I Love the Brits!

If I haven't returned your call, or done the dishes, or taken care of routine personal hygiene, it's because I've been in front of my computer watching this show . . .

At first I was leery of "The Great British Sewing Bee" (TGBSB) because it's a 'reality show', but not to worry.  While it  IS a 'reality' show, it's polite, fun and informative--no fake drama.  If you like to sew, these are your people!  Click on the pic above for a youtube link, then come back and leave a comment.  I'm dying to have a conversation about my new favorite show.  : )

I discovered the TGBSB while searching youtube tutorials on how to sew an invisible zipper.  After NOT being able to find a nice summer dress that actually fit me, I decided I'd break down and make one. 

I don't think the judges on TGBSB would be particularly impressed with the above creation (and after watching s1e1 I now know how to do my darts better), but in my defence, it's been a loooooong time since I've made a garment.  If it's been a while since you've made a garment too, I highly recommend the process.  In fact, I had so much fun sewing this dress, I'm challenging myself to make as many of my clothes as possible this year.

I think trying something new is a good way to get 're-excited' about doing something old.  After my big dress project, I felt a bit more creative when I set to work on some new quilty patterns.  Here's a snap of a 'coming soon' pattern.  I wonder how that pink floral would look in a skirt?

Laundry can be dangerous!

My son heard a suspicious sound when he walked into the laundry room the other evening.  After some investigation this is what he and Mark found in the dryer.  It took the better part of the evening for Matt and Mark to extricate the stuck snake.

It was just a 'little' rat snake--not harmless--but not really what you want to encounter in a tiny laundry room.  I'm terribly impressed with my snake handler daughter (seen right).  Soon after I took this shot of her, the snake wiggled and it was a miracle I didn't throw my camera across the room as I jumped back.   . . . I'm a bit put off of laundry for the time being.

And now for some quilting news . . .
My new book, Farm Fresh Quilts, is now out.  I'm so happy with how the book looks.  I really haven't seen a Kansas City Star book I don't like, but this time I think  the photographer and the book designer really outdid themselves creating such a beautiful book out of my quilts and projects.