Chugging along

It is my goal to have this quilt top finished and ready for quilting by the time I head back to school in August. I think I have a very realistic chance of actually making my deadline too. If you know me, you know I get overwhelmed by large projects so I finish very few large quilts. I'm much more comfortable with small, wall size quilts because they are so much more manageable, but since this is a bucket list quilt, I want it to be a BIG one. I'm hoping for bed size. I made a lot of extra blocks but we will see how far I can get before I run out of fabric.

Great Granny Mug Rug

I had so much fun making my little Great Granny Square quilt, you should try them!

I was cleaning off my sewing table at the end of a project and came across a little pile of scraps left over from my blocks and thought "Hmmm, I am sick to death of looking at my mug rug at work, maybe I should make a new one." So I did.

All made from scraps left over from my quilt. It went together really fast because everything was already cut out, and I love it =0) It's been so long since I made something for ME and now I have made a mug rug, a mini quilt, and have another mini quilt in progress. I should get booted from swaps more often LOL

Also, I turned off the word verifications on my comments form. I hate them too! As long as there is no spam I will leave them off. I know I have tried to comment on other's blogs in the past and been so frustrated with their word verifications that I end up just leaving rather than leaving a comment. So I understand. I hope it takes a good long time for the spammers to find me again.

All Done

My little Flea Market Star is all quilted, bound, and ready to go!

I chose to just use some simple line quilting to accent the pattern of the star. I think it worked out well.

One swap down, two to go =0)

Flea Market Fancy Fractured Star

This week has been one of our crazy ones at school and by Friday, when I had worked overtime almost every day, I was burned out. I was feeling guiltily relieved when I drove my boys to the church Friday afternoon and dropped them off for Scout Camp. Does that make me a horrible mom? I was to that point where I was so tired that all of their noise this weekend would have made me cranky and I would have been snappy and not such a fun mom! I think the timing of that Scout Trip was serendipitous!

Anyway, since I didn't have to spend the morning begging, pleading, cajoling, growling, and snapping to get my boys to do their weekly chores, I spent it in my sewing room instead =0)

I am working on this little quilt for the Denyse Schmidt Doll Quilt Swap.

This fractured star is one of my favorite patterns to make with left over triangles. I think this is the first time I have ever made this pattern with triangles I have made specifically for this pattern! It lends itself so well to scrappiness and when I saw something similar in my partners mosaic, I knew this was what I wanted to make for her. I wasn't sure of the gray at first, but since she asked for gray background I kept going and now that it's done, I like it a lot, it lets the colors stand out more so than white would. My original plan was to do a wider border of the large yellow floral, but now that it's finished, I see the border would be overwhelming and take away from the quilt, rather than add to it, so the border will not be added.

Now I just have to figure out how I want to quilt it. Ah quilting, not my favorite thing. I much prefer piecing.

Argh, there be Pirates here

I started this quilt way back when for a swap. It was a Disney swap and my partner's son liked pirates. I came up with this wicked awesome idea and I was so excited!

I tried black wool felt and I just didn't like it, it wasn't BLACK! Mickey ears have to be black, not dingy gray!

So, I did a bad thing, and I used acrylic felt to make my mickey ears (Fabric just wouldn't have been the same right? Right?) and then I goofed. I goofed BAD! I ironed the felt!

Ack, melted felt all over my iron, and melted felt all over my quilt! I didn't have time to create this quilt all over again, it was all but done and the deadline was fast approaching so I chucked it in a corner and moved on to plan B.

Well, it's been a year or two and this pathetic pirate with his melted ear was really bugging me, so I got out the scissors and carefully trimmed away the melted part and attached a new ear. You can't even tell! I'm so excited because I was so pleased with how this quilt turned out! 

I'm glad my little quilt has a new life. Now I just have to figure out what to do with him!

Sewing Sewing

I have been having fun in my sewing room lately, and even accomplished a few things, yay me!

First of all, I made my last three blocks and put the top together for my Great Granny Quilt. Now, unfortunately, I'm stuck. I keep looking at all those tiny squares and trying to figure out how I want to quilt this. I haven't had any ideas yet, so it's still just a flimsy. I'm willing to sit on it for a bit because I don't want to be disappointed with it when I'm finished.

I have to say, I really love this little quilt. It's so ME. It's my favorite colors, it's bright, fun and unashamed of it's colorfulness =0) I love everything about it (Except maybe that one hot pink and white polka dot on the left side, I don't love that one as much).

I tried to hurry and get block three of the Fat Quarter Shop Mystery BOM done before block four arrived but I didn't quite make it. But now both three and four are finished. I love this quilt too. I'm so glad I joined this BOM. I nearly didn't, I HATE mystery quilts. I am very OCD and not knowing where something is going makes me a nervous wreck, but I figured with Vintage Modern fabric, how could you possibly go wrong? And I have every reason to believe that this will be one of my favorite quilts when it's finished.

I've also been playing in mom's scrap basket again. These are little tiny triangles that she cut off when doing her "Love Letters" quilt. She just rolled her eyes, laughed, and told me I was crazy when I started sewing them into squares. This little quilt measures 9.5" with borders. This is one of my favorite quilt patterns, I have made it in several sizes from several different fabrics, but this one is definitely the tiniest!

Progress Report

It seems like it has been ages since I have had any good, quality time to spend in my sewing room. B's schedule has changed and he now gets home from work somewhere between three and five. While I love having him around more, it's been hard because I'm not getting any ME time. I'm a home body, B is not. If he's off work, he wants to be out and about doing something. Which means no sewing time for me, I feel like I am never at home anymore!

Anyway, onto the progress report.
I started sewing this quilt a while back to go into a little wagon that sits on top of a cabinet in my living room. For the past several years it has held a little primitive quilt and while I love that little quilt, it no longer fits in with my brighter, no longer primitive, decor. I needed something new up there. I had found a quilt on pintrest that I fell in love with and wanted to replicate on a smaller scale.

I got to spend lots of time with this little darling while taking care of my mom after her surgery, and on various road trips, but I can't sew for very long, my hands cramp up and get very painful. This little quilt was taking FOREVER!

I decided I needed a plan B, a little quilt I could put together quickly that could add charm to my little wagon until I could get my tiny Flower Garden completed. So, I started my little Great Granny quilt and now I have another problem. I think I like this little quilt more! So, I think I will keep going on this quilt and put it in the wagon, and put the flower garden on the wall or something.

The two newest blocks are the two on the left, I have three more to go then I can start assembling this little quilt.

I also received my name tag swap, all the way from Germany! Isn't it cute? Cherries <3 p="p">

Hi, I'm With the Band!

I have always had an aversion to following the crowd. If everyone is doing something, that usually means that it's the LAST thing I want to do! I refused to read Harry Potter simply because everyone else was doing it.

But in every life there comes a time when you just have to put all Lemming fears aside and just jump off the cliff with everyone else.

Enter...Lori Holt's Great Granny Along.

I resisted as fervently as I could, but in the end, I caved. I can't help it! They're so cute! I am making my great grannies tiny. My finished square is 5.5". I wanted to make mine doll quilt size to go up on a shelf in my Living Room.

I have my first four blocks finished, just five more to go! I think I am going to be totally in love with this quilt! I'm in love with it already!

My first square made from fabrics chosen for another project that I will show you soon. I loved this one so much when I first made it, and now it's my least favorite...go figure. In fact, it may not make it into my little quilt at all, we'll have to see.

So how about you? Did you jump on the bandwagon with me? If you haven't you should! These little guys are very fun, and addicting!

Finished Swap Quilt

I haven't been doing much lately. I had influenza A and was quite sick for a bit. Now I am feeling better, but have the lingering cough and major fatigue. It seems that going to work is about all I can handle then I am totally wiped out. I hope that part doesn't last long.

I finished this quilt several weeks ago and have just been waiting for my partner to let me know that she received it so that I could share pictures.

Our theme for this round was Log Cabin, and I wanted to fit the theme but still give my partner something different. I think this turned out pretty cute, and I hope she likes it. I haven't received mine yet, but I will share when I do. I hope it comes soon, I can't wait to see it.

In other good news, that thing I hinted at in my last post is coming right along. Something that I never thought would ever happen for me, is happening. I still can't believe it, and I still keep waiting for someone to come up to me and say "We were just kidding... you can't really do this." I keep waiting for another shoe to drop, for another catastrophe, another burst bubble, someone to come along and pinch me and wake me from this dream.

But...we have handed over money, and now...

We have our names on a sweet little third of an acre of dirt. Right out side of my bedroom window is the Second Tee (I hope those five AM golfers are quiet, and have good aim, and don't break my windows!)

There are plenty of things I am NOT looking forward to...putting in landscaping being #1, but I am looking forward to being in control of my own destiny. Having a place all my own, where I can paint the walls if I want to! And oh boy and I looking forward to not having stark white walls!!!! We are still about a year out, but my goal is in sight, it's no longer some abstract thought, way off in the distance.

I will finally have a home! Oh happy day! And I am sorry to say it, but you will probably hear a lot about it for the next year or so =0P

Well, hello there!

Wow, it seems like I have been gone forever, and I wish I had tons of fun things to show you, things that I made in my time away, but sadly...I don't.

This year I was very ambiguous about Christmas, I just didn't really care, and because of that, there was an acute lack of home made gifts. I did make a pillow case for my sister-in-law, and a commissioned quilt for a cute little three year old girl, but that's it.

I was contacted in October and asked if I would be willing to make a doll quilt for a little girl for Christmas. My gut reaction was NO!!! I have made quilts for other people in the past and it has never gone well. They don't appreciate them, or recognize how much time, effort, and love goes into a hand made quilt. But something in my heart told me to say yes this time. Maybe it was the idea that I would get to make something pink and girly when I have all these boys at my house =0P But I did say yes, and I am so glad that I did. Laura restored my faith in mankind. She showed genuine appreciation for my work, and I felt so much better making this quilt for her, than I have for any of the other people I have made them for. It was a really good experience for me.


This is the quilt that I made for Laura's little granddaughter.


I even made a little matching pillow, with pillow case, from the scraps =0)


I also joined in the holiday mug rug swap. I sent this mug rug to my partner.


Along with a little bracelet with sewing themed charms that I made.


And received this cute little mug rug in return...


Went to the first band concert for these two (Don't worry, I finally broke down and cut their hair!)


Played board games with my boys, went Christmas caroling at the nursing home on Christmas Eve, had family dinners, and played more games, sang more carols, tore my sewing room apart to instal the 8' counter top that B gave me for Christmas and then had to put it all back together again (Still working on bits and pieces of that) and finally sent the boys back to school at the end of Christmas break with a big sigh of relief that it was all over with and life could get back to normal!

How was your Christmas?

DQS11 Received!

Well, round 11 of the Doll Quilt Swap is winding down. My little quilt has been mailed away, and my new little quilt has arrived.


I was so excited to open this, I knew exactly which one it was as soon as I saw the backing fabric! I loved this soft, sweet, little quilt. There is just something about it that gives me little heart sighs and I'm glad I get to keep it and hang it on MY wall, not be jealous because it went to someone else =0P

Isn't it darling?


She sent me fun little goodies as well! A little packet of scraps which I plan to use on a matching mug rug for my nightstand. Some new pins Hooray, a used needle case, and an adorable little pin cushion that went straight into my handwork bag =0) Now I will be able to take this little piece of happy along with me when I take my handwork.


Thank you SO MUCH to Adrienne for this darling quilt that I absolutely love!

Random things

My DQS11 quilt is all finished and ready to be mailed off in the next day or two. I am so pleased with how it turned out and I hope my partner loves it as much as I do.


My baby went off for his first day of sixth grade. Nothing makes you feel older than realizing it's your last year as an elementary school mom. And even harder because I don't work at his school anymore. I took a position in a Jr. High when they discontinued my reading program due to budget cuts.


We went to visit the UP! House. I could totally see myself living here, but it's massively overpriced! I can't see myself paying that much for a house this small!


I weeded my flowerbeds and took pictures of little friends found there, while PF stood at the ready with a bottle of bug spray in case any of the hornets came too close. I'm not sure a hornet sting would have the same effect as a bee sting, but he wasn't taking any chances! And for the record, ant spray will drop a hornet like a hot rock, but doesn't kill it.


Watched a beautiful sunset.


How was your week?

PS Mrs. JP, I always want to respond to your sweet comments, but I can't comment on your blog (says I'm not allowed) and I want to see pictures of your mug rugs!

WHEW!!!

Two of the worst times for me are #1 The Beginning of the school year, and #2 the end of the school year!

The great news is, I AM DONE! All reports written, all files filed, all students celebrated! I have to go in on Monday and finish cleaning out my classroom (I'm homeless next year, and will be rotating from classroom to classroom which I am NOT looking forward to!) and after that, I am free for the summer!

I spent yesterday celebrating by doing a much needed tidying job on my disaster of a sewing room, then working on my STUD Swap quilt (P.s. STUD stands for Swap Til U Drop, get your mind out of the gutter!)

Our theme this round is Disney. I, of course, was VERY excited having just come back from two weeks at Disney World. Disney is special to me. I have always loved Disney so I was thrilled for this swap.

My partner said she LOVES!!! Pirates! Hmmmm what to do, what to do! I had an idea, but while browsing around the internet found a way to make it even better and the end result is a quilt that I am so proud of. It's one of those quilts that has just worked out every step of the way, no disasters, it just went smoothly, which is unusual for me!


Since this is not a blind swap (My partner knows who I am) I can only show sneak peeks until she gets to see her quilt in person. So here is my latest sneak peek. I am just so beyond thrilled with this quilt. It's one of those that just makes me giggle the whole time I'm working on it. I really hope she loves it as much as I do! I am all done save the binding (Which I still have to find fabric for!)

As a little extra addition to my partner's package, I made a mug rug for her little guy who is also a pirate fan, so I'm told.

On the cutting table

On the cutting table one 4 1/2" stack of delightfully delicious Delilah dresdens!


Well, mostly Delilah, I had to add a few extras and some yellows in there. I am so excited to start sewing! I haven't been this excited about a quilt in a long time!

I heart Delilah!

Nadine from Material Girls, and Tanya Whelan, and the poor girl that had to cut all this, are my three favorite people today.

I went to Material Girls with my mom this weekend. They were having a HUGE New Year's sale and we wanted in on the action. Plus mom had $100 gift card burning a hole in her pocket, so we HAD to go!

Then I saw it, from across the room, and it was love at first sight. It was the choirs of heavenly angels singing kind of love at first sight! A whole shelf of Tanya Whelan's Delilah line!!!! Can you hear them singing? I instantly knew what I wanted to do.

I had visions of heavenly Dresdens in my head.

So a huge thanks to Nadine for giving me 40% off even though it wasn't technically on sale, and a huge thanks to the poor girl who had to cut 1/4 yard each of 31 different prints. And a Huge thanks to Tanya Whelan for designing fabric that makes my mouth water and my heart palpitate!

Quilting, it's not just a girl sport!

A few months ago my middle child made his very first quilt block. Since then both of my other boys have been bugging me to let them make one too. I have put them off as long as I could, but today my oldest was having a rough day. He was feeling left out of the play while his two brothers had friends over.


I figured it was the perfect day for a little Mom/PK one on one time. We pulled out the scrap bins and he chose his colors, I threw together a rough sketch of a sailboat for him to sew and we spent the afternoon making a little quilt or pillow to put in his room.


He was pretty proud of himself but doesn't want to advertise his talents too much because he's afraid his friends might make fun of him.

I think he's pretty awesome =0)



I also got two blocks done today for my liberty quilt, the two I finished are the bottom right two. I did have a moment of panic on the bottom middle block when it said the little red and beige half square triangles should measure 2.5" and they were only 2" but happily figured out it was an error in the pattern. Then I had a second moment of panic when it said the block should measure 9.5" and it was only 9" thankfully just another error *Whew*

Gobble

I'm getting into the spirit of Thanksgiving!

Not to mention these little mug rugs are addicting to people like me who love instant gratification, these whip up so quickly and you have something to show for your efforts where a quilt just takes so long to come together.


So here is Gobble, my little turkey mug rug that is a little on the LARGE side for a mug rug, I might have to call it a trivet or something since is 12X7 =0)

STUD Swap

Well, my partner Cindy has finally received her package so I can share with you now.

Cindy is the one who sent me the amazing Elephant quilt that I love so much, along with a mug rug, a bag, and a million other fun little things. Let me tell you, it's hard to compete with a package that awesome and I really felt the pressure to send her something worthy in return.



This quilt started out as the very first block in my "A Tisket A Tasket" quilt. I didn't have a bias tape maker so I used ric rac for the handle and it was a total bugger to sew on. After making this block I decided that there was NO WAY I was sewing 11 more months of ric rac handles, and I didn't want this to be the only basket with a ric rac handle, so I set it aside and made another January block. It's been hanging on my design wall ever since and I thought it was the perfect foundation for Cindy's little quilt with winter being right around the corner. And since she lives in the south, she probably doesn't get much chance for real snowmen, so I hope this brings a little winter nip to her home.



And since I am obsessed with mug rugs right now, I thought it would be fun to send along a little matching mug rug. I created this penguin using the companion print (on the back) as a guide. I think he turned out so cute, I used flannel for his earmuffs so they are soft and fuzzy =0)



I also wanted to send her something great to make up for all the goodies she sent me and made her an Abbey Bag. I made the one for me, and the one for her at the same time and it was really hard to give up because I loved hers even a little more than I loved my own, but I figgured she would rather have this one than the cherry one, so off it went.



I also threw in a few other little goodies, the requisite red lace that I send to all my swap partners, and a little christmas notepad and some fun magnets.

It was fun swapping with you Cindy, I hope you had as much fun as I did!