#notgoingtosewingsummit either! And a lot of pictures

 So this week and weekend is Sewing Summit!  I'm not there, but am having fun sewing up a storm anyway (perhaps in distraction that I'm not there?)!!  I tell you what, I'm just excited to know such an event EXISTS!  and am super determined to get there next year, I'm already starting a piggy bank!

I'll be here all weekend if you need me : )

 

Will probably make more of these today...

In light of many people not being able to get to Sewing Summit there are a few things you can follow/participate in anyway!  Follow the hashtag #sewingsummit on Instagram or Twitter to see what everyone who IS there is up to!  Follow #notgoingtosewingsummit or #notatsewingsummit to see what those of us who didn't make it are working on! 

 Bee blocks I finished recently...there are a lot...

If you want some connecting time with sewing friends, Sarah has set up a Stay at Home Summit for Saturday through Google Hangouts so you can come chat with sewing/crafting friends, or set up your webcam and hangout that way!  Here's a link to the Google Hangout so you can be there! 

 More bee blocks...

Also, in tweeting with Sarah on Twitter, we were thinking it'd be fun to have an informal challenge to see how much we can get done while we're not at sewing summit!  So, this "challenge" starts today (the official start of Sewing Summit) and will go until Saturday.  I'll be intagraming (@mgriffin87) my progress all week and will probably post a bit more on the blog here too!

 Even more bee blocks...

Amy is having a link up party here so you can have yet another way to stay connected and have an extra fun and crafty and stitchy weekend.  You can link up as often as you want, a virtual sewing room!!

 I made a bunch of pillowcases over the weekend (and then I got sick and slept for a day...and then I was fine...but it was nice having a sweet pillowcase to use!) I used this tutorial, and they are so easy and so addictive! And they even have French seams!!

I decided to make Halloween decorations yesterday so I stitched this up to hang on one of our blank walls.  I'm really happy with how it came out since I freehanded it with no plan....!

So, what are you waiting for?!  Go get sewing, or stitching, or crafting!!  Go make something.  Then come show me what it is!! 


Oh, and this is my 98th post!  I think something special is in order for #100 so stay tuned while I figure that out!

Color Wheel Swap anyone??

Hi there!

I have something awesome to tempt you with!  Megan over at City Stitches (who is super awesome and talented and you should check out her blog if you don't already know it) has set up a really great swap in a format I'm sure many people have wished for! 

A rainbow color wheel swap in fat quarters!!  Isn't that the best idea? 

Here are some basics:

-Sign up by October 10 (go here for full details and to sign up!) hurry, hurry! 

-Colors assigned by October 12

-SASE needs to be included when you mail your fabric so you can get it back, of course. 

-8 fat quarters swapped (2 yards total).  For example if you get assigned to blue, you pick 8 blue fat quarters to mail in.  You can pick 8 different fabrics, or you can use 1 fabric and send the 2 yards to
make the 8 fq's.  Your choice.

-This is Megan's first swap and is open only to US residents.

-You will get back a set of 8 fat quarters in a lovely rainbow, one of each color being swapped! 

So head on over to Megan's for full details and to grab your spot!!!!!!

Hey everyone!

Just a quick hello, as I want to direct your attention here. 

I just saw this post and wanted to pass it along so everyone who might be able to help out this lovely family can do so.

Here is the original post with details.  I'm sure anything, including prayers, will be appreciated.

Hope you're having a good weekend, be sure to hug and kiss your loved ones!!

And a couple quick Instagrams from the last 24 hrs :)

 This is the scrappy chevron distraction I finished (this) morning!!  I love it.  I want to make it bigger but I don't really want to "mess with it's flow" right now.  Borders? anything?  ideas? I love it.  Didn't plan out any part of it except what solid went with what print. 

 My favorite craft/fabric store in the area is going out of business so I did some stocking up.  ALL of their fabric was 30% off so I got some flannels to make the kids some pj pants, some Cosmo embroidery floss and that super cuddly Nicey Jane fleece or something that I've already napped with today.  It's perfect.  Maybe some craft supplies to last us the long cold winter too....

 She makes lots of reeeealllly good faces. 

Happy mail from the Fat Quarter Shop.  Tip: go check out their sale section!!  right now. there's some art gallery fabrics in there, and some other awesome stuff like the one with the Snail. 

This stuff (with the exception of Snail and Daddy Bear) was all bought for specific projects.  Perhaps a Halloween shirt for moi, and some HexyMF progress. 

Happy weekending to you all!  I'll be working on Bee Blocks and all the stuff I should've been doing while I was actually doing other stuff. 

Dream Big from Simplify

I saw this contest for Craft Month and wondered if I'd even made anything from a book before! 

And then I remembered, AHA!  I have.  

One of my most favorite projects ever is the "Dream Big" pattern from the book Simplify by Camille Roskelley.

I love, love, love, this quilt!  I started it by picking my absolute favorite happy fabrics when it was gloomy and cold here in March (yeah, that long ago...).  I loved picking the fabrics because I was desperate for some spring. 

It took me a while to get back to it but I got it finished a month or so ago and I LOVE it. 

I backed it in a duvet cover from Ikea that is super soft. 

I had a bunch of binding pieces from past projects that I pieced together.

Mine measures 55" X 69" which is a touch smaller than the pattern.  my borders are a little small because of the duvet I used as backing. 

I love the look of the whole thing and how the borders in Camille's pattern even it out so it's not too busy. 

It was a great pattern to put together and one I really want to make again. 

If you're wondering about getting this book, do it.  It's so fun.  You'll want to make everything in it, and you will be able to. 

There are big quilts, table toppers, baby quilts, pillow covers....everything!  Camille is amazing, and I stare at this book all the time!  It's that good. 

Be sure to check out all the other projects that have been linked up, there are some wonderful things and it's a great way to find new craft books to buy!!! 

Shoo Fly Block Tutorial!

My first tutorial!

(Just a head's up:  I just noticed that there is another tutorial for a 12.5" version of this block on Svetlana's blog here.  She makes beautiful quilts, so hop over there if you'd like a bigger block. My tutorial here makes a block that turns out a little more than 10" square)

Disclaimer: I am not an expert, this is just the way I put this  block together.  If you use this tutorial and find I've made a mistake in calculations or instructions please leave a comment letting me know so I can correct it.  And if you make this block from my tutorial I'd love to see it! (and I am taking my pictures with an iPhone so I hope these pictures are clear enough for the instructions)

I used this Shoo Fly block for my month as queen of the Traveling Circles bee.  I had one package that went flying somewhere it wasn't supposed to go, so I'm putting the instructions up so those last couple blocks can be made, but I thought you might like to know how to make this.

I'm giving directions for making one block.  Then, you can do the math as to how many blocks you want to make your quilt! 

FOR ONE Shoo Fly BLOCK you will need:

(2) 4 1/4" white squares (for hst/corners)
(2) 4 1/4" print squares (for hst/corners)
(1) 3 3/4" white square (center)
(4) 3 3/4" print squares (for sides)


1) Pair each 4 1/4" white square with a print square of the same size.  Put right sides together and, with your ruler, draw a line through the middle diagonally (corner to corner)

2) Stitch 1/4" of each side of the line, cut on the line, and press your hst.  You can press open or to the side, whichever you like.

3) Now you have 4 hst's.  Trim each one to 3 3/4".  This is the most tedious part of the whole block because you have to do 1 hst at a time. 

4) Lay out your block and assemble.  I do this by sewing together the three rows (left to right), and then putting those three rows together.

Press your seams as you go, and then you should end up with a nice Shoo Fly block that measures about 10 1/4" square.

ENJOY!!

Oh, one last thing.  Just for reference, the pattern I got this block from was for a quilt 6 blocks by 9 blocks and was about 58" X 88".  It was a free pattern somewhere but I haven't been able to find it...if you know the one, would you let me know so I can link to it?  Thanks!! 

I am making mine 8 blocks by 10 blocks so it will obviously be larger, but I haven't done the math as to how big it'll turn out, but I'll be sure to share it when I'm done!! 

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! 

Been a while, huh?

Wow!  I had a more gloomy post all written up and then I dove into #talknt on twitter and now I feel sooooo much better! 

I can't tell you enough how much I love love love this sewing/quilting/crafty community.  Gush, gush, gush, it's fantastic! 

It still totally blows my mind that I can talk to people who have written my favorite patterns, my favorite books, and designed my favorite fabrics on twitter, and flickr, and through blogs.  It's so cool. 

So!  Here's a "quick" update.

I finished up this swap package for the Scrappy Bits Swap and mailed a bunch of stuff today.  I still have a bunch of bee blocks to finish before the month is out but that'll get going soon enough. 

(see that bag o'scraps in the top left?  it's a gallon bag with awesome scraps.  I still have about 4 big boxes full of similar scraps.  so if a listing like this interests you, the scraps in this picture are the kind of scraps you'd be getting.)

Fall is here and that's my favorite.  I LOVE Halloween, and if you follow me on Instagram (@mgriffin87) you'll see what I'm working on this week to bring my awesomeness back to it's full potential. 

I made myself a little zippy pouch with tabs! I'm in between bags and wallets right now and needed something to carry my cards and stuff in.  This works really well.  I love these fabrics so much! 

I'm starting Halloween costumes!  Matthew will be Mario (MarioKart Mario) and Abby is going to be Pinkie Pie of My Little Pony.  There's a tutorial over on Craftiness is Not Optional (you should check out her tutorial page anyway) on how to make this, which may or may not have influenced my Abby's decision on her costume this year.

I made Abby some new skirts from this lovely tutorial from Jill of Made with Moxie.  I wish it was this easy to spice up my wardrobe!  AND I learned how to do a French Seam.  Fancy me.

I finished up the top of this lovely quilt, which will finish bigger than a baby sized quilt but perfect for a girlie to drag around with her for years.  Did I tell you I could make stars for years??  Love them.  

That's all for today.  I've got a big pile of HST's calling my name. 

p.s. I've extended the sale in my Etsy shop until the end of the month (9/30) so use the code BACKTOSCHOOL for 20% off everything shipped anywhere!  I'm going to be adding some more items before the month is out, and more that might be good stocking stuffers and Christmas goodies so check often!

Thanks you wonderful internet people for being such awesome, supportive, and inspiring friends!