January 2014 goals

I missed posting my goals on the Lovely Year of Finishes - I missed January last year, too.  I decided to hold myself to making, at least, one quilt a month. This month, I would like to complete my lazy girl quilt.

These are the circles before I sewed them together.

Trying out different layouts.

I really enjoyed making these ring segments. My problem is that the quilt isn't as large as I would like it. I want to be able to snuggle under it on the sofa. I'm going to make some flying geese blocks to be the border.

It's so great to see all the scraps of things that I've made through the years.

I hope that I can finish this quilt this month. I'm also working on starting some other quilts to help my monthly finishes. It's a lot of fun to challenge myself to finish some works.

In more personal matters, I've given up sugar this month - it has been difficult, but not impossible. It's been two weeks today and I've only had one minor cheat - I had a bite of cake. It was chocolate mousse cake so it really couldn't be avoided. Linking up to Lee at Freshly Pieced's WIP Wednesday.

Make something awesome today!

Wednesday stuff

Hola! I have been trying to get to the sewing machine all day to no avail. I cut some strips last night:

because I wanted to make this, or something like it.

But I just can't get to the machine.

The quilting on my butterfly garden quilt is stalled. I did four blocks and couldn't do anymore.

I helped a friend make her Halloween costume over the weekend. I sewed up a hood thing for her Ezio Auditore costume. When I get photos of her in it, I will post.

I've got a bag of tulle and satiney material for a fairy princess costume to be worked on as well. When am I going to do any of this? Tonight. I promise. Tonight I will work on... something.

I saw this cool black widow spider yesterday. It caught a grasshopper. It's not there today, I don't know if my husband killed it or not. But it was quite Halloweeny

a good shot of the red on it's belly

she kept lifting the grasshopper up - amazingly strong creature

scary spider, beautiful, but scary

Linking up with Lee@Freshly Pieced.

Green

WIP Wednesday 10/2/13

I've got lots of projects in the works:

I pin basted this bad boy on Sunday and I'm ready to start quilting.

I found the inspiration for my next quilt start - gonna work on this today - very excited.

I've got four of these tablet covers ready to be put together so that I have some to put on my etsy site. I will have these finished by Friday.

So, I've got lots to do - lots to start and finish. So excited. I feel like I'm finally out of my funk. Gonna go and paint with my girl before I get started on the machine. linking up with Freshly Pieced.

Make something!

WIP Wednesday - not quite in progress

I have to think. I usually have to have the project completed in my head before I can start. I have been stalled on this bag for my mother for a little while now. I want to make her a cross-body bag that she can carry with her to the flea market and other shopping trips. My mom loves Star Trek so I got some neat Star Trek fabric last week to make this bag.

Camelot Cottons Star Trek bundle

She has complained when I make her Star Trek things that are not "In Your Face" Star Trek.

Now for the design. I wanted to make a cross-body bag with a zipper. Then I remembered those cute, little, three-zip pouches that Debbie at A Quilter's Table did a tutorial for. I love those, but I would like something larger and cross-body. Then I saw this and that's what I wanted to make. Now, there's no tutorial for it, so I'll just have to figure out the measurements, but at least I can visualize it, now. I have to run some errands before I start on it later this afternoon, but I'm very excited. Linking up to Freshly Pieced.

xoxo

Going Through Some Stuff

I started a new health regime last week and I've had to be monitoring my body. I'm playing around with my hormones and I haven't felt like doing much this last week. If all goes well, I will get my sleep figured out and my thyroid levels will be stable and good - along with my lady hormones all balanced. I'm looking forward to feeling better, younger and hopefully looking better, too. My lipids came back bad, too and I'm having to figure out a plan for better cholesterol. I don't want to think about having a heart attack and not being alive, so that is pretty important to get straight.

I need to get back to the sewing plan and make some stuff and I should have some things to show you tomorrow for WIP Wednesday.

My daughter started ballet yesterday and I was working on that, too. Yesterday seemed like too much for me to handle and I kinda thought I was losing my mind. But that's what happens when you play with your hormones - you feel weird, different, strange. I just hope it levels out, soon.

xo,

Baby (girl) quilt

I've been working on my baby girl quilt today. I was able to piece the back, make the sandwich and get it mostly quilted. I'll work the quilting a little bit more when my daughter goes to sleep - if she ever goes to sleep - tonight.


Here are some photos of the progress:

This is a triangle that I made but decided not to use on the back

I decided to go with just a strip for the back which I cut in half to make two strips

The quilting in process

 This is my second time using the spray baste and the brand that I used doesn't stop the pieces from shifting. I'm not really happy with it. Also, it smells horrible and I even used it in a very well ventilated room. I don't know - I'm not impressed so far. I suppose I still needs some more practice using it. I'm stitching on the diagonal and then 1/4" away from that line. I'm using a pink thread on the top and the bobbin - I like to be able to see the stitches. I may add another quilting line, but I haven't decided yet. I'll add the binding tomorrow and have a completed, small quilt for Friday! Whoo hoo!

Linking up to Freshly Pieced.

Happy Hump Day!

WIP Wednesday - late post (as par usual)

Greetings!

I have been working tonight to get some more blocks finished for my Garden Fence quilt top made with squares from the Simply Modern Bee. The bee concluded in April and I'm just getting around to putting together my quilt. I actually didn't receive all of my blocks and that made me a little angry. It was my first bee and I just thought that people wouldn't sign up unless they were going to honor their commitments. I suppose that was a little Pollyanna of me. Anyway, I'm still active in a couple of bees because I like the challenge - I just have to hope that all the people that signed up will follow through.

So... this is what I'm working on:

Garden Fence top started - bee blocks received

first block started

Centers and other pieces

I cut all the pieces and I'm just putting them together. I'll be working tonight after my daughter goes to bed - hopefully that will be soon (It's 11:17 PM). She's a nightowl like me and we like to stay up and sleep in. Which is fine, except when I'm trying to work.

Linking up (at the last minute) to Freshly Pieced.

WsIP... but finished tops

*** I have to use this post again because I recently got a virus on my computer and have no access to my photos. -will post more later when I get my machine cleaned later today. Green***

Today I've got baby quilts on my mind. I'm sandwiching my girl baby quilt and my boy baby quilt tonight and I can get started on the quilting tomorrow. I hope to have them both finished by Friday for a fabulous finish into the weekend.

Here are both tops completed:

Baby girl quilt

Baby boy quilt

They are both made with HSTs, just different configurations. I'm not sure now if my aunt is going to buy one of these quilts. My mother told me that my aunt wanted to buy a baby quilt from me once she knew the sex of the baby. I started making these more traditional kind of baby quilts for that specific purpose and now she may not buy one??!!?? Oh well. If she doesn't buy one, I'll just post them on etsy. They were really fun to make so far. I'm just going to do some stitch in the ditch quilting to keep them puffy - thinking about using a high loft, poly batting for these as well. The poly batting is warmer (so I understand). They are pretty small, but I remember that I didn't want to take a giant, full-sized quilt when I had my daughter - these are the perfect size for cuddling with in the carseat or stroller.

I'm also working on the quilted bag for my MILs Samsung Galaxy II Tablet. I'm still contemplating putting in the lining and all of that - my brain gets so confused about which to flip inside out, which side to put the velcro tab, and all that...

I've also been obsessed with knitting socks. I started a pair for myself with Loops and Threads luxury sock yarn (60% fine merino superwash/30% nylon/10% cashmere) in Ocean colorway. These are toe-up socks and I'm actually getting pretty fast knitting on the size 1 needles. I spotted an awesome pattern on knitty for some double heelix socks that I'm itching to make. How cool are those?

So much to finish... Linking up with Freshly Pieced and crazy mom quilts.

Make something!

WIPs (under the wire) Wednesday

I can just get in my WIPs today under the wire -

It's 11:33 PM here in Albuquerque and I'm watching YouTube videos on putting in zippers and sewing bags. I found a great bag here and hope that I can follow the tutorial and have it be my first bag.

I'm not actively working on sewing anything, although I have tons of things in my head that I want to make. I'd really like to make a little quilted/zippered pouch for my MILs Samsung Galaxy 2 Tablet. I did make her a knitted button pouch for it

it will look much better once it's blocked.

I'm also learning a new way to knit socks. I recently came into five skeins of really nice sock yarn. It was given to me by a friend who is going to be a traveling nurse for the next two years. She sold her house and gave away/sold most of her things, since she won't have a home for a while. She gave me lots of acrylic yarn that she had around, but when she opened the box with the wool sock yarn and other hand-dyed, Peruvian yarn offerings the caveat was that I could have the yarn if I made her one pair of socks. I told her that I would make her a pair of socks from each sock yarn. I knitted a pair that didn't quite match up, but they were okay - then my goat of a puppy decided to snack on them in the night. I'm now working on a pair of orange/cream stripey toe-up socks. I have never made toe-up socks, but I like that I don't have to worry about running out of yarn for the important bits.

I'm not always a fan of the self-striping yarn, but this is cute.

 I really want to get over to Michael's to pick up some super-long, #2 circulars so that I can work my toe-up socks two at a time with a magic loop. Now, if you are not a knitter that just sounds like a lot of gobbledy-gook, but two at a time, toe up socks using the magic loop are awesome because you don't have to suffer from second sock syndrome (which I am inflicted). I get so excited as I'm making the first sock. Then I finish and it's like... what? I have to make another one?!? UGH! I don't wanna. I wanna do something else!!!  I figure if I make them at the same time, I will save myself a relapse of my sickness.

Tomorrow I'm going to take photos of my quilt pattern and post to Moda for the bakeshop. I really hope my pattern gets chosen. It's a major goal of mine to be published this year. I still have some months left, but the sooner the better.

I'm also working on a paper-pieced block for my bee(ful) of paper. For some reason, it was really hard and I've had to take it apart to resew the pieces together. I was going to make two blocks from the fabric Queenie sent, but I just couldn't do it. I almost didn't make one - this month has been a chore for some reason. I'm going to write a post about when paper-piecing goes horribly wrong.

the pieces

so sew frustrating when it doesn't work out right.

Linking up with Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday.

Just visiting

Before I get to sewing today - my first time sitting down at my machine in over a week - I thought I would take some time to visit all the current blogs in the "get acquainted blog hop" I'm participating in. Please stop by and visit these lovely blogs in the next few weeks:

New Blogger Blog Hop Participant Schedule

Friday, June 7th

Nancy @ Owen's Olivia

Amy @ 13 Spools

Ashley @ Wasn't Quilt In A Day

Casey @ The Studiolo 

Nanette @ Yeah, I Made That

Ange @ Heart Of Charnwood

Kim @ Robot Mom Sews

Erica @ Kitchen Table Quilting

Friday, June 14

Julie @ Jolie Maxtin

Melissa @ Melia Mae Quilting

Adrianne @ On The Windy Side

Molli @ Molli Sparkles

Laura @ Little And Lots

Sarah @ Duck Egg Threads

Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

Cari @ There's A Thread

Valerie @ Between Quilts

Friday, June 21

Leigh Anne @ Ella's Cottage

Stacey @ The Tilted Quilt

Sarah @ Quilt Candy

Jackie @ NW Patchwork

Liz @ Beadqueene's Bits And Baubles

Erica @ Happy Fabric

Stephanie @ Simple Sewendipity

Lauren @ Seraphym

Amy @ Cloud CouCou Crafts

Friday, June 28

Green @ So Sew Green

Gwendellyn @ The Rainbow Revolts

Jessica @ Stitched In Thyme

Amira @ Little Mushroom Cap

Kathy @ Kayak Quilting

Michelle @ Factotum Of Arts

Paula @ The Sassy Quilter

Kris @ Sew Sunshine

Camilla @ Faffling

Friday, July 5

Christa @ Christa Quilts!

Alyce @ Wonderland By Alyce

Anna @ The Crooked Banana

Rachel @ Sew Happily Ever After 

Stephanie @ Quarter Incher

Shayla @ Sassafras Lane Designs

Caroline @ Carolines Craftiness

Lisa @ Hilltop House Creative Works

Fridau, July 12

Leona @ Leona's Quilting Adventure

Karen @ Karen, {Novice} Quilter

Anne @ PlayCrafts

Rachel @ Let's Begin Sewing...

Jan @ Sew And Sow Farm

Anna @ Quilting Along The Grain

Cath @ Wombat Quilts

Sarah @ {No} Hats In The House

Friday, July 19

Karen @ Little Birdie Quilting Studio

Kathy @ Kwilty Pleasures

Katie @ Snuggle Up With A Dish From Karma 

Alison @ Making Happyness

Ella and Nesta @ Ella & Nesta's Little Room

Adrienne @ Chezzetcook Modern Quilts

Nicole @ Modern Handcraft

Aylin @ AyliN-Nilya

Kelsey and Amanda @ Everyday Fray

Friday, July 26

Vicki @ A Quilter's Mission

RobinSue @ RobinSue Quilts

Elisa Lea @ Lovelea Designs

Elizabeth @ In The Boon Docks

Jenny @ A Note To Follow Sew

Lorna @ Sew Fresh Quilts

Sonia @ Fabric & Flowers

Emily @ Sew E.T.

Em @ Sewing by Moonlight

So far, I've really been inspired by the blogs and projects I've seen. So, get acquainted, leave a comment, maybe even subscribe to some blogs. My hop day is 6/28 and I will be having a giveaway of some lovely fabric - so please remember to check that out.

Happy hopping!

 

WIP Wednesday

It's Work in Progress Wednesday and I'm stuck at work. I'd love to be at home sewing and knitting and enjoying the sunny day, but I'm here setting up webinars and video conferences. Sure, it all seems glamorous and wonderful, but it's not. It's not so easy bein' an IT professional/Green - whichever you prefer at this moment.

I think this is residual funk from Monday. I really need to get over this hump - what do I do?? I think I'm going to have to have another giveaway to get some more readers.

funkity funk-funk

WIP Wednesday

It's still Wednesday for about 40 minutes so I can get my pics in just under the wire. I worked on my granny square table runner for a bit and I also started working on my April Showers Mug Rug for the blog hop next month.

I sketched out the mug rug and everything - I even put measurements on it. It is my first foray into flying geese units. I did cut off the points (sewed off the points) on two, but they look okay otherwise. I used the flippy corners method and I saved the triangles that I cut off and added to my bag of little triangular scraps. I saw on Fons and Porter that Maryanne Fons sews those together and trims them up to use as borders, etc... all I can say is that I've been saving them - I sure hope I use them someday. Anyway - I need to go to sleep soon.

granny squares

Piper fat quarters cut to a 5" strip

Piper and Kona solid flying geese cuts

flying geese with hand stitched umbrella handles.

I've really been enjoying doing the hand stitching. Embroidery floss is a lot of fun.

Sew on!

More fabric on it's way to my house

I just ordered some more great fabric from fat quarter shop. I got:

a fat quarter bundle with 15 patterns

a charm pack of this - my favorite thing right now

this lovely fat quarter bundle for extras and for the simply solids bee

I love buying fabric - and I love that my husband is okay with me buying fabric. He is very supportive of my hobby. I think he just wants me to get good enough to sell my creations at a craft fair or etsy or something. That would be just fine with me.

I also continue to enter all the fabric giveaways I can find and just hope that I will win something, someday.

I'm working on my April Showers mug rug for the blog hop coming up. My day will be Tuesday, April 9th. I'm working in a giveaway so... stay tuned for that. I'll post some pictures later and then link up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

Sew Fantastic!