Mystery Solved

Tonight I finished the mystery quilt featured in the last three McCall's Quilting magazines (buy the magazines here).  This was a quilt that I started in February and, at the time, I thought it would be my first-ever quilt made completely by me. Of course, then I got ambitious for Lauren's wedding gift and made a quilt in the interim... and that quilt was bigger and more challenging, so this quilt seemed a little anticlimactic, but still really fun to finish.  (You can read about the first two parts here and here.)

One thing that I changed from my initial post was the color of the secondary fabric.  I loved the striped fabric that would make up the big blocks.  I had initially chosen a corresponding fabric from the same collection that featured hippie birds with peace signs and trees, but because the quilt didn't really have a purpose (and so, therefore, could end up staying in my life or going to a grown-up person or going to a kid) and since there are not a lot of little girls in my life, I decided to use scrap fabric from my stash that was floral (the small squares above).  I think that it came out pretty nice with the new fabric.

One thing that I did not like about the assembly is that in order to keep the mystery alive, the directions for assembling the quilt were kind of strange.  So for me, that means that not every line matches up the way I would want them to.  This makes me kind of grumbly.  Still, I think it looks pretty cute... here's some proof:

I think that I will hang onto this right now, but I'm going to do some research on places where you can donate quilts, as well.  Maybe somewhere, someone would like to curl up with it.

Until then, this quilt is snuggly proof that God is good, life is good, and little lingonberries are everywhere.

The House Hunt Begins

The hubby and I spent a fabulous sunny Sunday together going to some open houses in search of our first house.  We have been talking about looking for a house together since about February, but up until recently, we have made absolutely no headway towards actually doing anything about that.  Meanwhile, I can feel the walls of our little apartment closing in around me and I continue dreaming of our first little place.

In case you have never looked for a house before, the entire process is completely overwhelming and not very clear-cut.  We spent two months trying to figure out what our first step was (every website and book we could find listed a different "1st Step to Home Ownership").  When close friends recommended a realtor to us in early April, we felt like it was a sign to move forward. Our realtor has been so fabulous (and patient) with us, that we are feeling much less crazy.

With clearer heads and armed with the addresses of homes in our price range, we jumped in our car to spend the day together.  Two of the houses on our list were showing today, so we actually got to go inside.  Another house was supposed to show today... its not really clear why the doors were locked...

There were no clear favorites today, so the search will, of course, continue.  I don't think either of us was expecting to see THE house today, but it was nice thinking of ourselves somewhere new.

As for our apartment, the excitement over looking for a new house has encouraged me to make the space a little less cluttered and a little more livable.  Last night, I revamped our living room and got rid of some miscellaneous furniture taking up room.  It feels roomier now, and we're going to try to keep it that way.  Right now this place is home, and we need to make it feel that way.

Today was a perfect of example of just how good life is.  God is good, too.  And little lingonberries are everywhere.

My Very 1st Quilt... Going to a Great Friend

So... something special is in the air... spring has sprung... and I finished my first quilt (quite an undertaking) for a good friend who is getting married and whose shower is Saturday.  Thank goodness I finished on time.  There was never any doubt that I would finish on time, but still, it's kind of amazing that its done and beautiful!

The pattern I used was the cover of Fons and Porter's Easy Quilts for the Spring 2012 issue and when I saw it, I knew it was perfect for Lauren and Mike!  The groomsmen and bridesmaids at their wedding are wearing steel gray and holding bright yellow, orange and pink flowers.  So this just seemed perfect!

Here are the fabrics I chose:

Then, I cut them to look like this:

Then came a lot of sewing and some more cutting and I created some really pretty flowers, if I do say so myself:

Then came time to piece it all together.  That was one long Saturday before Easter, but it was completely worth it!

This weekend, while on a trip to fabulous Austin, TX, along came the flower quilt to sew the binding.  I think the people on the plane must have thought I was nuts... but only the best people are ;)

Last night, I finished the binding and my husband helped me take some "walking quilted" pictures.  Here they are:

I can't wait to give Lauren the quilt on Saturday!

Life is good.  God is good.  Little lingonberries are everywhere.