New Amy Butler patterns

Check out this new CD for sale by Amy Butler. http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/products/software.php
It's full of patterns - I guess instead of publishing a book, she's just put the patterns on the CD. I LOVE some of the projects shown, especially the quilts. I think I might have to have this CD...I haven't seen it in any of the stores yet so I guess I'll have to start shopping more!

Pom-Poms

I just got back from a great weekend in New York to celebrate with my friend Jan before her upcoming wedding in October. We threw a little party for her at her apartment and it gave me the chance to try out some decorating ideas I've been thinking of for my own wedding next spring.One of them is the seemingly-ubiquitous pom-poms (or am I the only one who sees these because normal people don't read wedding blogs?). I made them out of folded tissue paper and we unfolded them after they made the bus ride to NYC.
I got to check out the pom pom-making skills of two of my bridesmaids, Jen and Jan, and they did very well. What do you guys think of these?



Are they too casual for an indoor reception?

Rainbow from the garden

A recent weekday harvest from our deck. I just really liked the color spectrum. I'm not trying to brag :)

Weekend quilting with Lauren

I spent last weekend at Lauren's apartment, and we spent some of our time (when we weren't at the pool, or the park, or shopping) finishing up the quilt that she is making for her college friend, Heather, who is getting married in September.

Lauren had already finished the center of the top, which has crazy-quilted hearts on a swirly beige background.

We added the inner border, made out of random pieces of all of the fabrics that are in the hearts.

Then she added a pretty purplish-navy blue outer border. Then we drove down to Robbie's house (he wasn't home) and we used his hardwood floors to pin the quilt together.

Taggy Blanket Success

Another picture of the adorable Gabe Friedman enjoying an Emily Fisher original. Gabe's mom, Erin, reports that he loves the tags and attempts to put the whole blanket in his mouth, which sounds like a great endorsement to me!

Summer Crafts

This summer, I took on a couple of small projects. The first is a purse made from a Nancy Zieman pattern. The pattern was great, but the accompanying directions were extremely complicated. However, I did manage to get a nice purse out of it.

I got a book out of the library called "Sew Darn Cute", and found a pattern for this little craft apron. It's made of canvas with fabric ironed onto it. I've had this piece of flowered fabric sitting in the basement for a year, and didn't know what to do with it. I think the fabric was perfect for this apron. I especially like the "scissor holster", don't you?