Mommy's Nap Time

I must be growing...

2012-02-10T15:21:00.000-08:00

I remember a time where all my sewing projects looked the same - not the same - but the same because my fabric choices were so predictable. I have never been a "use only this line of fabric" kind of quilter, but I've come a long way since the early days of playing it safe.

Last night I was working on adding a border to Emily's {Modern} Robin block. She had generously sent a wide variety of fabrics (mostly solids) that were impeccably matched and chosen with the skill of an art student graduate (which she is). Now I have never taken color theory or anything of the sort... I go with my heart and that's where I am in color design.

So as I was saying, I was adding a border to her block and I'm proud to say that I didn't take the predictable route of adding a grey border around my added pieced border... instead I used this pinkish - Kona Mellon that she'd sent with the block. My point is, I spent half the time worrying if it was going to look ok, and if it would be "Emily" enough (her Emily, not me Emily lol). With the morning came clarity that I do indeed like the melon borders. (I'll still wait Emily's reply though - it may not be her liking).

Now looking at my design board, I'm seeing how I've grown. No more singular color palate for every project! On that wall alone I have:

Emily's {modern} Robin (light blue, salmon, purples, and oranges),

My Pillow Talk Swap piece (scrappy blue, white, light green, and grey),

My swoon quilt for Linda (pinks and purples with a shot of orange backed in white),

My tiny scrappy project (bright bold red, blue, green, yellow, orange - everything bold minus pink and purple),

And a random Harry Potter block (yellow and dark grey).

On second thought, maybe I just have a lot of WIP's laying around! lol.

Which are you?

2012-02-08T10:58:00.000-08:00

When sign ups go live for the Doll Quilt Swap on flickr (and other swaps) the discussion always comes up about what level of a quilter you are. It's so hard to determine and I'm sure so many people have different ideas about what makes you a beginner, intermediate, or expert. My flickr friend Shayla came up with this explanation. It gives me a lot to think about. I like to think of myself as being somewhere between intermediate and advanced, but according to this breakdown I'm closer to the advanced to expert category. I wonder how my quilts would be judged at juried show. I have been thinking about this a bit more since I'm somewhat interested in submitting my work to a local show or two this summer. We'll see, but without further rambling, here is Shayla's breakdown of quilting levels.

_____

A beginner is someone who ranges between the just learning to sew squares together all the way to accurate points meeting, not chopping off corners, and can handle things like log cabins, churn dash, square-in-square, maybe even some basic applique. They probably would only do basic quilting if any. They need instructions and patterns for most projects. The top level of beginner can complete a quilt with pieced/appliqued blocks which they will probably send to a quilter but may do something like stitch-in-the-ditch or echo quilting. I expect to see mistakes in a beginners work, but by the time they get to the top, those mistakes should be minimal and only occasional.

An intermediate level would be someone who can handle at least basic paper piecing, more detailed applique, curves, probably some y-seams, and can make a completed quilt for sure with better quilting details--probably at least in the process of learning free motion. Their work should be consistently accurate and clean (no sewn puckers, straight seams, accurate cutting) not sloppy. They could enter their work at the county level and win ribbons. There is a HUGE range to intermediate which really depends on how the individual pushes themselves. They also will often design or adjust patterns to fit what they want. This is usually the level where quilters begin to break away from solid borders into multiples and pieced borders. Top of this level usually starts publishing patterns that become very popular because the instructions are precise and understandable and the designs have lots of appeal.

My idea of an advanced quilter would be someone who has basically mastered a majority of the quilting techniques (various applique methods, piecing, paper piecing, free motion and regular quilting, etc.) and consistently turns out superior work (not perfect, superior). They may or may not have also mastered things like thread painting, fabric painting and other artsy type techniques depending on their particular style and interest. They almost always design their own patterns. I would expect to see their work in state level, possibly national, competitions, even if they don't choose to actually enter such things. Now days, most can do some pretty good free motion although this wouldn't (in my mind) be a requirement because some quilters prefer to send quilts to someone who has really put the time into learning the fancy quilting or can handle the larger quilt sizes and so may or may not have mastered this. This is especially true when it comes to competition quilts. I would think in the mid to top range of advanced the quilter would be able to handle a scalloped or shaped edge without blinking an eye. This is the level that one should be to write a really good quilt book (not saying an intermediate wouldn't, but these are the better ones generally).

Experts or Masters are people who have mastered all the things like piecing, paper piecing and applique. By this point all their work is self designed and near perfect. By this point they've usually found a particular format and style that suits them and have really started exploring what they can do with this area. They often add lots of details to their work, complicated piecing, hand or machine stitching and thread painting, etc. They have the "rules" down pat and can now break them with superb results. I would see their work at international level competitions. These are the ones who make quilts that just blow your mind (think Tokyo International Great Quilt Show stuff). Even at this level, many choose to team up with an expert quilter who will custom quilt their very complicated designs--I do know of some who quilt their own quilts though.

_____

What do you think? I love the breakdown of all the categories. I feel like there is so much room for all of us to grow - to constantly be learning new things. A while ago there was a whole trend of talking about the "dumbing down of quilting" but I think we're doing the opposite here, making everything accessible and encouraging each other in learning new things. Let's keep growing!

For the love of Harry Potter!

2012-02-08T10:56:00.000-08:00

I think I may have mentioned it a time or two that I'm pretty obsessed with Harry Potter. Having first read the series in high school, and re-reading it more than half a dozen times since, I'd say I'm a pretty big fan.

I found this picture on flickr recently, made by Amanda Hall. And added it to my inspiration mosaic for the Pillow Talk Swap -- which spurred a conversation with a fellow Pillow Talk Swapper about doing a Harry Potter themed one on one swap together. Although Ale and I haven't set out any dates etc for this swap, we've talked a bit more about it, and I'm excited to say it looks like it will happen! I'm excited to get my HP sewing on!

I've already been playing with some of Jennifer's paper pieced fandom patterns. The symbol of the deathly hallows was first! I love that.

I'll keep you all posted on my fan-crazy sewing! :) I've got so many ideas floating around my head, now to find some time to sew them up!

Teeny Little Ipod Cozy: A Tutorial

2012-02-03T23:59:00.000-08:00

Today I wanted to make a little protective case for my ipod nano. I have been carrying it around in my purse pocket for a while and maybe that's why it's acting up a little. So I went looking for a zip pouch with a front zip, I found these by SewWhitney on flickr, but I just didn't find any tutorials that looked like what I wanted to do. This method uses french seams to enclose the raw edges on the inside. Nothing new, but it's quick, easy, and pretty too.

So lets get started; here's what you'll need:

two pieces of fabric 5.5" x 3.5" (one lining fabric and one outer fabric)
One scrap of batting the same size, 5.5" x 3.5"
Four pieces of fabric 5.5" x 3.5" (two lining fabric, two outer fabric)
Two pieces of batting 5.5" 3.5"
One scrap of fabric 2" x 2"
One zipper longer than 6"

First prep your tab piece (2" x 2") by folding it in half, then opening it up and folding the raw edges to the center. Fold in half again and stitch 1/8" away from either long edge. Fold in half lengthwise and press. Set aside.

fabrics sandwiched and sewn

Next sandwich one side of your zipper fabrics in this order:

lining fabric right side up,

zipper right side up,

outer fabric right side down,

then batting.

Sew 1/4" from the edge with them all lined up (you can pin if you'd like, but I don't).

after top-stitching and tacking the zipper (notice the zipper pull is INSIDE the zipper tacks)

Press the lining away from the zipper, then flip it over and press the outer fabric away. Top-stitch 1/4" away from the edge of the fabric. Repeat for the other side.

Now, with the zipper pull in the middle of your piece, use your machine to sew over the zipper about 1/8" from the edge. I forward, then back-stitch a few times over each end. Trim off the zipper ends at the edge of the fabric (note, don't use your fabric scissors to do this, use some duller ones because that zipper will dull them!)

Lay the folded pull tab on top of one of the zipper ends and baste it with the raw edges facing the raw edges of the zipper end.

Now layer your fabrics as follows:

Lining fabric right side down,

batting

outer fabric right side up,

top section right side down.

Stack them right on top of each other (Be sure that your zipper is at least halfway open) and sew around all four sides using a 1/4" seam allowance. Trim the corners being sure not to clip through your stitch line, and trim the seam allowance down to about 1/8".

All trimmed!

Turn the whole thing inside out and poke those corners using whatever you have handy, a chopstick, pencil, awl, etc. Then press it all flat. Topstitch around the whole thing about 1/4" from the edge and you're done!

That was easy!

Simple and easy! Now enjoy your little ipod case thingy. Of course if you're all hip and cool you'll have a larger/cooler/awesomer Ipod - in which case, just increase these dimensions to fit your device. :) Enjoy!

DQS 12 Starting Soon!!

2012-02-03T15:24:00.000-08:00

DQS12 inspiration mosaic

The time has come, the Doll Quilt Swap is about to start! This will be my fourth round (wow!) and I can't wait! I really think that this is the best swap on flickr! For the first time this round I'll be a Swap Mama (oh the power!) lol. :) I'm really excited and it's looking like we've got an awesome group of ladies swapping!

Sign-ups are over, and partner emails will be going out this weekend -- which means I get to stalk my partner (another Mama is pairing me up so I won't know who has me). I have so many exciting ideas already! The cool thing about being a mama, is that I've already stalked through everyone's flickr pages so I've seen all the talent out there! Pretty awesome!!

Haha...my hair looks awesome. I can't wait to shave it again!

Also, Emily and I met up today to swap our {Modern} Robin blocks! This is our first round and I've been thinking about what sort of border I should add to her mini swoon block! :) Her brother took a picture of us together with our starting blocks - so that'll be added here whenever she posts it!

Hm here are some things I want to do tonight... to get my sewing fix before company comes over!

Sew an ipod case and earphones case... just because I can.
Refashion some pj's of mine into pants for allie.
Plan my border for the Modern Robin.

It's Swap Time!!

2012-01-29T22:47:00.000-08:00

I just received my partner assignment for the Pillow Talk Swap - my third time swapping with them. It's pretty exciting to stalk your partner and figure out what they like. I settled on a basic idea right away, and since I received my partner assignment just minutes before my husband took the toddler out for a couple hours - I was able to get started immediately!

Here's what I have so far, a round of 32 flying geese. They're foundation paper pieced using the printable pattern here. It was a little tedious, but not too bad. I like this sort of mindless, mind-numbing work on days where I tend to get obsessive about other things.... I'm not going to post about that today though - ugh (can I just have a baby already?).

So, the geese look pretty bad ass if you ask me! Perfect points and pretty colors. I'm thinking of using a newsprint type fabric for the middle and outside. I don't have any such fabrics (other than a fat eighth of sweetwater). Other than that sweetwater print does anyone know of a text/newsprint fabric that's readily available? I'm looking for a white/natural/grey type color scheme.

My pillow may be double-sided too... since I really think my normal style (total comfort zone without trying) is very much to my partner's liking too. We'll see.

This round each member will be required to include one of the following blocks in their quilt:
churn dash/shoofly, log cabin, drunkards path, N.Y. beauty, flying geese

By the way --- sign-ups are open for the Doll Quilt Swap!! I'm a mama this round - which is really fun and amusing - so it'll be better than ever!! You flickr people go on and sign up!!

Linking up to Fabric Tuesday over at Quiltstory!

To do list:

2012-01-27T22:43:00.000-08:00

I've got a few nearly finished projects hanging around... and see an opening to maybe start a new quilt soon. So I'm going to start a list so I can cross things off.

Finish binding small project
Sew down binding on Linda's Swoon quilt -- this has been sitting for more than a week!
~~Finish quilting and bind {sew} Beautiful Bee 2011 quilt~~ --- finished and it's on my bed!
Send out fabric for Feb of bee.
Send out {Modern} Robin - or meet up with Emily.
Stalk and work on Pillow Talk Swap pillow
Doll Quilt Swap 12 --- starting soon and I'm a swap mama! :)
Do something with CMQG round robin?
Michelle's Quilt.

I want to play around with some giant paper piecing. The book that I ordered earlier this week came in today -- it has paper patterns (printed on giant paper) for medallion style quilts styled after mosaic floors in Italy. I'm throwing ideas around in my head of making something with this for my Aunt Kathy. We'll see. Oh the book can be found here: Bella Bella Quilts Paper Foundations

I'll shave my head - will you make a donation to end childhood cancer?

2012-01-24T23:49:00.000-08:00

Rosemarie w/ her family - in their Rosemarie shirts made by Blamo!

Hello! It’s been a while since I posted an update on my niece Rosemarie. She’s doing ok and her cancer has been stable, which isn’t great, but at least it’s not growing. Last summer Rosemarie lost her hair (for the third time!), and myself and my family shaved our heads in solidarity. Rosemarie is five now and it’s harder for her now when she loses her hair. In August when I shaved I donated 14” of my hair to the Wig 4 Kids which provided Rosemarie with a wig.

Rosemarie helping me shave my head last summer.

Now I’ve decided to shave my head again to match Rosemarie’s bald head, but also to raise money for childhood cancer research, and I’m asking for your support. I’m going to have my head shaved at a St. Baldrick’s Foundation event on March 16th at Fado Irish Pub, Columbus Ohio.

With my bald head, I’ll stand in solidarity with kids being treated for cancer while raising money for life-saving research.

Please make a donation on my head to help me reach my goal of $1000, and watch me and others “Shaving the Way to Conquer Kids’ Cancer!” This is a fun way to do something very important.

You can give directly online (search for my name, Emily Lang at www.StBaldricks.org) or by phone at 888-899-BALD. Credit cards are the most efficient way to give, or you can write a check payable to “St. Baldrick’s Foundation.” I’ll be collecting pledges! To see a list of my donors, fundraising progress, and “before” and “after” photos, visit my page (www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/participantid/505739) on the St. Baldrick’s website.

St. Baldrick's funds more in grants for childhood cancer research than any other organization except the U.S. government. Last year, the Foundation has funded nearly $22 million in new grants – all because over 45,000 people shaved their heads!

You can count on this donation being used responsibly. To see all the research being funded – by disease type, location and more – visit www.StBaldricks.org and click on "Where the Money Goes," then "View Grants."

On behalf of Rosemarie and other kids with cancer, thank you for your support!

Rosemarie and Allie - little ballerinas.

Good mail coming soon!

2012-01-23T21:04:00.000-08:00

I finally broke down today and ordered these paper foundations. I've been eyeing them online for some time... and searching for them in our company-wide inventory at work with no luck. So I ordered them --- from the author's website. Forget about the fact that I don't own the book with the instructions... I'm sure I can figure it out, I like paper piecing! I'm really drawn to those flying geese in a circle. Lots of possibilities there! Has anyone else used these?

CMQG - A love fest post about cool sewing people.

2012-01-23T01:33:00.000-08:00

I'm going to ramble a little bit right now about the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild.

CMQG Newbie, Marilyn brought this "Sparkle Punch" pillow cover to work on -
it's exactly the same number of "Sparkle Punch" blocks as my mini piece.
Mine finish at 1" per square, hers at 3" Pretty cool, and she has my last name too.

Today was our monthly guild meeting, and let me just say this is a pretty awesome group of ladies! We had the more people RSVP and show up than ever before and it's just so cool to see people with a wide range of skill come together.

Next month's meeting will make it one year since I've been attending meetings - I'm glad that I took the chance and made it to that first meeting (and I'm grateful that Emily was willing to pick me up for it!). I feel like I've made some good friends in the guild and that makes my heart happy. I'm not sure that I'd be able to explain it, but it's a pretty great feeling when someone comes up to you specifically wanting to see your work, remembering what it looked like at the last meeting and truly being interested. Let alone that most people in my world still think quilting is for old ladies. These ladies "get it."

I wonder how many quilts Donna has finished -- or bags for that matter.
This one is pretty cool - it has squishy interfacing.

Today was a pretty cool meeting, we had a presentation about how to make zip pouches to get us all away from being afraid of those zippers! Because of that presentation (then open sewing after) we didn't do our show and tell's until the end of the meeting. Well I had shown a couple people my Swoon quilt early on because we weren't sure if there would be a show and tell. Several people came over wanting a closer look and wanting to hear how my new-to-me machine was working. It's always nice to know that people are interested in what you're making.

I feel like on the blogs and flickr and even in swaps sometimes we get so wrapped up in wanting to be the best or have the most readers/fame whatever. My guild has some extremely notable ladies in attendance - people who I was floored at how well known they were (since I live in a cave right?)... but those ladies are just as kind and encouraging and interested in what I'm doing as I am to them. I like the small town feel of that. We also have some quilters in attendance who have 30+ years of quilting experience, and yet they're spunky and fun and excited to hear a new take on things. I love how we can all meet in the middle.

Accountability from the guild may help Emily finish this piece - it's pretty awesome!

When I get home from a guild meeting I always feel like I have a million stories to tell Wally, and I'm sure he's moderately interested, but I'm not sure that he gets it. These ladies get me. Whether they're my age or younger or much older, have quilting fame, or are unknown, whether they've yet to finish their first quilt, or have finished more than they can count - they're all supportive of one another.

My center block for Emily and I's {Modern} Robin swap.

Geez, what a huge love fest I am today. Maybe this makes up for all those posts about things you'd rather not read? lol. No worries I'll be back to that woe is me story in another week or two I'm sure. That's how life is. But for now I'm happy, excited, and completely inspired.

Sew Beautiful - the second year!

2012-01-23T01:02:00.000-08:00

Fabric bundles for {Sew} Beautiful Bee - Feb 2012!

As I may have mentioned... our {Sew} Beautiful Bee from last year was such a hit that we have all decided to stay on for another year! We are (for the most part) keeping the same months, so I'll have February as my month again this year. I've been prepping fabric and laying out measurements etc all week. Now all my instructions are written and my packages are all sealed up ready to ship! But before I get too far with that... let me show you what I'm working on!

Sorry for the super dark photo... it's about 2AM here... AKA the only time my
kid sleeps long enough for me to get anything done!

My Bee quilt from last year! I can't believe that the top has been completely finished for months now (Christmas really took over didn't it?!). I pieced the back too - using lots of negative space (grey!) and blocks pieced with the leftovers. And of course our awesome label!! I had even had the back 1/2 way finished - I got stalled out there though because I rand out of grey! Now it's all together and basted. Ready to be quilted tomorrow (hopefully). I fear that there may be a wrinkle or two in the back once it's all done... but that's ok. There was some ginormous piecing going on back there - the final measurements thus far are something like 78" x 96" Yeah. It's a beast and it's going to live on my bed forever. Except for movie nights, when we'll all cuddle under it on the couch. :) Thanks bee ladies, you're pretty awesome.

Sewing With Michelle!

2012-01-20T08:00:00.000-08:00

For the first time in our years of friendship, this week Michelle and I sewed together! She's taken up the hobby here and there since I left Ohio, and she brought a couple projects to work on. I made us each an apron (above) although I didn't get a picture of Schell's before she left! I used the tutorial here.

And Michelle worked on a sweet baby blanket for her friend's new baby (who we visited yesterday). She put the blanket together and I helped by free motion quilting the heart label in place.

She also made two of these pillowcase bags. Using this tutorial.

I also worked on bee blocks for this month and planning for my month which is next month.

It was pretty amusing sewing together, after being friends for so long. lol.

Swoon Quilting...

2012-01-19T14:38:00.000-08:00

Finally some pictures of my swoon quilt all quilted up. I free motion quilted it on my home machine. Although first I aquired a larger machine! I used a Juki, which is much faster than my normal machine, and also has a longer arm length.

I found out really quickly (after two broken needles) that I should avoid quilting directly over the dense area where all those points come together. So I simply worked it into my FMQ stipple, so that I would rotate around the points without going over them. Annoying? Yes, but not terrible.

Here we are. From the back it all looks pretty nice too! In all the quilting took about two and a half hours! Very speedy just like the Juki!

Finally, the cute part. I snuck some FMQ'd hearts throughout. They're really obvious from the back, but sweet and intentional. I think my MIL will appreciate them. :)

As you can see above, I've started to bind it... and I'm sewing the binding by hand... it's going to take forever. I also sewed the binding the "right way" adhering it to the quilt front 3/8" away from the edge instead of my normal, lazy 1/4" away. I keep thinking that maybe this year will be the year that I'll show a quilt or two at a state fair or something. We'll see.

The First Finish of 2012!

2012-01-19T14:15:00.000-08:00

And you thought it was going to be the Swoon quilt??

Nope. Last night I got a text from my cool co-worker Becky saying that she'd finished knitting my hat. Can I tell you how cool that is? Last fall I stole some skeins of yarn from my mom's ginormous yarn stash and asked Becky if she would knit me a hat... knowing I could figure it out but I'd rather sew than knit. She agreed no questions asked. Knowing that she had finished the hat meant that I had to get my butt in gear making the thank you gift I had planned. So tonight I whipped up a tiny little ticker tape mug rug. I went through my newly sorted tiny scraps and pulled out the most "Becky" fabrics. I think it turned out pretty cool. I hope she likes it!

**Edit - Becky loved it, and she made me an awesome cable knit hat with matching wrist warmers! Too cool! I'll have to try to get a picture of them soon! **

Allie's Quilt - Revisited

2012-01-18T08:00:00.000-08:00

I see this image several times a week, when Allie lays her quilt out on the floor and gauges her current foot size against the size at about 6 months. :)

As you can see, there's quite a difference! She's growing up so quickly! Pretty soon she'll need a bigger quilt!

Adorable right? If this is the first time you've seen this quilt go ahead and read about it here.

SCHELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2012-01-16T23:34:00.000-08:00

My college friend Michelle is in town this week. I can't really explain or remember why I call her Schell or why I spell it that way. But in my absence, since I moved away from ohio, she has started sewing too. She sews on a kenmore sewing machine and has made skirts and one apron. You may remember her from this post - you know that time that I tried to do the C25K program but then went to utah and had bad asthma. Also, you've seen the stack of yummy fabrics for her quilt... which is on my list for this year.

Fabric for Michelle's Quilt

We're going to sew this week. We'll sew something. What? We don't know. And we might make duct-tape dress forms too... because that would be pretty hilarious.

Look at my hair color! lol.

Also we're going to... eat pizza, drink wine, go look at the leaning tower of niles, and visit the bookstore (where I work).

A Viennese fuzzy car. They're nearly extinct.

The Louvre ... hehe.

The first time my mother in law got us drunk. Good times.

As you can see, we have a bit of a history. Too bad Hounddogs Pizza doesn't exist in Chicago... all this reminiscing makes me want a 2am pizza with smokin joe's. Now I really want Hounddogs... pizza for the people man.

Actual Hounddogs Smokin Joes pizza... photo credit here.

More to come... I'm sure we'll have some stuff to share as the week progresses.

The prettiest quilt binding ever..

2012-01-16T22:22:00.000-08:00

A year in the making and I'm still not finished. Last February I had the ladies from the {Sew} Beautiful Bee make me some pretty awesome giant drunk love blocks. I had them use my very favorite fabrics (AMH's Good Folks), and I used nearly every bit of them to make the quilt big enough to cover our king sized bed. Several months ago I'd finished the top and started piecing the back (using the scraps my bee friends sent back)... but ran out of Kona Coal and put it in the closet. It stayed there for ... a while. :)

As with everything else, Christmas and life happened and now that the craziness has died down I've pulled this one back out. Last night I finished piecing together the back and all I need to do is baste and quilt it. I even finished prepping the binding! Look how amazing it looks! Those are some hard to find fabrics right there.

The moral of the story, put projects off for a while and sometimes you'll come across some cool fabric to include, such as my prized FQ of buttoned up in sea... and that fortune in zinna. :)

Hopefully there will be some major progress on this quilt soon - and then it will live on my bed where I will lay awake at night staring at it's awesomeness.

More about this quilt here.

****

Hello to Emily's blog world. I (Michelle) am currently visiting and therefore had access to said blog. I got to touch my fabric today.

That is all.

Christmas gifts - thangles and rainbow jars

2012-01-15T08:00:00.000-08:00

I'm a pretty lucky girl, as you can see! A couple gift cards to Jo-Ann's, one to Hawthorne Threads (!!!), and some Thangles! I love that my family knows what I like! Those Thangles? While I couldn't find them anywhere locally in Chicago, my mom found them at a quilt shop back home - who would have thought?!

Also, since I don't think it merits it's own post... check out my teeny scraps! All in pretty jars. The larger scraps are now color coded in gallon size Ziploc bags. But these are just begging to be played with. Maybe I'll make some mini bottled rainbow blocks? We'll see.

A Good Mail Day!!

2012-01-12T10:40:00.000-08:00

Hawthorne Threads never fails to amaze me. While they may not tie their bundles up with pretty scraps of fabric like Sew Mama Sew does, they do ALWAYS ship in a timely manner! I ordered this fabric about two and a half days ago - using the generic cheapest mailing method. And here it is!

Merry Christmas to me! Thanks to my lovely husband who gave me a one size fits all gift certificate! I bought this lovely FQ bundle of Joel Dewberry Heirloom. It will be used for my month (Feb) of the {Sew} Beautiful Bee. I'm really excited about it.

I also got a bit more of my fav. print.

And a couple half yards of pretties that I just couldn't pass up. I can't remember what that blue one is, but it's so much prettier in real life and now I wish I'd bought a bit in each color. :)

This has nothing to do with this post but I have a serious desire to make some 3" sawtooth stars. Serious. After seeing this on flickr.

Also, I want to make something like this. Free pieced and wonderful. I've never tried the ringo-pie type pieced stuff. I'm a little intimidated but who knows? Maybe I'd be great at it!

Oh and I want to make one of these ModMood Quilts. If I could figure out how to make it miniature I would.

And... while we're daydreaming, I want to finish my Bee quilt from last year! Now!! :) I just need to finish piecing the backing (I have about 1/4 of the backing left to finish)... then it's on to quilting that bad boy!

Nancy's Throne

2012-01-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

Finally I have the time to tell you about one of my Christmas presents! While we were back home for Christmas Wally and I spent an afternoon with my dad and my uncle Terry in Terry's wood shop. Yes, creativity is all over my family! I had brought one of the lift-out panels of my sewing table, along with my sewing machine. Dad, with a little help from my uncle, cut a Nancy-shaped hole in the wood. Just right for her to be set into my table! Pretty fantastic!

I love the pictures here... my dad making a template first.

Wally and uncle Terry chatted as Dad and I got to work!

Now for the real action! It's pretty awesome seeing those tools cut right through the wood with no problem!

Some supports were added in.

They even used a router to smooth out the edges!

I have to thank my dad and uncle for making this work! I'm not sure how long the machine will last (as I've had yet another problem with it), or how long the cheap table will last, but until then I'll be sewing in comfort! I can't believe the difference it makes on my shoulders!!

Swoon - to be quilted!

2012-01-11T09:25:00.000-08:00

Here it is... hopefully by the time this is posted I'll at least have it all basted!

Last night I pieced the back together, which puts me a bit closer to quilting. I need to work on a label. I'm thinking a tiny star and some free-motion stitched names. :)

Now that the blocks are all sashed and completed... here's a glimpse at why I'm so crazy. All that extra work! For each of the flying geese units I sewed 1/2" from the normal sewing line to form an extra two HST's for each geese unit. I couldn't bear to throw away all those bits. Now I have a whole pile of HST's that will measure 2 1/4" finished. Who knows what I'll use them for... but they're not wasted!

**Edit**
The quilting is finished! I can't believe how huge of a difference it made using a better machine!!! 2 needles, 6 bobbins, and 2.5 hours later and the quilt was finished! I can't believe it! No major puckers (which is abnormal for me, I typically have at least one annoying pucker). Beautiful. I may need a name for this Juki machine! Pictures of it all quilted up will come soon. :)

Now you're free to fly - Hope Warrior T's for sale!

2012-01-10T13:41:00.000-08:00

The Todd family sporting their tee's the little one in the middle is Rosemarie.

Friends of ours run a small screen print t-shirt buisiness, and they have been working with my sister to create an awesome kid's cancer t-shirt. More specifically, they designed a "Hope Warrior Princess" t-shirt. :) It's amazing. It's beyond amazing. They captured Rosemarie completely, her style and her love of zebra stripes and rockstar princessness. They also captured her fav. song (at the moment) in the most amazing way. See those musical notes? It reads musically the phrase "you're free to fly" from this song that Rosemarie loves.

The artwork wraps around from the back to the front side. Very cool!

I'll give you a moment. That really nearly brought me to tears. How amazing!

The shirts focus a gold (sparkle!) ribbon for neuroblastoma, and the word "hope" which is dear to us in this battle against a really terrible cancer. Another really cool thing about these shirts? Depending on the price/quantity Blamo will donate $5 - $25 toward Rosemarie's treatment per t-shirt sold!

Head on over to Blamo's site to order yours! The second printing will happen in a couple weeks!

And as always, say a prayer for our sweet Rosemarie!

Juki

2012-01-10T12:56:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure if she'll need a name yet. How many sewing machines are too many? Four?

Yesterday my CMQG friend Robbi dropped off this Juki for me to borrow (and potentially buy). She had heard me worrying about how in the world I would quilt my swoon quilt (since it's so huge), and offered to loan me this one. The arm length is a few inches wider than my Singer (Nancy), which will be a big help in quilting that huge quilt!

This Juki is a few years old, but with very few hours of use. Robbi bought her from a neighbor who didn't stick with sewing for very long. The one thing she mentioned many times is how fast it goes! :) That's exactly what I'm looking for; a study machine that will sew and sew and do it fast! I've been prepared to trade the fancy stitches for speed, this machine only has a straight stitch. It does have a lot of features that were on my "new machine" list: needle up/down button, thread cutter, knee lift for the presser foot, oh and SPEED! Did I mention she's really fast??

I did some playing around on her last night. Playing around with some piecing and some free motion quilting too. It's really smooth and quick. There's definitely a lot of difference between this an my mid-grade Singer.

What are things you love or hate about your machine? What should I be looking for in a new one? This one is really a steal - but I can borrow it for a while even if I don't want to buy it. What do you think?

Look how she dwarfs Nancy (granted Nancy is down in my table. lol. Oh and don't mind my helper's hand there... lol.

2011 Goals Accomplished and a Quick Recap

2012-01-05T22:27:00.000-08:00

Last year I wrote out a list of sewing goals... as you know I've met most of them.

Here they are:

1. ~~{Sew} Beautiful Bee & Swaps.~~ Done.

2. ~~I'd like to make a quilt for my mom or my MIL this year.~~ Finished my mom's and just need to baste and quilt Linda's!

3. I really would like to finish the String Quilt I started last january... lol. It's supposed to be for Allie's toddler bed. I decided I didn't want to do that one... lol.

4. ~~I'd like to follow a pattern for a quilt this year.~~ Done. Followed the Swoon pattern and while it turned out awesome I didn't enjoy the process nearly as much.
5. ~~I want to make a wonky star quilt with light/medium grey and a pop of color.~~ Done -Gia's quilt
6. ~~I want to keep working on taking better pictures of my work~~. Done - still improving.
7. I'd like to make a baby this year. Ugh... still working on this one.
8. ~~I want to make more ruffly dresses for my daughter~~. Done, well mostly skirts but they count too!
9. ~~I would love to make more personal connections in the sewing world~~. Done - CMQG and Sewing Summit!
10~~. I'd like to keep teaching my niece to enjoy crafts and sewing~~. She's pretty much hooked!

Two off my list not accomplished. Not bad. Especially since the one I decided not to do, the other I tried as much as I could. lol.

If you want to take a look at some of my projects finished in the past year they're all on my sidebar there to the left. That's 15 quilts ... yes I count those doll quilts since they're just as much work sometimes. And I didn't count all the small mug rugs and pouches etc. I feel pretty accomplished! :) Here's to more fun sewing in the new year!! :)

Sewing and Blogging Goals of 2012

2012-01-05T22:12:00.000-08:00

Fabric for Michelle's Celebration Quilt
(yes I had to re-fold it all - typical fabric.com)

Finish my Swoon quilt - free motion quilting it by domestic machine (even though it's huge!)
Finish my {Sew} Beautiful Bee quilt - drunk love with AMH. It's even huger than the swoon quilt!
Try a mid-arm or long-arm machine. Just to say I did. I know it's been offered before but I'm still a little shy about it. I need to give it a try (maybe on that ginormous bee quilt?)
Do a bit more designing of quilts and tutorials. As in actually record the how and what. Maybe put together a quilt pattern?
Sell, swap, etsy, or commission. I'd like to sell something this year to make money for more fabric. I feel like I suck a lot of money into quilting... obviously. I'd feel better about it if I had a little cash coming in.
Meet local bloggers (specifically Sally, Sara, and Angela. Speak up if you're from the general Chicago area and want to meet up for some coffee or something and chat about blogging/sewing/quilting!
Continue with swaps and bees. Pushing myself each time to learn something new and challenging myself to work on more and more difficult blocks.
Work on making connections within the sewing industry community. There is so much growth happening in the are of modern sewing that I feel like I should have an idea of how it all happens. Maybe contact a book or magazine editor, or see if I can write a pattern for a new fabric line. Who knows I just find this to be pretty interesting. Oh also under this topic, I'd love to take a class on sewing machine repair.... anyone have an idea of where one learns such a thing?
I'm toying with the idea of trying to get published somehow. Is it worth jumping through hoops to do so?
Go on the quilt retreats offered by the CMQG - continue getting to know those fabulous ladies!
Co-host a new swap with Emily (Pretty awesome!)
Quilts to make this year

Michelle's Celebration Quilt

A quilt for Lindsey (I wonder if she reads this blog??) Haha... it may be a surprise to her.

{Modern} Robin

2012-01-04T16:08:00.000-08:00

Imagine grouping up in pairs. A designated amount of time per round. And two pieces that get swapped back and forth.

The {Modern} Robin

Goals: To share quilty friendships and create together. To inspire each other and learn new techniques. To work with a partner with similar tastes/styles (which doesn't always happen in swaps and bees).

First. Find a partner.

Next. Pick a basic color palate.

Make a center block (8"?)

Throw the block + a FQ or two of fabrics to be used into an envelope.

Pass it to your partner.

If you like you and your partner can decide on a theme or block type each round. This is very free form.

Each round you'll alternate between your quilt and your partner's quilt. You'll have a lot of ability to guide the direction of your quilt, and yet a lot of creative ideas coming from your partner too.

Here's our tentative schedule:

Jan: make center block

Feb: work on partner's quilt

March: work on own quilt

April: work on partner's quilt

After April each pair of partners can chose to keep going if they want (depending on size of quilt etc). With rotations starting every four months give or take.

Will you come join us? Bring a partner, or find a partner on our discussion page! I hope to see you there!!

Also, for those of you with commitment issues, although it'll be a four month commitment, you'll be committed to only as much as you and your partner decide. So don't fret!

Peacock Blue

2012-01-03T14:07:00.000-08:00

Add this to the list of things that I jumped up and did after seeing it on pinterest. (Here's the link to the tutorial)

Last week I spent a bit of my Christmas money at Home Depot. Surprised? I spent just under $14 to make this lovely and portable photo backdrop. Supposedly it's perfect for capturing blog-worthy photos of quilty sewing things in less than ideal conditions (boring pale apartment walls, poor lighting, clutter).

I picked this blue because it was fun. I may paint the other side a different color. I think it'd be funny to have them color match the paint to my favorite fabric. ... as Amy suggested.

I'm hoping this (not so) fancy board will help me improve my blog photos this year. If nothing else it's decorating my sewing room with it's awesome blue color!

Linked up with Fabric Tuesday over at Quilt Story!

Is it really time to start saving...?

2012-01-01T14:22:00.000-08:00

For a new sewing machine? I told myself (secretly) that I wasn't going to put much more money into Nancy, my singer Confidence. While I love the machine it seems like I am sewing too much for her to keep up. Today I was 1/3 of the way through a project and had to refill a bobbin. The bobbin winder is not working. The bar that holds the bobbin isn't engaging with the system that winds the bobbin. The winding system is working fine. Google tells me that it may be the bobbin winder friction ring or belt. lol. Thanks Google. I guess it's a trip to vogue to have it looked at. If they have to check the machine in to fix it I'm not going to do it. $35 is their minimum fee for checked in service (anything they can't do while you're standing there). Plus parts. I'm not doing it. I guess I'll pull out my old machine and wind bobbins with that. Which is really annoying. No, I don't want a side winder. I have too many little gadgets as it is.

My dilemma? Any other machine that will handle this much sewing will cost much more. Money that we just don't have. Sigh.

The Masterpiece is Finished!!

2011-12-30T18:00:00.000-08:00

Here she is. My mom's quilt! I'm so excited to finally have it finished!! I know my mom had been waiting patiently until Christmas to unwrap it... but maybe she didn't know that I put the finishing touches on it the night before we left to travel home! For the first time ever, I finished the binding by machine (first time on a huuuuge quilt). I mostly did this because I was under a time crunch and didn't want to rush myself on everything else that needed to be done. It turned out perfectly, although I didn't take any pictures of those perfect neat little corners... I know they're there! I used this method for pressing the binding before finishing it

Although I can't remember specifically what the measurements of this quilt were (without searching through my sketches to find the one where I did the math), I think it finished at about 60" x 78" HUGE.

It's perfect for snuggling on the couch or throwing on top of Mom's side of the bed... so she doesn't have to share and Dad won't be too hot!

Here are some bits and pieces. Pictures here of the prayer written into the binding before sewing it up. I also wrote the same note on the tag that I tied up with the quilt. So my mom can remember it, even though it's hidden inside. I like to think of this as a way to literally wrap someone in love and prayers. I can't claim to have thought of this on my own (I got the idea from a blog friend who sent a block for Rosemarie's quilt). I try to remember to do this for all my quilts.

Here's mom reading the note. :) She did cry... which was pretty sweet and made me cry a little too. :) She's my mom, what else can I say?

Here's the only full length photo I've got. It was so overcast and dreary, so I'll have to take some pictures of it once the sun comes out again... come June! lol.

I'm pretty much in love with this quilt and I'm glad my mom loves it too. I designed the whole quilt around that AMH fabric (totem, from her LouLouThi line), which I'd envisioned in those panels from the moment I'd seen it online! The fabrics were picked gradually and eventually I had enough for the quilt. Not worrying about whether it was the exact shade of blue or anything, so it still looks nice and scrappy. The yellow there is Kona Curry, my favorite. That Curry just ends up in everything doesn't it? This time it was with intention. I decided to use only about 15%- 20% of that yellow in relation to the blue. The curry is cut into 1" strips and I wouldn't let myself add more than those strips that I'd cut!

The herringbone blocks were derived from this tutorial I think I found it on pinterest. Speaking of pinterest here's the inspiration board for the quilt. Also in other details, nearly all of the solid fabrics in this quilt were purchased from Connecting Threads, at just a fraction of the cost of Kona, and it's really soft and great to work with! I completely recommend it.

If you want to read more about the process of this quilt check out this link for all the posts about it!

Shared over at AmyLouWho's for sew & tell friday!

So much to post...

2011-12-28T11:40:00.000-08:00

and yet so little time to do so!

I've been away for about a week visiting family for christmas. It was pretty awesome! I think that was the longest stay with them in years!

I've got all sorts of things to share, like my mom's reaction to her quilt. And Wally's love for his gift too. Oh and the day we spent in my uncle's woodshop with my dad fixing up my table to fit my machine in it!

Those things will have to come soon... but for this week I'm working extra hours to cover our sale week - so who knows if I'll have the energy to post any of that. :) Keep your eyes peeled for it next week though!

2011-12-22T08:00:00.000-08:00

Our first Christmas tree.. it's tiny like Allie. And she loves it!

(Dear family, especially Roseann and Linda don't read this post!)

I've been a busy little sewer this year... somehow I decided to whip up a few projects for gifts... and that ended up with me sewing for everyone! Here's part of the tally.

Tons of Zip Pouches for my sister, brother in law, and two other relatives (although most are for my sister). The cloth bags are all made from scraps, sized according to the uses my sister wanted (example: snacks for the purse). The plastic type bags were made from cutting up plastic coated re-usable bags from various places. Michaels, Pier One, and of course my grocery store! lol.You can get about two whole FQ's worth of material out of a single bag for $0.99! that's a deal! I also used this tutorial/measurement guide for those box pouches. they turned out perfectly!

Stockings for the little girls. From right to left Allie's stocking (made several years ago... I didn't get around to making her a new one, this one is really poorly made - I didn't know how to sew a 1/4 seam then!). Then the green and red one is for Rosemarie made with scraps and porthole blocks. Then Katee's which is actually almost entirely scraps from my mom's quilt - much more grown up (and my fav!). Then last is Gia's which sat in my head long enough that I HAD to make it! lol. All these were using scraps (except the backs) - so it's like a free project right? I used the pattern from Purlbee for the shape.

Some close-ups of the insides of a couple pouches. I used these adorable printed iron-on labels that I received in a swap this year. I'm sorry that I can't for the life of me think of who it was that sent them! Step up if it was you, because they're awesome and add such a finished touch to these bags!

Finally a couple rice pocket warmers!

And a still WIP... Swoon Quilt! I finished four blocks yesterday! I'm ready for sashing but wasn't frugal enough with my white... I'll have to buy a bit more to sash it!

That's it... ok well there's still quite a bit more... and another whole quilt that's so close to being finished!!

A quilt received finally!

2011-12-20T13:05:00.000-08:00

About a week ago I finally got around to sending out my Fish Baby Quilt to it's recipient. Baby Joseph. He is the son of one of my dear friends, Alexandra. Alexandra and I met while serving the children of the Fargo ND area by leading Catechesis camps one summer. Her prayer life is an inspiration to all who know her, and I knew with her artistic background she'd appreciate the non-traditional baby colors of this quilt.

As you can see by the sweet boy cuddling there, they've received the quilt now and I can stop worrying about it in the mail (and it cost much less than I thought it would to ship!). I've actually already received a very sweet thank you note from Joseph's parents. Too cute. I hope to be able to visit them soon -- they're only a few hours away!

Here are some details about the quilt. I've already blogged a little bit about this quilt here. But since that post I'd added a little bit of embroidery to two of the corners. One corner has Joseph's last name embroidered. The other corner has the bible verse: 1 Samuel 1: 27 which roughly translates to "I have prayed for this child and the Lord has heard and answered me." A verse that is very close to my heart. I'm glad that it'll be well loved and used!

So much sewing done, and not much blogging.

2011-12-12T23:56:00.000-08:00

With all the sewing I've been getting done, I haven't gotten around to blog about it! It doesn't help that our good old Midwest weather is so dreary that I can't get a decent shot of my work. The one day we had some decent sunshine I tried, but it was SO windy that my work was blowing away!

So until later you'll have to take my word on it... Here's what I've completed in the past couple weeks:
4 pairs of baby leggings
1 toddler skirt
a bazillion zippered pouches (ok maybe about 8?)
fabric/elastic bookmarks (x8)
1 quilt (minus the binding - which needs to be sewn down)
5 Swoon blocks (only 4 more to go!!)
Bee blocks
Round Robin rounds
3 stockings (one more to come...maybe)
1 journal cover
2 morsbags
5 rice hand warmers
**edited to add that I did miss something, a whole other QUILT! lol. A mini swoon baby quilt - finished!**
.... I'm sure I'm forgetting some things.

I'm so close to being done with my Christmas sewing projects. The only real outstanding one is the Swoon quilt. I'm not sure if the top will even be done by Christmas.... but I'm pretty sure my MIL will understand.

Now I'll share with you a project that's been in the works for a few months. The Chicago Modern Quilt Guild Round Robin!

Here's my group with our finished pieces!! If you go to my flickr, and look at each picture I tagged which rounds I worked on for each quilt! My fav. round to have made would have to be Beth's - I gave her the option of keeping the blue starry strips, and I'm glad she did because they're my favorite! This was a fun activity of getting outside of my normal sewing techniques - each round had a specified theme (applique, rectangles, diamonds, curves, then triangles). Also I got to know these ladies a bit more --especially since it took us the whole length of the project to finally get our acts together and figure out who has what next. lol. (the other group had no problems with this!).

I must say I loooove mine so much! I haven't decided yet what it will become though. :)

I'm really glad that I jumped out there this year and finally went to a meeting of the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild! I had been a part of their online presence since the beginning (near beginning?) but finally made the jump. They're such a wonderful mix of people!! And boy have I learned some things too. The things I've been learning aren't necessarily new techniques, but rather, more about color and choices in quilting, and personal preferences... it's so cool to see the huge variety among us! I'd love to challenge you local ladies to join up in person with us this year --- SALLY and SARA! This means you!! :) Please? Also ANGELA - Seriously you live so close and yet we haven't met up?? Let's do that this new year ok?

No more excuses!!

2011-12-10T00:40:00.000-08:00

Tonight I finished my husband's gift, and my sister and brother-in-law's gift (plus a couple extras)... which leaves me with Fleece hand warmers... and finishing my MIL's Swoon quilt!!!

I can't put that Swoon off any longer! I have finished four blocks, cut and marked another two... then for the other three....aah. I think I don't really care for following directions or the lack of freedom I have with this quilt. I will, however, LOVE the end result. Each block is awesomer than the previous.

I hope my MIL will understand if I don't get it finished by Christmas!! It'll be close...maybe.

As far as other sewing distractions....I still want to make Allie and her cousin Gia stockings... but I should really focus on Swoon!

I'm pretty happy with all that I've accomplished gift wise this year... and I really enjoyed it too. The hardest part though, will be keeping myself from telling Wally what his is! We've always been terrible about waiting until Christmas to exchange gifts... but this year he's going to have to wait... and I already have it boxed up and sealed!! No peeking!

I didn't make a baby this year.

2011-12-06T15:07:00.000-08:00

So it's December already, and I've been thinking about what my goals will be as we move into the new year. What do I want from my sewing hobby? What is worth working for. What am I doing now that isn't worth my time? I'll see my list here from last year, and aside from one quilt that I decided I didn't want to do, I accomplished everything (except for the baby - darn!). Well let me make a slight correction to that, I haven't finished everything here, but the two nearly projects will be finished before Christmas!

(scary mailing day. Sending out a baby quilt for a friend!! I hate the wait!!!)

Before you get lost in my list of past goals, what are your goals for the next year? Do you want to get published (book, mag, guest blogging?) Do you want to be one of those crazily prolific bloggers (you know like OhFranson! etc). Do you want fame and fortune and a thriving small business? Or are you looking for projects that let you try new things on the slightest whim? I'd love to know.

1. {Sew} Beautiful Bee & Swaps. I'm making this just one on my list since this is the extra, the push my boundaries and try something without worry. Whether it's a project pushing my color comfort zones, or my style... or even something technically challenging. Done, ok well still in process. I have done three swaps so far and just signed on for another!
2~~. I'd like to make a quilt for my mom or my MIL this year.~~  Nearly done, mom's needs binding, MIL's is halfway finished.
3. I really would like to finish the String Quilt I started last january...  I no longer want to do this.
4. ~~I'd like to follow a pattern for a quilt this year.~~  Swoon - I love the end result (so far) but I feel really boxed in during the process. I'm not sure I'll follow another pattern all the way through. I would love to take just one block from the swoon quilt and add other stuff... maybe round robin style?
5. ~~I want to make a wonky star quilt with light/medium grey and a pop of color.~~ Done! I love it, but it's not quite like I wanted, so I'll likely make another.
6. ~~I want to keep working on taking better pictures of my work.~~ It's a process... and I can see it getting better and better as we start getting more sunlight this spring/summer!
7. I'd like to make a baby this year. (too much? sorry). Oh and maybe not flip out nearly as much each month when I'm not pregnant. (can this just happen already? geez)
8. ~~I want to make more ruffly dresses for my daughter.~~
9. ~~I would love to make more personal connections in the sewing world.~~ Totally have done this! I joined up with the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild and have met some pretty awesome people. Add The Sewing Summit to that, awesome! It was great meeting everyone there!
10. ~~I'd like to keep teaching my niece to enjoy crafts and sewing.~~ Continuing on this path. Katee is getting soo good!

A little catching up (and rambling)

2011-12-01T23:29:00.000-08:00

(please enjoy some totally off topic photos of my mom's quilt - and my kid jumping/tumbling all over it. BTW: Mom, don't look!)

First off, my Christmas sewing is looking good. I have one of the two big quits nearly finished (just need to add binding and the label!) and I did more fabric cutting/marking last night for the other. I'm still not entirely sure how I'll quilt it, --it's Swoon -- and it's going to be about 80" square! Eeek! I have had an offer to use a guild friend's mid-arm on it... I've never used one but it might be worth a try!

Christmas shopping... I'm one of the only people that we're buying a gift for this year (since I'm making so many!)... my request was one of those acrylic sewing machine extension tables. I can order it for my machine for about $120 (24" square)... but Vogue in Evanston recently bought out a lot of them that are pre-made, and they're selling them for half off ($50 for 24" square!)... unfortunately they don't have a listing for one that matches my machine exactly. So I have tried scouring the internet for a better deal - one that fits my machine... without much luck. I found one option that's smaller (about 20" x 15") on ebay for $25... that would sorta fit my machine... there might be a bit of a gap and the shipping is $9 which really makes it not as worth it.

So. I talked it over with my dad - fix-it extraordinaire (but he lives two states away!).... if I can find one of the sale ones at Vogue that comes close to fitting my machine we can take it with my dad to my uncle's wood shop and find a way to trim it down or fill in the gaps (if it's too big or too small). It seems pretty straightforward from what I read online (if you have power tools!). So that's an option... the catch is that Vogue doesn't have them in store, they're at the "warehouse" across town... which is open for re-sellers only... lol. I think I'm going to call up the warehouse tomorrow and see if they'll let me in to check the dimensions. Maybe they'll let me... and then maybe they'll let me purchase the right one on the spot (no shipping!!). :) Best case scenario I'll find one that matches up pretty well without needing any alterations.

Another option/idea. My sewing table is a general wooden craft table - with lift out panels on the two sides that open into a compartment several inches deep for storage inside the tabletop. ... If all else fails I may bring one of those panels and my machine home with me at Christmas and we'd use the power tools to cut an opening for my machine to sit inside the table (lifted to the proper height with a book or two). I like that idea too... it would give me about four feet of level work space to move my quilts around while quilting them....

Can I have some experienced input? I hear the extension tables make a TON of difference in FMQing, and in general. Do you think it'd be better to lower my machine into the table (nearly free), or better to buy the one from Vogue that fits best? Ahh. I hate parting with my/our money!

Sorry that was such a rambly process to lay out my options... sometimes writing it all out helps me to process what it is that I really want. Maybe that will help.

Another thought which is quite unrelated. We had Allie's IEP meeting today, and it looks like even though she's cleared to start pre-school in a normal (non-special ed) classroom, she won't be able to get a spot in one of those classrooms until she's at least four - since they're all full with waiting lists. So it looks like she'll be in the hearing impaired classroom, potentially with some time each day in the regular classroom.... I'm ok with that. The HI program has a longer day which I'm not happy about... the kid is three and doesn't need to be in school all day... but they assured me that if we wanted to limit her hours there it'd be completely up to us, so we could do half day instead. Which is awesome. (rambling again....sorry). I'm excited that she'll finally be being followed by a speech therapist again (and that it'll be as needed), and that she'll get to be around the other kids. We've been warned though that she'll likely be the most advanced in her classroom. They were having troubles coming up with goals for her IEP... because she's already there with all the normal 3-4 yr old things. lol. What a great testament to our "language rich" home (and her AMAZING early intervention therapists who taught us everything).

As a side note to all of that... can you imagine how much I could get done sewing (or *gasp* housework) during those hours each day? lol. I won't know what to do.

Christmas Sewing - minus naptimes...

2011-11-28T14:37:00.000-08:00

(Aunt Kathy & Dad stop reading now)

Recently my three year old has been fighting that regular nap time. It's not that she isn't getting it, only that she resists until she passes out due to over tiredness. It's an everyday occurrence that we have to keep putting her back into bed several times before she sleeps. I don't think that it's time to get rid of nap time yet - so please don't suggest that, but it is becoming a lot less likely that I'll be getting any real sewing done during nap time from here on (the naps are shorter now too).

With all that being said, I'd love to be sewing right now, but should my girl peek out of her room and see me at my machine she's be way too into my projects to lay back down. So here I am. :)

Today I'll share a bit more of the marathon sewing that I did last week.

First, here are some sweet little baby leggings that I sewed for my cousin's baby Gia. Little Gia, I hope these fit on your cute chubby legs! I tried them on Allie (they fit) to make sure that the ruffled edge looked alright, and Allie asked for a pair. So Gia you get three pair instead of four. I have more knee socks if she really loves them - they took just a few minutes to make and are super cute. I cut the feet off of adult knee socks and used a zig-zag stitch around the raw edge, while stretching them a bit to give the lettuce ruffle. Adorable!

Gah, Blogger isn't working for me today. For whatever reason it rotated this picture.

Next is a little quilted notebook cover for my aunt. I hope she's not reading this. I would have posted it to flickr to rotate it, but I know she'll see it there! I wanted to make something a little special for my aunt Kathy, since she helped fund my Sewing Summit trip by commissioning me for these table covers. Also, she started me on sewing by giving me my first machine at age... 11? So I pulled together some pretty scraps and just flew with it. This cover fits a standard composition notebook so she can use it for whatever, and replace the notebook as needed. :) Here's the back:

Yes that Kona Curry is slipping into every project these days! I love it! I loosely followed this tutorial, from memory since I'd made them before. the main thing that I did differently - was that I didn't use any batting or quilting, and used a piece of lightweight fusible interfacing as the center inside panel. After stitching it and turning right side out, I pressed it into place. No raw edges at all! :)

The strap across the side is a bookmark - from this tutorial. I've made them for pretty much everyone. I especially love using fold over elastic for them. :) My family are all readers so they'll be used!

Next here's a quick little skirt for Allie. I used some sort of crushed velvet (the pink) and corduroy (the plaid). The plaid part is supposed to be a little apron... but well I winged it and that's what I get. lol. I think it may be a bit too big for the girl, but I'm not going to have her try it on - otherwise I won't be able to give it to her for Christmas! Again, I loosely followed this tutorial.

Finally, two awesome morsbags for my Dad. I think they're definitely more manly than most things that I make - thanks to Donna from the CMQG for giving me an extra set of fabric! I think they'll be perfect for holding choir music or his paperwork for work. They're nice and durable too. :) Here's the link to the Morsbag page.

Swoon Newborn Quilt.

2011-11-27T13:31:00.000-08:00

About a two weeks ago my friend/co-worker had a sweet little baby girl. I think there's something about a newborn that makes people who are trying to conceive able to forgive/stop being angsty about a friend having been pregnant. Since of course we all know newborns cry a lot, and nursing is hard those first weeks, and the poop a lot... so who could possibly hate the parents of a newborn? lol. Ok so maybe in my head this quilt was about being a peace offering after being angsty about this friend having been pregnant when I wasn't. But whatever. lol.

Just when we heard the news that baby Mina was born, I had gotten a FQ of this gorgeous out of print Good Folks fabric in the mail (which then made me order two more yards of it!!). I couldn't resist pairing it with some Kona Curry for a more modern baby look.

It's a fairly simple quilt, just the one block with a big border of white. I found the perfect grey polka-dot for the binding and quilted it up in just an hour or two! Perfection!!

I free motion quilted the label. I think it turned out pretty awesome. It's all washed up now and ready to be delivered! Hopefully I'll no longer be sick later this week so we can stop by to visit baby Mina!

Finally a real post!

2011-11-26T12:08:00.000-08:00

(warning spoiler alert - Mom don't read this!)

As I'm writing this I'm home sick from work - I think I may have the flu... slight fever and altogether feeling pretty yucky. In my new knowledge that every medicine known to man has glycol in it (which I'm allergic to) I'm stuck taking disgusting alka-seltzer instead of dayquil. Whatever. At least it's working a bit. :)

I'd mentioned earlier this week how I'd finished tons of projects but hadn't taken pictures - I had my chance yesterday -- a moment of sunshine so I snuck outside to take some pics (even though I felt crappy).

First I'm going to show you why regular machine maintenance is good.

Before I began free motion quilting my mom's quilt I decided to clean out my machine really well. Knowing that I'd sewn quite a bit in the past week and that it really needed it. I opened up the casing around the take-up lever assembly to dust and oil, and this is what I found. A screw had completely wiggled loose. See that circle of light up there in the middle? That's where said screw belongs, it was found sitting inside the casing right below it. Eek!

This has happened before. I'm fairly certain that this is the same screw that came loose the last time I had major machine troubles - I took her to the repair shop and my repair man took 6 hours to find that a screw had wiggled itself completely loose. This is the general area where he'd said it had happened.

I put the screw back in and am now sewing much more smoothly. I took these pictures to show the repair man to see if it was the same spot.

Then I took apart the bobbin casing and dusted in there. Whoa I had a whole sweater worth of lint!

I think Nancy (my machine) was happy after I cleaned her up! Since she gave me only a little trouble quilting up this giant couch quilt for my mom's Christmas present!

More details on that later! :)

I'm slacking.

2011-11-23T01:34:00.000-08:00

But only when it comes to blogging.

I've finished 5 projects since I last blogged. Yes, five. One of which was an entire quilt start-finish!

Hopefully tomorrow the sun will be out and I'll be able to snap some decent pictures of them! (I've already warned my family to stop reading my blog until christmas - so family, if you're reading this then stop before tomorrow's post!)

How to make your unread posts on google reader disappear quickly:

2011-11-17T23:05:00.000-08:00

(before: 1000+ unread posts on google reader)

1) click on the the blog name of the first "craft gossip" post (this then will show all the unread posts by Craft Gossip in a google reader window), at the top scroll to "delete all"

Seriously 70% of the posts there were from them, and while I enjoy seeing other random things from people I don't "follow" I don't have the time for it right now... and I've seen most of them on pinterest anyhow.

2) click on tab labeled "time out for pregnancy" (lol yes I have a category of them so I don't have to read them if I don't want to. Not all pregnant bloggers go there, but the annoyingly pregnant ones do). "Delete all"

3) Read blogs for about 45 minutes.

End product? 372 unread posts. That's manageable. :)

LOL. I hope you've enjoyed this little insight into my brain....

List making helps me get things done.

2011-11-14T14:16:00.000-08:00

Things to do before christmas!!

Make a quick little baby quilt for a friend (I want to do this tonight!) I"m thinking a single swoon block with borders.
Make a lap quilt / tiny quilt for my grandma - at the reccomendation of my aunt. (Started cutting fabric for this yesterday... but cutting 2.5" squares is boring).
Finish my mom's quilt - buy backing, quilt and bind.
Finish MIL's quilt - 5 more swoon blocks to go, buy backing and batting, quilt, bind.
Gift for hubby.
MorsBag for gift.
Zip pouches times a million.
Stockings for at least Katee and Rosemarie.
Mug Rug Swap

I have a personal henna artist!

2011-11-13T22:00:00.000-08:00

We all know that craftiness runs in the family right? Or at least for most of us. Same here. Although this new skill was unknown until recently. My sister is really excellent at free-hand drawing designs! She's recently been working on honing her skills as a henna artist. Pretty awesome right??

I've been excited to give it a try - but a little worried since I tend to be allergic to anything that goes on the skin...lol. We checked the label of the henna and there were no signs of shady ingredients, so we did a test patch - then another small test... then I dove in! Roseann worked on my ankle piece for a while... I really have no clue how long it was. We figured out some inspiration on pinterest and went from there. You can see my incredibly un-technical photo of the screen (no clue how to do a screen shot), to show our inspiration.

Please disregard the crazy 3 yr old flailing in the background!

While working on this, I made the suggestion that maybe she could make one of the centers a quilt block - and she did! Her OCD perfectionism made my block into one which would certainly require Y-seams but still.awesome! I'm really impressed with the henna and it's gotten pretty dark today.

How freaking amazing??!!

We did realize through this, that Roseann is very much more organic in her drawing style, whereas I'm very geometric. This proved to be funny as she was adding the circles on my ankle - since I could never guess what she was going to do next - my mind would say dots or lines or triangles.... hers said leaves and petals and squigglies. lol.

My second test sample: The Deathly Hallows!!!!
I really want a tattoo of this!!

Wally also got some henna - his is on his forearm - a tree that has "hope" written in the trunk. Pretty awesome but he slept on his a little funny and had a little transfering onto his upper arm!

Pretty amazing!!

Bee {A little baby}!

2011-11-09T13:17:00.000-08:00

I've kept my lips sealed about this for a while, and now it's time to share!

Credit: Michelle Click on the link to see who made each block

A few months ago Michelle of I like Orange Too contacted me on flickr to ask if I'd be interrested in helping to make a quilt for our mutual flickr friend's new baby. The friend, Jules (RelishAustralia) had no clue we were working on such a project - so it was a nice fun surprise!

Michelle requested sawtooth stars made with a certain palate in mind (I can't believe that so many of us got together and somehow we did actually achieve that color palate!). I made three stars, they're really addicting. And working on this project inspired my tiny quilt project.

I also remembered (at the last moment) to add in my little seam allowance prayer for the baby. Don't give me the credit here, I stole this idea from a friend who helped out with Rosemarie's quilt - it's an unexpected little joy to include. I try to add a seam allowance prayer in each of my quilted gifts.

The prayer? "I pray for a long happy life for the baby, and for a happy family always. Always know that you are blessed."

And now for the obligatory "baby on quilt pics!" Jules received the quilt a couple weeks ago and it was awesome to see her reaction to it! Here is Violet enjoying her quilt!!

Credit: Jules

Thanks Michelle, for including me in this awesome little project! And, thanks Jules for being an awesome Flickr swap buddy!

It's dark and dreary here...

2011-11-09T12:58:00.000-08:00

So I don't have any cool pictures to share... just old ones from when I started the quilt.

But... Yesterday I officially finished piecing my mom's quilt top!! Now I just need to decide and purchase a backing and quilt it up! It looks pretty awesome! I am excited to see it all come together!

Other than that it's been a relatively unproductive week. I haven't made much progress on my swoon quilt since my husband keeps trying to get me to go to bed before 2AM... and it takes too much time/concentration to stop in the middle of that block - meaning I can only work on it after Allie is in bed for the night.

Lets see... I joined up for the Christmas Scrappy Mug Rug Swap - after sitting out a round I feel ready to jump back in! Although I feel a bit weird because this round is not secret - so I feel the pressure of trying hard to make something for someone who knows I'm their partner. Luckily for me I received an awesome partner - Wendy, who I met at The Sewing Summit!

Keep your eye out for a post later on about a super secret project that I can now talk about!

Odds and Ends...

2011-11-03T21:19:00.000-07:00

What has happened this week in my sewing life? Not much. I've cut some more fabric for my Swoon quilt (which I've decided will be called "Free Spirit" As in the fabric manufacturing company. lol. I noticed as I was gathering fabrics that the majority of fabrics were Anna Maria Horner, Tula Pink, and Joel Dewberry... all printed by Free Spirit. Above are the fabrics that I ordered last week to round the others for the Swoon quilt. I'm really in love with that roundish Joel Dewberry print (the one in two different colorways). And who knew it'd play so well with that random AMH print? Spectacular. :) That stack makes me happy -- I haven't decided if the blue/white print on the left will make it into the quilt. Probably not.

Then there's this canvas bag from the Sewing Summit. I worked on this at the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild last week. In giving us all blank canvas totes at the Summit they challenged us to decorate them however we saw fit. I used some strips of charm squares roughly sewn together and then sewn to the bag. I've got more to do to the bag before it's finished, but I'm really loving it so far.

Speaking of the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild meeting... we made MorsBags - pretty awesome. Allie used mine for her trick or treating. This was the first time she went and she had no idea what she was in for!! She won't stop talking about trick or treating! lol. As you can see she went as tinkerbell - in a store bought costume that we already owned. :) At least I made the bag! :) I hope you all had a great Halloween! :)

Perspective.

2011-10-31T23:00:00.000-07:00

As you may know I've been having a rough time trying to conceive my second child. A process that's been 2+ years and counting. It's a struggle for me, but today life gave me a little perspective. One of my best college friends has been diagnosed with cancer.

Cancer.

Granted I haven't been the best at keeping in touch with this friend, but she had been one of my closest friends during my college years.... My issues are nothing in comparison. Why can't we seem to find a cure for this?

Checking it off my list!

2011-10-28T21:42:00.000-07:00

Well, not just yet - but I'm pretty confident I'll get there.

Not with me? I'm checking #4 off this list that I made last December. That list of ten things I wanted to do this year? Maybe I'll finish them all! Still nothing happening about #7... but I guess there are still a couple months left in this year to fix that.

Last night I cut the pieces for one Swoon block. I timed myself while I was sewing the block together - it took me just about 2 hours to piece one block (cutting time not included)! It's well worth the time! I love this block!! And... I have some bonus HST's since I HST'd the outside edges of the flying geese sets. Those bits of fabric would have otherwise been tossed so they're completely bonus (for very little additional work)

The Swoon quilt will be for my lovely MIL, Linda. She's pretty much awesome as far as anyone goes, and much cooler than any other MIL that I know!

Here's my inspiration board for this quilt. You'll be seeing more of these blocks soon. I'm really loving it!

(update - I've made another block - and I'm still loving it!)

Linking up at Fabric Tuesday on Quiltstory

PTS6!

2011-10-21T16:41:00.000-07:00

It's time for the big reveal! I've finished my Pillow Talk Swap pillow, and actually was graced with a moment of sunshine today to take a picture!!

I'm not sure which side is the front, and I'll explain why. First I made several of the +/x blocks which were ok. I wasn't really in love with them and didn't think the balance of colors was right. I put them aside and worked on something a little bit safer for me -- the square-in-square one. This time with my tiny signature wonky star included in one of the squares. I love that side best, but it seems like my swap-mates like the other side. That left me with really only one answer - to use them both!

My first zippered pillow!

I quilted both sides and put it all together with a zippered side. I followed this tutorial for the side zipper - it was really fabulous and easier than I thought it would be!

The little star there? just under 3"!

Now for some more close-ups! I hope my partner likes large pillows... this one turned out to be about 23" square... it's huge and amazing... and inside are two of my normal pillows (and it's still a bit loose!).

Some "organic" straight line quilting!

This guy will be in the mail on Monday, after it makes an appearance at the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild meeting Sunday! :)

The Official Sewing Summit Recap!

2011-10-18T15:38:00.000-07:00

It's been a week since I returned home from the Summit. It's time for the real recap!

I'm going to try to stay chronological ... we'll see how well that works!

Thursday:

I was flying standby (thanks Nick!!!) which means I may end up on the first flight I try for, or it may take several flights without getting a seat. Hence I started on Thursday! I checked in, was amazed that I didn't have to pay any fees for my flight (!!!), and I landed the very last seat on the first flight I tried for!!!

Once in Salt Lake City, I met up with my friend Amy at the airport - Amy's a non-sewing summit friend, who took the trip out to hang out with me and be my roomie during the Summit. Pretty awesome! :) We hitched a bus ride to her friend David's work, dropped our luggage and went to see the city! We visited the temple area and all the cool Mormon stuff. My favorite was the roof of the convention center. It really was cool. How about those mountains??!! Did I mention it snowed Thursday? It did. I'm glad I brought my coat!

Amy and I had dinner with David - at fabulous Faustina's! Yum, I'm still dreaming of that butternut squash soup! We stayed at David's apartment Thursday night to cut down on cost - and because he's a great guy - with a really comfy couch!!

Friday we checked in to the Little America Hotel. Our room was beautiful, although it didn't have quite the view as many of the other rooms did! Amy and I took the Trax down to Pine Needles for some fabric shopping, lunch, then shopping around the village there. I definitely took two trips through the checkout line at Pine Needles, and ended up with a lot of loot!

Friday night was the welcome reception, which was really cool to meet so many online friends all at once! I also heard several "oh I read your blog" comments from people that I didn't even know! What a great feeling! I also met up with most of my {Sew}Beautiful Bee ladies. We went out to dinner at Settobello's and it was amazing! David and Amy came along too.

After dinner Amy and I joined the crazy party in Kaelin's room where everyone was turning in their FQ's for the FQ swap on Saturday. We sat around talking about fabric and sorting everyone's FQ's by color. It was so surreal to me to sit in a room with that many people who knew all these fabric designers etc. Very cool.

Saturday:

Saturday was packed! Starting with my Couch 2 5K run in the morning (week 7 finished!!) then breakfast and classes all day! I took Bag Making 101 with Bari J, then Quilting at Home with Allison. I've been a reader of Allison's pretty much since I started reading blogs, so that was very surreal. I guess I already know how to free motion quilt on my home machine... so I just practiced a bunch. I was working specifically on my fmq'd words.

After lunch I took Creative Fabric Selection with Jeni. Pretty awesome, and at the end of the class - a great big surprise! Kona color cards for all! Amazing! lol.

After Jeni's class I took Marvelous Mini's with Amanda. Let me tell you, this was the class I was looking forward to the most. I'm not exactly sure why. Was it because I love making mini quilts? Or because I've adored Amanda's work forever....? Both? But the reason that the class spoke to me the most I think was the excitement and encouragement in the way that Amanda spoke. I can't put it into words but it made me want to sit down and make a million doll quilts and feel awesome about it. Also, she showed a picture of her journal cover, that inspired mine, and the girl next to me noticed! :) Fabulous class all together, and we got to see lots of her mini's and share our own too.

After the class I had to go give Amanda a hug! I'm not sure she knows how inspiring her work is! She's a pretty awesome person to chat with too.

For dinner Friday night a group of 12 participants were chosen for a discussion group/dinner with Martingale publishing. The food was mediocre, but the conversation/questions were pretty cool. They wanted to know a lot about what we're looking for in books, how much we use technology (blogs/flickr/etc) for inspiration, etc. I really enjoyed the discussion, even though I never follow patterns and rarely use patterns from books either. I love looking through books though in the same way I love flickr and pinterest. I think Martingale heard a lot of new things from us! As a thank you and as part of the discussion they provided us each with three new sewing books. None that I would have bought myself, but pretty to look at.

Saturday night was the FQ swap - I can't believe nobody got trampled. lol. And I went home with a fabulous stack of fabrics!!

That evening Amy came down to the sewing room with me and sewed up some charm squares -- her very first stitches by machine!!! She did pretty awesome, and pieced together a little doll quilt top. She headed to bed since her plane left early Sunday morning, so I finished it up for her to take home!!

Sunday:
I took Photographing your Creations with Vanessa. She taught us a cool thing or two about taking pictures. Then was Improv Piecing with Jessica. We were in the Baby-lock sewing machine classroom and received scraps to work with. Here's my block... which was promptly made into this mini quilt when I got home!

And then just as quickly as it started, the Summit was over. :(

Since I wasn't leaving until Monday morning, I stayed with Cara Sunday night, and hung out with Michelle, and Cherie too.

So ending thoughts on the weekend? I had an excellent time. I only spent about half of my fabric budget (a fact remedied on that first day home! Thank you online fabric stores!). I loved meeting everyone - both those who I knew online and those that I didn't. It really was surreal. On the downside though, I didn't feel very challenged by any of the classes. I guess maybe that's a good thing, I'm ahead of some of the crowd right? I was however, really really inspired by the classes. The whole weekend was very inspiring. It felt very good to be a person for a while, rather than just a mom. It was cool to eat without distractions, and shower when I wanted to. lol. I would consider going again next year if I'm financially able... it was pretty expensive in all though, so we'll see. I have a couple posts to share about things I've made since the Summit, that were inspired by the classes I took there. Also on the downside, my skin and lungs hated Salt Lake; it was too dry or something, and I've been wheezing and itchy ever since. God help me with all these stupid allergies. lol.

PS it was still 70 degrees out here in Chicago when I returned!

Quilt Dreams

2011-10-12T14:36:00.000-07:00

Here's a first look at my Sewing Summit inspired doll quilt!

This weekend I took free motion quilting (by Allison of Cluck Cluck Sew), improv quilting (by Jess of Urban Patchwork), color theory (by Jeni of In Color Order), and Doll Quilts (by Amanda of Msmcporkchop Quilts).

I left with lots of inspiration and we can all say that Amanda should be the resident motivational speaker for doll quilting! I left thinking, "I need to make a doll quilt now!!" Which, so to say, isn't out of the normal since I love making small quilts anyhow.

On the plane ride home from Utah the idea for this quilt popped into my mind. I took my improv block from Jess's class, added a bike and some free pieced words (thanks Martingale for making me look again at that hideous book -- I didn't follow the patterns for their letters, but I did glance over when I was stuck on the "m"). I also imployed my free motion quilting -- and attempted that roboty square FMQ style. I'm not very good at it but it was fun.

Oh and I used my new friend Dana's tutorial for loopy FMQ'd hearts! So now we're even, she used my tiny wonky stars tutorial, and I am completely in love with those loopy hearts!

In case you're wondering... the title of this post is the name of the quilt. Quilt Dreams... you know, the girl on the bike (me) dreaming of quilts as she's riding! I think I'll rip out the bubble around the "quilt" and re-do it though... it's not round enough! I'm pretty much in love with this little one.

Linking up to Fabric Tuesday over at Quiltstory!

2011-10-11T23:47:00.000-07:00

It's going to take a while for me to decompress enough to be able to share everything amazing that happened this weekend. I'm working on it. At this point I'm mostly exhausted! The summit was great and we had an awesome time... I got home yesterday to an empty house (my husband and daughter were on a trip with his family) and I had some fun sewing time. Then today I didn't feel like getting out of bed at all... I literally slept until 2pm! And I still feel like a train hit me - exhaustion! It was all worth it though!

practice from the FMQ class.

I'll share a few little peeks into the weekend now. But don't worry, I'll be posting in full about it soon! I'm really glad I was able to pull it all together and get there! What a spectacular time! I'm so lucky to have been able to meet so many wonderful people! I'm really inspired right now (and exhausted, did I mention that?).

View from my room the last night.

So, these pics will have to tide you over until later! Enjoy!

I'm not sure how I made it home without checking any baggage!

In time out.

2011-10-10T20:12:00.000-07:00

I had a spectacular time at The Sewing Summit this weekend ... but I haven't quite processed it enough to post about it. Instead I figured I'd let you all know that I've been doing a bit of spring cleaning around the blog. I'm copying Cara (who spent an ungodly amount of time sorting through her google reader the other day) I just did the same.

Now for a small warning. Please take no offense, but if you're pregnant and not in my sewing bee, then you're going to probably be put in time out on my google reader. I think this will help me to actually read my blogs more often. I've laid out categories such as "sewing blogs" "etc" "CMQG" "Sewing Summit" ... and finally, "in time out for pregnancy." As I read blogs in my reader I'll add those annoyingly happy pregnant people to that list so that I don't have to think about the fact that I'm not pregnant. Periodically (in moments of good mood) I'll sift through them to bring back the ones who've had their babies. lol.

I'm now down to 111 subscriptions... so I feel like I'm ready to start following some new people again! :)

IT'S HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-10-05T23:18:00.000-07:00

(almost)

The Sewing Summit! I can't believe it's this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!

In case you don't know what I look like... you'll notice me right off - I'll be the nearly bald one! :)

I hope someone brings a pair of lefty scissors ... lol.

Staying Organized At The Summit

2011-10-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

Here's my goal. To have this book with me at all times.

I'll be

taking notes
writing down names
writing reminders for myself (ex: look for this book...)
sketching ideas
writing down funny "remember-whens" (these always occur in high frequency with Amy around!)
and asking for your autograph! (just kidding ... although I may be tempted with all of this talent around!!)

I'll also have my new envelope system with me. So I don't over spend. And also truthfully, so I'm not affraid to spend money that I've saved just for this. I've never made/used one of these before, but have seen them on pinterest so I'll make one and give it a shot. I plan to keep a tally of what I've spent and where on the outside of the envelopes. My categories will include money just for fabric. :)

Maybe I'll even make one of these bookmark/book holder deals too.

Moo! (mini)

2011-10-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

I used the Sewing Summit as an excuse to finally order myself some Mini Moo Cards. I've been enthralled by them ever since I received one in a swap package (some time ago). They're only about $20 for a box of 100 but it took me a long time to break down and buy them since they are completely unnecessary

They sure are cute though!! The fronts have closeups of some of my work, and the backs have my name with links to my blog and flickr accounts. :) If you're at the summit be sure to ask me for one! :)

Playing Fabric Store

2011-10-03T12:06:00.000-07:00

This time it's me playing fabric store!

Today I sat down to decide which fabrics I'd bring for the FQ swap at the Sewing Summit. I've never really cut fabric before but it wasn't too bad. I folded them in the same way that my local quilt shop (Quiltology) does. I added a couple new ones from Quiltology to the pile too. I sure hope someone likes those shopping ladies. I've got 9 FQ's to add to the mix there... hopefully I'll come home with nine that I'll use right away!!

Oh those shopping ladies!

Dear handmade quilts... I'm sorry, but I have been cheating on you!

2011-09-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

Who could resist this darling pink and black polka dot quilt? Twin size. On clearance at Target for $10!! I couldn't. It's not pieced, the design was stamped on. I do like the long "hand quilting" (obviously everything on this quilt was machine made). I thought about cutting off the binding, seam ripping the big quilting stitches and using the fabric for a different project (even as a back of another quilt?). I haven't decided but I like it. I've been snuggling with this one a bit... I feel like I'm cheating on my good quilts.

DQS11 Sent/Received!

2011-09-28T21:05:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting forever to post this!! Here's the full story about the quilt I made for the eleventh round of the Doll Quilt Swap on flickr. I posted a while ago about the lovely quilt I received form Carol/Mamacjt, but now it's time to do a full reveal of the quilt that I made!

This post has been a long time coming, you see I mailed my quilt about a month ago - then promptly lost the tracking code slip. I freaked out about it for a little while until one of the swap mamas sent me a note to let me know that my partner had moved during the swap so her neighbor (at her old place) would be collecting the mail and forwarding it to her.

I still checked nearly every day to see if she had received it.

In the meantime I was also continuing to stalk my partner's blog. The worst thing happened, she has fallen ill and man it's just such a rough world you know? So I really wanted to cheer her up - and kept wishing more and more that she'd get the quilt and it'd at least be a little lift to her spirits. I commented on her blog post and we've emailed back and forth a couple times... all the while hoping she wouldn't put two and two together.... lol.

So she received it today!!!! The sweet little quilt that kinda stole my heart to send away - was sent to.... Maria / Mollyjolly!!! I'm so glad that she liked.it! I had looked at her mosaic for the swap and decided to try (for the first time) the new york beauty block... but I shrunk it down about 75%. I couldn't leave well enough alone right? It turns out I pretty much love that block! They are a heck of a lot of work for one 4" little block so it ended up being a label block for the back. I really fell for it.

For the front I was completely inspired by this quilt. I love the offcenteredness of a chunk of blocks. I wanted to go with subdued, gentle, pretty colors. So I weeded through my stash and scraps and was really impressed at how I actually was able to achieve that palate (though I almost never work with it!). I paper pieced the string blocks I think they ended up 2" finished? Maybe 2.5".

I added some hand stitching throughout and quilted it densely with lines about 1/4" apart. I tried to bind it a bit differently - using slightly longer visible stitches instead of the invisible ones I usually use. Note to self: it's actually a lot more work/time consuming/irritating to try to go through three layers of fabric (but not the front). In the end those stitches were pretty darling and totally worth it.... but never will I do that on a big quilt!!

Sigh. :) This quilt made me smile a lot. I actually waited until the last day to send it -- so that I could enjoy it a bit too! :) I'm so glad that it's finally in the hands of it's new owner and that I feel like I've made another bloggy friend. Long live DQS!

Linked up at Fabric Tuesday!

Let the countdown begin!

2011-09-25T19:50:00.001-07:00

My favorite four letter word...

2011-09-25T16:53:00.000-07:00

As you may know from my previous posts, September is childhood cancer awareness month.

Did you know?

Each year around 13,500 children are diagnosed with cancer in the US
One in every 330 Americans develops cancer before the age of twenty.
On the average, 36 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer everyday in the United States (around 46 per school day).
On the average, one in every four elementary schools has a child with cancer. The average high school has two students who are current or former cancer patients.(Stats thanks to People Against Childhood Cancer)

Rosemarie's awesome!

One of those 13,500 children has a place very close in my heart. She's my niece. Rosemarie was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma at 13 months old. She's five now. She's never been in remission in those four years. There is no known cure for neuroblastoma.

These children are being robbed by this disease. Robbed not only by the hours, days, months, years spent in hospitals, withstanding procedures and terrible side effects - but they're also being robbed of a lifetime of amazing things: robbed of graduations, weddings, vacations, etc. It's really hard work just to keep from dwelling on it all. We're lucky though, we've got Rosemarie, and she's a bright spot in our days.

What can we do? Childhood cancer is so poorly funded. Of every dollar donated to the American Cancer Society less than one cent goes to childhood cancer research (stats here). That's pretty startling. So I'm going to suggest that we all make an effort to try - donate to St. Jude Children's Hospital. St. Jude (you can do so right now by following this link). Even a dollar helps.

What else can we do? Pray! Please do! Join me in praying for a cure for childhood cancer. As Allie says, "Jesus please help Rosemarie feel better!"

And lastly I hope you're still with me here. Please eat at Chili's Restaurant tomorrow (Monday sept 26th). The profits made by Chili's Restaurants nationwide on that day will be donated to St. Jude's! You know you've got to eat, so go on and treat yourself, and thank your server for supporting St Jude's too! In four years Chili's has raised over $30 million dollars for St Jude's!

(Rosemarie is the sweetie in the supergirl costume.)

A Quilter's Dream!

2011-09-18T23:05:00.000-07:00

Two things happened this weekend that would certainly fall under this title.

First this happened:

Three quilts in a row. Wally's quilt, my quilt, and Rosemarie's quilt
(Which she brought with her!)

My family was in town this weekend and There were air mattresses all around. On top of each one? A quilt!! All but one of them was made by me, and one of them was made by my Aunt Kathy (given to me when I was about 10).

In the other room two more! My first ever quilt (t-shirt quilt), and one made by Aunt Kathy.
(Crumpled on the unmade bed? Allie's quilt)

Pretty amazing right? I love the thought that my quilts kept them warm all weekend! :)

Second:

This evening before dinner, Wally called me in to the kitchen to see what Allie was playing. To our surprise she was playing "fabric store" with the paper towels (strange enough to have them in the house!). She rolled out a few lengths of towel, then used her two fingers in s scissor motion to "cut" (rip) them apart. Too cute! She kept talking about cutting fabric.... adorable!

Bee Blocks & Round Robins

2011-09-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

I just finished my round for this month in the Round Robin hosted by the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild. For those of you who don't yet know (as I didn't understand prior to joining this) a Round Robin is where each person makes a center block of a certain size following a certain technique (here we did applique) then each month the quilts are switched on a rotation so that several people get a chance to work on it. Each "round" has a different theme. The theme for this month was diamonds.

This month I worked on Terri's quilt. I'd never pieced diamonds before, and I typically don't do intricate borders in such a way (like more traditional quilts would have an intricately pieced border around the whole quilt). I really enjoyed the challenge this time, and worked hard to use my signature tiny piecing (the main border added was just 1.5" wide!. Unfortunately, I ran out of the yellow and the green that I used to piece those triangles... so I sub'd in the yellow strips on either side. Overall I'm extremely happy with this, and I can't wait to see how mine is looking!!!

Here's my {Sew} Beautiful bee block for September. AnneMarie had us do pinwheels - which surprisingly was my first try at pinwheels. I've done many HST's though so they're not too different. It was really satisfying how quickly this came together!

My Name Is...

2011-09-16T14:54:00.000-07:00

I finished my name tag for the sewing summit. Ok ok, I do still have to pink the edges and add a pin to the back. But to me it's finished! The star there is my signature block - a tiny wonky star... it measures just about 1" from point to point! Then I free motion quilted my name, flickr name, and blog name too. My biggest worry while at summit is that I'll forget which name goes with which blog... lol. So at least with this others won't have to worry about remembering my names!

In just three weeks I'll be there!!! Sewing Summit here I come! :)

A tiny little box pouch

2011-09-12T13:21:00.000-07:00

Today during nap I whipped up this little box pouch

It turned out great... except it's tiny. lol. Someone should help me out and post a chart for sizes of rectangles to cut for various sizes of box pouches. It just boggles my mind. Ok I think after this afternoon's experience I might be able to figure out how to make a larger, more usable box pouch. I've made these ones which are lined and usable for small toiletries/makeup/small embroidery kit. But I wanted a larger one to use for the Sewing Summit for my toiletries.

I used a re-usable bag from HomeGoods and left this unlined. I finished the seams inside with a piece of grosgrain ribbon folded in half (I pressed it in half using my iron on a medium setting). I really like this pouch even at the tiny 6" long that it is... not even long enough for pencils is it? haha. I used bits of the handle from the existing bag as pull tabs on either end. It came together in less than half an hour. For anyone as clueless as me (or even for myself in the future) the zipper was 10" and the fabric started at 9.5" x 11"

Covered seams

I guess I'll have to get a longer zipper and give it a try with the other side of that bag! Allie will surely have fun with this little guy; she always does!

Uninspired?

2011-09-10T22:52:00.000-07:00

Or just out of fabric?

hehe... So I've been saving up for the Sewing Summit... and because we're generally broke. I haven't bought fabric... I mean really bought fabric in longer than I can remember. I think in the past three months I've bought maybe 4 yds total... that includes the solids that I found on sale at Connecting Threads.

In that same three months I've finished three quilts and a doll quilt. And three purses.

I had the fabric all stacked up for my mom's quilt - and used nearly all of it in the construction of the main blocks. I'll need to replenish some of the solids and buy a yard or two of the focus fabric before I can do any more work on finishing that quilt top.

The Pillow Talk Swap has just started and I tried to get to work on my idea tonight... but I just don't feel like the fabrics I have are right - and even what I have are from my scraps, potentially not enough to really finish a quilt cohesively. I'm thinking I'll have to make it to The Needle Shop or Quiltology soon to buy at least a FQ of a fabric to work as a focus. It's kind of a bummer to not be able to work on it now though.

Ditto for my "tiny scrappy..." quilt I got started and love the color scheme, but most of those fabrics are scraps that were hanging around. I'm not sure that I can make a whole quilt in such a fun way without having a bit more of at least a couple of them.

Which brings me to my Sew Beautiful Bee quilt - need more Kona Coal. lol. That's the story of my life. I should just save up and buy a bolt of that stuff. I'm always running through it like crazy. I have about 1/2 of the back of this quilt pieced. I guess I could cut the fabric for the binding. I have all the last of my Good Folks stash reserved for it (It's getting meager there!).

I'd like to work another purse or two, altering the pattern I used for the one last week... but me having a 1/2 yd or more of any fabrics is just not really happening. How weird is that? I think I've saved up enough and come the Summit I'll feel ok in spending a bit... hehe. :) I hope so! Speaking of which, I wonder when we'll get our work bonuses... hope it's more than the almost nothing that it was last time. Everyone go out and buy all your books from Half Price Books so my bonus is bigger ok?

I guess I'll go read some more of my book. I'm in the middle of Jodi Picoult's "Sing You Home." Let me tell you, I usually don't read/stop reading books when these subjects come up:

Divorce
Cancer
Miscarriage/Stillbirth
Infertility
Lesbian love scenes (ok this wasn't really on my list before.. but)

I'm halfway through and all these things have come up. Why am I still reading it? I'm not sure other than the fact that Jodi Picoult sure can make you love a character so much that you'll keep reading despite your normal reasons to stop. I can't even figure out who the "good guy" is yet. I think I'll go read the next 200 pages and call it a night. lol.

**In case you're wondering I chose to not read fiction books with these topics because I think real life is filled with enough of that. I'd like to lose myself in a book without worry - those subjects make me sad and worry about the characters. Yes, I know it's only fiction. But ask me why I won't read the sequel to "The Friday Night Knitting Club."

Sewing Summit - one more month!!

2011-09-07T14:16:00.000-07:00

One month from now I'll be in Salt Lake City for the Sewing Summit! I can't believe it's almost time already!
If you've been following along on their website, you'll know that they've been hosting a series on bags and such for travel (travel to the Summit that is!). I finally got my act together and made up a couple travel items for myself.

First I made this awesome purse. You can see by my pinterest board that I've been thinking of making myself a new purse for a while. I've had three problems with this idea, 1) I don't like buying patterns, 2) I don't like following patterns, 3) I don't tend to have more than a FQ/quarter yard of any one fabric in my stash... (with the exception of fabrics that are designated to a specific project). I decided on a whim to cut into the yard of the new AMH fabric that I had (after declaring my need to buy the blue color-way for my mom's quilt instead) - and used a great pair of corduroy pants that I have loved forever (but the button ripped on them so they're not wearable/repairable). The seam you see down the middle of the corduroy side happens to be the side seam of the pants... This pattern barely fit! :)

I used this tutorial from very purple person. It was very straightforward and not hard at all. I put this bag together in just an hour or two one evening. I didn't use any interfacing at all - since the corduroy has a bit of weight to it already. I don't think my pattern pieces printed out at the right size - from the pictures her bag is a bit bigger than mine, but I like mine just as well. And I only used about half a yard of my beloved AMH fabric! So I can make more pretties with the leftovers.

I have thought about ripping out a couple stitches to add a magnetic button, but since it's reversible I can't see a way to make that work... any ideas??

Then last night I decided on a whim to make a couple cute luggage tags for the trip too. Although I'm not planning on checking any luggage, I'm sure this will look just as well on my carry-on. I followed this tutorial pretty loosely - and used a freezer ziploc bag instead of the plastic stuff she'd had on hand. So far it seems to have held up pretty nicely. I made one for my friend too - I hope she gets a kick out of it when she gets it in the mail! :)

Another chance

2011-09-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

My mosaic for the PTS6

Pillow Talk Swap 6 is starting up again! I debated a little bit about whether or not I wanted to join up again. On the one hand I've received beautiful pieces of work in this swap - and have been challenged to new creativeness, but on the other hand last round I didn't even get an email thank you from my partner. I will try to bite my tongue here - and I have resisted posting this until now. I know people get busy etc, or maybe I didn't hit the mark with the pillow I sent. Either way I worked hard and spent my time, energy, and money to send out a unique package for my partner.

So this time around I'm taking a chance and hoping that my work will be better received this time around. I've heard of a swapper who has requested their work back when they weren't even acknowledged/thanked. I won't go that far, but a personal thank you would have been nice. I just wonder though, did she even enjoy it? I cut up one of my Rome ties for that pillow!

In all I'm joining up again because I love the challenge that this swap poses. There are a lot of talented and gracious people in this swap and I really am inspired by that.

I really didn't intend for this post to be about that... but that's how life goes sometimes. I'm not going to hide out on my own blog. I hope in my heart that it was just a misunderstanding on my former partner's part. Maybe the swap etiquette isn't that clear... but still.

Too close for comfort...

2011-09-06T13:29:00.000-07:00

What is that you see? A container of yellow acrylic paint spilled just a mere inch away from my WIP pile!?!! I nearly had a heart attack. Right there staring at you is the finished quilt top for my {sew}Beautiful bee quilt (using my only bits of AMH's Good Folks), the nearly finished back of the quilt, all the extra fabric for that quilt, and numerous other unfinished works.

Is it bad that I was much more worried about this mess than the blue and red spilled on my carpet? Carpet can be replaced but hours of sewing and out of print fabric??!! AH! lol. See that little thread hanging there on the right? It had a dab of paint on it, otherwise nothing was touched by the yellow.

The funny part? I didn't even know that generic art tub on the bottom shelf had paint in it! Slowly my sewing room is becoming a sewing room, with an off site closet... annoying. Almost all the good stuff has been moved (bins with buttons and needles and pins... thread spools, generic art supplies, etc). I have to traipse around the house looking for things to sew!

I did manage to get most of the paint out of the carpet. We'll be making a run to the store soon for some white wine vinegar and baking soda. Hopefully some combination of those will clear up the rest of the stain. Never a dull moment with a three year old around!

A quilt for my mommy!

2011-09-02T15:31:00.000-07:00

Remember the list of my quilting goals for 2011? I'm well on my way to checking off one more item!

One of my goals was to make a quilt for my mom or my mother-in-law. I had the color scheme in my head for some time... and had been gathering a few prints here and there all year. A couple weeks ago Connecting Threads had many of their solids marked at just $3 a yard. Even when I'm broke I can't pass that up! I bought about $20 worth of mostly half yard cuts of all their blues that were on sale - plus a couple yards each of their two greys (which are very comparable to Kona Ash and Medium Grey). With that and a quarter yard of Kona Curry thrown in the mix I had a decent stack to get moving.

The pattern/sketch has been done for weeks, but with the table covers for my aunt looming over my head I couldn't get started. Since I finished those covers I got busy cutting and sewing!! I've got most of the quilt top finished! I followed this tutorial for the herring bone blocks. I used varying sizes of strips from 1" -2.5" the majority were about 2" - as a result I needed to add many more strips than were used in the tutorial. It also made trimming them down a bit of a hassle - so I made a template and drew some reference lines for the proper angle. It's pretty random that about a week ago I stopped into the Tuesday Morning (it's next to work) and happened upon a package of template plastic for just about a dollar. I'd never used it before and it made it much easier!

yes, I had to tape two pieces of template plastic together since they were too short.

Today I finished trimming all the herring bone segments and free motion quilted the label. I think it's pretty good don't you? My best FMQ'd words yet! It'll be blanket stitched to the back of the quilt when it's all finished.

Here's the pinterest board of my inspiration.

***

In other news I finished week two of the Couch 2 5K program today! I am really enjoying it! So far my lungs have managed it great too - no asthma attacks!

August Bee Block and other random WIP's

2011-09-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Today I finally sent out my bee block for August. The {Sew} Beautiful Bee has been so much fun - and we get to meet soon at the Sewing Summit! I can't wait! This month's block was for Kati and I had fun making it wonky and crazy. :)

Next I've been working on this diamond border for our CMQG round robin quilts. I've never made diamonds before... and pretty much figured it out on my own. They're pretty challenging getting those points to match up. I haven't quite mastered it yet... and I am our of that green fabric so I'll have to figure out something to fill in the gaps (I have enough made for about 2/3 of the border). I like the challenge of trying something new and using different colors than I might normally use. Pretty fun!

Finally, this is my next major project. It's the beginnings of a quilt for my mom. This has been on my list for this year's quilting goals - and I started it yesterday! I've finished 9 blocks so far and need to work on the last 7 (or maybe more... we'll see how big that puts it). I need just another yard of AMH's new fabric to do the focal point too. I have big plans for this one and I'm loving the colors. By the way, those solids - they're from Connecting Threads and I got them for about $2.50/yd on sale. Whoa is that great! They're pretty soft too - way softer and cheaper than Joann's brand solids.

I'm the luckiest Doll Quilt Swapper!

2011-08-31T15:30:00.000-07:00

Check this out!! Here's the package I received last week from Carol / Mamacjt. She makes the most amazing little quilts and this one is perfection! Check out that tiny pieced border and all those french knots! She also sent a sweet handmade doll for Allie and a stack of amazing FQ's! I can't believe how generous she was! This is really such a sweet quilt - it'll be hung next to my bulletin board in my sewing room! :) Oh and by the way Carol, Allie got a HUGE kick out of the candy necklace! She'd never had one before!

***

My DQS11 partner should be getting her package any moment now... I hope! So here's what happened. I mailed the package off last week (on the last mailing day at that), did the whole tracking code thing etc - threw the receipt in my purse.

Flash forward to Saturday night at about 3am to me walking into the room to find Allie with a lollipop in her mouth, gum wrappers all around, and every single thing from my purse all over the floor (yeah this big girl bed thing is really trying). Not a big deal right? Well... also in the mix of crap on the floor from my purse was a package of size 13 hearing aid batteries - opened and missing a couple. Did I know if the package was full to begin with? No. Allie kept telling us, "I eat the batteries." Ugh. In case you guys don't know eating batteries could be pretty bad. We called the "Swallowed Battery Hot line" (yes there is such a thing, and a real live person answered on the first ring). We were instructed to head right to the ER for an X-ray. Luckily the place wasn't busy and we got right in. No, she didn't swallow any batteries. Thank God!

So in the haste of throwing the contents of my purse back in - I threw away a handful of papers and stuff, receipts etc. The tracking code was thrown away. AHH! I do hope it gets there soon because I'm worried about it! I am trying to take heart that I did put it in a ziploc with a paper that said, "if lost or damaged please return to:" with my partner's name and address. Cross your fingers! lol.

My job rocks!!!

2011-08-29T08:00:00.001-07:00

Have I ever mentioned that I work for a used bookstore? One where we purchase books from the public to put on our shelves? Typically the spider-webby books aren't nearly as exciting as they were yesterday....

We have a couple local reviewing companies near our store... one reviewer comes in to see us to get rid of his office's extra review copies. (we love people like this - highly sell-able pretty books!)

Guess what was in there? A copy of this!!!

Can you believe it??!!! It's not released until November!! I remember seeing it mentioned somewhere.... and while I was processing reviewer guy's buy I put it on my "stash shelf" yes my work is cool like that - as the buyer I get first dibs! I nearly squealed while flipping through it while walking back for my lunch break... and I saw- Cathy Gaubert's kids. My brain hadn't recognized that I actually knew the author - until I saw and recognized her beautiful girls! Seriously everyone who likes minis should head over to amazon and pre-order this book!

And to make my day even brighter? The last part of the acknowledgments? Cathy thanked the creative inspiration of the Doll Quilt Swap. :) How sweet is that? I really fell hard for hand stitched tiny words because of Cathy's DQS9 quilt (unfortunately it didn't get sent to me!) Awesomeness! :)

I just paid my way to the Sewing Summit!

2011-08-28T17:08:00.000-07:00

By that I mean that I finished sewing the fitted table covers for my aunt. The paid job which is helping to fund my trip to the Summit!

We've had this plan in the works for a few months (remember I talked about it here). My Aunt Kathy attends several big name art/craft shows a year selling her amazing polymer clay jewelry; last year she asked me to make her some fitted table covers (not just table clothes) for her counter height show tables (4 or 5 of them). She lent me one of her tables (they're awesome by the way) and she picked out fabric from fabric.com. I was surprised when it came to me in a huge shrink-wrapped bolt! There was something like 35 yards of it?

One done and the rest all cut. This one is the "practice/extra"

Daunting? yes. The fabric is some sort of synthetic knit (so that it doesn't wrinkle when she packs them up to fly/drive to her shows) and I had to learn to use the rolled hem foot on my machine. It took some practice (which made me really nervous) but I finally got it down! I used this tutorial that I found via pinterest.

The real deal. Looking much better!

At first I was putting it off until we moved... then well summer happened (when did summer happen? whoa!). Well this past week it's been hanging over my head. I knew I needed to get them done and now! I even told myself I couldn't work on any other sewing projects until they were done. Today my lovely husband took Allie to his moms to swim all day today - leaving me to work on the table covers. My goal was to finish two of the five. Did I accomplish it??

Check out those rounded corners!!

I blew that goal out of the water! I finished all five!! :) Woo Hoo!! I think they look pretty awesome too. Much more eye catching than the normal/boring black, generic, ill-fitting covers.

Now on to some sewing summit related sewing? or maybe I'll start my mom's quilt. :)

VOTE!!

2011-08-24T23:19:00.000-07:00

My friend Lee from Freshly Pieced has submitted a design for a fabric designing contest at Connecting Threads. Please go vote for her!!

Lee's fabric - go vote!

To vote follow the link here and vote for her. Her design is called "Flourish."

Thanks!

Because I don't know where else to organize these thoughts.

2011-08-24T21:56:00.000-07:00

Thanks to pinterest and my interest in stapling chicken wire to my wall, I followed a link to a blog where I found some posts that make me think/cry/wonder. Feel free to skip over this if you're so inclined. It's just that my real life friends have little to no experience in this area (they're not even married for the most part). So my other blog/thing doesn't give me any real feedback other than hugs.

Here's the deal. Starting in early summer of 2009 we've been trying to conceive (TTC). At first it was not too much... no stress and no real worry. Just excitement as each cycle wound down - then disapointment. I was still breastfeeding Allie (she was just under a year when we started trying), and I continued to do so until she was 18 mos. As you all know my husband was cast for a weight loss tv show about that time... that turned our worlds upside-down for a year. Several months went by with him not here or otherwise just bad timing (company visiting etc).

Midway through 2010 I started to get serious sinus infections nearly constantly. I knew this meant sinus surgury as I've had a polypectomy once before and it's a chronic condition. Many cycles were shot because of major doses of steroids and antibiotics trying to battle the sinus infections - finally in the fall I had the surgery (ouch) and was placed on a low dose (10mg every other day) of an oral steroid to battle the constant attempts of the return of the sinus polyps. My doc claims this won't effect fertility. Who knows. Several sinus infections throughout requiring larger doses of the same steroid followed.

After a particularly stubborn sinus infection this spring (April?) it became apparent that I wasn't pregnant but my period wasn't going to start on it's own I had to take provera to start a new cycle. With my doctor's ok I stopped the steroids (some studies are showing that they can mess with your cycle? Nothing solidly proven but...) Same deal the last cycle too, long cycle no positive, then provera.. Had an Histerosalpingram this month, normal results. Clomid this cycle. Started using OPK's - got a positive. Temps seem like ovulation occurred... but no positive, and no period. I guess tomorrow I make the call to the OBGYN for another prescription of provera and clomid for next month.

Anyone still with me?

This sucks. We had no problem conceiving Allie. None.

Ever since I could remember I have wanted a lot of kids. I'd love to have like eight of them... but more realistically 4+ I know I'm pretty young. There's still time. But I have this sad thing in the back of my mind that lurks. What if Allie is our only child. What if I never get to be pregnant again. What if I never breastfeed again. I was really moved by this post in the above mentioned blog. She writes about how it hurts to think of the memories of pregnancy and having an infant, "I know what I'll be missing if we don't have another baby." To come full circle and bring it all back to pinterest... a thought inducing quote that I found there, "It's hard to wait around for something you know might never happen; but it's harder to give up when you know it's everything you want."

So where to go from here? I'm inclined to mention that I'm Catholic; maybe that doesn't help explain very much for some people... but as one who has loved and studied Catholic theology (especially moral theology) there's a focus on the unitive and procreative aspects of sex. Without getting all theology nerd on everyone, that basically means there's a husband and a wife and physically neither shall be removed from the act of conceiving.... No doctors and lab coats for us. Clomid and hormonal drugs are about all we have. I'm fairly frustrated at the recent lack of my cycles ending on their own... and I don't know what to think of that.

Body image. I've never had any sort of body image issues. Ever. I'm pretty blessed by that, but now? I see the image of my body as what it's capable yet that isn't being realized. It's capable of conceiving a child, of carrying a baby to term, of giving birth, of nourishing an infant... but it's empty. ((wow that's hard to type)).

There's no end to this post... it keeps going and is circular. So here's a song that I listen to sometimes.

I've been away...

2011-08-23T22:06:00.000-07:00

No excuses here. I spent the week with my neice Katee - who stays with us for a week every summer. She went home today so now I have time to catch you guys up on the fun happenings around here while she was here!

First of all Katee is awesome! She just turned 11 and has been sewing with me for... four years? (has it really been that long!!??) I set out with the idea that we might make these purses that Kat made recently. I'd pinned the tutorial and it all seemed pretty simple although challenging enough for Katee. We've mostly made small flat items while sewing. This one required three pannels of patchwork that was sewn "quilt as you go."

She rocked! No I didn't happen to snap any pictures of her in process (this mostly happened after 9:00 pm while my kid was sleeping). I do have to tell you about the back of her pouch. We'd already done the first two pannels doing typical paralell stitches in the quilt as you go pieces. I left the room to start fixing dinner and came back to see her with an almost completed panel featuring concentric rectangle quilting!! I'd not shown her how to do that or even that she could do that! I don't know that she'd even seen that done on any projects before! Katee rocks! Her color choice for the back was pretty awesome too!

She ended up quilting her initial and last name on the back as well. Pretty clever that one! :) I'm really impressed!

That project took us through most of the week - since we didn't have too much free (toddler free) sewing time to work. She did all of it but the free motion quilting on the top flap. - all the construction and everything!

Among the other activities that the week included, we made a fort using her fort kit that I made her and her sister for their birthdays (link to tutorial here).

We also had ourselves a little tea party. It wasn't as frilly or pretty as I'd have liked... but it was pretty cool! We had finger sandwiches and tea and fruit. It was a yummy little party. I broke out my tiny espresso glasses for the occasion. :)

Hope you had a great week as well!!

linked up for Travel Handmade!

Be aware.

2011-08-15T23:29:00.000-07:00

That neuroblastoma needs to be stopped.

Before

After

To support my niece Rosemarie on her battle with Neuroblastoma (a rare form of childhood cancer), and to raise awareness of this terrible disease, I shaved my head this weekend. In total nine of us were shaved (including Rosemarie, who had hers shaved a week early since her hair started falling out again, for the third time). My sister, brother-in-law, brother, cousin's girlfriend, mom, dad, and husband all shaved our heads. I was going to go for "really short" but not shaved (Wally's preference not mine) but at the last minute he said to go for it and I did. I had 14" of hair to be donated for a children's cancer wig program!

Here we all are, along with Rosemarie, our stylists Jenna and Rachel, and Allie of course.

This all took place during our traditional "summer birthday party" (for Allie, and my two nieces - all summer birthdays). My sister's two hairstylist friends manned the clippers - and helped Rosemarie to make the first cuts! My hair was cut by about 6 people... they all got a chance! lol. We look pretty cool bald. Apparently my sister and I look a lot alike... more so without hair - even Rosemarie was startled by us when she thought she was sitting by me, when it was actually her mom!

14" of thick curly hair... to be re-grown!
This will be my... 4th time cutting to donate!

I'm excited for the chance to tell more people about this battle with neuroblastoma. Please donate even just a little bit for children's cancer research, specifically neuroblastoma (when possible). From most of the general cancer research fund raising groups, very little money ends up being sent to fund neuroblastoma research. St. Jude's Research Hospital is one that is great to donate to - they are currently researching neuroblastoma's cause and cure.

Apparently my sister and I look alike. Especially without hair.

Pray for Rosemarie and other little ones like her. She's such a strong little girl and we're all so much stronger because of her.

This picture will hold us to the agreement!

On a side note, best friends are awesome! My friends Schell and Ko came up for the party and we decided to start a training program called Couch 2 5K - next week! Wish us luck! It was really awesome and inspiring to hang out with them again... even if Schell did keep trying to draw on my head! lol.

Not enough sewing time...

2011-08-08T14:58:00.000-07:00

Notice the 12 thousand stickers all over her knees? lol

Thanks to this little girl who seems to think that nap time/bed time is "get out of my new toddler bed time." Adding to the exhaustion is that she's now decided any car trip is "let's houdini out of my carseat time" Yes that latch across her chest, she's figured it out. We now tape it together... which buys us a few minutes.

Fun times. She is, however, celebrating her birthday in two days... and then we'll be celebrating with the Ohio part of the family on Saturday. Exhausting. We're going to have my niece Katee in town next week so there'd better be some sewing getting done then - since she wants to sew! :)

Sigh, I'm off to relieve my husband of the "hey it's night-night time!" duty. This kid is so exhausted; she really should just go to sleep!

Dreaming in tiny...

2011-08-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

I've been dreaming up some tiny tiny piecing for my name badge to wear at the Sewing Summit. Now that we've got our class schedule I'm more than excited! It seems like it'll be October before we know it! Obviously if I want to have any quilted blocks on my name tag they'll have to be pretty small. I do small (if you haven't noticed), so I figured why not challenge myself to do smaller? Hense the tiny tiny stars. these two stars measure point-point at just under one inch! I'm even amazed at myself. I like the grey/yellow one best since I think the dots on the green one are too busy. I haven't decided yet what to do for my nametag but I'm sure it'll come to me. I might see if anyone at the next Chicago Modern Quilt Guild meeting would let me use the letter embroidery on their fancy machines. That'd be cool and would save me some tiny embroidery.

If you're interested in seeing my inspiration so far here's my name tag pinterest.

On to bigger things (it doesn't take much to get bigger than those!). Here's a baby quilt that I made up for a special friend of Wally's - he has a new baby that we wanted to welcome properly! This quilt is about 38" square and is bound by machine using my method (the first time I've used it on a larger piece). It worked out just fine and I'm a bit in love with that batik green dot - it came from Joann's! I might need to go back for more! This was made pretty simply and most of the fabric came right from my stash. It was completely sewn on my old White machine while Nancy was in the shop. It was inspired directly by this quilt. I've been wanting to make one of these for a while and I'm glad I did. It's fun and sweet and simple.

Progress!

2011-08-02T13:26:00.000-07:00

It's amazing what one can get done with a properly working sewing machine!

I've been working on the back of my {Sew} Beautiful Bee quilt. Before the move I'd pieced several random blocks using the leftovers that my bee buddies sent back. Now those blocks are in the process of being sewn together for the backing. I'm certainly going to need a couple (few) more yards of Kona Coal, but I'm making good progress.

This section is about the size of a crib quilt... and it's less than a quarter of the back!

It's so exciting to see this all come together. And I have new ideas about how to make the quilting go a bit smoother! With a little bit of work Nancy will fit inside the storage side of my table top - boosted by a book or two, she's at the right height. I think I may be able to talk my dad/uncles into cutting some particle board or whatever (hehe that's their area) to fit. We'll see. :)

Just a quick post to say...

2011-07-30T22:30:00.000-07:00

I love Jim, the repair man from Vogue Fabrics in Evanston. :)
(even though I feel a little bad)
He spent 5 hours looking at my machine trying to figure out what exactly was making my machine appear to have tension issues (note that it wasn't actually the tension)...

Guess what it was? Apparently I had sewn so much on this machine that I actually wiggled a couple screws loose in the take-up-lever area! lol. He said it's not something he's really seen happen often, but that the number of hours I've put on this machine probably has something to do with it!

A couple other reasons I love that guy/place

The repair still only cost the normal $35 labor fee - even though he spent so long on it. They're good to their word on that!
I didn't have to replace anything.
Nancy is so completely dust free as a result of that 5 hour surgery... I'm pretty sure they got stuff out of places I couldn't get anywhere near!
I just sewed up a couple micro-star blocks and some other stuff - it sews better than I can even remember! (I'm thinking this issue started sometime before the CMQG retreat...)

WOW! That's all. Pictures and all that stuff later!

The Sewing Summit!!!

2011-07-28T22:48:00.000-07:00

Have you all heard about the Sewing Summit? I sure hope so! It's a modern sewing and blogging conference that's happening for the first time this October. I'm going (thanks to my benefactors - my work for giving me a bonus at just the right time, my aunt for commissioning me for a big project that she's paying me for, and my parents who have sent "birthday money" to tackle some of the other costs!). Amazing right? I remember when this whole thing was just an idea.... It's really happening. And...

I just registered for my classes today! While I'm at the Summit I'll be taking:

Bag Making 101 - by Bari J. Ackerman - Bari offers the basics on handbag construction plus complete instruction on her popular Springtime in Paris Pocketbook. Kit available for pre-purchase on Bari’s website after 9/1.
Quilting at Home: Free Motion Quilting for the Modern Quilter - by Allison Harris - The free motion quilting class will cover all of the basics for getting started quilting your own quilts. Everything from set-up, preparation, positioning yourself and your quilt, and quilting designs both simple and advanced. Come learn how you can save money quilting your quilts on your own machine! (classroom fee $3)
Creative Fabric Selection: Moving Beyond Fabric Collections - by Jeni Baker - In Creative Fabric Selection, Jeni will help you overcome your color fears! You’ll learn how to put together unique color and fabric schemes for your quilts and other sewing projects! We’ll walk through the color wheel, discuss different types of fabric patterns, building fabric stacks and hopefully, get you thinking about fabric and color in a different way!
Marvelous Minis: Packing Lots of Punch into a Mini Quilt - by Amanda Jennings - Amanda will be focusing on getting the most out of small bits of fabric and using them to make heirloom-quality mini quilts. Topics will include finding inspiration, staying motivated, how minis are perfect for all levels of quilting and telling a story with a quilt block. She’ll be sharing my inspiration, mini quilts, examples from my sketch books and more!
Photographing Your Creations: Simple Changes for Maximum Impact - by Vanessa Christenson - Anyone who owns a camera can come to this class! There are a ton of photography classes out there that are excellent in teaching you about aperture, shutter speed, and ISO — these skills are awesome to have, but say you know all that stuff already …what then? I think setting up your “scene” is just as important as all the technical stuff. I’ll be teaching you how to take your product (your quilt you want to sell or the home décor you just created a tutorial or pattern for) and I will show you some easy steps to set up the perfect scene for that product. I’ll also touch on how to use a little bit of photoshop, and to use some of the free online editing programs out there to give your picture that much more “WOW” and having people say “did you take that picture?
Improv Piecing: How To Think Outside the Box - by Jess Berrett - A hands-on class, where you’ll have a chance to try new techniques for creating lively & unique patchwork, without patterns. We’ll talk about inspiration, simple tips to for better designs, & a little bit of color theory. Using scraps (some of yours + some of ours), you’ll create a small piece of patchwork, which can be used as the start of a new quilt – or on its own as a pillow, place mat, dish mat, etc. (classroom fee $3)

I've gone back and forth all day about whether to take the Photographing one or the ....something about authoring books one. I think that the photography would be cool and I haven't really any intention to write patterns etc. I guess I can go back and change them if I want... but the other one might be booked up.

Anyway. I'm really getting excited about this. I'm planning on flying on a standby ticket from our friend who's a pilot. So - I think I'll arrive at the airport early on Thurs to ensure that I make it in time! :) My friend Amy is meeting me there and we're going to be roomies. She's not going to the conference, but will be sightseeing around the city while I am. It'll be great since I haven't really gotten to travel with her etc since we graduated. She's really excited since she has never been to Salt Lake (she's a Mormon history buff and looooves that sort of thing). I'm excited!! :)

**Edited to add links to the teachers' blogs. I think I "know" all my teachers except for one!**

Are you going??? Let me know if you've signed up for any of the same classes as I have! We'll be class buddies!

Thank You Emily!!

2011-07-28T11:45:00.000-07:00

Don't mind, she's three which means that she thought "hey mom's taking a picture I should jump on one foot!"

Last week my CMQG friend Emily came over to sew (was that last week already?). As sweet as she is, she brought an adorable handmade dress for Allie! I think she knows that I don't have the patience for such details on a dress! This one is just perfect! She even figured out her machine's buttonhole function for the bajillion buttons on this! :) Absolutely adorable - and purple which is Allie's (my) favorite color!

Allie has worn this dress twice so far (in one week!) And she keeps pulling it out of her closet and carrying it around saying, "Oh Pretty! Emily made it for me!" :) thanks Emily!

Also please try to ignore that the first decently lit place that I thought to take a picture was at Victoria's Secret...
I swear we were there for body spray (for my MIL). lol.

Nancy is having surgury...

2011-07-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

lol...

Nancy's dress - made by Jules of Relish Australia

So have you noticed that I haven't been free motion quilting anything recently? My main machine, Nancy, has not been working properly. She's got some crazy tension issues (where the bobbing thread gets all loopy on the bottom, and the top thread just pulls right through). I had tried everything (even adjusting the bobbin tension - which I then adjusted back to normal when it didn't fix the problem).

Finally Saturday I got her in to the repair shop at Vogue in Evanston. Jim took a look at it (that guy is awesome) and fiddled around with it. He couldn't fix it on the spot - he said it might be that the tension dials aren't catching (meaning he has to take it all apart and fix it).... or it may be related to a small small nick in the bobbin casing... but he put some clear nail polish over that to smooth it over, and it didn't make it even remotely better. He's figuring it's probably not the bobbin casing.

So what does all this mean? No FMQing. Since I don't have a feed dog cover for my old White (Betty).

Also it means that I may be shopping for a new machine (at some date which I have some money to spare). I told Jim to call me if the total cost is going to be more than $50 (labor included)... since I'm not sure I want to put more than that into fixing a machine that I spent about $200 on... two years ago and about a dozen quilts ago. I'd have to think about it and discus whether Jim thinks any other issues will arise in the future.

PS he explained why Nancy seized up a while back too - not enough lubrication in the hand wheel crank thingy (which requires taking the whole casing off to lubricate -- so not really easily fixable. But he said with some time of rest periodically (after quilting for you know ... hours and hours) it will loosen back up again. It wasn't a result of the thread I was using like the other guy said! :) I was right to not believe him.

I'm just going to let you all know...

2011-07-25T23:20:00.000-07:00

that as of right now I'm completely cought up in reading my blogs on google reader. Without deleting and clearing them out. :) That hasn't happened in a long time. I missed a few giveaway chances by being too late to enter them. That's lame.

On a more interesting note. I made a rainbow angel food cake (in a regular cake pan) today in preparation for Allie's upcoming 3rd birthday. It turned out amazing!! Very vibrant!

Allie was more interested in the blueberries with cool whip. Whatever. :) Gotta love a fruit loving kid!

Also in recent news, my cousin's baby is freaking adorable (especially when laying on her made by me quilt)! :)

Chicago Modern Quilt Guild Mug Rug Swap - finished!

2011-07-24T21:05:00.001-07:00

My last mug rug was given to it's new owner at our CMQG meeting last week... so it's time that I can share them all with you!

Here's how it all worked. This was a first for me, that it was not a blind swap. I knew who I was making the mug rugs for and they knew that they would recieve them from me too. For that reason I didn't share all the pictures along the way.

My mug rugs were sent to Ebony, Terri, and Rachel. I felt like I started out with just a limited amount of info on each of them. Ebony was the only one that I had really gotten to know a bit (at the retreat last spring). So I did what I always do with swaps, try to challenge myself with at least one part of the swap item.

I'll start with Ebony's - I knew that she appreciated precision and accuracy. Also, it came to my mind while I was planning this one, that she'd asked my gut opinion on fabrics once - trying to be childlike and non-judging about what our first impressions/decisions of choices were. (I'm rambling) Anyhow, I ended up doing a porthole type block with a really fun accent fabric underneath, and a strip of "hoo-ha's" (hehe not my name for them... tutorial for them is here I sewed mine down by machine though not by hand). On the back I added a tiny wonky star and some flying geese (that almost didn't get used there because they were a little wonky in the unintentional way). I'm pretty in love with that mug rug I must say!

Then I worked on Terri's. I hadn't gotten to know her or Rachel very well so I knew just a little bit about them. From what I knew about Terri, she likes darker tones than I tend toward, and also likes batiks. Well I was working with my stash so Terri got an awesome mug rug made with the fabrics from my stash that most resembled her likes... purples and rich colors. I made an offset square block then quilted it, then cut it in a circle. That was my first try at binding a curved edge. It wasn't bad at all... but I did sew it on a little too taught and I'll do it better next time. I love the effect of the round edges and the straight quilting!

Rachel's was a fun one too. Hers accidentally ended up on the large size. I had tried the block on the front several times before, and I still haven't gotten those points to line up just so... but I'll keep trying. I really enjoyed this brighter color palate. The colors were more intentional than I usually work with. I added a tiny star on the back of this one too. :)

Now go ahead and check out the ones I received here. Also, check out the table we displayed them all on at our July CMQG meeting (click here, then click around to the previous pictures to see lots more!).

Super Awesome!

2011-07-24T21:05:00.000-07:00

Sawtooth Stars: they're pretty awesome! I'm really loving this eclectic color scheme too. :) Also really awesome? The idea (not my idea) that prompted me to jump up off of my computer and sew them up immediately! Now that's inspiration. Now eventually they'll have to come down from my bulletin board, but I've been thoroughly enjoying them there. :) More on this later.

Mug Rugs

2011-07-23T19:02:00.000-07:00

Yep I'm still making them!

Here's a sweet little mug rug for my MIL. She starts her first day at a new job on Monday and I figured the occasion was deserving of a mug rug (not to mention that she hinted at wanting one for work). I'm pretty sure she has no idea that I've actually already made her one. I tricked her and Wally into taking Allie to the store just now so that I could finish it before her first day!

I used scraps from my DQS11 quilt... and also trimmed down those three extra string blocks too. The star measures just over 1.25" point to point... :) hehe I think that's my smallest to date. I used some new (to me) Anna Maria Horner Garden Party for the back - that I scored at Vogue Fabrics today!!! It was bound using the "knife edge/ birthing method" hehe. The Ebony style - with an opening left in the middle of the back to be hand sewn, rather than at the edge. It definitely worked much smoother than trying to sew down the turning hole at the edge!

see how I sewed the pieces together to leave a gap in the middle for turning?

All wrapped up and ready to gift!

I can't believe I just had time to finish this, photograph it (in the last minutes of daylight) and blog it before they've returned! :)

Dear Allie...

2011-07-22T16:57:00.000-07:00

"Dear Allie, I pray each day that you will have a long lifetime of smiles and wonderful days ahead. I love you! Love, Mommy" (Inscription in the seam allowances of this pillow.)

Ta-da! (lol) I finished this pillow about a week ago. It's been such crazy weather since... first overcast and dreary, and now hot hot hot! Today I finally stepped outside of my relatively cooler house to take some pics.

The dresden plates here were my practice block for one of the months of the {sew} Beautiful Bee - I'd never sewn dresdens before and they're a lot of fun! I did a bit of embroidery in the middle - inspired by this pillow.

The little label was sent to me by Michelle of Delightful Disarray with my Pillow Talk Swap package. It's an iron on (handmade?) and I stitched it inside the back flap. Totally cute and professional looking!

And lastly, among those fun hand stitches, here's a tiny little hedgehog tag that I added... just too cute. There's a little red heart on the back of it... :)

...

2011-07-21T23:41:00.000-07:00

Alexander Henry Heath in Steel Gray

This fabric is making my heart beat a little faster every time I look at it. I want more... and in lots of colors. :)

I'm working on planning my mom's quilt. I'm excited and think I've nailed down an idea for the most part. I started a "Mom's Quilt" pinterest board. Most of the fabrics I pinned there I already have. It's going to be a scrappy-ish quilt in blues and greys. Maybe a pop of Kona Curry? We'll see. :)