Garage Sale

My quilt guild meets the first Tuesday of every month...and this next meeting is to be a garage sale!!

I *love* garage sales! A friend and I are going together for a table and it has prompted me to clean up and clean out the quilting space! Here is what I have to offer:



                                      (That diaper box is full of fabric!!!)
 And, unfortunately, here is what I DID put in the bag to sell, but then during the pricing process, I decided to keep. 

I promised  myself that that would not happen...but as so often happens with me and fabric...the fabric wins.  I'll keep it for a while longer.

I think the guild means for the sale to be of crafty items, so I have mostly fabric, some scrap booking things, photo albums and a few misc. items I hope to get out of the craft room!

Success!

Well, I did it...with about 10 hours to spare. I certainly did not get much sleep this past week, and I highly do NOT recommend that for the week before Christmas, but it was so rewarding (to me) to decide to make this quilt, and finish it.

 I started with the nine patch lattice quilt pattern, but at 38"x53" it seemed to much like a baby quilt size to me, so I added two more rows to finish at approximately 52" inches square.


 The flannel backing pieced together nicely looking seamless on the back and it added warmth to the quilt.


I wasn't sure how to quilt it, so I just started the process using the columns of squares as my guide, I quilted 3 lines down one column, then 2 lines, then three...etc. Once all those lines were quilted, I turned the quilt to do the horizontal lines and in an effort to save time...i alternated 1 quilted line and 2 quilted line down each column of squares. Hopefully the picture explains further what I am trying to say!


Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Ill be back later this week to talk New Year's Resolutions!!

I'll give you a hint...2011 = year of using my stash!!!

fabric budget

In an effort to better understand why I buy so much fabric

1) i love it
2) its a great deal, on sale
3) i need it to finish a project
4) i think it will work for a future project
5) retail therapy

I'm wondering why do YOU buy fabric?

I am facing facts that I have too much fabric.  I know this.  But somehow, that doesn't seem to be enough of a reason to STOP buying fabric.  I really need to stick to a budget in the coming year, and I'm looking for methods that work for others...any feedback would be much appreciated.

And thank you for the encouragement and advice with my mom's Christmas Quilt...I should finish the top today, and high hopes that I may actually pull this off before a Christmas afternoon deadline!

HO HO HO

I finished wrapping Christmas presents today during nap time and came to the realization that I have NOTHING for my Mom for Christmas.  That cannot be! 

Well let me tell you...my Mom is not easy to shop for...if she wants something, she just buys it.  So after a wee bit of a shopping spree this morning and a few Christmas fabric acquisitions, I decided a quilt is in order.  

I have never attempted a quilt in less than a week...well maybe a doll quilt or baby quilt...but Mom deserves more than that!

Kelly suggested a 9 Patch Lattice quilt by Elizabeth Hartman.  I think this may be the ticket.  I was thinking of using a snowball block, so I might try to work that in yet, but as I type...I am pre-washing the fabrics above.  I'm already short on time...don't need any bleeding red mishaps.

Lucky #129!

Thanks everyone for stopping by my giveaway.
What fun, and thanks for all the well wishes for my delicious cake AND delicious son!

Noe is the lucky winner of the fabric and hair tie.
I sent her an email!

sorry for a post with no picture, but it is time for bed...a not so local quilt shop is having huge inventory sale tomorrow morning starting at 7am ... over 300 bolts of fabric for 50% off and early birds 40% off regular price fabrics.  How can I say no?

December 13th

Yay! Sew Mama Sew giveaway day is here!!

I know I am in the category for supplies giveaway, but I decided to share a half yard of this fabulous Alexander Henry Christmas fabric with you... 

 and a hair tie of your choice. I promise the purple one will be done should you choose that one!  These have been really fun to make, and I'm making lots for Christmas presents this year!

If you are just stopping by for the SMS giveaway, just leave a comment and Ill pick a random winner December 17th and I will ship anywhere.  Make sure I have a way to contact you!! if you are not sure, please leave an email address...

If you are a regular reader (and not feeling the pressure of 100s of great giveaways to enter!!!)...I wanted to celebrate with you my son's third birthday ...and let you know how blessed and lucky we are to have this wonderful boy!

 You see, three years ago, I had the scariest day of my life...yes, it turned out wonderful, but I will never forget the early morning hours of December 13th 2008.  I was 34 weeks pregnant and in labor...and the contractions were not the come and go type...they were a constant pain...I was scared, it didn't feel right.  The nurse would tell me that I was forgetting that the pain was coming and going, but I knew something was wrong.  Thank goodness the doctor did too.  My uterus had ruptured and the doctor suspected this I think...we were whisked into emergency C-section and v.quickly Hugo was delivered.  The nurse later told me she had never seen a rupture like mine and the child still be alive.  I thank God everyday for my children...and on his birthday, I especially thank God for Hugo.

Check out his birthday cake!!  I can tell you, I was definitely stretching my culinary gifts with this one!!

Teacher's gift

2 posts in one day?  I will chalk it up to poor planning!

I need a bit of help if any of you are teachers out there.  My daughter and I worked on some Christmas gifts for her teacher...and so that these gifts make sense, I will tell you her class is called the Frog Class...

We made a button covered hairband and two frog magnets....

 and I made my first ever tote bag.  A friend was so kind to send me some fun frog fabric, and I used Terri's tutorial for the tote.

(yes, Colette was Rudolf at school today and would prefer to reamin so the entire today...hope the ballet teachers think it's cute too!)

OK, so I have some other fabulous frog fabric I can use...should I keep crafting, or should I just include a gift certificate to someplace the teacher might like?  coffee shop? educational teacher shop? something entirely different?  I am guessing after years of teaching Mrs. Holley may have enough frog gifts to wallpaper the classroom...so I would really like to hear what you have to say!

giveaway day

Hey everyone, just wanted to let you new Sew, Mama, Sew is hosting another round of giveaway day.
Check back here Monday for my giveaway!

Project Linus

This month for A Dozen Quilters we are making quilts for Project Linus.
I have had these 6 inch squares since last year.  I received them in a swap and thought they would make a great, quick quilt.  And they did!  I did some really simple quilting, I used a flannel backing, and a binding of solid fabric that has been sitting in my stash for too long!  I did not use batting...not sure if I like this, but I wanted to give it a try.  I am hoping the flannel back will be enough warmth.

(so bummed that this is the last of daylight at 5pm today!)

Kate and some of her friends are having a rally to encourage quilters to make quilts for charity this holiday season.  And since I cannot figure out how to add a button, I'll give you the link here to 100 Quilts for Christmas. So why don't you take the opportunity to check out Kate's blog and have a chance at some prizes, and don't forget to link to A Dozen Quilters blog with any finished project Linus quilts as well!

Color Wheel Quilt

 I am so happy to see this one done.  It is for Hugo's bedroom.  I hope it grows with him...and avoids any major stains...  I love cross hatch quilting...I think it always looks amazing, although I am not sure it was the best choice for this quilt...I took this one to a local long arm quilter and she did a great job...and I have to admit, she tried to talk me out of the quilting design...but I wouldn't budge. 

The backing fabric began as a duvet cover from IKEA that my friend took a seam ripper to and then graciously offered to me.  Thanks again Robin, its the perfect backing fabric!

                                              
And thanks also to Holly who entered one of my giveaways where I asked for quilt suggestions for a young boy!  She made this quilt for her son's bedroom.  You can make it too!  The pattern is from Joelle Holverson's book Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts  The book gives directions for a 56 inch square quilt...I simply added fabric top and bottom to make it more suitable for a twin size bed.

and I should tell you all that my darling daughter took these pictures today in the 7 minutes of sunlight while I held it up on the back yard bench!

Stocking for a cause

This year with a Dozen Quilters we have chosen to make each month an opportunity to craft something for a charitable institution...for example, October was a quilt/blanket for Project Linus (shhh, I'm late on this one, but I got my flannel washed last night...so I'm getting closer!)

This month, Jenny, suggested we make a stocking and include a gift card for a child at St. Pj's Children's Home in San Antonio.  I think this is such an awesome idea!   I made the above stocking last night and backed it with the super soft Valori Wells flannel in the picture.

I will be also sending the above supplies for the stocking, or however the orphanage decides to best use these items...also plan to send one of he bibs I made last month, but I forgot to get a picture!

And I'm working on hand stitching the binding on Hugo's color wheel quilt...hope to have the finished project to show soon!

Blogger's Quilt Festival

Hooray, it's time for the Blogger's Quilt Festival!  Amy does such a great job organizing this event and it is so much fun to see everyone's quilts!  I hope to see every single one!

I just finished this quilt last night for my nephew's birthday (party is tomorrow!!).  When Penny suggested a quilt along using the Quilt As You Go method, I joined in right away!  I had over 6 months to make 2 of these quilts for my nephews...it was fun to use up some scraps, and I love the heavily quilted front of the quilt.  I let my nephews choose some fabric they liked for the backings...although they did not know it was to become part of the quilts I have made them!

This block with the flying big is one of my favorites!

T

I didn't realize until sandwiching the quilt that my backing fabric was actually a bit too short in width...but then, I figured, using the selvage was an acceptable method now a days, so I went with it...and I am glad I did!  It is my favorite part of the backing!

Time to wrap this quilt up for some gift giving time tomorrow!

So, now that you have heard the story behind my latest quilt, head over to Amy's blog and see/read the story of hundreds of others!!

mess

For someone who really likes a clean house (although it certainly doesn't stay that way long...) my sewing area is a real mess.  I am crafting for an upcoming craft fair at a local school and it looks as if a bomb has gone off in my room!

How does my cutting table end up looking like this?  I am making hair ties and the scraps multiple like rabbits for sure!  And since when do I think the floor is an acceptable place to try and stay organized?

I have a very nice, unknown fabric that has been in my stash forever and when my husband spyed a blue horseshoe he suggested i make hair ties with them...in honor of his favorite football team, the Indianapolis Colts...and well, since I don't see myself using this fabric, I thought I may as well cut it up for hair ties...so wasteful....but cute hair ties!

Yipee, it feels great to have one of these done!  I had a bit of a tension/pulling issue with this quilt, but just plowed ahead...really wish I would go into my local sewing store where I bought the machine and have a lesson or two...

In general, I am not thrilled with how the backing turned out.  I love all the quilting on the front though...         

I made a camera strap cover for my sister's birthday..which is TODAY!  Happy birthday Shelly!
I used this tutorial and it was simple.  Wish I knew more people with camera straps to make these for, they are really fun!

I have also been making more baby bibs!  When it rains, it pours with baby shower gifts!  These are also fun to make!!  I used this tutorial for the patchwork bibs and...notice Tony the Tiger and the silverware fabric bib are backed with terry cloth?  I used this tutorial for those two.  Both tutorials are easy to make!  give a try!

Wondering if any of you might be able to help me find a fabric...like I "need" more fabric!! But Id really like to do a quilt similar to Sarah Fielke's, Charlotte Sometimes (cover of the book) and I can't find the cross hatch print...I have a lead on a similar fabric, but am unable to find it.  and, now I am unable to insert the flickr picture into my blog...grrr.how do you do that?  Ill leave you with the link, while I try to figure it out!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/blempgorf/5053636610/in/photostream/

wishing...

Right now I'm really wishing I could be sewing something with these fabrics...maybe not all together, but working with something from this pile!

But I'm plugging away at the QAYG quilts:

hand stitching on the dark side of where the blocks meet.  I went with a real dark backing fabric, so I'm hoping the navy( my JoAnne's has just white, navy, red to choose from) Perle cotton doesn't clash too much with the front. I have machine stitched in the ditch around each block, now just need to add a bit more stitching to keep everything together nicely.

and...I also seem to be ruining some nice fabric...I *thought* I was prewashing my Gee's Bend grape, but after 2 cycles in the machine and still bleeding like crazy, I thought I would soak the fabric a bit...and I am pretty sure I've taken about 8 shades of grape from my fabric so that now it looks like i have a dingy batik.

I was to be using this fabric in a table runner for my sister, but not sure it will work at this point.  pooh.

Candy bars

CONGRATULATIONS ANGELA!  #26 IS THE LUCKY NUMBER TONIGHT!  PLEASE DROP ME A LINE WITH YOUR MAILING ADDRESS AND I WILL SEND THE CANDY BARS RIGHT OUT!

So it seems bad form to post without a picture...so I will leave you with a few pieces of fabric that have found a home on my cutting table...

I am loving all things Erin McMorris lately...have you seen she has a new line of flannels?

Wondering...

My sister found this shirt at a garage sale and thought of me...Im not sure if it's because she thought it would look good on me, or if she knows I like Lands End...but she bought it, and I'm always grateful for such little treats.

After looking it over and trying to decide what I would wear with it...jeans maybe?  not much else in my wardrobe really...I saw this:

I think it might be better used in my fabric stash vs. hanging in my closet really...

And speaking of my fabric stash...it is really enormous...Im following in the foot steps of other bloggers you might know...Penny and Holly and really going to try and ease up on all the fabric purchases.  Not 100% S T O P but seriously buckle down.

I also have been thinking of making some clothing for myself...do any of you sew for yourself?  I have never sewn clothing, but I have made a few vintage fabric purchases lately, and think some of them would make for nice shirts.  Do you have any recommendations of websites, blogs, or books that can help me sew my own clothes?  I'd love to have a link to your favorite free tutorial or some such nudge in the right direction.

For you...

Here is my latest bee block for Tonya of the A Dozen Quilters.

I love 1930's reproduction fabrics..they are so cheerful.  I think this will make for a really fabulous quilt~

Thanks for the well wishes on the etsy store.

I will be adding a button to my sidebar as soon as I figure that out.  Good thing my husband is so adept on the computer...I am very challenged by the computer.

And...to celebrate the opening of my etsy shop (and my first sale!), I thought I should host a giveaway! 
Leave a comment and I will let random generator pick a winner of these two Moda candy bars this weekend.  I will ship anywhere...