April 22, 2009

Bloggers Quilt Festival... finally :)


I am sorry it has taken so long, but I am finally back in town and took quick pictures of my favorite quilt.  I like to call this "Dog Park".  I made this one about three years ago when I knew I was going to be getting my first dog! I was really excited and when I saw the pattern for this quilt at my local quilt shop I knew I just HAD to make it.  The pattern comes from Jan Mullen of Stargazey.  Her way of making quilts is my favorite!  There isn't really a pattern per sei, but she does show you the method of creating her patterns.  It is hard to explain just through words but if you check out her website you can get a better idea of it.  What I LOVE about Jan's designs is that they don't have to be exact and they all come out looking VERY unique.  My first few dogs weren't the best.  By the time I got to the last one though, they were just the way I wanted.  One of my favorite details of this quilt is flapping ears.  I thought it added such character to the dogs.  I also just LOVE the bone in the dirt hole.  TOO CUTE!!!


Everyone who saw this quilt thought I was crazy for doing something so pretty for a dog.  What no one understood is that I took my mommy-hood very seriously.  I had never had a pet before that was my sole responsibility and I wanted only the best for him.  Once I did get Arnie, my dog, home he didn't care much to be by himself, even if it was on a pretty quilt.  He just always (and still does) stick to my side.  Even though this quilt hasn't really been used for what it was intended for, it will always remind me of the excitement I felt as I was about to become a mom, and you can't beat that feeling! 

here's my little Arnie two weeks after he came home.  How do you not love the fur ball!!!

take care mucho!
-Natalie 

April 21, 2009

Boston Marathon Conquered!

So I am back from Boston.  I am proud to say that my fiance ran and finished the Boston Marathon!!  It was quite exciting and cold, haha.  This was taken after getting a nice long hot shower and a little rest :)

I still have to post my quilt to share for the Bloggers Quilt Festival, so please check back tomorrow morning.  

take care mucho,
-Natalie 

April 17, 2009

Bloggers Quilt Festival coming soon...

I am sorry to say that I wont be able to post my participation for the Bloggers Quilt Festival until Wednesday :(   I am going out of town early (very early, for a girl who LOVES to sleep in) and wont be back until late on Tuesday.  I was hoping to get everything on my "to do" list crossed off before departure, but unfortunatly it just didn't happen.  

Please go over to Park City Girl and check out everyone else's post anyway.  There is some GREAT inspiration.  Please come back though and check mine out.... just a little late ;)


Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!!

take care mucho!!!
-Natalie 

PS- Sorry for the lack of pictures.  I so hate no pictures on my post but I need to get at least a little bit of sleep tonight, hehe.

April 16, 2009

Virtual Quilt Festival...

Amy over at Park City Girl is hosting a Bloggers Quilt Festival.  I thought it was a great idea!   It is for all of us who can't travel to quilt festivals but wish we could.

Starting tomorrow those who want to participate (ME!) will blog about one of their quilts and the story behind it.  You "register" over at Park City Girl where people will be able to "see" the quilt.  I am excited to participate and even more excited to see others creations.  It will last a whole week so there is plenty of time for cyber surfing.  

I hope you are able to join in on all the fun! 

take care mucho!
-Natalie 

April 15, 2009

I have a store....

So I have been thinking about selling some of my items for a long time now.  I was checking out some of the things on Etsy and have decided to hesitate no longer! 

School of Crafts is now ready for business!!!!! 

Of course right now my shop is looking a little puny.  I have only one item up, but as soon as I can take pictures of the things I already have made they will get posted as well.  Please check out my store schoolofcrafts.etsy.com and let me know what you think.  Oh and check back in a week or so when I have more things to look at :)

this is my one item that is posted.  I think they are so cute.  I have to take some pictures of my nephew wearing them to get the full effect.

take care mucho,
-Natalie 

April 14, 2009

Easter... a little late :)

So I had mentioned in an earlier post that I started a basket but I never showed the finished project.  I was inspired by V & Co. tutorial posted on the Moda Bake Shop blog but constructed mine a little differently.  Instead of wrapping the fabric straps I hand sewed them like I would binding on a quilt so that there would be no raw edges.  I also tried to hide the sewing when coiling up the basket.  It takes a little more time but I wanted the inside to look just as finished as the outside.  Here are pics to show my process.  







My mom hosted Easter (along with all other holidays, haha) so I gave her the basket to fill.  She even surprised me by putting it as the center piece at brunch.  

Hope everyone was able to enjoy their Easter Sunday!

take care mucho,
-Natalie  

April 11, 2009

Lots of progress....

I think I have mentioned before that I was on Spring Break this past week which only means one thing in my world.... lots of time to finish up projects! I have been super productive... here are a few of the projects I finished or started and am about to finish.


this is a quilt I started a while back and finally finished the top as well as the back seen below.
It is all pin basted ready for quilting. I am hoping to quilt and bind by the end of next week.
This is something I made for my cute little nephew. More on this project later.
These are some fabric boxes I had half made for the longest time and are finally finished!!! Now my scraps are going to be color coordinated. I still have to make the purple and blue boxes so that will be done in the next few days.
This next project came out last minute. I had wanted a cute mini messenger bag for traveling and I finally put this vespa fabric to great use. I still have to finish putting the strap on but I am not traveling anywhere soon :( so I have some time to do that.

This is my most useful project that I made at the begining of the week and ended up using it everyday since it was finished. I got it off of the Sew, Mama, Sew blog. They have fun tutorials this one in particular is from Elizabeth. It is super easy to whip up and very helpful to have next to your sewing machine!

I just LOVE getting projects finished. It feels great to see final products.

take care mucho,

-Natalie

April 9, 2009

Just for fun...

I thought I would share some pictures of my little crafty companion. He loves my scrap piles!



take care mucho,
-Natalie

April 7, 2009

Color Block Swap....


A while back, probably around January or so, I participated in a colorblock swap hosted by Jen. I got my package in the mail last week and was super excited! Here are the individual blocks.

This one was made by Amanda in Austin, TX
this one by Vanessa in Northfield, MN
this one by Ginny
this one by Shelly in Austin, TX
this one by Kim in Boise, Idaho
this one wasn't left with a note so I am note sure who made this one :(
this one by Missy in Japan - this one I think traveled the most.
I contributed this block :)

And last but certainly not least, this one was made by Shelly of Biloxi, MS

A huge thanks to everyone who participated. I love all the blcoks!! Now all I have to do is think of some cool way of putting them all together. Any thought? I will keep you posted....

Take care mucho!

-Natalie

April 6, 2009

Death by Quilting...

So this weekend was the start of a challenge, Death by Quilting. Quilters had to "kill" their target by creating a table runner and mail it to them. If you recieve a runner in your mail box though you were "dead". There were three people ahead of me to mail out their runners. These quilters were quite determined. One found a post office open late on Saturday and the two others found offices that delivered on Sunday. I was very impressed! My target happened to be a Bee Inspired friend, Rachel from P.S. I Quilt. I woke up early to make it to the post office and send it out to her. This is what she will be opening when she realizes she is killed (muah, haha - in an evil voice).

Oh and some sad news with all the killing madness.... I am slowly bleeding to death. My assassin has her runner in the mail so it is only a matter of time. At least I didn't go down with out a fight, haha.

take care mucho!

-Natalie