Dear Nevada,

Did you get the memo? Its Spring! Last night it hailed, rained, maybe even snowed for a while.... I guess that is just spring in Nevada.

Brian and I are in contract on a house in Fernley NV, finally. It only took two months and seven offers. This week we have appts with the mortgage company and the house inspections. If all goes according to plan, we will be closing on May 9th. Which means we will be moving the week of the Propane Convention. It can never be easy....

To keep myself occupied, I signed up for a potholder pass swap on Flickr. Here are a few pictures of my works in progress.

I love how I was able to use my scraps to mix and match for a bold spring look. I will be selling some of these in my Etsy shop and some will be sent to my potholder pass swap partner. I am totally addicted to making these and have a few more in the works...(I'm tweaking the pattern, again) I recently found some linen/cotton blend fabric at Hancocks in Sparks and used it in the Spring Chicken potholder. I love the country look it gives.

If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it. ~Mary Engelbreit


A couple of updates.....

In November, the company I work for moved our accounting office from Auburn, CA to Reno, NV. Since then I have been splitting what spare time I have between Reno, NV and Lincoln, CA. Brian and the dogs are living with his parents in Lincoln CA and I am renting a room from a co-worker in Reno, NV. I manage to make it home to Lincoln a couple times a month. Brian and I are searching for a house but Reno has a wacky housing market right now. Its very frustrating at this point. But there is light at the end of the tunnel and I won't be homeless forever..... right?

A new goal for me this year for this blog is to keep sharing about the things I love.... family, sewing, crafts, cooking, gardening and life on the ranch. Things that keep me and my family, happy and healthy. Things that keep me sane and inspire my craftiness.

I realize I am a few months late on New Years Resolutions but hey, I work in the propane industry and winter = no life beyond work. Its what I signed up for.

And here are some random pictures so this doesn't become one of those boring no picture posts. :)

Addelynn and I on Thanksgiving at the ranch.

Brian and his new dog Sage at the duck club.

Ruby Star and Gypsy Rose Cottage

Today I wanted to share with you my new offerings for my Etsy store Made by Melody Lake. I love making baby quilts. No joke I finished 6 tops in one weekend. I am slow at getting them all quilted but they are there, in a lovely little stack, waiting to be turned into a little one's treasure.

This is Ruby Star made with the Ruby line from Bonnie and Camille for Moda Fabrics. I added a small white lace to the end borders. The background is solid white and the binding is scrappy. The pattern is Silver Star by Villa Rose Designs and it measures approximately 32"x42".

This is Gypsy Rose Cottage made with the Gypsy Rose line by Fig Tree Quilts for Moda Fabrics. The background is cream and the binding is chocolate polka dots. The pattern is La France by Villa Rose Designs and it measures approximately 36"x45".



Both quilts have pieced backs. I love the way a pieced back adds a second look to a quilt. These two gems are perfect for a crib or play mat. They are machine pieced and machine quilted by me.

A little about the Villa Rose Designs patterns.... These are simple patterns but I think they do a fabulous job at showcasing fabric lines. The patterns come on postcards and were less then $3 a piece. I great value for a pattern that will look different every time with different fabric choices. I got mine at Sew Katie Jean in Lincoln, CA.

By the way, its Sew Katie Jean's 1st Anniversary so go and say Hi to Katie.... tell her Melody sent you. :)

Made by Melody Lake

I have decided to start selling (unloading) some of my projects on Etsy. So far I have listed some little things like bibs and burp cloths, market bags and cloth dinner napkins. I have a few crib quilts that will be listed this weekend.

For me the hardest part of the deal was the photography. My first few pictures were not so good but this weekend I spent some time out at my parent's ranch and worked some magic. My Mom has this really cool vintage school desk and she was nice enough to let me take it out of the house.

All my bibs and burp cloths are 100% cotton backed with terry cloth (like a towel.) They are super soft and super absorbent.

In other exciting news for the summer.... My niece Adelynn Norma was born on July 2. So for a while you will be seeing baby projects as I test out patterns. So far I think I got the bibs and burp cloths down. I have already used some of my favorite pieces of conversation fabrics and so now I think I need to cut into my vintage stash. :)

Urban Cabin @ Sew Katie Jean

I'm teaching another class at Sew Katie Jean in Lincoln on Saturday. This pattern is Urban Cabin by Atkinson Designs. It is super easy and I love how it lets the fabric play. I used Little Apples by Aneela Hoey for Moda which is still available at Sew Katie Jean.... This would make the perfect back to school fall quilt for the little ones in your life.

Urban Cabin Class

@ Sew Katie Jean

Saturday June 16, 2012

10am - 4pm $40

Call Katie to register and get the class supplies list : 916-209-3930

Spring Projects

Spring was busy for me with work and special projects. I finished a few things for my Sister in Law for the new nursery. The colors she chose are yellow and gray. I love the way the bumpers turned out. I used two fantastic free tutorials from Natalia Bonner at Piece N Quilt. She recently updated her Son's nursery and posted many cool tutorials for crib bumpers, dust ruffles and decorations.

I also made these super cute buntings for decorations for the baby shower. I am addicted to these. They are so easy to make.

On a side note..... My company is allowing us to once again work 4-10 hour days a week this summer, which means I may be able to post more often on my blog. YAY! Also I am teaching a few classes this month at Sew Katie Jean in Lincoln, CA. Call Katie for details at 916-209-3930.

2012, A year of changes....

Time is a dressmaker specializing in alterations. ~Faith Baldwin


The time has come to make a change. My company is relocating our office to Reno, NV. I am actually excited about this change however it will be a difficult next few months. I have lived in the same house (give or take a few years for college) for the past 21 years. The same Northern California town for 33 years. In my heart I am ready for this, yet my brain is hurting thinking about all the work that needs to get done.


So this year my blog is going to be a little more about our new adventure and how I am going to reduce my stash and scraps. I'm promising my husband that I will not move crap from one state to another.... which means I either have to sell it, use it, give it away or throw it out.

I've had this post written since January and have yet to post it... Until today. I don't know why it has taken me so long (maybe the long hours I have been working) or maybe the denial/dread of making this move....

Whatever the reason, today I start posting to this blog again.

Happy Monday everyone!