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

reverie.

i give y'all reverie.

a million and a half years ago i bought a wholecloth quilt from target.
it had a printed design of hexagons with frames and sashing.
i tried (for years!) to figure out how to easily break down the construction and avoid y seams.
not to mention, making sure it was something that could be pieced quickly.
hello, mom of four.

in all honesty, i just couldn't figure out how to do it.
so, this design just sat there. for like ever.
then, miss julie herman came to the rescue when she designed the hex n more ruler.
(hey, jules. xoxo.)

now, don't let the fact that you need to use a specialty ruler stop you from making this quilt.
it's so very easy to use.
and it makes this quilt a breeze to construct.
promise.

well, the construction was figured out, but i needed the perfect fabrics.
i had these two stacks of lovelies hanging around.
i knew that i loved them together, but i wasn't sure how to implement them properly.
so, i said to heck with it, untied them, and mixed them all up.

left stack: honey honey by kate spain for moda
right stack: simply style by v and co for moda

the result was this lovely stack.
to me, it was perfect.
*sigh*

and here's the end result.
*big, dreamy sigh*

oh, and i have an all prints version in the works now.
i'll show y'all that one when it's finished.

i love this design.
i'm hoping y'all will love it like i do.

quilt stats:
size = 66" x 84"
fabric = honey honey by kate spain AND simply style by v and co (both of moda)
piecing = karrielyne winters
quilting = darla padilla

so, if you're looking for your own reverie pattern:
the paper pattern is available for preorder HERE. (shipping august 31st)
the pdf pattern is available HERE. (ships via email after your purchase.)
shop owners can contact me directly or see their united notions, brewer or checker rep.

xo, rachel

sunnyside.

ah.
would you look at this fabric?
*sigh*

fabric = sunnyside by kate spain for moda
(available september 2013)

that kate spain, she sure knows what she's doing.
it's no secret that i'm kind of biased when it comes to kate, but can you blame me?
she's one of my favorite people in the business.
and not just because she's a genius at fabric designing, but because she's sweeter than pure sugar. honestly. ;)

so, the first time i saw sunnyside, i knew it was THE fabric i've been waiting on.
i've been planning a quilt, for quite some time, that needed just the right fabric.
it's going to be a new pattern in my pattern line.
and i'm SUPER excited to reveal it once the pattern is complete.

in the meantime, let's play a game!
this new pattern is a follow up, a part 2, if you will, of an existing pattern of mine.
so, which pattern is getting a sequel?
do you have a guess?
i'd love to hear what it is.

oh, and i'll even raise the bar.
for leaving your guess, you'll be entered into a giveaway for a set of my 4 new patterns!
note: new patterns are being released between august and november.
winner will be announced when the quilt & pattern cover are revealed.

xo, rachel