Fun Mail

Spicing Up the Kitchen 2 package from sewlikesue

Yesterday, WH started to go out to get the mail, opened the door and shouted, "You have Fun Mail!" and I thought, "What could that be?"  I had totally forgotten that I hadn't received my package from the SUTK2 swap.  What a fun surprise!  I opened it up, and look at the cool stuff that sewlikesue included.  I always need dish towels and pot holders, and these are awesome.  My potholders are old, burned, and worn out, so these gorgeous new ones are most welcome.  And I think WH must use my dish towels for paint rags, because aside from the ones my sister made me for my birthday a couple of years ago, they are few and far between.  The lovely decorative dish towel is also most welcome.

But would you check out that luscious table runner?  It's gorgeous!  And look how well it goes with my placemats from meanfish2 in the placemat swap!  I asked her if she planned it, and she said no, but if not planned then truly inspired.  Just look at this:

Won't they be great together?  Now, how cool is that?

I also received 6 more blocks for my Christmas village quilt in the CF Bee.  June was my month, and my blocks are trickling in, but it's ok, because I know I won't get to them til fall, anyway.  Every single block is just awesome!  Look -

CF Bee Blocks from domesticass

I was truly dying for a block like this! A flying Santa!  How perfect is that for the family of an airline pilot?

And I just love the stone foundation of this little house.  And the candy roof.  So cool!

CF Bee Blocks from CNSnow

Isn't this the perfect little house for a Christmas village?

And the snowy tree and presents are awesome too

CF Bee from breathe and sew

I just love these snowy hills - won't they look great in my village?

And this little house is soooo cute!  Love it!

So, I've received half of my blocks for my Christmas village quilt.  I'm sure the rest will be along shortly.  These are all so wonderful, I am sure my quilt will be gorgeous.  I actually have enough fabric, I could maybe make 2 or 3 quilts.  Hmmmm....  maybe that's an idea for some Christmas gifts.  Well, whatever - it will all need to wait until after September.

In other news, I am finally making progress on Pauline's gifts for the Santa Sack swap.  I had planned to do them last weekend, but with BD#2 home, I really didn't do any sewing.  (I did mend some stuff she had sent home with me months ago, though.  THAT's pretty amazing.)  Anyway, I did promise Pauline I would put her package in the mail on the 14th, which is the date she requested.  I'm going to include July, August, and September's gifts, since sewing time will be limited for the next little while.  More bang for the buck, you know.

Anyway, have a great week.  Happy sewing!

Block Party Saturday

First Time Bee Blocks for Saricx

It's been another Block Party Saturday, and I'm trying to finish all my bee sewing before next weekend when the wedding invitations are in.  There won't be much more sewing after that for awhile, I think. 

This is the last month for the First Time Bee, and I'm really going to miss it.  It has been such a fun bee to participate in.  Everyone has chosen something different, and each one has tested both my skills and my creativity.  I've learned a ton in this bee.  The ladies in this bee have been wonderful.  Every single one has followed through every month.  I understand that this isn't always the case, so I am very appreciative.  And the creativity these ladies exhibit is just awesome!

This is actually a copy of the inspiration block, but Sarah said she would particularly like a hexi block similar to this.  I hope she likes it.  It was a pretty fun block to make, but I had to really talk to myself to convince myself to cut the hexis so that I could attach the borders.  It was like chopping into an old friend.

Here is the other block I made.  I've been wanting to try something like this for awhile, so I experimented on this block.  I kind of like it.  It was a very simple block.  I pieced strips of different widths in rows, cut it apart, and put it back together.  I kind of like the effect.  Kind of reminds me of mountains and valleys on a sunshiny day.

CF Bee block for Corley

Corley wanted improv fussy-cut blocks, and sent the fussy cuts already done.  I wasn't feeling very angular, so I just randomly sewed the pieces together.  I had a vague plan in mind,, and it turned out pretty much like I thought it would.  This was a fun block to do.  It's huge, too, at 16-1/2 inches.  Wow!

CF Bee Block for Marci

This is the final block I made.  I really love this star block.It's going to make a gorgeous quilt.  I had a little trouble following the directions.  It said something like add 1/4 inch for seam allowance, and I couldn't quite figure out how that was supposed to work, but after I got the block together the first time, I did figure out that it wasn't working, so I had to take it apart and re-do it.  It actually turned out a bit small, so I hope she can still use it.

So, I'm all caught up for now.  The CF Bee has one more month to run, I think, and then it's over too. Making bee blocks is just so relaxing, I think I'm going to have to find a new bee or two to participate in starting this fall. 

Happy sewing!

Fun Mail

Lately, when WH goes to get the mail, he is frequently heard to call out, "You've got fun mail."  I love that he is almost as excited as I am to see those interesting envelopes show up in the box.  

So, guess what I got in the mail yesterday?  {Jumps up and down and dances in circles!}  My Sewn Spaces Swap sewing machine cover came!  Would you just look how cute this is?  LRH is so adorable inside the star.  Can't wait to put this baby on my machine!  I asked for bright and cheerful, and this certainly fills the bill.  So, so cute!

My partner, quiltergirl80 had a family emergency and was called away in the middle of the swap.  I have to admit that before I knew the story, I despaired of getting a cover.  I consoled myself with the thought that I got a great cover from Suzettra in the Make Mine Modern Swap, notwithstanding the fact that I have 4 sewing machines.  Or is it 5? 

But despite a pretty darn difficult month, Kristy came home and sat down and made a cover for my sewing machine.  I am pretty impressed.  And, I'm pretty durn lucky, huh!

And that wasn't all the "fun mail" I've received this week.  I got  6 more blocks for my Christmas quilt and the fabric to make the block for Marci's block.  Too fun!

Here are my 6 blocks!

CF Bee Blocks from Julie @ Distant Pickles

CF Bee Blocks from kristina_withak

CF Bee Blocks from toerintx

So, we've had a pretty fun mail week here.

And in other news, I finally finished the placemats for  Placemat Quilt Swap 6.  Here's another sneak peek. 

When I finished the quilting on the other side, I got this idea that it would be fun to embroider the dragonflies.  Boy, did that take forever.  I figured it would take about an hour or so for each placemat.  It took more like 4 hours each.  And you know, once you've begun, the only thing to do is continue on.  I did one Thursday evening and one Friday evening and started at 6 am Saturday.  With only a few minutes off for breakfast and a shower, I finally finished about 1:30.  Then I had to bind them, package them, and head off to the post office.  So, they were late, but not by much.  I'm pretty happy with them.  I hope my partner thinks they're worth the wait.

Weekend Progress

Here are my finishes for this weekend.  Hard to believe it's all I have to show for a whole weekend's work...  Well, I did finish 8 placemat tops, but they're not quilted yet and I can't take pics until my partner receives them.  So here goes...

Black and White "Pop" Block for misscarolann53

Black and White "pop" block for misscarolann53

CF Bee block for Julie@DistantPickles

Mug Rug Swap Adventure 2 for my partner

So Far Behind... Big Sewing Weekend Planned

This is the PTS4 pillow I received from Lexiloo in January

Don't forget about my Little Apples giveaway  which ends Saturday at midnight Central time. 

Since BD#1 introduced me to Flickr and swapping last fall, I've been having a great time.  I have had fun making projects for others, and received some awesome things in return.  I have tried things I might never have tried if it hadn't been for the creative challenge of the swap.  My own creativity has been stimulated as I observed what others have done.  It has been a blast.

But, as with so many things in my life, if a little is good, a lot is better.  When I was a kid, my mom would say that my eyes were bigger than my stomach.  I think maybe it's the same principle.

And I didn't expect the distraction of a wedding...  or a second trip to Salt Lake City in less than a month...

And so now I am way behind, and deadlines are looming.

The good news is that I have this weekend to sew, and I am determined to get these projects done on time (the placemat swap is due June 23, but everything else is due July 1). 

Here is my list for the weekend:

1.  Placemat Quilt Swap 6.  This one is new to me and it sounded like so much fun!  My partner keeps sending me teasing emails and even posted a black and white picture of her project, complete with polka dots and stripes, and it has points, similar to a Dresden.  Such a tease!  And I know what I'm going to do - finally - so it's just a matter of sitting down to do it.  Let's just say that I'm thinking "summer"...

2.  Pillow Talk Swap 5.  I loved PTS4, although that was my first "real" swap.  I really struggled with it, and I don't think I would do that project again if I had it to do over, but it was a real learning experience.  I received not one but TWO great pillows from my partner.  Here's the second one...

This is the other pillow I received in PTS4 from my partner, Lexiloo.

3.  Mug Rug Swap Adventure 2.  This is another swap that is new to me, but it sounded like so much fun.  One of my partners from a prior swap is the swap mama.  Mug rugs are amazingly hard for me.  They are so small and look so easy, but their size is deceptive.  But I have an idea for this one too, and just have to execute it in fabric.  For this one, I'm thinking "beach"....

4.  Spicing Up the Kitchen.  I did the first round of this swap and it was a blast. My partner gave some pretty good hints, so I know exactly what I want to do for this one, but my idea seems a little bit challenging, and will require WH's help.  I've been admiring the embroidery hoop clocks - in fact, BD#1 actually received one in a swap and I wanted to swipe it, but restrained myself.  Anyway, I found an awesome tutorial online, and can't wait to try it.  I really struggled with this one last time too, but I'm hoping this time it will go smoothly.

5.  Santa Sack Swap.  This one is not a Flickr swap, but it sounded like so much fun.  You make a large Santa Sack, and two items and send to your partner on July 1st.  Then, 2 items a month until December.  On Christmas Day, your partner gets to open her sack with all her gifts in it.  This one isn't a secret swap, so I'll have to be discrete with the photos and hints.  My partner is Pauline from the UK.  She has already sent me her 1st package, so I really feel like a slacker.

6.  Christmas Fabric Bee.  June was my month for the CF Bee, and I mailed my fabric {almost} on time (it went out June 1st), so that's one I can wait a little bit on.  {The blocks the ladies are making and posting on Flickr are AWESOME!!!  I'm so excited about this quilt.  It is going to be way fun!}  The other QB for June is Julie, and she chose a "village" of trees and houses.  My assignment is a tree block, so that shouldn't be too hard, although she wanted pieced blocks, not appliqued, so that takes a little more thinking maybe.

7.  First Time Bee.  Carol has asked  us to do a black and white block with a pop of color.  I have ideas of what I will do for my two blocks, so it's just a matter of actually doing it.

So, I think that's it.  Over committed?  Undoubtedly.  Insurmountable?  No, I don't think so.

I will say that I have scaled way back for the rest of the summer.  I have a wedding to help organize and a wedding dress to alter, after all.  The good news is that it's too hot to be distracted by ANYTHING that has to do with outside. { It IS Father's Day weekend, and WH probably deserves a bit of attention.  I told him I'd take him to a movie.  And we'll probably do dinner or something easy.}

And I just couldn't resist another round of the Make Mine Modern swap - it was SO much fun last time, but I don't even have my partner for that one yet, so I've got awhile. 

Anyway wish me luck - and a productive weekend.

Happy sewing!

Block Party Saturday

Mondo Bird pair for Laine in First Time Bee.

With all the craziness going on at my house lately - graduation, Quilt Market, work and DD#2 getting engaged, I've fallen behind on my swaps and bees, so I spent yesterday catching up. 

Taking the most tardy first, I completed the Mondo birds for justplainlaine in the First Time Bee.  I tried them a couple of weeks ago, and messed them up, so I was a little bit intimidated going back to them, but I was pleased with the results.

Mondo Mom

Mondo Baby

Then I worked on the blocks for the 3x6 Bee.  I had a terrible time with these because my pattern was for a 12 -inch block and I was supposed to make 12.5 inch blocks, and somehow I didn't ever seem to get the math right.  To top it off, I broke my quilting foot just before quilt market and haven't been able to find a replacement locally.  Guess I'll have to hunt the Net.  In any event, here are the blocks I made...  Can you believe 6 blocks took me all day? 

For Sabi - green and cranberry with pink and orange

For Darcy - autumn theme

For Dorrie - blue, aqua, green

For Dustin - beige, burgundy and dark brown

For Kathleen - greens and burgundies (totally missed the sunset comment though, sorry)

For Micci - blue

I have also received 5 of my 6 blocks for the 3x6 Bee.  It has been fun to get little packages in the mail the last couple of weeks!

From Sabi

From Darcy

From Dustin

From Kathleen

From Micci

Block Party Saturday

All this travel has gotten me behind on some swaps and projects.  I've really got to get with it.  Today, I decided that I could at least get caught up on Bee blocks.  I expected it to take a couple of hours.  Well, I did get some blocks done, but it seemed to take a lot longer than I thought it should.

Carrie wanted picture blocks.  I don't know why, but I always seem to have a little trouble visualizing how the angles should go.  I made a big mistake and cut some fabric wrong, which made the second block (above) a real challenge.  Finally got both these blocks completed.

The bento block was for Kristina.  She had all the pieces cut and so this one was really easy.  A little trimming and it was all done.

I still have a couple of blocks to make for the First Time Bee.  This bee has been a challenge.  Everyone has chosen something different, and it has really stretched my skills.

 Mary gave us a photo and had us design our own blocks based on the photo.



 

 

I chose Grandmother's Flower Garden, and so we all got to work on hexagons, which turned out to be a lot more fun than I thought it would be. 

Kari chose tree blocks.  I did a couple of different kinds of applique.  Those blocks were really fun.










This month, we are doing Mondo birds.  I haven't ever done them before but there's a great tutorial here. I hope to get those done tomorrow.

And, before the end of the month, I need to finish the Scrappy Mug Rug Swap and the Stitch Duchess Pin Cushion Swap.  I know what I want to do, but I just can't manage to sit down to do it.  It's hard to sew when you're not home.  And I was hoping to get the MIAGIA quilts quilted and bound before Monday.  Hmmm... 

And on a more mundane note, my girls have sent me all their jeans that need mending.  I read somewhere that asking a quilter to mend was like asking Michaelangelo to paint the bathroom.  LOL.  Guess there's always plenty to do.

WIP Weekend Part 1

 Don't forget about Week 4 of my blogiversary giveaway here!

I don't know if any of you do this, but I always seem to over estimate the amount of time I have to complete Christmas projects.  Then, as the day nears, I run out of time and give my family unfinished gifts with the promise to finish them "soon".    Do you do that?  Well, it's probably not the best gift-giving technique, but I do quite a lot of it, actually.  This past Christmas was no different.  Grandma got Abby this adorable growth chart panel from Fabric.com and I was certain I could finish it by Christmas.  No dice.  In fact, I have worked on it pretty consistently since Christmas, and finished it this past week.  So proud.  I even got it mailed this week so now I can show photos of my project.

One side is this cute little plant with inches marked.  I hand quilted around the  images.  It also has places for significant dates, first word, first haircut, etc.  I embroidered the milestones that have been achieved so far.

The other side has name, birthdate, parent's names, etc.

Flower pot and watering can.

Cute little birdie.

It was a lot of fun to do.  I used fusible fleece, and I'm not sure I like it.  It  left the fabric looking crinkled.

This is Abby in her favorite shirt waving "hi" with both hands.

BTW, did I tell you that Abby likes doggies?  Last January I found this little shirt at The Gap for something like $4. Abby loves the shirt.  Abby would like to wear it every day.  Her mommy, however, feels the need to wash the shirt occasionally, which makes our little doggie lover very unhappy sometimes.  So, I came up with what i hope is a solution to the problem.

 Five more doggie shirts.  I found a fabric quarter at JoAnn's and a cute piece of fabric with a doggie on it at our LQS, and appliqued them onto onesies.  I hope they make my Abby-girl happy.

And I finished one more GMFG block the other night while I was watching TV.  Overall, it was a pretty productive week, I think.

This weekend is dedicated to finishing projects that have been on "the list" for too long.

 I finished the Soul Blossoms dress BD#2 and I started last weekend,

and the one I had started before she came home.  I'm especially proud of this one because you know, I love a bargain!  The fabric was on the free table at the January quilt guild meeting.  All I had to buy was lining and a zipper.  There must have been 5 yards there.  I still have enough to make BD#1 a dress and probably even a skirt for me.  The whole dress may have cost $5.

And, while I was at JoAnn's last week, they had this cute broomstick dress fabric on sale.  It was $4 a yard, and I only needed 30 inches.  How's that for a bargain?

This morning I made these Just One Star blocks.  Moda is collecting 1800 blocks to make 100 quilts for America's soldiers and veterans.  I'm married to a veteran, so how could I not?  It only took about an hour, from cutting to completion.  If you're interested, the deadline is May 1.  The pattern is available here.  I was gratified to find out that the Quilts of Valor Foundation has collected and donated 37,000 quilts to service members and veterans.  Way to go!

Then I made this block for Toerintx for the Christmas Fabric Bee.  She asked everyone to make something that represented Christmas.  I had a tough time deciding what to do.  I had a different idea originally, but this one kind of made itself.  Do you like it better with or without the button?  I think the button finishes it, but it's not a very comfortable thing to have on a quilt, so I can't decide.

EDIT:

Jessica suggested I try a yo-yo in the center instead of the button to finish it off, and I tried it.  I really like it a lot better now.  Thanks for the suggestion, Jessica.  Why didn't I think of that myself?

We were to make 2 blocks, and  my other block is an angel.  What do you think?  I left the block a little big.  She can trim it if she needs to, or if it doesn't work on point, she can add triangle blocks to make it square.  Her face is awfully pink...  Is it too pink?  It is the petal of a poinsettia from 12 Days of Christmas, I think.  Oh well, it's made now.

I am participating in the Sewn Spaces Swap.  The idea is to make your secret partner a sewing machine cover.  I need to get my act together because the deadline to mail is next Saturday.  About the time the swap started, I became aware of a Charley Harper sew-along on Flickr.  I had never heard of Charley Harper before, but I really like his images.  They are so "quilt-able".  I had several choices in mind for the front of the sewing machine cover I am making my partner.  Here is what I came up with....

I actually really like it.  I hope my partner does.  She is a bit challenging for me because her color palette was full of colors I don't have in my stash. I still have to quilt and bind the cover, but that should go fairly quickly, I hope.

And for tomorrow?  Here is the list...

Finish the sewing machine cover
Make the tote bag and pot holders for PP7
Make blocks for the Spring Citrus Surprise Swap
Quilt the 2 MIAGIA quilts for the Guild meeting on Monday night.

How far down the list do you think I will get?