So Fridays have become tying-up-loose-ends kinds of days, during which I get all the crucial stuff done (and hopefully a blog post) in order to set myself up for a mini mental vacation. As most Etsy sellers know, Thursdays are big sale days so this Friday morning involved packaging up last night’s order.

Remember this guy? It’s off to Seattle. I make a mini pillow to go with all of my orders…

And drawstring bags.

I managed to get this all packaged up and shipped before mid-day Pure Barre (another Friday favorite and another perk to the home life: mid-day workouts). With all the weddings, graduation, and reunion festivities coming up in the next couple of months, this new schedule is pretty much mandatory– and hey, that’s what summer is all about.

The original pattern is in my book, and it’s a nice lap quilt size: about 48″ x 60″. Next up on my commission list is a square version that will be about 60″.

I’ll be using this batch of fabulously bright hand-dyed fabrics that the customer had left over from a previous project. The tie dye is for the binding.

It’s true that I’ve been exploring a more ‘limited’ use of color in my original design work, but I still feel very comfortable with my brights. This project is right up my alley… 

Along the Charles River and in the Boston Gardens, the richness and colors of Spring are everywhere. And while I’m a true New England girl who knows how to make the most out of cold and snowy winters (who even enjoys them) there’s nothing like the rejuvenating feel of spring. “In Bloom” is the perfect term for it.

I’m thrilled to be part of this charming collection of 14 contemporary little quilts from some very talented fellow quilters. It’s a wonderfully diverse group, including patchwork and appliqué, and an array of motifs and styles. My contribution is the “Jazzed Up Tumbling Blocks” quilt.

I went through a phase of experimenting with this traditional quilt block, and this stripy version was one of my favorite outcomes. I love how Tumbling Blocks are both traditional and inherently modern with their illusionary optical effect. In this design, I sort of “wrapped” each block in a way that amplifies their dimensionality.

At least that was the plan! It’s fun to create, too, a mix of measurement and improvisation so there’s no painfully tedious measuring and cutting necessary. I take many different approaches to the quilt design process, but reviving and reinventing a time-honored pattern is one of my favorite techniques. And let’s face it, who doesn’t love making baby quilts? All the gratification of the quilt making process with a bit less of the time commitment- and few events in life deserve as much celebrating as welcoming a baby into this world.

Now for the giveaway! One reader will win a free eBook copy of Modern Baby. Just leave a comment describing your favorite baby quilt you’ve made in the past, or a baby quilt you plan on making in the future. I’ll select a winner this Thursday, May 9th. Good luck!

And If you haven’t checked out the previous blog hop stops, take a look!

1. Blue Tory Burch Bag - Truth be told, I’ve been kind of Tory Burched-out with those ubiquitous shoes, but I love the soft blue and shape of this bag.

2. Mason by Michelle Mason Yellow Maxi Dress - Because maxi dresses are always the perfect thing to wear.

3. Norma Kamali One piece Swimsuit - A nice break from the bikini, there are so many cute and equally sexy one pieces these days.

5. Brooks Brothers Pebbled Calfskin Driving Moccasin - Because you can only walk so far in sandals, and these are a great green hue.

6. J. Crew Pink Shorts - I live in my J. Crew shorts- they’re the perfect comfy casual wear and look good with everything from a tank top to a blazer. Get a pair.

7. J. Crew Summer Straw Hat - I’m wondering if I could pull this off. I love the bog floppy hat look, and I could use since I got a sunburn while eating lunch al fresco the other day.

8. Roda Solid Scarf - Tan us an under-appreciated neutral but goes so well with lighter spring shades.

9. Oliver Peoples Eyewear - I’ve had the same pair of sunglasses for about 5 years and I adore them- but if I were to ever venture out, I like the light olive hue of these.

10. Diane von Furstenberg Kyra Sandals - I own these. They’re fabulous.

(Ice cream pics: Pops, Stacked Scoops)

The finished quilt is 82″ square. Yep, that took forever. But honestly, I find great comfort in the moments of hand-stitching I squeeze in during travels, little bits of home while I’m far far away.

And it’s such a happy design! The customer wanted something like my original Uncorked but with a different motif. We threw around a few options (a bubble wand, dandelion, etc.) but ultimately decided on a candy jar. I’m more of a chocolate girl myself, but when it comes to aesthetics…

(Sources: Candy Jar at Left, Candy Jars on Shelves, Tri-Color Candies)

There’s a reason they call it eye candy.

This quilt is already in its new home, and I continue to make progress on my list of commissions. As much as I love original design work, there’s something very rewarding about custom orders and creating quilts that already have someone waiting for them.

It’s both incredibly sad and incredibly hopeful to see your city covered in these messages. Mostly, it’s hopeful. The streets are crowded and bustling as ever. People are moving forward while honoring and remembering those who were killed, hurt, or in any way affected by the tragedy. Clearly, we Bostonians aren’t going anywhere. I’m certainly not.

The inspiration for this design iss as literal as they come. When I first saw this painting by Amanda Helmer, I was instantly drawn to its striking simplicity.

I made my squares a bit wider and mixed up the colors, but otherwise it’s a pretty direct interpretation. The name “Opal” came to mind since it also reminds me a bit of my favorite earrings, and the glimmers of color within white stones.

I do seem to be drawn to the minimalist these days. Bold shapes without a lot of fuss or complex geometry. I have commissions out the wazoo for the next few weeks, but it’s a concept that I can’t wait to explore further when I have time for some original design work.

There’s certainly no shortage of inspiration.

Sources (starting at upper left): One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six

There’s no way to not awkwardly segue into my post, so here it goes- a quick photographic roundup of my trip. One caveat: since I spend enough of my daily life taking photographs, I don’t go too crazy with the camera when I’m away. I therefore end up with a spattering of random pictures rather than a comprehensive record- but in my experience, forgetting to take pictures is a sign that you’re truly enjoying yourself.

I had a fabulous time; after ten years of travel together, my husband and I have mastered a balance of sightseeing, utter relaxation, and following our culinary curiosity from city to city. Not to mention a breathtaking destination wedding in Bangkok for a Pakistani friend. For the past few weeks, I’ve felt deeply immersed in a different culture- language, architecture, food, and customs that are rich with history and inspiration.

1. Japanese fabrics and notions purchased in Tokyo. If you’ve never used Japanese hand-sewing needles before, you’re missing out. They’re perfectly tapered and sew so smoothly. My patient husband helped me track some down in a large craft store and of course I couldn’t resist a couple cuts of fabric, floral scissors, and the adorable Liberty of London pincushion.

2. The Reclining Buddha (or Wat Pho) in Bangkok. Simply stunning at 15 m high and 43 m long. We also dropped coins into each of 108 bowls along the corridor, supposedly this means some good fortune will be coming our way!

3. A bridge and cherry blossoms at The Summer Palace in Beijing, a gorgeous architectural complex on Kunming Lake.

4. Croissants (and other pastries) at Echire Maison de Beurre in Tokyo. Best croissants I have ever had in my entire life. Ever. I was surprised by the amazing pastries and French influence in this city. The Japanese do everything so carefully and with such beauty.

5. A building at The Temple of Heaven in Beijing. My favorite thing about this complex was the intricate painting on the buildings, decorated in rich shades of red, blue, and yellow.

6. A boat, also at The Summer Palace in Beijing.

7. Kobe beef in Tokyo. In case you hadn’t noticed, we did a lot of eating in Japan. The best restaurants are these hole-in-the-wall places that seat no more than ten people at a time and the chef cooks and serves you directly. This is true Kobe and it’s spectacularly marbleized, melting in your mouth (apologies for the cliche but there’s no other way to say it).

8. Remaining cherry blossom trees in Tokyo. Apparently the season came early this year, but we still saw quite a few, and the gentle warmth of early Spring was in the air.

9. A selection of macaroons at Narisawa in Tokyo. I have a bit of a macaroon obsession these days, and like I said the Japanese make exceptional pastries. But Narisawa deserves a shout out of its own. Truly delicious and unique food, elegantly presented. We even ate the deadly blowfish! That 10-course meal plus wine pairing the night before our 7 am flight home made for quite the plane ride…

10.  Japanese fabric wrapping/bag gifted from a friend. It came with instructions on how to fold, wrap, and knot the fabric in various ways to form carrying cases or wrapping. We’ll see if I can tap into my childhood origami skills to figure this out.

11. I have to admit, we weren’t brave enough to actually eat them, but I loved the look of these quail egg kabobs sold on the street in Shanghai.

12. An elephant statue in Bangkok. Not sure where this was- Kyle got a quick shot it from the cab.

13. Shanghai at night. To be honest, the pollution was pretty bad when we were there so the city looked foggy during the day. It was actually easier to appreciate the beauty of the buildings under nighttime lights.

14. Dim Sum in Hong Kong. I didn’t think I was a huge fan until I had a real Chinese Dim Sum. Those buns! I’ve converted.

15. A view of Hong Kong from our hotel window. We stayed at the elegant Upper House Hotel and got upgraded to a suite overlooking the city. Not a great picture, but it really was a great view.

16. Colorful Desi Wear for the wedding. The bride’s sister designed outfits for each guest to wear on Mehndi Night, and this was mine. Like I said, it was an extraordinary wedding– three nights and four days of celebration. Beautiful decorations and customs, an endless array of Thai and Indian food, and so many people from all over the world- Pakistan, Lebanon, China, Germany, the UK, you name it. Especially on a day like today, it’s comforting to know that at times we can all come together without politics or strife and celebrate loved ones in common. 

I almost forgot- one last picture! I spotted this colorful patchwork chair at a stall by The Great Wall. Of course I was excited to spot a familiar bit of quilt so far from home.

I recently made this Spring Rainbows quilt for a Moda Bakeshop Pattern. I made a similar version a while back with bolder hues, but I love the gentle colors against the slightly off-white in this version. Certainly appropriate for Easter weekend and the pastels that are abundant at this time of year.

(Sources: Macaroons, Vases, Eggs, Yarn, Earrings, Candle, Marshmallows)

And in honor of the holiday weekend, I’m giving away this little quilt to the next order placed over $80 in my shop-  valid until Sunday evening only! Just enter coupon code PASTEL for free shipping, and if you’re the first over-$80 order, you’ll be getting a mini quilt as well (either way, you’ll get free shipping).

Happy Easter to all!