Sunday Design Wall

I try not to post twice in a day, but need to keep up with weekly routines for my blog!

I missed this past week's Friday Night Sew In - - with good reason, my husband drove from Maryland to spend a weekend with me and the girls, so Friday night was spent out listening to a two man band enjoying the company of my husband and eldest daughter (youngest was spending the night with a friend).

So, as I look at what my plans were for last week's design wall, I'm not happy with doing it this week.  I know why now I put the UFO away in the first place- - it's just too busy for my taste and I don't enjoy working on it.  It might just end up in the "to give away" pile now.

Now, what the heck can I do?  I have about 30 UFO's I can pull out, I have some holiday things to sew for gifts, I have 4 BOMs to catch up on. . . . . .mmmmmm, well I've decided to finish this one up:

My Ocean Bargello, I have 2/3's done and need to cut and piece together that last third, then add simple borders.  It would be nice to have it done and ready to quilt.  It takes a lot of concentration to do this, I've add to rip out 14 rows once and won't do it again.  So, this will be my week's project - - along with a few other diversions!

I do have to "whip" out a apron and a few pillowcases for tomorrow nights guild meeting- - crossing fingers we have it.  They close everything down here when there is 1" of snow.  I really want to go to guild meeting!

Plan on spending Sunday doing a lot of prep work for my classes I'll be teaching in the new year at Gina's!

Hope you weekend was wonderful!

Wednesday Stuff

I really want to take a creative writing class.  I want to be able to blog creatively that sparks inspiration and conversation.  I have always wanted to be able to communicate more effectively, but haven't found the time to take that class.  It's like the class I've always wanted to take on photography as well.  Once day.

I finished my Round 5 of my Stay At Home Robin, I had 5 hours to spare in November and today Kate has posted Round 6, so I'll add to this later today:

I also finished sewing together the main body of my new tree skirt and started pulling stuff from my stash to add borders!  I'm hoping to quilt it this afternoon as well, my poor tree is still nakkid!!

I have always decorated my outside door and over that past 10 years done it with red foil wrapping paper---do you know how hard that has been to find some years.  I have taken up stocking up on red foil!  I normally hand a wreath or my last 4 years big bells - but my new door is too thick to use a hanger on, so I had to be creative and added ribbons and a bow this year.  It's really pretty from the parking lot - but I haven't seen anyone else decorate their apartment door.....we kinda stand out :)

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, winter has arrived here in East Tennessee.  We might see a flurry or two this morning!  What a perfect way to start off December!

Thursday stuff

I normally don't look forward to the weekend, I take each day as it comes.  Yet, I really need Saturday to hurry up and be here so I can get something done around my house.  It's hard keeping up with yourself some days and I'm falling behind on simple household tasks.

Well, took my funky shoes back and order the right size and got the style I really wanted- - -they should be ready for pick up on Monday.  Still excited - can't wait to have them in my hands and retake the picture!

Well, it took me two weeks, but I finally finished cutting all the dresden blades for my new dresden quilt.  There are 3 sizes of dresdens - this is the largest size.  Using LOTS of fall colors!  Unsure when I'll actually start sewing, but I think the cutting was the hardest part on this.  Granted it took me awhile to be inspired, but I learned some new things using EQ7 to design the top.

Yesterday I spent 2 hours non-stop and whipped out this apron for work:

Thanks to my eldest daughter, Bri for modeling it.  I need an apron now that I'm managing inventory at the shop here and being Halloween is my favorite theme (next to beachy) and fall starts in a week....perfect combination!

And finally, this is my new shop sampler I'm working on.  I'm not a Kaffe Fassett fan, but these look like fun to work with.  I have a feeling I might actually want this sample back.  I'm using a pattern from his new book that have diamonds in it....another first for me.

Is it Friday yet?  I want to just sit and sew!

Ta Dah!!!

Finish, quick, simple and easy and another UFO off my list.

I just searched back into my blog, and the last top I complete for me was in December.  I am almost in tears.  While I have done quite a few for commission work, it saddens me I haven't found time for my own projects.  Trying to work on that, I'm so use to completing 3-4 tops a month.....granted I have lots that need quilting! :)

I need to find a longarmer that rents out a machine, I don't plan to get my own until next summer and I have lots of tops with backings and bindings that need quilting.

I think I'm pulling out my Ocean Tranquility Bargello top and putting it on the design wall.  I need to get that done!

A new week!

I have been sewing actually quite a lot.  If you read my other blog, most of my sewing has been for paid.

But Sunday evening I quickly whipped up this little bag for my daughter for school....unfortunately, it is still too big for her uses.  It's from the book Big Bags Little Bags by Atkins Designs:

 

Then after all my sewing during the day yesterday for work, I decided I wanted to do something for me.  So, I pulled out several UFO's that would be "quickies".....of course 2 hours later as I was "inspired" by what little stash I do have, I ended up working on my pumpkins (I had started off with my wacky cottages, but the fabric I had originally picked was directional and too much work to cut and piece--need new fabric).

I did this online pumpkin block swap probably 3-4 years ago.  There were only 6 of us and so we ended up with 6 blocks.  I'm just going to make a simple wall hanging with them or it can even be placed on the table.  And I was able to find fabric in the stash that works well enough to "whip" this out by end of the week.

Kids are back to school and I'm back to work.  I'll be working at the local quilt shop today for a few hours doing their web/computer work.  It's good to be back in a fall routine, though it might take a week or two for it to fit more nicely with life!

New storage concept. . .

so, I was in Wally World (aka Walmart) on Sunday and needed a small plastic bin to store my gardening tools in.  I panned over the large selection and my eyes fell on something, new, cute, right size and RIGHT PRICE!

Granted it wasn't meant for my gardening stuff, but it IS perfect for my sewing stuff!  You know those art bins that run $16 and up.  Well, these bins are along those lines but aren't 12" or 14" square (which is actually too big in my opinion), but they fit nicely into a stack and limited space.  And the RIGHT price?  Is $4.50!!  There were 3 color choices (at my Wally World) and so now I ponder on how to use that into my newly designed UFO storage area.



They are 3" deep, 13" long and 10" wide.  I only picked up a few to see how they would work into my area I already have for my UFO's.  I discovered a couple things.

• An un-cut UFO fits too tightly, so only pre-cut UFO's can be stored in these bins.


• I can only stack 16 bins in my area, meaning I can only have 16 UFO's


• Need to re- revalue uncut UFOs and either cut them or start my new stash (being I currently don't have one)


• Having a large rubbermaid bin just for uncut projects might be another option to go, but my goal is to downsize, so maybe not.

I'll be heading back to Wally World today and picking up a few more bins before they all go, then I'll retake some pictures to show them all being used properly :)

How are you organizing your sewing area this week?

OOo...fun icons on my side bar...

well, now I'm feeling almost "me" again (there's still a piece of me missing, but hopefully it will be home soon) I realize I have some personal challenges to catch up on!!  YIKES!   It's amazing how quickly we can fall behind on goals we set for ourselves, whether it's because we are tending to everyone else's needs or lack of self confidence, it happens quickly and very hard to catch back up.

But I'm going to make that effort to catch up!

I have the Christmas Project Group and the UFO group to re-evaluate my goals.  So, it's a new month and here are my goals for this month based off my group challenges.  Need to find some kind of reward for myself if I do this - any suggestions?  Something up to $50.

UFO Challenge

I'm 3 months behind, though I think most of my UFO's are mostly started, so I can make them up---I think.  Here's the ones I will add to this month's goals:




As for my Christmas Projects, here are 4 I'll set as goals for April (of course the easy ones):





Whew...I guess I need to get sewing ASAP!!!  Any wagers on how many I'll complete?

My latest quilt. . .

so, I've wanted to do this bargello for my bedroom and I've got one third of it done (as of Saturday).  I'm SOOO loving how it is turning out.  While the process of a bargello is easy, it's very boring and more so doing a queen size top.  But I keep thinking in the end it will be so worth the effort.



Hoping to have it finished by end of April, so my quilter can have it done by end of May.  I plan to paint my room and some furniture to complete the ocean/beach feel.  I already named this quilt as "Tranquil Moments".

Snow, snow, and wait...more snow...

and it's only the 2nd week in February, we normally get our biggest snow at the end of the month....le sigh.

But snow takes beautiful pictures.....here's a few from the past week of blizzards...my yard has seen over 46" of snow since Friday and rumor more is coming on Monday.....







I have been sewing my strips together for my bargello and just love how the fabrics are working together:





I need to move myself away from the computer and focus on clearing out snow!

Christmas Projects 2010

I was invited to join a yahoo group hosted by Ms. Betsy to help us focus on starting and working on our Christmas Projects now and through out the year verses waiting til late Fall to do them.  Her goal is to actually work on gifts as well.

So, I went through all my Christmas related projects and documented them for this post, that I need to finish to help clear out my UFO's and have some pretty new things to use next Christmas.  I also will add gifts projects in, but most likely won't share them because I don't know who reads and receives them until next year :)

I have several Completed Tops that fall this category:





Now here are my UFO's that fall into this category.  Two are patterns I would like to do, the Stockings we definitely need new ones and the Christmas Geese I would love to do, but need to gather homespuns that fit a Christmas theme.







As of 12/30/2009 my count for this challenge is 12.  Maybe I can get one done a month?  We'll see!

It's Kim's fault....

If you read Peaches in Stitches, you'll understand. :)

It's that time of year to review what I've accomplished/completed and what I have left to do.  UFO review time.

Over the next week or so I'll share pictures of my completed project (kinda a year in review - and no I still don't have a working camera and I still have so much to share) and share my re-evaluated UFO's.  Which means, I will most likely be giving away some......unsure how I plan to do that part, but it will involve audience paticipation!

Check out Kim's handy UFO worksheet and share what you do to keep y0ur UFO's organized, please.

Maybe we can work together and knock them out in 2010?  Anyone else up to the challenge?

Saturday pictures....

this morning my hubby is taking my girls to meet his brother.  The girls are going away for a week with family in Tennessee!  So, I have this day to myself...WWeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee :)

First thing I'm doing is ORGANIZING!!  I have tons of piles, time to put piles into plastic bins or "file 13" (aka trash).

But did I mention I was sewing this week?  Of course I did, here's some pictures of what I've been working on.  Ms. Cindy guess (easily, I'm sure---I'm a bit predictable) it's Halloween related....it is.   I cut this out while on my retreat in June and it has kinda gone together quickly-the ironing is the longest part.



And just for humor sake and the fact I love Halloween....I use my coasters from Betsy year round:



mmmmm....coffee......even in a winter mug LOL

I'll be posting a few times today, lots to share and to accomplish...it's definitely a good dvd movie kinda day!

Unsure where to start...

I haven't posted in a while and there's so much going on can't find the time to do it correctly.  Let me start now and see how long it takes for me to publish this....ok, I started this post on the 9th....let's try again.

The past 2 months have been a whirled wind!  I've traveled to Texas - again, Pittsburgh, Deal Island, Maryland, lost over 60 hours of sleep, caught back up on sleep, lost track of 3 swaps, caught back up on swaps, ripped out very nasty carpet in sewing studio (15' x 22' area), totally rearranged my sewing studio, kids got out of school, and now trying to just find my stuff to sew something for myself!!

I have been going, going, going more so than normal I had an out of season depression spell and I think I'm finally over that.  But needless to say, I have lost track on the things that helped balance me on a daily basis.   I'm starting to find my sewing items and sew, in fact I'm quilting today the last stage of a round robin swap.  Then I'm going to sew some blocks for my Needle Nosh block of the month class.

I still have a HUGE pile of stuff in my sewing studio to go through, but I'm doing it in baby steps.  A little each day.  I hope to have it organized before we leave for the ocean next week.

I have only accomplished one completed top in 3 months---if that doesn't speak volumes, then you are just getting to know me.  I finished it on my quilting retreat.  I also have done a bit of hand work with my hexagons.  I do have pictures!!!





I'll finish making some albums of my pictures over the pass few months and share them this week.

I am planning on reconnecting with my blogland friends and you might see over the next few days some comments from me on older posts :)  Sorry for neglecting you all.  I do miss you.

I'm sneaking....

company has arrived safe and sound!  It's a long drive from Tennessee, about 8 hours with rain.  House is cleaner, thanks to Cheryl who came over with 2 vacuums!!! YAH!!

I did sneak some sewing in and completed a few things.

This is a panel, called In My Garden--normally I wouldn't do a panel for a gift, but this one is cute and really fits the new baby's room theme.  I'm also going to make the fabric book that goes along with it:



Of course I ran out of the purple fabric and being we have our 25% off sale started yesterday....it's allll gone...ugh...so I need to figure out another binding to match the flannel backing I'm going to use.  No clue how to quilt this, but I'll figure it out.

Then I did complete all 12 blocks of my Bali Pops....it's getting close to naming this....I have 2 rows together already as well:



I can't wait to get these all together!

I think we are visiting Amish country today.  Haven't done that in about 7 years!  So, need to look up some sight seeing stuff.....any suggestions....besides quilt shops, don't think my sister in law would enjoy it as much as I would :)  We are heading to Lancaster area.

I'm a nut....

go on and just say it.....

I purchased fabric yesterday of a new Halloween line.  I used the pattern from Clothworks (who makes the line, Midnight Mischief) and got enough fabric to "whip" up a top.

Got home yesterday from work and errands around 6:15, made dinner, ate, played on the computer then proceeded to cut out fabric....by 9:15 I have 50% of the top done.  Started sewing again at 7:00 am and just finished it:



Needless to say, I'm tickled!!  I'm going to bring it to work for a shop sample and quilt it later, but it's done and too cute.  It's about 48" x 50".  Here's a close up:



I guess I can shower now and get ready for work, huh??

I also hung up my Verry Purple Little Quilt (it's new name) on my wire of quilts (please ignore the cobwebs--I'm short and they don't get cleared out but once a year):



Have a good day!