FO: Bounce

I won't lie.

Most projects I start don't get finished right away. It's rare that I have the attention span to work on something from start to finish. Having said that, remember this post? I started a lovely curvy quilt from Angela's A Quilter's Mixology back in September.

Fairly quickly, I pieced four blocks, but I knew I wanted to make it bigger. And so into the WIP pile it went. And sat. Then, this spring, my friends Julie and Jessica asked if I would make a baby quilt, and this one felt perfect for the occasion.

I pieced two additional blocks, which makes the quilt 42" x 63" (I like to make baby quilts a little bigger, so it can be enjoyed for years to come).

As usual, I made a scrappy back. As I sat down to bind the quilt, a little trouble cat (Olias, naturally), accidentally snagged a piece of the back. I debated how to fix it, and after consulting with Julie, an embroidery patch solution was born.

Wish I may, wish I might...

I love this little detail, so I guess I can forgive Olias for his recklessness.

It was bittersweet to let this one go, but I hope the recipient will enjoy it!

Marcelle Medallion: a love story

Over on instagram, a new quilt-along has emerged. It was unintentional, but pictures of the Marcella Medallion quilt, from Alexia Abegg's new Liberty Love book, are popping up. This, combined with purchasing her book (and getting it signed! yay!) at Quiltcon, made me do it.

I cut my first pieces yesterday, and sewed the center block together. There are some partial seams which I have little experience with, but I just went for it.

I added my first border today.

I am going to spend the afternoon cleaning my sewing room (disaster!) and choosing fabric for the next border.

Truthfully, this type of quilt is my favorite.
Maybe because you get to choose so many fabrics?
I don't know what it is, but it is happy. Maybe this will encourage me to return to my Modern Medallion project from Rachel's handstitched class last summer.

I stalled out and haven't returned to it.

Soon, I want to share a full-disclosure WIP list, along with a few "needs fixing" projects. I think it will help me achieve some difficult finishes to be accountable. But for today, for this week, I'm going to bask in the glow of Marcelle.

Another Tiny Food Party success!

Remember this book? I shared a post about it late last year. Since then, I have tried two other recipes. One never got blogged (because the dish was inhaled before I could photograph), and here is the other:

These are white chocolate cheesecakes! I used less white chocolate than was called for, and I really loved the results. They are not overly sweet, and so super cute. I used my regular muffin pan, with a yield of eleven cakes. The blueberry compote (also included in the book) was also delicious. I expect I'll enjoy some on my yogurt this week!

In another food news, I really love this x-stitch pattern.

Linking up today with Tuesday at the Table!

Although I haven't blogged about every recipe, I managed to try three new ones last month. These cheesecakes are the first for February!

Giveaway: Embroidery Package

Up for grabs today is a copy of Aimee Ray's Doodle Stitching. I bought this for myself a few months back, but I found that it just wasn't what I was looking for. Don't get me wrong! I love Aimee Ray's work, but I was in search of something with more designs, something like her other book, which I may end up getting at some point. So, I decided to share this book with one of you. If you're just starting to dabble in embroidery, or would like some specific project ideas using it, then maybe you'd like to enter! I'm also including several new thread colors and a new pack of embroidery needles for you to get started.

To enter, leave a comment (one per person, please!). International entries are welcome. I'll accept entries until Sunday evening, 6:00 PM CST.

Thanks for helping me destash a lovely book!

Another social site joined

After hearing about Goodreads through several blog friends, I joined recently. I don't really need another online distraction, but it's fun, and very useful.

I've been working on my "read" list, and have added many new items for my queue of "to-reads". Although I'm still working on Wicked, I walked to the library yesterday. There's one literally right around the corner from work. I haven't had a library card in ages, so I filled out an application. I was very amused to find out that I was still in the system at my parents' address (they don't live there anymore and aren't together), which I haven't lived at for TEN years. Funny. Even funnier, the librarian informed me that there was a late fee on the account: $1.40. Hilarious. So, I paid my fine, and picked up two books, one of which I started last night. It's Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro. I tore through the first third of the book last night, which was highly enjoyable.

For any of you who would like to link to me on Goodreads, I'm here.

Happy reading, and happy weekend!

Reading mojo: I have it

I have strong memories of going to the library at least once a week when I was little. My mom would take Jill and I, and we would stop for a snow cone afterwards (my two favorite flavors were bubble gum and coconut, but not together). I read constantly, and couldn't get enough. We participated every year in Book-it! as well.

Somewhere along the line, as it does for most, my reading time diminished, and last year, I'm not sure that I finished one book. One. It's shameful. Embarrassing. I know most of my free time goes to knitting now, but I'm trying to make a conscious effort to make time for reading. A few weeks ago, I finally finished The Omnivore's Dilemma. I started it sometime last year, and read some on the plane home from Boston in September, but then it sat unfinished for months. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I never devoted enough time to finish. When I finally finished, I felt so proud (of a feat that was nothing but ordinary). It encouraged me to read more often. Last week, I started and finished a book in two days. It was a loaner from Jill, who never lost the reading bug. It's called Scratch Beginnings, and it's a response to Barbara Ehrenreich's Nickel and Dimed, which I read for one of my social anthropology classes at UH. It was a quick read and very enjoyable. I'm also halfway through Wicked. I've seen the play (and I'm seeing it for a second time in July!), and have been dying to read the book. I've got a ton of books waiting to be next in line, so I'm hoping to keep this pace.

It's so nice to be making reading a priority again.