Project Special Delivery.

taking a break from the day - not because i want to, but because of a huge thunderstorm with massive amounts of rain that is rolling through, on this otherwise absolutely gorgeous sunny hot and humid 4th of july... i am a bit sun-sleepy and stinky, sore from weeding the garden and yoga last night. sitting in the air conditioned living room isn't a bad idea right about now. though i would prefer to be BBQing with friends!... (we'll have to wait for the rain to pass?)

i realized i never got to really talk about this project here, from earlier in the spring! i was lucky to be able to participate in Project Special Delivery - a secret group on flickr, full of heather ross fans just dying to do something nice for her while she has been expecting her first baby (a girl!)! (just think of how many of her fabrics have been used in our own baby quilts!) since we recently found out that heather has received the quilt, i can finally speak freely! ;)

Welcome statement for the group:

Welcome to the virtual surprise baby shower for Heather Ross. 

The mission: Heather is expecting in late July and we want to surprise her with handmade baby gifts/keepsakes from her fans!

The reason: We want to let Heather know how much we appreciate her great fabric and the personal touch she puts into interacting with her customers through workshop weekends, studio sales, and her blog. She inspires so many wonderful projects here on Flickr, let's send some of the love back to her!

The plan: Create your gift and plan to mail it mid May 2011. 

The discussion posts in this group can only be seen by members, so don't worry about Heather somehow finding this group and having the surprise spoiled.

Remember - this is a SURPRISE!! So don't post the nitty gritty on your blogs or anywhere else public. 

Post about a surprise baby shower for a virtual friend - GOOD!
Post about a surprise baby shower for a Heather Ross, post about it in the public Heather Ross Flickr groups - BAD!

as a group, we each sent in one improv block in an assortment of rainbow colors (we were lucky to be able to sign up for which color we wanted to do!), which were compiled into a good sized quilt. there were some others who made star blocks that were made into a second quilt. and there were also some folks who made appliqued onesies to send along as well. finally, there was a book compiled with a photo of each block, with our names and a little note to heather, so she would know who made which one.

you might remember my yellow improv block:

some photos of the quilt in its entirety:
 

& on the back -

the thankyou note from heather, sent to the group mama who coordinated it all and mailed it off to its new home:

I can't tell you how touched and grateful I am for this amazing quilt! It's so beautiful, so expertly made, and so incredibly generous.

I don't even know where to begin in thanking you, or in trying to express my gratitude, but I do know that I would like to thank each person involved personally, and I'd like to do it in writing. Would it be possible to get a list of addresses from you? If you think that everyone would be more comfortable with emails I'm OK with that too.

I'm also really really amazed by the hand-embroidered message on the quilt's back. What you couldn't have possibly known, and what I can barely believe, is that this specific quote is so dear to me. These are the only words that are on my uncles headstone. He died unexpectedly a few years ago, we were very close and his life was full of art and struggle and too much sadness. His birthday is July 26th, which is also my due date.

I asked my husband to take a picture of me wrapped up in the quilt to send you this morning, but we both agreed that I looked a bit too much like I had been crying (because I had!) and had just rolled out of bed (also guilty) and that we would try again this evening.

I love seeing so many familiar names in this book, and love seeing each of the blocks separately and knowing who they are all from. This is going to be something that I treasure for ever.

Much love and many thanks,
Heather

♥ i'm so pleased to have been part of this group and to have been able to show a tiny bit of gratitude for years of creative inspiration and supplies. suuuuuch a fun project :) there were so many talented people in the group, and it was so fun to see the final product come together!

soon-to-be party!

i just looked at the extended forecast for the weather, and it looks like we have an amazing stretch ahead of us for the upcoming week - and right into next weekend! this is great news, because i've been slightly stressing out that we'd have overcast or rainy skies for our bbq-brunch next saturday; so i was very relieved to see "mostly sunny, high of 82" - perfect!! 

i spent most of tonight in the air conditioned living room blaring summer music and making lists. shopping lists - walmart tomorrow (ugh, i hate going there...), wholesale groceries etc on thursday pm, regular groceries also on thursday pm. last minute things to grab on saturday am (flowers, ice, etc). a list of last minute things to grab from various spots around the apartment on saturday am (paper lanterns, chairs, pillows, quilts). i pulled together linens and fabric for table coverings. i emptied my cupboards of serving dishes, serving bowls, serving utensils, baking dishes, etc. needless to say, the more i do now, the less i will have to do at the last minute. i've got the free lazy time this weekend, and i'm going to use it! 

the menu is made, the shopping lists are made, the ideas/plans are made. we'll have probably 30 friends and family coming during the first half of the day before the boyfriend has to go to work.. it will all be outside, in our lovely backyard - a nice big tree or two for shade if we need it, and plenty of space to spread out with picnic blankets! i love bringing the inside outside, so we'll have lots of end tables with chairs for people to sit at if they aren't into sitting on the ground. we got some fun toy type stuff  (ooh! bubbles!) for the kiddos, too. (and sparklers, for the big kids.)

we're going to have some brunch yummies, as well as plenty of fruit and veggies, and bbq stuff. i'm going to do individual servings lemonade in small mason jars, lots of bottled water and iced tea... and pretty cupcakes! 

the overall feel is going to be very summery, very light, a little bit vintage, and a lot of fun. i can't wait :)

some inspiration, found on pinterest!

Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com via hannah on Pinterest

Source: yvestown.tumblr.com via Katrina on Pinterest

Source: skinnytaste.com via Brooke on Pinterest

Source: tumblr.com via Brooke on Pinterest

Source: terristable.blogspot.com via Brooke on Pinterest

Source: None via Brooke on Pinterest

Source: blackeiffel.blogspot.com via Brooke on Pinterest

Source: didsomeonesaypartysite.com via Brooke on Pinterest

Source: somewheresplendid.com via Taylor on Pinterest

a summer skirt.

after spending this morning at the beach (perfect amazing summer weather), and this afternoon having lunch with the boyfriend before he headed off to work; i decided i should shower off and spend a little time away from the sun in the sewing room. i whipped up a skirt using this tutorial as my guide (with a few little changes here and there) and a bunch of joel dewberry's modern meadow fabric i had kicking around. 

i had been on the hunt for something fun to wear while hostessing our summer brunch/bbq next weekend, no more shopping needed! ;) that fabric was just dying to be some kind of crazy printed piece of clothing! i'm definitely not a clothing sew-er type, its way outside of my comfort zone...my hem is a little bit off in a couple of places, i'll have to go back and fix that...

(and yes, despite spending all morning at the beach in the sun, in a bikini!, my legs are still WHITE. oh gosh. embarrassingly non-tanned. i guess thats what i get for working in the hospital basement all day! must work on that this weekend! ;))

 

 my first time ever putting pockets in anything! 

i'm sort of regretting not using the polka dots for the waistband, too!

they're just too cute...

i wanted a fun little back - so i added the ruffling at the waist.

 

the waistband is made from kaffe fassett shot cotton.

despite a few mistakes, i'm really happy with how this skirt came out - and i've got a stack of fabrics ready to make more when motivation strikes again! ;)

another instant stash destash!

my recent instant stash etsy listing sold so quickly i was inspired to put together a second one! 

you can find that listing, here.  :)

i'm surprisingly and unexpectedly home sick today with a bit of a bug. lingering headache, nausea, and a bit of the pukes. i attempted to get ready for work, and after a half-assed shower i gave up. i've been in bed with honey all morning, the fan is finally blowing in some summery air - the first nice day in what feels like weeks. i'm hoping i can muster up some energy later this afternoon to maybe sit out in the back yard at least. the boyfriend will hopefully be making a gaterade delivery soon.

don't worry, i've got a very helpful nurse taking care of me today.

the boyfriend & i have been a little worried these past couple of months, because honey's ears appear to be drooping at the tips. in doing some internet research, she could either have ear mites, a hematoma, or severe dehydration - or it could be nothing at all. she doesn't show any signs of being ill otherwise (infact, today she has been pretty annoying!), besides her usual stuff. i suppose a check up at the vet couldn't hurt, though we were just getting used to not having to take her in. ;) with her diet change, new meds, and weight loss after surgery (she's down a couple of pounds from her overweight starting point), it wouldn't surprise me if she was a bit dehydrated. we tend to be a little hypochondria-tic with her in general, though. ;)

thankyou for all of the sweet comments on my last post - it feels good to be somewhat motivated to sew. i was able to take a bit of time in and out of sicksleep this morning to do some online brainstorming for future ideas for the rest of that quilt. :)

hope everyone's week is starting off better than mine! ♥

summer lovin'.

since yesterday was a busy day away from home,

i opted to stay in today (with the exception of going out for breakfast!)

to get some things done around here.

lots of laundry and catching up -

i also scrubbed pretty much every flat surface i could find. 

we've had some yucky rainy weather lately, but i did see the sun a bit this afternoon.

hoping for a nicer week ahead!

meanwhile,

these are a few of my favorite things.... 

piles & piles of papers & books around here lately.

 & got some info in the mail this week about this:

 (finally sat down to watch this tonight, and it was pretty decent!!)

 

starting to collect decor & ideas for our bbq happening in a couple of weeks..

hoping to use these tiny vintage produce baskets for berries etc!

i found them on etsy for a super deal.

 & they came with some vintage playing cards, which just so happened to be beautiful!

 i have been tick-tick-tickling away at some painting projects, but not as much as i'd like to be.

i'm hoping that this whole concept/etsy thing will happen by fall. 

i'm not setting my goal too lofty, because i know how unmotivated i can be in the summer ;)

but, its a start.

i did manage to sit down at the (seriously neglected) sewing machine today for an hour or so.

i couldn't decide what to work on, so i grabbed the closest thing to me!

the vintage summer love quilt work-in-progress.

 you may remember when i started this project, 

i had hopes of somehow incorporating an older project - 

the handful of blocks i'd made for my neutral scrap quilt.
i started those blocks back in december -

 i knew that i would never get around to finishing that neutral scrap quilt project, 

it was just too complicated and bit tedious for my taste. 

but, i love the blocks so much - so they now have company :)

 my goal is to make this quilt a bit of a sampler..

i only have enough HST's left for maybe three or four more rows, 

so i'd like to incorporate some rows of other types of blocks with some other fabrics as well.

overall, i'll be keeping the same feel - soft, airy, summery, and vintage.

{ i've got some more planning to do! }

 & the flip & under side..

chillin' out with the laundry drying in the porch:

 & in the bedroom...

 until i can figure out the next step, its going to be hanging out in the sewing room...

away from the curious & sleepy kitties. (wookiee is beside me snoring, right now!)

♥