WIP Wednesday

Happy Wednesday!  Hope things are productive in your house today, it's felt a little slow over here recently.

I've been working on these two projects for a while now and have been trying to pick up speed this month.

I'm hand quilting this shoo fly quilt that I put together maybe two years ago.  ugh, that's shameful!!  I really love this one, it'll be fantastic once it's finished.  It's ginormous and has already been approved as nap-quality.

I started this cross stitch project (purchased here - her patterns are so incredible, I want to buy them all and maybe one day I will) also a really long time ago.  I bought this pattern with Abby in mind and want to frame it and hang it in her room when it's done.  She really loves it and keeps asking if it's done yet.  And then asking me why it's taking so long, ha!  Darling filter-free child.

What are you working on this month?

Linked up to WIP Wednesday this time! Check out the other posts by people making wonderful things.

WIP Wednesday

Happy Halloweeeeeen!! again...two posts in one day!  Yahoo! 


Done:


-Halloween costumes: We had our ward Halloween party last night and the kids ran their costumes around, and one of them got barfed on...yuck...but they looked sooooo good! And they were so excited to wear them!

 

-I made TWO Wiksten Tova Tops this week and am already planning out the next ones. 

My husband was pretty impressed that I could sew myself a shirt and not look like a homeless pilgram.  He said I should make one in blue (which obviously means I need to buy some of this fabric right?!). I highly recommend this pattern.  I didn't make a muslin and both shirts turned out wonderfully.   And this was the first real garment I've ever made for myself.  It was wonderful.


-I finished up these Fly a Kite pillow covers that have been sitting on my dryer for way too long!  I don't know why I waited so long on these, they were so easy and I kindof want to keep them all!  But they'll be in my shop soon.

-I got two small quilts quilted, binding cut and made for another one, and found a solution to a problem I was stuck with in another quilt top!  Weekends are productive for me : )


Still To do this week:


-I've got bee blocks to finish, and if you're waiting for one from me I promise this is the week I am getting caught up!!  And I apologize for keeping you waiting...being late is really anti my usual way of operating.  I'm usually 10 minutes to things and then wondering if I'm in the right place because I'm the first one there, haha! 


-I've got bee fabrics to cut and mail as I'm in charge of a couple bees in November, so that also means directions to post to Flickr.  I'll share these since I'm pretty excited for what I've come up with! 



What do you have going on this week? Is your week as busy as mine?  Probably busier, I can get a little dramatic in my head sometimes ; )

Linking up as usual to WIP Wednesday at Lee's! 

WIP Wednesday: Halloween Edition

So, this week is going by faster than it should.  We are having a black and orange Halloween party at our house on Friday (yeah, two days away Friday...) and so I'm narrowing my sewing this week to catching up on Bee blocks and Halloween sewing.

Finished

(or almost finished...) I basted the heck out of some small quilt tops.  Now I just need to finish quilting them, but at least they got moved one step ahead!

Halloween Quilt: 
-So excited to get some good pictures of this.  I love it.  It'll get it's own post soon too, promise ; )

Halloween Bunting and Tutorial:
-You can find that post here.  I love mine.  Adds some happiness to the blank wall!

Bee blocks:
-one day this past week my kids fell asleep at 6:30 so I had a great night of sewing.  I apologize if you follow me on Instagram because you'll have already seen 90% of these pics : /

I got so much done I had time to work on my fun time just for me project.  I sew scraps together, mostly strips, with no direction or editing in mind, and it's pure blissful therapy to see what happens!  Here's what I've got so far:

 I love how it's turning out!

Halloween Costumes:
-Pinkie Pie from My Little Pony - DONE!  I'll have a better picture (I hope) after the thrill of having a tail has worn off.  This is the best I got, she just wouldn't sit still for it!

 This was made by following a tutorial on Craftiness is Not Optional that Jess did for her girls this Halloween.  I tell you what, and it might sound silly, but I was able to make this and it totally doesn't look like a craft project disaster!  I'm actually much more confident that I understand how patterns work and how pieces go together so I'm going to plunge forward and make more clothes!  As you'll see further on in my list.

If you have a little pony in your house, this is a great tutorial!!

Still need to make:
-Mario costume for the monkey boy
-Halloween pillow (just needs to be quilted and assembled)
-Black and Orange shirt for me!  I'm making a Wiksten Tova Tunic and Tank but hope to have one done to wear Friday and the other done to wear on Halloween!  Most of all I'm excited about the fabrics and scared to mess them up.  Wish me luck!

I'm linking up (in time!) to WIP Wednesday over here.  I've already seen some great projects I want to add to my "someday make this" list.  Go look!

Thank you to all who have entered my giveaway so far!  I'm enjoying your comments so much!!  I'm going to compile a list of all the books you've suggested so y'all can see, it's a great variety!

If you haven't entered, there's still time!  Here is the post, and you've got until tonight when I'll close the comments.  I'll pick a winner tomorrow! 

100 day Hustle List

Have you seen this new get together with link-ups and prizes and motivation and awesome from Kelsey here?

This is exactly what I need.  Though it might be a tad embarrassing to publish (part of) my list.   

But, thinking how awesome it'll be to start 2013 (in 100 days....freak out now) with a clean or cleaner slate is 100% of why I need this.

Here's my list.... I always put too much on the list.  Always. 

1. Finish this stack of tops on the chair next to my couch. 

In this stack there are 8 unfinished quilts.  7 tops matched with fabric to make backs with and 1 that I need to finish hand quilting.  Half of these are for my Etsy shop, 2 are for me, and 2 are for friends.  They need to be done.

2.  Quilt for my sister-in-law who is having baby boy #2 in November really close to my birthday!!  I've already picked the fabrics and the pattern. 

3.  Halloween quilt - I really want to sit under this one while I hand out Halloween candy...

4. Patchwork Prism QAL - yes....it's still not done.  My template's were off so I might stray from the pattern so I don't break my brain. 

5. Three charity quilts.  One is already a top, the other two are still blocks.  Need to either make more or do borders for those. 

6. I'd also like to keep afloat in all the bee's I'm in and so that's got to be on this list too. 

7.  Get my Hexy MF hexagons all sewn up. Maybe have the top finished. 

8. Farmer's Wife quilt blocks assessed, and a separate goal made for that one. 

9.  Matthew wants a Mario quilt for Christmas, but it might become a pillow.

10.  Halloween costumes - Mario, Pinkie Pie from My Little Pony.

11. Two wedding quilts that are way overdue need to get planned.  

12.  Make a Tova Tunic and Tank.  I already have the patterns and know the fabric I want to use, but time is the problem now.  And being a teeny bit scared of Garment sewing.  I want to have one to wear on Halloween though so that should be happening soon too. 

15.  A Christmas quilt or pillow or somethin' would be awesome.  

14.  Get the little lady face potty trained!  I know, not sewing related but this would really be awesome.  

Don't worry, this is only half my "real" list.  But that's enough for now. 

I can't believe this year has gone so fast.  I've already got a huge list of things I want to make next year! 

WIP Wednesday

It's my husband's birthday today!!  We stayed up late last night (he helped someone move last minute and I watched Twin Peaks of course) so I'm letting him sleep in while I wake up with the kids.  I'm not sure yet what we'll do but I know there will be an Ice Cream Cake because that's the only thing I could pry out of him that he wanted...

Anyway, since I watched Twin Peaks mostly alone last night I didn't finish my 2nd Swoon block and am finishing it up this morning. 

And here's the first one. I really need to get in order and get some these done or I'm not going to make it!!! In my opinion trimming the HST's is the worst part.  After you've made those it's pretty easy and a fun block to put together. 

I also started a pillow cover for Bee A {Modern} Swapper's June pillow cover swap.  I don't want to show to much.  You'll see more of this in hopefully a more finished form on Friday for the Handmade Parade at Katie's blog.  I have my fingers crossed that my partner will like it. 

And...though I did get charms cut and mailed for 2 more swaps yesterday, I haven't done much else yet this week!!  Sigh...tomorrow I'll be more productive.

Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced.

WIP Wednesday - last minute edition!

I went to sleep at 7:45 Monday night. 

I always have too many windows open in my browser and the hubs doesn't like that because it "pulls" at the internet.... (um, what?)....however, they each represent something important I need to make for a swap, or a bee, or I just need to have it open so I don't forget where it is!!  Does anyone else do this?

I also have too many tops sitting on the dryer and I need to do some basting. 

I use my iPhone for pictures so that's mostly why they usually suck.

This was my to-do pile for today.  In here are 2 bee blocks, 2 fabrics to turn into binding for my Made in Cherry quilt, and the rest of the fabrics for the Patchwork Prism QAL ready to cut.  I've already cut the purples and oranges (I got most of this pile taken care of...keep reading).

Here is the May block for Megan of City Stitches in We Bee Modern.  This was a fun one, as I haven't ever sewn with dark solids before.  Here I used Kona Charcoal and I really like it.  It's brighter in person.

I still have a few more bee blocks to make but it was great to get this one checked off.  It looked a lot more complex in the book and I was a little nervous to get started.

I also finished a long waiting WIP!  My Made in Cherry quilt is done!  I experimented with my new FMQ foot on this one and it was really fun.  I doodled all around the solid purple spots and went in wavy lines over the seams in the patchwork star.

I "finished" cutting out fabric for the Patchwork Prism QAL (I have quotes because I realized I miscut and am short a few green triangles...blah...) and laid the fabrics out.  It's a bit of a hot mess...I am pretty sure the second time I make this quilt will be much better.

 I think this will become a picnic quilt.  I've got some really nice blue fabric that I think is decorator weight.  It's heavier and I hope I'll love it more when it's done...

In other totally random news, we've discovered that my son is absolutely terrified of balloons being popped.  He freaks out big time (this was discovered at the birthday party last weekend).  Shaking, crying, screaming...it's terrible and I have no clue how to help him get over it, except by steering clear of balloons, or anything that could be popped.  Packing materials included.

I am still going to the gym and am dead tired but my biceps have grown so that's good (I've never had biceps before!).  I still look baffoon-ish in the classes I take, but it's growing on me :)

Happy (almost) Thursday!!

I'm last minute linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced!!

WIP Wednesday

Wow what a week.  Just to catch up a bit (Hi to the grandparents - these pictures are for you!)

We're back to a better schedule here, with the little lady taking her naps again.  Husband is taking finals this week and then it's summer jobs for him.  We had a pretty fun weekend though - we went bowling and pitched a new tent in the living room!  We had smores (minus the fire part) and slept in the tent!  The kids thought it was awesome.  And who would have known that they'd both be great at bowling?! I did win the game though :)

I still need to post pictures from Matthew's birthday but we'll save that for later this week.

I got some great mail this week! Along with the wonderful Parisian Star blocks I've been getting from hosting two bee's with the same block in April, plus the lovely house blocks from the ladies of the Bliss circle of do. Good Stitches, I also got my lovely goodies from the ALFALC swap (A Little Fabric A Little Chocolate) all the way from accross the pond!

Oh man that Galaxy bar didn't last long!  Thank you Linda!  This was a fun swap and I'd be doing it again if I didn't have too much already on the list for May.

Ok.  Here's what I got done this week (that I have pictures of).

1 - Made In Cherry Quilt is Quilted!
I received a wonderful new free motion quilting foot from my sister in law, Anna, and put it to good use practicing on my Made in Cherry quilt!  Now I just have to bind it.  I have to say, FMQ-ing is really fun!  It's not as scary as I thought it'd be at all.

I doodled around the solid purple background with loops and stuff.  I like it and am excited to get it finished

2. Zooey goes to the beach! Top finished!
This is a quilt from the Zooey pattern by Lu of For The Love Designs.  I LOVED making this.  It was super easy to put together and I love the way it looks.  The colors didn't quite translate though...the orange parts are actually greens in real life.  I'm calling the quilt Zooey Goes to the Beach because all the colors are sort of sea-foamy greens and remind me of the beach.  I highly recommend this pattern if you're looking for something like this.  You can find all of Lu's pattern's here.

3) I picked and started cutting fabric for the Patchwork Prism QAL (details can be found here)


So...that's what I did!

I also made a list of all the things I have on my WIP list for now.  It's a list of almost 40 things and over half of them have deadlines for this month!  Several swaps for handmade items and bee blocks...lots of bee blocks...so you'll be seeing lots of those from me this month...but they all look fun to make so it will just be another busy month!

I'm linking up to WIP Wednesday with Lee at Freshly Pieced.  Head over and see what everyone's doing!!  And thanks for getting this far too :)

WIP Wednesday

I tried out a few new things this week, and took a couple pictures too!  I have much more that is "in progress" and I even cleaned up my sewing space (and then messed it up picking fabric for the patchwork prism QAL).

First I wanted to share some non-sewing business with you.  I've been trying to hit the gym frequently to get rid of some "extra stuff" I'm carrying around and went with a friend on Monday.  This was new for me.

I don't really like working out around or with people I know.  I'd rather sweat like a fool and look like one around perfect strangers.  But, my friend had invited me to a class, so I laced up my Asics and went.  And I went to the wrong one...in the wrong room... It was an aerobics type class and wasn't super challenging except for the abs part (but holy cow have I been feeling it since).

Here's the thing though,  I am a 5' 10" uncoordinated mess when it comes to having "moves"... I look like a total loser in a room full of mirrored walls, and have always been shy and self-conscious...yikes...so the fact that I stayed and did the workout was an accomplishment for me.  So yay!  There's that.

In more interesting news, I tried Hexagons!  It was easy!  And fun!  I was prompted to make these because I joined a hexagon swap.  I figured I probably wouldn't give it a try unless I had a reason to make them and this was it.  I followed my friend Katie's tutorial and it was wonderful.  I don't use thimbles though and found my fingers were ok (so far - granted I've only made about 30...I made some more last night after I took this picture)

Then, I made these two blocks with fabrics from my scrap box for Katherine in one of the bee's that I just got a spot in.  She's making this quilt as a gift and I think it's going to look really wonderful!

And I picked out fabric for the Patchwork Prism QAL.  If you haven't heard about this yet you should check it out.  It's an amazing free pattern from Anna Maria Horner and there are some truly amazing prizes (like a new Janome sewing machine!!), so I'm all over this.  It's being hosted by Bianca who is amazing, and you don't want to miss it.  Seriously. 

It's much more color theory than I'm used to wrapping my head around so I kept this post from Bianca open while I pulled my fabrics (all from my stash so far) and I really like the way they look together.  I want to add a yellow and perhaps another brown and another red.  What do you think? Anything you would add or take out?

I really like looking at these and haven't moved them off the table yet.

I'm also working on the Zooey pattern by the great and talented LuLu (here's her Etsy shop) and should have the top done tonight or tomorrow (I hope) and then it can hang out with the other tops in the pile on top of the dryer :)

On an unrelated note we have also been trying no naps for either kid this week (their choice, not mine...) and Abby has been wearing real underwear and using the toilet to go potty.  She's doing pretty well so far, but I'll spare you the nasty details.   It's been an interesting week so far.

 To you experienced moms out there, what did you do when your kids stopped taking naps?  I'm trying to figure out how to still get that break in the day that we all need, and haven't quite figured it out yet.  Any tips or advice would be wonderful!!

I'm hoping to get to the post office today to annoy the mail lady some more, and hopefully I'll be able to get some things finished this weekend between potty breaks and laundry.

Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced (be sure to check out the other lovely projects over there!)

Happy Wednesday everyone!!!

p.s. This is my 44th post - I'm thinking something fun for my 50th!  Stick around!

WIP Wednesday

Today I'm determined to get my post finished before it's Thursday and the title and link up no longer apply.  Here we go!

I got 4 blocks done for Bee Simple (I got to fill a spot so I had two blocks from March to catch up on).  These went together really easily, and turned out pretty well!  I think they will turn into great quilts. It's not great lighting but there is a white border on the bottom and left sides as well. 

 I also got one of my Hoop Up! Stitch and Send projects on it's way today!

 It's a quote from Modern Family that says, 

"If you want to fly I'm not gonna hold your feet to the ground, 

I'm gonna be the one to push you off the cliff." 

-Phil Dunphy

Here's what's up next:
Learn to make Hexies for a swap
2 potholders for Bee a [modern] swapper potholder swap (excited to start on these designs)
Modern She Made swap

This is my jumping off point for the MSM swap.  I don't want to give too much away (it's a secret swap) but I want to make a couple i-spy placemats for my partner's kids (hopefully in this color combo) to include with the other goodies.  Stay tuned partner!  More sneak peaks to come!

For now that's all I've got.

I appreciate the tips for the allergies and have been on the lookout for some locally made honey, as many of you said that helps, but haven't found any yet.  I've been hitting the Claritin pretty well in the mean time.

Linked up to Lee's WIP Wednesday!

Oh, and while I was perusing the other posts linked up to Lee's WIP Wednesday I came accross Kelsey Sews and saw the awesome quilt she made with i-spy charms.  I've got sooo many of those, I'm going to try to whip up a quilt with her tutorial soon to get some of them used.  I think it'd be pretty great to use rainbow charms in the quilt also.  Have a look!