Crib sheets are easy!

Marny here...toddlers, babies and joy, just go together don't they? And they provide new sewing opportunities!

Jill and I explored and toured the ongoing renovation at Sarah's Fabrics in Lawrence, Kansas on the way home from Houston Quilt Market a couple of years ago. Sarah's always has an amazing array of fabrics, patterns and books. It is a must see if you are anywhere close! The staff is warm, knowledgeable and very helpful! The Lawrence downtown is worth exploring as well! The staff at Sarah's pointed us in the direction of a fun deli place!

Of course I purchased fabric (not just lunch). I'd been curious about double gauze, and they had an assortment.

What little guy (or girl for that matter) wouldn't want to share 'night night' time with buses, cement trucks, wreckers, fire engines, police cars, traffic signs, etc. etc.?

This is really high quality double gauze, and washed beautifully.

Could the selvage be any cuter?

I held onto it for a couple of years, not knowing what to do with my two yards. I first thought of a double gauze infant blanket and lovies with satin blanket binding. But the young family already had enough of those on hand. 

So then I remembered I had purchased and downloaded great instructions, Happy Baby! fitted crib sheet pattern from Leah Day awhile back. Leah has a very helpful and complete video on her website that accompanies the pattern. 

In no time at all I completed a crib sheet, adapting the instructions a bit to the very loosely woven double gauze, and popped it on the mattress in the nursery. Leah's directions are perfect for a safe, snug and smooth fit!

Happy baby! and happy grandma!

 Till Tuesday...

Sketchbook

Marketing postcards of Sketchbook 

jill here...okay so I can't get the random number generator widget to come up as it promised and I'm tired of fighting with machines!  I ran the little numbers icon with 16 comments and # 16 was the winner!   You'll just have to take my word for it. Tamie is the winner of the Every Last Piece Book by Lynn Harris.  Thanks so much for all your comments.  Many of you lead a sordid (get that, not sorted) life of scraps like me.  I'll try to do better!

So on to our next market discovery.  We were so excited to see Sketchbook in a section of

 Art Gallery Fabrics.  In some of the quilts, we recognized several of the fabrics that we have used.  

We love the multidirectional "backgrounds".  They're just a little spicy.
These are two fabrics from the Gossamer collection. 

•  Sharon Holland is the designer who we had the pleasure of meeting.  Not only is she a great artist but she's an Iowa State graduate, really nice and lived in Iowa!  The featured fabric below seems to step out of the usual color schemes with a nice balance of contemporary flair based in traditional "sketches": florals, dots, little textures.

Sharon Holland's designs in fabric and quilts/pillows.

Sketchbook quilts.

Variety, values and textures make this collection easy to work with!

Looking forward to seeing this collection in the retail market. 'Till next Tuesday...

And what do you do with every last piece? Please tell us!

jill here.... Lucky us at market to be situated across from F+W Publications.  We were able to meet several authors during their book signings.  One author,  a midwestern friend of a friend is Lynn Harris.  The Little Red Hen is her blog site.  She is truly an inspiration for creating all those little scraps into beautiful quilts.   What a patient fabricator, savoring the minute details (not exactly my approach so I truly appreciate the differences).

 This is a copy of the book Every Last Piece.

Lynn's design foundation is traditionally based.   She takes different settings to add her modern touch  using scraps, strings and appliqué .

Inspired by retreat classes,
Gwen Marston played a role in Lynn's exploration
and made her a happy camper.

Stardust, queen size, is a beautiful display of
only 434 2'' finished stars.  

My greatest inspiration from the book is Lynn's instruction on
scrap management.  I occasionally work with controlled
scraps so moving out of my box will be the challenge.

So this is my present scrap management called ''throw it in the pile
and I'll deal with it later''.

Please comment on how you deal with your scraps.  You have random chance

to win a signed copy of this book!  Lucky you. Contest closed.

'till next Tuesday...

Modern Quilt Relish Trunk Show in Adel Quilting and Drygoods

Marny here...A couple of weeks ago Jill and I made a fun road trip to Adel Quilting and Drygoods to deliver a trunk show. Jacque Johnson, the owner, was a joy to meet and her store is wonderful. Needless to say I found lots of fabric to buy and a really special/useful pattern you'll see below!

Jacque did a wonderful job displaying our quilts and sent us this great picture! Note the row of yummy ombre fabrics paired nicely with Tasty Measures.
Tasty Measures is a pattern that lets the ombre fabric do the work for you!
From left to right hanging, Modern Pickle Relish, TV Dinner, Tasty Measures.
Nibbles on the chair, and Supper Club hanging on 
the back of the fabric shelving.

Jacque Johnson, owner and proprietor of Adel Quilting and Drygoods.

Wonderful little vignettes inspire you at every turn.

Front porch 'decked out' for the season!

Welcoming display using their Quilts of Valor project! If you are in the area, take the short road trip to Adel and visit this charming quilt shop.

So now for the very special and useful pattern purchase in Adel! I'm in the midst of celebrating 7 new babies. Five of the young families have a toddler in house already. It is fun to send something along for the older sibling too. So here, a little bedtime story...

5 little hamsters and 2 special monkeys shouting for a sleepover camp out! What to do? 

Atkinson Designs Slumber Party pattern to the rescue!

 Now we all have our own sleeping bags...bedtime will be such fun!

Mine is a jungle border print lined with solid green, 
bound with an active stripe and accented with a red zipper.

Mine is cars and trucks and counting numbers lined and 
bound with a happy polka dot and a green zipper.

 I've got campers and fish!
And below, happy giraffes with polka dots and a yellow zipper.

Till Tuesday...