WIP: Kiwi Shawl

I've been slowly getting back to crafting and last week I picked up my Kiwi Shawl and started working on it again. Up until know I didn't have a name for it since I'm not following a pattern; I just wanted to knit this lovely yarn I had in my stash so I'm improvising as I go. My husband is the one who named it. I showed him the progress  after I added the brown accent and he very quickly replied: "it looks like a kiwi! I like it" After that lovely compliment I can't think of any other name :)

It is almost finished, right now I'm working on the border and very soon it will be off the needles. I can hardly wait.

I hope you have lovely week!

XX

Martha.

Still Holding Up Hope

Thank you so much for your lovely comments on my previous post. My little girl is slowly improving. We are still adjusting to a new normal: medication schedules, constant visits to the vet and the occasional set backs. But our Mini Lou is a real fighter. She has thought us so much about patience and resilience. No matter what she always has so much love to give. We are so grateful for our little baby and hope from the bottom of our hearts that she continues to improve. Still a long road ahead and it is uncertain. But we are still holding up hope.

XX

Martha 

Sew the Library

Hello and welcome to another edition of Sew the Library. Right now on my table I have these pretty little scraps that were leftover from quilt I made a while ago. They are super colorful and I think would make a perfect  scrappy project. Sadly there hasn't been much time spent in my sewing room lately. One of my beloved dogs has been very sick for the past three weeks. So for now every time I pass by my sewing room I admire this little pile and hope things return back to normal soon. 

How about you? Have you sewn a project lately inspired by a book or a magazine? Please share with us below, visit others and promote the link up.

Thank you for stopping by. I hope you have a lovely week. 

XO

Martha

Autumn Days And More Maples

Hello friends! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. My weekend was wonderful. After a terrible heat wave, the weather finally cooled down and it is starting to feel like autumn. The cool crisp air and the warm afternoon light are just lovely. Also, I had time to sew! So that was fantastic. I made a couple more blocks for my Modern Maples Quilt. The blocks come together very quickly and so fun to sew. I think very soon I'll have a quilt top... I can't wait.

Wishing you a lovely week.

Martha.

Sew The Library: Modern Maples

Welcome to another edition of Sew the Library! I've been enjoying so much going through my books and putting them to use. It feels so satisfying to make the beautiful projects that inspired me to buy those books. This month I was not sure what project to make. There are so many on my list that sometimes it is difficult to choose which one to start next. But one day inspiration stroke and decided to begin working on a  Modern Maples Quilt. It has been on my mind for quite some time. We are still in the middle of summer around here but there are some trees that are beginning to turn color and I got nostalgic about autumn. The warm colors, crisp air and colorful foliage. I can wait to snuggle under this quilt this fall. The pattern is by the very talented Amanda Jennings (from Hey Porkchop) and featured on the book Pretty in Patchwork Holidays. 

How about you? Have you been working on any projects from a book or a magazine? Link up your recent finished of WIP and let's inspire each other to sew from our libraries. 

Thank you for stopping by!

Martha

Another Envelope Bag

Oh my goodness how time flies! This summer has been so busy and with very little sewing time. A few days ago I managed to sneak in a few moments in my sewing room and I made another envelope bag. This one was for my dear sister. She wanted something funky and fun, so this is what I came up with. I love how it turned out. The bright pink bias tape against the black gingham fabric is one of my favorite parts (I think I want to make a quilt using that color combo), and the diamond quilting is definitely something I'd try again. If you would like to make your own envelope bag you can download my free pattern here.

I hope you have an wonderful week!

Martha.

Sew The Library: Needle Book

Welcome to another edition of Sew the Library! I'm so happy you stopped by. For this month's project I chose a lovely book that has in my library for quite some time but I've never got around to making a single project from it. It is such a shame because it is an excellent book. Hex-Go-Go by Tacha Bruecher gives us a new take on traditional  English paper piecing with great projects for all skill levels. I decided to start small and tackle one of the more beginner friendly projects: the Rosette Needle book. The colors I chose are very different from the ones on the book, but I really like how it turned out. It feels very warm and the brown and oranges really got me thinking about autumn. However, I ran into a little problem while making my needle book. I didn't have enough felt for the 'pages' of the book so I ended up with only two pages rather than four as the pattern suggests. Oh well sometimes we have to improvise :)

How a bout you? Have you been sewing from your library? Please link up any projects that you have completed or are WIP's from a book or a magazine.

Thank you for stopping by!

XO

Martha

Ho, Ho, Ho & On We Sew, Giveaway & Free Pattern

Thank you for stopping by to this month's Ho, Ho, Ho & Oh We Sew. I'm so glad you are here. On this month's stop Chelsea from Patch the Giraffe and I are sharing hosting responsibilities. She has a wonderful tutorial to make a Christmas pillow cover.  It feels a bit strange to be talking about Christmas right in the middle of July, but it is never too early to get a head start on our handmade Christmas makings. Fiona @ Celtic Thistle Stitches & Paula @ Mud Pies & Pins  had the most brilliant idea to organize the link up and get us motivated to start early making our Christmas presents. 

At the beginning of the year I made and envelope bag to keep my date book and stationery organized (you can see it here)  and it has been such an useful bag that I thought I'll make another one to carry my iPad and share the pattern with you.  It super easy to make! And the would make great personalized gifts. You can download the pattern here. This is my fist try at pattern writing so if you have any questions or need clarification, please let me know. 

An now on to the giveaway... this month's giveaway is sponsored by The Fat Quarter Shop. The winner will receive a Mini Charm Pack. There are over 60 to choose from. To enter the giveaway please ink up you makes below:

An InLinkz Link-up

Thank you for stopping by!

XO 

Martha.