falling for fall.

it happens every year.

i fall madly in love with fall.
i just can't help it.
i'm a fall/winter girl.

i'll take falling leaves, friday night football games and pumpkins long before i'll take budding flowers, insects and watermelon.
it's just in my nature.
also, i can't stand watermelon. bleh. lol.

i'm amazed that i haven't decorated for fall yet.
normally i cave and do it the last weekend of august.
i bet my family is wondering what's wrong with me.
and i bet you can guess what i'll be doing this week.
yep, decorating.
*sigh*

when do y'all decorate for fall?

pic above = my fall fabric wreath.
tutorial can be found HERE.

xo, rachel

pinwheel o'strings.

so, about a million and a half years ago (more like 3 years ago) i designed a fun quilt block.
i had just discovered string piecing.
i decided to couple string piecing with my love for half square triangles and pinwheels.
boom. pinwheel o'strings was created.

the block was featured in volume 2 of quiltmaker's 100 blocks magazine.
read more about it HERE.

quiltmaker recently started releasing nifty videos featuring different quilt blocks.
they showcase blocks from the 100 blocks magazines and teach techniques, tips and designs ideas.
well, guess which block is featured in their newest video.
yep, my pinwheel o'strings.
and just like that, my quilt block is brought back to life.
thanks, quiltmaker.

if you’ve wondered about string piecing, watch this episode of quiltmaker’s block network.
i personally enjoy watching videos of people creating things.
i'm a visual learner.

also, check out the post over at the quilty pleasures blog today.
they're having a giveaway for a few different string piecing books.
direct link HERE.

have you ever tried string piecing?
if yes, do you enjoy it?
if no, after seeing the video, don't you want to try it? go on. you know you do. :)

xo, rachel

ahhh.

do y'all hear that?
it's the delicious sound of silence.
tehehe.

miss lindsey & i have big plans today.
we're going to cuddle and watch a movie, then make a yummy after school snack for "the guys."

what do y'all do on the first day of school?
treat yourself to coffee? or a pedicure? or a nap?
i could so go for a nap.
*yawn*

xo, rachel

five more days.

this has been my life the past week.
not. even. joking.

there's only five more days until school starts.
and two of those five days, i'll be in pittsburgh teaching.
thank goodness.
*wink, wink*

don't get me wrong, i love my kids.
i just love when they go back to school and i have a reason to miss them.
know what i mean jelly beans?
just say yes. lol.

so, how are y'all?
are your kids driving you crazy?
or are you already celebrating back to school?

xo, rachel

thread catcher bag.

used with permission from quilts and more® magazine. ©2013 meredith corporation. all rights reserved.
it's a happy, happy day, folks.
why?
well, because the new quilts and more magazine is here, that's why.
not only is it my favorite quilting magazine, this issue includes something of mine!
yayyy.

used with permission from quilts and more® magazine. ©2013 meredith corporation. all rights reserved.
i'd like to introduce y'all to my tread catcher bag.
cute, huh?

my thread catcher bag is one of the projects featured in this issue's scrap lab.
if you're not familiar with scrap lab, let me enlighten you.
basically, there are two super awesome designers plus a guest.
the current two awesome designers = patty young and carrie nelson. (holy awesome, right?)
well, i was asked to be their guest. (i know!)
and it was super fun to work with both of these ladies.

the theme for our scrap lab was bag bonanza.
we were all given the challenge of making a bag or some sort by using 6 fat quarters.
fabrics = road 15 by sweetwater for moda

after brainstorming, here's what we came up with:
patty young made a super cute laptop bag.
carrie nelson made a gorgeous tote bag. (with polka dot handles, people!)
and i made a fun thread catcher bag.

all of these projects are quite simplistic to make.
and both patty and carrie's bags are on my to make list.
no kidding.

one of the patterns is available for download via allpeoplequilt.com
guess which pattern that is ... mine.
(direct link HERE.)

used with permission from quilts and more® magazine. ©2013 meredith corporation. all rights reserved.
i experimented and made two versions of the thread catcher bag.
one has machine quilting, and the other does not.
not to mention, you can fold down the top so that it's shorter. (as shown above.)
OR you can stand it up nice an tall and fill it to the brim with threads.
it's your call.

so, check out the magazine.
and download the free pattern for my thread catcher bag!

if you're going to make your own thread catcher bag, raise your hand! ;)

xo, rachel