Color Monday: Back in full swing!

Where did I go this summer?

Um, the doctor. A lot. And then the doctor some more. It's been a rough summer. It's not over yet, but at least I've got my head wrapped around things these days.

And it's October! October! I love October. I've been pregnant through four Octobers (as in, my ninth month every time) and I still love October. I love apple picking and pumpkin patches and Halloween and leaves and pies and cookies and it's wonderful. And quilts. Let's not forget quilts!

I got a little carried away with the color palettes. But I make no apologies - I love them all!

So if you feel like it, join in the fun! After the holidays are past us, I'm thinking we need a Color Palette challenge. Something fun to get us through the winter, or summer if you're in that other hemisphere!

An InLinkz Link-up

Make-A-List Color Monday: Non-Awkward Family Pictures!

Can you believe that July is almost half over? Craziness, I tell you.

I made a monster of a list last week for the 3QFAL, so I'll keep things toned down this week. And I'd really like to get a couple of these things off my list.

• Finish the Giveaway Weekender - I've ALWAYS hit a snag doing the top-stitching and regular stitching on these patchwork weekenders. Skipped stitches are not my friend. I finally discovered that using a hammer on all those layers of fabric can help. Here's hoping this works!
• Finish cousin's Weekender - same thing!
• Bind Wee Wander Pillow Shams
• Bind Solstice Table Runner

I've had a busy weekend with lots of visiting. It's been fun, but an introvert like me needs some recoup time. I'm totally hiding away for a while!

We tried to do a picture of all the kids this weekend, and we chose a sea glass palette. I thought it might be fun to play with today:

What about you? What color palette would you choose for a family picture?

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Make-A-List Color Mondays: Whatever you want!

Wait, what?

I didn't post last Monday?

I am SO sorry! I meant to, honest I did, but life must have happened.

So no list to compare, although here's what I did accomplish:

• Finished and posted my aunt's kitty flimsy
• Finished and posted those Open Wide Pouches
• Finished, and posting tomorrow, my Super Totes (so much fun to make!)

This week is a crazy one (when is it not anymore?), and I've got lots to do:

• Quilt and bind and label the kitty quilt
• Sew my Flower Mini
• Sew my Taffy Mini
• Sew Flower Sugar Patchwork pillow shams
• Cut and sew the Cotton and Steel Sew Together Bag for my swap partner

So not much, right? :)

Color. I was feeling uninspired regarding a theme. So I just went over to the National Geographic website and started flipping through their photo of the day album. Here's a few that I loved:

What about you? What do you find beautiful and inspiring this week?

An InLinkz Link-up

Make-A-List Color Mondays: Episode Spring Break

An amazing, successful weekend of cutting! I've got lots of projects ready, and the sew-jo has returned.

The list for this week:

• That kitty flimsy (just need to show it to you!)
• An open wide pouch for an IG swap
• Anything else that strikes my fancy - bags, borders, you name it!

Now, I know spring break is over for most of you, but just for fun, let's see where you'd LOVE to be for spring break next year. 

Me? I love the Oregon Coast. Even if it's cold and rainy. I grew up on this beach:

Our family's favorite spring break was down in Goblin Valley (FYI, Kate, they have a half in October). This place is the coolest, and so much fun for kids. We stayed in a yurt and it was fabulous.

But if I could get on a plane, I'd probably go here:

Or here:

Or take my sewing machine and go here:

I love all the greens!

What about you? Where would you go?

An InLinkz Link-up

Make-A-List Color Monday

Where did last week go? I swear, it only felt like Tuesday, but it really was Friday. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I wasn't accomplishing much. Well, I was, but nothing I'd blog about. My laundry is not that fascinating.

But here were my goals from last week:

• Quilt Fresh Air - Done! Blogging the pattern release in March, but here's a sneak peak:

Quilting Daysail #freshairquilt

A photo posted by Jennie (@porchswingquilts) on Feb 20, 2015 at 10:11am PST

• Quilt and blog Posy Kiss Me Quilt - Done! Blogged here
• Piece Flower Maxi flimsy - mid-week I changed my mind on how I wanted to do this quilt, so I had to pull some different fabrics. I'm pretty excited about this one now!
• Piece Fresh Air Maxi flimsy - Almost done! Quilting soon.

Now for this week.

• Quilt and bind Catching Rays Maxi
• Quilt and bind Glamping Trips quilt
• Finish Fresh Air Maxi flimsy
• Finish piecing Flower Maxi flimsy

Color palette time. I really loved the warm weather palettes from last week. We even had a day or two of warmer weather. Almost 60 degrees a couple of days, so we headed to the zoo.

Now, for this week. No theme. Just something beautiful. I've got ideas for themes, but they don't always translate into pretty palettes. So for today, while my imagination is working, we've just got beautiful palettes.

An InLinkz Link-up

Make-A-List Monday Meets Color Mondays

And they will never be parted. Not ever. Like Big Dan and Lil' Ann (book?).

I like both concepts, and so I'm going with it. Play along if you like. Make a list. Make a color palette. Link up and share and have fun.

Let's review last week, shall we?

• Finish Kate's Weekender - hand stitching, blogging when she gets it
• Finish Kate's Sew Together Bag - done, blogging tomorrow
• Finish Secret Weekender Project - almost done
• Finish Mom's Sew Together Bag - done, blogged here
• Finish piecing Folklore Catching Rays - almost done
• Quilt Glamping Hexies and Folklore Catching Rays - yes on Glamping Hexies, but did a different quilt in place of Folklore Catching Rays
• Bind and Blog Glamping Hexies - done, blogged here

Okay. Yay me. That was a crazy week. Too much drama in my life the last two weeks, and it made me more grateful for the time I get to spend sewing and sharing projects with friends. 

And this week's list:

• Finish Secret Weekender Project
• Finish Folklore Catching Rays
• Cut Pam Kitty Garden Flower and sew
• Quilt Folklore Catching Rays and PK Garden Flower
• Bind and blog Flower Sugar Economy Blocks quilt
• Cut Idaho quilts #1 & #2

That's enough, right?

So far, the homeschooling method we started with is working great. I have a folding table set up in the living room, where I can better direct the "affairs of my kingdom." The kids are at the table, or working around the house, or reading on the couch. They love their Clever Dragons/Always Ice Cream memberships, and it's a motivation for them to do chores and finish lessons. Love it. While they do their thing, I'm cutting and organizing stuff so that when night comes, or early morning, I can accomplish lots.

And here's my palette for Color Mondays. Last week was such a stressful week that I daydreamed about escaping to one of my favorite places. 

This is the view from the cabins at Kalaloch, in the Olympic National forest in Washington state. There are these little cabins that face the sea. It's wild and beautiful and private and quiet. Oh how I needed that last week.

Now your turn! Link up your palette, or your list. Or both.

An InLinkz Link-up

Make-A-List Monday: Weekender Week

Actually, it's Weekender Week part two, but just pretend with me. I've got two Weekender bags to finish, so let's get to that list:

• Finish Kate's Weekender
• Finish Kate's Sew Together Bag
• Finish Secret Weekender Project 
• Finish Mom's Sew Together Bag
• Finish piecing Folklore Catching Rays
• Quilt Glamping Hexies and Folklore Catching Rays
• Bind and Blog Glamping Hexies

There. That's my list. I'm hoping to have the Weekenders done by Tuesday, with maybe some hand-stitching to do on Wednesday. Thursday I've got quilting time and I can't wait. It's not every day someone offers to watch all five of your kids for you!

And you know what, I'm still going to post color palettes on Mondays. It didn't take off last year, but if you're interested in playing along with my Color Mondays, leave me a comment. 

Here's how you do it:

1. Upload a picture to the Play Crafts Palette Builder
2. Build your palette
3. Save it, blog it, share it. Done.

Fun, right? It's a different sort of linky party, but it's a great way to explore color palettes. So if you want to join in the fun next week, leave me a comment and we'll get one set up. 

Color Monday: Episode Broadway

First: If you're interested in seeing my very first pattern for sale, go here. You can also enter to win a copy of the pattern and a fat eighth bundle from Westwood Acres.

Loved all the rain: spring rain, summer rain, and one gorgeous red umbrella! I'm so glad Kate did this umbrella. Love those colors together, and I don't know that I ever would have put taupe and mushroom with black and flame, but it totally works!

These frangipane blossoms are so pretty! And I bet they smell amazing! Thanks Kirsten, for sharing this palette - I love all the greens and pinks.

And now that we're "Singin' In the Rain" we should really check out those Broadway/Musical posters:

I'll confess, it's not my favorite musical, but I loved this picture, and loved the palette I pulled from it.

This is one of my top five favorites, and those gorgeous pinks and purples with a touch of yellow/orange are just perfect

My top five:

1. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
2. Gigi
3. My Fair Lady
4. White Christmas
5. Oklahoma

So, which Broadway/movie musical did you choose? Link your picture up to the Palette Builder, choose your colors, save it and share it via the linky party. Party is open all week. I love my two regulars, Kate and Kirsten, but we know there are more out there! Come and play!

Start thinking about some fun palette you'd like to put together. I've got a long list, but I don't always have to decide. Fire? Vacation? Mountains? Sky? Pink? Aqua? You tell me!

An InLinkz Link-up

Color Monday: Episode Rain

Beautiful October!

Kate is in race mode:

And Kirsten humored me with a fall picture, even though her October is springing to life:

And now, the rain.

I didn't even do a Gene Kelly palette, thank you very much (I really wanted to)!

I do love the rain. I was raised on the Oregon coast, and so Christmas memories smell like rain to me. We did everything in the rain there - ride bikes, play at the park, go for hikes. If you didn't do anything in the rain, you didn't do anything! My friends and I would make up dances with our umbrellas. Football games were played in the rain.

I've lived in Seattle three different times. I met my husband there the first time. We moved there for a job the second time. And we went back for school at University of Washington. I still don't have rain boots. That will be corrected immediately if we ever go back!

Seattle is also where I began this whole quilting journey, which might account for my love of bright colors. Never could jump on the grey bandwagon. Until now! And I love that little bit o' Evergreen in there - Washington is the Evergreen State, after all!

I just loved the colors in this one.

Love a good spring rain too.

So find a rainy picture, upload it and build your palette, and share it. Linky party open all week!

And next week? Now that I've got musicals on the brain, why don't we do a Broadway/Movie Musical poster? Might be fun! Seven Brides, Oklahoma, Les Mis . . . the list is endless!

An InLinkz Link-up

Color Monday: Episode October

Brown was a challenge. I won't lie. But y'all did awesome!

Kirsten found a lovely cake, with Kona Raisin and Mocha, along with Ice Peach and Salmon. Love it!

Kate, I'm so sorry I took all the brown food you like! Still don't know why you didn't go with a donut.

But this vacation spot looks spot on to me:

But here's a donut for you anyway:

Okay. On to October.

We can go traditional:

Or sporty (go Huskies!):

Whatever October means to you. Pumpkins, Halloween, football, leaves, apples, anything! Find your picture(s), upload them to the Palette Builder, and share.

Linky party is open all week, so take your time. Or take your own picture! Next week, the theme is "rain." Sorry. I've got Seattle on the brain.

An InLinkz Link-up

Color Monday: Episode Brown

Kate linked up a beautiful picture of palmiers, and it's too gorgeous not to share:

We'll always have Paris, but it's time to move on.

To brown.

Why does it sound so, well, brown?

But it doesn't have to be so blah. Think about it. What pleasant things are brown? 

Chocolate cake with raspberry frosting (I made a quilt many moons ago using the pink/brown/ivory palette):

Chocolate macarons:

Cozy brown sweaters. Chocolate Labrador retrievers (my dog growing up). Teddy bears are brown. Leather can be brown. Nuts. Horses. Whole wheat bread. Nutella. Slippers. Hot cocoa. Oooh. Hot cocoa.

How's about your favorite library? This one is mine - it's the Suzzallo Library at the University of Washington, and it was my very most favorite place to study. Loved this room.

So find a brown picture you love, upload it to the Palette Builder, pick your colors, then blog it and share it. I can't wait to see what you come up with!

And next week, since it will be officially October, we will do an October theme. 

An InLinkz Link-up

Color Monday: Episode France

Your vintage palettes were some kind of gorgeous!

Kirsten's daughter's formal palette was adorable, and the colors were so pretty:

And Miss Stacey - LOVE the jars!

And now, France. I really want to visit France. Bread, pastries, the Eiffel Tower, cheese, more bread, the Seine, more pastries, chocolate. Fields of lavender:

Followed by more pastries:

What about you? Are you a Francophile? Even if you aren't there are some gorgeous color palettes out there. So find your French picture, build a palette, blog it, share it! Tres simple!

Just FYI, the linky party is open all week, so there's no rush. Do it when you can. And next week will be brown. Seriously. It's going to be fun. Promise. 

An InLinkz Link-up

Color Monday: Episode Vintage

Since I skipped a week, I thought I'd reintroduce the whole concept here.

Every Monday (or nearly every Monday), I host a link up party with a theme. We've worked our way through the rainbow, and are doing some interpretive themes these days. All you have to do is find a picture that fits the theme, upload it to the Palette Builder over at Play Crafts. Choose your palette (you can move the dots around to switch it up, as well as add more color dots by pressing the green + button), save it, blog it and share it. It's that easy, and so fun. I've got some challenges coming up, and some giveaways too, so play along.

Thank you for your forgiveness on the Frozen takeover last time. I seriously couldn't help myself.

And you did great with Disney!

I love that Kirsten went classic with Dumbo:

And Kate chose one of my all time favorites (with some awesome high school memories associated with this movie - yes, I was in high school when The Lion King came out):

Miss Stacey went with the food at Disneyland, which I loved. I had no idea there were Minnie Mouse candy apples. Or they look like candy apples anyway. Maybe they are cake pops. Either way, they are darling!

Now, for vintage. I like vintage things. I love vintage clothes. I love avocado kitchens (to look at, not live with). And I like the vintage Pyrex. I don't collect it. I'm not cool enough for that. I actually don't collect anything. I'm not one for things that aren't supposed to be used, just looked at.

I digress.

Here's my vintage picture:

I think this would make for a cool Nordic style quilt. Some big star blocks? No? And Kona Meringue is quickly becoming a new favorite. Along with Ice Frappe.

Now, for yours. What will you choose? 30s fabrics? A gorgeous Audrey Hepburn dress?

Have fun! And next week, the theme is France. Anything Frenchy is fair game! Enjoy!

An InLinkz Link-up

Color Mondays: Episode Disney

We have stunning favorites!

Stacey's Abandoned Thread - I'm really starting to fall for Kona Lupine, Plum, and Valentine

Katie's Tinkerbell panel - I totally get how frustrating it can be to find coordinating prints for some fabrics. Explaining "Neverland" can be tough! And Kona Tulip? I'm sold!

I totally lied to you. I really did. I'd like to say I'm sorry, but I'm not even a little sorry. I did try to find another Disney picture, and I did (it's down there at the bottom). But Frozen is just IT for me. So I apologize for the Frozoverload today!

If ever there was a doubt that I have a thing for Frozen, this should smash it to bits.

It's bad, I know.

But look at all those colors? All the Aqua, and Pool, and Ice Frappe!

Then they throw in Violet and Orchid.

Pink? A little bit is okay.

I tried to not do it. I really did. See, I did this one from Up:

But I gotta stick with my girl Elsa.

Now it's your turn. Find a pic of your favorite Disney still. Tangled has some great color, as does Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, the Little Mermaid. And it doesn't have to involve a princess, or an ice queen. Only mine do. Have fun!

And I'm taking a one week break, but the week after (Sept. 15), we'll be doing vintage. Anything goes. Vintage cars, clothes, kitchens. Frozen will have to be retired. No way I can call it vintage.

An InLinkz Link-up