Santa Sack Swap for Jen

I heard a rumor that Jen recieved her Santa Sack and loved it,

so now I can post pics of it!

I decided on a grocery bag to hold Jen's goodies, so that it will

be reusable when the swap is over.

This is the outside.

I couldn't get those darn pinwheels to look perfect

but its pretty close!

To make it usable all year, I made it reversible:

As a little added touch, I made a matching luggage tag

as the to/from:

Jen, I'm so glad you liked it, I had alot of fun

making it.

Santa Sack Swap

My package from Jen arrived today

with my July Santa Sack gifts.

How fun!

I couldn't wait to open it!

Of course, I only got to open the sack.

But it is so cool!

Jen, its beautiful, thank you so much!

And because Allie pouted over me telling her to hold it up high,

you also get this photo:

But you only get that photo after this one:

Now I'm going to go squish and play with put the other package in the sack and put it in my sewing room.

PS~

Hey Jen!
I mailed your package yesterday, so hopefully it will arrive tomorrow!

Waiting for Spring

Spring was a long time coming, wasn't it?

It seemed like it to me.

In January, I joined QuiltDad's Block A Palooza Quilt Along.

It was my first and I didn't put much thought into it

beyond, oh, this sounds fun! LOL

After a few weeks, I really wasn't liking what I could see the final product turning out to be.

So I stopped and set it aside for awhile.

Eventually, I redesigned the quilt into something I did like

and got back to work on it.

I finished it and sent it off to the quilters,

with a bit of trepidation.

I let Allie pick out the thread color, as it was going on her bed,

and she picked pink.

Since the center design block is white, I was more then a little worried

about how the pink thread was going to look.

But, we picked it up from the quilter yesterday and I love it.

The pink was a perfect choice and the quilting itself is wonderful.

Imagine my surprise when I was checking it out and realized I had

messed up one of the rows! Eeeekkkkkkk!

The blocks were supposed to alternate.

But when I attached the top row, I accidently flipped the row and ended up

with matching blocks in the corners. Nothing I can do about it now.

 Ohhhh, but I am upset with myself.

Anyway,

Here you go.

Waiting for Spring.

Quilt #7 of 11 in '11.

Celtic Fling

I haven't posted all month!
Sorry!

And now, I literally have minutes before we walk out the door again.

I have wanted to post, but haven't

had pics to back anything up.

And I hate that!

I looked today and I still don't have pics

of most of my Hawaii sewing.

But I do have pics of something....

Hubby and I are big into Rennaissance Faires and stuff like that.

So, over the weekend we went to a Celtic festival in PA.

And I needed something new to wear.

Of course! LOL

I made this last week before we went camping.

Kilt and bodice.

Lots of pleats, but I love how it turned out.

One of the kilt vendors actually stopped me and asked if I had made it

and complimented me on such a good job!
Luckily, I had 2 pieces of blackwatch wool to make this,
as I couldn't find ANYTHING at the fabric stores.

In the meantime,

my first santa sack swap gift is ready to be mailed out.

My Hawaii sewing is almost done.

I have a quilt at the quilters ready to be picked up.

Oh!
I found another pic!
I made this a few weeks ago.

I love the ants! LOL Ok, I'll try to post more pics tomorrow!

Streak of Lightening!

Add another quilt to the done list!

After binding Midnight Dreams on Sunday,

I was really in the mood to quilt!

But I knew I couldn't start anything new.

(you know all about that darn Hawaii list!)

And the only thing I had going on quilting wise

was my son's quilt top.

Its been done since about March.

Soooo, I layered it and used my new basting spray/glue.

It worked really well, but it was messy.

Got on my pants and socks, ugh.

I'm hoping it'll come out in the wash.

But I really loved how easy it was to use.

Admittedly, this quilt doesn't have alot of quilting,

but I think its enough and I love how it turned out.

And Nick will be thrilled that its finally done!
This is a UFO from last year!

Close up:

Now, I'm a sad panda.

I have NOTHING started in the quilting arena.

And I really can't start anything until I get the other list done.

But I can dream and plan.

After seeing the new quilt on my bed, both teen's have

placed their order for one :)



Midnight Dreams

I am so excited and thrilled to present

my new quilt.

Its been a long time coming,

an even longer time being dreamed of.

Presenting.....

Midnight Dreams

Final dimensions ended up being

115"x105"

Here's a close up of the quilting

I picked it up from the quilter's yesterday

and put the binding on it this morning.

And, yes, it immediately went right to my bed :)

BTW-my hubby named it and I think its perfect :)

MIA?

In case you are wondering,

I'm still around.

Its been so hectic lately and I haven't done much sewing.

I finished a skirt that I wore today....

AND

the big news is

I PICKED MY KING SIZE UP FROM THE QUILTERS!!!

It looks amazing! I am so excited about it!

Binding either tomorrow, Monday or Tuesday and then I'll share.

For now, you just get to know that its home and almost done!

Friday Night Sew In

Friday Night Sew In Results

Last night I spent a few hours sewing.

And not even working on the list! Ooooopps!

But I was working on my mental list, so that makes it ok.

But, I made a sunglass case

Which I think is way too big,

and I'll make it smaller next time,

but it'll work.

Samantha thinks it looks like a calculator holder.

Dh says it looks like a barbie sleeping bag! LOL

and a small carry anything pouch.

I'm not thrilled with how the zipper turned out, but

that's probably because I didn't follow the directions exactly.

Oh well, it'll work.

I also got the extra blocks from the Quilt A Long picked out that I am going to use on the backing for my Waiting for Spring Quilt.

I cut the backing in half and got one piece of it ironed,

so hopefully I can finish it up tomorrow and get it to the quilter's soon. At this point, my king size should be almost done, so I may just wait until its ready before I drop this one off.

The LQS is not close, and with the price of gas, I hate to drive out there all the time.

The End is Coming

Really?
The Rapture is happening this Saturday?
I guess I should get ready!

Wait.....yeah, I'm probably not going.

I'm too skeptical of all of this talk.

But, that's not what I am here to chat about.

I've been sewing and sewing!
And dealing with a stubborn migraine that is not going away,

but that's beside the point.

Yesterday, I finished Allie's 4 layer skirt.

So cute!
She picked out the fabrics, and they came out beautifully together.

Of course, she had to wear it to school today.

And, here's her first quilt square.

I'm not going to say she is doing it all on her own,

cuz I seem to be doing an awful lot of pinning and all of the cutting.

And some of the ironing.

BUT she is doing almost all of the sewing.

I also started my new spring/summer purse yesterday.

Finished it today, so voila, here it is:

And, I finished a dress for Samantha. Maybe she'll try it on later and I can get a pic.

But, its one of those fabric's where the top is already smocked, so all you have to do is sew a seam down the back, hem it and its done.

An easy cross off on the list, so that makes me happy.

I have another one of those to do for Allie, I'm just waiting for her to get home so I know how big to make it.

My pace right now is one thing crossed off her day.

If I keep up this pace, I'll be done in a month! LOL

The FNSI is tomorrow night.

Are you signed up?
If not, check it out here.

Not sure yet what I will be working on, but you know my list is long, so I'll find something.

Messenger Bag

When we went out of town last month,

I stocked up on some quilting magazines.

Two 18 hour drives requires alot of reading material.

One of the magazines I picked up was this:

See the cute little bag in the top right?
That's on my to do list. Somewhere.

But, inside the magazine was a purse/messenger bag free pattern.

And, coincidentally, my oldest daughter has been asking me to make her a messenger bag.

She wants it for the Hawaii trip, as well as day trips where she needs a bit more room and an "over the shoulder/across the chest" strap for comfort.

I should have taken a pic of it on her, but I didn't.

Here is the outside.

The pattern was easy to read and came together very quickly.

I did make a few, small changes and learned some things along the way.

I added heavy duty interfacing to both sides of the bag body to help it hold its shape.

(Haha, what I learned was don't add that until AFTER you have forced the body through the handles to get the bag right side out!)

Cassidy also informed me that she had no intentions of using it reversible, as it was intended, so could I please add some pockets to the inside.

(would have been nice to know this BEFORE I sewed the bag together)

And, lastly, I added a zipper....I have no idea why someone would want a bag or purse that has no closure! Yikes, talk about theft waiting to happen.

Here is a pic of the inside:

And so, the first item has been checked off the Hawaii to do list.

After I finished this, I started Allie's 4 layer skirt.

But I promised myself I wouldn't post pics of anything until they are done.

I got all the layers sewn together, the zipper in and the hem done. All I need to do is add the yoke lining.

For now, I have eaten so I am going to take a migraine pill and go back to bed, in hopes that I can save this day from being headache hell.

Just as a btw, Allie has been working on her quilt the last few days.

I'll take a pic later and update you on her work!
So cool to see her working on a full size (well, twin, but you know what I mean!) quilt!

FNSI

The next Friday Night Sew In is here!
This Friday!

HA! Heidi put the sign ups up last week.

So, I thought it was for last Friday and I didn't sign up.

Imagine my surprise when I was on Bobbi's blog this morning

and she said it was this Friday!
Yeah! Sign me up!

Are you interested?

Here's the info:

I'll have to wait and see what I'll work on. You saw that "to do" pile yesterday!

But I made some good progress already!
I cut out the pattern and fabric for a skirt for Allie and a skirt for me.

Plus, I have Cassidy's messenger bag almost done.

If the girl hadn't asked for innner pocket's, I'd be finished already!

Today:
Volunteering in Nick's classroom this morning.

More laundry.

Finish the messenger bag.

Work on that quilt backing I need done.

Have a good day!



Before Hawaii

This is my pile of "before Hawaii" sewing.

Actually, I have some fat quarter projects that aren't in that stack.

Yikes!

I guess I should get started.

I'm afraid to even count the number of projects in that stack.

But, I've already made some progress.

I GOT MY SANTA SACK DONE!!!

For today, I want to go through that whole stack and list everything out.

Then, pick what I want to work on this week.

After that, I'd really like to start the week by deciding on and finishing the backing for my Waiting for Spring quilt, so I can get it to the quilter's.

Also on today's list:
laundry and a pedicure.

Dh has a softball game tonight, but I'm guessing we'll be rained out.

I'm hoping for an easy, sewing-full week :)

Waiting for Spring

Have you ever done a Quilt-a-long?
I joined the Block A Palooza quilt a long back in January.

I'd never done one before and it sounded fun.

Make 2 blocks a week for 8 weeks, add some finishing touches and voila,

a whole quilt top, done.

Except it was a sampler.

Which I guess if I had thought about, I should have known.

And that's not my style.

At all.

So, I did the first 6 blocks.

I liked them all.

Just not together.

But I had all this fabric.

That I wasn't sure I would love when I ordered it,

but I did.

Sunkissed is beautiful!

I needed to come up with another idea.

I decided to take the basic idea from the quilt a long and make it my own.

I designed 2 quilt blocks to make the border.

Then I copied the center panel.

As my dh says, totally  not my style,

but it turned out cute.

I finished the quilt top yesterday.

Now I have to do the backing.

I am thinking of incorporating those extra blocks that I made.

Not quite sure yet.

I'd like to get the backing done soon so I can get this dropped off at the quilters next week.

In the meantime,

wanna sneak peak?

And here's part of the center panel.

In terms of 11 in '11, I am almost half way done.

I have the king size (I really need to name that baby!) at the quilters now.

It is #5.

Waiting for Spring is just about ready to be dropped off.

Its #6.

Nick's quilt, Lightening Strikes, still needs to be quilted.

That is on the docket to be done as soon as I get all the Hawaii sewing done.

It'll be #7. (I bought some batting spray, at a fellow quilters suggestion, that I want to use on this, so I'm anxious to see how it works!)



Santa Sack Swap

So, I joined Cheryl's Santa Sack Swap

about a month ago.

You can check out the details here.

Its going to be fun and I've been anxious for it to start.

I've already been planning in my mind what to get my partner.

Partners were assigned last night.

(Or this morning.

Cheryl is in Australia, so I have no idea what her night and morning are,

compared to mine! LOL)

But my partner is Jen. From Miss Punkie Pie!

I've been following her blog for months.

I don't even remember where I came across it,

but somewhere.

And she's FUN! So, I started stalking following her.

Her style is very similiar to mine.

She's fun and funny.

I enjoy her blog and I LOVE that

her and I like alot of the same things!

So, cheers to a perfect swap partner!
I'm really looking forward to getting to know you Jen!

Cherry on Top

My Cherry on Top is finished!

I got the final stitching done yesterday morning.

And promptly wrapped my son up in it

to check the "cozy" factor.

It passed with flying colors.

I spent several hours throughout the day

cutting the seams to make it "raggedy".

Then, of course, it had to be washed.

And dried.

Clean lint filter.

Dry some more.

Clean lint filter.

Dry some more.

Get the picture? It created a ton of lint!

Oh! Well, here's a picture

And here's a close up of the blocks.

And here's the back.

Remember?
Pink for the girls,

Blue for the boys.

So, this was my fourth of 11 in '11.

I am right on track.

Nick's quilt still needs layered and quilted.

My king size still needs dropped off at the quilter to be quilted.

And when I get home from my trip, I plan on starting my Sunkissed quilt.



My daughter, the quilter

Allie is 10.

She's my youngest daughter

and the only one who seem's to have

a genuine interest in sewing.

She is always *making* me buy her fabric.

Either for her to make stuff herself,

or for me to make for her.

She also loves to sew scraps on whichever sewing maching I am not using.

She actually has her own box of scraps that she keeps on my shelf

and is constantly going through and playing with.

Today, I was napping on the couch

(Late night and too much to drink, LOL)

and, apparently, she decided she wanted to sew.

Which was fine, really.

I don't mind and I trust her to use the tools

correctly. After all, I taught her how.

She decided to make a quilt square.

On her own.

With no help.

Here it is

I have never taught her to do this.

She cut the inner green square. Added the blue triangles.

And then added the border. She also used the fancy quilting stitch to dress up the middle.

She knew not to use the iron without supervision,

so, she finger pressed the seams open until I showed up to iron.

Not only am I impressed with her skill

(not perfect, but darn good!),

but she learned this by watching me.

How cool is that??

Cherry on the top

Is it or isn't it?
A rag quilt.

Is it a real quilt?
Or just a fancy blanket?

I'm going to go with a real quilt.

I cut out all the pieces.

I will sew them all into strips.

I'll sew all the strips together.

And then my quilt top will be done.

Its just that it will already be quilted.

I made one for my mom for christmas and I loved how it turned out.

I forgot how much until I was at her house last month

and got to use it. So cozy and warm!

Bear with me for a second.

I know this seems off tangent.

I made a flannel quilt for my new nephew.

I wasn't in love with how it came together,

but it was cute.

Well, one day it was laying on the back of the couch.

I was cold, so I pulled it down on top of me.

I think it instantly became my favorite quilt!

Aiden was born last month and the quilt was dutifully given.

My kids thought for sure I was going to keep it for myself.

I didn't.

But, man, my mornings have been much cooler without that quilt.

You can see where this is going now, right?
I had to make another one.

I didn't like the way the flannel quilted together. The fabric

was much harder to quilt and it kept bunching up.

I wasn't thrilled with the idea of doing that again.

Soooooooo.........

I decided to make a flannel rag quilt.

Best of both worlds.

I can quilt the small squares together, then proceed

as with a "normal" quilt.

In reality, this quilt is my #6 for 11 in '11, but

it should be done before #4 and 5, so those two will

have to move down a slot.

I do appreciate how quickly rag quilts come together!

Disclaimer: That photo only tell's part of the tale.

The blue will be on bottom and not seen anywhere

near the cherries! Don't worry, the fabric's are awesome,

you just can't see them all!

I decided to do "girly" on top for the girls, hawaiin blue flowers on the bottom for the boys.

and



Weekly Goals

Its Weds.

Maybe a little too late to be making a weekly goal?
Awwww, its never too late to have goals!

Ok, so I mentioned in my previous post that we are

going out of town next Friday.

So, these are my goals to get done before then:

FINISH my flannel rag quilt.

Start my new Sunkissed quilt.

Make a Sprocket pillow using the tute I picked

up from Cluck Cluck Sew.

(Did it this morning, here's a quick pic!)

You can kind of see where I did a scrappy border that

matches the top.

Drop my king size quilt off at the quilters.

IF I get all of these things done,

I'd also like to:

Layer, baste and start quilting my son't quilt.

Design a spring table runner.

Work in my sewing room...

I have bought a shelf and a clock, and I am recommissioning

a cork board from the kitchen, and all of those need put up on the walls.

Layer, baste and start quilting the pillow shams for my room.

AND THEN:
I am going to have to set my quilting aside for awhile

and start focusing on all the summer/Hawaii sewing that needs to be done.

I have dresses, shorts, carry on bags, luggage tags and eye masks

that need to be done and I don't want to wait til the last minute

(which, by the way, is July 13).

I'll keep you updated!



Missing Pics

I know, I know, I really

need to get some new pics up!

To be honest, I haven't picked up my camera

in awhile.
Maybe this weekend?

So, the big news of the day is.......

I finished my king size quilt top!
I'll take it to the quilters either tomorrow or Friday.

I can't believe how close I am to having it on my bed!

Hip Hip Hooray!

 

Fabric updates:
I bought some flannel and have cut out all the pieces

to make my new flannel rag quilt.

I'd really like to get this done by next Friday so it can be

my car blanket for our trip to Iowa.

I'm going to buy the batting this afternoon and hopefully get it started

tonight or tomorrow!

 

I have also figured out what to do with my Sunkissed/Bloggers Quilt A Long.

I really liked the design they created.

But I was not liking the look of the sampler blocks.

Which was really my fear when I realized that was what

the whole quilt was going to be.

So, I redesigned it.

I'm going to do 2 quilt block designs around the outside for the border

and keep the center applique.

You can check out the applique here

and the quilt design here.

I think I will be much happier with this idea :)

 

On hold:
I haven't touched my son's quilt top since I finished it last week.

Its on my to do list to layer and quilt, but those are

my least favorite parts of quilting.

I also haven't done anything about a spring/Easter table runner.

At this point, I'm not sure what is going to happen with that.

I may just jump right into something for May and skip Easter this year.

The St Pats day runner is still on my table.

Which, to be honest, didn't make it there til the end of March, so

we haven't been staring at it for that long!

 

I'm Tired

...Its Saturday night and I'm tired.

I got some quilting done this morning and more later in the afternoon,

but I'm just too tired to want to do much right now.

I finished the mug rug/snack mat that I was making for hubby.

The applique was tougher then I thought it would be,

and it didn't turn out great, but its cute

and he likes it.

I got 2 borders sewn onto my king size quilt.

Now I need the "busy" border and 2 more plain ones

before its done. I am really pleased with how it is turning out.

And again, I'm thinking of quilting it myself.

I have no idea why I keep going back and forth.

I probably won't make a final decision until the top is

100% complete. Which, I am hoping, should be by next week.

The spring/Easter table runner is still

rattling around in my head. I have no idea what I want to do

for it.

I stopped at the fabric store today.

Bought a few fat quarters and browsed the flannel.

I really miss that flannel quilt I made for my nephew,

so I'm going to make another for myself.

Except I think I'm going to go with a rag quilt.

Putting that on my mental to do list.

And, because I am tired and lacking motivation,

I browsed the Flickr group for the Spring

Block A Palooza.

OMGosh, so many cute finishes!

Really makes me want to finish mine, but I'm just not thrilled

with all the blocks that were designed.

But I do love the Sunkissed by Sweetwater for Moda fabric,

so I want to make sure I love how the final quilt turns out.

Another thing to think on.

I need to go to sleep, but its too early.

I could go quilt, but I am really bad at it when I'm this tired.

Maybe I'll go find a book and a hot cup of tea.