Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Ridiculous!

The projects I've been working on this week, that is.

For the class play, I have:

constructed a warp tube.  (To be assembled tomorrow once the green sleeve is in the same room as the hula hoops....I still have to attach handles)

a Mario hat.

A stuffed mushroom/toadstool (aka Super Marios).

Knitted an Oscar the Grouch beanie.

Sewed the liner for Little Red's basket.  (Have to hot glue it into the basket tomorrow.)

Made a Peter Pan hat.


Left to do this week:

Fit the Godmother's dress.

Sew felt onto the Scarecrow's costume in lieu of straw.  (Waiting for the Scarecrow to give me her shirt.)

Get a feather for Peter's hat.  Alter his shirt.

Attach wings to the Big Bird costume.



Left to do in general:

Decide if I'm making a cube for the Mario scene.

Figure out how to make a  piranha plant puppet.

Assemble fairy wands.

Choreograph a dance number.

Choose all the sound cues.

Figure out how to make a magic harp costume.

Hunt up a Capt. Hook coat.



Geesh.  So, not so much quilting sewing this week.  Oh, yeah.  The play is the week of Valentine's.


Monday, January 21, 2013

Crazy Productive...

Well, I haven't gotten all I planned to do this weekend done.

Saturday, I was so queasy that The Pirate made me lie down for a few hours on the sofa.  I think it was virus #2 on top of antibiotic #2.  Ugh.

There was also a bit of "ooooo...shiny" syndrome.
I got caught up on my blocks for the Sisters' Ten.

Sisters BOM, Jan.
IMG_1364


I didn't get Pile O'Fabric's blocks done yet.

I decided to put my nose to the grindstone instead and hunker down on some UFOs.

To that end,  I finished quilting and putting the binding on the Scrap Vomit.  (#1 at least)

Scrap Vomit #1

I did the two pillows to match it.

Scrap Vomit pillow #1

Scrap Vomit pillow #1

Scrap Vomit pillow #2

Scrap Vomit Pillow #2


I finally got the binding on the Postage Stamp quilt.

Postage Stamp Quilt

I quilted and bound the Mystery Quilt.

Mystery Quilt done!


I did the Christmas bunting for my mom that matches her Christmas tree skirt.

Xmas bunting

I pieced the Monster Quilt.  It still needs to be pinbasted, quilted, and bound, as does the Rainbow Skillbuilder.  Honestly, the only reason they aren't done yet is I had to go in to work and paint.

Three lollipop tree flats for the class play...oh, and much shopping for props and costumery still to do, but some done.

The washer guy fixed the belt on the washer.  We took the recycling to the center.

AND....I got my Save the Date cards finally addressed to mail.

Yup....CRAZY amounts of stuff done.

Woooo!


Monday, January 14, 2013

Handmade for Newtown

When Rachael from Imaginegnats asked if I wanted to contribute to the



handmade for newtown button



auction, I said yes!

It took me a while to decide what to make.  Since The Pirate has loved using the shopping bags I made him, I decided making a special one was in order.


Very 80s bag, view 2

It will have other 80s related/inspired secret items inside.
Here's the auction link.

Bid big and often!

100% of the money goes to the Newtown Parent Connection.
The auction is open until 10 pm EST on January 18.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Weekend update...

So, we didn't do a picnic even though it was crazy insane hot (in the 70s) here.

We opted to sleep in instead.  Since I'm still fighting the ick, I didn't argue.

I had trouble getting focused today.

So, my list didn't get done.

I did finish as much of the hand quilting as I'm going to do on the How Far Will You Go quilt.  (Seriously, I could keep quilting it forever.)

quilted and bound!

Closeups
 closeup closeup closeup

I also got the binding machine sewed on the Postage Stamp quilt.  No pics of that.  It will get done this week sometime.

Pinbasted the scrap vomit.  That thing was a BEAST to pin baste.

Scrap Vomit #1, basted

I should have taken pictures of the back which is this gaudy pink and chartreuse Hawaiian shirt material.  It's so hideous that I love it.  Plus, it was like $12 for all six yards.  The Pirate said it would be a lovely picnic quilt.  Which I think was his way of saying it's busy!

I still have to finish my long overdue Running With Scissors block....but it's going to have to wait til tomorrow, since my attention was crap today.


Because Jess co-sponsored the lovely QAL that the top quilt was from, I wanted to repost an appeal she made:


In the last week, we have had some major bush fires in Tasmania, and over 200 homes have been destroyed or severely damaged. I'm organising a quilt appeal to donate quilts to the kids who've been affected by the fires.
All the pertinent information is in this blog post: http://theelvengarden.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/tassie-bush-fire-quilt-appeal.html
If you could spread the word I would really, really appreciate it.

In addition to this, The Handmade Library is hosting an auction of handmade items. If you would like to donate something or publicise this, it would be greatly appreciated. THe Facebook group can be found here:http://www.facebook.com/groups/412433122165832/

If any of you want to help or bid, please check it out!

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Dragging a bit....

I still have some finishing to do on my How Far Quilt (aiming for a finish tomorrow).

 This past week has been action packed:
lots of math one on ones with students who are confused
casting an hour long class play (that I wrote over winter break)
then helping kids deal with being disappointed (or learning how to be respectful with their celebrations)

Oh...and I got strep for the second time in a month (or never really got rid of the first pre-Christmas round)
 So...I'm not at 100% by any means. And many evenings this week have been spent snoozing with the dog. (Though I did get a dance class in once.)

 I did get some things accomplished. I am working on some bee blocks:

 Running with Scissors
  Running with Scissors, Jan Running with Scissors, Jan

 Boo Bee

Boo Bee, Jan
 4x5 blocks
  4x5, Hive #4, for sewallegorical 4x5, Hive #4, for Veronica AM 4x5, Hive #4, for espritpatch

Heal Blocks
  Heal, Jan block

I finished an auction item for the Handmade for Newtown auction.
It's going to have some surprises inside.

Very 80s bag, view 2

It's got a very 80s vibe to it.  I LOVE IT.

I assembled my Anna Maria Horner belt.

AMH belt



My goals for Sunday:
Possible picnic with The Pirate
pin basting Scrap Vomit #1
Finish the Running with Scissors bee from Oct that is messing with my spatial probs
machine sew (as in one side) the binding on the postage stamp quilt
send in my Save the Date card order
but first, and foremost, finish the How Far Quilt!

I'm trying to stay on the momentum I've got going....and eat gobs of yogurt.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

2013 Finish a Long list (aka WIP list of shame)

Actually, let me start out with the fact that I really don't feel ashamed about my list.
I know I'll knock out a chunk of it this year.
I also know I really want to start a bunch of new projects and slash my stash.



WIP List

1.  How Far Will You Go quilt--finish hand quilting it and bind it

HFWYG, top basted!

2.  Tula Skirt--I have to get over my fear of invisible zippers.  My last attempt was far from invisible.
Tula skirt

3.  Spider Skirt
Spider skirt

4.  Malka quilt  I have all the blocks from a bee sitting in a box.  I need to add a bit more before I have enough for a top.
Malka quilt

5.  Rainbow skill builder blocks quilt--Been sittin in a box.  Needs to be assembled for donation.
Skill Builder blocks

6.  Rolling pink/grey quilt--Blocks from a bee.  Some didn't come back/neither did the fabric.  (HATE THAT.)  I have to scrounge around to find bits left to finish the missing blocks.
Rolling Rock blocks

7.  Halloween spider web quilt--Will be made from Boo bee blocks.  I'm just waiting for them all to come back in.
Spinning Star, Dec.

8.  Scrap Vomit #1  The top is done.  I just got backing fabric today.
Scrap vomit quilt #1

9.  Scrap Vomit #2  I have the non diamond blocks.  I had to make 2 because of seam allowance issues from switching machines...yeah.  That's my story.  I'll still have enough blocks to make a third, but I won't do that for a while.
Scrap vomit quilt #2

10.  Superhero EPP pillow  This is almost done.  (And I finally re-found it.)
Superhero EPP cushion

11.  Scrap vomit pillow #1  I want matching pillows for my quilts.
Scrap Vomit pillow #1
12.  Scrap vomit pillow #2
Scrap vomit pillow #2

13.  Mystery Quilt (quilt/bind it)
My final block, MMRR

14.  Hexy MF--Mine is half way done (in terms of the flowers being sewn together.  Realistically, I know I won't get this done this quarter, but I need to keep it on the list so I keep working on it.)
Hexy MF, right side

15.  Project Linus monster quilt...pic coming.
Monster project linus quilt
16.  Black, White, and Color quilt--I'm waiting for 6 more blocks to come in, but I think I have enough to make a quilt now.  I'm REALLY excited about this one.  It's from multiple rounds of multiple bees.)
Black, white, color quilt

17.  Postage Stamp quilt (needs binding)...really this not being done is just sheer laziness on my part.  I even have the binding made...just need to find it again.
Postage Stamp quilt

18.  Converging Corners..I'm least excited about this one, as it takes longer to do than I thought it would.
Converging start

19.  Project Linus yellow monkey quilt--Again...sheer laziness.  The pattern is really simple.  I've set a personal goal to donate more quilts to Project Linus this year than I did last year.
Project Linus#1

20.  Bag out of extra block...I have an idea.  Just have to carry it out.

Suzannah block extra

21.  Christmas Bunting  (Twas meant to go with my mom's tree skirt.  I'm getting a jump on next year and practicing my curves.)
Bunting (I'm behind)

22.  String quilt (started at Sewing Summit)..I now have enough scraps to make a quilt.  Again, this may be a longer term project.
string blocks

23.  Project using up Star block (started at Sewing Summit)
(sorry for the crap photo)..Again.  I have an idea.paper piecing star

24.  Mini quilt (started at Sewing Summit)...I have also the pieces for the blocks living in a pouch, but I have to re-find the directions.
blocks from Sewing Summit

25.  Madrona Road challenge..I know what I'm doing...and it's a secret til it's done.
Madrona project

26.  80's block (project idea in my head)...aiming to get this one done this week.
80s block

27.  Repair Pirate's apron.  (One strip is too short....note to self:  I AM SHORT.  THE PIRATE IS NOT.)
Pirate in Apron

28.  AMH belt...I've had all these pieces since before Sewing Summit.  It's a quick finish..just haven't felt like working on it.
AMH belt

29.  Mom's Lila Tueller quilt..this thing is ginormous.  (It covers my queen sized bed.)  I joined a Craftsy class to figure out how to quilt this on my small machine.)  It's living in the closet right now.  Again, not too excited about this one.  It's more my mom's style than mine and it ginormous...
Mom's quilt Pics coming

30.  khaki, burgundy Project Linus quilt...I think I have all the blocks..simple again.
Burgundy/Khaki Project Linus

31.  Blue squares Project Linus Quilt..I inherited this one and really need to assemble the top.
Blue Project Linus

32.  HST Project Linus Quilt..ditto to #31.
HST project Linus

33.  Green Journal

Green Journal

While I know I can't get it all done in one quarter, I'm aiming for as many finishes from this list as possible.  (I've also got 3x6 and 4x5 and a couple other of bees worth of blocks.)  I'll have a do.good stitches quilt pieces coming in...and a couple of QALs.

Oh...and an original class play that will require copious amounts of sewing and painting, as it has characters in it ranging from Big Bird to Captain Hook.  I still have to cast that by Thursday.

Oh...and I have a long distance wedding to be planning.  We've got colors, a location for the ceremony, a location for the reception, menu ideas, an officiant, the save the date cards almost done, a dress (in need of fitting, but bought)....still have to do music, the invites, the tux, flowers (and non flowers bc of the wedding location)....um.  There's a lot.  So...um..yeah.
I'm going to go hyperventilate into a paper bag now.