Melt my heart

Remember this?

How much cuter is it with an adorable (in my very biased opinion) baby girl in it?

Stash Report - week #17 - 4/24/11

What can I say, I'm still on "no sew" so I had to do something, didn't I? Retail therapy was the only answer. And I WAS driving right past Joanns on my way to my wonderful SIL's house for a great Easter Saturday gathering. Was I really expected to drive by without stopping? At least all fabrics were bought for specific projects.

First, I got fabrics to go with some eagle fabric I picked up last summer when we were in Alaska. I've been wondering how I would show off the beautiful eagles and then I saw Jill's flamingo quilt. It's perfect for a large scale novelty print and quick and easy to boot. Perfect.

I also bought some backing fabric for Judy's Green challenge quilt project from February. My blocks are still at this state, needing the green sashing attached.

But at least now I have a pretty backing all ready. It is one of the new Denyse Schmidt fabrics from Joanns.

My long arm has had it's overhaul at APQS and I'm expecting it back here from Iowa some time this week. I am sooo hoping that my "tennis" elbow will be able to guide the LA without any setbacks. I really could use some finishes to help out my negative net used numbers.

Stash Report
Used the past week: 0 yards
Used year to date: 28.5 yards 

Added the past week: 13 yards
Added year to date: 45 yards

Net used in 2011: -16.5 yards

Check out other stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Stash Report - week #16 - 4/17/11

No sewing done this week, except with the Friday girls. We had family here the beginning of the week, then the rest of the week I worked on everyone's taxes. Ugh. Tonight I write the checks. Yes, I am a tax procrastinator. I don't mind paying taxes but I am not handing it in any earlier than necessary. :)

There won't be any fabric "used" for the next several weeks. I've been battling pain in my right elbow for quite some time.
"You have tennis elbow", says the sports medicine doctor (dh).
What!?!? I don't play tennis!!
"You can get tennis elbow from sewing."
I didn't get the memo. So what do I do??
"Ice, ibuprofen, and total rest, no sewing."
WHAT? NO SEWING?
"Yup, NO sewing."
For how long?
"Until it's better. Maybe a MONTH."

You know there are times when you don't get any sewing done for a while but that is sooooo different from being told you CAN'T. Sigh. Fine, I'll get caught up on my crocheting. "Nope, not that either." What?

Well, after much consideration I decided I had two options:

 1) Sew with the pain cuz I really want to sew - I have summer sundresses to make for the precious granddaughter.
"That's up to you but it can become chronic and never go away."
I just wanted to stick my tongue out at him. :)

2) Spend the next month finishing the reorganization of the sewing room.
"That would be a much better idea."

So since dh is still recouping from his surgery, we are going to watch "Hereafter" and I am going to organize this pile.

Most of these are pictures and patterns I have ripped out of magazines or printed off the internet over the last year or so. I put them in clear sheet protectors I pick up by the box at Staples.

I then put them in one of these binders that are divided into categories mostly by pattern; like baby, juvenile, nickel, strips, inspiration, applique (as if), etc.

This gorgeous one from RedPepperQuilts will go into the Inspiration Binder.

Now if I can just resist buying fabric over the next month it will be OK.

Stash Report
Used the past week: 0 yards
Used year to date: 28.5 yards 

Added the past week: 0 yards
Added year to date: 32 yards

Net used in 2011: -3.5 yards.

Check out other stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Quilters With Heart

What a joy today to spend the afternoon with my good friends. We met at Joyce's house again because Joe will be home till after Easter recovering from his surgery.

Playing with fabric today were Jeanne, Debbie, Amy, Joyce and me. We were so happy that Lynnette stopped by for a quick visit donning her beautiful blue cast. We were all thinking about Susan visiting the PNW and Elaine recovering from surgery.

We are still working to empty the bin of florals. We ironed and cut fabrics for a new project which Debbie worked on. Jeanne worked on a boatload of pet beds. And Amy worked on the Yellow Alternating Four Patch.

Finally

What do you do when you have four sons and your first grandchild is a girl? You make little girl clothes, of course.

This was my first attempt at clothing in 12 years and then it was simple costumes for children's theater. Note to self: directional patterns need to be considered when cutting out pattern pieces if we don't want the birds sitting upside down.

I really had fun learning some new techniques like snap tape for the crotch. And then, of course, I had to make a coordinating headband.

The next outfit will be a little sundress with matching bloomers. Too cute.

Monochromatic Challenge for March

My brown challenge project is finished and I love it!

 

It is adapted from the Chubby Charmer pattern by Quilts Illustrated. I have made this one smaller and used strips instead of charms.

I also added a covered bottom to mine. After trying many different options, I have found that the best material to use for the bottom base is a plastic corrugated lawn sign - the kind that organizations use to temporarily advertise upcoming events or politicians use before elections. They are more than happy to let you have those signs once the event has past. The plastic easily cuts with an old rotary blade or an exacto knife.

I especially love this tote because it has snaps on the side which allow you to make the bag smaller,

or open the snaps and make the bag larger.

I now have a gift ready when I need one. This may become my "go to" pattern for the remaining monochromatic challenges. I just can't keep making quilts that end up being UFOs, like the yellow:

and the green challenges:

Check out other Brown monochromatic challenge finishes at Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Monday - 4/12/11

I guess it is time for me to pull out UFO #4, Twister. It will need a good pressing because it has been stuffed in a bag for quite a while and a relearning of how to cut the blocks. The project was started last Spring when a group of us all tackled it at one of our Thursday night gatherings. I know most of them are now finished so I want to get this one finished also. This is the project so far.

I used a Layer Cake collection for it but I can't remember the name. It will eventually become one of the Twister designs by CS Designs.

Stash Report - week #15 - 4/11/11

I haven't posted in a couple of weeks because I just haven't had the time or energy for the computer or posting. DH had surgery and was in the hospital for several days with complications. Friends and family have been wonderful.

He is now home recovering so I am finally back to sewing. This week I finished my brown challenge project from last month and I made a romper for Paige.

Stash Report

Used the past 2 weeks: 3.5 yards
Used year to date: 28.5 yards

Added the past 2 weeks: 0 yards
Added year to date: 32

Net used in 2011: -3.5 yards

Check out other stash reports at Patchwork Times.