DQS10 - Making Progress!

Remember that terrible picture I posted last week of the boat and the sidewalk... it was so not me. So I scrapped it and started my DQS10 planning all over. Here's what I've got: 

Yes, that's a quilted Chicago flag!

This star is just under 2"

My partner better like tiny, because these are 1" squares!

Are you dreaming of my quilt yet?

Well partner, if you're reading this I hope you've enjoyed the little peak. I took a lot of time stitching those words on there...... it's so rewarding. I have just a bit more embroidering to go then I'll be piecing together the back/label/special thing and quilting.

Today's the day...

Things I want to do right now. (I'm feeling unmotivated and sometimes putting out here makes me get off my butt and do something I want to do!)

• make tiny tiny stars. Why? Who knows. Will they be a part of a mug rug? will they be a part of my DQS quilt or Urban Home Goods project? Who knows. I just want to make them. Out of Good folks fabric.

  

  Edit: finished... with one. It measures just under 2 1/4" square and is the cutest thing I've ever made!

  
  
• Scrap my DQS start (minus the special thing - which is AWESOME and I wish I could show it to you guys). I think that curved piecing is fun but the "art quilt" style isn't really me. I think I need a more traditional layout and some embroidered bits to tell the story. I'm not sure what to do with that start, but at least I'll show you:
  
  
• Make some pleated blocks. Or tiny patchwork. 
• Decide what to make for the Urban Home Goods Swap.
 

That's it for now. I'm hoping today doesn't end as crappy as I think it will. 

Pillows Pillows Everywhere!

Has anyone else noticed that Pillows seem to be the hottest quilted item around? I have. Maybe it's just the fact that I have a couple from the Pillow Talk Swap? Or that I use mine all the time? I think it's a great trend because it's essentially a way to make a doll sized quilt but use it for something other than decoration (or warming dollies). Although I hate that making pillows require the use of pillow forms, which are expensive. 

I just read that SewMamaSew is designating this February as pillow month. I love that especially since I have one that's in the process of being made. And it's pretty fantastic if I say so myself. Again, a great big thanks to Cherie for having us all make Dresden plates for January's bee block. I made a great practice, then added another layer of petals, and a ton of detail work. It'll eventually be a pillow for my daughter's big girl bed (which she isn't in yet...). Here's a little peek at it.

 PS: Linked up at Quiltstory for Fabric Tuesday!

Just a little update...

My endeavours of raising money for the Sewing Summit is on hold for another week or two... I just realised that the Summit is about 9 months away... so I probably can't make a clear decision about it for another two months, otherwise I could (hopefully), potentially be either seriously pregnant or having a baby at that time. As life is though, we've been trying for too long without success for me to hold my breath about being pregnant instead of being at the Summit. We'll see. Have I ever mentioned that TTC is just no fun anymore. I should have about 3 sets of twins by now for all that we've tried!

Enough of that sob story.

I actually did some sewing today. A very little bit. My mom is in town and she sleeps in my sewing room (on an air mattress poor thing). Since I sew mostly at night, it just doesn't happen with guests. Just now (during nap time) I managed to finish cutting fabric for my bee month (thanks Katy for sending me some much needed Kona grey!!). It's official I'm sending too much fabric. I didn't know how else to allow enough for my bee members to pick their own colors/order. So whatever, I'll use up those scraps forever and love it! I also finally sewed my practice Dresden to some white fabric so I can start embroidering on it. :) That was my little bit of sewing!

On a great note, I have all my bee fabric ready to send (need to type out instructions), All my envelopes are addressed. My mug rug (s) for Mug Rug Swap III are finished. My birthday gift for my friend Michelle is finished. I feel accomplished even though I didn't do much!

Hopefully I'll have some sweet stitchy embroidery to show tomorrow! Have a good Sunday!

Big thoughts.... need opinions!

A post is boring without a picture...)

So here's the thing. I really would love to attend a new blogging/sewing conference/retreat called the Sewing Summit, which will be held for the first time this October. The Summit will be taking place in Salt Lake City and well, for me it's out of my budget. Completely. I'm not one of those people who needs to be on a fabric diet, and I'm not one who can churn out 15 quilts a year, simply because I don't make enough money to put into this hobby. We're broke. There it is.

So thinking about this, and knowing that I'd love to go to the Sewing Summit, I've been brainstorming. I have never sold a quilt. I've never sold anything on Etsy. I'm not sure that that's the best way to go for this. But I'd like to raise some money (I'm thinking between room and board, supplies, general expenses, and admission, --hopefully Wally's pilot friend will be able to get me tickets?-- I need to budget about $500 for this - ouch!). I was thinking of making a quilt and raffling it off on my blog. But now I see that it's almost definitely illegal to do that (it goes by state and I can't seem to find anything online for Illinois). So I could auction it off... like ebay? That is legal (correct me if I'm wrong).

So now I'm back to thinking Etsy again... but one quilt won't bring that much money, and there are tons and tons of quilt listings there; it would likely take months if not longer to sell one there, being that I'm an unknown seller with no feedback rates.

I do have one option, which I've never thought that I'd want to do... but if anyone knew someone wanting to have a quilt made for them. I could do a custom order sort of thing, but I'd prefer if the purchaser liked modern fabrics that I won't hate to work with. Once again, I've never done this before.... I have no clue where to start for pricing on these types of things. I'm thinking for a crib or lap quilt (according to the sale prices on etsy?) about in the $130-$150+ range. Does that sound reasonable? A quilt like this would take me at least two weeks of solid work to make/quilt/bind etc. Someone tell me if I'm way off here.

For my facebook friends who are wondering what my style is, please check out my blog (http://mommysnaptime.blogspot.com) and/or my flickr account (http://www.flickr.com/photos/emedoodle/)

Any advice, encouragement, suggestions etc would be great!!! :)

Thanks in advance!

Hey Flickr people...

I just started a flickr group called Quilts in Action, to gather up all the gorgeous pics of our hard work being put to good use. My goal is to be able to see quilts, not just as art but also as a useful and lovingly handmade item. I'm looking for your pics of babies on quilts, kids playing in a fort made of quilts, people (and pets) of all ages cuddling under them, and also decorative quilts hanging where they are displayed. This includes mug rugs in use. Please join up; I'd love to see your hard work in action! Spread the word! :)

Zip Pouches again!

Michelle if you're reading this stop. Otherwise you won't be surprised!

Yesterday I got busy sewing up some zip pouches. My best friend in the world is celebrating her birthday in a couple weeks so I had to whip up something special to send to her. Last year she got this wonderful doll quilt (my first free motion quilting!). This year, something a bit more useable. This zip bag measures at about 4.5" x 8.5" a good size for storing just about anything. I tried to keep it mature, although the only zipper I could find was bright pink! lol.

I made a second one, but didn't get too far because upon opening up the packaging for my second zipper, I found that it was missing the entire top of the zipper pull! How does that happen? I'm hoping Joann's doesn't give me trouble when I try to return it. It's definitely been sitting in my drawer for a few weeks, no receipt. I just want a replacement. That was the only other zipper I had. So the second bag will have to wait! The second one is a little thank you gift for Allie's fav. speech therapist (who she'll no longer be seeing since she doesn't require as much therapy anymore). I'm planning on adding a little note and a Starbucks gift card. That's cool right? I know it's not typically acceptable to really give gifts, but Ann has helped us a ton, and has been with Allie since she started Early Intervention almost two years ago! We'll be sad to see her go!

Linking up to Fabric Tuesday.