Looky! Looky!

fat quarter yumminess from Stitch Stash Diva

Awesome swappy stuff

Look what came in the mail for me yesterday!!! I got my 25 fat quarters from StitchStashDiva, and I got four fat quarters and a pattern from my swap partner. How much fun is that?

I also got a sewing machine, a bunch of yarn and other crafting supplies from a friend that is downsizing her life to be a traveling nurse for a few years. She had a box with lots of beautiful sock yarn and said she would give it to me if I made her some socks - of course!! It is the least that I can do. So... I'm working on some socks:

SOCKS!

I love to knit socks and haven't been able to do it very often lately. Knitted socks are both a luxury to make and wear. I only knit socks for people that are really special to me. I think they are really a gift of love. I may need to alter my thinking and start hand-knitting socks for the masses - or at least to sell on etsy. But right now, I will stand by my original theory.

So far, staying at home is harder than I thought. I always think I'm going to have more time to do what I want to do - but even taking the time to write this post, I can hear Miss Penn and the dog and cat playing and squabbling, I need to get to the store and unload the diswasher. I know that I will get some peace when the girl takes a nap in a few hours. Ahhhh! What would I do without nap time - go insane, most likely.

Well... that's the news on the home front. I will post tomorrow with a layout and plan for my next quilt project.

Two starts/finishes for March already

So... I've already started and finished two projects this month. I'm super excited. I'm finally getting the hang of managing my home and my work and my hobby. Well, I say that today, because I've been quite productive - that could all go to hell next month, or tomorrow even. Anyway, here are photos of my recent accomplishments:

Hexie pillow top with hand quilting

putting together exploded star w/cat butt

finished exploded star top

The hexie pillow is actually completed, I just don't have a photo of the finished pillow yet and the exploded star quilt is sandwiched and I will begin the quilting tonight - I'm planning to give this to my uncle for his 50th birthday on Saturday - I hope I can finish this in time so that I will actually give it to him.

Now go and make stuff!
Green

February Finish

Okay, so it wasn't everything I wanted to finish for February, but I did start a few things and I will have a more extraordinary finish for March.

This month, I started and finished these wonderful, felt, hot cup holders for my daughter's teachers for Valentine's Day. Here they are:

I had a lot of fun making these. They are so cute and simple. I think the teachers really liked them, too. I did make one for myself to keep on my single cup french press that I keep at work.

I made a few other felted goodies but I can't blog about them because they are presents that haven't been delivered yet.

I really hope to finish something better next month. I have a few projects up my sleeve that I need to start and work on for better finishes in the months to come.

Happy Tuesday!!

Green

Sew much to do...

I joined the Simply Solids Bee for 2013 and I just purchased  quarter cuts of nine colors of Kona. I love the beautiful solid colors, but I'm so used to using prints in my quilts and using solids sparingly to punch up the prints and have them read better, bolder. Working in exclusively solids is a challenge in itself and the first block is a bit of a challenging pattern for a beginner like me. But... I joined this bee so that I could  beef up my sewing skills and get some new techniques under my belt so... I will carry on with the duck creek puzzle block of which that is a great example.

In other sewing news, I'm participating in a pay it forward event this year where I have promised to make items for five friends. I tried this before and only made two things. There are so many more skills that I have this year so I know I can make five things. One of my friends wants a felt crown like the one I made for my daughter's birthday (see above). I don't think she wants me to put her age on the front, but I can put her initial or name.
Another friend studies the brain and I'm thinking about making an anatomical brain chart into a felted pillow.
There is also a sixth friend that is going to swap with me because we are both quite crafty and it's super fun to make something for her.

This weekend should be filled with sewing and creating and designing. I'm really excited to get started.

Sew on!
Green

Works in Progress

I thought I'd post some pictures of some of my WIPs today. I've got them in various states of doneness.

Cheery Christmas charm pack HSTs.  Need to make something with these.

FELT

yay! FELT.

Bee block

Bee block

Go Boldly quilt

Go Boldly quilt

Go Boldly quilt

That's what I've been working on this week, well... and last week. I still have a lot of squares to do for the Star Trek quilt. The Cheery Christmas HSTs will probably become mug rugs for holiday gifts (note to self - start sewing those). The felt is for a 3rd birthday crown for Penn (ugh! is my baby really going to be three?). Enjoy your day and sew on!

Green

Interesting article

Here is an interesting article I read today about the gender gap in crafting:
Why Germaine Greer was wrong about knitting

Getting Started

Hi! I've been blogging for a few years and just recently my blog (itsnotsoeasybeingreen.blogspot.com) has started to become more and more about quilting and sewing. I wanted to make a bit of a transition and have a blog dedicated to sewing and quilting and knitting and fiber-love of all kinds and this is it.
I plan to start moving some things over in the next few days. I would really love to post tutorials and patterns, since I usually design my own quilts. I love modern quilts based on traditional blocks and patterns. I like modern fabrics and lots and lots of color.
I hope you will join me in this journey. I look forward to making lots of quilting and sewing and knitting friends from everywhere.
Today I am thankful for community and resources.

Get your sew on!
Green