Small Town In the Big City

I was out of town again this weekend for another day-trip to Atlanta. Last weekend we delivered three bikes to Son and DIL #1 and one of them was a bust. He was trying out his dad's cross bike for urban riding and the brakes were just to sketchy on asphalt. I traded it out with his road bike that we were storing in our garage. Their new place is a tiny rental in close proximity to a university and there is little space to store bikes for his habit.

I had a bit of time on my hands after the bike exchange. You see, I had dropped Hubs off in Covington, GA to ride a century at 8:00am. It's billed as "The Fasted Century in the South" and it's a ride he has never participated in before. It was fast, he broke his 100 mile speed record and I only had 4.5 hours to complete my mission.

It would have been nice to take a leisurely stroll and hit all the ATL quilt shops but I had to choose one. The most convenient for the trip turned out to be Intown Quilters and I was very excited because it was on my short list.

I go to Atlanta quite often but since I started quilting a few years ago our visits always seem to be on a tight schedule and focused on a family event. This was the first opportunity for me to visit an Atlanta area quilt shop.

I chose well. The selection at Intown Quilters was fabulous and I got to see things in person that I have only previously stared at electronically. The service and people were great. Why can't we have a shop that stocks fabric like that in Augusta?!?

Here's what I purchased:

I added to my little Cotton and Steel collection.

This is my entire C&S collection and I feel like I can finally cut into it now.

I just loved Natural History by Lizzy House when it came out so I bought these four FQs.

Then I added half yard cuts of Kona Pool and Pickle to my stash. And last but not least, one FQ of Alison Glass Hand Crafted and a lone piece of Bridgetown by Violet Craft.

I also got Happy Mail last week like a lot of people. I got the silver and I am so happy with it. I have my design all set and all I need are the Cotton Couture Solids and I can get started on this baby.

Oh, and I picked up some swag at the bike ride too. Now I need a sticker for my sewing machine that says...

1/4 Inch Please...It's the Law!!!

Here's what I am finishing up today. Three of my personally designed Dish Drying Mats for the guild fundraiser at our quilt show in November. One is finished and the other two need binding.

Now I need to get back in my sewing room.

Next up:

The wedding!

Thanks for visiting!

Trying a Little Something New

I moved my studio into its own dedicated space! No more dining room table crowding my space! No more dark green walls and covered porch sucking up all my natural light! Best of all, I can now hang my sewy things on the walls! 

You know what that means...I have a great excuse to participate in a mini swap!

I signed up for a Tula Pink True Colors Mini Swap and I made my first inspiration mosaic.

Purlbee.com, Carmen (flickr), Pixelstopatchwork.com, JenJohnson (flickr), Blossom Heart Quilts, Sew Fantastic, Quilts by Emily (Etsy), Tula Pink quilt (Photo by JayBird)

I already had a little bundle of 6 True Color FQs and I added 4 more when I was at Branum's for my AugustaMQG meeting last Tuesday.

Can you tell I am a bit excited about participating in my first swap?

I've been a bit busy and a bit down lately and I have neglected the blog for several weeks. I owe you all an update on two big events.

First, today is Son #1 and DIL #1's First Monthiversary and I haven't shared any wedding photos.
Second, my new studio reveal.

I'll try to remedy that this week.

Thanks for Visiting!

Wedding, New Bloggers Hop and a Little Lotta-Sunday Stash

Things have been a bit hectic at the Fahrion house for several weeks. First off, Son #1 got married to the sweetest DIL #1. Here's a series of collages made by the MOB for the rehearsal.

The setting was a beautiful barn in rural Alabama. It is called Ephesians Farm and I would not hesitate to recommend them. They were such a blessing and went above and beyond to make this a special day.

I am so thankful that Pam, the MOB, is an ace at taking snapshots because if it were left up to me there wouldn't be such a nice photographic record.

She also puts together these adorable collages and gets them posted on FB in minutes. Things like this take me hours!

Wedding pictures will be shared in a separate post but if you want to see more now you can use #marryinfahrion in IG and FB.

SUNDAY STASH

When I returned home from AL I had a box from Pink Castle Fabrics waiting on my front porch. I have already shared my Alison Glass bundle but not its box mates. (BTW, Pink Castle is currently giving away their Golden Tickets!)

I bought this FQ bundle of assorted Lotta Jansdotter and friends too. It was a crazy good deal even before the 30% discount.

From first sight in my early quilting days I was a crazy big fan of Lotta's aesthetic but I didn't understand that collections disappear and I missed out when Glimma was released. Now, when I see good deals, I toss stash builders of things I missed out on during my naive early days into my cart when I buy fabric for specific projects. This Lotta bundle will be mixing with other Lotta cuts that I have been collecting in the same manner.

I started cutting into it last night. I am using it to make a baby quilt to test the pattern I have been developing for my Doe half yard bundle. I am pretty excited and a bit nervous to see how it turns out. 

The Doe is slated for the quilt that will be used in our master bedroom so it must be something I can live with for a very long time. This Lotta baby quilt will either give me the go-ahead to get started or it will put me on the trail for another pattern.

At this point there are not any babies on the way, girl or boy, to give this quilt to so it may become my first Etsy offering. But, if a baby girl surprises us soon she will have a sweet quilt waiting for her. (D&D, I'm praying for you!)

BTW, I've been participating in the New Quilt Bloggers Hop. I was Week #1 but I have been promoting the current hoppers and tomorrow is Week #3 so here's who's up:

Our hoppers this week: Week 3 – Monday July 13^th

^{My Hive, The New Bees:}

Abby @ https://hashtagquilt.wordpress.com/

Shelley @ http://thecarpentersdaughterwhoquilts.com/

Mary @ http://quiltingisinmyblood.com

Megan @ www.sewstitchingcutequilts.com

The Quntum Quilters:

Hannah @Modern Magnolia Studio

Silvia @A Stranger View

Ida @Ida Rather Be Quilting

Amy @Indigo Cottage Quilts

Cindy @Stitchin At Home

The Sew Fabulous Hive:

Adrian@ http://quiltingfabulous.blogspot.ca/

Julie@ pinkdoxies.com/

Carrie W@ thezenquilter.blogspot.com

Lori@ www.sewpsychd.blogspot.com

Cindy@  Www.sewingmoxie.com/blogs/blog

Sewcial Swarm:

TBA

Our Faithful Leaders:

Cheryl @ Meadow Mist Designs     (My Hive Queen)

Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl

Stephanie @ Late Night Quilter

Terri Ann @ Childlike Fascination

Link to my Week #1 Post

Link to my Week #2 Post.

And my big secret for the week...

I moved my sewing studio out of the dining room and into a room of its very own!

I'll be making the big reveal in another post.

Thanks a bunch for visiting!

I Can Finally See It

My traditional guild is having its bi-annual show this Fall. I joined the guild on the off year so I have yet to experience the event. I am a bit excited and a little nervous. This will be the first time I put up my work for judging.

There is a guild only challenge category and I have had my instruction sheet for months but I was at a bit of a loss because, frankly, I just wasn't feelin' it. That is until a few weeks ago when I was walking Cooper, my JRT, and listening to Stephanie Kendron's Podcast, The Modern Sewciety.

Here's the color palette we are limited to. The colors are a bit muddy and look fine for a more traditional look but I gravitate to brighter hues. The batik crowd was a bit put out as well so I wasn't alone.

So, there I was, walking my dog under the street lights of my little neighborhood listening to Stephanie introduce her guest, Alison Glass. I was looking forward to her interview which followed Tula Pink. (Episode 63) I had yet to purchase any of Alison's fabric but I knew that needed to quickly change so I was really interested in hearing about her latest collection.

The interview recorded just before market and I was listening just after market so I knew I would be able to find her line with ease after my walk. I had previously glanced at Ex-Libris but now I wanted to study it as my minds eye was sure that it was a modern line that could provide the fabric for my guild challenge quilt.

I was not disappointed, it was spot on and I made a mental note to purchase some the next day.  Well, the next morning I awoke to an email from Pink Castle Fabrics featuring an enormous Alison Glass Fat8 bundle. Not just Ex-Libris pieces but it was a mix from past collections as well. Perfect. Only I had a busy day and drug my feet for a few days until Pink Castle had their 30% off sale and then I jumped fast. Bonus! 

Look at how perfect my fabric pull from the Fat8 bundle turned out! Love it!!! I also bought a half yard of Bookplate in Petal for the quilt back. Our quilts are to finish as minis.

Now I have to decide if I want to pair it with Kona Silver or Robert Kaufman's Quilters Linen in Grey. Such a dilemma but I'm leaning towards the Quilter's Linen, it is just so rich.

I will be styling this quilt on one of the graphic posters that I have saved on Pinterest. I'll keep that a surprise for now.

Now about that 30% off sale. The Alison Glass wasn't the only thing that Pink Castle shipped in my box, but that will wait for another day.

Thanks for visiting!

I am Going to A Wedding

Son #1 is getting married this weekend. I am not going to have time to sew or blog. I wanted to take this time to show a quilt that I made for a a sweet couple's wedding in my early quilting and pre-blogging days. 

The Bride's maiden name has "Bird" in it and so I chose Oh Dear because it was the only current fabric I could find that featured birds that was readily available.

I bought my first Layer Cake and some yardage and made up the pattern.

I printed up these too cute labels. The quilting is a serpentine stitch with my walking foot on my tired old Viking 1100 in a multi-colored variegated thread.

I can't believe I didn't take better pictures. This is my third large quilt Finish!

Thanks for visiting!

Second Wave-New Quilters Blog Hop

It's Week two of the New Quilters Blog Hop and even though my week is over I wanted to keep in the spirit of the event and show my love to my faithful leaders and New Bee Hive mates by sharing their links.

Don't forget to hit Their "HOME" buttons to see their most recent posts.

Faithful Leaders:

Cheryl @ Meadow Mist Designs     (My Hive Queen)

Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl

Stephanie @ Late Night Quilter

Terri Ann @ Childlike Fascination

New Bee Hive Mates:

The current crop of bloggers-
Week 2  - Monday June 22^nd

Cristy @ www.iloveyousew.com

Patty @ www.walnutstreetquilts.com

Sarah @ www.goer.org/sarah

Eileen @ eileeninstitches.blogspot.com/

The Bloggers yet to share-

Week 3 – Monday July 13^th

Abby @ https://hashtagquilt.wordpress.com/

Shelley @ http://thecarpentersdaughterwhoquilts.com/

Mary @ http://quiltingisinmyblood.com

Megan @ www.sewstitchingcutequilts.com

Week 4 – Monday July 22^nd

Kim @ lelandavestudios.com

Cassandra @ http://thenotsodramaticlife.com

Kathryn @ Ourplacequilts.wordpress.com

Colleen @ https://colleenscustomquilting.com/

Deb @ newcreativestate.wordpress.com

And, My crop from last week's share-

Week 1 - Monday June 15^{th Last}

Ashley @ www.craftyashleyb.com

Gayle @ pedalsewlightly.blogspot.com (That's Me!)

Hayley @ Www.moobird.blogspot.com.au

Sarah @ http://123quilt.blogspot.com/

Now for a little bonus I'm going to share a little secret related to my blog in some way each blog hop share week.

Today's Secret:

The Hubs and I shave our legs with the same razor.

No, we don't share the same wardrobe. The reason can be found in my blog title.

Hint:  If this was his blog the title would be Pedal Sew Hardly.

No, that still describes a blog for me since, you may have noticed, I'm a little "light" on the bike related posts.

How about Pedal Sew Heavily.

No, unfortunately, that's still a better title for me. Darn. 

I'm going to have to consult the thesaurus since the antonyms in my head aren't working out so well. Excuse me, I'll be back shortly.

No luck, so I'm going with:

Pedal Sew Every Free Moment for Miles and Miles Very Fast

It's not quite as elegant as Pedal Sew Lightly but it works.

Now, for the non-bicyclist readers, to answer your burning question:
What do cyclist wear under those Lycra shorts?
It's the same answer you get with kilts...Nothing, Nada, Commando...

I can't vouch that that is the correct answer for kilts but I can state from personal knowledge that it is a fact for padded Lycra shorts.

That wasn't your burning question you say?
Well, it was until you read that my husband shaves his legs!

I'll try again...
Why do bicyclists shave their legs?

They will tell you things like:
So the Lycra doesn't pull the hairs. Ouch!
To make the application of embrocation easier.
Embrocation!!!! What's that? Now that is a "burning" question.
To facilitate therapeutic post-ride massage.

But I know the real answer:
To show off those amazing legs!!!

We didn't always share the same razor. I like to buy the Bic Soleil Color Collection because it has 4 girl-centric colors and 4 boy-centric colors.

I color code my family so I thought this would work for us but unfortunately my Hubs seems to be quite comfortable in his masculinity and he would invariably replace his boy-razor with one of my girl-razors.

Now, there would be two pink or purple razors in the shower and I would lose track of which one was mine and frankly, I don't think he ever gave a flip over which one he used. So, to cut down on shower clutter I eventually threw in the towel (more shower humor) and started sharing.

All I can say is it's a good thing we have our own drawers to store our tooth brushes in!

Look what the Hubs brought home from the Cherohala Challenge:

I tried to sneak a photo of the slick legs that powered him through the famous North Carolina road known as the "Tail of the Dragon" plus an additional 104 miles but he was getting suspicious so you'll have to take my word for it...they're spectacular. 

Thanks for visiting!

I'm not done yet...

Some of you organizing freak types may be fixating on "I color code my family" so I'll have to share that in a later post.

I understand that there may be some complaints about the lack of fabric in this post, but I want to remind you that I did mention Lycra three times, make that four now.

But since I value all my quilty followers I'll share one more thing...

I added this FQ bundle of Tula Pink to my stash!

They are "beautiful like a rainbow."

Now my official:

Thanks for visiting!

Happy Father's Day!!!

Block Parties

I'm one of those quilters who likes to give away more of my makes than I keep. I tend to construct whole quilts for charities but I have donated the occasional orphan block as well.

I feel like I'm a bit late to the party but I really wanted to get involved in a few charity hives so I could have a good excuse to make some fun blocks each month and have a part in more charity quilting. I imagine it will be fun to see something finished monthly that I've had a hand in making.

So, I filled out the Do. good stitches application and I finally got my email from Rachel a few weeks ago. I almost lost my chance to be part of the Nurture Group because I misread their mission statement. I thought they wanted whole quilts instead of blocks!

Thankfully Rachel set me straight and I got myself setup on Flickr and read my first assignment.

For June we are each to make two of these incredible Inside Out Pineapple blocks designed by Louise Wackerman of I'm Feelin' Crafty who happens to be the Queen of our group.

This  great pattern is available for download on Craftsy HERE!

As you can see I have finished my June blocks. Well, sort of, I still have to pick the paper out before they will be ready to mail.  No problem, Hubs is heading to TN for the Cherohola Challenge and I'll be home with Son #1 and Son #2 tonight, which will be like being home alone since they are big, grownup boys.

The Augusta Modern Quilt Guild has launched a new Challenge Quilt activity. We are using the new Cotton and Steel Black & White collection with a few extras thrown in.

Here's my selection:

We drew blind for the CS prints and then we were allowed to add in a specific cut of black, White RK Quilters Linen and the Carolyn Friedlander Black Crosshatch. I had the white and crosshatch in my stash and I purchased a 1/4 yard of the black. 

Now I have to come up with some 12.5" blocks to make. I have one picked out already.

This challenge is not a charity project, this is selfish sewing. For each block I submit I get a ticket for the drawing to win a dozen of the blocks we make. I'm hoping for a win this time! I LOVE these fabrics.

Oh, and just so you know, we do have skin in the game, we have to purchase the fabric.

So, now I'm off to go Mother-of-the-Groom dress shopping!

Thanks for visiting!

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