sharing the love...

I got the Liebster award from Kelsey, over at Kelsey Sews!

This award is given to favorite blogs with under 200 followers. The Liebster Rules are:
1. Post about your win on your blog.
2. Link back to the blogger who presented you with the award.
3. Copy and paste the award to your blog.
4. Present the Liebster Award to 5 blogs that have less than 200 followers that you think deserve to be recognized.
5. Let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.

Picking 5 blogs is HARD.

First up is Jacey over at Jaceycraft. She is fab. Her quilts, large and small are gorgeous! One of her lovelies lives at my house now, as I was lucky enough to win an original pillow from her in a giveaway. She also knits these crazy beautiful shawls.

Second is H2Ogirl, my first bee mama, over at Fiber of All Sorts. She helped me get a foot into the wondrous quilty world that is flickr. I'm STILL having a blast!

Then there is Kay over at Shocking Hocking. She's a fellow member of Mouthy Stitches. I have had fun watching her work pop up.

Then there's Issabella the Cat. The colors she uses in her quilts are glorious. We're both hunting the same books.

Finally, Lyanna over at PurplePandaQuilts. She has run some wonderful groups, like the stockings for kids, organizing and collecting stockings for foster kids.

Gah..sleep deprived...

We stayed up too late last night. I had work late last night. Zumba on Sunday.
I did not want to get out of bed this morning.
I taught dance today and came home to nap.
Needless to say, there was no sewing done today.
I'm slated for Zumba again tomorrow.
There may or may not be sewing then either....
Blach! I'm feeling behind.

Holy Crap, Batman...

I am WAY behind (though my behind may be smaller because I Zumba'd today...but that's another matter). I am behind.

Mostly because I tried the Sew Out Loud block.
Um...it made me feel dumb.

I have some dyspraxia/dyslexic tendencies and, apparently, have issues with paper piecing.
Know what is sucko? Trying to seam rip when you are trying not to rip off paper so you can redo it.

First error: I forgot the edging and did it purple instead of the dark grey. Part of the problem was the low level of toner on my printer.

Many Many other errors: I'd sew on a piece and it wouldn't end up where I thought it would be. So I'd have to rip and start again.
Anyway...it's finally done, but it's the ONLY thing I got done today.

Let me just say that much chocolate was consumed because I poked a hole in the R, apparently, during seam ripping. Any one know if I can patch it with some heat and bond or stitchwitchery?

I don't know if I can handle trying the rest of the QAL if the rest are this hard.
My to do list is awfully long still....

My Sparkle got quilted yesterday.

I'm pondering making the binding match the back. Otherwise, a solid tangerine is a possibility. Any opinions?

For today...

I didn't get as much done as I planned.

I quilted the Sparkle...still have to pick out binding. Tomorrow is dedicated to finishing my big project for the FTLOS item and packing a bunch of stuff up.

Maybe some Zumba. Maybe not. I really really want to get some stuff done.

Tonight I went to see The Princess and the Goblin.

One of my students was dancing in it.
It was choreographed by Twyla Tharp.

Who just happened to be sitting in front of me.
Who I met (AND SHOOK HANDS WITH) before the show.

So awesome.
As was the performance.

I think I'm still a bit starstruck.

I'm still pondering...

what to do for my giveaway.

In the meantime, besides napped A LOT, I've been playing catch up.
I'm still working on my big item for the FTLOS swap.
I ordered a bit more fabric for the small item.
I'll post a pic of my finish of the big item, hopefully this weekend.

I caught up on my Sew. Happy. Quilt QAL.


Here they all all together:


I sewed a block for a group quilt that will be made for a gymnast recovering at the Shepherd Center.


I started working on the Sew Out Loud block. I'm about halfway through and anticipate another 2-3 hours on it before it's done. I'm a very slow paperpiecer. I think it will be cool when I'm done, though.

So, still on the to do list:

baste, quilt and bind the Sparkle (on tap for Sun, I think)
Feb New Bee block
For the Love of Solid items
pack Mouthy Stitches package
secret project for secret person
and, yes, there are more.......

Oh! Here are the first two shopping bags:

this one was for giggles....


i LOVE this one....

The show is ovah!

My students had their second show yesterday for the elementary school.
It went really well. My OCD tendencies kick in when I'm stressed, so I already had the breakdown of the set plan in place before the show. Kinda sucked a bit that I was not as "in the moment" as I wish I had been, but I was being mindful of coordinating almost thirty cast members while trying to keep safety in mind.
Now, I'm just feeling tired.
I have been sleep deprived for about a week now, and I don't do well without sleep over an extended period. Getting up in the morning has been very difficult...especially with a warm smooshy dog trying to lure you back to sleep. (Seriously, folks, he does this Valentino bedroom eyes thing when he wants you to nap with him....Hi-larious.)

Valentine's was nice. I was too tired to be super enthusiastic...which I felt bad about. The Pirate got me a travel drive so I can back up all my pics. (I had a disaster a couple of years ago when my harddrive crashed and ate a cross country road trip's worth of photos..and my memory card for my camera had been reformatted...OH HOW I CRIED.)
I got him chocolates (well, us, because I ate some) from Lagusta's Luscious.
The Raspberry chocolates were AMAZING. We haven't dipped into the anatomical hearts yet.
I also made him the first 2 of about a half dozen shopping bags.
The Pirate goes to the Farmer's Market for our food mostly and comes back with an insane amount of plastic bags...which we both hate.
I used Canoe Ridge Creations bag tutorial. It was really easy to follow. I can see whipping up a bunch of these.
I'll post pics tomorrow.
I posted my bee blocks for my last 4x5 block and my Sew Bee It blocks. (Internationally posting requires going when the post office is actually open.)
I still have a few other things to post this weekend.
(Got to pack up my Mouthy Stitches items.)

Sewing plans for tomorrow/this weekend:
*Finish my Sparkle quilt QAL. (just have to sew a couple of pieces of sashing as well as baste and quilt)
*New Bee on the Block Feb block
*secret item for secret person
*Sew my FTLOS big item. Prep pieces of small item.
*Attempt a paper pieced block
*sew up the most recent Sew. Happy. Quilt block. (I cut the pieces but haven't sewn them yet.)

Also to ponder.....
*finish my Rockin Robin quilt top and back. (I have to sew on sashing and piece a strip for the back)
*baste the random block quilt...I think the top may need sashing.
If I can finish these two, I'll have 6/8 finishes on my Finish Along list.
The red, grey, black bee quilt should be the easiest finish left on that list...and I need to check what #8 was....hmmm.
*work on my Tango challenge quilt. I have the fabrics. I have the plan. I just haven't sewn.
Blarg.

First performance down...

The kids did fabulously well!
One more tomorrow...easy audience...the rest of the elementary school.
I'll be relieved when it's all done...and probably tired tomorrow eve.
Trying to dig out my reserve energy.
Go, romance girl, go!