Well, life happened… My machine broke right before the holidays, I had the flu and then pneumonia, and then more and more. Seriously, Life.

I returned from QuiltCon feeling very energized and determined. I felt like I could finish all of my half finished projects and feel great afterwards. Well, ha, Life happened again…

but beforehand I finished this awesome quilt!!!

It’s kind of a cheater hexagon quilt since it’s actually half hexagons sewn together by machine. Instead of the hand sewing craziness I normally do. I used my AccuQuilt GO! Half Hexagon Die to cut out the pieces fast and accurately. I then arranged all the pieces on the floor until I liked the way they looked and took a photo. I put each row in a pile and chain pieced the entire quilt top using the photo as a reference.

The finished quilt top measures 60″x72″. The back is my all time favorite Widescreen in Gray by Carolyn Friedlander and the binding is the normal width version in black.

I ended up quilting the whole thing using around 15 different colored threads in straight lines of different widths. I just couldn’t decide on a perfect color, so I did a bunch. It turned out great and might be my new favorite way to quilt these quilts!!

Due to the weather, and the fact that I wanted to give the quilt to my sister as soon as I finished, I kind of rushed taking photos of the finished piece. I wish I could have shown the back, or the texture better! Oh well, I’m happy I have some photos to share and I’m super super happy my sister has a quilt to cuddle with!!

I’m also excited its a little brighter and warmer outside, which means more quilt photos for me to post!!!

… but then I saw this image while on Pinterest. I was browsing polka dot and stripe images for Alt (something I do in my free time) and I seriously got sidetracked. I clicked on the image and was redirected to the Pencil Shavings Studio blog. I had to know more about this room!

Luckily there were loads of photos! I was able to see this room in all it’s glory.

After looking through all the photos I was in even more awe.

All of a sudden I want diagonal stripes in the stairwells of my house! (I can’t decided if I want to paint them or use the wide washi tape like Rachel did)

I want to paint all the frames in my library white (and finally paint the damn walls gray). That way the artwork stands out more, and its feels a little more consistent.

I want to paint all of the walls in the house that are still builder beige WHITE! I want more white in the house. I feel like just that little bit of beige makes this house not feel the way I want it to. I’m not a beige person. I’m also looking into switching up some of the light bulbs to daylight ones, so it feels nice and fresh at night too.

I’m actually thinking of putting red and navy in the house, two colors I normally stay away from!

I was fully inspired. I even went as far as to email Rachel, the author of The Pencil Shavings Studio to tell her just how much I loved this room (and to ask for permission to use the above photos!). She was super sweet by the way!

I can’t wait until I have energy again, because seriously, I am on a mission!! Our home gets so much light during certain times of the year, and all the trim and shades are white. Along with a lot of the furniture. I want to use this to my advantage and make the house bright and clean feeling all the time. I want to embrace color just a bit more. Not on the permanent pieces, but as statement pieces (I’m not giving up my gray walls). Like maybe a bright graphic rug in the living room, or some bright colored curtains in the kitchenette. The options are endless, and I’m itching to start!!

Oh and something else pretty cool, The Pencil Shaving Studio is having a Land of Nod giveaway to go along with this room! You should head over and enter!!!

all images are courtesy of The Pencil Shavings Studio btw!