Block of the Months...who knew?

I'm so behind on my BOM's I focus last Friday to catch up and finish off a few.  I cut out 10 blocks and began to sew, sew, sew.....

I finished all 12 of my Mystery Christmas Blocks, now to finish up the stashing and borders, which I did purchase from the FQ Shop as well.  I have SOOO much left over, I have to say this is the BEST BOM I've ever participated in.  I could make 12 more blocks easily!

 And I finished my second block in my latest program, so now I'm only 2 month behind.  It's another Tonga program called Rhapsody.

 Now I'm working on something new, of course.

Block of Months

I'm so behind on my Block of the Months, but I at least caught up by one month.....and yeah, and I started a new one last month....

My Mystery Christmas BOM from The Fat Quarter Shop, I have 2 more blocks to finish up and I have the finishing kit which has a A LOT of tiny square in a square corner stones - yikes!

Back To Nature by Tonga for Timeless Treasure.  I'm SOOO excited to wrap this one up, it's going to be SOo pretty.  I actually started their new BOM with a local shop and it's a different color palette - I just love batiks!  I this is the center part of the BOM, I have 2 more months to complete with this one.

My Stars Around the Garden, this is month 4 - so I have a long way to go on this one.

I need to work on my Jewels of the Crown BOM, as well.  I can't wait to move into my new sewing studio so I can be more organized and have an active sewing life again!

I've done some sewing!

Coming out of the winter blues is refreshing and humbling when you realize (so it seems) you left so many things unattended - mainly yourself.

Now with spring around the corner and our move into a new home, things are busy again with cleaning and planning a garden.  Very exciting.  I've even started a new blog just for that experience.  Our Journey into Suburbia Homesteading. 

I know over the next few weeks, my life will be dedicate to shaping up a house we are planning to rent, but I also still have classes going on and need to sew for them.  So, please be patient with my posts here :)

I've worked on several Block of the Month programs (and will join another one on March 24th).  And also my Let's Be Together block was well received from its new owner:

My Tonga Back to Nature BOM (last regular block March's should be the medallion in the center):

And my 12 Days of Christmas:

New class to teach tonight, should be fun:

Next goal is to get my Jewels in the Crown BOM done for March.

Friday Night Sew In - Lessons Learned

Well, I'm a successful failure?! :)  So, here's what I learned to correct for next month's FNSI:

1. No tv on - or at least something I've seen a billion times, probably just music would be best.
2. NO KIDS.  Even the 17 year old was a serious distraction, wanted "mom" time.
3. One project!!  Have it cut and ready just to piece away.
4. I'm a wuss and totally tuckered out by 10:30.  So, next month maybe take a longer nap after work, getting up on Fridays at 5am, working til 2, home by 3 and sewing all night really took a beating on me.

My original plan of attack was this:

• Hour 1 - Make Tonga Batik BOM block
• Hour 2 - Make 12 Days of Christmas Block
• Hour 3 - Take a break from sewing and cut out Love Bug project
• Hour 4 until I was done - Work on Ocean Tranquility Project

Well, it didn't quite go that way . . .

I spent 3 hours on one block, after ripping out several times, again I think mainly to distractions, but finally finished it:

This is basically a simple block but lots of tedious piecing techniques.  Good thing I had it all cut out before hand!

I was sooo frustrated with putting this block together, mainly because I kept ripping out the same corner section and row, that I stopped at 10:30 and went to my bedroom to read and fell asleep.

Then this morning I got up and literally whipped up this block in an hour (as I had planned originally):

So, now I have 2 remaining items to work on and I'm going to go ahead and finish them up today.  I have time to myself and think I can get them done.

Next month's FNSI will definitely go a different way!

Friday Night Sew In - IS HERE!

Ok....

• chocolate - check
• salty snack (dill potato chips-looked/sounds interesting) - check
• wine - check
• down one child - check
• sewing area cleared and cleaned - check
• eating dinner - check

Start time is 7:00 pm!!
Ok...I think I'm ready!!

I've decided to work on 3 projects.  First I'm going to make my two BOMs, I have already cut - the 12 Days of Christmas and the Tonga Back to Nature:

Next I'm going to cut out 2 tops using this GREAT Lovebug fabric.  The girls each want one:

Lastly, I'm going to FINISH my Ocean Tranquility Bargello center - don't know if I'll get the borders on tonight, but definitely plan on getting the remaining third section on:

 Ok, it's ON ---who's doing this with me??  :)

Design Wall Sunday

Let's see what I do have in quilting related pictures for the past two weeks?  I mentioned how I won a little table topper that screams me at Christmas Party for work, right?

As I'm putting away holiday items today, it will be placed on one of my many flat surfaces - unsure where yet.

I also got my December - 12 Days of Christmas Block completed....ugh, it was the most tedious one so far.  LOTS of small pieces.

I also am in the year long swap at Let's Bee Together and received my first package of fabric and promptly whipped up a scrappy feel block for Ms. Linda.  I'll show the whole thing once she recieves it, but here's a teaser:

And I also received my winnings from a blog giveaway a couple weeks ago from Cheryll in Australia!  Thank you again to Cheryll!  I just love the ribbon:

Now for my design wall this week.  I've been straightening up and cleaning my sewing area this morning and I have so many things I want to work on.  I have several classes I'm teaching at Gina's, so those are top priority - nothing to show on my design wall this morning, but hopefully I can share an image or two throughout the week!

Now to clean house, put away decorations and find time for Starbucks and sewing!

It's Friday!

I'm glad it's Friday, but I have no clue what my weekend holds!  I'm sure there will be some wrapping, some sewing and some lounging around.

This week's weather in East Tennessee has been wacky and put me off a routine I was enjoying, it's hard to get back to it - so it seems!

I did get a bit of sewing in though.  I'm caught up on my 12 Days of Christmas BOM, just working on the current block - - which of course is the hardest one so far.  I am SO in love with this program!  Debating to get the finishing kit?  I do plan to get backing from Gina's, I want to use flannel.  So, I have 6 blocks completed:

I DO PLAN to participate in the FNSI (aka Friday Night Sew In), anyone else joining in?  I'm considering using my webcam?  I'm going to work on my bargello and finish up a few Christmas gifts. 

Block of Months

I was able to get a little sewing in yesterday.  I received Block 7 of the Fat Quarter Shop's Mystery Designer 12 Days of Christmas yesterday!  I got all my blocks cut out and started to sew.  I was able to finished 3 of the 7 blocks and I'm sooo loving these!  I'm very happy that I went ahead and did this BOM:

Month 1 through 3, all blocks are measuring 12 1/2"! 

I also whipped up the Tonga BOM block for December, being I had cut it out last month.

Still have other BOMs to do for this month, but time seems scarce this month.

I wasn't able to bake yesterday - mental note, be sure to clean oven before turning on!  Maybe that will happen today?

Block of the Months. . . .

I'm a month behind on one BOM, so I'm working on those blocks and started working on a few of my other ones.

I'm excited to say (and find it kinda silly at the same time) to announce that I signed up for the 2010 Designer BOM 12 Days of Christmas from the Fat Quarter Shop:

Of course I'm 5 months worth behind and the next shipment comes at the end of this week....I received all first 6 blocks yesterday and started cutting on Block 1 - hoping to do one a day this week!  I will be sewing a little more intently this week to start on the program as a monthly project!

Here's yet another Blog Giveaway, hosted by Leona.  She has a wonderful blog even without a giveaway!

I did a lot of computer work today - for Patches Quilting, there are a lot of new classes on their site!  So, I did do a little sewing but not much.

I've been working on this top for a commission, can't wait to finish it up with the start blocks I have to add into the "holes".

Looks like I'll be up tonight doing stuff, sewing cleaning and holiday gifting :)