Blog Moving!

Attention, peeps! The "Sweet Liberty" blog is moving to my new domain: www.sugarstitches.com/blog
It's still a work in progress, so bear with me.
Followers: please update the url!
Quilt along coming soon...

Quick and Easy Picnic Blanket

A friend of mine asked me to make her a little picnic blanket for her daughter's tea set. I decided I'd share it, just in case!

You can make any size you want: I used two fat quarters. I pinned large rick rack around all four sides. Pin it on the right side of one of your pieces of fabric (it doesn't matter which one), aligning the edges of the rick rack and the fabric.
Pull the raw ends of the rick rack over the edge of the fabric, overlapping them like so:
Layer your other piece of fabric on top, right sides together and pin.Sew around all four sides, leaving a 2" opening for turning. Turn right side out and press. Top stitch 1/8" around all four sides. Done!

Wordless Wednesday

Year in Review

It feels like a time for reflection. Its been a big year at the Sweet Liberty house. Here we go, month by month:

January

I started out with a list of resolutions. I am happy to report that I have more or less met all of them (still trying to figure out Photoshop).

I also got my first Blythe doll!

February

A pattern of mine was picked up for publication in American Patchwork & Quilting

I turned the big 3-0!!

March

Started the first phase of my studio makeover. It made such an amazing difference. Its still an on-going process (still hemming and hawing over curtains, etc).

April

Participated in my first Doll Quilt Swap.

May

Went to Spring Quilt Market. What an amazing experience!!

June

Dark times. Followed closely by an outpouring of support from all of my bloggy friends!
Wyatt's first birthday.

JulyMIA. Blame the influx of Blythes in to my home!

AugustSummer wrapping up. Inherited a stack of antique quilts from Grandma.

September

Was invited to design a quilt for Lecein. Had 2 weeks to design it, sew it and ship it off! It was an amazing experience, and I am so honored to be considered. I named the quilt "Mann Creek" after the farm my family settled over a 100 years ago in Idaho. You can download the free pattern here, along with many other fabulous free patterns.

October

The issue of American Patchwork & Quilting with my pattern in it comes out! In shocl for the most of the month!
I graduate with my Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education.
On a family trip to New York, get to meet the illustrious Gina Garan of "This is Blythe" at her NYC studio.

November

This month can only remembered as the fabric binge month! I could probably open up my own fabric store at this point.

December

Ummmm...do I even need to remind you all of the sewing machine + finger incident?? It really kind of threw my whole month and Christmas off!
We had an amazing blizzard. Over 2 feet of snow and the whole city shut down for about 4 days. It was so peaceful...just being with the family at home.

New Year's Resolutions

I think New Year's is a great time to set goals. And putting them on your blog is a great way to ensure you complete them, right? My goals this year are:
Start publishing my own patterns
Have a booth at Fall Market as a designer (eeeek!)
Pick some ding dang curtains for the studio!
Eat healthier (I'm working on it!)

From Wilbur and the rest of the fam, here's to a great new year!

Back in the Saddle

Today was my first day back at the sewing machine. I finished up Liberty's Mod Kid skirt (what I was sewing when "the incident" occurred). I just need to put in the elastic and I'm done. My finger is still pretty sore. I went to the surgeon and he's waiting until next week to decide whether or not to surgically remove the other two pieces. He said that most likely they will just GROW OUT OF MY SKIN! Ewwwww.....gross!

Now what you're all really here for: the winners! There was such a big turnout that I decided to double the winners. I mistakenly bought 6 fat quarters instead of 7, so I will have "grand prize" winners and "runner up" prizes:

Grand Prize Winners:
Twin Fibers

aaahh! I'd love to use some for a quilt. Your little houses are so cute, reminds me of vintage children's books.

December 9, 2009 12:12 PM

Love your blog, girls! And I can't wait to see what you create!

Petit Debutant

woo wee, what a great giveaway! That house quilt looks great. You're so nice and willing to share! I think I would use them in a hexagon quilt.

December 9, 2009 3:53 PM

I love hexagons! Can't wait to see!

Runner Up Winners:

I Have A Notion

You want to know something interesting about me....hmmmm....I took a cruse alone when I turned 30. I was having a bit of a panic about turning 30 so I called the travel agent and gave them my credit card number and told them to take me anywhere in the world leaving on a particular day and returning one week later. She called me back and told me I was going on a cruise. I had an absolute ball and even went to a nude beach for the first time in my life. Thank God I was alone....I found an empty area....where there was absolutely no one around....stripped off my suite..laid down....honestly less than 30 seconds...I put my suite back on and walked away so proud of myself. I'm such a risk taker..ROFL....truth!!!

Smiles,
Kelly

December 9, 2009 4:17 PM

Great story, Kelly! I remember the "turning 30 panic"! I still need to take my "momacation", though!

a la mode fabric

Wowwie... great giveaway! I would use the fq set on a coordinating sracf and bag set ;) And make all my nonclever friends super jealous! LOL Thanks for the chance, Heather

December 16, 2009 7:30 AM

Great idea, Heather! Can't wait to see them! Your nonclever friends will be green with envy!

Congratulations to all the winners! Please email me your addresses so I can ship them off straight away!

War Wounds

Sewing is serious business. We all have burns from irons. Well, I got the mother of all wounds on Friday. I sewed through my finger. Yep. Twice. Don't ask me how it happened, because I honestly don't know. All I know is I was sewing away and my machine stopped. I looked, and the needle was down...through my finger! Here's a little pic:I was the most popular patient in the ER. They removed the larger of the three pieces (yes-three). It took 3 people and a pair of heavy-duty pliers. Here's what they pulled out:
As I was sitting in my room, I heard the nurse yell down the hall :

"BARBARA! You should see the SIZE of that needle I just pulled out of that girl's finger."
...pause...
"The GIRL! The GIRL WHO SEWED THROUGH HER FINGER!!!"
Well, I'm glad I could be entertaining.

In case you're wondering, it didn't hurt at all when it happened. That came later. What hurt even worse was when they shot me up with Lydacaine. After some tetanus shots and a prescription for heavy duty antibiotics, I was sent home. I have to meet with an orthopedic surgeon to have the rest surgically removed. The worst part is I can't even sew with this huge metal brace on my finger!

In other news, the giveaway is still on schedule. Due to the huge turnout, I am thinking of adding two more prizes. Yep. That's right--FOUR chances to win!!
Watch your fingers-please!!

Denyse Schmidt Giveaway!

I've stashed all my recent fabric purchases under my cutting table so as not to alarm my hubby. But he shouldn't be alarmed anyway, because they were all purchased with gift certificates. Lucky me! So I'm spreading the wealth!

Wilbur doesn't want me to tell you this...

But I'm giving away TWO fat quarter bundles of Hope Valley!To enter, leave a comment between now and next Wednesday, December 16th. Post a link on your blog and you'll have THREE chances to win! In your comment, tell me something interesting: either about yourself, or maybe what you would like to use the fat quarters for.

I've been working on a new project. Here's a sneak peek:This is just the rough layout. I'm still not completely sold on the background. And I have to add a bunch of little details still.

Happy stitching, peeps!