Really Random Thursday

Squeak fell asleep at 6:30 last night and instead of taking the opportunity to get caught up on my mountain of WIPs I sat in my sewing room and shifted things around.  Completely uninspired :(.  I have a couple of projects that I would have liked to work on but that would have required a trip to the store and since a) Squeak was asleep and 2) they were closed that wasn't going to happen.  I think I need a quick, simple project to get me back into my groove :)

In the meantime I DID finish up the first week of the Summer Sampler, YAY!  I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've ever not been behind on one of my cross stitch alongs (as long as you don't notice that the outlines aren't actually done).  When I finished up this one, I even pulled out the Winter Sampler to work on BUT then Squeak woke up so it didn't actually see much progress.

And since it is Really Random Thursday and I didn't feel quite as big as normal today, I thought I'd share my 6 month photo with you.  24 weeks down, 16 to go!

Linking up with Really Random Thursday.

A Big Thank You

To my mother for staying with our dogs while we were out of town.  Before we left I had a chance to whip up a couple of small items for her.

I started with this little wallet (pattern by Sew Sweetness).  I had purchased the pattern trio awhile back with plans to make myself a new, desperately needed wallet.  But you know how it goes when your sewing for yourself...it never happened.  Instead I decided to piece together some strips of Boho Chic in blues, greens and browns (perfect for Mom).

 It went together really quick and easy.  From cutting to completion was less than 1.25 hours.  The ladies at the sit and sew were giving me a hard time about how scattered and disorganized (and let's admit it, a little spastic as well) I am and saying they thought I could get it finished before the sewing day ended.  I told them (politely) to hush.  Everyone had to leave a bit early which is probably a good thing or they would have seen that they were right.  It was done :).

A view of the back.

 

And the inside.  Complete with a few gift cards/certificates to help her pass the time away from home.

To top it all off I pieced some scraps together for a large Open Wide Pouch and stopped off for a little bit of candy to fill it up.  I know it doesn't compare with a week's worth of dog sitting, but hopefully it shows our appreciation!

It Was a Bit of a Disappointment

When I came home from vacation (where I accomplished absolutely nothing on my cross stitch projects) to find that my Charming Solids package from Pink Chalk Fabrics featured Glimma by Lotta Jansdotter.  Sorry Lotta, but I've never been a fan of this line.  The prints are a bit bigger and more muted than I typically prefer.  But thanks to being able to test a new pattern for Sara of Sew Sweetness I have now used the fabrics in a way that I absolutely LOVE!  

First let me say that I test paper pieced blocks for a couple of great bloggers out there but I've never signed up for any other sort of testing.  As little time as I get to sew lately there is no way I could sign up to test out a quilt pattern but since I plan on buying every pattern ever released, past and future, by Sew Sweetness I figured I may as well go ahead and offer to be a tester for her :).  I was a little too slow on the first pattern she sent out (a great organizational pouch for sewers that I will definitely be purchasing when it's ready) but the second one I managed to get a tester spot.  Meet the Lapin Noir Bag

 This bag ended up taking me a much longer amount of time than normal to finish.  Not because of the pattern, but because of the way I chose to do it.  First, the entire exterior is pieced.  Then I bought the wrong cording.  That will teach me to not read the supply list carefully in the future.  I do have some navy piping left over for a future project though...

 Sara's method of installing the zippered pocket was definitely the easiest one I've ever used and will be my go to method in the future!

 I did omit the interior zippered pocket as I didn't think I would ever use it.  I may add a false bottom for more stability but I haven't decided yet.

 And the best thing about the bag...is that it is convertible.  It can be carried two different ways!  How much better can you get?!  Making this bag also allowed me to become more comfortable using hardware.  I know it's not that tricky, but for some reason I avoid it whenever possible.  No more!

 While on our way to Creede we passed a yarn shop with a sign out front advertising closeout prices on fabric.  Hubby, being the enabler understanding guy that he is, flipped the car around and went back so I could have a look.  There wasn't a whole lot of fabric to choose from but I did manage to buy a little over seven yards of the white with gray diamond print.  I had in mind gray and white chevron to use with my Sarah Jane panel for nursery curtains but since everyone is using it and this was on sale...I did switch out the Jungle Bungle gray for a darker gray on gray with tiny polka dots.  They are now nearly complete.  Only the grommets left.

I also made a little progress on a few other small items in preparation for Little Miss's arrival.  A couple of half finished nursing covers and swaddling blankets, etc.  And hubby has commissioned a new quilt for a wedding present.  He gets to go to Vegas for the weekend, I get to make a quilt.  Seems fair to me!  I've decided that after the stress of the first wedding quilt (which I will finally post pics of later this week, as well as a couple of other small finishes) I'm going simple on this one.  The bride has requested cream/white and deep red.  I've already bought and started cutting the fabrics and am planning on using them for a lap size quilt with large wonky stars.  Wonky stars can be used for something other than baby quilts right?  I love them but are they too juvenile?  I would love to hear your thoughts...

And I will leave you with a parting shot of my little family at the wedding.  Isn't that background amazing?!

Modern Mini Challenge- Moore Love

I apologize in advance for any typos/formatting errors on this post. We are on the road but I wanted to share with you my entry into the Modern Mini Challenge 2013. I've decided to enter my Moore Love block. I made pieced this block using a paper pieced pattern that I created based on a graphic from a lady at our local quilt guild. The graphic was created to show support to all of those affected my the May tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma. 

I did try out a few new things when making this mini. I did a bit of embroidery. Just very basic stitches, but its a start, and also pebbling. I must admit that while the pebbling was time consuming I definitely feel more comfortable with it than any other type of free motion design I have tried.

The finished size of my block is approximately 8"x 16".   It was pieced using scraps and my stash. The back is black Essex linen. Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you'll check out all of the other wonderful quilts that have been entered into the contest!

Just Keep Swimming

That's what one of my fellow quilters told me at sew day last Wednesday.  And it's great advice!  I've been debating whether to work on how to tackle my numerous WIPs--work on one until it's completely finished, or do a little on each one until they are all done?  I still haven't figured out a good answer but I did decide that since I am only current on one of my BOMs I should at least try to whip up the June block for it :)

And here it is, the June block for the Sugar Club BOM

In an attempt lower my number of WIPs, I pulled out the Dancing Stars quilt I started on last year.  I think I'm up to 8 blocks now.  I only plan on making it baby size so about 22 more to go, I think...

One more thing to cross off of my list is the custom order toddler bedding set.  It is finished!  I also saw this photo shoot as a great opportunity to convert Squeak to a big boy bed.  My convert I mean that I took the mattress out of the crib and put it on the ground :).  Now Little Miss can have his old crib until she gets her own.  Btw, did I mention that we weaned Squeak from the bottle?!  Not nearly as bad as I thought it would be...

And speaking of Little Miss, here is her first Mommy made outfit.  I bought the onesie new from Goodwill and the iron on from Joann's (25 cents!).  The pink fabrics and ribbon were already in my stash and she now has a cute little onesie with a drawstring skirt :)  Now I just have to tackle bow making (ugh!) and maybe make some shoes...

I signed up a while back to do some pattern testing for a couple of people.  A little over a week ago, within minutes of each other, I got e-mails from two of those people.  And thanks to a quick response time (not a lot to do when your hunkered down in a storm shelter with 5 other people) I got first pick from both of them.  This is the one I tested from Kristy over at Quiet Play.  Way cute!  It should be up in her Craftsy shop soon!  I can't share my other one just yet.

 I already posted about my paper pieced block for the tornado victims in Oklahoma but I decided to make it into a mini quilt and use it as my entry into the Modern Mini Quilt Challenge.  I will be dedicating an entire post to it later this week but for now here are a couple of photos.  

 (a close up of my first attempt at pebbling.  I actually feel pretty comfortable with it now.)

 And a picture of the finished project.

 And just because I did so good by working on all of those long forgotten projects, I allowed myself to get started on the first block of my new Christmas quilt.  This was my first real attempt at applique and it wasn't nearly as hard as I had built it up to be in my head.  I still have to stitch around everything, but for now I'm very pleased!

 I'll leave you with a cute parting shot :P--this is what I came home to after sew day on Wednesday (apparently Hubby thought Squeak's diaper rash needed a little air and he was asleep before he knew it).

I may be a little quiet for the next couple of weeks as we will be out of town for awhile.  I will be trying to get caught up on my cross stitch samplers while we're away (yay!)

In the mean time, linking up with BOMs Away Monday and Let's Get Acquainted.

Not a Lot To Show

I worked all weekend and don't have a whole lot to show for it.  

I started on the order for 9 custom clutches for a wedding party.  All of the hard stuff has been done (magnetic snaps, darts, etc.), now I just have to actually put them together.  There are two earbud pouches that must get done and in the mail tonight.

The long overdue custom comforter, bed skirt and pillowcase are underway.  I still need to pick up a few more supplies for it, but hey, at least its started!

The quilting of the Wedding Quilt has begun.  No pictures of the quilting itself, but here is the final layout

(Wow, this picture is even worse than my normal ones!)

I've started quilting feathers down the sashing.  I will admit they are not pretty :(.  I may have to switch it up and do something else along the horizontal sashing.  And I'm going to quilt all of the cream spaces too (somehow) but leave the stars themselves plain.  Once I get all of that done, I'll reevaluate and see what else needs to be done.  I just keep telling myself that this quilt is already a huge disappointment and it can't really get much worse.  I'd love to hear any thoughts/ideas you have about quilting it.  Just remember, I want this to be done with so nothing too hard or intricate please!

I did get my June block of the Woodland Sampler finished.

 

 And while I was doing that...

 

Squeak and Penny were playing with my supplies.  He had more fun with that roll of batting than I could have imagined.  And a roll of DMC floss (that I had planned on getting rid of anyway) kept him entertained for over an hour.  And hey, you can see my floor!!!  That itself is a major accomplishment at my house these days!