It's hard to believe it's been almost a year since posting here...and even harder to believe that it's been a full year since making a quilt.

One of my dearest friends is having a baby due next week and I am making a quilt for her and the baby. Seems strange to me that the last quilt I made was a full year ago for another expectant mom and baby. The quilts are going to be similar too. :) I'd have Janell's quilt finished already except for the fact that I broke my sewing machine.

I forgot I was in reverse and tried to sew thru a metal binding clip which, obviously, broke the needle and also totally f-ed up the timing mechanism on the machine. It's a fabulous machine, but it's a little too basic for what I really need. I've ordered a new sewing machine thats designed for quilters. It really will be nice to have more stitch options. My new machine is supposed to arrive on the 30th, but it's still not showing as shipped yet, so who knows if it will really make it here on time.

Making this quilt and buying this new machine has sort of re-awakened my desire to quilt and sew in general. I want to make one for Steve and myself in blacks and whites that will fit our bed, but making it as heavy-weight as we want will make quilting it a nightmare...not even considering how much of a challenge quilting a bed sized quilt is in the first place. Standard arms on sewing machines just cannot accommodate a quilt, no matter how tightly you roll it up. I might simply piece it and take it to someone with a long arm machine to do the actual quilting and binding. It's something I'm going to look into.

I cannot promise that I'm going to be as prolific in quilting as I had been prior to last year, or that I'll start sewing bags and purses again, but I will try to post more often. And, of course, I'll post pictures of Janell's quilt as soon as I get it completed.

I've come up with names for my 5 current perfumes in The Plaid Mushroom's etsy shop. These are all designer imitation fragrances. I tried to get names that were quirky and fun and played off the original designer name as well as my shop name.

CK-1 = TPM-1
Juicy Couture = Sassy Shroom
Light Blue = Baby Blue
Cool Water = Luke Warm
Issey Miyake = Issey Shitake

Currently only Sassy Shroom is in the shop, but look for Baby Blue and TPM-1 in the next couple of days. Luke Warm and Issey Shitake will come soon, I promise!

I've decided to open a second Etsy shop for my lip balms and solid perfumes. It's called The Plaid Mushroom. you can find them here.

I decided that quilts and lip balms don't really belong in the same shop.

Christy's Quilts is still open for quilts, art quilts and purses.

I hope to get some pictures soon of ALL the products that I've been making, but let me just tell you all about it!

I am making bath and body products! I have several different Lip Balms and Lip Sheers (tinted lip balm). I'm making soap. I have several different solid perfumes (dupes of popular fragrances). I am working on a good cuticle cream, but haven't gotten that recipe quite perfected.

It is so much fun! These items are also for sale, so if you are interested, let me know and we can talk about what I have ready, what you need and what I can make to complete your purchase.

I've been very busy these last few weeks working for Ford at the State Fair of Texas, but today was my last day there. One of the MC's wife just had a baby girl on Sunday and my friends and I wanted to get something for them and the new baby, Layla.

I loved the set I had recently been commissioned to make and had ordered extra fabric, so I made a similar baby blanket and burp cloths.

I hope they love the set.