My First Round Robin

I'm participating in the 3rd Spring Fling Round Robin, my first round robin. It's organized by - the very organized - Margaret.

We can't show the centers until the final reveal and are trying to hide anything that might give it away, as well, so here is a rather boring photo of the center and first border that I have sent onwards. There are some very nice spring fabrics in the center! This was a great chance to try out my new bias tape tool, too.

Here is the center +1 border (colors hidden) that I received this week in the mail. The tiny triangles are fantastic. I'll need to think a little about what will compliment this!

Marimekko Wedding Quilt

Last week when I participated in the online quilt festival, this quilt wasn't finished, but the final stitches were sewn on the train to Moscow last Thursday night and even in the hotel there! This is my new favorite quilt to share, but I can't wait until the second annual online event! It's made of all Marimekko fabrics (including the binding) from my February shopping spree (with Kona white around the blocks - and some random non-Marimekko pieces on the back), totals 89"x89", and has cotton/bamboo batting. It's the largest quilt I've ever quilted on my Bernina - and only the second double/queen-sized quilt I've ever finished. I have a few other Marimekko projects underway and hope to have photos here soon!

The wedding itself was fabulous - my oldest friend and his terrific new wife. I can't even begin to describe it. In summary: fabulous people, friends new and old; ridiculous amounts of champagne, vodka, caviar, and Lays potato chips; photos in Red Square; rented minibuses and wedding traffic; Ave Maria and the Hora. Think the USSR meets Vegas meets Massachusetts.

Online Quilt Festival!

Through Clare's blog I found out about this cool online event organized by Park City Girl. I hope you'll join, too!

It was really hard to decide on a favorite to share, but this is what I settled on. It snowed here yesterday - a shock to my system after the 20+C weather I had the past two weeks - so I thought this quilt was the burst of color I needed this morning! I made this for high school friends' baby in Hong Kong back in the summer of 2007. Here's the original post from when I finished it and here is a little tutorial about how I put it together. Baby Bird is waiting for a baby brother or sister now! Better get started on the next one!

I'm looking forward to surfing around later to see the other quilts!

Grüße aus der Frühling

Heading back north today after two weeks in the warmth and sunshine of 'southern' Europe and realized I haven't posted in ages! I've finished up a pair of socks and a pair of slippers, and I'm looking forward to doing some sewing in the next week (a wedding gift and a birthday present). In the meantime, some photos from my adventures in Wales, France, and Germany!

Red and White

Back in November, I visited Clare while visiting my brother in France. She sent me home with, among other things, some blocks to put together for her Quilts for Leukemia project, and I finally tackled the first of two quilts today. The quilt is nearly finished, but I'm going to wait to put on the label and wash it before the big reveal here. In the meantime, here's a sneak peek!

Another pretty bit of red for you - a Marimekko card that accompanied the gifts I blogged about yesterday.

9 in 2oo9

A friend and I have challenged ourselves to knit nine pairs of socks in 2oo9. The 'rules' state that we can't count any previously started projects, so this is my first official finish (please ignore the to-be-woven-in ends):

Here are the next two pairs underway (the first are my March Madness socks - not that I'm watching, but I did do a women's bracket with my brother; the second are my reverse outlining socks - a topic in class this week - not completely in love with the colors, but they are quick!):

marimekko projects and non-photos of another project

My friend who visited last month just recently bought a condo in the US. We both went a little crazy at Marimekko during her visit and I have a few projects I'm working on for her new place with the fabric she bought. Apparently she did a little more shopping at Marimekko after leaving Vaasa and before leaving Finland - and she kindly sent me these gifts as a thank you! I love the fabric used for the bag - as you can see, I bought a meter+ from a remnant bin on our travels! The pillowcases will match the duvet cover I'm making from 6€/m fabric! Thanks so much!

I'm participating in a Round Robin for the first time. Unfortunately, we can't post photos of our center blocks so that there's an element of surprise. I had fun with the colors I chose for the center and look forward to the next round. Margaret, the host, asked us each to send two blocks for some charity quilts in lieu of postage, and these are the two I sent.