About a month ago, I found myself sitting on the floor of my sewing room as I often do, sorting through fabrics, trying to decide what to pair with what. The picking and choosing, matching and coordinating is one of my favorite ways to relax and to recharge creatively. The options are limitless and I always walk away with at least one pile of fabrics to think about. Sometimes I need to sew right at that moment. This was one of those times.

I had seen all of the Dowry fabrics by Anna Maria Horner at the fall Quilt Market before they were released. I pre-ordered every single one. I most often buy half yard cuts, but this line had a few that had me adding yards to my shopping cart. Large scale florals often do that to me - they bowl me over with their good looks and have me momentarily losing my mind. How many quilt backs does one need in a year? According to my shopping habits, somewhere north of 20.

Although quilting cotton is not the best choice for most garment sewing, I do find that it is good for summer skirts. And that is what I must have had in mind when I bought two yards of this print (Twill Bouquet in Evergreen). But when I sat on the studio floor and contemplated the bright oranges and dark greens in the print and decided that it looked rather good with that peachy-pink and orange number (Going Up in Smoothie), I had just come home from Sew Down in Nashville where Anna Maria had taught a class that included needleturn applique. I was also working on a little something else with applique and so, as these things go, I thought, "Ooh! Applique that flower bouquet, Erin!"

And that is what I did.

I settled on my all-time favorite dress pattern which Anna Maria also designed, the Painted Portrait Dress and Blouse. This is one of the most versatile patterns around - Dress or blouse? Sleeves or sleeveless? Pockets or no pockets? Patchwork or plain yoke? It's also a great sew. I settled on a sleeveless dress for my fifth (!) version (version 2 here, version 3 here, versions 1 & 4 unblogged - I know, I know, I really should). After appliquing the bouquet to the yoke, I was worried that it wasn't going to work. I pulled out the perle cotton and just started embellishing without much of a plan. Slowly and surely, I saw it all come together and stopped when I thought it looked good. It was then that Jane told me to put french knots in the center of those flowers. She was right - it was the perfect final touch.

This pattern sewed up just as easily this time around as it did the first time. It always takes me longer than I think it is going to, but I never mind that because it is such a joy to put together. Luckily, there were no serger incidents - phew! - and I was able to find the perfect green vintage button to tie it all together. I added 2" length in the torso, but forgot to take in the back seams as I have in previous versions. Those alterations are on the docket for the coming weekend. As soon as I complete them, I know this dress will be in heavy rotation this summer.

Excuse the abundance of photos, but if you have been following me and this blog for any length of time, you know that peonies are my favorites. This year they came on fast after such a long, cold winter. I was a little surprised at how early they showed, but still so happy to see them return. Each year I watch in anticipation and each year I am still just awed at the huge blossoms that come out of those little buds.

Life is so busy for our family right now. Soccer is wrapping up, field hockey is starting. The end of the school year is in sight. Jane is finishing up her 8th grade year. It's really hard to wrap my brain around the fact that she will be in high school in August. At the same time, she is so ready to make the move that it only seems right. I'd be lying if I said that there hadn't been some tears already. And I'd be kidding myself if I said that there won't be more. Watching these girls grow is such an incredible gift. I feel lucky to be along on their journey.

Malka Dubrawsky is one of the quilters I admire most. I am constantly inspired by her use of color, her graphic fabrics and quilt designs that look difficult, but are really straightforward. She uses shapes and patterns in the most interesting ways.  Her latest pattern, Klee's Trees, is no exception.

In Malka's words,

A while back I traveled to Switzerland and saw so many amazing things, but not the Bern Bears. Rather, I opted to visit the Klee Museum and view an extensive array of work by the artist, Paul Klee. I was especially struck by his drawings of trees. They were simple, stylized and abstracted.
I came home knowing I wanted to translate those drawings into a quilt pattern and, after several attempts, came upon a block design that I feel captures the essence of Klee’s trees.
This simple-to-piece block is graphic and clean and has a decidedly modern feel. Craft it in solids against a dark or light background or play with warm and cool colored prints to differentiate the “trees” from the “forest”.

I was happy that Malka asked me to share this pattern with you. More specifically, I was excited to make the block and have a chance to play a bit! While I love Malka's use of solid fabrics, I was intrigued to see how the modern shape would translate if I used a more traditional fabric for the tree. I chose a guava colored shot cotton and a Liberty print from my stash and just love how they look together. Even with a fussier print as the main fabric, this block still has a decidedly modern feel to it. Can't you just see a whole quilt of Liberty Klee's Trees? I can!

You can get your own copy of Malka's Klee's Trees pdf pattern in her etsy store.

She is also offering TWO copies of the pattern as a giveaway to my readers. To be eligible for the random drawing, please comment on this post before Sunday, May 18th at 5:00 pm EST. Good luck!

I wrote this post five years ago for my friend Lecia's blog. Today I'm bringing it home. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there.

My mother gave me thick hair and blue eyes, fair skin and freckles. She taught me to write my name and how to bake. She made me a reader and lover of books. She passed on her appreciation for collections and started a few of mine. She gave me her sense of colors and taught me how high to hang a picture. She drove me to soccer practices and swim meets and paid for lessons of all sorts. She taught me good table manners just in case I was invited to eat at the White House. She let me have the yellow carpet in my room when she really wanted the green. She bought me the Izod shirts and Tretorn sneakers but would never let me have clogs. She made braided ribbon barrettes for my hair and bought me beads for friendship pins. She always makes sure there is an apple pie on Thanksgiving because it’s my favorite. She took me skiing at age 3 and pretty much every year after that. She drove me to college and didn’t cry until she was on her way home. She kissed my scraped knees and wiped away my tears. She cooked my favorite meal on my birthdays. She bought me my first sewing machine. She still has a sweater I knit her although it is really way too big. She was there when I gave birth to my babies. She trusts my judgment although she sometimes disagrees. She is sensitive and thoughtful, kind and caring, generous and gracious. She is beautiful inside and out. She supports me. She has loved me every day for the last 38 years. And I know it. I always have.

I hope my kids know I feel the same way about them. Because I gave them thick hair, blue eyes and freckles. I correct their spelling and make them hold their pencils correctly. I let them stay up reading because they love their books. I let them crack the eggs and measure the flour. I add to their bottle cap collections. I encourage them to draw and then hang up their drawings. I sit through volleyball practices and watch their swim meets. I tell them to chew with their mouths closed and to put their napkins on their laps. I’m repainting their rooms because they want a change. I let them wear clogs. I have pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving because that is their favorite. I kiss scrapes and wipe away tears, too. I take them skiing. I cried when they left kindergarten, but didn’t let them see me. I go to California Pizza Kitchen and Red Robin on their birthdays because that is what they choose. I rethread the toy sewing machine 15 times in 20 minutes. I keep all their love notes. I want to be there when they have their babies. I respect their differences although I sometimes don’t understand. I have loved them from the moment they were born.

Being a mother is a precious gift. I feel blessed to have learned from the best.

Popping in this Friday to make you aware of three different opportunities for crafty people like you and me...

1. Wise Craft Pin it to Win Contest

Blair Stocker is hosting a very fun contest in conjunction with her new book, Wise Craft. (You can read my interview with her about it here.) She is challenging us to make projects from her book or projects inspired by the ones in her book. All you have to do is take a photo of your finished project, tag it with the hashtag #wisecrafthandmade, and post the photo to pinterest, instagram or the Wise Craft Facebook page. You can enter as many projects as you want! The project ends on July 31st so you have loads of time to get those crafts made. The prize package is pretty stellar - it includes a quilt made by Blair! For more info and all the nitty gritty, see her post about it on the Wise Craft blog.

2. The Sew-Along Central Newsletter

Meg has started a newsletter that will fill you in on all the sew-alongs that are happening so you won't miss a thing! Ever found out about a sew-along that you would love to join, only to find out it is almost over? Yeah, me too! This will solve that problem! The newsletter will fill you in on all those great community-building opportunities each month. You also have the opportunity to tell Meg about your sew-along so you can spread the word. So cool! Sign up for the Sew-Along Central Newsletter by following this link. You can find more info over at Meg's blog, Elsie Marley.

3. The Accu-quilt Quilt Block Design Contest

Accu-quilt, makers of the GO! cutter, are hosting a quilt block design contest. The contest is already underway, but you still have time to enter a design and get people to vote for it. The prize package is AMAZING. Long arm machine, anyone?!? All the details are over on their site. This is a great opportunity to flex those design skills. Go for it!

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Hope your weekend is lovely. Happy Mother's Day! I'm celebrating with some selfish sewing, perfectly behaved children and a soccer game. Can't wait!

I have seen many projects that I think I'd like to make only to not jump in because they involve needle-turn applique. Of course, I know that I could modify these projects and machine or raw-edge applique the pieces, but I don't. I love, love, love the look of needle-turn applique, but it just seemed so fussy and time consuming to me. The thought of hand stitching tiny bits of fabric to a background did not appeal to me at all. It wasn't the by-hand part, per se, or even really spending hours doing it. I like to knit. I like to crochet. I've dabbled in embroidery and I oil paint. All by hand, all time consuming. Rather, my train of thought was long the lines of "Why do something by hand, when you can do it faster by machine?" And, man, what a limiting outlook that is.

I tried it.

Turns out, I was wrong.

I like needle-turn applique. I maybe even love it.

I love it for many of the same reasons I love needlepoint and knitting. I can take it with me. It's easy to put down and pick right back up. When my hands are busy, my mind is at peace. I can have conversations with my friends, family, the other people in the waiting room while I applique away. I like to make and it allows me to squeeze in a little bit of making time when life is busy and time is short. Most obviously, it's fabric and thread - two of my favorite things.

Yes, it is time consuming and a little fussy, but in the best possible way. I am savoring the time spent stitching fabric to a background. I am dreaming about what I can applique and how to work it into more things. It's making me take a second look at projects I have passed by before.

I'm so glad I gave it a go. I'm having so much fun! How about you? What is something you want to try, but haven't? What's stopping you?