I've Made a Decision

Ever since I heard about the Fabricaholics Anonymous challenge I've been on the fence about joining in.  I know I should but I REALLY didn't want to.  Especially after seeing all of the great new lines that are coming out this spring.

After my fabric buying craze this week I've decided to join in...but I'm adding a rule to make it easier for me to follow (see the last rule).

Approximately 27 yards of fabric courtesy of an end of bolt sale (40% off), 5 plus yards sale (30% off) and a birthday coupon (20%) off.  Sadly I also went to JoAnn's and bought a bunch of novelty fabric to make craft show items and I stocked up at an online sale.

FABRIC FAST RULES:

1) No fabric purchases for 6 months beginning January 1, 2014.   

2) At 6 months reevaluate status and decide whether to keep going for full year.  Evaluation July 1, 2014.

3) Create a UFO list and complete them!

4) Exceptions

• Backing: purchasing a backing to finish a quilt top is permissible.  However, attempting to use fabric in your possession for a backing is preferable--I don't actually plan on doing this one.  I'm going to complete as many quilt tops as I can and finish them at a later time (there will probably be a couple of exceptions though).
• Fabrics to complete a WIP.  I'm including the Rock n' Romance collection since it is my living room fabric and I am needing to stock up on it before it becomes impossible to find.  Same goes for Salt Water since I'm redecorating the bathroom in it.  Rooms count as WIPs right?!
• Books and Magazine purchases are allowed as they are not fabric.  Notions acceptable too.
• Custom Order Fabric: Fabric may be purchased to complete custom orders.
• Craft Show Fabric:  My inventory is very depleted after a great show in early December, plus I'm supposed to take items to a local shop to sell.  I should have plenty of exterior fabrics in my stash but I may need to buy solid lining fabrics (from JoAnn's on sale/with coupon)
• Charm packs and/or layer cakes of new lines. In order to make this goal attainable I need to have a little wiggle room.  And my precuts do actually get used.

 
Okay, okay, I know I ended up changing nearly all of the rules but this will keep me accountable.  And it's doable.  I know myself too well to be able to say I won't buy anything for 6 months but I will do my best to resist. 

I need to sit down and evaluate my WIPs...

Now Showing...

Three of the quilts I made as Christmas presents.  The fourth, I didn't get to take a photo of before it was whisked away...

First up is my Dad's Pluses Lap Quilt.  I have always struggled to find masculine fabrics but thankfully I can always count on Parson Gray to help me out.  The quilt is Seven Wonders and the pillow is a combination of Seven Wonders and World Tour.

The weather was horrible when I was trying to photograph this finish so your stuck with an even worse than usual inside shot.  The photo of the pillow (which was actually a decent outside shot) seems to have disappeared.

Next was the baby quilt for my nephew.  I had originally wanted to make this for his baby shower but time got away from me so I made him a simple patchwork quilt instead.  So six months later I finally got around to giving it to him.  His entire room is Oklahoma themed and done in orange, blue and white so I wanted to match it as close as possible.  This quilt was also a great way to practice my free motion quilting and I have to say it has improved drastically over the last year!!

The third quilt was for my grandmother.  She was placed in a nursing home over the summer and has since had a stroke that has affected her short term memory.  She remembers me but not my kids.  After our Thanksgiving visit it was decided that she needed a quilt to brighten up her room.  I went home, took advantage of the Black Friday sales and came up with a simple patchwork quilt using three charm packs of Simply Color.  After deciding on the layout I had several charm squares left as well as some matching solids.  I decided to mail a 5" charm to each family and have them sign it and return it to me to be incorporated into the back of the quilt.  My hopes were that this would remind  her that even though we can't be there as often as we would like we are always thinking of her. 

The fourth and final quilt was a simple patchwork baby quilt using the new Foxes Playground line. 

Hubby has since asked for a quilt for his father.  It will be a combined Christmas/Birthday present that I hope to have ready by the January 12th.

Both of the LQSs are having their end of bolt sales today so I will be making a stop at each of them to stock up on background fabric (low volumes for a couple of quilts I have in mind, as well as white and gray).


That's enough from me for today.  Lots more to share though so check back next week :)!

What I Can Show You

A few of the presents I've made so far this year...

My first attempt at a Sugar Body Scrub.  It smells good if nothing else...

A pouch for a co-worker and an iPad Mini cover for my grandparents.

Crayon Rolls for various people.  There were actually 13 of these by the time I was done and it was late and I forgot to take photos before I wrapped them all up.

In non-present news...my cat blocks.  I'm now several days behind but thankfully these are quick, easy, and fun so I hope to catch up tonight.  I've seen lots of great projects made with these!

 And I had a show on Friday night that was closed early due to bad weather.  We didn't sell a single thing but I really liked the way our booth was set up.  It may be my favorite so far.

There are many, many more finishes to show off but they will have to wait until after Christmas.  Hope everyone has a happy holiday week!!!

Don't Forget...

There is still time to order a copy of Big-City Bags by Sara Lawson and sew along with us starting January 2014.  We will be working our way through the book one project per month.  I've been anxious to get started but with Hubby (and a few others) requesting presents be made in time for Christmas it has been put aside for the time--but as soon as Christmas is over...

I will be cutting into these beautiful fabrics (courtesy of a great Black Friday sale) for the first bag.

  Our Wonderful sponsors:

 

Fat Quarter Shop

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And a special offer from zipit:  15% off of all orders for those sewing along

Use code sewingwithsqueak at checkout to apply the discount

 

I hope you all will sew along with me and I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Inspiration Palooza 2013

I promised at least 2 posts today so ...

I thought I'd put together a list of items I have on my list for next year. And yes, I do actually have a list (a few in fact). Speaking of lists I've decided to do a Quilt Journal but more on that at a later date. 

My List:

*  Cascade Quilt-haven't decided on fabrics yet

*  Cartwheel Quilt-bought a lot at a great price from Christa Quilts

*  Tea for Two Quilt-pattern by Blossom Heart Quilts- using a jelly roll of Chicopee I bought with this pattern in mind

*  Hootananny Quilt- from the book Dare to be Square

*  Mario Quilt-I bought the fabrics and never got started

*  Chicken Quilt (not the real name) from Dessert Quilts (or something like that)

*  Get caught up on all of my 2013 BoMs 

There are a lot more I could add but I'm trying to keep it realistic. My Etsy shop is in a very sad state thanks to a great showing at a winter market a couple of weeks ago and I will have to spend quite a bit of time getting it stocked back up. Throw in two kids and I'm going to have my hands full!

And now for my favorite quilt:

My Star Surround Quilt competed during the QAL hosted by Melissa at Happy Quilting. 

Sorry for the IG photo and not having any links to patterns but this post is being brought to you by the not so wonderful Blogger app on my iPhone (insert sigh of frustration). 

Linking up to Inspiration Palooza 2013.

A Long Overdue Update!

Lately I seem to be doing pretty good to get a post up every couple of weeks...yet today I have at least two in the works (maybe three if your lucky :P).

First off, a few things I've been working on:

Clockwork from top:  nook cover, toddler quilt top, lap quilt, art tote, and two cat quilt along blocks.

And my sewing space itself has been getting a little bit of attention lately...best it's looked in a long time!  More improvements to come hopefully!

I seem to have lost some of my photos from my photo because I know there's been a lot more going on!  You can always follow me on Instagram (@sewingwithsqueak) to keep up with me :)