valentine-y.

miss melanie (our 7 year old) had recently been asking me if we could make something together.
i was excited, but i didn't want to start with something big, just in case she lost insterest.
so, we decided to make new pillow covers.
girly, valentine-y pillow covers.

we had fun picking out yummy reds, pinks & aquas.
we even threw in some grey and cream for good measure.
oh, and no valentine's project would be complete without hearts, right?

we used my scruffily pillow cover tutorial.
and the fabrics are all from my stash.
for those interested, there's: marmalade, spot on, luxe in bloom, olive the ostrich, hunky dory & pedal pusher.

i have to say, i honestly love these.
i kind of wish we would have made them earlier in the month though.
note to self: maybe the girls should have more girly pillows on their beds.

do y'all decorate for valentine's?

xo, rachel

sick day.

i really can't stand being sick, but i love being able to just sit back and watch my little ones.
it does my heart good.
so, i'll just be here watching my babies, drinking orange juice and trying to take it easy.

also, thanks for all the feedback on my last post.
y'all rock my socks off.

xo, rachel

progression.

do y'all remember that yummy stack of scrap fabrics?
well, i now have strip sets. 16 strip sets to be exact.
that means the leg work of my scrappy postage stamp quilt is complete.
yayyy.

next up: the patchwork.
this is my least favorite part of this particular quilt.
why? well, it's because i'm kinda OCD. (okay, okay, i'm way OCD.)
it's harder for me to just place square a next to square b without planning.
i'm sure that sounds completely ridiculous, but it's true.

one last thing, i need some reader feedback, please.
do y'all like seeing the progress of a quilt? (like i'm doing with this quilt.)
or would y'all prefer seeing the beginning stack of fabrics and then the end result?

xo, rachel

r is for ruffle.

so, true story ...
about a year-ish ago, my adorable friend, vanessa, was playing with ruffle fabric.
i was instantly intrigued, but equally terrified.
well, this past october, at quilt market, i finally bought myself some ruffle fabrics.

today's objective: saying goodbye comfort zone and hello something cute and ruffle-y.
y'all stay tuned.

xo, rachel

yummy chunky brownies.

sometimes you just need a chocolate fix.
and as a woman that needs chocolate, it's handy to have options.
i think we've all eaten chocolate chips straight from the bag out of pure desperation, right?
just say yes.

well, tonight was no exception.
i just needed these brownies.
and after you make them, you'll need them, too.
promise.

without further ado, i give y'all my go to homemade brownies ...

what y'all will need:
1 3/4 cups nestle chocolate chunks, divided
1/2 stick of butter
3 eggs
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
caramel ice cream topping (optional)

the making part:
preheat oven to 350'
grease and sugar 8 x 11 baking dish (9 x 13 will work as well)

melt 1 cup of chocolate chunks and butter in saucepan over low heat until smooth.
remove from heat.

in mixing bowl, combine eggs, flour, sugar, vanilla and baking soda.
add melted chocolate.
stir well.

pour batter into prepared pan.
sprinkle with remaining chocolate chunks.

note: you could also sprinkle 1/2 cup of chopped nuts, if you wanted, but these are perfect without the nuts.
cross my heart.

bake 25-35 minutes or until middle of brownies are set.
cool almost completely.
warm brownies are perfection.

if you're feeling naughty, drizzle on some caramel.
eat two of them.
call me in the morning.

enjoy.

xo, rachel

on the fly.

in addition to putting my word of the year into action, i've been pondering another desire of mine.

i want to get back to making things because i want to.
don't get me wrong, at the end of the day, i want to make everything that i make.
what i mean to say, is that i want to make things that don't necessarily need to be made.
things without deadlines, things without contracts and things that are just because.

i've planned what i hope to be an amazing quilt.
y'all remember the postage stamp quilt along, right? (all directions can be found HERE.)
well, i'm taking that quilt to the next level. (hopefully.)

instead of using a jelly roll that is all one color, i'm planning to use a jelly roll that has an ombre feel to it.
look at all those delicious greys. mmmm.

and instead of using a jelly roll that is just one particular line, i'm planning to use fabrics from my stash.
some of those fabrics are my absolute favorites in the whole wide world.

this quilt isn't for a pattern.
it isn't for a book or magazine.
and it isn't even for me. (although i'm planning to make myself one just like it. maybe.)

so, here's to doing more quilty things on the fly.

rachel

resolutions or words?

i don't know about y'all, but i tend not to make resolutions.
not that i have anything against it.
i just don't really make them.
i do, however, like the simplicity of choosing a word for the year.

after giving it some thought, i've chosen productive as my word.
i was quite productive this past year, where my book was concerned, but i feel like i let other things slip.

so, here's to a very productive year for ps i quilt and rachel griffith designs.

do y'all have make resolutions or pick words?
feel free to share.

rachel