tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87013568413944130802012-02-20T06:30:02.971-07:00A personal blog about quilting, sewing and life as a mother. Lots of free tutorials including beginning quilting tutorials, binding tutorials, and other sewing projects like bags, quilt blocks and nursing covers.amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.comBlogger5901100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-88437808531142855472012-02-20T06:30:00.000-07:002012-02-20T06:30:02.993-07:00

Check out this adorable quilt, Sweetheart Houses available as a new 10-month block of the month series at Shabby Fabrics.  The quilt is an original design by Jennifer Bosworth and available only at Shabby Fabrics.  This Block of the Month will start in July. For more information, go here. The detailed, color pattern is also available for purchase on it's own. For a limited time Shabby Fabrics

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-25832897840240638342012-02-18T06:30:00.000-07:002012-02-18T06:30:00.115-07:00

Well, I've done it again. Started another new project.  It seemed in December and January I did a really good job of finishing projects.  Hence a lot of posts with finished quilts, etc.  Lately it's all been about starting something new. Sorry for so many posts of random piles of fabric or blocks.  Hopefully the pretty colors and fabric will distract you. We're going to have some good car

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-65211754412640320962012-02-15T15:29:00.000-07:002012-02-15T15:32:50.323-07:00

Life has a way of feeling a bit full at the moment. One of those times in life when a lot of big things seem to hit all at once.  (I also think that the busy-ness of Valentine's Day might have had something to do with my fatigue today. I keep reminding myself that one day I will miss the hoopla of Elementary School Valentines Day. One day.) I won't bore you with the other details because I have

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-82109755175895395462012-02-13T13:06:00.000-07:002012-02-19T19:12:18.491-07:00

Well, it's Monday again and today I've got something to make your Monday a little bit better. It's a giveaway from a lovely online fabric retailer, The Little Fabric Shop owned and operated by Angie. You can meet Angie and see some of her adorable creations on her blog. The Little Fabric shop has a fabulous selection of fabrics - I love pretty much every single line they carry.  Lots

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com560tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-71471351907431350512012-02-11T15:19:00.000-07:002012-02-11T17:20:31.965-07:00

image source Not much sewing time for me this week.  We're working on a giant basement room swap-er-oo right now, which includes all of my sewing stuff junk mess crapola supplies. It's kind of scary to find out how much there really is in that room. Yikes. But I've actually been so excited to just DO IT because it forced me to clean out, inventory, (try not to want to throw-up at the

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-32456559604812506772012-02-09T13:53:00.000-07:002012-02-09T18:55:23.992-07:00

From time to time I get emails from nice readers who are looking for advice about where and what to buy for their first sewing machine purchase. And being the really helpful person that I am, I write back and tell them that I have no idea. I always feel like a total schlub. While I thoroughly enjoy sewing, my sewing machine experience has been really limited. In fact, I have been blissfully

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-21347248639634951642012-02-07T07:30:00.002-07:002012-02-15T13:37:59.803-07:00

  I am excited to be a part of Melissa's Simply Charmed Blog Hop today.   In thinking about what I would like to make with a Charm Pack, I decided to replicate this little mini-quilt/table-topper that I made last fall. I loved having a little zing of color on my normally 'blah' boring kitchen table. Thanks to the generosity of the Fat Quarter Shop I was able to make a festive

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com294tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-17413043902633063622012-02-06T06:00:00.004-07:002012-02-11T22:11:33.111-07:00

Today we have a generous giveaway from one of my sponsors,  the online quilt shop, The Quilting Garden. The Quilting Garden carries a large collection of fabrics from a variety of designers and manufacturers. You know I'm a big fan of Sarah Jane's Children at Play and the Quilting Garden has one of the best selections available - including that elusive Parade panel. Some of my other

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com532tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-26453433006618449432012-02-04T12:24:00.001-07:002012-02-05T12:30:42.178-07:00

This weekend my husband's grandmother turns 87! When I looked up how old she would turn this year I was shocked by the number. For as long as I've known her (14 years) she has been such a goer and doer. How on earth did she get to be 87?  We visited 'Grammie' this past summer in New Hampshire and Maine.  It was the first time we'd seen her in a few years and it was bittersweet to see her in

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com62tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-45236882244023070362012-02-01T15:32:00.001-07:002012-02-02T11:49:23.105-07:00

Attending a meeting of the Salt Lake Modern Quilt Guild has been on my list of things I'd like to do for a long time. They meet about 40 min away and reality is, it's hard to get away sometimes, as nice as that sounds. Last Saturday I finally made it! This time it was a sewing Saturday. Bring your sewing machine and food to share and hang out. I was so excited to be able to go! Lots of beautiful

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-85675677953539973902012-01-30T15:50:00.008-07:002012-02-04T12:28:14.946-07:00

I was given the chance last week to read and review a copy of Tanya Whelan's new sewing book, Sew What You Love. First of all, let me say, I am a fan of Tanya.  I've used a lot of her shabby chic prints and fabrics in my daughter's room, including the recent hoop wall. So when I heard fromTanya, I was a little star struck. One of my sewing goals this year is to break out of my

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com254tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-66352097632654580792012-01-28T08:44:00.003-07:002012-02-13T12:14:12.893-07:00

This quilt has been in the works for a L O N G time.  One of those quilts that I wanted to work on (because I was making it purely for me), but always got pushed to the bottom of the priority list. I cut out all the fabrics last fall and played with the layout for these half-square triangle blocks, but that's as far as I got. The blocks resurfaced this summer and I started sewing them into rows

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com83tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-11759710658251246902012-01-26T18:52:00.001-07:002012-01-28T23:06:39.922-07:00

Today, a few good causes to share with you kind readers.  And I really mean that - I continue to interact with the kindest of people through this blog.  I recently got an email from Kelly asking if I would share information about a fundraiser she and her family are doing to help them adopt two little girls with Down Syndrome from another country.  This request was immediately near and dear to my

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-43165122769788773762012-01-24T22:03:00.003-07:002012-01-30T15:55:18.183-07:00

Today I have a very generous giveaway from the ADORNit girls.  If you're not familiar with ADORNit, they are a crafting company that designs and manufactures their own products.  Many of their designs are available in both fabric and paper goods with lots of accessories like ribbon, stickers, etc.  Which means lots of options not only for sewing, but for scrapbooking and card making as well.Owner

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-55811636026811384052012-01-23T13:43:00.002-07:002012-01-23T13:51:31.080-07:00

Progress on my bright, scrappy blocks. They are big blocks - 12" each. I used Leigh's tutorial as my inspiration and just made the blocks bigger. This project is so not high on my priority list right now, but it's the one I keep wanting to work on! This was one of those rare and lovely weekends when we didn't have a national holiday, a birthday, sporting events, sinus surgery, extended family

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-24388434943050510512012-01-20T16:45:00.000-07:002012-01-20T16:45:35.989-07:00

Progress using my American Jane scraps (previously seen here) on my design wall. Totally digging it. I'm using a white linen blend I unearthed in my stash, instead of my old standby Kona Snow. Look at me branching out.After Christmas I was asked to help teach a scrap-busting class at American Quilting in March.  (Wanna come? It's on March 15. Schedule here.) Because, as you know, we quilters can

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-74988605759921820242012-01-18T06:30:00.002-07:002012-01-18T16:22:42.909-07:00

I wrote this tutorial last year for Ucreate, and decided this year to share the whole thing on my own blog for the first time. This throw pillow can be made any size or shape your heart desires and comes together very quickly. Supplies needed: WonderUnder or HeatNBond - enough to trace 5 hearts Scraps of fabric for the hearts Background fabric in the size you desire Needle and DMC floss for the '

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-47579106206384876792012-01-16T08:59:00.000-07:002012-01-16T08:59:46.168-07:00

Today, let me introduce you to Alma Stoller and a new series of online video workshops called Stitched: Artist, designer and blogger Alma Stoller presents, STITCHED. STITCHED is a collection of 20 online video workshops by 20 talented fabric artists.Each workshop provides you with high value and high content information to get you sewing, designing and creating 20 unique fabric art and sewing

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-76507380740089797282012-01-14T16:48:00.000-07:002012-01-14T16:48:47.854-07:00

  A recent finish.  I love this stripy binding using Anne Kelle's Remix Bermuda stripes. Isn't it a cheerful looking binding? Brings some sunshine for dreary January. And makes me want to go to Bermuda. This quilt, with many other Remix prints, is a creation for American Quilting, a shop in Orem, Utah, where I make samples. They had a lot of random brights that weren't moving and so we decided to

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-24557151619559817922012-01-11T12:59:00.001-07:002012-01-11T13:04:19.191-07:00

We had a birthday celebration this past weekend, so I decided it was time to finally put together that Delighted bunting to make the place look festive now that all the Christmas decor is down.  (This pennant pannel is still available here.) It looks so cheery compared to how bleak everything looks outside. And with said birthday celebration, I have started a new epoch of my life: mother of a

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-77632420652659263272012-01-09T13:24:00.000-07:002012-01-09T13:24:23.483-07:00

Today I have a very generous giveaway from the online fabric shop, Quilting in the Rain. Quilting in the Rain is giving away a $25 gift certificate! TO ENTER GIVEAWAY PLEASE CLICK HERE (Entries will only be counted on the giveaway post by clicking above.)

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-5042255190277975992012-01-07T06:30:00.004-07:002012-01-10T14:25:57.655-07:00

You just might remember these blocks I started putting together at a quilting retreat a couple months ago?  They are now part of a finished quilt. woo! I can not take any credit for the awesomeness of this quilt. It was designed by my friend and co-worker, Sharon, at the shop where I used to work, American Quilting.  She put this quilt together using lots of fabrics from one of my favorite recent

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com49tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-7121284560800047652012-01-04T16:38:00.000-07:002012-01-04T16:38:43.849-07:00

Since I mentioned, prior to Christmas, that I needed to make Jedi Robes, a couple people asked me to share my thoughts and process.  I used this Jedi Robe tutorial and they were a snap!  Remembering the ease of the SuperHero cape experience, I made my robes out of fleece - no hemming or edge-turning at all. I found the fleece for $2 a yard. Nice. (Extra nice since I won't worry for a second as

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-4090989370951935482012-01-02T06:00:00.002-07:002012-01-04T14:56:45.719-07:00

As a fun way to ring in the new year, I have a sponsored giveaway from Forth Worth Fabric Studios. CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY Comments on this post will not be counted as entries. Please go to the giveaway post.

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-47413699338198329332011-12-31T06:00:00.013-07:002011-12-31T10:53:42.979-07:00

1. Fall Mini Quilt, 2. Moda Bake Shop Baby Lattice Quilt, 3. Navy Blue and Green baby boy quilt, 4. strawberry fields quilt , 5. Soul Blossoms Quilt, 6. Sarah Jane Children at Play Quilt, 7. Meeting Sandy Klop, 8. Happier Bricks Quilt, 9. Erin Morris Weekends quilt back, 10. Retro Kitschy Christmas Quilt, 11. Christmas Moda Sweetwater Quilt, 12. red aqua pink fabric hoops, 13. Strawberry Fields

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-55008963084729203602011-12-28T15:39:00.001-07:002011-12-28T15:41:26.959-07:00

Three years ago on Christmas Eve my adorable grandfather passed away.  He was 3 months shy of 100 years old so it wasn't a sudden thing but it made it a poignant Christmas that year.  The same day that he passed away, my parent's 16 year-old dog, Rosie, went missing.   We never saw her again. She was old and frail as well, so our assumption is that she passed away also.  Since that time other

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-69545264521856871552011-12-25T15:30:00.005-07:002011-12-25T21:32:20.245-07:00

To all those who celebrate the holiday, Merry Christmas! Our holiday from school started unceremoniously last Monday with a kid throwing up. Great.  As the week progressed, various others have succumbed to not feeling so hot either.  I felt so frustrated about how it would all affect our plans for the week with friends and family - and it did. And so, I've been grateful for this perspective: "We

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-38031009300208513722011-12-23T05:30:00.001-07:002011-12-23T05:30:02.426-07:00

Behold: the Kitschy Christmas quilt.  The inspiration for this quilt first came from this Anthropologie Quilt.  I'd been thinking about it for a few weeks when I decided (on Thanksgiving Day) to make a Christmas version using all my scraps left over from last year's Retro Christmas Quilt.  (I used my Accuquilt GO cutter Isosceles Triangle die to cut out this whole quilt in a very short amount of

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-78094500449904874762011-12-20T16:18:00.001-07:002011-12-22T11:08:26.815-07:00

Christmas break has begun. And it's been a little more lively than I'd hoped, but I was still able to squeeze in some basting and quilting yesterday. Hoping to get this one finished by tomorrow. What I should be doing with my sewing machine is making Jedi robes for Christmas presents. But I still need to actually procure the fabric and since I didn't want to leave the house yesterday, the quilt

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-52791674269019681682011-12-17T19:00:00.000-07:002011-12-17T19:00:29.349-07:00

Oh. Why hello again. I'm back and I survived the week of holiday-parties/recitals-bonanza. Barely. (I fell asleep on the couch last night at 8:15 while watching Elf with the family.)  So not a ton of new stuff to share today, but here is a little wool work-in-progress that I started, oh, 4 years ago. I found it the other day when I was digging through my wool to make more Allsorts ornaments. I'm

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-23791833241026526652011-12-13T15:28:00.001-07:002011-12-17T18:45:26.577-07:00

A week ago Saturday, I erroneously mentioned that I was going to have a giveaway for SewMamaSew giveawaypalooza. Except I got my dates wrong. Yeah, sounds like me. :) Well it gave me time to think and to change my mind, slightly. I am not going to link up to SMS (although I highly recommend stopping by - there is great loot!) because I would rather have this giveaway go to all of you who make a

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com504tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-91871270743913005322011-12-10T18:35:00.002-07:002011-12-13T20:21:28.483-07:00

 Drum roll. . .  a finished Christmas Quilt. In time for Christmas, even!I've been working on this quilt for a little while now (as seen here.)  A very generous friend gave me a FQ bundle of these fabrics (Countdown to Christmas by Sweetwater for Moda) in a swap last summer. It's been fun to decide what to do with them and frankly I kind of made it up as I went along. At first I was thinking of a

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-53912882738008182342011-12-08T05:30:00.001-07:002011-12-08T14:15:46.343-07:00

I signed up for a Christmas swap.  I don't sign-up for many swaps (I guess I'm a wallflower in the quilt-blog-swap world.) But thanks to the persistence of this girl I joined in the fun. I'm so glad I did because I have a sweet partner and I'm excited to put these goodies in the mail to her today. Wrapping paper from Ikea. I'm loving the red and white Scandinavian look these days. I got a few

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-91353646743222891212011-12-05T15:45:00.000-07:002011-12-05T15:45:00.583-07:00

Not a fabric-y post today, but we all have other loves besides fabric, right? Like jewelry, maybe? I have a cute little giveaway for you today from my nice friend Leigh of LeedleDeedle Designs. She has an Etsy shop with some darling handmade jewelry at great prices, perfect for Christmas gifts. I love Leigh's style. I'm definitely putting a few of her things on my wish-list to Santa this

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com124tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-16170122834952684952011-12-03T22:10:00.002-07:002011-12-04T16:42:59.396-07:00

Here is a teaser picture of the progress I've made on the quilt I stayed up to cut on Thanksgiving.  I cut up my scraps from last year's retro Christmas quilt + some Kona green (Palm and Holly) that I got on a sweet clearance deal last year. I am loving it.  I'm hoping to finish it this week and I will reveal the whole thing.While cutting the triangles for the quilt (we used the Accuquilt Go

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-6820299398399991192011-12-01T15:44:00.000-07:002011-12-01T15:44:05.682-07:00

I started this quilt a few months ago. I finished the quilt a while ago, but haven't blogged about it until I finished the pattern as well.  Pattern writing just seems to take a while for me. I think because regular life takes precedence. But the day has finally come so I'm finally ready to share the quilt too! This quilt is for another cute little nephew.  His room is navy and green so I started

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-47340380383949261702011-11-29T05:00:00.002-07:002011-11-29T13:05:31.117-07:00

Let me introduce Emily Herrick of Crazy Old Ladies Quilts.  She is obviously not an old lady, but she is crazy-talented. This girl is amazing. And a lot of fun!  Emily was at the quilting retreat I attended a week ago and she shared a trunk show of some of her creations.  This is one of Emily's pattern designs called Tiger Lily.I'm getting the pattern for this one - I think it's so pretty. It's

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-73222407688101343122011-11-26T17:53:00.006-07:002011-12-02T23:02:06.104-07:00

So, are you ready for Christmas projects? Some years the answer for me is "not yet" other years it's "wait, it's December?"  This year, for some reason, I'm raring to go! After a full day of prep, eating, family-hosting and clean-up on Thanksgiving, I should have gone right to my bed. Instead, I suddenly had a quilt in mind that I was dying to pull together so I stayed up and cut the whole thing.

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com175tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-50170931382943106042011-11-24T06:00:00.004-07:002011-11-25T17:39:03.660-07:00

After putting away the Halloween decorations, my kitchen table was looking really bare.  I decided I "needed" a new fall-ish mini quilt to spice up my bare space.  I've also been inspired by all the mini-quilts growing out there in quilt-cyberspace, thanks to Amylouwho.  I was lucky enough to get one of those Moda mini (2.5") charm packsin the new collection, Late Bloomers by Sandy Gervais in my

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-70663963915579474342011-11-21T16:47:00.002-07:002011-11-30T14:02:12.932-07:00

Finally a finished project. (Thanks for enduring the many pictures of unfinished/works-in-progress over the past couple of weeks.) I was happy to finally hang the fabric hoops for my daughter's room and quite pleased with the final outcome. There has been a big empty space over the bed for the past two years. I've intended to make a quilt to go there for some time, but haven't got around to it.

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-46976693013838326132011-11-19T19:56:00.000-07:002011-11-19T19:56:56.849-07:00

It's been one of those busy weeks around here. My computer and I have had a bit of an estranged relationship for the past few days. Part of that is due to the fact that I was able to attend part of Pamela's quilt retreat.  Because of a full schedule of family activities, I couldn't attend the whole thing, but it was still very nice to get away for a few hours yesterday and today and just sew.  I

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-50420026793442063092011-11-16T07:45:00.005-07:002011-11-21T17:09:16.851-07:00

I have been a big fan of the Land of Nod company for years.  I love their style and their products. For me they evoke classic childhood. So when I was asked if we'd like to play with some of their fun toys, we jumped at the chance. I thought it fitting that we were able to get up close and personal with this adorable Sewing Kit.  That cute little orange suitcase had me at Hello.  Inside are all

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com297tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-15377961376463446292011-11-14T14:47:00.000-07:002011-11-14T14:47:37.306-07:00

You've probably figured out by now that I'm a sucker for old quilts. I pretty much love everything about them - the fabrics, the designs, the artistry, and the work that went into them.  I think it's that scrappy,  'make it do' aspect that I love the most.  Creating something beautiful from the limited resources that were available is what inspires me most. Anyway, I photographed a few that I

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-26748722558182201442011-11-12T09:38:00.002-07:002011-11-16T09:58:23.724-07:00

A few works-in-progress. This pile of fabric came from a fun fabric swap with Trish.  I'm putting together a Christmas quilt. Don't ask me what I'm doing, I really don't know myself.  I'm kind of making it up as I go along.  I had one thing in mind and I tried it and didn't like it, so I hacked some more up and I'm trying something else.  I like how I can now refer to my quilting mistakes as  "

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-44403600193712491962011-11-08T21:29:00.002-07:002011-11-08T21:34:42.287-07:00

This story is personal one. And it got kind of long. Feel free to just enjoy the pictures if you don't  have time for all this minutia. I promise there won't be a quiz at the end. Just over 8 years ago I was a youngish mom with two cute toddler girls.  At the time my husband had some chronic health issues that we couldn't find solutions for and we were a little bit worried about our future,

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com86tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-55140478357546397112011-11-06T07:00:00.002-07:002011-11-10T10:44:45.994-07:00

It has been so much fun to scan the pictures of Quilt Market in Houston last weekend. I love seeing all the new patterns, collections, and inspiration that come out of Market.  One new collection I'm enjoying right now is Delighted by Amanda Herring. (Here's a picture of the Delighted corner of the Riley Blake booth from the Riley Blake blog.)My favorite part of this collection are these CUTE

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com352tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-65466605655961988182011-11-04T06:00:00.003-06:002011-11-04T08:03:46.017-06:00

It's been a while since I've shared some vintage treasures, so I decided that, since I have a few worth sharing, today would be a great day to do so. This awesome pile is a gift from my friend, Leigh of LeedleDeedleQuilts.  She rescued this pile of old, pre-cut apple-core pieces and thought I would like them. (She thought correctly, I might add. She knows me well!)I've never made an apple-core

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-70023189569807651842011-11-02T06:00:00.008-06:002011-11-02T11:51:34.128-06:00

I am so excited to finally have the pattern for the Brickyard quilt completed. I know there are a few of you who have been waiting for this one. Thanks so much for your patience. This pattern includes the directions for the original throw-size quilt as well as a crib-sized version.  It is available for instant download from Pulley (use the Buy Now button) or on etsy. (To see more information

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-20570351781329738362011-10-31T11:21:00.002-06:002011-10-31T14:00:50.851-06:00

I'm off to the elementary school Halloween parade with my favorite glamour witch, wizard,. and a couple of Jedis. (What is the plural for Jedi?)  And to gorge myself on candy. I can't do the sticky stuff with my braces this year, so I'll just have to pound down the chocolate. :) See you tomorrow!

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-29611151770759154232011-10-28T06:00:00.006-06:002011-11-02T09:42:33.472-06:00

Early last spring I made a red and white Churn Dash quilt as a challenge from a quilt retreat out of pretty traditional quilting fabrics.  I really enjoyed making it and liked the finished product. All summer I wanted to try the same block with a modern feel. Finally this fall I picked the fabrics and went for it. And here is the Modern Churn Dash quilt.This quilt has been on a journey.  The

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com92tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-39949090403472084492011-10-26T05:45:00.000-06:002011-10-26T05:45:00.158-06:00

Today we have a sweet sponsored giveaway from JAQS Fabrics. To find out more and to enter the giveaway CLICK HERE.

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-15776669393462855822011-10-24T15:11:00.003-06:002011-10-24T21:01:59.261-06:00

In the wild, happy, fun craziness that this month has been, I did not get a chance to properly show-off this quilt with it's most adorable accessory. This is my new little niece who is now a month old. Is that hair to die for? I'm having baby-hair envy.  My own sweet babes had a few lovely wisps, which is better than their mother had. My parents called me Kojak when I was a baby. In the most

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-50065635113415289812011-10-21T20:09:00.001-06:002011-10-22T21:53:17.039-06:00

Midway Utah, on the way home from this place It's Fall break from school here in Utah and we're having a little bit of family time. But I wanted to pop in and say  hi. Hi! I'll be back next week with lots of new stuff, including some finally finished new patterns.  Hope you're having a great weekend where you are. \We're enjoying gorgeous fall weather and foliage. I love it.

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-33976783791017745292011-10-18T09:41:00.002-06:002011-10-18T14:54:36.123-06:00

 A few weeks ago, a quilt group that my mom is a part of hosted their annual garden quilt show where they display the quilts they've made over the year, serve a delicious lunch, and in the process raise money for a local charity. These ladies are so prolific and the show is always fun to attend.  This quilt was made by Judi Sears. One day I want to make even just one of these blocks. I love it!

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-54203898608744145662011-10-15T22:09:00.003-06:002011-10-15T22:16:51.178-06:00

As you know, a 1/4" seam allowance is the gold-standard in quilting.  Keeping your seam allowance consistent is an important key to good-looking quilts but using a scant 1/4" seam is even better. Let me explain. Typically lining up the edge of your fabric with the right side of your presser foot is a good guide for keeping your seam allowance consistent.  You can buy a specific quiter's foot

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-39644815574722898412011-10-12T19:45:00.003-06:002011-10-18T09:21:20.776-06:00

The Sewing Summit has come and gone. Holy cow, it was fun. I think I'm still in a daze and trying to recover from the sewing/people/fabric/fun overload. I loved every minute of it. I don't get to hang out with sew-y friends very often, so this felt like such a treat. Sadly, I was terrible about remembering to pull out my camera. And the pictures I did take didn't turn out so hot (inside a hotel

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com356tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-84137577821015631162011-10-10T09:48:00.001-06:002011-10-10T09:49:42.329-06:00

I have a new baby quilt tutorial up at Moda Bake Shop. After making the large squares-on-point quilt last winter, I decided it would be fun to make a baby-size version using 5" Charm squares. This one is for my brand-new baby niece! Also many thanks to Sew Mama Sew for linking to my Easy-Stocking Tutorial yesterday as part of their Handmade Holidays series. There are some fun projects worth

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-49215276188896725942011-10-08T14:13:00.002-06:002011-10-08T14:14:11.293-06:00

Have you ever carried your ironing board through the lobby of a posh hotel? Neither had I until yesterday! (I would have taken a picture, but it would have only made the situation even more bizarre.)  I'm at the Sewing Summit and having a grand time. It's so fun to meet people in real life. A blast. So while I'm here, I will leave you with some fine fall foliage pictures of a drive up the canyon

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-65445788351389371842011-10-06T13:19:00.004-06:002011-10-06T20:31:11.508-06:00

I saw this sign by Rosanna Geissler about a year ago and loved it. Thanks to the magic of Pinterest, I found it again. Seems appropriate for this week. And next . . . wow. Thank you so much for all of your nice comments on my blogiversary. You have made me dangerously close to getting a big, fat head. It is gratifying to know that this silly little blog is appreciated and even enjoyed. Thank you,

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-66986308927611482932011-10-03T12:32:00.004-06:002011-10-12T19:40:47.354-06:00

Guess what? Today is my 3rd Blogiversary. I know you've had this day marked on your calendar, waiting with baited breath for this significant milestone to arrive. Just kidding. Even I almost forgot. Last year I totally forgot about it, and this year, by sheer luck, I happened to think to check before it came around, so I thought it would be fun to have a little giveaway! First of all, thank you

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com857tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-39856930104389516482011-09-30T16:07:00.004-06:002011-10-03T15:08:19.867-06:00

I have a little etsy shop update this weekend.  I've been assembling a selection of novelty blocks to make a kit for the Retro Christmas Quilt from last year.  This kit has 82 pre-cut squares perfect for this project. Every single fabric is not identical to the ones in last year's quilt, but many are the same and all are cute and create the same look. Purchasing the kit includes the PDF pattern

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-2479616741593621802011-09-28T12:05:00.002-06:002011-12-30T22:52:03.013-07:00

I have had so many works-in-progress lying around over the past month or so, it's been kind of silly.  I've been working on this crib quilt for a little while now, but haven't wanted to show it until it was delivered to it's recipient at a baby shower last Saturday. The layout was inspired by this quilt, which I loved. And it sewed-up so fast! I've been collecting little bits of blues and browns

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-85162660300841934932011-09-26T13:47:00.002-06:002011-09-26T13:49:20.358-06:00

A finally-finished project that I've been working on for, oh, maybe a year now? It's been a little carry-along sewing project since the end of last summer, at least.  You can see it in progress here and here. I hand pieced the hexagons, and hand quilted after they were all attached.I loved working on this one because I used little bits of many of my favorite fabrics.  Some are old from the stash,

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-17400646270045501272011-09-23T05:30:00.001-06:002011-09-23T05:30:01.482-06:00

One more post about a yard sale find. (I really never go yard-saleing - I just got lucky, 'happening-to-pass-by' two garage sales in my own neighborhood this summer.)  So at a yard sale down the street from my house I spotted these 2 chairs. $10 for the pair. They looked a little bedraggled but full of potential. Here is the "after".  It only took me about a month and a half of looking at the

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-83544661637976231112011-09-20T13:27:00.001-06:002011-09-20T22:24:53.131-06:00

Last month I shared the vintage Red Lattice quilt from my husband's aunt's home in Maine. Today I'll share the two other antique quilts she let me photograph.  I love the simplicity of this red and white quilt. It's probably early 20th Century.  I think this was made by my husband's great-grandmother. So basic and yet it makes such a nice graphic statement. Plus red and white is always so classic

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-13830981017020935532011-09-17T22:01:00.000-06:002011-09-17T22:01:43.366-06:00

I haven't done much thrifting lately. Mainly because it was summer and I didn't go many places alone. (Thrifting with 4 kids just doesn't sound that fun. Either they want weird stuff or they want to go home.) Also I spent the summer trying to eliminate clutter, rather than accumulate more. (You should see the piles of stuff I got rid of. Felt SO good.)  But one day I was out running and I ran

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-49032530696786493482011-09-16T15:31:00.000-06:002011-09-16T15:31:24.565-06:00

More fabulous September. Sigh. I wish September would last for 3 months. A couple of public service announcements to share today:First, the very talented Jackie of Canton Village Quilt Works has introduced a brand new, free Block of the Month that starts next week! Each month, over the next 12, there will be a new block tutorial and next October Jackie will have the instructions for completing

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-1746255871231372192011-09-14T05:00:00.002-06:002011-09-14T13:17:59.673-06:00

Well, I succumbed.  I finally got my hands on some Denyse Schmidt Sugar Creek fabrics from JoAnn's.  These are my daughter's favorite colors right now, so I think they'll be a fun project for us to put something together for her room.  Now that Junior High is official, we're transitioning into 'big-girl room'. I think these will serve us well, don't you? These fabrics are 30% off this week at

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-80096077371702437452011-09-10T19:48:00.001-06:002011-09-12T10:31:22.020-06:00

Some pictures of Amy McClellan's annual garden quilt show.  This quilt was made by Xenia Stirland and just won the recent Riley Blake challenge. Here's a close-up. The detail and the quilting on this one were amazing. This gorgeous applique was made by Judy Fitzgerald.I love this vintage reproduction quilt made by our friend Pamela of French Knots.This is a close-up of another one by Pamela. I

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-63301898322282889622011-09-08T14:13:00.000-06:002011-09-08T14:13:17.756-06:00

This pile of fabric is for a project has been on my 'to-do' list for way to long. It's a baby present for someone who is approaching  his first birthday. Yikes. Part of my problem is that I couldn't decide on the perfect pattern. Then I came up with this. Now I don't want to stop!  Almost all the fabrics came from my stash (which is totally awesome) with the exception of the Robert Kaufman Metro

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com52tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-66705143554100892292011-09-06T14:36:00.003-06:002011-09-12T10:39:59.195-06:00

This weekend I finished a quilt that has been in progress for a while now. And I'm SO happy with the final results.  I was going for a really vintage, faded, Cath-Kidston-y look. And I think it worked.  All thanks entirely to the fabrics.This is my second quilt made with the Strawberry Fields collection designed by Jan Figueroa for Moda. Usually I like to throw prints from other fabric

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-35411986184417450882011-09-05T09:47:00.000-06:002011-09-05T09:47:16.238-06:00

Today we have a fabric giveaway from Sew Obsessed Fabrics. CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY (Comments on this post will not be counted toward the giveaway. Please go to the Giveaway post. Thanks!)

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-20761888843957226162011-09-03T09:26:00.001-06:002011-09-03T09:43:57.447-06:00

Today I am over at Skip to My Lou participating in the Holiday Bake, Craft & Sew Along - a month's worth of ideas to give you a head start with all those pre-holiday projects so you're not stressing at the last minute like I am every year.I'm sharing a few different methods for creating some cute, quick hot pads you could make for Christmas gifts. This is what I'm giving neighbors this year along

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-47157127724749722882011-08-31T22:30:00.002-06:002011-09-01T21:12:28.843-06:00

Last week while I was waiting during my daughter's soccer practice I started making a list of all the projects I either had in the works or wanted to start.  It is a L O N G list. This week I've had a little bit of time to tackle that list and I've been creating with a vengeance!  So I've got a couple of things to actually share. First up, this little guy turned one this week.  Last year I made

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-47532110212650460532011-08-29T10:18:00.001-06:002011-08-29T11:39:24.050-06:00

Today I've got not one, but three gift certificates to giveaway, thanks to Shabby Fabrics. CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAYand the learn more about Shabby Fabrics. Only comments on the giveaway post (not this post) will be counted toward the giveaway.

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-53133718940363084512011-08-28T05:30:00.004-06:002011-08-31T10:28:48.184-06:00

At The Secret Garden, Thanksgiving Point, Utah Most of my kids started school this past week. On Tuesday my baby starts Kindergarten.  This is a day I NEVER thought would come, and here it is. Isn't life weird?Weirder yet, my oldest started Junior High School. I think I am far more terrified of that idea than she is. So, summer. We did it. I don't know if we did it perfectly (please let me

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-66162056383425656072011-08-24T17:08:00.001-06:002011-08-24T21:47:48.844-06:00

Progress on my orange peel quilt (that has no orange in it). This one will take a while as it's my take-along handwork project right now.The nice people at British Patchwork and Quilting spotlighted this blog in their Wandering the Web section of their August 2011 issue. I was so grateful for their shout out. And to make it even more fun, they sent along a few copies of their recent publication

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com158tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-71222878871305804792011-08-22T13:52:00.000-06:002011-08-22T13:52:18.572-06:00

On our recent vacation, we spent a day at my husband's Aunt's wonderful home.  While we were there she let me photograph three vintage quilts that she has.  Fortunately she's visited my blog so she didn't think I was a total weirdo for asking if I could pull quilts outside and take pictures of them.This quilt was the 'newest' of the three vintage quilts. (I'll share the others in the near future.

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-44136478372962627732011-08-20T09:00:00.015-06:002011-08-20T11:42:13.142-06:00

This post is part of the Travel Handmade series, for more great travel bag posts click here! I'm excited to be a part of the Travel Handmade Series today. This series was put together by Megan and Jeni and is 2 weeks of reviews of all kinds of handmade bags for all kinds of purposes from many different blogging sewers.  Today Angela and I  are talking about Travel Purses. I decided, since I

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-44905738132663134082011-08-18T06:00:00.002-06:002011-08-18T23:10:32.382-06:00

I was recently given the opportunity to review a copy of Nancy Zieman's new book, Sewing A to Z.  You will probably recognize Nancy from her show on PBS and her myriad of other work as one of the most famous sewing teachers in America. (I happened to pass Nancy one morning at Quilt Market and I felt very star struck - now I am kicking myself for not asking her to stop for a picture.) Nancy has

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com69tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-46535084861705649982011-08-15T12:13:00.002-06:002011-08-16T15:09:07.100-06:00

A quick "what I did on my summer vacation" recap.  My husband's parents live in Maryland and most summers we take our summer vacation to visit them at their home. This year they planned a trip to Little Sebago Lake in Maine to visit the rest of the extended family, so we decided to spend time with them there and see the rest of the extended family as well. My husband's sister and her family came

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-85981987318703456162011-08-13T06:00:00.002-06:002011-08-13T09:22:17.716-06:00

Back from a family trip to Maine. It's been a great week. Heavenly. Great to be with family. Good to get away, out of the heat, and disconnect from the phone and the internet (as much as possible) and eat some 'lobstah'. We spent some great time with my husband's extended family who live in Maine and New Hampshire.  Surrounded by scenery so unlike here in Utah. (And humidity). It was sad to

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-77541808348580431342011-08-10T05:00:00.000-06:002011-08-10T05:00:00.687-06:00

Hi, My name is Calli from Make it Do. While Amy is away enjoying some time with her family, I am so happy to be here on Diary of a Quilter sharing a little tutorial today. Amy and I have become dear friends... first through our blogs and then in person. She is one of my favorite people and truly a kindred spirit. Have a great vacation Amy! Today I'm sharing a project that uses up some of

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-73110167902405689712011-08-09T17:06:00.006-06:002011-08-09T17:06:03.425-06:00

FYI: My mending-made-fun tutorial was over at Honest to Nod this week. Along with many other great ideas and tutorials. Check them out here.

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-45439221603704901882011-08-08T08:57:00.001-06:002011-08-08T12:16:39.864-06:00

Hi friends. While I'm having some family time my friend Pamela from French Knots is blog-sitting for me today. (I'm in love with her new blog design and that pink Bernina sewing machine!) She has a cute project to share - perfect for a quick summer craft. Especially if you're like me and your itching to make something but have little time to actually complete a project right now. This one is a

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-21199372777502073322011-08-05T06:00:00.002-06:002011-08-05T09:43:31.370-06:00

We're getting ready to spend some time with extended family this week, so I'm officially 'going off the grid' - taking a break from the computer for a week!  I'm sure I'll check in from time to time and I have some nice guest posters to keep you all entertained while I'm gone.This also means I need a new handwork project to take-along with me while we're out and about. Last year it was Hexagons

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-10732886406270401152011-08-02T08:50:00.003-06:002011-08-02T14:28:36.292-06:00

A while ago a found these old nine-patch blocks I made from my mom's fabric scraps sometime around 1987.  I kept them for the sentimental value - some of my first quilt blocks (they're pretty sloppy - but that's so charming right? Pre-"wonky"-cool. :)  I also kept them because they're such a relic of the dusty color pallette that was so popular in the late 80's. image here But I'm starting to

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-11715666870595863242011-07-31T10:55:00.003-06:002011-09-05T09:59:14.479-06:00

Wordy post ahead. But it could get you some fancy, schmancy stuff. Have you heard of the Wantobe Quilter Campaign?This is the brainchild of Madame Samm of Stash Manicure. As a recent partaker of the quilting kool-aid (which is delicious, btw, but as others can attest, is quickly addictive) Madame Samm has put together a 3-month campaign of giveaways to help kick-start other new (want to be)

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-31103509763749278652011-07-30T05:30:00.001-06:002011-07-30T05:30:01.140-06:00

 A very good day around here yesterday. I actually pulled out my sewing machine and started a new project! This one is for a new baby niece coming in September. I love this collection from Lily and Will II by Anne Sutton for Moda. Anne Sutton is such a lovely person - I got to meet her briefly at Market and she was so kind.  It felt so good to get out the rotary cutter and sit at my machine.But

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-76451157987983486712011-07-28T08:07:00.001-06:002011-07-28T22:58:56.418-06:00

Today we've got a giveaway for a $25 fabric shopping spree thanks to Crafty Girls Workshop. (They are having a great sale on Bella Solids for $5.99 through the rest of July!) CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY (Post Edit: Click the link above to leave a comment to enter the giveaway.)

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-36570801862715225592011-07-25T22:53:00.000-06:002011-07-25T22:53:34.830-06:00

Well I thought I'd check in.  We're still here. As you can see, we're doing our darndest to live summer to it's fullest. I actually did a little bit of sewing last week while my husband was in Zion Nation Park with a youth group from church. This weekend was a holiday weekend with a state holiday - Pioneer Day - in Utah. Nothing like another good excuse to have a parade, hit the pool, eat some

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-3807934080511812312011-07-22T06:00:00.003-06:002011-07-29T18:26:08.464-06:00

My cute little niece, N, turned 3 last week. I've wanted to make her a little doll quilt ever since her little brother was born last fall. When I saw this quilt by Amy I knew I wanted to copy pay homage immediately.I made a crib-size quilt for this niece a couple of years ago out of the fabrics I used for the red, aqua and pink quilt I made for my daughter. (I think I've made 11-12 quilts out of

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com50tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-51601430660989171952011-07-19T20:50:00.003-06:002011-07-20T11:03:36.277-06:00

Some fun things to share. (Hopefully you think so too.) First off, did you see that Sandi Henderson's Henna Garden is going to be reprinted? It's true! Go and vote for your favorite color. Or colors. For me it's Pumpkin. I'm a sucker for orange and this one is perfect. But I also love that spring pink too. Second, Sarah Jane's new fabric, Children at Play has arrived in fabric shops!You can find

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-31515777658326483072011-07-17T06:00:00.001-06:002011-07-17T06:00:05.248-06:00

Last week I helped my mom finish a project.  She was making a log cabin quilt as a wedding gift for the daughter of her best friend growing up in Berkeley, California. It was fun to help her. (Don't you love that little playhouse? I dreamed of having something like that as a little girl - and now my own kiddos have that to play in at grandma's house. They are lucky ducks!)After presenting the

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-85655375839487086042011-07-14T06:00:00.002-06:002011-07-14T06:00:06.550-06:00

This is where I dream of spending some quality time, but it's just not the right season. I continue to be amazed at how busy summer is. With four kids I often feel like Julie from the Love Boat trying to direct everyone to their next activity or destination all the while trying to make sure everyone is happy and having fun. (Although everyone happy and having fun all at the same time is just not

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-34418471558876590522011-07-11T13:41:00.003-06:002011-07-12T09:04:55.855-06:00

When I first started really quilting about 11 years ago I took a few classes from a very talented quilter, Leslie Ison. (I made this sunflower quilt, still one of my all-time favorites, in one of those classes.) Little did I know then that years later, her daughter Calli would become a very great friend.  So when Calli invited me to a 'trunk show' of her mom's quilts, I jumped at the chance to

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com51tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-75956704391532870912011-07-09T07:55:00.000-06:002011-07-09T07:55:57.355-06:00

Kimberly from Poppy Seed Fabrics has created a quilt kit using Amy Butler fabrics and my Chain Link pattern. (Don't you love it in the gray and white? I think I need to make another one of these.)  You can buy the kit here. Pattern available here. While you're there check out Poppy Seed's fabric. I'm especially loving the Robert Kaufman Metro circles. Happy Saturday.

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-41117180462191716222011-07-07T14:48:00.000-06:002011-07-07T14:48:59.884-06:00

 I found a little bit of time to do some summer sewing. So I made a table runner for my mother-in-law's birthday. I used the good old quick, quilt-as-you-go Table Runner Tutorial. I love how fast these come together. Last summer when we were in Maryland I found some cool fabric with a beach and lighthouse theme and knew they were perfect for my mother-in-law who grew up in Maine and Portsmouth,

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-35093366891978118962011-07-05T23:41:00.002-06:002011-07-06T19:49:58.858-06:00

Pretty much nothing beats the 4th of July weekend in a small town in Idaho.  Throw in a trip to the sand dunes, a lake and a bunch of cousins followed by snowcones, awesome uncles, and a parade. How can you beat it?  All that was missing was a llama, a game of tether ball and a flippin' skit.Good times. Except the part where the small town fire truck drenches you unexpectedly at the end of said

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8701356841394413080.post-88527853223414522342011-07-02T23:02:00.000-06:002011-07-02T23:02:31.873-06:00

My summer work in progress A few fun tidbits to share:The Sewing Summit. Can you come?  Have you checked in recently? There are lots of new announcements about sponsors, schedules and teachers. I must say I am SO excited about going to this event.  It is going to be awesome and Utah is so pretty in October. And it would be so much fun to hang out if you can come. Do you like free quilt

amy smarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01247531873412471264noreply@blogger.com5