The Mad Quilting Librarian

2011 wrap-up

2011-12-31T08:21:00.000-08:00

My apologies for disappearing for the last month of the year. There were many gifts to finish, a house to clean in order to entertain (twice!), and general holiday madness in these parts. But overall, this feels like it was a fairly productive year, and the new year will be one of a number of changes for me...

First, the wrap up. I made a rather ridiculous number of bee blocks this year, doing multiple rounds of several quarterly bees, in addition to rocking out with my ladies over at The Beehive and the Peace circle of Do.Good Stitches.

The Beehive

1. Julies Block #2, 2. Julie's Block #1, 3. February Beehive block for Jo, 4. Andi's Beehive block, April , 5. May Beehive blocks for Kat, 6. Wee boats for Annabel, 7. The Beehive, Belinda's String Blocks, 8. The Beehive, Sheridan's blocks, 9. Tanya's block for The Beehive, September, 10. 3 blocks for Meg, December Beehive11. Not available12. Not available

Peace at Do. Good Stitches

1. do good stitches April, aqua, 2. do good stitches April, green, 3. coin block 1, Peace circle, May, 4. coin block 2, Peace circle, May, 5. do. Good Stitches, Peace Circle, June, 6. do.Good Stitches, Peace Circle, July, 7. Starflower blocks, Peace Circle, do.Good Stitches, 8. bee blocks, do. Good Stitches sept , 9. October block for do.Good Stitches, Peace Circle, 10. do.Good Stitches, Peace blocks, November11. Not available12. Not available

3x6

1. 3x6 Beehive blocks, Qtr 1, 2011, 2. 3x6 bee block, hive #28, 3. 3x6 bee block, hive #28, 4. 3x6 bee block, hive #28, 5. 3x6 bee block, hive #28, 6. 3x6 bee block, hive #28, 7. 3x6 bee block, hive #28, 8. 3x6 bee block, hive #7, 9. 3x6 bee block, hive #7, 10. 3x6 bee block, hive #7, 11. 3x6 bee block, hive #7, 12. 3x6 bee block, hive #7, 13. 3x6 bee block, hive #7, 14. secret, 15. 3x6, 3rd Quarter, hive 17, 16. 3x6 bee blocks, Q3, hive 21

4x5

Round 1

(Round 2 is still in progress on my design wall....)

One of the significant changes coming is that I'm stepping back from a number of my bees. The Beehive has gone for two years, and we've come to the unanimous conclusion that we've had a lot of fun, learned a lot, made new friends, and challenged ourselves, but life has changed for a number of us and we're ready to move on. I love that group, and I was really torn about the decision, but it ultimately is what's right for all of us, and I look forward to swapping around Flickr with them all in the future.

I also stepped back from the 3x6 after the third quarter, and am debating whether I'll stick with the 4x5 after this round. I will absolutely stick with the Peace circle of do.Good Stitches--wild horses couldn't drag me out of that group!

I'm hoping that changing my focus this year will let me finish more of my own projects, including making quilts with the stacks of bee blocks in my sewing room!

Finally, speaking of finishes, there were a few this year.

A little pillow that I whipped up just before the holidays...

A quilt for my mom and dad

I finished the scrappy Epic Adventure quilt for little Leah

And I completed the baby quilt for Leah's new little sister, Cadie

I also made a set of placemats back in March for the Urban Home Goods Swap, round 3.

And made a special little block for a secret project

That became part of a very special gift for a talented woman (Heather Ross) and her new addition

(picture c/o Mama Spark)

And waaaay back in January, I finished this little baby quilt for my friend Tori's new little boy, Ryan

My resolutions this year, with regard to sewing, are:

1) Finish more projects than I start. Seriously, I have so many UFOs, it's a little embarassing.

2) Use up some of my stash, especially some of the things I've been hoarding. Wonderland layer cake, I'm lookin at you.

3) Finish more projects, full stop. It tends to be my least favorite part of the process, the basting and actual quilting, so I need to push through that and complete more. I'm setting myself a lofty goal of finishing 10 quilts in 2012. Let's see if I can manage that, eh?

4) Make a few scrap quilts. I'm actually tackling this one early on, as I have two scrappy UFOs already in progress, and just need to get moving on the sashing and putting together of tops for these.

Wishing you all a happy and healthy New Year, full of more good than bad, more happy than sad, and many warm quilts. Thank you for spending 2011 with me, and I look forward to seeing you all in 2012.

Left hanging

2011-12-16T06:47:00.001-08:00

Didn't mean to leave y'all hanging over here. I've got a camera full of photos and it happens to be in a different county at the moment. *sigh* Needless to say, I've been in a finishing frenzy. Which, if you've been a reader here for awhile, is highly unusual for this mad quilter. A baby quilt and two throws have been finished (pictures pending, obviously...), three pillow tops and another throw quilt top have been finished in just the last week. Saturday night, I have a basting date with the madman and the MadMan Cave floor, and Sunday will be a marathon quilting session. At a quick estimate, I've made roughly 900 inches of binding in the last 3 weeks, and sewn about 2/3 of that already. In fact, I was up until 11 last night sewing and pressing binding.

Needless to say, 6:30 came VERY early this morning! *mmmm, cooooffffeeee*

Once the mad sewing, and wrapping and gifting and feasting is over, it'll be back to business. Deal?

Deal.

Now we can all quit procrastinating and go finish our projects!!

Works in progress...

2011-11-26T07:45:00.000-08:00

Do you remember these blocks I started over the summer? I made 100 of them, total, and have finally started to sew them together.

This is 1/4 of the finished quilt. I'm crazy--the finished quilt will be something like 100" square. See? Crazy. (Speaking of crazy, let's not point out the heaps of blocks and unfinished tops littering the top of the bookcase on the right side of the photo, shall we? Thanks.)

Of course, I got this far and then put it aside so I could work on Xmas gifts! That said, I work much better with a deadline.

Other blocks (partly pictured above) that I also started over the summer using some charm packs of Wiscasset and Clermont Farms along with Bella Cream Solid, finally made it back to the design wall.

And even got borders...

It's now basted and set aside with a couple of other tops for this weekend--Thanksgiving is over and I'm giving thanks to have my dining room table back! It's my favorite place to quilt and sew on bindings!

Angel blocks...

2011-11-22T09:00:00.000-08:00

As you know, I'm kind of a sucker for sewing bees over on flickr. At one point, I was part of 5, though I'm down to 3 at the moment. I was a caretaker over at the 3x6 bee last quarter, and one of my bees unfortunately had to withdraw at the last minute due to health issues. (Hope you're feeling much better, Cleo!!) So I decided that, once I got my power back, I'd make the group a round of angel blocks. They were quick, but fun, and I'm thinking maybe someday I'll get around to making a churn dash quilt of my own... >.>

In any case, here are the finished blocks, which should be arriving in their new homes any day now.

What the snow was actually like...

2011-11-20T07:16:00.000-08:00

It's funny. I had a lot of friends (many in warmer climes) comment to me during and after the virtual blackout here in CT at the beginning of the month, "But Meg, you guys got like 7 or 8 feet of snow last winter. Why was this storm so bad?"

True, this past January was snowy as a mofo--one of the snowiest I remember, and I've lived in CT for most of my 34 years.

But we've never (to my recollection) gotten 8" of very heavy, wet snow while all the trees still had their leaves. Think of it this way--hold your hand up, fingers splayed, and pour sand into your hand. Your palm will hold some, but most will trickle between your fingers, right? Now close your fingers and pour the same amount of sand, only have that sand be wet.

Different story, yes?

Three weeks after the storm, we're still clearing branches. Everyone finally has power back. But there are few things more miserable than going to bed fully clothed (leggings, socks (i hate sleeping in socks--hate it!), long sleeved shirt, hoodie with the hood pulled up) with every blanket in the house on the bed, and still shivering yourself to sleep. A few mornings, we could see our breath when we got up, and it hovered right around the freezing mark INSIDE. I have never been so thankful as the moment we got power back--the madman and I were actually rather damp-eyed with relief. Eight days was a long and very frustrating stretch--it's no surprise to anyone in the area that the CEO of the power company resigned/was forced out this past week.

So thank you for your patience! I've been 8 days behind in my general life here, and am slowly gaining on it. All of the last giveaway prizes were mailed a week ago, so they should be showing up in their new homes shortly. And I've been working like a fool with every spare second to get caught up on my to-do list (not to mention I'm feeding 13 people for Thanksgiving this week, and um, let's just say I'm much more laid-back this time around.).

Photos and posts of all my sewing shenanigans will be forthcoming!

And so I leave you with some pictures of what life looked like the day of/morning after the storm.

During:

And after (please note that the flattened bush to the left of the driveway is normally a 10" tall tree...):

Stay warm!

Grand Finale giveaway winners!

2011-11-04T09:14:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to everyone who has been participating in my month-long run of giveaways! I know it's been a bit quiet outside of giveaway posts lately. Here in CT, we got socked with an early freak Nor'easter last Saturday, and I've been without power at home since Saturday afternoon. It's been very cold and frustrating! Thankfully, my folks live right near the library and have been generous with their showers and coffee in the mornings! Hoping to get power back soon (maybe tonight??), but in the meantime, obviously there hasn't been any sewing going on and it's making me crazy! So bear with me--there will be actual content soon, with a little luck (and power!).

And without further ado... Here are your winners for the final giveaways!

For the assorted red and green scraps, the winner is:

erin, who said...

With Christmas quickly approaching, I'd choose the holidays fabric- thanks for the chance :)

For the Quilting Line + Color book, the winner is:

Holly, who said...

Great give away Meg! I would pick the book Quilting Line + Color. I love the look of the cover and I have never managed to get my hands on a copy to look through. Hope life is returning to normal for you!

The two winners of the copies of Block Party are:

robin, who said...

Nice giveaway! I'd choose Block Party. :)

and

Megan, who said...

If you made me pick, I'd have to choose the Modern Block Party book - I looked through it at the bookstore awhile back, and I mentally flagged a good number of those blocks.

And finally, the Heather Ross fat quarters, which were the most popular of the prizes, go to:

Jo, who said...

Oh boy, decisions, decisions, Ok then, all are wonderful prizes but I would really like to win the Heather Ross fabric as I have never actually owned any of it. I have drooled over it often but I have yet to have the extra cash to spend on it. Thank you for holding the giveaways for all of us.

Many thanks to everyone who has participated over the weeks, and congratulations to all of the winners!

October Giveaways--Grand Finale!

2011-10-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

You've all been so patient as I get my act together here for the final giveaway of the month! As a thank you, I've got FOUR prizes, so put your thinking caps on, and choose wisely!

You get one entry on this post, but if you've been playing along all month, I'll add all of your entries from all of the giveaways this month into the drawing of your choice, so you potentially have up to five chances at the prize of your choice.

The catch is, you can only choose one.

To enter, just leave me a comment telling me which prize you'd like to win most, and why. Simple enough, right?

So... Will you choose...

Three fat quarters of soft Heather Ross fabric to add to your stash? Or maybe...

A copy of Quilting Line + Color by Yoshiko Jinzenji?

Or a copy of Block Party Quilts by modern quilting gurus Alissa Haight Carlton and Kristen Lejnieks? (I've actually wound up with two extra copies of this one, so I'm picking TWO winners from this drawing!)

Or does your stash need a little holiday cheer? This little bundle of five solids and three prints would make great placemats, or pillow covers, or a tablerunner, or maybe some scrappy stockings... So many possibilities!

I'm leaving comments open until noon eastern on Friday, so you have a little time to consider. Happy choosing!

ETA: The giveaway is now closed--winners will be announced shortly!

Week 4 Giveaway Winner!

2011-10-28T07:21:00.000-07:00

Wow! 62 entries? That's crazy-talk! It might be a drop in the bucket for bigger bloggers, but for little old me? That's huge! There is some serious Hunky-Dory love out there.

And your lists! Some of them make me feel like I've dug myself a hole I can never work out of, and some of you made me feel like we'll all be pulling some late nights together between now and the holidays.

Before I get to the winner, I'd like to take a second and say thanks for your patience this week. It's been one of "those" weeks, you know, the ones where you can't even win for losing? But I've finally gotten a decent night's sleep, and am hoping to get back in gear shortly. Which means (fingers crossed!) that the grand prize giveaway post should go up this weekend, and then I'll leave it up until next Friday so everyone can decide what they'd like their entries to be drawn for! (Is that grammar terrible or what? Perhaps a bit more sleep is in order...)

Ok, enough suspense. The Random Number Generator has done its little dance, and the winner is...

Anonymous said...

Making blankies for the local shelter from fleece scraps. The puppies and kitties are crying, so I'm working as fast as I can lol. VermontPines@aol.com

Anonymous, I am emailing you for your address now! Congratulations!

Remember to stop back this weekend to see what I have in store for the grand prizes--there are some serious goodies to be had!

Week 4, October Giveaway!

2011-10-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

Here we are, folks--the last week of October giveaways! This week's prize is:

Two charm packs of Hunky Dory by Chez Moi for Moda! (I told you I had a charm pack problem!)

To win? Leave me a comment telling us what you're hoping to finish before the holidays. No crying allowed!

And come back later this week when I reveal the grand prizes for this month in giveaways!

ETA: The entries for this giveaway are CLOSED! I'll announce a winner shortly!

Week 3 winners!!

2011-10-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

Here we go! Our winners this week are...

For the Hoopla charm pack:

Kellye Quilts said...

I'd go with Hoopla and make a few tote bags. Yum!

For the Just Wing It charm pack:

Heather A said...

I would love to make a child's quilt with "Just Wing It". I've seen some others done with this fabric line and they all really stick with me the way the fabrics works together.

For the Origins charm pack (which was the clear favorite among y'all!):

Solstitches said...

I like Origins and it would have to be a bag. I love to make bags.
Margaret

And finally, for the Snippets charm pack, our winner is:

Barb said...

Oh, great give-away. I'd love to win the snippets charm pack!

(Who says the first entry never wins?!)

Congrats to all of this week's winners--I'll be emailing you all shortly.

Monday will bring a new week's giveaway (our last!) AND the unveiling of all of the goodies I've got lined up for the grand prize giveaway. See you then!

Sneak peek

2011-10-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Just running through to give y'all a sneak peek at one of the prizes that will be part of the giant end-of-October giveaway blitz. If you've been putting your name in the proverbial hat for prizes all along, then those are all counting as entries toward the goodies I've got in store at the end of the month.

Three FQs of out-of-print Heather Ross lovelies. Sooo soft--I am a fool for these fabrics!

Oh, and if you're looking for this week's giveaway (you still have one day left!), click on over here.

I'll be back tomorrow to pick this week's winner!

(ps--Feel free to comment on this post, but those comments (or any comment on non-giveaway posts this month) will NOT count toward the final giveaway entries. Sorry!)

do. Good Stitches

2011-10-18T13:28:00.000-07:00

I love working on scrappy projects, and in particular, digging through buckets and bags of scraps for just the right pieces. And that's one of the reasons I enjoy sewing for the do.Good Stitches beeevery month (I'm in the Peace Circle). For October, Paula asked us to make word blocks using the methods from Word Play Quilts by Tonya Ricucci. It was so much fun! Paula started us off with "Today, I will..." and then we each had to pick a word or phrase. I chose...

"Celebrate" as my word. I love the palette she gave us--vibrant yellows, reds and aquas with touches of linen--it all makes the white letters stand out beautifully. And now, off it goes to be put with the other great blocks from my fellow bees, and I get to look forward to what we're doing next month!

October Giveaways--Week 3!

2011-10-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

We have FOUR prizes this week, folks! It's no secret I love charm packs. You might say I have a bit of a problem... But you'd be wrong! I can stop anytime I want--honest!

Sorry, what was I saying?

Oh, right! Charm packs!

I've dug through my stash, and come up with some great ones, including several of lines that have been out of print for a bit! There are four prizes, and there will be four winners, but you can only enter once. So leave me a single comment, telling me which one you'd like to win, and what you'd like to make with it! I'll pick the winners this coming Friday.

Good luck!

ETA: This giveaway is now closed!

Week 2 Giveaway Winner!

2011-10-14T08:08:00.000-07:00

And the RNG picked comment #6!

Congrats to Mimi, winner of 2 Fairy Tale Friends charm packs, who said:

I'm working on a really cute dog applique quilt for my niece. Thanks for the chance!!

You are most welcome, Mimi--now go and check your inbox for an email from me!

I have some sweet things to share with everyone next week, including a sneak peak at the final giveaway prizes, so see you all on Monday! Happy weekend!

Week 2, October Giveaway!

2011-10-10T06:20:00.001-07:00

Happy Columbus Day! And welcome to week 2 of my October giveaways! I'm doing a giveaway each week for the month, and then at the end of October, there will be a giant final giveaway for everyone who has entered during the month. More about that next week!

In the meantime...

This week's prize is two charm packs of Sandy Klop's (American Jane) awesome new line, Fairy Tale Friends. It has a remix of her wildly popular multi-color pez prints, which I believe is being called Magic Beans in this incarnation. You can see details of all of the prints over here.

To enter? Just leave a comment telling me what you're working on. Have you started working on holiday gifts yet? Finishing up works in progress? Doing a quilt-along? I want to know!

Good luck, and see you this Friday for the winner announcement!

EDIT: This Giveaway is now closed. Please come back on Monday for a chance at a new October giveaway prize!

Week 1 October Giveaway Winner!

2011-10-07T07:48:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to everyone who entered this week--if possible, I have an even broader appreciation of the season now! (Even if I have also managed to catch a freaking cold in time for both my birthday and a three-day weekend. *sigh* Murphy and his laws.)

In any case! I compiled the list of everyone who was NOT a no-reply blogger and let the RNG do its dance. The winner of the Tula Pink fat quarters is:

quilary! Who said...: We're heading into Spring in Australia, but what I like about autumn is that it's getting cool enough to have hot chocolate and cinnamon toast in the afternoon when I come in from work!

Congrats! I've sent you an email to get your mailing details!

C'mon back on Monday, when I'll have a whole new prize up for grabs. And it is so good, even if I do say so myself! See you then!

Baby quilt blocks in progress...

2011-10-05T14:00:00.000-07:00

Slowly working my way through my "to-do" stack as I have time this week, including sweet little pink and gray star blocks for a baby quilt. I even went so far as to cut into some of my Flea Market Fancy--they're reprinting some of the line, which will be available early next year (so I hear), so why be stingy, right?

I love stars. What are you loving this week?

Week 1, October Giveaway!

2011-10-03T11:00:00.000-07:00

If you were a reader around these parts this time last year, you'll remember last October. For those who weren't, or those who have forgotten, here's how October goes.

See, October is my favorite month. It's when New England really puts on a glorious show of color, the nights get crisp and quilt-worthy, the days are full of crystal-blue skies and the smell of leaves. It's also my birthday month! So I like to spread the joy, and the fabric, with some giveaways!

Every full week in October, I'll start a giveaway post on Monday, and announce a winner on the Friday at the end of the week. Everyone who enters throughout the month will also be entered for a big blow-out fifth prize, which will be announced later this month.

Up this week?

Five Tula Pink fat quarters, the two on the left being from Plume, and the three on the right being from the long out of print collection, Flutterby.

Want a shot? Leave me a comment telling me your favorite thing about fall. Is it baking? The return of the pumpkin latte? The end of the summer humidity? Tell me!

And that's it. One comment per person. If you'd like to Facebook, Tweet or blog about it, that's awesome, but I'm not asking anyone to jump through hoops--I've learned my lesson, because hoops bug my bum leg. :) The only hoop I'll ask you to jump through is to make sure that you leave me a way to contact you--if your blogger profile doesn't have an email available for me to use, please leave your email address in the comment. Nothing makes me sadder than being unable to contact a winner!

Good luck!

EDIT: This giveaway is now closed!

What a week!!

2011-09-25T06:36:00.000-07:00

The good:

I finished a top! A quilt top, that is! Sadly, I only have progress photos, but you'll get the idea.

This is Leah's Epic Adventure quilt. Between now and February, I have 2 baby and 2 older sibling quilts to make. Leah's 4 and looking forward to having a little sister for Christmas. I know older siblings often get a little jealous when there's a new baby getting lots of presents, so I thought maybe Leah would like a quilt of her own. I dug through my scraps (which always makes me happy) and used Heather Ross prints for the centers. From what her folks (we've been friends for 5 years) say, Leah's a bit of a princess, but loves art and detail, and will look at storybooks for hours. I immediately thought of Aneela Hoey's tutorial from the first issue of Fat Quarterly, which I've made before for bees and for a baby quilt and just love every time. I used these blocks as a break between rounds of bee blocks, and they were a great break. Now it's in the stack waiting for the marathon basting day next month, and then onto the finishing!

Also good. I went to the grocery store this morning. My one morning off this week. As a reward, I now have iced coffee. It's the small things around here that keep me going. Which leads me to...

The bad:

I left work Tuesday night to a flat tire. My phenomenal husband drove over to put the spare on in the dark. (Smart man brought the lantern. Thank you, Irene, for making sure we had fresh batteries in it.)

I had the tire patched and put back on after work on Wednesday. Went to dinner at the diner next door (bought dinner for said phenomenal husband). Drove home. All good.

Went out to leave for work on Thursday morning. Patch did not hold. Tire dead. Bad. My brother, who lives 10 minutes away, came and got me and brought me to work. There's been a week's worth of drama attached to that particular relationship, so a half hour commute trapped in a car with him wasn't quite what I had in mind. But I am grateful that he helped me out in a pinch.

Phenomenal husband picked me up after work and went home to put the spare back on. In the rain. He also took the tire to be patched again the next day.

That patch held until Saturday afternoon--thankfully, I got to work in one piece. But it was deflated by the time I got out of work yesterday...

(By this point I wasn't even upset. I was just...done.) Called the tire place to make an appointment to buy new tires on Monday. Not an expense I'm delighted about, but it means I won't have to count on the Madman as a personal pit-crew anymore, either. Tire place dude was extremely nice and is giving me a deal. (I should also say I've been doing business with this shop for 7 years and their tires and previous patch jobs have been nothing short of amazing, so I can't fault them for this. Sometimes, this just happens.)

Bought bbq dinner for phenomenal madman. Here's where it gets to...

The ugly:

A mile from home, I heard this terrible rattle coming from under my hood. I turned off the radio and the air and listened, then pulled over because it sounded like I was dragging something. Looked under the car. Nothing. Continued to make the noise all the way home. At which point I parked, grabbed the bbq and ran for the house like I was being chased. (Don't worry, Meg. That little black cloud will come, too! /sigh) The Madman drove it around the block twice, and it made no noise.

This morning, it made no noise, except to purr like a kitten. (Also, the bbq last night was amazing. If you ever happen to be near Seymour, CT, you have to stop into Uncle Willie's. It is the most shocking thing to have real southern bbq this far north of the Mason/Dixon line, let alone in the sticks of CT, right down the road from my house. Their pulled pork is like velvet. Unreal.)

(The car IS 12 years old and has 160k miles on it, so someday, it will go to the giant parking lot in the sky. I'm just not prepared to let it go just yet.)

So thank you, my fearless readers, for putting up with my pity-party-post. I believe I'm going to spend the rest of the day cutting and sewing blocks for a quilt for Leah's little-sister-to-be.

Right after I finish this delicious iced coffee. (Thank you, Bobby at Starbucks. You're my favorite. Don't tell the others.)

Still yet more bee blocks!

2011-09-23T14:00:00.000-07:00

I know, right? I don't blog all summer and all of a sudden I'm burying you in posts. What can I say, it feels good to be back! I actually did work on these and get them knocked out in August, at which point they promptly became buried in the pigstye I call my sewing room. Seriously, I'm worried someone's going to see the stacks of stuff around here and nominate me for Hoarders.

Anyway, I finally unearthed the blocks! More bee blocks, this time for my absolutely fabulous group of ladies in the 4x5 Modern Quilt bee over on flickr. I used the Summer Sampler Series hosted by Faith, Katie and Lee over the summer. This is the Mosaic block from the series, and it has great visual impact without being particularly difficult. That said, I'm rather in love with the secondary pattern created by having the blocks together, and I'm thinking perhaps a scrap quilt done in this block would be awesome. Yes?

In any case, the blocks are off to the four corners of the map, and I'm feeling relieved to be caught up with ALL of my bees right now! Being in 3 hives for 2 quarterly mini-bees was a LOT, and I'm feeling it. In the process of taking a mighty step back. I have Christmas presents to sew, people! (Sorry, I did it. I'm sorry!)

More bee blocks!

2011-09-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

For a multitude of reasons, I'll be cutting back on my bee participation over the next few months. But the Beehive won't be one of them, and this is why:

This is Tanya's block. She's making a big quilt for her son, and sent us red solid, some great Prince Charming fabrics in aquas and royals, and each of us got an awesome block print to fussy cut into our blocks. I don't think any of us were prepared for how much fabric is used in these big, improv-pieced blocks (we used Elizabeth's tutorial, and I loved every second of it), so this was as far as I got before I ran out of fabric. Can I just say that this is going to be the coolest quilt ever, and that Tanya's got one very lucky son? My husband saw this hanging on my design wall and has been hinting that he wants one of his own... All in good time! I'd like to finish one for myself one of these days, so I can stop stealing the madman's Man Cave quilt!

And I love my Beehive ladies. Amy is prepping our packages for October, and I am absolutely giddy to work on this one!

I'm a sewing machine!

2011-09-18T07:11:00.000-07:00

Or something like that.

I've been a bit of a sew-a-holic the last couple of weekends, and I've finally got a bit to show for it!

I've gotten my blocks all done for one of my (two) hives in the current round of the 3x6 bee over on flickr. It's my hive with the other caretakers, and I really hope they don't mind that I had a bit of a play in my scraps for their blocks, because I had such fun.

I decided to revisit the tutorial from Elizabeth's blog, which I've done for a couple of bees in the past. Truth is, I love improv sewing and messing with my scraps, so this block never fails to make me happy when sewing. Hoping to get out of my own way long enough to get them shipped this week!

I was on a roll Saturday, and had a bit of time before I was due to meet my dad for dinner (Mom's out of town visiting college pals, so it was time for some father-daughter quality time!), so I cranked out my September blocks for do. Good Stitches, the Peace Circle, too.

Star blocks using Allison's tutorial over at her blog, Cluck Cluck Sew. I love Allison's work, and I love the color combination that Lisa gave us for these blocks--red, gray, white, and the occasional little pop of additional color. In my case, that pop was the orange chairs on that Tufted Tweets fabric--I wasn't sure about that line when it was released, but honestly, that chair print has seriously grown on me.

Working to finish getting caught up on ALL of my blocks, because I have baby quilts to make! Two of my friends are due in just a few months, and I need to get cracking!

Me, myself, and Irene

2011-09-02T09:21:00.001-07:00

Somehow August turned into the biggest social whirlwind my husband and I have experienced since being married (lo, these 6 years). Trips to the beach, a plethora of sushi dinners with several different friends, a couple of date nights to ourselves...

And then a hurricane. New England usually gets good and clocked in some fashion or another by a hurricane roughly every 10-12 years. Connecticut, as it happens, is usually pretty exempt, maybe a little storm surge along the shore, but nothing we can't handle. As a result, our trees can be a rather wimpy lot. Blizzards aren't enough for these suckers. Oh no. But 8 inches of rain followed by 80mph wind gusts for 24 hours? And they come down like houses of cards.

A lot.

My husband and I were without power for just shy of 3 days. Just long enough to lose the contents of our fridge and most of what was in our freezer (we were lucky enough that the madman's folks kept power the whole time and let us use some space in their spare freezer). My library is still without power nearly a week later. I'd like to say it's been like being on vacation, but that would be a lie. I've been getting up at 6:30 every morning and getting half-ready for work, only to wait around for an hour to see if it's worth completing the process. Thus far, it hasn't. As I'm sort of unofficially "on call", I've been a bit of a homebody. While we had no power, I spent most of the days reading, and finished the 4th book in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Fire and Ice series (so, so good), and read Penny Vincenzi's "The Best of Times" for this month's book club--here's to hoping the library's open in time for our meeting next week!

However, once power was restored, there was finally a bit of sewing done.

What the... Ah, proof that my husband made the bed--kittens strewn over it, in the name of quality control. That would be Zoe to the left, and Ellie (also known as Beans) above. Zoe is not a monster, and Ellie is not a baby. Zoe is 11 years old, and weighs a sturdy 10 lbs. Ellie is 3, and is a perma-kitten--she was the runt of her mother's first litter, and is a whopping 5 lbs...

Ellie sez, I eat ur soul, kthx?

5 lbs of pure evil, that is...

Ok, but really, I did some sewing--honest!

Scrambled through the August blocks for the Peace Circle of do. Good Stitches--late blocks went out on September 1. Sorry! We used the Starflower tutorial from Jennifer over at her blog, Ellison Lane Quilts.

And after a loooong trip from Australia, Sheridan's fabric for The Beehive finally made it to my door (just before the hurricane). Took an unusually long time to get to me, nearly a month--normally, it's about 2 weeks or so, first class. At any rate, I whipped up Sheridan's blocks and sent them out, so I'm caught up with bee blocks again!

Solids and Amy Butler--love these quick blocks.

Readers, if you stuck with me during the summer doldrums here, I appreciate it more than you'll know. With a little luck, the cooler weather as we hit fall in New England will mean more time sewing, and more things to share in this space! And if you were with me last year, you also know that there's some fun to be had here in October (more so than usual, that is!), so thank you, and I promise to make it worth your while!

Snippets

2011-08-08T13:39:00.000-07:00

Summer is marching on at a rather alarming, if sweaty, rate. I mean, it's August already? How did that happen?

In the few moments it has been cool enough to sew in my un-air-conditioned sewing room, I've gotten a few bits and pieces done.

I finished and sent out my July blocks for The Beehive to Belinda just in time. Linen, French newsprint center strips, red, blue, and pops of kelly green in string blocks. I think Belinda is a color-combining genius--these blocks were extremely quick and fun, and I just love the colors.

I've also been noodling around with blocks for both hives of the 3x6 bee that I'm in this quarter, as well as for the first round of the modern sister-bee, 4x5. Trimming...

And sewing up some test blocks in my own colors, aqua, orange, white and gray. Like this Mosaic block, most recently from the Summer Sampler Series going around blogland, care of Faith, Lee and Katie.

It's been too humid to be comfortable working with the iron at all, or sewing much past noon on my days off, but I've gotten a few bits and pieces done. Heck, it's too humid for blocks to stick to my design wall for very long. Hopefully I'll have more to share soon. I don't know about anyone else without AC, but I'm looking forward to some cooler evenings to help me get some sewing done!

Apologies

2011-07-23T06:27:00.000-07:00

My apologies that this space has been so silent lately. It's just too darn hot to sew in the evenings. An un-air-conditioned house plus triple-digit heat here in CT means I've got nothing to show you, and not much to blog about.

However, my boss has asked me to blog about books for the library, and since it's never too hot to read, there's been some writing done over there! Looking for suggestions on what to read? Go take a look!

The heat should break in the next day or two, which will hopefully mean more posts for you guys in the near future. Stay cool, and thanks for bearing with me!

Bee Block roundup

2011-07-07T08:35:00.000-07:00

Of course, you know if you haven't heard from me in awhile, there's a glut of things for me to share with you. In this case, bee blocks!

I was lucky enough to be involved in the Sew Fresh Fabrics charity bee this round, and got my packet of fabrics last week. Look! Pips! Rainy Days! It was such a nice little parcel to open and pet while I figured out what I was going to do with them.

I added a few bits from my stash and just did a little improv log cabin frame around each fussy-cut print. The finished block is 12.5" and is already headed back to Sew Fresh Fabrics HQ to meet up with the rest of the blocks.

Then there were this month's blocks for do.Good Stitches, based on a tutorial by Ashley over at Film in the Fridge. LOVE these blocks.

Sorry they look a little wonky here--I think it's part camera angle and part the ripple in the design wall--I really need to tack down the bottom edge. They were super fast to put together, and easy to chain piece--thinking perhaps I may have to do a limited-palette scrap quilt in this pattern sometime in the future. Heh, like I need another project, right?

Finally, I sucked it up and dug into Annabel's parcel of fabrics for her month of The Beehive. I'll be honest, Annabel's month was actually June--I was a bad bee and slacked like nobody's business on this one. I do that when it's something I'm not so comfortable with. :(

Some little sailing ships for her month (none of these are bigger than 4" finished). I made these up as I went along, and will let Annabel choose which she uses--she'll be sashing them out to appropriate size with more of the dark blue solid, Kona Nightfall (the photo doesn't do it justice, it's really a gorgeous deep blue). You should check out the Beehive photostream to see some of the amazing blocks being made by my bee-mates for this one. The theme is "The Busy Sea at Night" and I am in awe at some of the talented paper-piecing going on. I don't know how to paper-piece beyond a string block, something I suppose I ought to learn someday.

Now, to prep some sample blocks for the new round of 3x6 and its new offshoot bee, the 4x5. Would you believe I'm caretaking for both bees now? Heh. Yup, the mad librarian quilter, that would be me...

Working, working...

2011-07-04T07:50:00.000-07:00

Just no finishes to share! I've been alternating between two projects the past few weeks, and while there's plenty of progress, there's not an awful lot to show, finish-wise. But I couldn't just keep leaving y'all hanging indefinitely, so I thought I'd share a few shots of my works in progress...

First are these giant windmill blocks--each one finishes at 16.5" square. They're a combination of Moda Bella Solid in Cream and charm packs of two Minick & Simpson collections, Wiscasset and Clermont Farms. I spent one evening drawing sewing lines on the back of my cream squares, matched them with the print squares, and have been using them as leaders/enders while I've worked on other sewing lately. The result has been that suddenly I had everything sewn and ready to go when I was ready to put the blocks together...

I know there's more than one of you looking at these and going, "Ok, the librarian has officially gone mad. What's with the paisley?" Well, since I don't always sew for myself or the madman (or bees...or swaps...), sometimes I need to take the recipients' tastes in mind. In this case, said recipients tend to be a bit more traditional in their decor. But that's about all I can say about them at the moment, on the off chance that one of them remembers I have a blog... :D

I do have a bit of a confession to make here, though. As much as I really love modern fabrics (and you know I do), I have a deep-seated passion. For paisley. There, I said it! Ok, let me explain a bit. When I was little, my grandparents' house was somewhere I spent a LOT of time. And my grandmother's decorating aesthetic tended toward Jacobean embroidery, flame-stitched and damask upholstery, and yes, some old-school paisley here and there. So in this case, working with more traditional fabrics is no hardship--I love Minick & Simpson (you've seen me singing their praises here before). And sometimes it's nice to switch things up, right?

Especially when I've also been sewing tons of these:

See, more paisley-inspired prints. And modern! You've seen these blocks before, too. 83 completed blocks in that stack, just 17 left to go. But I'll probably hold off on putting the top together until it's slightly less hot and humid...like September. No AC here, so it requires a bit of strategy. Summer is for block sewing, fall and winter are for tops, basting and quilting.

What about you? Do you save certain aspects of your hobbies for certain times of year?

Sexy Sunday Stash

2011-06-12T07:09:00.001-07:00

Well, I suppose it mostly counts as sexy if you're an old-school gamer, a dork, AND a quilter. As I qualify as all three, this little stack of fabrics has me all a-flutter.

Pac Man ghosts, Alien Invaders, and a stack of gorgeous shot cottons, all courtesy of the seriously awesome Brenda of Pink Castle Fabrics. Thinking of adding some white and black in there, too. Now if I can just figure out a pattern to use for them, I can get started. Anyone have any suggestions?

Design wall Monday

2011-06-06T08:22:00.000-07:00

Around being sick as a dog last week (especially over the weekend, once I started feeling better), I pulled together fabrics for a new quilt. If all goes according to plan (tempting fate here, aren't I?), this will eventually turn into a queen-sized quilt for our bed this winter. Each block finishes at 10", and I have 40 done so far. 60 to go! (I figure this will be closer to a king-size quilt--my way of making up for the madman's cover-hoggy ways.) I'm also brain-storming ways to quilt this myself without having to wrangle all 100 blocks in one big mass. Anyone have experience with or advice on quilting such a beast on a domestic machine?

Calling out sick

2011-06-05T07:59:00.000-07:00

Is it possible to call out sick from blogging? Because that's what I would have done this past week. As soon as the weather gets really nice? Bang, down for the count with a cold and cough! Blech! No motivation to do anything other than drag through the day and collapse at the end.

Thankfully, there was a bright spot at the end of my sick-o week! The evil postie of doom (as my not-very-nice postman shall henceforth be called) decided to drop off a parcel for me! My Scrappy Mug Rug Swap parcel, to be exact! I hadn't seen a photo of this one on the group photo pool, and I know just why!

A little shelf of books, just for me! And the call numbers, oh my goodness. See, my partner, Colleen? She's an elementary school librarian! How perfect! What do the call numbers mean? Let's hope I don't embarrass myself here.

The first two stand for Colleen and Yarnell (cuz that's her name). The second two are fiction books (accidentally shelved out of order--curse of librarians everywhere!), Nor for my last name, and Meg for my first name. Then we get into Dewey! 006.754 Fli? That's for Flickr! The next is the classification for coffee, followed by a book about quilting. The last two? 974.6 CON is the history of Connecticut, where I live, followed by the history of North Carolina, where Colleen lives!

(Did I pass, Colleen? I all but failed cataloging in library school. Heh!)

Oh, and at the top of that photo? A little bag of color coordinated scraps from Colleen's LQS--they're SO pretty! I'm dreaming up a little quilt built around their colors!

Scrappy Mug Rug Swap, done!

2011-05-19T10:10:00.000-07:00

Snapped a couple of quick photos on my crowded cutting mat before this little guy heads out the door. Speaking of heads, that poor bird--it's what happens when working with a limited amount of a fabric with large repeats. Ah well. Hoping my partner doesn't mind toooo much. This is the smallest thing I think I've ever made, short of the coasters in my header photo. Those little green and pink squares finish at just an inch! Little and schnibbly!

Officially caught up with ALL of my swaps, and I think I'm going to try and enforce a bit of a hiatus on the swapping over the summer. I'll keep up with my bees, but I'm going to try and abstain from pillows, mug rugs and home goods for a few months--maybe then I'll manage to finish another quilt! (Good thing I'm not a betting woman, eh?)

Caught up on my bee blocks!

2011-05-17T10:05:00.000-07:00

For the Beehive. Kat sent out deliciously soft voiles and pentagon foundation papers, and asked for string blocks for this quilt using Malka Dubrawsky's pattern from Quilt Scene. Should be a stunner!

And I'm all caught up with all of my bees! Phew! Now, on to some sewing for ME!

do.Good Stitches

2011-05-16T10:01:00.000-07:00

Coin blocks for the May round of the do.Good Stiches Peace circle. Coin blocks! Great way to use up scraps--thinking I may to my own quilt of these at some point. Pattern from over here.

A little something...

2011-05-15T10:00:00.001-07:00

A scrappy little something for a secret swap. Off in the mail tomorrow--hope my partner likes it!

Sunday Stash in action, 5/1/2011

2011-05-01T07:38:00.000-07:00

Happy May Day, (or Beltane) to my readers! I'm still here--and officially on a "stay-cation" this week. That's right, all the sleep, cups of tea, book reading, couch lounging, and sewing I have been missing out on for months! Think I can cram it all in in just a week? Yeah, me either. Oh well.

I do have a few things I plan to get done in the early part--you know, the "gotta-do" stuff. But I also want to do them, so it doesn't feel too terrible.

One is to turn this pile of scraps into a couple of blocks for this month's round of do.Good Stitches, the Peace circle.

I'll be turning these bright and pretty scraps into a couple of coin blocks--hope to show those tomorrow!

I also need to get cracking on a mug rug for a swap over on flickr. I know there are some folks who really don't get the whole mug rug thing. I think they're cute and functional--hope my partner knows I hope to use what she makes until it falls apart! I drink a LOT of tea and coffee, especially at work, so I'm hoping that I'll have something cute to bring in to the office and break up the dreary gray of my workspace a bit. Honestly, I'm really all about the silver linings lately. (Not up for positive? Come over and I'll make you cookies. Seriously. Life's too short to be miserable--I've had a lot of forcible reminders of that lately.)

These are what I've pulled for the mug rug I plan on making my partner. I hope she likes it--I need to get sketching!

Oh, and as far as keeping track of my Sunday Stash? I think I'd rather just enjoy what I'm working on than keeping inventory on what I buy and what I use. I tried it, it's not for me. I'll still do Sunday Stash posts, but I think it will be more about using the fabric instead of sitting down to do math and statistics every Sunday morning. Ok with you guys? Or are you sticklers for math?

3x6 bee blocks...Part Two

2011-04-22T13:29:00.001-07:00

3x6 bee blocks, hive #7, a photo by meg_norrell on Flickr.

For my hive #7 girls this quarter, I used a tutorial from Elizabeth (http://dontcallmebetsy.blogspot.com/). It gobbled up scraps, though again, I've got so many, it didn't make such a big dent. I did alter Elizabeth's directions a little, and made the centers square instead of rectangular--I wanted the blocks to take up more of my scraps!

Now, to get these puppies all wrapped up and mailed off to their new homes! Don't worry--I took a page from Bonnie Hunter and started a couple of leader/ender projects. I know, I need more projects like I need a hole in my head, but it means that I have most of the piecing for a throw quilt already done. One of these days, I might even have a finish!

In the meantime, happy holiday weekend!

3x6 bees, 2nd quarter...Part One

2011-04-22T13:19:00.001-07:00

3x6 bee blocks, 2nd quarter, hive #28, a photo by meg_norrell on Flickr.

I love these blocks! I chose to use a tutorial from Christina (http://sometimescrafter.blogspot.com/), and dipped into my box of pre-cut 2.5" squares. They were easy to chain piece, and came together really quickly. Sadly, they hardly made a dent in my stash of squares. It's given me great ideas for a scrap quilt soon, though!

FMF lovers, rejoice!

2011-04-18T11:37:00.000-07:00

From Denyse Schmidt's Facebook page today: "With FreeSpirit, I'm reprinting a limited Flea Market Fancy collection for January 2012." For those of us who have been begging, pleading and petitioning and dreaming, for those who missed the boat entirely, hoarded obsessively, or used stashes sparingly, this is delightful news! We don't yet know what exactly "limited" will mean--just a limited printing of the whole line? Select original prints in their original colors? Or in new colors? Any number of possibilities--all of them exciting!!

No idea what I'm rambling on about? Go check out some of the obsession here.

Delicious DS Quilts!

2011-04-13T18:15:00.001-07:00

If you haven't heard the news blowing up the quilter's corner of the internet this week, then I am about to impart great wisdom and excellent news. No, no, this has nothing to do with car insurance.

This has to do with Denyse Schmidt releasing a line via Fabric Traditions, exclusively for chain stores. Namely Jo-Ann Fabrics in the US and Spotlight (in May) in Australia. At $9.99/yard, it's not cheap. What it is, though, is soft and lovely, and so, so pretty.

Forgive the lighting, I wanted to set the mood...

Cue the Barry White. I think I'm in love...

*shakes head" Where was I? Oh, yes.

I called my local Jo-Ann's on Monday, when I first read that someone had randomly found it in their local Jo-Ann's. The staff at mine said it was in the building, having just been delivered, but that it wouldn't be out until later this week. I took a chance this afternoon and, after work, drove over. Only to find a bolt of every one of the 21 prints on a U-boat (think tall, giant dolly with two sides, forming a U) along with some Alexander Henry Farmdale prints (roosters, apples, some of the hatch and dot, and the turquoise floral). Ordinarily, just the Farmdale prints would have sent me into a tizzy. But not today. Oh no. Today, I was on a mission.

I flagged down an employee and asked it anyone would mind if I helped myself off of the U-boat. She looked at me like I was nuts. "Honey," she said, "if it's what you want on that cart, help yourself." Right on!

Think of a cross between the joy of Christmas morning and an Easter egg hunt, as there were at LEAST 70 bolts of fabric all mashed in on the 3-level cart, stacked a good 6 feet high. I sized it up, planned my attack, and started pulling. At one point another employee came around the corner and asked if she could help. I explained what I was doing, and she began to grin. She GOT it. She knew who and what I was talking about, and was so excited about the fabric, too! I don't often get to share my geekery with real people, you know, in person. There might have been squealing. Maybe.

I showed some small restraint and left 3 bolts on the cart (I am not totally sold on the small ginghams, and one of the green florals), then counted. And recounted. Only 19?? Then I realized--the dots were missing!! Those dots you see in at the bottom of the stack there? Were not on the cart. ONOES!

Then I felt stupid. When I'd called the store on Monday, the two product ID codes I'd had them check were the dots--the girl had offered to put them aside for me. So I took my cart and zipped back to the cutting table and *phew!* there they were! I'm a dope (and if you are not new to my blog, you know this already. Heh.).

In any case, there was much cutting. And much more geekery, as the girl working at the cutting table also was sooo excited about the line.

And then I met a blog lurker! Not one of mine, sadly, at least I don't think she is. She did, however, know Amy (Badskirt), because really, who doesn't? (I meant that in the nicest way possible, Amy, honest!) I didn't want to ask her if she knew who I was. Because either way that could go would just be strange, no? However, lovely girl and fabric addict whose name I didn't catch at the Milford, CT Jo-Ann's, it was wonderful to meet you and I hope I left you enough Picnic and Fairgrounds!

Now, off to drool a bit over the goodies, and then sweet dreams!

With a little help from my friend...

2011-04-10T10:46:00.000-07:00

If you're familiar with the song in the title, I'm sorry--I know you'll be singing it for the rest of the day. :)

I am referring, of course, to my quilting buddy:

This would be Timmy, keeping half an eye on me while I sew, in between his naps, of course.

What is it about cats and niches? Does that look comfortable? (please don't look at the fact that we're missing the baseboard on that wall. It's been on the honey-do list for...5 years? Oy!)

Timmy was supervising my work on this:

A ginormous 20.5" log cabin in Echino-inspired solids, for Andi of The Beehive. I left this slightly large for Andi to trim down--it's bigger than my cutting mat! I loved working with the range of bright colors, though, and every time I work strictly with solids, I promise myself that one day, I'm going to do a solids quilt. Of course, you and I both know that means I'll start one... *wink*

This week also saw the kickoff of the second quarter of the 2011 3x6 Sampler Quilt Mini Bee over on Flickr. This is my second round with the group (though I did help out with a couple of angel blocks in the 4th quarter last year), and it's my first time acting as caretaker! Yeah, I don't know how I managed to get roped into that, either. *sheepish* So the first week has been hectic, getting everyone set up, information shared and links mailed. I also spent two nights knocking my head against the wall with total quilter's block. I had a flash of clarity two nights ago as to what I'd be doing for one of my groups.

Did you catch that?

That's right, in addition to The Beehive, and do. Good Stitches, AND caretaking one group for the 3x6 Bee, I'm doubling up and participating in a second hive with the 3x6 Bee.

Am I insane?? Quite possibly. We'll see if I can manage to make this all hang together the next few months.

In the meantime, I've been cutting up lots and lots of little squares...

Spending the rest of the day working on my trial-run block, and if all goes well, tackling a few more of these!

And since I'm running behind on my Sunday Stash reports...

Used this Week: 3 yards (bee blocks sewn from stash)
Used year to Date: 161.5 yards
Added this Week: 3 yards (Solids from Pink Chalk Fabrics)
Added Year to Date: 53.25 yards
Net Used for 2011: 108.25yards

If you don't see me for a day or four, don't worry--you know where I am. :)

Progress?

2011-04-02T07:47:00.000-07:00

I can't say that my design wall has changed much in the last month or so. I've developed a wicked charity sewing habit lately, it seems! I think for me, charity sewing is like joining a bee. I think my favorite part of quilting is making blocks, and both bees and my recent charity sewing ( Just One Star, Log Cabins for Japan) allow me to indulge in making some blocks and then moving on to something else. I don't know, I guess I'm finding it rather liberating!

April will also be my first month taking part in the do. Good Stitches Charity bee on flickr, a project started by the talented Rachel Hauser. I'm so excited! My circle's first round is being led by Katie, and she's asking us to use a brilliant tutorial by Elizabeth of Don't Call Me Betsy. I had a little time the other night to dig into my scraps and try out a block...

The light in here is weird today--that light color actually is Kona White. Can I just tell you how much fun this block is? And with the surplus of scraps going on over here, it just eats them right up! I've sorted through and pulled for the two blocks I'm making for the April quilt.

So you can see what I'll be up to this weekend! (I'm almost disappointed I have a wedding to go to tonight--I'd rather be sewing!)

Also, just a little thank you for everyone's kindness in putting up with me being a bit whiny in my last post. We all have our days, right? Good news it that the treatment seems to have helped, and I'm feeling quite a bit better! Whew!

Through the looking glass

2011-03-29T18:21:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had a day, or a stretch of days, where everything seemed like it should be copacetic, and yet somehow, nothing was gelling? I'm having a stretch like that. A trip to my pain management specialist and a new round of treatment left me in side effect hell for the weekend, allowing me to do little other than stare at the television and nap in a Benadryl-induced haze. I'm still having trouble shaking the last of the effects, and have spent the last two days stumbling through days at work and then coming home and crashing almost as soon as I walk in the door at the end of the day.

So sewing progress in these parts has been limited, to say the least. There have, however, been a few projects I've managed to cobble together in the occasional burst of energy.

Last week, the madman and I took a trip to Ikea for a set of shelves for the sewing room. It was nice to spend some time with him--work schedules being what they are, we rarely get a day off together. We got home and put these puppies together, and I spent the following couple of days shuffling, sorting and organizing. What we have now is this:

Top shelf: FQ bundles, a scrap bag from Moda (contains mostly Luna Notte), some pre-cuts, and a bunch of strips cut for my someday Single Girl quilt.

Second shelf:

Solids! Mmmm, I think I have a problem with gray. Also, green.

Third shelf, projects that have been pulled/cut for. Momo in the bag, a bin of Hope Valley and Kona Snow, and a stack of large-scale florals for a hopefully-soon project.

Fourth shelf: My little bin of Heather Ross scraps, some yardage for a Christmas quilt that somehow never got done this year.

Bottom shelf: Bins of strings and sorted scraps to the left, smaller bins of little shnibbles and a few works in progress. A LOT of this had been contained under my sewing table, so it's nice to be able to stretch my legs now!

Finally, in a short burst one evening, I went through my bin of pre-cut 2.5" strips and pieced together a few Log Cabins for Japan. Just a few more strips and I'll have them in the mail!

Here's to hoping for more energy and less pain in the coming days--I'd love to actually have a bit more sewing to show around here!

Sunday Stash, 3/20/11

2011-03-20T07:17:00.000-07:00

You know how I've been muttering over the last few stash reports that I had something big that was going to be done with my stash? Beyond organizing? Well, yesterday was payoff!

No, no. That's not incoming. That's OUT. Approximately 150 yards from my "old" stash, all packaged and now officially delivered to the members of the CT Piecemakers quilt guild, which is the largest quilt guild in my area, at over 200 members. They have subcommittees that make quilts for a variety of charities, including Project Linus, Quilts of Valor, and a local one, Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. All are charities dear to my heart, for various reasons. But that's another blog post.

The guild used to meet at the library where I work, which is how I first became familiar with them. However, their large and growing group of members quickly outgrew the library's meeting facilities and moved on to larger venues for their meetings. But I knew they still met in town, so when the urge to do some spring cleaning came, I contacted their board.

I've been quilting for about 12 years, and while you've seen my newer, more modern stash in recent posts, there's a whole lot that has been packed in tubs in our spare room, fabric that in many cases has been with me through three moves, and not getting much love at all.

Do you see where this is going?

Yesterday afternoon, one of the Piecemakers was nice enough to stop by the library (I was working) and take all five boxes to be distributed among guild members and subcommittees for various purposes, including charity initiatives. It just felt like the right thing to do.

The numbers this week look pretty good, too! I'm still in the midst of the sewing room overhaul, and as a result, there hasn't been much sewing going on. Um, make that nearly none this last week. I'm hoping that a trip to Ikea tomorrow night and the subsequent final shuffle in the sewing room this week should clear it so that I walk into the room and can just sit down and sew, instead of walking in and feeling too overwhelmed to know where to begin!

So the numbers...

Used this Week: 150 yards (Not sewn, but out of the stash and on its way to being sewn!)
Used year to Date: 158.5 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 50.25 yards
Net Used for 2011: 108.25yards

Now I just need to remind myself not to try and fill the space in my house left by the donation!

I took the pledge

2011-03-17T06:35:00.000-07:00

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Tiffany is one of the queens of flickr swaps, and she's challenging all of us swappers and bee participants. Be on time. Communicate with your swap mama or bee members if you'll be late. Follow through. NEVER leave a swap partner or bee hanging. If you take on more than you can do? Do it anyway, and try and be more realistic in the future.

That's my pledge! What about you?

Sunday Stash, 3/13/2011

2011-03-13T11:04:00.000-07:00

If you saw yesterday's post, you saw that I actually finished stuff! I know, crazy, right?

I kept some momentum yesterday and finished the last of my Just One Star blocks--13 in all.

Those are all wrapped up and heading to Moda in Texas tomorrow. If you missed it, go check out the Just One Star initiative on Moda's blog here. 100 quilts in 100 days for servicemen/women and veterans through Moda and Quilts of Valor's collaboration. As I've mentioned, the blocks come together very quickly, and it's a great way to do some good without having to try and manage a whole quilt project. If nothing else, it's a quick way to use up a little stash or some of those scraps!

I also made up a little monochromatic improv block for a super-secret collaborative project.

It's off tomorrow to the secret HQ!

Lastly, it wouldn't be a normal week around here if there wasn't a sexy bit of new fabric, right? Right!

I love solids. When I first got into quilting *mumbledy* years ago, solids were still strictly Amish territory. Yeah, I know. Crazy talk. As evidenced above, I've embraced them very warmly! So when Kathy of Pink Chalk Fabrics opened up her Monthly Solids Club, I did not walk. No, readers, I ran to sign up! She offers this in fat quarters, half-yards or yard bundles. I went with middle-of-the-road, and this month, my first bundle showed up, in lucky Irish greens!

Mmmmmmmmmm. So many possibilities. This bundle of 8 fabrics is actually 7 Kona solids and one Moda Bella solid--I use both brands and love them equally. Really, how could I ever choose a favorite--it's like asking me if I love my mom or my dad more.

So what does this mean for the bottom line?

Used this Week: 5 yards
Used year to Date: 8.5 yards
Added this Week: 4 yards
Added Year to Date: 50.25 yards
Net Used for 2011: -41.75 yards

A wee bit of progress!!

Production!

2011-03-12T07:14:00.000-08:00

I've been making a concerted effort to take at least an hour every night to come into the sewing room/office and make things. First, it's productive! Second, it's relaxing--it's been a rough week, but each night, as soon as I sat down and started to play with fabric, I could feel the tension headache begin to loosen. And that's a VERY good thing!

Earlier this week, I finished my swap pieces for my Urban Home Goods swap partner. A trio of placemats, AB Love hexies on Robert Kaufman Essex Linen.

Some straight line quilting, backed in Joel Dewberry's Modern Meadow Flower Fields in Sunglow, and bound in a Moda Crossweave (pale aqua with a cream crossweave) that I picked up at my LQS last fall. They've gone out to my partner, and I hope they get there soon, and safely!!

I was lucky enough to have the fabulously talented Alecia Sharp as my sending partner this round--I've been following her work for nearly a year, and I was so in love with what she was making this round, I seriously didn't even dare hope they were for me.

Let's just say, I made a lot of noise when I opened my package Thursday night.

Do you see that bag? Love hexies and linen? Yeah, great minds think alike! Too funny! And how sexy are those potholders? My photo is a little wonky, but the left one says "too HOT to handle" and the one on the right says "hot damn". SO fun--even the madman is totally enamored of them. So, so cute and I am such a lucky girl! Also want to give a couple of shout-outs to Tiffany, for being an awesome swap mama (this particular flickr swap got so big, they divided us into multiple swap pools), and to Heather and Kerri for creating and running this group--awesome job, ladies!!

I've also been making a few other bits and pieces along the way...

Like a cute little mug rug for a friend.
Love the fabric on the back--I got just this little bit in a scrap pack from Jenny, who was begging her blog readers to take some of her scraps off her hands--of course, how could I turn down a plea like that?

Just enough for a little 8"x6" mug rug--perfect! (Please don't look to hard at my binding. You know I'd do the same for you!)

Lastly, I've been steadily working my way through those Just One Star blocks for Moda's Quilts of Valor initiative--100 quilts in 100 days to servicemen/women and veterans. Looking for more info? I blogged about it over here. It's a great way to do some good without having the daunting task of making an entire quilt--the block instructions are really clear (the pattern is Minick & Simpson's, and they're awesome enough that they put a tutorial on their blog, in addition to the pattern--you can find that here.) and the blocks come together super quick. I sat one night and cut enough background and star fabrics for 13 blocks. I have just 3 blocks left to complete today--not bad for a week's work, eh?

One thing you may not know about me is that I taught myself to quilt just after graduating college. I won't tell you how many years ago that was, but it was more than 10 and less than 20. Fair? But that many moons ago, this whole modern quilting movement hadn't come into existence yet. So I still have a couple of bins worth of more traditional fabrics. Since the quilt pattern is on the more traditional side (thought it would be really cool done in modern red, white and blue fabrics), I chose to use this opportunity to dig back into that part of my stash.

Each block is left untrimmed so that the project volunteers at Moda can trim them down before the quilts are put together. As I said, the blocks are coming together very quickly--there are lots of opportunities for chain piecing, and each one is done in about 20 minutes. I'm just hoping they won't dock me points for the occasional clipped point. Heh.

Off to finish the last few blocks and get them sent out. Tomorrow, it's on to the Sunday Stash report!

Drive-by blogging

2011-03-11T11:15:00.000-08:00

There are real posts incoming. In which I've actually made things. Really. I know!

But I wanted to stop through and say, go over to Kaelin's blog, The Plaid Scottie (no, don't. Ok, fine, go. Please, don't...) and see the beauty she is sharing in her giveaway!

Hint, the initials are KJR...

Southport Quilt Show, part 2

2011-03-05T12:20:00.000-08:00

Back, as promised, with more photos from the Southport Quilt Show, Fabrics and Fabrications. You can find part one over here.

Among the things to catch my eye at the show yesterday were a few patterns you may be familiar with. The first?

Recognize it? It's Denyse Schmidt's Cogs Wheel pattern, done crib-sized for the quilt-maker's grandson.

I really love the quilting on this--the echoes of the cogs give it a more modern feel. I really love the choice of the blue background--it made the colors pop.

Over in the chapel, there were more quilts displayed. It was crammed with people, and really had to get a good photo, but from the door, I could see this cute little crib quilt...

Another Denyse Schmidt pattern, this time it was Single Girl done in pretty scraps on white. I cannot get over how striking this pattern is--I need to get off my butt and get cracking on my own version of this! If you'd like to do the same, there's a support group going on over on flickr, check it out here. You'll have to supply your own copy of the pattern (copyrights being what they are), but the support group leaders (Katy, Nova and Megan) are all giving great tips and tricks on everything from cutting templates to sewing curves. A huge help!

There were a lot of antique quilts which show that current trends (paper piecing, log cabins) have some great historical basis. Like this hand-sewn and hand-quilted paper pieced scrap quilt from 1900, draped over the piano just inside the door. You can see more of that stained-glass glow in this photo, too.

And of course there were hexagons, like this Grandmother's Flower Garden.

I love the way the blue and white tie together all of the scrappy hexies. This quilt had been acquired sometime in the early 80s in Appalachia--original date of completion unknown. For the amount of use it received (20 years on a child's bed), it held up beautifully.

And the log cabins!

This one caught my eye--I think it has a great modern feel, for all that it is at least 50 years old.

And then there was this one:

It's being used as a table topper, and was a yard sale find--it was going to be thrown out at the end of the day! Sacrilege! Each of those tiny logs finishes at barely a half inch. Unreal.

And finally, in the chapel, there was a great display up in front of the altar. I had to wait for quite some time to get a shot with no people in it!

I love the two barn raising layouts displayed like this--it's almost like the top one is being reflected in a pond. Very cool, and so lovely. They're both pieced using lots of silks and velvets, so the luster of the fabric was really rich in the stained glass light.

Altogether an extremely inspiring show, and I hope to be able to attend again next year. Now, to put some of that inspiration to work!

Southport Quilt Show, part 1

2011-03-04T12:26:00.001-08:00

I had the great good fortune today to do something very special. This morning I met my grandmother at the Southport Congregational Church in Southport, CT to have lunch and attend their annual quilt show. I missed it last year due to a work conflict, and so I planned ahead this year--extensively!

It was absolutely worth it. The event is put on by a group of volunteers, and the proceeds from the show, called Fabric and Fabrications, go to benefit Make A Wish, Emerge, and Project Learn. They really out-did themselves. Before I go any further, to my CT readers, the show continues tomorrow--I highly recommend it!

The use every aspect of the church for display. The view when you walk in is really quite stunning...

Antique quilts, contemporary and modern quilts. Art quilts. Really, it's inspiring, and I have to say, my pictures don't do them justice.

One of the first quilts I got up close and personal with was this Double Wedding Ring quilt.

All hand pieced and quilted. My regular readers know by now that I have a deep-seated love of scrappy quilts, so it's no wonder that this lovely drew me right in. I could have spent an hour up close and personal with it!

The sun graced us here in CT today, and the effect through the stained glass windows over the quilts was really lovely, giving everything a hazy, golden effect.

This bed sized quilt took up its own pew. It is approximately 100 years old, and overall in great condition. Each of those little HST squares finishes at just over 2.5"! That is a labor of love, no? I love the bits of poison green that pull your eye around.

Seating was at a premium at the luncheon, so we didn't linger there too long. My gram and I shared a table with one of the contributors/volunteers and a friend for a bit, and they were lovely. I was delighted to see her quilt up close and personal after lunch!

Lakeside Hunter's Star, by Millie Ohm. It was made for friends who are building their dream house, as a gift. It was really striking--it caught my eye when I first walked in. If you look back at that first photo in the post, you can see it off to the right.

Finally, just inside the door when I walked in, I saw another great Double Wedding Ring quilt, another antique. It was in some disrepair, but without ropes in front of it, so I could get quite close.

No, no. Closer!

Made with a variety of 20s and 30s floursacks, as far as I can tell. (Note, I'm not a historian, just a quilter and enthusiast!) But look a little closer. See a print you recognize? That caught my eye in a flash! (Wondering what I'm talking about? Go and look at Denyse Schmidt's Katie Jump Rope fabric collection, then come back and look at this photo again. I'll wait...)

Come back tomorrow for part two of the quilt show, including some modern quilts, and more mention of Denyse Schmidt!

Just one star...

2011-03-03T12:46:00.000-08:00

Have you heard about the endeavor over on Moda's blog, Just One Star? The short version is that they want to make 100 quilts for Quilts of Valor in 100 days, and all it takes it each of us making just one star block. You can find the instructions for the block over here.

From their site:

We invite you to join the Moda staff and designers in our newest Challenge…

The challenge is to piece, quilt and bind 100 quilts in 100 days using the
Flag of Valor pattern by Minick and Simpson.

The deadline for star blocks
is May 1, 2011 so that we can meet our quilt deadline
by Flag Day, June 14, 2011.

As the saying goes – “many hands make light work”.

We need 1800 star blocks to reach our goal.
Please take a few minutes to piece Just One Star block (click here for block pattern) using a medium red or blue and a cream background. Better yet, invite your small group or even your entire guild to make Just One Star block. Sign each block with your name and state.

Then we can truly say....the hands of a grateful nation comfort our soldiers!

We will coordinate the donation of the 100 quilts thru the Semper Fi Fund, a cause

that is near and dear to designers, Polly Minick and Laurie Simpson.

Thank you for your help!

Send untrimmed blocks to:

United Notions/Moda Fabrics
Attn: Just One Star Project
13800 Hutton
Dallas, TX 75234

What it means to me?

My best friend is a vet. So is her dad. My grandfather was a WWII vet. It's not about politics for me, it's about people. I'm taking this project as an opportunity to do something in honor of them, and all our servicemen and women, past and present. The thought of making a whole quilt is overwhelming, and we all know I'm not much of a finisher. This allows me to do something, and contribute to a greater whole. As of February, 2011, Quilts of Valor has awarded over 37,000 quilts to servicemen/women and veterans.

I spent two hours last night cutting for a dozen blocks. I'll spend the next few nights (body willing--we'll see how tomorrow's pain-management session goes...) sewing them. Then it'll be back to business here!

Sunday Stash, 2/27/2011

2011-02-27T09:44:00.000-08:00

Well, the postie decided to show up today. Yay! But oh, what I did... Sale + free shipping + a weak moment? Many thanks to Clint and Judy of Green Fairy Quilts for this box of lovelies!

A Basic Gray Origins layer cake...

Prayer Flag by April Cornwell jelly roll, plus one in white and one cream--I really love the solids precuts--they make for very speedy quilts! (PS, a little birdy told me that GFQ is also carrying lots of other Bella Solid precuts, like charm packs, layer cakes, and fat quarter bundles. Ok, I saw it on their site, and I thought I should enable you. You're welcome!)

I saw this great kit full of Kate Spain's 12 Days of Christmas, and since I have a couple of charm packs but not enough to make what I'd been thinking of making, I snapped this up--more for the yardage than the cute pattern. I do love the little canvas bag, though. :)

And finally, some charm packs. 2 Chrysalis, 2 City Weekend, and one each of Hoopla and Clermont Farms.

I have some secret-like sewing going on this weekend, so there should be outage to report next week. (Don't I always have an excuse?) But the numbers this week? Oy vey...

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 3.5 yards
Added this Week: 22.5 yards
Added Year to Date: 46.25 yards
Net Used for 2011: -42.75 yards

*Edited to add: GFQ is not a sponsor. I just really love their shop!

Sneak Peaks...

2011-02-26T12:31:00.000-08:00

Working hard on my main swap project for the Urban Home Goods swap over on Flickr.

Wanna see?

Essex Linen blend in Natural, some Amy Butler Love hexies, lots of straight line quilting...

One down, two to go...

Wordy Wednesday

2011-02-23T08:09:00.000-08:00

I think sometimes as bloggers we forget that readers don't really "know" us. I mean, you know I'm a UFO queen, and the slowest quilter on the planet, but what do you know beyond that?

Here are a few things you may not know about me...

1) My first job was at a video rental store. I was 15, and worked there until I went to college. (That's right, pre-dvds, folks.)

2) I hate eggplant. I knew I'd met my soulmate in the madman when I learned he also hates it. :)

3) I'm a cat person who was raised by dog people. (My brother is also a cat person.)

4) I snore.

5) I sleep with earplugs, because the madman also snores. So do three of my cats! (er, the snoring, not the earplugs.)

6) My favorite comfort food is spaghetti marinara.

7) I love to cook, but never use recipes except as a "jumping off" point. As a result, we never have the exact same thing twice.

8) I cannot bake bread to save my life.

9) I played clarinet for 4 years. That was more than long enough to realize I have no musical abilities!

10) I have 15 tattoos. You cannot see any of them unless I'm wearing a tank top or no socks.

11) I used to have 11 piercings. I've let most of them close up. (I was young, what can I say?)

12) I've been wearing glasses since I was 5 year old.

13) I would live in jeans, if I could.

14) I consider purses necessary evils. Cute and evil go together well.

15) I'm allergic to kiwi.

16) I've never broken a bone. *knock on wood*

17) I'm totally a glass-half-full kind of girl. To a fault.

18) I set my alarm clock forward by 10 minutes, and have it set for 7:01. I know this, and still manage to fool myself.

19) I am chronically early. I've been known to sit and read in my car if I'm more than 10 minutes early somewhere. Being late makes me super stressed.

20) I took French for 10 years. It's now only useful for yelling at my cats. Makes the neighbors wonder!

So, if all's fair in love and blogs, tell me something more about you!

Sunday Stash

2011-02-21T06:58:00.001-08:00

On Monday, again.

The past week or so has been all about evolution. I've sorted, ironed, folded, shifted.

I started out with my office/sewing room looking like this.

(If you are sensitive to photos of wanton stacks of fabric, unsorted, haphazardly folded in various sizes, you might want to scroll past the next few photos. They may shock you. You've been warned!)

Pulled out of my closet and onto my sewing table. No room to work! No wonder I can't get anything done in here!

The stash in flux. Some neatly folded and put away. Some waiting for the royal treatment. God, what a sty.

More stacks, pre color sorting, ironing and folding.

Soon to be happy fabric, posing with the new love of my life, comic book boards.

Did you make it? Are you ok? It's over. I promise.

Let me show you what all of the stacks and mess has turned into...

Warm and neutrals. See the issue here? Yeah, no room for orange. I'm working on that...

Altogether now. A spot for oranges. On the bottom left, you're looking at FQs in the front, with a project bin, all 3 purple fabrics I own, plus my FMF and AB Love stashes.

Off to finish with the oranges, and see if I can get my solids organized! (Thank goodness for Presidents' Day!)

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 3.5 yards
Added this Week: 2.75 yard (Found a couple of great deals on Etsy. I need to stay off of that site!!)
Added Year to Date: 23.75 yards
Net Used for 2011: -23 yards

Erk. Need to finish cleaning so I can get sewing!

Sunday Stash (on Monday!)

2011-02-14T13:19:00.000-08:00

This is going to be a bit of a drive-by posting. You see, with winter receding a bit (52 degrees outside--the warmest it has been in my neck of the woods since...October?), I've rediscovered my social life! Sushi with a former co-worker, movie-night with the madman, dinner out with friends--on a Friday night?! I know, crazy talk! It has been really lovely to reconnect and go out and be social.

However, it has made for NO sewing. None. Not one bit. I managed to do a little stash culling and reorganization over the weekend, but I'm mid-project and would rather show off when it's done...maybe next week?

In the meantime, since I worked on Sunday and came home too knackered to do more than plop on the couch with a book, here's my belated stash report!

Used this Week: 0 yards (I have grand plans for some stash-busting, but then, don't I always??)
Used year to Date: 3.5 yards
Added this Week: 1 yard (A kind bloggy friend sent me some of her scraps--lots of strings for my string-quilt-to-be!)
Added Year to Date: 23.75 yards
Net Used for 2011: -20.25 yards

Here's to hoping for more time, and more productivity! (I know, right?!)

No sewing...

2011-02-08T08:41:00.000-08:00

But lots of cutting.

I've been a little braindead lately. Well, moreso than usual. I'm suffering hugely from cabin fever this last week. Our front steps are an icy mess. And after an inch of rain and a brief thaw, so is our driveway. It took me four running starts on Saturday night to wind up kitty-corner halfway up the incline of our driveway. I slipped and slid my way to the garage door and called my husband, who was on his way home, to warn him. Poor guy spent a half hour in the drizzle and the dark when he got home trying to at least get both cars in the driveway. What an ugly mess. Add to that the thaw means that we have water coming in through one window in our living room and seeping in one ceiling corner in my sewing room (ugh!), and you can begin to see where my head is at, yes?

So there hasn't been any sewing for about a week. I've mostly been sorting scraps, ironing and cutting some of them, and making pretty little stacks...

I've long admired the Strips and Bricks pattern by Malka Dubrawsky, and the versions made up by Rita of Red Pepper Quilts, shown here and here. When Malka revamped her pattern and made it available for pdf purchase a few months ago, I leaped on it, having missed it in its originally published magazine in 2009. I've finally started sifting through my "low volume" fabrics, and have started putting together the soothing, gorgeous palette used in the original, as well as Rita's two incarnations. Sewing is a ways off yet, as there's a lot of cutting yet to do, but I can handle that.

Just don't ask me about our weather. Deal?

Sunday Stash, 2/6/11

2011-02-06T07:54:00.000-08:00

The confession edition.

Well, two giant boxes showed up at my house this past week--snow, ice and rain still (mostly) can't deter the postal service.

The first contained the damages from my stop over at Aunt Bea's online store closing sale. I'm so sad to see that shop close up, they really had some amazing stuff. I say had, because apparently, I bought it all! (PS--Totally blaming Ashley over at Film in the Fridge for posting about the sale when I was having a weak moment. Just saying...)

On to the carnage!

First, some super-cute fabrics for little boy quilts. I come across boy-appropriate fabrics fairly infrequently, so I tend to stock up when I find something I like. From the left, Michael Miller Plaidsportation, Alexander Henry elephants, and the last 4 are from Robots by David Walker for Free Spirit. I actually have one of the other focus prints from the Robots line, and I think they're adorable. Now I just need more friends to have boys... *crickets*

Moving on...

Adding to my AMH Good Folks stash. I LOVE this print.

Weekends, Mingle, and Meadowsweet in sort of a pink/orange/white trio.

And finally...

A couple of yards of Japanese imports. Top is Isso Ecco for Lecien of Japan, and the bottom is Kei Honeycomb. I have SUCH a love affair with honeycomb dots. Did you know that until a couple of years ago, I hated polka dots and owned none? Scary, I know. Apparently, I am now making up for the error of my ways--with interest.

Which brings me to package #2. Are you tired of fabric yet? Me either!

The second package came from the lovely Kerri's Etsy shop, Sew Deerly Loved.

At the top, 6 yards (I KNOW) of Kona solid in Medium Gray. This is going to be the background for my Single Girl Quilt-Along quilt. I'm still pulling fabrics for the rings, but you can get a tiny peek if you look at the left side of the first photo in this post.

Don't worry, I'll wait...

...

I'm thinking prints of mostly white, turquoise and aqua with navy and lime accents on a gray background would be stunning, but we'll see what happens when I get into that.

Back to the goodies Kerri sent. There's also a yard of Essex Cotton/Linen blend in Natural for part of my Urban Home Goods Swap project. Then *looks down* a few other things jumped in my cart. Like the cute little elephants. And the cool Alice Kennedy red and white leaf print. And more Honeycomb dots, this time in orange. I SAID I have a problem!!

So where does this leave me in the realm of stash busting? Are there awards for "reverse" busting? No? Crud.

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 3.5 yards
Added this Week: 22 yards (OMG)
Added Year to Date: 22.75 yards
Net Used for 2011: -19.25 yards

Looks like I have my work cut out for me--literally!

Sunday Stash, 1/30/11

2011-01-30T13:28:00.001-08:00

Stash in action!

To say I feel a bit better about my productivity this weekend would be an understatement. I listened to music, and cooked, and most importantly, I sewed. This will be one quarter of My Quilt. I've gone whole hog with this quilt, cutting into my Heather Ross stash for the star centers, and even going so far as to cut into my Flea Market Fancy scraps for some of the star points. Crazy, I know! But I figure that if it's going to be the first quilt that I make for myself, it should be special, right?

It is also going to be HUGE. Each block is finishing at 12.5" square--what's on the design wall now measures just over 36"x48", and that's just a quarter. Finished, this puppy should be a fairly enormous 72"x96", a very generous twin size. PLENTY big for cuddling under. And considering that we're still buried under 4 feet of snow, with over a foot predicted to fall in the next storm slated for Tuesday/Wednesday this week, I think a big quilt is a very good idea.

I've done some shopping this past week, for a couple of reasons. When we were assigned our partners over in the Urban Home Goods swap on flickr, I had an immediate lightbulb moment. And then there's the Single Girl Support Group bunch on flickr--we have mentors helping us through making this slightly intimidating but very cool pattern by the very talented Denyse Schmidt. So while I decided to make the rings of said quilt with fabric from my stash, I didn't have the 5.5 yards required for background. So... I went over to Kerri's Etsy shop, and found everything I needed for both the quilt AND my idea for the UHG project. Those items aren't here yet, though, so I'm not counting them as adds to my stash this week, but I promise pictures in next week's post...

And then...there was the other purchase. See, I can justify (excuse?) the yumminess on its way from Kerri--even if a few extra odds and ends did happen to jump into my cart... But the other? Well, I'm blaming Ashley over at Film in the Fridge. She happened to mention the closing of a certain online retailer in a post this past week, and having caught me in a weak, snowbound moment, I caved. And boy, did I have fun!! So there will be more photos of guilty pleasure incoming.

In the meantime, I will look anywhere but directly at you and whistle innocently while I post my stash report for this week...

Used this Week: 0 (not counting the blocks on the design wall until they become a bona fide quilt top)
Used year to Date: 3.5 yards
Added this Week: 0
Added Year to Date: .75 yards
Net Used for 2011: 2.75 yards

Sick and tired

2011-01-29T08:11:00.000-08:00

You remember that week I had off? Well, I woke up on the first day of said week with a cold. Not like the sniffles, or a little frog in my throat. I mean a full on upper and lower respiratory monster, complete with with a cough that I'm still working on kicking two weeks later and a fever.

Yup. I spent that week's vacation looking like this:

Curled in the fetal position, adorned with cats. Special thanks to little Beans (L) and Domino for posing so nicely.

My MRI had to be rescheduled because I couldn't lay flat for an hour without hacking. Same went for the couples massage my husband and I had planned. Going out to eat was sort of senseless, since A) we'd have to sit in the plague section and B) I couldn't taste a thing.

The upshot is that everything fell by the wayside, including my grand quilting plans. Oh wait, did I mention we've had 4 feet of snow in the last month? That's right, one horking storm a week, a foot at a time. Reallllly sick of that, too.

Here's what I've accomplished in the last 2 weeks...

Pretty. Pitiful, but pretty. Hoping for a little more pretty and a little less pitiful this weekend!

And, while I'm not counting it until it's in the house, I've fallen off the wagon with the fabric diet. So while tomorrow's Sunday Stash won't look like much, next week's? Wooo doggies, that's going to make for some pretty pictures!

Have a great week, and stay healthy!

What I did with my snow day

2011-01-17T06:37:00.000-08:00

Last Wednesday, New England got socked with our third snowstorm in three weeks, and it was a doozy! Here in my part of Connecticut, we got just over two feet of snow--enough to break records in some places. And really, once you're counting it in feet, who cares how much there is? It's a LOT.

Thankfully, my uber-boss (the town manager) decided to follow the Governor's directive and close municipal offices last Wednesday. An impromptu snow day--yay! The madman was already scheduled to be off that day, so we spent a cozy day snowed in together. And while he played video games, I got all caffeinated (I may or may not have also cleaned the kitchen during my coffee-fueled frenzy--the details got blurry) and came out sewing!

I joined the 3x6 Beehive Mini-Bee over on flickr this year--this is my first quarter with the group, and I have to say I love that I have a three-month chunk of time to make up blocks on my own schedule. So I figured I'd at least make a dent in my blocks on Wednesday. Thanks to my caffeine buzz, I made quick work of the demo block, in my own colors of green, gray and white:

I love the look of maverick stars, and with fewer seams and points to match than traditional star blocks, they work up really quickly.

This quickly, in fact--they're all done! Even better, they were all pieced from my scraps and stash--NO purchasing came into play for these puppies. You can see red was a VERY popular color in our little hive. I had such a great time with these blocks, it gave me the push I needed to finally start working on a project I've had bouncing around in my head for over a year--you saw hints of it in yesterday's Sunday stash post. I'm on vacation all week, and hope to get some more sewing done, so pop back here later this week, and there should be more progress!

Sunday Stash report

2011-01-16T08:50:00.000-08:00

For me, I got quite a bit accomplished this week. I look around at my other quilty, bloggy friends and am often in awe at how much they manage to crank out, week after week, even with jobs and families and pregnancies and all sorts of other distractions. Heck, I just work, take care of the Madman, and indulge in a couple of other hobbies *coughWarcraftcough*. How do I manage to lag behind so terribly? Do you ever feel that way?

Part of it, I know, is just perception. And part of it is that they blog more often, and take prettier photos!

In any case, I finished my blocks for the first quarter of the 3x6 Beehive mini bee, all pieced from stash--I'll have photos of them tomorrow! I made one for each of the 6 other girls in my hive, plus one mock-up block in my own colors, just as a test run. They were not difficult, went together quickly, and used up a mighty amount of fabric--wonky piecing always seems to do that.

Oh, I got an update on the baby quilt I made and sent out last week. Even with all of the wild weather the East Coast has endured the last week and more, it got there in time for the baby shower! YES! And since I had finished one old UFO with that quilt, I figured that gave me license to start something new. Logic? Has no place in a quilter's studio. Heh.

So I did something crazy...

I got out all of my Heather Ross fabrics. ALL of them, all of the Mendocino and FFA2 and Munki and Lightning Bugs that I have been hoarding in scraps and bits for over a year...

And I started cutting! Oh yes, I did. Squares, 4.5" each. Lots of them. Some turned into triangles, some are staying square. What will they be? MY quilt. I decided it was high time I had a quilt of my own (to which the Madman says "It's about time! Dang!"), and what better to make than a quilt of some of my favorite fabrics ever? I have a whole week off from work (the Madman and I refer to it as "post holiday recuperation") and lots of time to sew. *happy dance!*

Oh, wait, this is supposed to be a stash report, right?

I'm counting fabric out as the tops and quilts are finished (or bee blocks, if pieced from stash), sooo...

Used this Week: 1.75 yards (yardage and scraps for bee blocks)
Used year to Date: 3.5 yards
Added this Week: 0
Added Year to Date: .75 yards
Net Used for 2011: 2.75 yards

I promised a finish...

2011-01-12T12:27:00.000-08:00

And I'm delivering!

First finish of 2011, and I feel so good about this. You have no idea.

I started these blocks with no real goal in mind about a year ago. And lost interest after 5 blocks. Set them aside, and played with other things.

But with a friend's baby shower coming up (this Saturday, in fact), I got moving on this project again just after the first of the year.

Piecing, borders and basting on Saturday, quilting and binding on Sunday, and it was in the mail to Georgia on Monday. Sadly, I won't be able to join it for a little Southern-style party this weekend, but I'll be there in quilt and spirit!

It finished at about 36" x 45". And I love it.

Some of my favorite bits...

A bit of Pinocchio Munki, just the perfect color and size.

AB Coriander, Lizzy House Pearl Bracelet from Red Letter day, and Tula Pink Ladybugs...

Hedgies!

Backed with this great argyle print from Riley Blake's Hooty Hoot line, and bound with my favorite KJR basketweave in aqua.

I went with a free-motion meander, which turned out a LOT better this time around. I did find that after switching bobbins once, I had some tension issues. That required some ripping, machine fiddling, and tension resetting, but ultimately fixed it. Only to break my darning foot. /facepalm Thankfully, the Madman got some crazy glue in his stocking this Xmas, and I used that to fix the foot. Everything else went according to plan!

Here's to hoping that my dear friend loves her quilt, and that her little boy-to-be will love it for years to come.

Now, onward to use the rest of my mid-week snow-day (we topped out at just over 18" here, though after a bit of sun it looks like we may get another bit of snow after all /sigh) for some more sewing!

In the meantime...

2011-01-09T21:31:00.000-08:00

While keeping track of my stash for 2011, I'm not counting my last two purchases of 2010, courtesy of Kathy at Pink Chalk Fabrics and Jackie at Canton Village Quilt Works. I have plans for a number of quilts involving solids, let's see how many I can finish in 2011!

Such a stack of loveliness...

Speaking of finishes, off to stitch the binding on my first finish-to-be of 2011. This is where I park to do my hand-stitching...

My end of the couch, cuddled up against the pillow I received from Kendra in round 4 of the flickr Pillow Talk Swap. I LOVE this pillow--such a bright little spot of sunshine! If you haven't seen Kendra's blog and all of the awesome craftiness this woman is capable of, go now! How she manages all she does, and three boys, too, I don't know. Thanks again, Kendra!!

Hopping on the Sunday Stash bandwagon...

2011-01-09T19:05:00.000-08:00

Angela over at Cut to Pieces has issued a challenge. A fabric diet. As we looked at the new year, she said, "Hey, I have a lot of fabric. I know I'm not alone. I'm going to try not to buy any new fabric for 2 months. Who's with me?"

That would be me. I have a lot of fabric. And I'd like to work pretty hard this year on using up some of what I have. I know I'll add some in the meantime, too, but perhaps I might try and keep track? So I'm going to join Judy of Patchwork Times and her Sunday Stash group to see if I can't keep up with what's actually going on with my stash.

I'm not telling you how much stash I'm starting with. I don't know, and I don't need to know! (Ok, I'm afraid to find out. I said it!!)

So, in the name of full disclosure, I'll start off by saying that I've already failed terribly! LOL Only a few days into the new year, and I added to my stash. Whoops! It's not actually here yet, but I figured out what I wanted to do with my 12 Days of Christmas charm pack (day late, dollar short, yeah, yeah, I know--always next year, right?). Only problem? I needed 2 charm packs to make the design I sketched out work. And I'm apparently enough of a dope that I bought only 1 charm pack to start out with. *sigh* So, I cruised Etsy and found one on super duper sale. And bought it.

It's not here yet, but I feel the need to confess! So I'm counting it as an add to my stash for this week.

But, there's a project in the works that is counting for some busting, too--pics of that soon! Sashing, backing and binding all are from my stash. Huzzah!

Used this Week: 1.75 yards
Used year to Date: 1.75 yards
Added this Week: .75 yards (1 charm pack)
Added Year to Date: .75 yards
Net Used for 2011: 1 yard

What about you all? Anyone else willing to take up Angela's and/or Judy's challenge?

Out with the old, in with the new...year!

2010-12-31T06:09:00.000-08:00

A lot of my bloggy, crafty friends are posting huge mosaics of what they've accomplished this year. Not that they're bragging--in many cases, they're as shocked as their readers! But it's left me feeling a little bit out of sorts, like I should somehow be managing to be more productive.

Then I decided that some accomplishments were better than none, and what the hell, I'm celebrating my little triumphs, too!

I've made a pillow cover, a mug rug (my first!), a table runner, tea towels, coasters and a drawstring bag for 3 rounds of swaps in flickr groups...

1. PillowTake 4, take 1, 2. Saavy Seasons Swap gifts!, 3. Urban Home Swap, sneak peek

I've finished 2 baby quilts, 1 small throw (for another swap), and one large throw...

1. Baby quilt, finished!, 2. 398.2 baby quilt, finished!, 3. Urban Home Swap 2, 4. jay's quilt, finished

And I've made lots and LOTS of blocks for my two bees this past year!

1. Flying Geese, for Jo, Dec. Beehive , 2. 9.5" block for Belinda, 3. 18.5" block for Belinda, 4. Beehive blocks for Mel, 5. 2 Blocks for Feb Coast to Coast bee, 6. Beehive blocks for Bec, February, 7. Beehive block for Bec, February, 8. Jennifer's block for March, 9. March Beehive block, for Kat, 10. May CtC Block Party block 2, 11. May CtC Block Party block 1, 12. Beehive May block for Julie, #3, 13. Beehive May block for Julie, #2, 14. Beehive May block for Julie, 15. CtC Block Party April block for Tracy, 16. String blocks 1-4, Andi's July Beehive blocks, 17. string block 5, Andi's July Beehive Block, 18. Amy's June Beehive block, 19. Susan's blocks, July Coast to Coast Block Party Bee, 20. Bibi's Block, C2C bee, August, 21. CtC Block Party block, September, for Wendy, 22. Beehive block, September, for Angela, 23. Oct Beehive block #2, for Karlyn, 24. Oct Beehive block #1, for Karlyn, 25. Sheridan's block #1, 26. Sheridan's block #2, 27. Sheridan's block #3, 28. Sheridan's block #4, 29. April Beehive block 1, for Tanya, 30. April Beehive block 2, for Tanya

So, while not a lot of finishes, still plenty of sewing. Since I figured out that quilting at the dining room table is so much easier than trying to do so at my little sewing table in my office, I hope that I'll be able (and willing) do quilt and finish a number of my works in progress before it gets too warm to think about quilting for awhile! Here's to more finishes for 2011! Have a safe and happy New Year!

My naked design wall

2010-12-20T07:20:00.000-08:00

It seems as though I've had some project or other on my design wall nonstop for month now. And with the madman's quilt only requiring binding (this evening's chore), there is nothing on my design wall.

Blank. Zilch. Nada.

It's disconcerting for me to walk into my sewing room and see nothing on that wall--it's the first thing I see when I walk in. I have a wee baby quilt to finish by mid-January for a friend's shower, so I'll have to pull those blocks out (I have 7 completed, just need to make another 5) and put them up on the wall this week.

Anyone else have that sense of momentary panic when they've completed a project? And be honest--how many of you wind up starting something new instead of picking up a UFO?

How I spent the last weekend before Christmas...

2010-12-19T08:32:00.000-08:00

Finally finished my Grandmother's Christmas present. Because really, what do you get for the 87 year old woman who has everything? This matches the colors in her living room quite well. I hope she likes it--I find giving handmade gifts rather nerve-wracking!!

This weekend, my sewing machine has taken a bit of an excursion. Out of the sewing room/office and out to...

The dining room table! Complete with Christmas wrapping paper detritus, centerpiece left over from Thanksgiving, platters set out for hosting Christmas Eve, as well as extra chairs for said holiday hostessing event. Nine people for cocktails and hors d'ouevres? No sweat!

What was I saying?

Right!

What you see here is my new vantage point. It means that not only do I have all the table space I could ask for as I quilt miles...

And miles...

Of my husband's Christmas present (doing organic shattered line quilting), but I also have the TV across the room to keep me company. The finished quilt will be about 50" x 60", a decent sized throw for the Madman's Man Cave--plenty big to cuddle under when he's watching movies on the wide-screen, seated in his recliner. He helped me baste it, so it's not a huge surprise, but it will be done on time (barring any and all catastrophes), and that's what counts. He's out tomorrow night with the guys to see Tron *yawn*, so I'll spend tomorrow evening watching something, anything else, while hand-tacking the binding.

The wrench in the works...

2010-12-07T16:34:00.000-08:00

Isn't it always the way? Grand plans, detailed schedules, all's going according to plan and then...

Disaster.

In the post-Thanksgiving, pre-Christmas rush of things, I had a great schedule for working on my husband's quilt, finishing my Pillow Talk Swap pillow, a few odd crafts for friends and family, and it seemed for a minute like I might even make it.

And then I came down with the icky stomach bug that's been going around. And thought I was better! And then it came back. YUCK. Four days, gone. And now my poor madman has it. He is not a good patient.

So we're struggling along here. And I'm sorry there's nothing to see. And I'm sorry I keep starting sentences with "and".

Here's to hoping for a HEALTHY end to this year, and beginning to the new one. Because being sick is seriously cramping my Christmas spirit.

Bits of sewing

2010-11-26T11:21:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving went off without a hitch! Well, unless you consider the gravy flood of 2010, but otherwise, everything was great. Hehe.

In the last week or so, in and amongst preparations for the holiday, I managed a bit of sewing!

First, I volunteered to be an angel for this round of the 3x6 Bee over on flickr.com. I knew I couldn't devote a lot of time to being part of a beehive this quarter, but I've liked helping out when I had some free time.

Dipped into my stash, and found I rather love the color combo. Not sure it would work in my house, but it's one more reason I love bees--I get to play with fabrics and color combos I might not otherwise sew with. Also, I love maverick stars. LOVE them. So quick and easy--I have a feeling that my Heather Ross quilt may be made of these. Ah, one day...

In other news, I'd mentioned that I'd finished the last 10 blocks of my husband's quilt. Here they are together on the design wall. They just need sashing and sewing together. I may move them around some, as I see a few spots where the red is pretty concentrated.

I've got a couple yards of khaki solid for sashing. And that dark print with the little spots? It's a Japanese import, little owls on an indigo background. My husband fell in love with it when I was using it in one of the first months of my first bees last year--I tracked some down on Etsy, and have slowly worked along on improv log cabin style blocks. It should be big enough for a good-sized throw (just shy of a twin bed size), and will go well with the reds, blues and tans in his man cave. :)

Now, for a little more recuperation from yesterday's holiday marathon. So far, today has been nothing but lounging and napping. However, I do have a hot date for some leftovers, drinks and video games this evening. How can a girl resist an offer like that??

Hibernation instinct

2010-11-23T14:40:00.000-08:00

You know, I don't much care that the Weather Channel keeps telling me that the Northeast is running about 10 degrees above average. It's cold most morning when I'm going to work. And it's cold most evenings when I'm getting out of work. My house is cold--the heat clicks on. We have piles of covers on the bed, and the cats sleep on the bed in shifts to be all snuggly and warm. The littlest one has started her annual habit of burrowing under the covers and napping there all day long.

My Yankee instinct at this time of year is to hibernate. A warm cup of tea after a hot, comforting dinner. Curling up with a blanket and a cat and a book in the evenings.

There has been a bit of sewing. I finally caved in and joined the Pillow Talk Swap over on flickr, this being their fourth round, and my first. I've got the front pieced and quilted--I just need to put it together with the back. I finished the last 10 blocks of my husband's improv log cabin quilt, and will spend the weekend sewing on sashing and sewing blocks together.

That just means I have to survive Thanksgiving! This is my second year hosting--last year was extremely stressful, but both my mother and husband have noted that I seem much calmer this year. If you don't count the massive muscle spasm I've carried in my right shoulder for the last month, I'd agree with them. I feel fairly well prepared--I'm doing less this year than I did last year. I'm doing the bird, gravy and three sides--two of the sides will be done and ready to be reheated by tomorrow afternoon. Mom's bringing pies and 2 more sides. My in-laws and their friends are bringing befores. I delegated pretty well this year, and the house is clean--it'll just need a quick once-over that morning. And there's only 11 of us this year. Still too many for a sit-down dinner in my teeny-tiny little house, but less than last year's 14.

And once it's done, I get to enjoy three more days off--here's to hoping I have enough energy for some sewing! And to my readers--have a happy and safe holiday. See you on the flip side, with photos of what I've been working on!

3 highways, 8 flights of stairs...

2010-11-14T10:37:00.000-08:00

or, How I Met Denyse Schmidt.

Ok. Long post incoming, you've been warned.

As some of you know, yesterday and today were the dates for Denyse Schmidt's studio sale in Bridgeport, CT. I don't live too far from there--in fact, I work about a half-hour away from her studio location. I've even dreamed about taking her improv piecing workshops. But imagine my dismay when I realized I was scheduled to work a 9.5 hour shift on Day 1 of Denyse's studio sale. I couldn't get a switch for the shift. My one break of the day wasn't long enough to get down there and back, let alone get into the building.

I emailed back and forth a bit with several of the ladies helping Denyse with the sale. No, they weren't planning on holding anything back for day 2. At 3pm, they notified me that there was very little fabric left, and just a few scrap bags remaining. Throwing my cautious nature to the wind, I told Julie (who was a sweetie) that I wasn't sure what the etiquette was, but would she put aside a couple of scrap bags for me, and I'd come down Sunday morning.

I didn't hear anything back last night or early this morning. I was in an agony of indecision. I knew I couldn't afford one of Denyse's quilts, even at a reduced price, on my current budget. For all that I'm not an incredibly productive quilter, I love to quilt and I love Denyse's fabric. Should I drive down and find myself disappointed if there's nothing left?

I got an email this morning from Denyse herself, in the midst of my indecision, saying that there wasn't any DS fabric left, if that was what I was hoping for, but that there were a couple of scrap bags left. I thanked her profusely, conveying my regret that I hadn't been able to be there on day 1. And then Julie emailed me and said "hey, I have 2 scrap bags with your name on them at our table in the studio."

Thank you, Julie, for that final prod in the bum. I jumped out of my cozies and slippers, took a shower, threw on some clothes and raced out the door. Honestly, that drive of 3 highways was a total blur. I got turned around at one point (my own inaccurate writing of directions--yay me), found my way back and to the right building, and then faced...

The stairs. For those of you unfamiliar, Denyse's studio is at the top (4th) floor of an old converted warehouse, which now houses some gorgeous studios for a number of very talented artists--this weekend was an open-house for these artists. This also means that I had 8 flights of very steep steps ahead of me. For some, no issue. For me, well, I have a sedentary job and had partly-successful back surgery two years ago (I never regained full feeling or function in my left leg).

This? Was a trek of epic proportions. A commitment, as Allison (another of Denyse's helpers) said. I did it, I'm proud to say. Only realizing, as I climbed, that I was wearing a shirt with a stain on it. And I'd forgotten my belt. And I'm not sure my socks matched. I was a mess, going to meet one of my industry idols. *facepalm*

Too late to turn around now.

I reached the top, winded, and stood outside the studio, looking at several of the gorgeous quilts hung up for display (and to buy a little time to recover). Did I bring my camera? Are you kidding? I'm lucky I was wearing pants! I finally mustered up a little courage, and went inside. Quilts, pillow covers, shams. And Denyse. I had to keep walking and keep up the pretense of looking around for a minute, I was admittedly starstruck. (I wasn't being rude, I promise. She was also chatting with some other visitors, taking photos. It would have been rude to interrupt!)

I found the bin of scrap bags, and sure enough, there were just a couple left. I checked them out, found one with some blue dotted leaves from FMF at the bottom, snapped it up and went to the table. I was probably grinning like a fool. This is where things got a little hazy...

Julie asked if I was Meg, I said I was, and Denyse perked up and smiled at me, saying she was glad I'd made it. I shook hands, saying it was an honor to meet her, thanking them for the work they'd put into the studio sale. Julie grabbed the bag with the other two scrap bags in it, and Denyse herself rang up my sale. She noted I'd found some FMF, as well as some KJR, and I believe I said something along the lines of being able to pick out a DS print at 20 paces. Or maybe I just thought it. As I said, hazy. I signed up for her online newsletter, filled out an art show raffle ticket, thanked the ladies again and found myself outside again, dazed and blinking. The combination of endorphin high from the climb and from meeting Denyse Schmidt was enough that I don't really remember the drive home, either...

I'm home again, obviously. I've pawed through my scrap bags, full of great vintage fabrics, some of each of Denyse's fabric lines, as well as lots of solid and shot cotton scraps. Denyse was sweet, and I have to say, absolutely lovely--any photos I'd seen did not do her justice. Oh, and I've seen Greenfield Hill in person. I wasn't sure about it from early photos of it, but seeing it together in a quilt (the blue and green colorways in one of her recent patterns), I have to say it has some distinct possibilities.

I'm looking forward to her next studio sale, at which point, I will certainly be prepared to be there on day one.

And I'll also make sure I have a clean shirt on.

Destash comes to a close

2010-11-12T13:51:00.000-08:00

If you've been following me this week, you know I've been destashing in a big way. You can go over to my etsy shop to see all the goodies. If you've been waiting until I'm done listing things before you start shopping? Wait no more--right now, everything I'm planning to destash has been listed. A big thank you to everyone who has bought from me--the big project now? Shipping!

Picking up where I left off

2010-11-12T08:31:00.000-08:00

With the destash sale, that is! I woke up late this morning, thanked my municipality for the floating holiday today, and went out to run errands in the beautiful New England fall morning. Not a cloud in the sky, warm, still a little color on the trees. I picked up a few things at the grocery store, grabbed a cup of coffee, then took a drive down the valley to the farm to pick up this week's co-op box. Broccoli, peppers, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, squash, turnips, and chicken! Tonight we're having roast chicken with veggies, I think. Mmmm.

In any case, I'm home now and ready to start day 2 of the giant destash of epic proportions. Thanks again to my customers who helped out overnight! Keep your eyes peeled over at my etsy shop--lots of great yardage coming up today!

Final destash update, day 1

2010-11-11T14:11:00.000-08:00

Wow. 44 listings up at the moment. I've hardly made a dent. It's after 5 here, and pitch dark--no more photos til tomorrow. I've been through Yellow and Orange from my modern stash so far, in addition to precuts, some FQ bundles, etc. I have a crick in my shoulder like whoa--I need a masseuse named Sven to help me out with that.

There's some pretty great stuff in ye olde shoppe, if I do say so myself. Heather Ross's Mendocino, Denyse Schmidt's KJR, Amy Butler's Belle, and Midwest Modern 2, and Lotus. Joel Dewberry. Lizzy House, Tula Pink. You know, just to name a few. :D

Happy shopping, folks, and thanks again for helping me destash. I've needed to tackle this for awhile now, but having to come up with closing costs in order to refinance our mortgage really gave me the kick in the pants I needed. See you tomorrow!

Destashing update

2010-11-11T11:51:00.000-08:00

Just before 3pm. I've realized I've forgotten to eat. Still a lot more to go through. This will certainly continue on into tomorrow. Thanks for your patience! About to get into some yardage, and the most modern part of my stash.

First, though, lunch. Or snack...

Destash sale update...

2010-11-11T09:30:00.000-08:00

So, being the silly woman that I am, I forgot to recharge my camera battery yesterday. That meant that partway through photographing the second round of fabrics to list over on my etsy shop for the epic destash sale of massive proportions, the battery went kaput. I managed to bring over a few photos, and got those listings posted. Nicey Jane FQs and some scrap and other FQ bundles, including some holiday-type scrappy bundles are up there now.

Sorry for the delay. I'm going to go and prep some more things to photograph while I wait for the battery to charge up some. Keep an eye on me here and over on Twitter for more destash madness!

First round of destashing, posted!

2010-11-11T07:59:00.000-08:00

I've gotten all of the precuts I'm destashing listed in my etsy shop!

Lots of April Cornell, Bonnie & Camille, some Urban Chicks, Chez Moi, and more.

Next round will be some coordinated FQ bundles and scrap packs (by collection, color or theme). Should have those up within the next hour or so.

Want up to the minute info on what I'm working on? Follow me on twitter, located in my sidebar!

Getting ready for a destash of epic proportions!

2010-11-09T10:27:00.000-08:00

So, all those giveaways? Were just the tip of the iceberg! I'm in the midst of a major resort and destash in my sewing room. (To my last batch of winners, don't fret. Your prizes are set aside and neatly packaged, waiting for the USPS. No mix-ups, I promise!)

Last night, I went through my precuts. Holy wow. Once upon a time, I joined a jelly-roll of the month club. I had such high hopes for my own productivity. Ha! Now I am drowning in them, months after canceling my membership. Add in a few honeybuns, and layer cakes, and charm packs, and... Well, it's really just the tip of the iceberg.

What does this mean for y'all? I just wanted to give you a heads-up. I plan on going through yardage tomorrow night, and then taking photos Thursday morning. By early Thursday afternoon, I should have at least a quarter of the listings up. I'll keep you posted here as well as on Twitter. There is a LOT of good stuff, OOP, HTF, etc. 3 sisters, Amy Butler, Chez Moi, Sandy Gervais, Erin McMorris, Lizzy House, MoMo... Just to name a few.

Now, back to work with me!

Final GiveAway Winners!

2010-11-05T12:48:00.001-07:00

Holy wow, you guys! 168 comments is absolutely a new record around these parts. I want to thank everyone who joined in the fun throughout October--it was a blast. So much so, I know I want to do this again next year--I'll start planning now!

In the meantime, I'm guessing folks might be interested if they won some goodies!

For those interested in the gory details, I went through and made up separate lists for each of the prizes, adding extra entries for those who blogged, tweeted or Facebooked. Then cut up the slips and dumped each list in its own bowl. Fishing around with my eyes closed brought up a winner from each bowl.

For the Amy Butler Full Moon dots, the winner is...:

Diane said...: I am a new follower!

The winner of the Heather Ross scrap pack is....:

Ducks and Rabbits said...: I'd love any of those but if I must chose one than it's #2 - the Heather Ross scraps.

The winner of the Happy Holidays scraps was:

WvHmmngbrd said...: I would love the scraps from my Saavy Seasons projects. Thanks for the chance to win!

I think Monica over at Happy Zombie would be delighted to bits that her fabrics were such a runaway hit!

And finally, the winner of the Flea Market Fancy fabrics is:

sarahbeth814 said... I put your giveaway on my FB!

Thank you everyone for your wonderful comments--it made this giveaway process so much fun. Winners, go and check your emails!

Something a little traditional

2010-11-03T15:56:00.000-07:00

I'm on vacation this week, and the time off has been stuffed full of grown-up stuff. Getting the ball rolling to refinance on our mortgage, talking to building inspectors and appraisers, going to the dentist. In a word? Yuck.

Today, I finally got a chance to sit down and do a little sewing! I took a block I've seen around quite a bit lately (I even did one for a fellow Beehive member awhile back) and scoured through some of my older stash for the makings of a traditional buzzsaw block.

While I'm fairly new to the online quilting community, I've actually been quilting for about 11 years now. And my roots are pretty traditional. I also inherited a ginormous stash of Civil War repro prints from a friend when she was moving earlier this year. So I dipped into some of that, too, and made up a buzzsaw block to fashion into a pillow cover for a Xmas present that will go to my grandmother. It's not quite altogether yet, but should be by evening's end, then on to the pillow-making part tomorrow.

It's also a great test-run for timing, as I'd like to work on this concept after the first of the year to make a nice big scrappy quilt. :)

Looking for the give-away? I'm choosing the winner after noon EST on Friday, so there's still time to enter. Go here!

Computer disaster!

2010-10-28T07:57:00.001-07:00

I wanted everyone to know that I'm on a bit of a forced hiatus. The power supply in my home computer blew out, and we're waiting for a new part--this might take a couple of days. I just wanted to drop a quick line (I'm on break at work). I have photos on my camera, and no way to upload them to show you right now! Soon!

Oh, and if you're looking for the giveaway, head on over here! Remember to leave me a way to contact you if you win--"no-reply" entries make me sad!

See you in a few days!

Week 4 October Giveaway!

2010-10-25T16:26:00.000-07:00

Ok, here we go, the last of my October Giveaways! I wanted to thank you all for making my birthday month such a blast, for all of your kind and wonderful comments, and for taking the time to stop by.

And as thanks, I'm pulling out all the stops...

Want to see what's up for grabs? Here goes!

First up: 3 FQs of Amy Butler's Lotus Full Moon dots, in Camel, Tangerine and Slate.

Second: A scrap pack full on nice big chunks of Heather Ross fabrics. The smallest among these is 5"x7" or so. Most are a solid 10" square, approximately. GREAT for I-Spy or scrappy quilts. I've been collecting bits and pieces for some time, and realized I had some duplicates, so I wanted to share the bounty!

Third: All my scraps from my Saavy Seasons projects. These are all between a FE and a FQ. Plenty left for lots of fun holiday crafts! This is Happy Holiday for Lecien by Monica of Happy Zombie. I love her fabric, and want to share the love! (Can you blame me??)

And finally, some Flea Market Fancy! The yellow posies is a FQ, and the barbells is a FQ missing a 5" square. The other three prints are some scraps that would love to find a home in your next scrap project, or mug rug, or pincushion!

Want to know how this is going to work?

Doing things a bit differently this time.

For one entry, leave me a comment and let me know which prize you want to be entered in a drawing for.

For a second entry in that category, become a follower. If you're already a follower? Leave me a comment to let me know.

For FIVE more chances at the prize you've chosen, blog, FB or Tweet about my giveaway, and leave me a comment with a link out. (I'm a librarian, you know I'll fact-check!)

That's a possible SEVEN entries for the prize of your choice!!

Questions? Let me know!

Also, instead of letting this run just til Friday, I'm going to let this go for a little while. Say, til next Friday? This weekend is Quilt Market, and I know a lot of quilters and sewists won't be around the blog-o-sphere for a bit. I'd like to give everyone a chance! So, this giveaway will end next Friday, November 5.

Good luck!

ETA: Please make sure you leave me an email by which to contact you!! All of the "no-reply" users will be out of luck, as I'll have no way to get word of your winnings to you!

Week 3 winners!!

2010-10-22T08:31:00.000-07:00

Yay! We have winners!!

Winner of the Heather Ross FFA2 quarter-yard cuts is...

#10!!

Happy Cottage Quilter said...: Wow what a great giveaway! I am not sure what we will be doing this year. We have just moved into a new neighborhood. We may go over to my in laws that evening.

Winner of the Robert Kauffman roll-up of Girl Scouts fabric is...

#28!!

Tim said... Staying home on Halloween to pass out candy if we get any trick or treaters. Last year we had none.

And the winner of the group of patterns is...

#19!!

Karen said...: For halloween this year, I will be visiting my son in Switzerland. I don't know that halloween is a holiday there or not, but I don't have to buy any candy this year (good thing since I still have some leftover from last year!) Thanks!

Congrats to the winners! I've already sent out emails, and will have your prizes out shortly!

And thanks to all who've been playing along with my Octoberfest of giveaways!

Don't forget to check back here on Monday for the final installment--trust me, I've saved up some REALLY great prizes for this round!

October Giveaway, Week 3!

2010-10-18T11:27:00.000-07:00

Here's how this week will work. I have three prizes to give away, and the winners will be picked on Friday. First picked gets the first prize in the giveaway, second place gets the second listed, and third gets third.

Clear?

Let's get on with it!

If you've been around this old blog this month, you know that I'm sharing my birthday month good vibes with my readers! And each week keeps getting better!

This week, I'm giving away...

Three quarter-yard cuts of Heather Ross's Far Far Away 2. (Note, NOT FQs, but quarter yard off the bolt.)

A Robert Kauffman roll-up of the Girl Scouts line (perfect for the little Girl Scout in your life!).

And finally, an assortment of patterns from some of my faves, including Me and My Sister Designs, Atkinson Designs, and Cotton Cottage.

How to get a chance at these goodies?

For one entry, leave me a comment. This week: What are your plans for Halloween? Trick or treating with the kids? Staying home to give out candy? Haunted hayrides or masquerade balls? I want to know! I'll be staying home and watching scary movies with the Madman, and giving out candy to protect said big lug from the hordes of goblins and princesses that come marauding through our neighborhood. Last year we went through 5 economy sized bags of candy in just over 2 hours--over 150 kids. WHEW! Going to eat my Wheaties this year!

Want a second entry? Become a follower and leave me a comment letting me know. Already a follower? Leave me a comment saying that, too!

And remember to check back here on Friday for the results!

PS, next week is the last giveaway this month, and I've got some great stuff stashed for you! How do you feel about Denyse Schmidt, Heather Ross and Amy Butler all in one give-away! See you then!

Keeping it real...

2010-10-17T11:20:00.000-07:00

Sort of.

Down to making and sewing bindings on three projects. And a little hand stitching. Then some washing, drying, pressing and packing. After my major sleep-in yesterday? I was wide awake at 6:20 this morning. Yup, on a Sunday. So once I got my caffeine levels up, it was time to make some tracks...

Last night, the madman and I basted the baby quilt. I used a new-to-me brand of basting spray. NEVER AGAIN. Everything stuck to everything, and still is. It was like some really bad slapstick. I'll be going back to June Tailor's on my next project. Sullivan's, to me, is like working with superglue in spray form. Gack. (Sorry, Sullivan's. : / )

So this morning, I plopped down to do something I haven't done in many years.

Free-motion quilting.

I went for a meander with some loops in there. By the end my stitches were more even in size, though the design leaves a bit to be desired.

I won't talk about the toenail-catchers, or the tension issues than meant that even though there was no puckering on the back (yay!), there were some serious pulls in my loop stitches.

Why?

Because I'm not fixing them. I'm going to bind it, wash and dry it, and mail it.

Ok, before y'all fall over and die in shock and horror, let me explain.

My corners and points don't always match.

My lines and edges are not always straight.

My borders have ripples.

My quilts may have puckers.

I hate ripping out stitches. And if I were being paid for a quilt, you'd be damn sure I'd pick bunches of this apart and start over.

Right now, I have a deadline--this needs to be in the mail on Tuesday, because it needs to get from CT to AZ by Saturday. My cousin's wife-to-be is going to deliver in about a month, and Saturday is the shower. As my husband says, I obviously work better under pressure, because I have a really bad habit of leaving things to the last minute.

My handmade things very often look handmade. And I'm ok with that. I try not to send out things that look like a first grader did them, but I'd like to think that the quilt I am sending out, uneven stitches and all, will keep this little baby just as warm as something bought in a store, one of thousands just like it. I learned from the process, and the next one will be better, though that one will have mistakes, too.

I think some crafters have unrealistic expectations of themselves, ripping and resewing, scrapping and starting over. I don't have the time, the interest or the disposition for it.

I can point you elsewhere if you're looking for perfection, because this isn't the place you'll find it.

But if you're ok with me being human and keeping it real, I'm really happy to have you here.

Trying to get my butt in gear

2010-10-16T12:19:00.000-07:00

Overslept this morning. Sure, I have the day off, but 10am? I haven't slept well all week--work has been incredibly stressful. I don't deal well with having loose ends, and there have been many this week! So I guess I was making up for lost sleep. Still, it's been a struggle to get ANYTHING done so far, beyond coffee and breakfast.

Finally, I did manage to pull my thumb out and finish the last of the blocks for my cousin's daughter's quilt. It needs to be in the mail this week, so here's to hoping I don't oversleep tomorrow, too...

Originally, it was going to be 3 x 3 blocks, but the blocks are 12" finished, and that was going to be huuuuge for an infant. So I'm pretty sold on the layout of the blocks, just thinking about sashing now. I'm thinking more pink will be too pink, so maybe white, with thin pink borders on the sides? Need to at least get that done and the basting done tonight. Then quilting tomorrow, binding Monday night, and if I'm very good, in the mail Tuesday morning.

Now to get back to it!

Remember, Monday starts our new October giveaway, this time with THREE prizes. You do NOT want to miss this!

Winner, winner, Xmas dinner!

2010-10-15T08:10:00.001-07:00

The results for the week 2 October giveaway are in!!:

Winner of the 2 Fruitcake charm packs is #47, MommyWantsToRead, who said:

MommyWantsToRead said... Right now I'm not sewing but I am crocheting a blanket for my hubby for xmas.

And the winner of the 2 Crazy Eight turnovers is...#27, Ashley:

Ashley said...: My seasonal projects consist of 5 quilts I'm making for my mom, siblings, and my sister's boyfriend. I'm really hoping I get them all done by Christmas!

Congrats, ladies! I've emailed you both, so go check and get back to me!

And don't forget, Monday will start our week 3 giveaway, and week 3 means...THREE prizes! Also, check back here for details on the grand prize giveaway I'll be doing to wrap up this month of giveaways with a bang!

I'm still here, honest!

2010-10-14T06:36:00.000-07:00

I'm just working on things I can't show you right now! Like I'm about halfway through making the items to send to my SaAvy Seasons swap partner. And I'm nearly done with the top for the baby quilt for my cousin and his new wife (and their baby, due next month!).

So I'm popping in to say hi, and I'm working my fingers off, and I promise to show up with pictures this weekend.

And don't forget to scroll down and enter to win one of two awesome precut jump-starts to holiday crafting in the previous post! The winner will be chosen tomorrow!

See you then, and good luck!

(PS, I think there might be a grand prize for the whole month. What do you think? Maybe a bundle of Heather Ross's FFA2? Any interest?)

A new week, a new giveaway!

2010-10-11T06:22:00.000-07:00

This week, I have two prizes up for grabs!

Here in New England, it's getting a bit chilly at night. Last week, we all talked about what we're looking forward to this fall. Baking, apple-picking, leaf-peeping and decorating for the season were all up there, as was sewing! Glad to know I'm not the only one who doesn't feel much like sewing (and pressing!) in the steamy summers!

Since time is marching rather quickly, it seems, toward the holidays, I thought I'd help you out in that area with this week's give-away!

First up, two charm packs of Fruitcake by BasicGrey.

I love their Christmas lines! You all remember the Figgy Pudding craze last year, right? I am here to tell you that Fruitcake is just as amazing. I'm having a great time working on a hexagon quilt with the jelly roll of Fruitcake that I got recently (pics soon!). I needed to share the Fruitcakey love with the rest of you. (Trust me, this is NOT Grandma's doorstop, bound to be regifted!)

Second prize this week, and just as jolly, is two Moda Turnovers of Sandy Gervais's Crazy Eight!

(Sorry about the lint--oops!)

I admit, I have been hoarding precuts of this line, and found myself with enough for at least three quilts of it. Sounded a little greedy to me, so this would be enough for, say, a nice-sized pinwheel quilt for your bed this season!

Want to know how to get in on this action?

For one chance to win, post a comment and tell me what kinds of seasonal sewing and crafting you're up to!

For a second chance to win, become a follower and leave me a comment telling me. (If you're already a follower, leave a comment and let me know that, too!)

Want TWO more chances? Blog about it, and leave me a comment letting me know!

That's FOUR chances at two great prizes. Not bad odds, eh?

On Friday, I'll use the RNG to pick two winners--first pick will get the charm packs, second will get the turnovers.

Good luck!

Week 1 Giveaway Winner

2010-10-08T11:33:00.000-07:00

And the winner is...#28, Carrie, who said:

Carrie at In the Hammock Blog said...: i can't wait to start decorating my house for halloween!! Thank you so much for the generous giveaway, I have a pattern for a girl's dress that these would be perfect for! Thanks!

Carrie, I'm emailing you now, and congrats!!

Thanks everyone for playing along, and remember to stop by on Monday for my next October giveaway. Week two = two prizes = more winners! You do NOT want to miss this!

October Giveaway #1!

2010-10-04T07:30:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my first October Giveaway! If you've been stalking this space in the last week or so, you know there are more to come. It's my birthday this month, and I thought I'd share the love with you! Every Monday this month, I'll post a new giveaway. The winner will be picked and posted on Friday. Sound ok to you?

Ready to see what's up this week?

The suspense is killing you, yes?

Ok, ok!

Up for grabs is a pattern by one of my favorite designers, Daniela Stout of Cozy Quilt Designs. I actually won a bunch of patterns from Daniela last year after winning a Moda design contest. However, I wound up with a duplicate of one of her patterns from a fabric club. It wouldn't be fair to keep it to myself!

And to go along with it, how about an oldie but a goodie? I've been hanging onto this one for some time, just waiting for the right opportunity to use it. If this isn't making great use of it, I don't know what is! A jelly roll of the out-of-print Oh-Cherry-Oh! by Me & My Sister for Moda.

Yum!

What to do to win? Leave me a comment telling me what you're looking forward to this fall? A certain fabric line? A certain autumn ritual? I'm ready to hunt down some It's a Hoot! yardage from MoMo this fall. And the Madman and I will be doing some apple-picking in the next week or so--here in New England, the harvests have begun in earnest!!

Want an extra chance to win? Become a follower, and leave me a comment to let me know. (If you're already a follower, comment to let me know that, too!)

Want a third chance? Blog about it, then comment here with a link to let me know!

So that's three chances to win!! Good luck!

A busy Sunday

2010-10-03T07:56:00.001-07:00

First: The critical

I don't normally drink my coffee that dark, but we've been putting off a shopping trip, and I ran out of half n half. Soymilk was not really the best substitute, but it's what we had. Oh well. Caffeine was crucial to doing anything productive on a chilly, overcast Sunday. (Hence the quality, or lack thereof, of today's pics.)

Next on the docket, turning these sweet, yummy little scraps I've collected:

Into a little gift for a friend in need.

Then, tackling this pile of strips:

And turning them into more of these:

Sweet, scrappy squares for a baby quilt for my cousin and his new wife--and the little girl they're expecting next month.

Hey, don't forget--tomorrow starts my first giveaway of the month! It's a delicious one, and I can't wait to share it with you! I'll be posting a different giveaway each Monday, and posting the winner every Friday for the whole month, so keep checking back!

The Urban Home Goods Swap--Round 2!

2010-09-29T09:30:00.000-07:00

The spoils of swaps! Many thanks to all of the folks who participated in this round of the UHG swap. It really is amazing to page through and see all of the goodies created by this talented group!

I received my swap WAY early. Darci was just too fast! Can I please explain to you how much I adore this bag? Linen, Momo's Wonderland, AND those fab red bamboo handles? Killing me! I use it as my new book bag for work--and I get tons of compliments on it! The Flea Market Fancy pincushion? Almost too cute to use--ALMOST! It's become a sweet little staple to make handsewing hexies even more enjoyable. Darci, I cannot thank you enough!!

For my own part, I hemmed and hawed. I stacked and restacked fabric. My partner's color choices screamed autumn, and boy, was I ever ready for something that spoke to cooler temps! She (being Mary, aka Sewing Geek, of October Eight) had asked for a small throw that worked with her new living room colors of green, spice, and dark brown.

Ultimately, what I came up with was a Birthday Cake throw, using another pattern from Elizabeth of OhFransson!. Love that lady!

That would be my hubby modeling it for me. The whole quilt was pieced from my stash. Mary has similar taste in color and designers, so once I got started, it just flew. For me, that's saying a lot, since I typically sew at the speed of molasses in January. From cutting to sewing the binding, I think it took me maybe a week? As I said, fast! I really love this pattern, and can definitely see me using it again in the future.

PS--don't forget to stop back next week--there will be a bunch of give-aways here all through the month of October. Help me celebrate my birth-month in style!

Oh, what a mess!!

2010-09-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

My husband thought he was being funny the other day. A friend asked where I was, so he took a picture of my stash, and said "Well, my guess is she's in here. Somewhere..."

Heh. The man has a point. What a mess! Pretty, though.

Anyone want to share the method to their stash madness??

Unplanned absences?

2010-09-26T08:11:00.001-07:00

Wow. Where the heck has September gone? I've been busy, honest! Swaps, bees, and lots of planning for upcoming projects. We've had the strangest weather the past few weeks here in CT. Hot and humid, cold and almost frosty, more thunderstorms in these early days of autumn than we had the whole hot summer. Very bizarre. Those few chilly nights, though, have been enough to put me into hibernation mode--all I want to do after work is sleep! Though that could be because those warm, humid nights in between keep me awake! As my mother would say, sometimes, you just can't win for losing.

In any case, I can share a few things with you while I'm caffeinated enough (I hope!) to string together coherent sentences.

I'm caught up on my bees...

August for Coast to Coast Block Party, for Bibi:

Bibi sent us some of her amazingly gorgeous scraps (serious scrap envy over here!) and had us use Elizabeth's Map of the States tutorial to make up her block. It was a great learning experience--I've been an admirer of the technique for awhile, so it was great to try it out on a smaller scale. Bibi was definitely smart to spread the love on this one, to get enough 9" blocks for a quilt for her little guy--it was labor intensive. Definitely worth it, though, I think.

Also for the C2C Block Party bee, for Wendy's September block, she asked for house blocks. I chose to freestyle, so there's a little wonk to it. I still get a kick out of the stripey door!

And for my Beehiver Angela, a simple square-in-a-square block, which she'll put together as a bento block quilt once she has everything back!

Stay tuned--I have swap pictures queued up from the Urban Home Goods Round 2, and starting in October, there will be give-aways! (It's my birthday month, and really, I can't help but share the love!!)

More time?

2010-08-20T06:09:00.000-07:00

My twin blogger, also a Megan, (also a librarian, and also a quilter!) asked today on her blog what her readers would do with more time.

So...

With an extra 60 minutes today, I would:

Sew. I've got 2 rows of blocks finished and trimmed down and up on my design wall for my Urban Home Goods Swap (Round 2), and I'd love to get another row or two done. (I am a sloooow sewist.)

or Read. I'm currently reading Alison Weir's "Innocent Traitor", a novel about Lady Jane Grey. I'm a Tudor fanatic, and biographer Weir writes killer historical fiction.

If the power was out at the library today (it has happened to us 3 times in the nearly 9 years I've been here...), I would:

Go and pick up my co-op box early, instead of driving like a madwoman after work to pick up my share before they close at 6.

Go to the supermarket to pick up more canning jars.

Take all those yummy veggies home and do some canning.

Finish sewing the top of my project for the Urban Home Goods swap.

Read my book!

If there was a library strike (actually, we're forbidden to strike, but we do have the option of picketing in our off-hours, but I'll roll with it...) I would:

Finish up my swap and bee projects, so I'd be caught up for September.

Get caught up on my sleep!!

Clean. Like, a big clean. Windows and all. *shudder*

Go out with my husband on his day off, maybe for Indian food and a matinee. (We are almost never off on the same day. Ever.)

Work on a quilt project that will stay with us!!

If I were granted a year's paid leave of absence right now, I would:

Bust through my stack of UFOs and try and get them all done. *falls down and howls laughing*

Ahem. Sorry.

Get caught up on my sleep, my reading, and my movie watching.

Write the book I've had partly finished for the last two years.

Spend more quality time with my family.

Probably learn to bake. I can cook, but my baking amounts to box mixes and quick breads.

Get the house organized. We both tend to be clutter-y people, so cutting that back would be nice.

So? What would YOU do with X amount of extra time?? Tell me in a comment, or go blog about it and link it back here!

As promised, the wanna-do list!

2010-08-05T11:05:00.000-07:00

Ok, in my last post, I went over my list of works in progress. *shudder* Did it make you feel a little better about your own list? Did you actually go and count yours? It's a little scary, but it actually made me feel a lot more organized. Now, on to the list of things I want to work on in the future...

1) HR focus square in a square block quilt.

2) FMF quilt. Pattern?

3) Strips and bricks. I've seen Rita make two of these now, and Malka is about to re-release the pattern on her blog. I really, really want to make one of these. It's really rare that I stick with a pattern, or that I covet one like this.

4) Maverick stars. You've seen them everywhere. I know I have. They look like a really fun way to use up scraps and wee pieces. Perhaps some of my FMF will wind up in this quilt?

5) Buzz saw blocks. I actually have my solid background for this, and some squares cut for it. I made one for Kat in The Beehive this past spring, and while each large block is very labor intensive, I'm delighted at the prospect of making a big scrappy quilt of these blocks. This will likely find itself to be a long-term WiP. We'll see.

6) Xmas lights. I have a couple of charm packs of Lumiere de Noel by French General (who I love, btw), and an idea for my own pattern. We'll see what happens with this one...

7) Audrie's scrappy quilt-along. This is due to start any day now, and I'm very excited, but I will likely wind up playing catch-up after the fact. Need to get a few other things knocked out first!

8) A scrappy string quilt. I've actually started sorting through my scraps and putting aside the strings in anticipation. Maybe this will help me put a dent in my scraps!?

9) Another coin quilt. I loved Something Blue, and I know it's well loved by its owners. But I know I'd really love one like it for me, too!

10) Hope Valley, New Day varied squares. I've set aside my New Day half-yard cuts and some corresponding solids for this one. It requires a lot of quality time with my design wall, so I'll need to time this accordingly...

11) Kaffe Stripes. I have a small stash of Kaffe Fasset woven stripe fabrics in some relatively muted colors. Not entirely sure I know what I want to do with them yet.

12) Clara's Geese. I won a FQ bundle of French General's Rounneries fabric last fall, and think I'll save it to make a Wild Geese quilt, like the one Anita is doing in her quilt-along. (As for the name, Rounneries is a palette of grays, beiges, and creams with some gorgeous reds. I plan on using the reds to make the geese crosses in the middle of the blocks. Red Cross = Clara Barton = Clara's Geese. See, logical. :D )

13) Vintage ZigZag quilt. I won a great big stack of 6" squares, all from different vintage sheets, from Evelyn during the Sew Mama Sew giveaway extravaganza. I know I want to use them to make a scrappy zig-zag quilt.

14) LOVE. Another FQ bundle waiting to be made into a quilt. I created a pattern for it already. Now it's just a matter of taking the time to make it.

15) ORBC's hexagon quilt-along, with Julie. I wanted to do it while she was running it, but it just didn't happen that way. I've often said that quilt-alongs should be called "hurry up and finish it months after the fact...".

16) Scrap quilts 1-3. I plan on using a couple of patterns/tutorials from Rita and Elizabeth, two of my inspiration quilters.

What do you think? Should keep me busy for a couple of years, no? And that's if I manage to move faster than a tortoise, which has been my recent state of affairs!

Tell me--what do YOU want to work on next? Do you keep a list?

Think you've got WiPs?

2010-08-03T15:29:00.001-07:00

This post is as much to get my head around what I have started and what I would like to work on in the future. I sat down the other day and started making a list of works in progress and quilts that I would like to make in the future. The list is almost enough to overwhelm me. But not quite! My goal, if I really have one, is to get a stack of tops done and ready for basting and quilting, whether that be on my machine or at the long-armer's. I have a number of quilts that are literally sitting around as a stack of blocks to be put together, or are partially finished and awaiting borders (like the one in my last post). Some of the things I haven't started yet are things that I have a stack of fabric set aside for (like my FMF stash and also my stash of HR scraps).

In any case, here's the list of getting real...

Basted quilts that need quilting and binding:

1) Pink strips baby quilt.

2) Quilts for Kids charity quilt.

Works I have started and need to finish:

1) Handpieced Xmas stars. If I choose to make this a smaller quilt, or a different sashing option (leaning toward the latter), I should be able to have this together in a matter of a weekend. Must double check the number of blocks I have finished--think I might have one or two left to round it out.

2) Amanda Jean's quilt-along. I'm currently about 3 weeks behind. It will realistically take me about a week's worth of not-working time to push through and get caught up/finished with the top. I still haven't figured out whether I'll quilt this myself or not.

3) Simple Abundance quilt, which you saw in the previous post. I have the last of the fabric I'll need on it's way, so I could quite possibly finish this top this weekend.

4) The Madman's quilt. I've got about 8 blocks done, unsashed. I'll need at least double that. I have all the fabric set aside for it, so it is just a matter of sitting down and doing it.

5) Wonky log cabins. I started this back with John's round of the ORBC quilt-along (#3? Good lord...). Again, I think I have a good 10-12 blocks done, so I just need to make a few more and sash them, and that's another top down. An evening's work, maybe 2.

6) Blue and brown baby quilt. This needs 3 more blocks and a border and it's done. It currently sits at 6 blocks and a pile of scraps. (This one has actually been really hard to pick up and work on--the couple who were the intended recipients lost their little boy at 4 months into the pregnancy. I need to finish it, but I believe I'll likely donate it as a charity quilt.)

7) Asian 9-patch. This started out as a quilt along, and wound up being a little pile of blocks, not enough for the intended project. I'm thinking of doing some off-set blocks with the blocks I have finished and just get it done, about throw-size.

Yes, there's more...

8) Civil War repro log cabins. Fabric is cut and set aside.

9) Civil War repro flying geese. Fabric is cut and set aside.

10) 1974 Jelly roll sampler.

11) Soiree Jelly roll sampler.

12) 2" paper pieced hexagon quilt. This is my current hand-piecing project. I have about 200 of the 350 basted, and about 50 of those sewn together. This is ongoing, and I don't expect the top to be done before Xmas. But that's ok.

Ok, now the gotta-do list is out of the way, so next up, my "wanna-do" list!

Simple Abundance WIP

2010-07-31T08:23:00.001-07:00

Simple Abundance WIP
Originally uploaded by meg_norrell

Do you remember this quilt? I was working on it back in February. I got it all sewn together, but really wanted to make it a little bigger. I have some yardage in about a dozen of the fabrics from the Simple Abundance line, as well as another honeybun. But I was totally stumped. Did I just want to do a series of simple borders? Did I want to make some small Log Cabin blocks using the honeybun strips and do a row at the top and bottom to make the quilt longer? Did I want to leave it as just a small lap quilt? So I folded it up and worked on other projects, and waited.

Inspiration finally struck yesterday, in a flash of clarity. I happened across another charm pack on Etsy. With the honeybun, I can make more of the bordered squares and straight set them for a top and bottom border. With the addition of a few small borders of more Kona Espresso, I think I've finally got it. I really want this one quilted and ready for the couch by the time those first chilly night roll around this autumn, so I'm hoping to get it finished and quilted soon!

Trying not to think to hard about quilting what should amount to a twin sized quilt in August though. Ugh!

What I'm doing on my summer vacation...

2010-07-17T10:53:00.001-07:00

Finally, vacation. More of a staycation, but that's just fine with me! It means that I get some time to SEW!

Caught up on my bees officially now, with Susan's blocks for July done for my Coast to Coast Block Party Bee:

As well as sewing and cutting:

and more sewing...

to try and catch up with Amanda Jean's quilt-along.

Why do they call it a quilt-along anyway? For me, they very often wind up being a "quilt-along for a couple of weeks, then scramble to catch up at the very end, or possibly not finishing at all..."

Yeah. Does that every happen to you?