Link Love

Just in case you need to ignore some housework or laundry, I've compiled a few links that have inspired me to ignore housework and laundry. ; )

Cathedral Windows Tutorial
Keep Calm-o-matic
Continuous Binding Technique (The tutorial that finally got through my thick skull)
Thin Crust Pizza Dough (I'm always on the hunt for a good pizza crust recipe, gotta try this one)
Shrimpo-de-gallo
Video Tutorial on Cutting a Whole Chicken
Scandinavian Stitches Free Bullfinch Pattern 
Make a Potholder in Minutes

As usual, I owe my inspiration and procrastination skills to the talented and hilarious people out there in internet world and blogland.

They're Like Potato Chips

These wonky log cabin house blocks are like potato chips. You can't make just one. I had a great time and I'll think I'll make a few more and sash them for a quickie baby or toddler quilt.

Four down, maybe five more to go? They sure are fun. I love playing with scraps.

Brrrr!

A little chilly here this weekend. Perfect for inside home renovations. Inspector Gadget is probably happy to be at work so he can rest. This snowman potholder arrived in the mail. Isn't it adorable?

More free piecing. The House of Krom has block two in her free piecing study. The log cabin house was so much fun I may have to try a few more.

My biohazard pineapple blocks were made into a table runner. I was going for a Valentine's Day look, but all I kept seeing were biohazard symbols, so I thought it should be a little edgier. The quilting is done, but I need to bind it. The backing fabric is Kung Fu Pandas. Not sure what I was drinking thinking for this piece!

Some bits and pieces: Zentangle ATCs in progress and finished, a cute felt bird someone made me, and a dachshund Silly Bandz a friend sent my daughter and I. I'm always amazed at how many quilters have doxies.

Creating for a Cure

My talented friend Rene has inspired me to make more Priority: Alzheimer Quilts for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI) with her Creating for a Cure post. Rene has made several quilts for AAQI and is challenging her fellow quilters to join in the fun. Check out her blog for the challenge and pictures of her gorgeous quilts.

If you haven't heard of AAQI, they sell art quilts to raise funds for Alzheimer's research. This grass roots organization has raised more than $494,000 since 2006. Of course they couldn't do it without the creations of many generous quilters and blogland buzz. I hope you will consider making a 9" x 12" miniature quilt or three. It's a great way to practice a new technique, use scraps, and FINISH something. LOL! Or use it as an excuse to buy those fat quarters you've had your eye on. As if we need excuses to buy fabric.

The minis above are some I've made for AAQI.

My doll quilt swappers made 20 quilts in May 2010 and they all sold at the Houston show. A few are shown above. Even if you can't make a quilt, consider supporting this organization by purchasing a quilt. They're all beautiful and made with such care.

Here is a Friday Funny for you:

More Mrs. Bobbins comics here.

Welcome to Polyvore!

Welcome to Polyvore! by Michele360 featuring green t shirts

Butterfly Flimsy Finished

Butterflies were flitting all over blogland this summer. I thought they made such fun use of scraps, that I started making blocks in my spare time. I ran out of black Kona, so these blocks were destined to be a small quilt.

I finished sewing the blocks together at our Sew Day Saturday. I really love how it turned out. I think it would make a perfect baby quilt with all those bright colors and the black. Spit up stains will blend right in! Now to get it quilted and gifted. To get the tutorial for these fun blocks, visit here.

I remembered to take a full shot of this 1930s repro nine patch. I still need to make the label. Love the crinkly look after laundering.

Some close-ups of the 1930s repro fabrics. I love them all, but the novelty prints are my favorite. Check out the grumpy dogs wearing sweaters. The Scotty dogs are cute too. And the dressed up kittens with their mittens. Cute, cute, cute!

Speaking of grumpy dogs in sweaters, here's Bones who refuses to look at the camera. I think he looks quite dapper in his corduroy. Wonder what he would put in those pockets?

This is more like it. Footloose and fancy free and using the threshold as a pillow. Note the wagging tail. What a goof.

I've been hunting for a copy of Gwen Marston's Liberated Quiltmaking for a long time. After falling in love with Liberated Quiltmaking II, I wanted to see what the first edition was all about. The ideas and projects are as inspiring as ever. I especially love the section on houses and fractured fabric. It's refreshing how "modern" Gwen's quilts are even though this book was published 15 years ago.

A Charming Challenge

Robert Kaufman has generously donated charm square packs of their Kona solids to all the Modern Quilt Guilds. How cool is that, those little pushers?! The Orlando Modern Quilt Guild choose the "Dusty" palette to challenge us. I know I'll find loads of inspiration for this mini quilt challenge. The hardest part will be deciding on just one direction.

Photo by Krista, she's a great photographer too!

My partner for DQS9 was featured on Pleasant Home's Needle little Inspiration yesterday. Krista of Spotted Stones is one talented gal. I'm so lucky to have one of her creations hanging in my studio.

I'm still mug rugging. This one is for a swap. My partner's favorite color is red.

Happy birthday to my beautiful Mom! She turns 70 today. I know I'm a bit biased, but she's the best mom in the world. And see, no gray hair. I was a good teenager. Ha! If you believe that, I've got bridge in Brooklyn up for auction on eBay. Happy birthday Momster. Enjoy your day.