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Love Bird

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A little birdy told me that the next issue of Fat Quarterly is out. And guess who has a tiny project in it?

This is a sneak peak of a fussy cutting Design Challenge I participated in for the November issue. Take a favourite fabric from stash and create a block showcasing some fussy cutting. I then turned mine into a little wall hanging. The block, however, could work really well on a large scale as a quilt.

Go here to buy an issue, if you aren't already a subscriber.
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Iron Will

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He would have loved it.

Steak sandwiches with carmelized onions and radishes. Served on fig and fennel bread from The Bakery at the Market. The last of our CSA beets, roasted and tossed with white balsamic vinegar. Spinach salad with pomegranates.

Hubby is away again. Was he ever home? We all miss him terribly He misses us. Everyone is exhausted and cranky. We have to think big picture for this short term sacrifice of our normal family life. Dammit, it's hard. I was very tempted to serve popcorn for dinner again but steaks that I took out a few days ago needed to be cooked. And I thought we girls needed to sit down to a proper meal. Away from the TV, the computer, and a million library books.

So we sat together over some red meat and songs. And we talked about Daddy.
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Dedication

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Full disclosure: this is not my quilt. In fact, I've had no hand in making it at all. I did make one suggestion, but it was shot down.

My SIL is making this for her son. In fact, she is making quilts for all her kids for Christmas. Well, in the interest of full disclosure, my brother is helping too. Very dedicated. Her fussy cutting is also dedicated. As is her construction technique - one square, one row at a time.

I'm sharing this (with her permission) to remind us that we all put things together differently. I know how I would make this quilt, but her approach is totally different. When we sew together I'm constantly trying to get her to loosen up and let things happen, and she forces me to to stop and reflect on some of the decisions to make. Her approach works for her. And that's what ultimately matters - in the process she is content and is happier still with the end result.

What do you do when faced with a pile of 3'' squares in blue and white with a snowy/Christmas theme to the piece?