Johnny and Buck Quilt for Ethan

Fresh out of the dryer, and boy, did this one CRINKLE! I love it...super soft cotton, with a vintage crinkly feel...ahhh. Perfect for cutie-pie Ethan, who will turn a year old this October. I posted earlier that his mommy is my friend, Mandy, who designed my blog and etsy logos. She decorated Ethan's room in khaki, blue, and red cowboy theme. He even has his own holster and pop gun hanging on a peg on the wall...waiting till he's old enough to terrorize his sister, Belle! LOVE it!

At the last minute, I thought it would be cute to hide his name in the stippling

Enjoy your new cuddle quilt, sweet little man, Ethan!

BE A MAN!

Okay, I had to laugh out loud this afternoon as I opened my email news from the Fat Quarter Shop.... Douglas Day of Free Spirit Fabrics has a new line called, "Be a Man". The prints sum up my husband completely. If I was allowed only two words to describe Jeremy it would be, "Tools" and "Plaid"...

BIG and Beautfiul...

Have you noticed that my blog is bigger and beautiful-er today? A big THANKS to my girl, Mandy for "expanding the territory". She noticed this week that I was loading down my right column with bloglists and links....you all are just too cool not to link to! This new layout feels much better and less side-heavy.

Have I visited your blog lately?? Leave me a comment and tell me what creative-ness you're up to!

xo,
Ariel

Jack and Jill

"Jack and Jill went up the hill....."

Isn't this so true of little ones?? I'm back inside from a picnic earlier with my little buddy, Titus...he fell down three times, just running back and forth in the yard :) But he got back up smiling every time :)

I've just listed this illustration in my etsy shop today. Which storybook or fairytale character should I do next??? hmmmm.....

Little Miss Muffet

Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet, eating her curds and whey...

Along came a spider and sat down beside her,

...and she'll be on etsy later today...

Ethan's Cowboy Quilt Top and more...

I've had little Ethan's quilt top done for about a week now...it's pressed and waiting to be sandwiched. I had the brilliant idea of using Amy Butler's Full Moon Dots in Slate for the backing and thought I'd just go pick them up at Clementine's, come home and get quilting....wellllll.....She was already out of that fabric. I had just been in a week earlier and there was almost an entire bolt left...that's how quickly those dots are fading out of shops! I was fortunate to find what I needed from Jen at Down Shadow Lane. She still has the dots in several colors left.

Here is Ethan's Cowboy Quilt top...

I'm hoping to get to quilting later today.

A friend of mine is due to have a baby boy in about 6 weeks. They are naming him Thomas. I whipped up a gift of a flannel/cotton blankie, set of burp cloths, and a bib. Sarah, if you're reading this...act surprised ;)

It was my first attempt at a baby bib with a snap...SUPER easy, thanks to a free pattern from Chickpea Sewing Studio. I had also never done any applique work...but it proved to be very simple as long as I kept my lines straight!

Check out this vintage fabric!!! My mom saves almost everything :) This was her kitchen curtain from when she lived in Iowa. I'm keeping it because I love her and it's really groovy fabric (like that hippie word, ma?) She asked for an apron and some hot pads/towels...I'm sure they'll be very nostalgic :) And, well the mushrooms are darn cute, so it gets the keeper vote from me.

I've also been taking part in the Flikr Fabric Swappy-Poo group because I'm trying not to buy up any more fabric before I use what I have and make the quilts I've already set out to make. I figure swapping a fiew pieces of what I already have for something else I'd love to have wouldn't be bad, right?? I received a swap from Megan today....THANK YOU, Miss Megan!!! You're a doll! I am tickled to get my hands on both Flea Market Fancy prints...love the aqua colors! And, I didn't have either of the Heather Ross prints you sent as a little something extra! Thank you!!!

Always in Stitches

Every once in awhile, you stumble across the quilt shop of all quilt shops, who carries your life-blood line of designers...all of them...in one place....and you just feel the need to share the score with all your fellow fabric fanatics out there in bloggy land.....



so today I'm sharing "Always in Stitches", located in Noblesville, Indiana. I first heard about the shop from my friend Sarah, who emailed to let me know of their incredible sale ROOM. I happend to be up in the area one afternoon to meet my sister-in-law and was fortunate to stop in and see what they had to offer. There is no way a website can justly show what is located in this shop! The store is huge with inlets of fabric by color, designer, and subject matter. There's a polkadots & stripes section, etc. They are also a Janome Dealer.




My heart was particularly warmed by the fact that they have a cozy couch/sitting area with a television and toys galore for husbands and kiddos to relax as you shop. I've experienced quite a few quilt shops that cringe when you walk in with your little one in tow. Can't help it...my little man comes with the package, if you know what I mean! The ladies at Always in Stitches were so kind and quick to help, seeming very pleased that I'd come in to shop that day...even with a toddler! Needless to say, I was impressed by far and encourage you to visit if you're in the Indianapolis area!
My Always in Stitches finds