Charles & Poppy

Fabric from left to right: Eva in Desert Sky, Leah Duncan / Cocoons in Bone, Parson Grey / Wall Flower in Cherry, Amy Butler

Too much fabric. Not enough time. I distinctly remember writing about how I tried not to hoard fabric, and here I am, hoarding fabric. It’s just, I have the best intentions, and I had projects in mind for these fabrics when I bought them six months ago. Still, here they sit, unfolded and unsewn because I have no time to sit and play.

That fabric on the far left, by Leah Duncan, is my current favorite. I thought I wanted to make a dress out of it, but it’s pretty loud, so I think I’ll make a full skirt using Gertie’s tutorial. Wouldn’t that be fun for the sumer? Is it still technically summer in August? Maybe I’ll have it finished by then.

The middle fabric, made by Amy Butler’s husband David, was supposed to magically turn into a pair of curtains. Nope, no curtains. I’m just too afraid to cut into it because I don’t know if we’ll be living here a year from now. I’m sure Mr. Butler wouldn’t want me to degrade his beautiful work on a rental window. Instead, his fabric can live in a box untouched until we move into forever home some time in 2026.

That Amy Butler fabric was a complete impulse purchase from Sewn Studio in Cincinnati. It was the first time I’d seen it in person, and I knew I would regret it if I didn’t buy a couple of yards while I was there. I think I want to make a seat cushion for my sewing chair. See how the fabric matches my cute Anthropologie button drawer-pulls? I’m obsessed.

I hope you’re having more sewing success than I am. I’ll leave you with a photo of my sweet Charlie. He doesn’t mind if I don’t get any thing done. In fact, he’d probably prefer it that way. Have a wonderful week! —Emily 

My best friend is due with her first child in December, and I JUST. CAN’T. WAIT to meet that little baby! When she told me back in May, I (appropriately) sobbed with joy and started searching right away for the perfect fabric for a baby quilt.  She and her husband chose not to find out the sex of the baby, so I sort of  had to hunt to find some fabric that was appropriate for both boys and girls. Also, I wanted to avoid anything that screamed “BABY!” because I want this quilt to be used for a long time.

It can be difficult to find an etsy seller who is willing to create a custom fat quarter bundle, so I have to say thank you to Lela of Cedar House Fabrics for working with me to create this quilt. All of the fabric is designed by Cloud 9 and is a combination of five different collections.

Also, I’d like to add that making small quilts is exactly one grillion times easier and more satisfying than making larger quilts. A 55 x 55 inch square?!  Sure! No problem. I’ll make 20 more. I think I sewed the top together in one day and hand sewed the binding over the course of three days.

This was the first time I handmade my binding and it was surprisingly pretty painless. Plus, it looks so cute! When it came time to attach it, I used this trusty tutorial, and conveniently, Melissa Esplin posted a helpful video about adding thread seamlessly, which is a technique I didn’t know existed. So much less swearing.

Sweet baby M, you are so loved!  We can’t wait to meet you in a few weeks!

Update: “baby M,” now known as Lucie, made her debut on December 15, 2011! She is chubby and squawky and wonderful, just a baby should be. To learn more about sweet Lucie and her beautiful parents, click here!