Something cool came home in my trunk today...

and it wasn't a dead hooker.  (Sorry, inside joke.)

It was this:



It's still in the box. I have two chores that have to be done tomorrow before I am allowed to open it.

It needs a name.  I think it's a he.  (Most of my mechanical objects are male, including my car.)
Any suggestions?  Whoever gives me the name I like best may get (hint hint) something nice from me.

The machine was my reward for finishing this:



I couldn't eat the sundae that Rachel said I'd deserve for finishing this.  So, I went in *cough* another direction.  The shopping process was a bit nerve-wracking.  I don't spend big money on anything.  Unless it's a new AC unit or something.  I was feeling a bit guilty.  (Why do we do that, ladies, when we really really want something and even save up money for it?!)  Then I sat there and realized that I sew a TON.  Sewing (and dance) are my de-stress activities.  So, I'm NOT going to let myself feel bad about getting something for me (especially since I've been saving for it for over a year).  SO THERE, Guilt Voice!

I still have to trace and cut out petals for my Soda Pop QAL, but I had to take some breaks from hand sewing the jewels on the Medallion above.  (Bite me, satin stitch.)
I stayed up til 4am last night and only managed to finish jewel #7.
I have to admit, I love how it came out, even if I wanted to punch whoever created the idea of satin stitch in the stomach after jewel #1.  (Not, you, Rachel, I meant whoever in ancient times created it.)  The background for my Soda Pop is done.  I love it ALOT.  I used some of my favorite designers fabrics for it.  Some Nightshade by Tula, some Castle Peeps and Hello Pilgrim! by Lizzy House, Nested (WAS SOOO glad to win some from Laurie herself) and Tufted Tweet by Laurie Wisbrun, some AMH, some Wrenly.  I'm thinking the addition of the petals will make it all pop more.  I, um, just need to cut those.  Yeah.
Anyway, I'm loving this quilt HARD.



I've got my scrap bin sorted into colors.  (I looked like a walking piece of thread after I did it.)
Tomorrow, I will get through my required chores and bust that box open.  In the meantime, any names you want to throw my way will be pondered.

Fresh Sewing Day June.

Today started off lovely!
Coffee with Allegory.  Plans to sew.
Then when I got home, the power went out.
It's um over 100 (like 105? 108?) here in Atlanta.
Not so nice.
So after giving the animals ice water and packing the fridge with ice, we headed out to the movies.
Finally saw "Brave."  I loved it.  Cried.  Ate some chocolate (which I recorded on my points).
Now I'm back home, and the power is back on.
And I still (still, dammit) have 4 jewels to sew.
I may just power through and stay up all night just to get them done.

Here's my mosaic for June:



I got a lot done.  (Some of which isn't pictured here)
I have a HUGE list for July, including two quilt alongs, a throwdown, and many projects for a Rachel's hand sewing class.

Hrm.  I am having faith I can handle it all.
and Zumba.

Oh, and tomorrow I'm going machine shopping.  At least that's the plan.

Linking up with Lynne!

2nd Quarter FAL report...

Okay, I did better than I thought I would, honestly.  And I probably could have finished one more of the unfinished 3, but I kind of lost momentum.  Besides which, new projects are mounting quickly.

Soooo....drum roll.  I finished 11 out of my 14 proposed UFOs.

Here's the update:
1.  Red, Grey, Black Quilt from bee blocks.  Sadly, I decided to hand quilt this one and got pretty much nowhere.  It will end up back on the list for next quarter.  It IS basted though.

2.  First quilt using Skill Builder Blocks.  DONE.  Not my best quilting, but it's being used as a throw around the house right now.


3.  Vintage-y quilt #1 (from pattern testing for Bijou Lovely).  DONE.  I gifted this one to a co-worker who is having her first child, a little girl.  She cried.  I can't wait to meet her daughter who is due by September.


4.  Vintage-y quilt #2.  DONE. This one will be gifted to a charity.  I just haven't decided if it will head to Project Linus or go to the quilt drive for the wildfires in CO.


5.  Sew.  Happy Quilt.  DONE.  I did actually handquilt this one. It is currently in the closet because the dog is sleeping on the bed and was getting it dirty too fast for my liking.


6.  Postage Stamp quilt.  No progress actually made on this one.

7.  The Lawn Chair Quilt #1, aka jellyroll quilt. I started this a while ago from a Moda tutorial using Happy Zombie's Lawn Chair quilt pattern.  DONE.  It's going to be a picnic quilt for the Pirate's car.


8.  The Lawn Chair Quilt #2.  see above.  The Pattern yields two quilts.  DONE.  I'm not sure if I'm keeping this one or donating it to CO.


9.  The boxy bag for Trollop.  It was done AROUND her birthday but I'm gifting it to her in person (with goodies stuffed inside) when I see her in person in August.



10.  Cosmic Burst QAL/Precious QAL.  I cut up some of my hoarded Parisville for this QAL.  DONE.  I finished this one and LURVE it.  No one gets to use it but me (not that the rest of the house is fighting me for it.)


11.  My random Farmer's Wife blocks.  DONE.  I made my three measly blocks into a cute table runner.


12.  Prayer Flag quilt.  DONE.  It must have been missing a bag of blocks somewhere because it came out as a throw rather than the ginormous quilt I made for my mom.  This one was initially tagged by The Pirate for his picnic quilt but will instead be donated somewhere.


13.  The Pirate's last shopping bag.  DONE.  He's using it today to go shopping at the Farmer's Market.


14.  Stained Quilt.  I *still* don't know how to quilt this one, and I'm terrified of ruining it.  I really really really love this one.  Any advice would be welcome.


So.....11 out of 14.  Not bad.  Next quarter's list is going to be probably at least as long and I won't have all summer to finish it.  Plus the Sewing Summit is adding to my To Do List.  Did I mention I'm taking Rachel's Hand stitching Class or that I joined 2 QALs and a throwdown?

Eeep.

Thank you, Rhonda, for helping me keep the house in somewhat of a state of order rather than piles upon piles of projects.

Ridiculous...

I think it's been almost a week since I blogged.
I met some gloriously awesome peeps at Whipstitch.
Jacey, Rachel, Nicke, Maureen, Holly, and Jessica.  Jacey's super awesome.  Nicke gives amazing hugs.  I was a bit of a geek and showed Rachel my medallion from the class she's teaching.  I didn't really get a chance to talk to Amanda or Ara Jane, but there was shopping accomplished!  (Maureen, Holly and Jessica, I'm sorry I didn't get to talk to you more.)

I had to leave early because I had a FMQ class with the Atlanta Modern Quilt Guild.
While I learned a lot in abstraction, I didn't really "get" anything done.  My thread kept breaking.  I'm pretty sure there is a burr on my foot.  (It is a modified one.)
It made me REALLY want a new machine.  I have some money set aside for one, but I'm ridiculously intimidated by buying one.  (It kind of feels like buying a car....which, if I went the Bernina route, I probably could.)
Hrm.

I've been sewing sewing sewing, mostly by hand.

I finished all the embroidered HSTs.  I *still* don't have a pic.
Here's the last one I took of it:



I finished two other items on my Finish Along list (today):





I think I've gotten 11 out of 14 done for my Finish Along this quarter, and I don't think I can get the final three done. (Red, White, Black is in the snap frame still, Stained is in a pile, and the postage stamp hasn't been sewn on at all.)  My walking foot is acting unhappy.  (Cue violin music and more desire for a new machine)

I started sewing for the Soda Pop QAL, but all I have pic wise are my squares (before sewing)



I also have a crapload of hexies sewn for the Hexy MF.  (I can't get that pic off my camera.)

I feel like I've got major sewing ADHD.

On an unrelated note, I've successfully stuck to Weightwatchers for a week.
I've eaten a ton of veggies this week and feel great.

One would think I'd post more...

since I'm on a break.  Or that I'd be on track with all my projects.
*cough*
Well, I reupped at Weightwatchers today.
And I Zumba'd with a slightly sadistic (not my usual) instructor yesterday. Wasn't a huge fan of her style...which involved threatening.
I have all my squares cut for my Soda Pop Raspberry Beret quilt.  Haven't started sewing it or cutting out petals yet.
I've been hand basting hexies for the Hexy MF.  I'm still waiting for some more fabric to come.
I'm 1/8 of the way done with my hand embroidered HSTs on my Medallion for Rachel's (Stitched in Color) Handstitching class.
I'm caught up on bee blocks for June.  They're actually the only photos I have to share right now.

New Bee on the block:


Heal Circle (do.good.stitches) June blocks:

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Neutral and Not block:




The last one is really my favorite.  I'm going for a black/white/one color combo for my next Nubee.

I'm going back to embroidering...I'll post a pic of that tomorrow!

More finishes!

Last night I got distracted from making the boxy bag and finished a really *cough* ugly *cough* table runner from Quilt Guild blocks.
It was weird and wouldn't lay flat.  So I washed it.  It's still not gorgeous, but it is, at least, mostly flat now.



Even Kraken can't believe I made this.
I hurt my back quilting the crap out of this.

So, I finished three things this weekend.
Lawn #1 (from Happy Zombie's Lawn Chair quilt pattern over at the Moda Bakeshop).



I really like the Farmer's Wife block runner:



I picked out my fabrics for the Camp Thimble quilt.  Tomorrow the embroidery bits of it begin!




I've also started on my Hexy MF...which I already know I'm modifying.
I'm using this:



and I'm doing the Soda Pop QAL with bits of this stack:



Gonna call it Raspberry Beret.

This should clear out 2 stacks.  But I still need to stash bust in a MAJOR way.
*cough* especially since my bday is in August and I'm pining after the new Lotta, Chicopee, and Tula's new line.  (not in that order...I'm DYING for the Tula).

I'm linking up to Pat Sloan's UFO bust,

, .

Trying to clear the decks....

I have a lot of projects on a lot of burners.  I'm feeling the pressure to clear out some old stuff.

Here's my old Finish-Along list for the 2nd quarter.  I'm updating it as of today.  Pics forthcoming.  So far 9/14 with #10 on the roster to do today.

1. Red, Grey, Black Quilt from bee blocks.  Still sitting in the snap frame.  haven't been handquilting it.

2. First quilt using Skill Builder Blocks.  Done.

3. Vintage-y quilt 1.  Done.

4. Vintage-y quilt 2. Done.

5. Sew. Happy. Quilt. Done.

6. Postage Stamp quilt. No real progress made.

7. The Lawn Chairs Quilt #1, aka jellyroll quilt .  Done.  Currently in the dryer.



8. The Lawn Chairs Quilt #2. Still needs to be basted.  Front and Back are done.

9. The boxy bag for Trollop. On to do list for today.

10. Cosmic Burst QAL/Precious QAL. Done.

11. My random Farmer's Wife blocks. Done.  Made them into a table runner thingie.

12. Prayer Flag quilt. Done.

13. The Pirate's last shopping bag.  Done.

14. Stained Quilt. The top is done.