love and showers
by melissa on May 16, 2012
i’ve been so busy around here lately that i’ve neglected the blog. shame on me. so tonight i thought i’d post my progress of putting together some invitations for a baby shower.
{ with love } 
I *heart* typography. lately i’m falling in *heart* with hand lettering!
practice makes perfect! <3
peaceful retreat
by melissa on May 4, 2012
this past weekend we took a short, much needed quick get-away. we met some very good friends in Mt. Airy and stayed in a little farmhouse removed from the hustling, bustling cities we live in. it was lovely to unplug and just relax.
{ whippoorwill cabin, mt. airy } 
some of the highlights:
-
wide open spaces
cows
fireside
pies & turnovers
friends
this is only a test
by melissa on May 3, 2012
my blog has been severely ill the last week or two. I think I’ve patched it all up back to working order.
I repeat this is only a test.
overdue blocks
by melissa on April 21, 2012
I’m way overdue in my march block for icci design’s monthly quilt block challenge. seeing that it is almost the end of April, I decided that I should do March and April.
{ bows initial sketch / fabric selection } 
{ finished march block / bows } 
I had fun with bows, and I was more scared than excited about it actually. but I think I utilized the half square triangles pretty well. and it’s almost exactly like my sketch, which doesn’t always happen. I’m trying to use just scraps for these monthly challenge blocks. this way I use fabrics I just can’t seem to part with, the ones that have found new homes in previous made quilts.
{ rain initial sketch / fabric selection } 
{ finished april block / rain } 
rain, I was excited about coming up with a fun modern block. I browsed my pinterest quilt blocks library to find this fun block from the mid mod quilt bee. I used it as inspiration, loving the lines.
I think i will make a sampler quilt of the last 9 blocks of the challenge. which means I will have a new quilt early next year!
in a fog
by melissa on April 19, 2012
one of my all time favorite poems inspired some hand lettering tonight.
{ inspired by the font peoni pro } 
Fog
The fog comes
on little cat feet.It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.Carl Sandburg
go to market
by melissa on April 18, 2012
quilt markets happen in the spring and the fall this is where designers debut new fabric collections and all things quilting coming to market. i’ve always wanted to attend something like this but you have to be a purchaser (like wholesale amounts, i wish i could afford such wonderful things).
My luck might of just changed, no i still can’t afford bolts and bolts of fabrics. Coming up early next year is something called QuiltCon.
QuiltCon will be the inaugural conference and show by and for The Modern Quilt Guild. The first modern quilting event of its kind, QuiltCon will feature top modern quilting instructors and will attract attendees from around the world.
I really want to attend. Not only do i want to attend the inaugural conference for modern quilters, but my quilting icon, the woman who inspired me with her simple lines and modern esthetic, Denyse Schmidt will be giving the keynote address.
I’ve also never been to Austin, and now that i have my cowgirl boots i think i would fit right in. So who loves quilting enough to go with me? We’ll make a vacay out of it and have a grand ole time.
Last part of my market rambling is that there will be a juried show. I’ve entered contests but never a show. It will have to be original – i better get sketching!
new things
by melissa on April 12, 2012
I’ve tried some new things and finished a project or two this week so far, and it’s only Wednesday!
{ new things } 
clockwise from the top left:
- spring is in full bloom and I’ve picked my first bouquet of the season
- I tried my hand at a bit of lettering, something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time now, just finally dove in
- ate my first brussel sprout – it was quite tasty!
- finished a xlong twin size quilt – largest quilt to date
this weekend I’ve got yard sale plans, yard tending to do, some more quilting and of course whatever comes my way.
music // first aid kit
by melissa on April 6, 2012
today is a good Friday. as it is actually Good Friday, it brings back memories of childhood. I was inspired to download some new music this morning as I’m getting into the sewing for the weekend… and remembered hearing a song ghost town by first aid kit on our local college station a couple weeks ago. then I remember my girlfriend over at twirling round had this post about the lovely group.
I also downloaded some others that I’ve been dying to acquire like corn bread and butterbeans by the carolina chocolate drops.
{ happy good friday, y’all }
juggling
by melissa on April 3, 2012
for eight hours of the day I’m a designer. for the remaining 16 hours I need to juggle being a wife, a friend, a quilter and a business owner (don’t forget I need to work sleep in there too). well maybe I’ve got to many balls in the air – but i’m not going to let them drop.
you know who doesn’t have to juggle?
{ not juggling }
I want to come back in my second life as a cat.
until then I need to juggle. next week I’ll have more posts – more exciting photographs of things like spring plantings, finished matching baby quilts & the completion of the biggest quilt I’ve made to date. I hope.
sweet pounds
by melissa on March 31, 2012
many of you know that my dear friends had to deliver their twin girls much too early – at 24 weeks actually. they’re technically not even supposed to be here yet. as they spent a lot of time in the NICU, gaining weight is one of the most important milestones a premie can make.
when born, these two precious babies weighed in at just over and under 2 lbs. well the littlest has reached a significant milestone – an impressive 3 lbs! she’s fought really hard to get there and I’m so proud of her, her mother, sister and father for staying so strong.
{ for Vivian }
just in time to celebrate these girls will have new blankets to keep them warm… if only I could deliver them in person, but I’ll get to visit soon.
I don’t know about anyone else out there in the handmade crowd, but I always feel like I’m passing on a little bit of myself when I give away one of my quilts.
