! 

 

(Hint: I'm the dark haired one in the middle)

 

A Double Pointed Needled Roll

If you've checked this blog in the past year, you'll know that the main crafts I have been making have all been themed around getting organized! 



In April of last year, I sewed up a Knitting Needle Roll that fit 2-4 pairs each of all possible sized straight knitting needles.  I also made a matching Crochet Hook Roll (that I don't think I had a chance to blog about here), Circular Knitting Needle Roll, and I finally had some free time to sew one of the final pieces of this getting organized puzzle, a Double Pointed Needle Roll.

These tool rolls were a little more difficult than I anticipate. They involved a lot of pattern testing with scrap fabrics and A LOT of measuring to find the right size and shape to accommodate each type of needle. When I first started this project, it was just a simple straight needle roll and crochet hook roll. I had totally forgotten about the other types of needles and tools that go along with yarn crafts. You know what that means right? I DEFINITELY didn't buy enough fabric to coordinate all of the rolls. Naturally, I couldn't locate the fabric ANYWHERE, once I realized that I needed more it was too late to find any. I have been rationing that red sketchbook floral print like you wouldn't believe, so that I could try and incorporate it into each of the rolls and then still hoarding some for the final yarn-craft-organizing-related-project, a notions bag. 

This double pointed needle roll is designed to hold very size DPN from 0-13. Additionally it will hold 2 pairs of each size, one space for the shorter, 5-7 inch length, as well as each the larger 9-12 inch length. The roll was sewed up in a slubby black and white linen, and a lightweight cotton fabric in a pretty red sketchbook floral print. Because I was running out of this fabric from all of my other projects, I did have to do some piecing to make it work. The outer cover ties were made with raspberry red linen scraps, and I had to piece the top binding edge for each pocket. Roughly, the roll measures 12.5 inches tall x 25 inches wide when completely open.

 

That's another finished project off of My Bucket List! Check out My Bucket List for all of the projects I want to complete, and check out My Finished Projects for everything I've completed so far (including lots of food!). Also, check out My Flickr Page for another summary of my finished projects!

{Knitting} A Manly Herringbone Scarf

I just finished this Manly Herringbone Scarf I started in October for my Hubby. I haven't finished a knitted project in A WHILE, so this one felt really great to finish. 

The yarn I used is Dirty Water Dye Works "Edna" yarn in a great mustardy yellow color. I bought the yarn on a trip to Burlington, Vermont in September at a shop called Nido.

The needle size recommended by the yarn label was a size 5-7, but I wanted a super thick and warm scarf, so I used a size 4 (circular needles). I went through almost 2 skeins of this yarn, at 380 yards be skein! NO WONDER IT TOOK SO LONG! 

The scarf is about 14x70 inches and it looks GREAT on my Hubby with his dark charcoal wool coat. Considering it took me almost 2 months of seemingly constant knitting, if he loses this thing I am definitely going to make him suffer!

Then, because my husband wouldn't pose for the camera, I attempted a shameful selfie. I know it is a sad attempt and I apologize for subjecting you to it. Also, my forehead isn't 300 shades darker than the rest of my face. I promise. 

That's another finished project off of My Bucket List! Check out My Bucket List for all of the projects I want to complete, and check out My Finished Projects for everything I've completed so far (including lots of food!). Also, check out My Flickr Page for another summary of my finished projects!


Thanks for checking in! 

HOLLER!

Giveaway Winner!

Hi All,

Based on a selection using random.org, the winner is of my Blogiversary Giveaway... 

Nupur who said "How generous of you- thanks for the giveaway! As a new quilter I would use this gratefully."

Check your email Nupur, I will send you a message requesting your address, etc so I can get this package along to you quickly.

HOLLER!

Giveaway!!!

Hiiii!

This November is my 3rd Blogiversary! 

To commemorate the special occasion, I did a little Craft Room Cleaning Out. I gathered all of the supplies that have been hanging around in the stash for far too long (like 3 years) and I just haven't found the right project to use it up. I guess if I haven't found the right project in 3 years the likelihood of me finding it in the near future is not high, thus, its gotta go!

I've been gathering all of my extra supplies into a nice pile under my ironing board. The stack looks small from this point of view, but it is a lot of stuff, it must weigh 30 lbs!

 (Outdoor upholstery fabric scraps from this project!)

 (About 1/2 yard of each print from the Joel Dewberry Heirloom collection, from this project)

 (Batting scraps, both warm and white and warm and natural)

 (Terrycloth, flannel, and Insulbright scraps)

 (About 6 yards of a tone on tone white floral quilting cotton fabric)

 

 (A few yards of this tapestry fabric)

 (The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt and all of the templates cut and laminated)

 (All of the pieces from this quilt that I never finished ...)

 (Some upholstery fabric scraps)

 (Soul Blossoms scraps from this Bento Box Quilt)

 (Lots of yardage from this Anna Maria Horner Garden Party print, maybe about 5 yards total)

 (About 6 yards of this Ikea panel, they are very cute and would make a great motif quilt)

(Last but not least, a rainbow of fabrics from pinks to yellows to green, blue, and purple. These fabrics all came from my Aunt's stash and I am passing them along to someone who can use them up!)

DETAILS:

- The winner of the giveaway wins ALL of the items above! 

- To enter the giveaway you can either become a follower, leave a comment on this post, or both for 2 entries to win.

- I will randomly choose the winner on Friday November 12th and I will e-mail you.

- Obviously I will pay for shipping and whatnot. 

Feel free to e-mail me with any questions about the giveaway items. 

HOLLER :)