I was so excited to finally finish off my Xs and Os quilt this weekend.  Not only was I *finally* starting to get over this dreadful cold I've had, but I really adore the bright colors in this quilt.  They make me smile :)

This quilt grew from some simple sketches I made, trying to think of what I wanted to do with a lovely stack of Peacock Lane by Violet Craft for a little boy debuting early next year.  I fell in love with a sketch of Xs and Os, symbolizing hugs and kisses, and got right to work.



First, I tackled all of the necessary quilty math, and then I got to cutting.  Sometimes I find myself really enjoying the ironing and cutting phase of quiltmaking.  This was one of those times, and it's because these fabrics are just so gorgeous.  This is seriously one of my favorite collections right now, it's so fresh and fun and the artwork is so beautiful.  I tried my best to fussy cut some of my favorite pieces of these gorgeous fabrics, and I think I succeeded most with my elephant X.  That's quite possibly my favorite block in this little quilt.


This quilt pattern is now available in my Pattern Shop, and I will also be making a girlie version of this quilt at some point for the shop as well.  The Xs and Os quilt PDF pattern includes all of the information you'll need to make this quilt, including color photos and complete piecing diagrams to follow, as well as requirements for batting and binding.  Two finished sizes are offered in this pattern: a 48" square baby quilt and a 72" x 96" twin size quilt.


Coming up later this week, I'll be sharing a simple quilt tutorial for my sweet girlie quilt and there will also be a giveaway some time this week, too!!  Hope you all had a wonderful stitchy weekend!

Thanks for all the well wishes the past few days, everyone, I really appreciate it.  I'm still trying to get over this darned cold, but I hope I'm going to kick it to the curb real soon.

Today, I'm super excited to share my little mini for Amy's awesome Sew and Tell Mini Quilt Challenge.



When Amy mentioned the idea for a mini quilt challenge, I knew I wanted to make something.  Ever since I heard Amanda speak so passionately about making minis at Sewing Summit, I've been feeling the urge to make a mini, so this was a quilty perfect storm for me.  I've slowly been collecting little bits and pieces of Flea Market Fancy from some awesome fabric swaps and then my recent Pillow Talk Swap partner spoiled me with some larger pieces.  I knew I had to do something cool with them, so I set out to figure out what I had...

Can you believe that it's been a year since Lee started up WIP Wednesday?  Lee started listing her WIPs on Wednesdays, and I suggested that she set up a linky, and the rest has kind of been history!  Make sure to tell her happy anniversary today when you visit :)  And in a nod to try to let go of some of my OCD tendencies, I'm going to stop numbering my WIP Wednesday posts, now that WIP Wednesday has turned one...

It's been a week full of good progress for me, a crazy busy one that has left me feeling a bit scatter-brained and fighting a head cold.  So, please forgive me if anything in this post doesn't make sense, I'm all stuffed up and quite possibly lacking good grammar and the ability to make my thoughts clear :)

Finished:
Holiday sawtooth star pillow - I felt the urge to make a little pillow last week, so I dug out my favorite holiday print by Alexander Henry and went to town.


Girlie baby quilt - I couldn't help myself this weekend, I had to finish off this little girlie quilt.  So darling and sweet!  I might hang this one on the wall in my sewing room...



Still going:
Red and white custom quilt - All quilted up, a zillion straight lines, just need to work on binding this one!



New this week:
{Sew} Beautiful block for Lee - Lee's sent along a lovely package of fall fabrics for a tree block.  I've been sketching a few tree ideas and I'm hoping I decide on one soon!


do.Good.Stitches blocks - We're doing another round of improv blocks, this time in oranges and blues, so I've dug out some scraps to start with...