blue block and new books

i'm part of a secret project with some other flickr friends to make a special (and secret) quilt for a special mom-to-be. the quilt is going to be a rainbow quilt made up of monochromatic quilt blocks. i chose blue because i figured blue fabrics seem to be the most abundant in my stash. so yesterday i spent some time in my fabric stash pulling out various blue fabrics. i wanted a good variety of fabrics, fabrics in different shades of blue, fabrics with some white in it so it's not too blue, and some solids so the block won't look too busy. this pile is what i decided on...

i spent the morning sewing away, and this came together pretty quick. i realized how much i love the look of this improv block (inspired by these from elizabeth of oh fransson), i think i finally have found something worthy of my mendocino stash!! i did a rough sketch of the block before i started, and used it as a guide to help with picking fabrics from my pile and the placement of each piece. here's my blue improv block.

some detailed shots... i just love these little gold fishies in bags!

horses grazing...

i saw some of the other blocks that people have whipped up and they are just gorgeous, this is going to be a great secret special quilt!


i also went shopping last weekend and finally bought these 2 books i've been wanting to buy for ages (we'll talk about that other kind of shopping, fabric shopping, which i have done, A LOT, since coming off my diet in march, another time)! weekend sewing by heather ross!

and simple sewing for baby by lotta jansdotter!

no, i'm not expecting, i just love baby things (and hoarding cute fabrics and baby clothing patterns)! but seriously, 2 of my coworkers are expecting their first babies this summer, and i really want to make something cute and adorable for them and their babies. i've been hoarding all these baby things but so far have been able to resist the urge to make anything (because that would be weird, right??), now i can let loose!