Amaryllis, Baby Girl Quilt

Finished another quilt! This quilt was inspired by another one of my quilts, the Whirleygig Quilt. I just loved the fabrics in that quilt and wanted to use them to create something saturated with those warm colors. I chose to use a half square triangle technique to create a zig-zag chevron design, contrasting the greys with the warm reds, pinks and golds. It was a lot of piecing and lining up points but I think it turned out very pretty, indeed.

Most of the fabrics are from various lines by Denyse Schmidt but there is also Amy Butler, Anna Maria Horner, Sandi Henderson and Lotta Jansdotter. The most special part of this quilt is the backing! My 90 year old mother-in-law graciously gave me some of her fabric from when she was a seamstress back in the day. I was delighted to find about 5 yards of this soft pale pink and white cotton fabric in the stash she gave me. My husband said it was probably at least 40 years old so I decided to give it a good hot wash and a tumble dry to see how it held up. It was gorgeous, soft and oh so pretty! 

I had originally planned to back it with the usual pink flannel, as soon as I got around to ordering it but then I was presented with a lovely vintage gift and it is perfect! I will be backing many more quilts with this fine fabric, thanks to Noni!

Amaryllis, Baby Girl Quilt. Measures 45" x 35. Perfect for a toddler bed or crib.

In the Mama Roux Shop!

Back to the Drawing Board

This bag was originally going to be my new design for a large tote for the shop. It was completed a few weeks ago during my zipper melt-down period. It was a lot of work and I don't think I'll be making another, so back to the drawing board for something more manageable. I purposely allowed my 19 year old daughter, Eliza, to choose the fabrics just in case I decided not to feature it in the shop. Lucky for her it is now hers. I wanted to create a large bag with a sturdy, heavy duty zipper that could be used as a  gym bag, overnight bag, diaper bag or book bag. I just need to make a few changes to the overall design and the zipper installation, now that I am more confident in the zipper department.

I love the fabric combo and plan to use it again with my new design. The two fabrics in the front and back are from Anna Maria Horner's newest line, Field Study. The side panel is from her Innocent Crush line and the Zipper panel is Paula Prass Botanika. I always use heavy cotton canvas for the lining and straps in my bags which makes them very sturdy. I hope to have a revised design very soon. I'm excited to get some large bags in the shop!

Sassy Zipper Pouches! (aka: my love/hate relationship with zippers)

I have made a few zipper pouches in the past in order to hone my zipper skills. No matter how many pouches I made I still was not getting the whole zipper thang, there had to be an easier way! I had purchased a whole bunch of colorful zippers with good intentions of practicing and practicing and practicing until I had it down but I'd get frustrated with the results and throw the project across the room in a huff, vowing never to attempt zipper installation ever, ever again...and the rest of my zippers sat at the bottom of my drawer forgotten and unloved. A whole year later I had recovered enough to consider revisiting those sad little zippers to see if I had grown stronger and more resistant to zipper failure. I referenced several online tutorials but just found them confusing so I trudged on, figured out where I was making my mistakes, created a few prototypes and in the end created my own pattern for a fool-proof zipper pouch, so there! I was so excited that I had finally conquered the zipper that I went ahead and used all of those neglected zippers to create a bunch of sassy Zipper Pouches for my Etsy shop, yeah!

Only $15.00 each!

The perfect gift for Teacher or that special friend that listens to you whine on and on about how much you hate zippers!

In the shop!

Hippy Chicks

I just created a few more Hipsters for the shop using fabrics by Anna Maria Horner and Amy Butler. Those chicks rock! I just love their use of vibrant colors and detailed designs. I find it very hard not to keep every bag and carry a different one every day but I must be reasonable, so they're listed in the shop!

Bubble Burst Hipster

Sari Blooms Hipster

Delhi Blooms Hipster

Citron Bouquet Hipster

On the Nightstand

Not everyone can appreciate getting lost in a good book. I have loved books since I was young. I'd go to the public library on a hot summer day and check out an arm load of books which would keep me quietly occupied for the week. Back then, I remember my favorites as pre-teen Judy Blume books (the iconic Are You There God, It's Me Margaret?), the Laura Ingalls Wilder series or anything that told the story of young imagination. I then advanced to tales of young love and angst (Deenie, Lisa Bright and Dark, Go Ask Alice, Forever, My Darling My Hamburger...remember those stories, girls?) Books opened up the world for me as I trudged through the '70's with nothing else better to do, seriously...nothing. Books tended to and occupied me and as a result I developed such a love for reading that even now I feel ill at ease if I don't have something to seek respite with at the end of the day. "Nothing on the nightstand...what the what?!" 

There were several years when I sought advice from books on the trials and tribulations of raising an angst ridden teen aged daughter; How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk, Get Our of My Life, But First Could you Drive Me and Cheryl To The Mall?, Queen Bees and Wannabes and of course, Reviving Ophelia. Fun, fun, fun...NOT! But the books did help shed a little light on the turmoil we were all going through at the time. Now that my daughter and I both survived that storm and she is  a happy young adult, I have the privilege of reading purely for enjoyment once again.

These are the books I have read this year so far. All of them very good, especially State of Wonder.

I have several others on my wish list at Amazon: Zelda Fitzgerald, Truth and Beauty, O Pioneers, The Emperor's Children, A Moveable Feast, Charmed Circle: Gertrude Stein and Company, The Lacuna...oh there are so many!

My current book on the nightstand is the hefty The Art of Eating by MFK Fisher, one of my very favorite authors.

I would love some book suggestions...what's on YOUR nightstand?

Whole Lotta Love

I have a whole lotta love for Lotta Jansdotter's fabrics with their playful yet sophisticated designs and bold, simple colors! These newest Hipsters were created with fabrics from her Bella and Echo lines.  Two large interior pockets and a magnetic snap closure. Interior lining and strap made with heavy cotton duck cloth. Exterior fabric interfaced for extra durability. Darts added to bottom corners for added roominess. Measures 15" wide x 15" tall with a 47' strap. Easily worn messenger style, across the chest. The perfect size for your every day bag!

Poppy Hipster

Schooner Hipster

Scattered Blooms Hipster

    

  

Florine Hipster

Stop by the Mama Roux shop and take a look!

No, I'm Not a Knitter...

...but I do know what knitters like in the way of storing their circular needles. These Hanging Circular Knitting Needle Holders have been a best seller in the Mama Roux shop and several local yarn shops carry them as well. They actually sold so fast I had trouble keeping them in stock but I now have a good supply and plan to keep the shelves full and updated with new and colorful selections!

All Hanging Circular Knitting Needle Holders are created with Designer fabrics and clearly labeled numbered Channels 1 - 15 and metric 2.25 - 10mm. Easily attaches to a coat hanger, closet pole or a curtain rod. A very efficient way to keep circular needles kink-free and organized.

Honey Child

Florine

Indigo Bloom

North Meadow

Whimsyland

Palazzo