Goal for Nov--ALYOF

I finally got a new travel machine!

Yay!

So nice to be able to move my sewing around the house.

I've spent the last weekend playing catch up on my Penny Sampler.  Pics will appear soon.

I also bellydanced today!  First time in a longer than it should have been.  Gonna be feeling it tomorrow.

I needed to choose a goal for November for ALYOF.

I want to baste, quilt, and bind my Postage Stamp Top (one of the two).  Twould be glorious if they both get done, but I'll settle for one.



Going to have a sewing weekend next weekend to try to get on top of Christmas presents, too!

Linking up!

Finally took pics!

Okay, so I had a bunch of finishes that needed to be photographed.

Let's just say yesterday was a mixed bag.

The day started with a run to the Mini Maker's Faire at Georgia Tech.  So. Full. Of. Awesome.
And free.

Then crepes with one of my BFFs, who I haven't gotten to see in weeks.

Then home to try to the photoshoot.  It all seemed to go well.  Until I got my Sisters 10 quilt back in the house...and noticed black on the binding.  Apparently the metal bench I put the quilt on transferred paint?  or dirt?  on the melon colored binding.  Three washes later, it was finally out.  But there was much angst...and it put me WAY behind on my laundry list.

So, I tried sewing.  I'm behind in the Penny Sampler.  I did the 9 of the penny square blocks....and my machine, my back up to the back up, started skipping.  I took both machines apart and cleaned then thoroughly.  Got the Brother to work for all of 5 minutes before it started skipping again.
Took the paper off the Octopi blocks I had done, only to learn that the seams I had sewed with the Janome were off in tension.  I tried to resew over them.  Not sure how it will work since I couldn't easily pull the old seams out and just gave up after a while.

There were tears.  Husband took me to get a blizzard, but the DQ was closed.  Quick run to CVS for ice cream instead.  Gotta a love a man who sees the healing power of chocolate and peanut butter.

So.....I'm trying to decide what machine to get.  Kind of ASAP.  Like, I almost impulsed bought at Target out of desperation.  Right now, I just want a cheaper one to be able to carry about, to school and so forth.

So, pretty much all my sewing plans over the weekend went to hell in a handbasket.

Here's my photo documentation of work completed:

Bess Top


Divided Basket


Sisters 10


Wellspring Quilt


Wonky Star (still needs washing)


Pixie Churn Dash


Meridian (coming soon)

Improv Malka


Not sure what I'm going to do about stress relief this week if I can't get a functioning machine.  Guess I could try to catch up on laundry.  *sigh*

Bloggers Quilt Festival...Throw quilt submission

Every year I look forward to the Bloggers' Quilt Festival sponsored by Amy over at Amy's Creative Side.   Last year was the first time I put my toe in the water and submitted a quilt entry.
It was a bit intimidating.  There are some phenomenal quilts out there.  Lots of eye candy and inspiration.

I'm putting my favorite recent finish into the throw quilt category.

I sewed this one as part of the Gen X's Sisters 10 block of month.  I jumped the gun and finished early.  Yup.  I love it that much.  It's very early 80s in its color scheme.













Details:
Name:  Like, Totally Awesome
Size:  78"x78"
Quilted using Aurifil.

If you're a first time visitor, please look around...I'm kind of a project-a-holic.

Mama needs a new machine....

Ok, so I debated whether or not to make this post.

The reality is I need a new machine.

The Walmart Brother doesn't cut it, and the Kenmore my lovely hubs got me keeps going out of whack.  It will cost more to get it serviced than the machine is really worth.

So, I'm on the hunt.  If I have to buy my own machine, my budget will not allow me to get this one.

I'm just throwing it out there for the fates to decide, since Amy's Blogger's Quilt Festival is giving away a Baby Lock Melody.  I'm throwing my hat into the ring, and I'll keep hunting in the meantime.

*crosses fingers*

Oct ALYOF update...

Today is about my ALYOF update.
I finished my quilt.  Early even.

My October goal was to complete the Pixie Churn Dash quilt.  I blogged about it here.
Here is the completed quilt (prewash):



Sorry I haven't posted any new pics.  My head is hurty.  It feels like the head cold is trying to make headway into a full on sinus infection.  I'm trying to head it off at the pass, but it means I've been more scattered than normal this week.  I've not even sewed a couple of days!  I've had to do mental math (and I teach Math) on a calculator!

I have a stack of quilts I need to photograph.  While it's supposed to be cold this weekend, it's not supposed to rain.  I've got it on the list.  It's quite a list.

I'm WAY behind on my Penny Sampler.  I have to sew 2 paper pieced tea cups, penny blocks (21), and start assembly.  Ah, and redo an applique block that is too light.
I still have 2 scrap quilts to pinbaste, quilt, and bind.
Oh, and October Heal circle blocks to do.
Oh, and a quilt (or 2) to pick for the Bloggers Quilt Festival.
....and a machine to dismantle and try to fix.
Yeah...um...did I mention the parent conferences for which I have to prep and the journal I have to grade.  Time machine (preferably a Tardis) anyone?

Tonight, though, I'm going to do sew EPP and watch Dr. Who.  (I've already napped and eaten Chinese food.)  Hubs has promised Mexican hot chocolate.

I *did* finish my wonky star baby quilt.  It's a combo of hand quilting with perle and some hand ties.  I haven't washed it yet.  DEFINITELY going to use color catchers when I wash it.

So, updated FAL list finishes (will also serve as a "to photograph" list):
1.  Bess Top
2.  Divided Basket
4.  Sisters 10 quilt
5.  Wellspring quilt
8.  Wonky Star quilt
15.  Pixie Churn Dash quilt
16.  Meridian #1
20.  Improv Malka quilt

Score so far: 8/32

I had a couple of days off...

so the hubs and I went to Savannah.  If you follow me on IG, you know I like me some cemeteries.

I washed a ton of quilts today, so I'm hoping the weather cooperates tomorrow afternoon, and I can do a photoshoot.  I'll have to leave the promise of pics for tomorrow.

I'm plugging away at my wonky star, but I'm a bit behind on the Penny Sampler.  This week's goals:  catch up on the Penny Sampler, make my do.good Oct blocks, and finish the wonky star.

What did y'all do over the weekend?  What are you up to this week?

Friday Finishes!

I have a bunch of items done.  Despite having a head cold that feels like it's morphing into an upper respiratory thing/sinus infection, I've been sewing and sewing.

Items now completed (although I'm missing pictorial evidence, apparently):

Bess Top.  (It's still too hot here to wear it.  I'm waiting for a cold front.)


Divided Basket.  Seriously, how did I live with this thing before I had it?!  All my sewing bits go in, and now I can actually find them!

Improv Malka quilt.  Love it.  It needs a baby to travel to.  And a wash.

Pixie Churn Dash.  I seriously love this one.  I thought I had a baby it was going to go to, but she had a little girl and I have a quilt that's more in line with her mom's personality already done, so this one is looking for a home, too.  (Totally fine, I have a ton of babies coming to friends and this will lower my stress level.)  It, too, needs a wash.

Meridian #1.  I have to wait a bit to post pics of this one.  This is the one that my machine ate the sleeve on.  I've fray checked it and plan to wear it as is, just grey side out.  Rachael at imaginegnats just launched her kid version of it.

Wellspring Quilt.  It's quilted!  Just needs to be washed to be ready for the hand off at the Nov Guild meeting.

Sisters 10.  I. Love. This. Quilt.  I don't know why I keep saying I don't love pink and it keeps showing up.  This one is very 80s.  Maybe that's why I'm so feeling the love.  The quilt was designed by AnneMarie over at GenXQuilters.  She's pretty cool, and, I think, planning another QAL for 2014.  I'm pretty sure I'm in.



Progress Made:
The Wonky Star quilt is now a quilt top.  I have purchased some solids for backing and binding.  Plans are in the works to baste it and do a bit of hand quilting.


The Hexy MF now has all its papers and threads removed.  I still have to do one more layer of applique, but it involves some drawing, so I haven't gotten there yet.

I'm a bit behind in the Penny Sampler.  I haven't started the paper piecing bits yet.



Next on Tap:
Other than basting, binding, and quilting the Wonky Star and the two postage stamp quilts, I have to design the space quilt and get going on that one.  I'm waiting for a few more blocks for the Heal quilt, but I hope to have that one done by Halloween.  I'm planning a sewing marathon day in Nov to make pouches and maybe the sidekick.
I've also got fabric for the train case redo and need to make my octopus pillow case.