Catching up...

(Let me start out by saying that you may want to read to the end of this post...  Just sayin'!)  

It's been quite awhile since I did a blog post, hasn't it?  Well, first I had a little mishap with my machine.  I hit a pin, which has happened a million times, but somehow this one went down into the bobbin case and created all kinds of havoc.  I've hit pins before, but never with such a devastating result.  In the process of becoming accordion pleated itself, said pin dislodged the bobbin case, nicked the shield to the bobbin case, and generally prevented the machine from stitching.  Hence, Penelope made a quick visit to the doctor.  Thankfully, the repairman was able to fix her and get her up and running for only the cost of a service call (despite the up to $250 estimate I received - whew!).  And truly, she's been used hard this year, so a service call was sorely needed anyway.

And the other reason I haven't posted lately is that I've become totally obsessed with my GMFG quilt top.  It seems to consume all my spare time.  For some reason, I seem to work on it compulsively.  My friend made me 100-or-so yellow hexies for the fences, and so I was able to get to this point...

And I couldn't rest until I made about 100 more...

And so it progresses.

And it's a perfect project to do when you can't do anything else...

So, while I was following all the commenting on Flickr about my Waterfall pillow, I got the feeling that I was on the wrong track for my partner.  (But on the right track for my son, apparently - this is the only one of  my projects he has faved on Flickr!)

So I made another, which I hope is more to my partner's taste.  I love that I was able to use up some binding I had left over from my Outfoxed quilt, and lots of other scraps.  I've been wanting to make a plus pillow.  It was really fun.  There may be more plus projects in my future!

So that's what's been going on around here.  What have you been up to?  I'd love to hear!  Leave a comment and tell me about your latest project.  There may be a little something in it for you.  (Hint!)

TTFN

Waterfall

I feel like I've been procrastinating in this swap forever, but I suppose that is because it started before Thanksgiving and doesn't end til the end of January.  Seriously, my mother always said I work better out of desperation than inspiration, and I'm not one to start a project too early.  In this swap, you make your partner a large item and a small item.  My partner suggested several things she might like, among them was a pillow.

This shape has been haunting me lately, and I just had to do something with it.  So the other day I sat down and drew it, cut it out, added a seam allowance and cut it out again.

When I was at the Drug Store the other day, I found these three fabrics and they just sang to me, so I had to bring them home.

I really had a lot of fun making this pillow.  The quilting was fun too.  I used a teal print on the back with a little of the square tiles fabric, then used the leftover for the piping.  It's got a matching invisible zipper in the back - part of my $25-for-100-zippers purchase awhile ago.  I'm never at a loss for zippers any more, at least!

A really fun and fairly quick little project. 

I hope she likes it!

Sweet!

I think (hope?) I am finally out of my motivational slump.  I managed to actually create something yesterday, but since it is a swap where you know  your partner, I can't show the whole thing yet.  Since it was due on the 15th, I am a bit tardy, but not so much that I am going to feel horribly guilty about it.  I was in my LQS one day last week buying binding for Swoon, and found a few pieces of Sandy Gervais' Flirt that were just perfect for this project.  An idea popped into my head and I just ran with it.  This one is a Valentine mug rug in a conversation heart sort of style. I thought it turned out pretty cute, so I can't wait to send it off and see what my partner thinks!

In other news, Swoon was waiting on my doorstep when I got home from work on Tuesday.  Oh my!  Is she ever pretty!  Amanda wanted me to use the Lark gray stripe for binding with a 6-inch red piece.  So Wednesday after work I paid a visit to my LQS, as mentioned above.  I was just going to buy enough of the gray stripe to bind this monster.  Instead, a whole bunch of other stuff jumped into my buggy.

But the binding is on the quilt now and I've got about 1/4 of it hand sewn.  I must really love this girl, because I NEVER hand-sew quilt bindings.  And this one is 420 inches of binding.  True love.  Sweet!

Unmotivated...

As 2013 enters its third week, I find myself uncharacteristically unmotivated.  I just can't seem to settle down and get the things done that I need to accomplish.  I started the year off productively, getting two WIPs to the sandwich stage

and making the blocks for my 3x6 Bee - mates.

And that's pretty much it.

Well, if I'm honest, I guess I would have to say that I've become pretty much obsessed with my GMFG quilt.

It started out like this...

And I added a bunch of these...

And they became this...

And now I have this.  I have to say that it's a lot more fun to add the flowers than the fences, even though I'm very happy with this sunny yellow color.  I like the way it helps the other colors to pop.  But I think it will be awhile before I can add any more flowers.  Lots of fencing to do in this garden first!

Meanwhile, in hopes that some accountability will help me do other things as well, I've linked up with Leanne's Finish-A-Long.  Since this is a quarterly project, and since my goal was 13 in 2013, here's my plan:

January:  Ari's Anthropologie Quilt
February:  Fairy Tale Friends
March:  Jelly Roll Race Quilt

   

Oh, and I got word from the quilter that Swoon is on its way home - lots of binding to do on that one - it's 108 inches square! 

I have two swaps that I need to get done next weekend though.  For.  Sure. 

Block Party

I worked on bee blocks this past weekend. 

I was in the 3x6 Bee as caretaker of the Pinwheels hive, so of course I chose a pinwheel block.  For once I chose an easy block that was quick to make, which was good because I spent most of the weekend with my foot elevated.  Hard to do that and sew!

This was a block that I found on last year's calendar.  I really like it.

One of the fun things about the 3x6 Bee is that you make the same block in different colorways.  It lets you see how the colors play together.  My friend and I have been talking about making a quilt like this - the same block in different colorways.  I think it would be gorgeous.

Apparently the only picture I took of this block was with my phone.  The blue is the same as in the blue/green block above, but it doesn't look the same here, does it?  Anyway, you get the idea.

Two of the members of this hive wanted rainbow blocks.  I was trying to figure out how I was going to do that with this block when I noticed this crayon fabric sitting right beside the sewing machine.  I had been auditioning it for something else, but it was perfect for these rainbow blocks.

I also made a few blocks for my friend Marian in the Bee Awesome bee.  The tutorial for the Bee Simple block is here.  She asked for three blocks, and I told her I would make a few more.  At first I made 7.

But they were so easy and so fun, I ended up making a round dozen.  I usually don't like blocks with gray in them, but I have to say, this color combination is so soothing, I may have to make myself a quilt using these colors.  Every time I looked at the blocks I just felt good.  Maybe gray does have its place in the world after all.

Finally, I got out my GMFG blocks and started putting those together.

Progress is pretty slow, but it's coming.  It's a great project for sitting in the recliner with your foot up.

Sorry for the distracting background in this photo, but I am making progress.  I'm out of yellow hexies again, so it's time to make some more.  I think this is going to be an ongoing project, and although it's on my 13 in 2013 list, I will be very surprised if this one is done by the end of the year.  It will be enough just to have made some progress, since it's all sewn by hand.  I am really loving the way this is coming together.  I think this may be a favorite quilt, if it ever gets done!

So that's what's been going on in the prsd4tim2 studio this week.  What have you been up to?

Catching Up on Swappy Stuff

With all of the December activities around here - swooning, postering, boxing, wrapping, packing and traveling - there were a lot of things left undone.  One of them was posting all the wonderful swappy stuff I received in December.

First are the four wonderful packages I received in the Trim the Tree swap.  The Trim the Tree swap is the very first swap I ever participated in on Flickr, and I look forward to it every year.  Not as many participants this year as in years past, and a slightly different format, I think meant to reduce stress on the swap mama, but just as fun as ever.  It's always so exciting to see what people come up with, and this year was no different.  Such a fun assortment of Christmas decorations.  Since I didn't put up a Christmas tree this year (as you can see from the photo - this is only a pseudo tree, put up at the last minute because I couldn't stand the lack of Christmasy atmosphere here!) these will wait until next year when I (hopefully) will decorate more.  We're staying home next year.

This adorable jingle bell snowman was from Shelly.  Isn't he cute?  So much so that I examined him carefully to see how she did it.

A giant jingle bell and a child's Christmas sock seem to figure prominently here.  I love it!  I wouldn't be surprised to see a few more of these next year.

Next is are the ornament(s) Synnove sent.  I love the little basket - it reminds me of a May basket, and will be adorable on the tree - maybe filled with Christmas treats?  The crochet heart is fun also, and might just make an appearance at Valentine's Day as well.  But honestly, I am truly jazzed by the fabric Synnove sent.  I haven't seen this one before, so it will be great fun to add to the stash.  Hope I remember it's there and use it next year.

Muriel sent this adorable Christmas pennant.  Won't this be fabulous on the tree?

Muriel also sent a little Sinterklaas, the Dutch Santa.  She explained that the Dutch celebrate this holiday on December 5.  He is super tiny, maybe 1/2 inch altogether, with another inch for the strings hanging down, but oh-so-cute!

The cute little Christmas house is from Nikki.  It is made from 30's fabric.  I love the little cowboy on the door.  Really sweet.

I also received some bee blocks.  This one is from Kat in Australia in the Sew Fun Bee.  I had asked these ladies to help me finish the blocks for my Granny Square quilt, and they really stepped up.  I have enough blocks now, I think, so all I have to do is make a quilt.  {grin}  I love the orange and aqua combination she used.  It has been a favorite since Arielle chose it for her wedding.

This block is from Cara.  I love this one.  It reminds me of a summer day.  Nice!

This package came while we were gone for Christmas.  Oddly, it required ID to retrieve it from the post office, and WH said he didn't know anyone in Indonesia so I had to go pick it up myself, which isn't always easy when you work the same hours as the post office is open.  Luckily, we had a couple of medical appointments yesterday, so I was able to get by the post office on my way to work.

Inside was this beautiful block from Henny.  I almost never sew with batiks, so this will be a unique addition to my quilt.

Henny also made me this fun little pouch. I have been wanting a pencil pouch to fit in my scripture tote, since my markers and ruler seem to escape fairly often.  This is perfect!  So thoughtful!

Here is the package I received from Kristel in the Modern Scrappy Bits Swap.  This package came all the way from Alberta, so it has a selection of things we don't have in the States, I think.

She chose an amazing selection of fabric scraps for me.  Some I have seen, but most are new to me.  I am really going to enjoy these.

And she stalked me so well that she even included one of her favorite needles after she read my rant about needles a few weeks ago.  It's a Bohin needle, which I've never seen before.  Can't wait to try it.

She also included some wool for crewel embroidery.  I used to do a lot of crewel work, but haven't done any in years, so this will be fun!

Finally, I received a fun package from Heather for the December Swap in the Sew Fun Bee.  Since there were only 11 of us, we decided to swap fun little gifts in December.  I don't know where Heather found the time to create all this - she had a baby on December 3, I think.

I love the way this little pouch coordinates so well with the one I received from Kristel.  I am planning to use them to organize the various small projects I have going on.  Zip lock bags are useful, but sooooo boring.

And I have been coveting one of these cathedral windows pinnies forever.  I love cathedral windows, but haven't tried to make one for myself yet.  Maybe now I won't have to?

Thanks everyone for brightening my holidays and making all these special goodies just for me.