My mother has taught me so many things.  My sewing and knitting talents are because of her and I like to think I have also learned compassion and persistence from this amazing gal.  One thing I did not inherit however was the ability to grow things.  Yep, when it comes to plants, my mother is a master and I am a complete brown thumb

A prime example of both her way with plants and her seemingly endless compassion are my grandmothers’ violets.  Several years ago both of my grandmothers passed away within a few years of each other.  My mother was given violets by friends and family at their deaths as they were favorites of both grannies.

Since their deaths my mother has kept these violets alive by restarting new ones with leaves and nurturing them daily. I am amazed and humbled by this love and ability.  I get to see my mother and the rest of my family this weekend and thought I would make her something to show my appreciation of her gifts.  A while back Heather Bailey published on her blog a free pattern for a pincushion with violets.  This seemed like a perfect gift for my mama.

I purchased some hand dyed felt from one of my favorite local craft shops, The Tin Thimble and got started.  Heather Bailey’s free patterns can be found here (http://www.heatherbaileydesign.com/HBSquareDeal.pdf) and here (http://www.heatherbailey.com/FreePattern/HeatherBailey_SpringViolets.pdf)

I hope she likes it.

Awhile back I began knitting an Intarsia style Cow Print Sweater for my kiddo.  Unfortunately she grew faster then I could knit it up and I was stuck with a half knit sweater in a pretty cool pattern.

The pattern was too cute for me to throw away so I decided to wash and dry the pieces into a nice felted wool.  I then needle felted a little heart on the front and stitched up a little bag and lined it with a red linen.   It tickles me to repurpose materials and it is inspiring ideas of cow prints in other projects.

 

While it seems every major retailer has moved on straight from Halloween to Christmas, my mood and home decorating vibe is still well entrenched in the fall.

Last year for the house I made some big Lotta print pillows and knit up a yummy blanket to match.  Although it is hard to see in the pictures, I did freeform machine quilting of the pillows, one in an expanding circular pattern and one in a rectangular one.  The Eleventh Hour Blanket pattern is free and found at Purlbee (http://www.purlbee.com/the-purl-bee/2011/11/29/whits-knits-eleventh-hour-blanket.html).   I have made two of these blankets and can’t say enough how comfy and warm they are.

This year it appears, I still have mustard on my mind as I added two pillows and a quilted blanket.  The pillow design was strongly influenced by a pattern and some pillows from Quilts By Emily (pattern can be purchased here http://www.etsy.com/listing/156462057/double-plus-modern-quilt-pattern-instant?ref=related-3)

Lately I have been finding inspiration for quilting designs in the textile art of Louise Bourgeois.  My husband was kind to make me a plastic 30 degree template that allowed me to make the Dodecagon pattern in the quilt below.

Thank goodness I have another month to relish these colors before turning to red and green.

Woot! Woot! It only took me 6 months but this latest quilt top is done!   It is an adaptation of Elizabeth Hartman’s Sparkle Punch Quilt (the directions for a Quilt Along can be found here:  http://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransson/2012/01/sparkle-punch-quilt-along.html).  I used Heather Bailey’s Nicey Jane fabric stars with Alexander Henry Ghastly Bramble fabric in the background.  Hope to try concentric circle quilting for the first time and found a great tutorial here: http://bloomingpoppies.net/tutorials-2/quilting-concentric-circles-tutorial/.