A few more finishes...

I spent a chunk of time working on a prototype for a tutorial. It didn't work out exactly the way I wanted it to on the first run, but I think I have the proportions down now. It will be fat quarter friendly! This weekend, I got sunburnt at the Inman Park Festival, caught up on a few Psych episodes I never knew I had missed, and got some lovely fabric chosen for the back of my Cosmic Burst/Precious QAL top. I have yet to piece them. But...I did finish two more quilts!! First, the Prayer Flag Charm quilt: Then the Skill Builder #1: I've kind of let that project fall by the wayside. I learned a lot. Realized how badly some of these blocks were pieced while I was learning. So...both of these quilts will become picnic/car quilts. One for me and one for the Pirate. He claimed the Prayer Flag one. Not a huge shock as the obnoxious red/coral is much more me. The Traveling Stash arrived! I have to say, it's a rather mixed lot. There is some Habitat, some Kaffe, some Morrison...There is some country themed Moda. A book or two and some notions. Some vintage fabrics. There is a big piece of Christmas fabric and some seersucker (vintage, I think) that I pondered removing, but they might be someone's bag...so I'm leaving them in. I'd say there is about 2/3 major brand quilt shop quality, and some vintage/Joann's. None of it smells like smoke or anything. I have taken out the City Weekend. (I needed some to add to my supply for a quilt I have planned.) I also took some Kaffe and a scrap of Amy Butler. I've added a magazine/booklet, a charm pack, a few fat quarters, and some yardage. It's a full box. I may have to sit on it to tape it shut. I'll try to take another pic this week with my additions. So, if you'd like to win, please leave me a comment. (This giveaway is limited to the US.) I'll randomly pick someone by Thursday night to mail out Friday or Saturday! There are only a few rules. RULES: Be an active blogger. Post about receiving and the giveaway on your blog in a timely manner. You may take anything you like from the box. Just replace every item with comparable quilt shop quality items equal to the amount taken. Ship the box to the next person in a reasonable amount of time. Due to the amount of postage shipping is only within the USA. I'm will try to add in a log and the rules...but, to be honest, the box is pretty darn full. If they don't make it in, I'll email them to the next person to add.

Not a lot to show today....

My conferences ran late, and I was wiped when I got home.
After a quick run to the post office to get the blocks for the Heal circle quilt in the mail, I came home and passed out.

Other than pondering an add a border block and a pattern tutorial I'm working on (as well as playing with the supplies I'm using), all I got done tonight was the final installment of the Cosmic Burst/Precious QAL top.

I love it.  I kind of wish I had made the bigger version.  I'm debating borders.  But I really like the idea of it going all the way to the edges...I may just have to make a bigger version this summer.  Maybe with Prince Charming this time.


That is all for today.  I have many things I may or may not get done this weekend.  I'm trying to get a bunch of stuff together for mailing this week.

Finishes for Friday...

Even though some these have been done for a bit, I'm finally getting around to posting pics. Here's my finished Sew.Happy. I'm not posting a pic of the back as my hand quilting is far from stellar.

 I got the lucky chance to pattern test for Bijou Lovely. I made two versions. I'm debating holding on to one of them for a faculty member having a baby. I want to make her a quilt, but I'm not sure I'll have time to start one from scratch between now and the baby shower. We'll see.
Vintage #1 and 2
 

 I finally finished the Pirate's last shopping bag!!!
He uses them religiously at the farmer's market.


 Other items finished today...two blocks for an emergency quilt from the Heal Circle at do.Good.Stitches.

 

 I've also made some progress on the Charm (Prayer Flag) Quilt:

It still needs sashing, but I have backing fabric and binding fabric picked. I want to get the top done (and maybe basted) by Sunday.

 I've not made major progress on the Red, Grey, and Black. I'm still hand quilting the first block. Blarg. There are 16, I think.

 On tap for tomorrow:
hitting the post office.
8 pt star
finishing the Cosmic Burst top (trying to get back pieced for Sunday as well)

 Other things in the works:
still need to quilt the Skill Builder
I've stuck the interfacing on the Boxy Bag, but that's as far as I've gotten with that one.

 I'd really like to get two more finishes this weekend, whatever they may be. Still feels good to have four down!

Crazy productive weekend...

The Pirate was sick, so our weekend plans were tabled.

I mostly sewed...tried to keep The Pirate hydrated.

Ironically, I didn't get his orange bag done. It will get done this week.

Because a certain Quilter in the Gap *Cough* mentioned that I was behind, I kicked it into high gear this weekend.

I quilted and bound Vintage 1 and 2. They are in the wash right now, so I haven't gotten pics of them yet.

I finished the Sew. Happy. I have to repair a pop in the binding and then I'll take a whole quilt shot. Here's a teaser:


I am caught up on the Cosmic Burst/My Precious QAL:

I pondered trying to figure out the missing bits so I could finish it, but I was also feeling a bit icky, so I thought better of the maths.

I did Sew Bee Blissful blocks for April:



I started sewing up sections of my Prayer Flag quilt. It's not for me. I'm going to finish it up and send it on its way.


I basted my Red, Grey, and Black Bee block quilt. It took a bit of wrangling because it's wider than I usually deal with.

*cough* I'm thinking of hand quilting this one, too. What?! You say. S'true. I don't want to straight line this one.

I bought thread to mess with the Stained Quilt. I'm pondering straight lining it since I don't know how to FMQ....yet.

I put together my first Skill Builder play quilt.

I ran out of Coral...so it's a bit smaller than I had originally envisioned.

There was also fabulousness!

My Pretty Little Pouch swap item arrived.
*cue Choir of Angels*
I was so so excited. This one was one of my favorites in the photostream, but I didn't think it would be mine.


Val from http://dayinthelifeofval.blogspot.com/ had me. She does amazing work. Thanks, Val!

Also....drumroll... I won an ipad. Yes. An ipad. Long story, I entered a contest, didn't have the winning number. Apparently no one did, so they did a random drawing. I won! I got the letter on April Fool's Day, so it took me a lot of research to trust the letter. Just picked it late last week. I'm still getting to know George, or Jorge, as I call him.
Lily's Quilts recommended Touchdraw, so it's one of the first apps I've purchased. So exciting! Look forward to me learning how to post from the blog from it.

Finish A Long update:
Done for Q2:
Sew. Happy. Quilt. quilted and bound!
Vintage 1. quilted and bound!
Vintage 2. quilted and bound!
and much progress on Skill builder, Red, Grey and Black, and Prayer Flag quilts.

Hope you all had fabulous weekends!

Personal throwdown...

against myself.
Because I *finally* get to come home tomorrow right after work. (Well, I do have to make a post office run, but still...pretty much right after school.)
Tasks for tomorrow:
FINISH THE DANG Sew. Happy.
I have like 1 1/2 squares left to finish. Which is ridonkulous. I have one block that I think needs more handquilting to stabilize it.
I have to cut up and sew the binding.
It will be sewn on TOMORROW, dammit...at least the machine sewing.
Finish the orange bag...get something done.
Blarg.

Today was pretty damn cool, y'all.
I had a major prize win that I will share tomorrow.
I got to meet an astronaut who has been on 4 space missions.
My math class did AMAZING on their first geometry unit.
I ate lunch with two ladies from my class and swapped scar stories.
I had my PB chocolate ice cream fix.
I napped with a smooshbeast.
I'm gearing up to teach my spring sex ed unit. (I have the boys and the girl groups.) As ridiculous as it sounds, it's one of my favorite things to teach because I taught AIDS ed WAY before I knew I was going to be a classroom teacher.

slightly craptasticness:
cat woke me at 3:57am. Again. Kraken is evil, yo.
I am waiting to see if one of my students exposed me to poison ivy. She may or may not have tracked it on her shoes..and I go barefoot in my room because the clogs I usually wear make me taller than I really am and then I tend to whack my head on the loft above my desk. Yes, I am EXTREMELY coordinated. I live in fear of what kind of itchiness that could unleash.
I'm peeling...like bad facial peel. I think it's sunburn. It's making me itchier.

Blarg, y'all. On the upside, twill be the weekend soon and I can sleep!

*sigh* just keep swimming...

I'm *still* handsewing the Sew. Happy.
I have about 5 more squares to sew...then onward to binding!
While I hope to have a finish by Friday, I also need to workout tomorrow.
Still parent conferencing.
Love my students...but rain makes them squirrelly.
I have fallen into the pattern of napping with snuggly beasties when I finally get home.
Hence the lull in sewing.
MOJO, WHERE ART THOU?!
Still trucking on a template for a project.
There will hopefully be pictures soon.

On tap for this weekend:
FINISH THE SEW.HAPPY.
Finish the orange bag.
Quilt at least one of the "vintage" quilts.
Test drive the template/tutorial.
Pick and cut an 8 pt star for Michele.
HST Bee block for Sew Bee Blissful
Assemble next quadrants of the Cosmic Burst.

Got a bit done this weekend...

I've been handsewing with Perle. I'm so slow!
I have, I think, 3 more blocks left to decorate and 6 mini blocks to outline. Then it will be time to sew the binding on, which I haven't made yet.

it's not the best pic, but I was doing an inner outline on the orange star.

I got the first 2 quadrants done on the Precious/Cosmic Burst quilt out of Parisville.



I broke out in hives today...I don't think it had anything to do with almost using up all my pomegranate eyes from the Parisville. I blame the "crack" almonds. The Pirate makes them from time to time, but he used succanat this time. I may be allergic to it. (It's the only thing new I ate in time to link to the hives. Of course, it could be something I touched in the sewing room.
Blarg. I had to Benadryl up for the first time in weeks.
I think the high pollen levels and spending time outside threw me off into reactivity land.
I wish I could get retested for a food panel of allergies, but it is CRAZY expensive because it's not covered by my insurance.
Itchy. Is. Not. Fun.

Also noteworthy from this past weekend.
We took the dog to the Festival on Ponce.
Mmmmm. food trucks.
We went to Selvage. I got some bakelite buckles and vintage buttons...and another model for a bag I'm trying to draft.
Got my test fabrics from The Intrepid Thread....so much loveliness.
There will be a tutorial in the next month...
That's it.
*smooches*