Single Girl, 3 complete!

I have just sewn my first 3 rings together of my Single Girl!  I know according to the quilt along, I am not staying on schedule, BUT that's nothin' new for me ;-)  I am enjoying sewing this quilt together much more than I anticipated.  All of the curves seemed intimidating, but it really hasn't been too bad.  Some un-sewing of course, but overall, not any more than usual!  LOL

It is a difficult quilt to photograph for me, though.  All of the blocks are huge, and this isn't the best picture, I'd agree.  I did use a 1/2 seam allowance to sew them together, and I pressed the seams open just when sewing the blocks together.  I'm not sure if that means I'm committing quilt blasphemy, but I guess I like to live dangerously.  HA!

Single Girl-ing

Got the last of the ring quarters complete... Next step is to get them pieced together.  I have most of the background pieces cut out, just a few more.  When I was cutting them last week, I just couldn't finish in time.  I was trying to get the big girl's quilt finished, so I have a reason for getting side tracked! LOL

I just had to post a picture of the pips!  They are adorable!  I finally unwrapped the package, and can't wait to use them...  Have to stay on track with the single girl.

Oh, and I replaced my old iron with this new beauty!  It was on sale at Target, and it is sooo great. My old one was spitting and leaking all over everything.  I'm pretty sure I bought my old Rowenta when it when I started quilting, around 7 years ago~  

This one gets super HOT, and has tons of steam.  There's nothing better than pressing with a new iron!  

A Birthday Finish

My little girl is getting BIG!   She turned 9 years old yesterday, so I made a stern effort last week to finish this quilt for her...

A few lessons learned, as with every new project.  As you can see this bright and beautiful minky dot is great for softness and warmth, it is not so great for quilting and binding!   I had a really difficult time getting the fabric to grip the feed dogs, and there is one area that puckered on the back from stretching.  Binding?  I should have attached it to the minky back, and then hand sewn it to the cotton.  Lessons learned.  Honestly though, I probably will not use it for a quilt back again any time soon.  You can see it's already well loved, so in the end, that's really all that matters!

A view of the front, it was too rainy and dark to get a good picture of the quilting, all over stipple, with a loop-de-loop in the first border.  And even the pup got a little love with it!  They always try to sneak a corner of any quilt being used, but how can you blame them when they are soooo cute?

                                  

Now to get back to my Single Girl.... and a yummy FQ stack of Sherbet Pips!  So excited to finally see it in person!

1st Block

My first block for the Single Girl quilt is done!  There are a few "minor" areas that I'm going to try to correct, I think the curves make it tough to square each block, so when I put the 4 quarters together, they were a little bit off.

I have the the rest of arcs pieced for the first quarter ring, I've been chain piecing them and it's going quickly so far.  I still have to cut the rest of the background, not my favorite part I'd say....

Got to keep going, so I can keep up with the group!

Shoe Sugar Month: Day 13 SIZZIX BIG SHOT GIVEAWAY!!

Shoe Sugar Month: Day 13 SIZZIX BIG SHOT GIVEAWAY!!  Check out the giveaway @ Grosgrain!  Although, I really want to win...... I have to share!

Single Girl Quilt~ and so it begins!

Here is one-quarter of one circle.  Still needs pressing, and being attached to a background. Speaking of background, I've changed my mind on this too many times.  I settled on a parchment color, not too white, not too yellow.  I was really hoping for a pale grey, but my search found me empty handed....  The dream on fabrics are pretty sweet, they have all of the vintage goodness and Spring-ness that I'm longing for!

Single Girl Quilt

Even though I have too many projects to count, I'm starting another!   Why not?  Right?  There is a Single Girl Quilt Support Group over on Flickr.  I have wanted to make this quilt for a while, but there was something slightly intimidating about it.  How perfect that this is happening to motivate and support peeps like me!  I'm hoping it keeps me on track too!  It starts next Monday, so there's still time to join in on the fun!

Wonky quilt top

 I finally got a sunny day to take a picture of the wonky quilt top!  Yesterday was a nice day too, but there was some melting going on, and I didn't want it to get soaked.  LOL!   I am working on piecing a strip for the back, and maybe soon I'll have a full fledged quilt to keep me warm for the rest of winter.

WoNkY blOcKs

Here are all of the blocks laid out.   (Still need squaring up)   I can't stop moving them around trying to spread the colors out.   Two things I've realized ~ I'd like a bigger "design wall"; it's really the front of the cabinets where I keep all of my quilt supplies, and I need more/better lighting.... Oh well, maybe some day. I must admit, it's far better than being on the floor, for sure!

I'm thinking of adding some pieced blocks and or strip of colors. I made this wonky house to see what it would look like.... pretty cute?  
 And here are the pooches.  Waiting to go outside, and trying to behave.  They try their best to sit still, it's tough to get them both looking at the same time ~ just like kids!

Snow Day!

NO SCHOOL!!!

 

 We got snow!  Lots more still falling, I think were at 15 inches...  You can't tell since everything is covered, but there is one happy kiddo under all those clothes!

 One more block finished, I'm claiming to get geared up for snow removal.  But really, I'm just on a roll, and want to keep it going!   Can this one be my next favorite?  Well, I suppose they could all be...

 View of the back yard.  It's so pretty to look at~ but it sure looks heavy!

    The dogs don't even want to go outside in it!  LOL.

1 more, and my favorite so far...

Slow progress today.  Had to do some food shopping to get ready for another big snow storm we are having.  No lack of snow this year for the northeast, that's for sure!  I did white sashing around one of the blocks I made, so it finishes 15 1/2" square.  Not sure if that should be the final size yet, still thinking about that... Made another block today, too.  This one is my favorite yet.   No surprise to me, since I love all things pink.  I'm wondering now if I should keep  making the blocks random, or more monochromatic.  Only time will tell...

Four more blocks

Here are another 4 blocks I made today.   Working the next 5 out of 6 days, so I won't be able to work on it again until next week.

Hello?

Hey, if anyone is wondering if I'm still around... here goes another attempt at blogging.  New year, fresh start, I guess.  I don't have one particular reason for abandoning the blog, just a culmination of things.  Kids, work, sports, etc, blah, blah, blah.  I hadn't been crafting much either, so although I was still keeping up with lots of other's post, I didn't have very many interesting quilty or crafty things to say....

I did start another quilt.   I know it's one that this one will become a quilt before I finish all of the others...I just have a good feeling about it!   I have been accumulating Flea Market Fancy for a while, and I couldn't decide what exactly to make with it.  Looking on etsy and ebay, buying when the price was right, and I've decided not to let it accumulate dust any more, along with my machine!




I have five blocks made, four shown here, and this was the the most relaxing sewing I've done in a long time.  No stress, and so fun and easy.  The wonky log cabin blocks, found on lots of blogs around.  I'm going to sash them in white, and I'll keep showing my progress.  Promise.

  Happy 2011 to everyone!

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to.....

Disney World, We Go!!!!!  Be back in a week or so...

Feeling Blue?

No, I'm not depressed, just feeling blue, the color blue~ which also happens to be my favorite color.  Next are the purples and pinks... The only trouble I'm having is cutting the wedges the exact size.  I made a template, and I'm trying to rotary cut with my ruler over the template.  I'm trying to be as accurate as possible, but I know they might not be exactly perfect.  I guess I'll see how much each little bit counts when I put it all together!  

This is one half of the dining room we just repainted.  I also swapped out the sideboard that was there.  I like it much better than the old one, the white looks brighter, and that my collection of pink depression glass can be seen.  Still need to make new curtains, I already have a pattern for a victory swag, so now to find just the right fabric.   

Today is the last day of school for the kids, we can't wait to really start enjoying summer!

Loving color

Hey there,

I'm back, and I even have pictures this time!  What I've been affectionately calling the "ripple monster" is coming along nicely.  Except, I think I might have overdone it with the crochet hook, because since yesterday I've been getting shooting pains in my elbow.  Time to take a break for sure.

My little dancer had her recital this weekend, and she did so awesome!  I love the costumes this year, very flashy and fun!  What a fantastic production it was, and she is sad that her dance class is over, but it will be nice to take a break for a few months.

I've been seeing the color wheel quilts all over blogland... and I've been mulling it over.  I bought the book with the pattern, it's in Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts, by Joelle Hoverson.  It's a great book, highly recommended.  This is the plan... for now...

Until I move them again...  A few dozen more times...  It's so much fun moving them around, and trying different ones!  (And the lovely carpet you see is the new one in the basement, which I love).  Off to cut the first wedges...... and hopefully keep them in the order you see here.

I'm still here...

A quick hello from the worst blogger ever!  What started as a basement remodel has grown into now the first floor of the house, too.  We decided to paint our trim white, since it was stained a pretty drab color (which is just as time consuming as I was warned!), removing a wall in the living room, recessed lights, new window treatments... so other than crocheting a ripple blanket, the crafting has been nil.  I hope I'll be posting soon, with actual pictures! LOL

Where to start...

Well, we have a had a few interesting, crazy days in my household! Let's start with a belated Happy Birthday to me, on Saturday. During which my little girl somehow tripped, fell, and got a huge swollen bruise on her foot. The scream said broken to me, but I'm usually the hypocondriac, being a nurse and all.  Anyway, off to ER on Saturday night, {previous said birthday:a party actually}, they said it was not broken, possible sprain. The next morning, i.e. Easter, we got the call it was probably broken, oops, so let's set you up to see the orthopedist Monday. Meanwhile, how do you keep an eight year old from running on said broken foot, when there is an Easter egg hunt vs. some very eager cousins and older brother? Not easy folks.

Today, the aforementioned foot was placed in a large boot (toes to knee) and the process of how to help the little one navigate the world ensued.  Not to mention the fact that her school is about 100 years old, and there are no elevators. Oh, and dance, gymnastics, and softball (which we coach) are a no go for at least 4-6 weeks.  Oh,  I haven't even mentioned we are having a wall removed in the living room, a larger & nicer fireplace surround built, and all new crown molding installed on the first floor.   Plus waiting for the basement remodel to be done.   Still haven't heard any word on the carpet. Rats.....

 So, even though I spent 5 hours at my LQS for a do whatever you like class on Saturday, where I decided to start working on my new bag, all I basically have the pieces cut out.   Not much to see really. It was a lot of work fusing that little folks to an interfacing, and trying to cut each pattern piece about 4 times each of fabric, interfacing, fusible and a thicker Pellon! When I get my house & life back together, I promise to post some pictures.

 Since I haven't posted in a week, I do hope you all had a nice Easter.  And that it was just a little more relaxed than mine!!!!!!

Washing and Drying

As I type (and breathe through one nostril) my baby quilt is washing. I'm looking forward to it getting soft and crinkly and baby ready! The kids held it up before I threw it in the wash. My son held up some sort of figure behind it, which I just noticed. He makes me laugh with his tricks and pranks. Really fun to see how his personality is growing and blossoming. Not sure if you can see the shade of the backing. It's the large dot from the Nicey Jane line. Very baby. Just sayin'....

I did a straight line quilting every 4 inches in one direction, and rows of 3 spaced out in the other direction. Very straight forward. Very easy. Had to, since my free motion foot is buried somewhere in the basement among the bags and boxes. I swore I put it aside, and mumbled under my breath about how disorganized I am, and how I can't wait to get everything back where it belongs. It can't be too soon?!? The carpeting will be installed hopefully within the next week or so. The order is taking longer than I had hoped... I must learn to have patience.

Sick Day

Ugh, I unfortunately picked up whatever nasty bug was going around my house... and it seems I might have the worst case yet. Feeling blah, achy, and stuffy, to say the least. I'm watching New Moon (again) and sitting on the couch all day with a box of tissues (again), not being able to breath through my nose is getting so old! I don't have much craftiness to post. Very soon, though, the baby shower is this Saturday... and all that's left is to sew on the binding, and stitch it down. The Owl is stuffed, too. I have to admit, I want another to keep for my new sewing space. ;-) When I can get off my lazy, sore bones, I'll be sure and take some pics of the finished goods.

I did get a little pick me up yesterday, though. I had put a button on my blog from Quilt Home (dot) com, and I won a $20 gift certificate to the online store. I bought* a BIG stack of Anna Maria Horner Little Folks voiles, for "The dress", and a new bag. Oh, and some Good Folks for another quilt I've been hoping to make. They have a huge selection and free shipping for orders over $50. You won't be disappointed. Sorry for the picture-less post. I just don't have "it". Hopefully I'll get "it" back soon.

*I purchased them before the big redo. Didn't even count them in the craziness of the stash! LOL