Friday, March 30, 2012

WOooo!!!!

One last finish this quarter. My Random Charm square quilt is done.
I'll post pics tomorrow.
I spilled Coke on my memory card and card reader and am waiting for both to dry out to see if they are functional.
*sigh*

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Finish A Long Link Up

Over here, I had listed eight projects to complete this quarter.
It was all part of Quilter in Gap's Finish A Long.
2012 Finish-A-Long

They were:
1. The Monkey Quilt.
2. The Pink Tile quilt.
3. The Across the Sea boy quilt.
4. Rockin Robin.
5. My 241 Noodlehead bag.
6. Random square quilt.
7. My long overdue Dead Simple QAL cross quilt.
8. My red, grey, & black bee block quilt (using blocks from my 3x6 rounds)

The ones that are done as of right this second:
1. The Monkey Quilt
Monkey quilt
2. The Pink Tile Quilt
pink tile quilt
4. Rockin Robin (my worst quilting to date)
Finished Rockin Robin
5. 241 Noodlehead bag
241 bag, Loulouthi
7. Dead Simple cross quilt (This is the quilt that gets the most use in the house)
Ella H's Dead Simple Cross quilt, detail

Status of the Rest:
3. Across the Sea boy quilt---untouched
6. Random square quilt--back pieced...may or may not get finished tomorrow
8. Red, Black, Grey bee quilt--I'm going to piece it tomorrow or Sat. Finally chose a layout.
It's not going to get done this quarter

Other Projects I did this Quarter:
Copious amounts of Bee blocks
For the Love of Solids swap item
Mug Rug Swap
Covert Robin swap
Stained QAL top
Pleated Box Pillow Sew Along (THANK YOU, Lindsay!)
Sew. Happy. Quilt. top
6 shopping bags for The Pirate
Mouthy Stitches swap
Sparkle QAL

I didn't enough sewing done today...

because I had to get my eyes dilated at the eye doc.
That was approximately 5 hours ago and I still look like I've been at a Grateful Dead concert.
We have the lights off in the house because my eyes still hurt.
Luckily, this time I didn't get a migraine. (I'm super sensitive to light changes and have gotten migraines the last 2 or 3 times I've gotten dilated.)

My goal tomorrow is to pin baste two quilts.
Sat's goal is to finish piecing another top.
I'm going to link up to the Finish Along Sat or Sun. I'm sure I'll still have some UFOs.
And that's ok.
I'm still having a good time....

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

How did it get to be Wed already?

I've been tooling away at some projects, and *Cough* I may have started a few *cough* more.

Layout decided for red, black, and grey quilt. I'm going to use 2 extra blocks for pillows.

Back pieced for Stained Quilt.

Pieces gathered for back of Sew. Happy. Sewing to commence soon.

Begun: charm quilt out of 2 in squares. Right now I'm just chain piecing.

Pulled stack for another Stained.

Still UFOs:
apron for Pirate
charm quilt for kid
paper pieced tangerine mini
secret project
still need to choose Pretty Little Pouch design

I zumba'd tonight. Gah. I'm gonna hurt in the morning. Is it wrong that I was a bit relieved a college girl thought it was too hard to finish the class?

Monday, March 26, 2012

It's a Monday, but I've got a semi-finish!

I sewed up my Stained Quilt from the QAL.

I love it. So does the Pirate.

Stained Quilt top, finish!
Stained Quilt, close up

I've got a panel for the back done as well.

It's on the list to finish next week. I'm trying to get a whole bunch of tops to at least basting level before next Monday so I can quilt up a storm.

I made some scrappy blocks over the weekend, to clear up a bunch of stuff in my scrap bin.
I've got some string blocks to do as well.

Scrap block 1
Scrap block 2
Scrap block 4
Scrap block 3
I need to add to a panel on the last one. It was the first one I did and the others got bigger.

I've also got a giveaway coming soon. Some Malka...woooooo!

Sunday, March 25, 2012

What I've been up to...

I finished and mailed my Covert Robin package.
I, however, stupidly forgot to take pictures of it.
*sigh*
Hopefully, my partner will like it and post pictures of it.

I finished my March/April NuBee blocks. (I actually had all but one done before, I just never posted them.)
Nubee March/April, hive #3
Nubee, March/April for StitchyQuiltStuff
Nubee, March/April for lauralei143
Nubee, March/April for crakpot/Teri
Nubee, March/April for BigNuttyQuilter

I now have all my blocks done for the Stained Quilt QAL.
(This isn't all of them, but I haven't taken a new pic....I'm now joining them all up)
Stained Quilt QAL

I did my March blocks for the Sew Bee Blissful hive:
March blocks

I did my started block for the Mini Mystery Round Robin. It's getting mailed out this week.
Mystery Round Robin starter

I also got 4 scrappy blocks done. Aout half of my big old scrap bin busted.
Oh..and I saw The Hunger Games moves. Truth be told, I really like the books better.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Because I am a PROCRASTINATION QUEEN!

I didn't finish my Stained Quilt blocks today.
Or the bee blocks I need to finish and mail by this weekend.
Instead, I gathered together the scraps (the truly scrappy scraps) from my Stained quilt and made a pillow using the Pleated Box Pillow sew along directions over at Craftbuds.
Oh, but I LOVED making this. Using up scraps...making a pillow to match a quilt.
I'm definitely coming back to this one. I'm thinking of making one with the leftover Lark I'll have once my Sew. Happy. Quilt is officially done.
I love that it's the perfect sized nap pillow...and that I can remove the cover for washing.
That's my biggest complaint about pillows for napping. I have major allergies and dust mites are evil.
Here's a pic:
Craftbud's Pleated Box Pillow Sew Along
If you're looking for a pillow pattern, it was easy, and I, at least, loved the results!
Linking up to the Pleated Box Pillow Sew Along!

Sunday, March 18, 2012

A finish, a present, and a day trip...

I haven't been posting on the regular lately.
Truth is, my allergies been kicking my butt. I've been trying to catch up my sleep deprivation by napping. A lot. And longer than usual. 2 hours instead of 20 min naps.
Blarg.

Anyway, I'm posting one terrible photo of the terrible quilt...and it gets better. A seam split, apparently when I washed it, btu I didn't notice until went to take the pic. So, it's an awful quilt now in need of repair.

Finished Rockin Robin

This past week, I got an amazing package from woollykat in the For The Love of Solids swap.
I had favorited it when she posted it, but it never dawned on me that it might be mine.
My photos do not do it justice. She made me a bag from a pattern that has long been on my list.
I love the improv piecing and the colors. Also included was a boxy pouch!
I did a little happy dance when it arrived.
IMG_0599
Loot from FTLOS swap
(Kraken was trying to see if something new came for her. IT'S MINE!!!!

Saturday, as a late bday present, The Pirate and I went to Callaway Gardens.
Their azalea festival hasn't started yet, but I think the flowers were at their peak.
It was really pretty, but my allergies were kicking my butt, as was the 84 degree weather.
We got to see the birds of prey show:
IMG_0616
The owl's name was Hershel.
IMG_0631
IMG_0635

The hawks kept dive bombing people. The last one in the show grazed someone's head.

We walked to the chapel:
IMG_0655

Looked at lots of flowers:
IMG_0658
IMG_0652
flowers

The Pirate fed fishes:
IMG_0680

I spent most of today cutting up pieces for a Stained Quilt.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Been AWOL a bit...

My folks were visiting for a few days.
It was action packed.
We went to the American Craft Council show.
My favorite artist was doing paper cutting.
Her work was WAY out of any possible price range I have, but I could have looked at one of her pieces for hours. She spends up to 6 months on one large piece.
Wow. I don't even have much patience for mild embroidery....

We had a pre-bday dinner for The Pirate!

I went to the Sewing Expo in Duluth.
I was kind of disappointed. There was a lot of embroidery stuff, not a lot of what I was looking for in the way of quilting stuff to purchase.
The sewing machines I wanted to see in person weren't there.
On the upside, the NY Modern Quilt guild had minis.
Those were my favorite part.
I was a bit frustrated that I had shelled out moolah I could have spent on fabrics.
Meh.

Sunday, I sewed up a storm for The Pirate.
I still didn't get his bday present done, but he got 4 new shopping bags!
IMG_0594
(The top one is NOT pink...it's red cabbage.)

IMG_0596

IMG_0597


I also finished the top of my Sew. Happy. Quilt. QAL.
Sew. Happy. Quilt.  DONE!!!!


Tomorrow I'm posting the For the Love of Solids package.
I had planned on doing it today, but I had to bake some Chocolate Stout cupcakes for a certain fiance who is getting OLDER tomorrow. *cough*
I am also hustling to the dentist to get a sore spot checked out. My mouth is hurty because of a blister looking thingie on my gum. Let me tell you, it has to be pretty hurty to lure me to the dentist on a non cleaning appt. This whole daylight savings time thing wipes me out anyway.
Blarg.

Oh! I got a new puter! Er...I got loaned a new puter from work. It has a spiffy purple case.
Oooooo.
Also, I forgot to take Rockin Robin pics still. I promise I'll get it up sometime this week.
What are y'all up to?

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Some finishes...

I finally bound the Rockin Robin. I won't lie. It's terrible.
It's also currently in the wash in the hopes that it will improve with washing.
It may end up being a doggie blanket.

I finished my mug rug for the scrappy mug rug swap. I don't need to mail it off yet, but I'm trying to decide what else to put in the package.

I have some finishing bits left to do on my FTLOS big object...mostly sewing on snaps for closures on the bag. I wish I had thought of doing a recessed zipper ahead of time, but I didn't.
I hope my partner will like it anyway...

I did my New Bee block for March.
I REALLY like this one.
New Bee on the Block, March 2012

I also received my Mouth Stitches pouch on Sat.
It's bright and happy!
Mouthy Stitches Pouch Rec'd!
It came with scrappy goodness!
Mouthy Stitches scraps
It journeyed here all the way from Australia!

I have way too many projects going...and my parents are coming to visit this week.
The craft room will have to revert to the guest room by Tues. Ack.

ooo...The Pirate and I went to see "The Artist" yesterday. We both loved it. I can definitely see why it was nominated for so many awards. Two (four if you count The Pirate's) thumbs up.

I'm linking my Sparkle mini up to the mini-fest over at Ellison Quilts.

I'm calling it "Where the Sunset meets the Sea"
where the sunset meets the sea (Sparkle QAL mini)
It's 29"x29".

Here's a detail:
close up of Sparkle

Head over there and check out all the fabulous mini's!

Friday, March 2, 2012

still haven't finished off the quilt crime...

I can't bring myself to hand sew the binding.
Instead, I finished the 2nd block for the Heal Circle of Do. Good. Stiches.
Pinwheel for Heal circle


I started a mug rug for a swap.
mug rug

I ironed some veils my dance student and I dyed. Hers came out really intense in color. (She used up 4 half jars of dye.) I think mine looks like poppies, but I kind of wish I had less white in it.
dyed veil

I still have to clean and finish some bee blocks tomorrow.

We're on a tornado watch until early early Sat morn. Plans to head to the botanical garden have been shelved due to the crap o weather.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

quilt heinousity...

I committed heinous quilting today.
I spent a long time making a pieced back for the Rockin Robin.
It went wrong early as a project. (I had work off today.)
I tried to square it up, FAIL.
It was a trapezoid.

I pin basted and sweated. (It's unseasonably warm in GA today.)
I couldn't figure out how to quilt it, since the layout wasn't conducive to straight lining it.
I won't try to quilt anything bigger than a mini on my Janome.
I don't have walking foot that works with it.
I ended up with lots of folds and crinkles....and just BAD looking quilting.
Ah well, I think it's destined to be a car quilt.
I REALLY didn't know what I was doing when I made it...subpar fabric, crappy seam allowances.
I had a BLAST making it, but it wasn't done well.
It was one of my first quilts during the summer.

Anyway...I FINALLY got my Feb New Bee block done.
New Bee for Feb.

I also got one block down for the Do. Good. Stitches for March.
Do.Good. Stitches, Heal, March

Tomorrow...cleaning and plugging away at the to do list.

Unless the quilt gets magically better after washing, I may not post a finished pic. It's THAT bad.

also..tests came back from the Dr. They think it was a heart misfire or a panic attack. No idea why. No history of either....but all the tests came back normal...so that's good at least.
Oh...and I got the go ahead to go to the Sewing Summit in Oct!!!!