Sunday, March 18, 2012

A finish, a present, and a day trip...

I haven't been posting on the regular lately.
Truth is, my allergies been kicking my butt. I've been trying to catch up my sleep deprivation by napping. A lot. And longer than usual. 2 hours instead of 20 min naps.
Blarg.

Anyway, I'm posting one terrible photo of the terrible quilt...and it gets better. A seam split, apparently when I washed it, btu I didn't notice until went to take the pic. So, it's an awful quilt now in need of repair.

Finished Rockin Robin

This past week, I got an amazing package from woollykat in the For The Love of Solids swap.
I had favorited it when she posted it, but it never dawned on me that it might be mine.
My photos do not do it justice. She made me a bag from a pattern that has long been on my list.
I love the improv piecing and the colors. Also included was a boxy pouch!
I did a little happy dance when it arrived.
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Loot from FTLOS swap
(Kraken was trying to see if something new came for her. IT'S MINE!!!!

Saturday, as a late bday present, The Pirate and I went to Callaway Gardens.
Their azalea festival hasn't started yet, but I think the flowers were at their peak.
It was really pretty, but my allergies were kicking my butt, as was the 84 degree weather.
We got to see the birds of prey show:
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The owl's name was Hershel.
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The hawks kept dive bombing people. The last one in the show grazed someone's head.

We walked to the chapel:
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Looked at lots of flowers:
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flowers

The Pirate fed fishes:
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I spent most of today cutting up pieces for a Stained Quilt.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Been AWOL a bit...

My folks were visiting for a few days.
It was action packed.
We went to the American Craft Council show.
My favorite artist was doing paper cutting.
Her work was WAY out of any possible price range I have, but I could have looked at one of her pieces for hours. She spends up to 6 months on one large piece.
Wow. I don't even have much patience for mild embroidery....

We had a pre-bday dinner for The Pirate!

I went to the Sewing Expo in Duluth.
I was kind of disappointed. There was a lot of embroidery stuff, not a lot of what I was looking for in the way of quilting stuff to purchase.
The sewing machines I wanted to see in person weren't there.
On the upside, the NY Modern Quilt guild had minis.
Those were my favorite part.
I was a bit frustrated that I had shelled out moolah I could have spent on fabrics.
Meh.

Sunday, I sewed up a storm for The Pirate.
I still didn't get his bday present done, but he got 4 new shopping bags!
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(The top one is NOT pink...it's red cabbage.)

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I also finished the top of my Sew. Happy. Quilt. QAL.
Sew. Happy. Quilt.  DONE!!!!


Tomorrow I'm posting the For the Love of Solids package.
I had planned on doing it today, but I had to bake some Chocolate Stout cupcakes for a certain fiance who is getting OLDER tomorrow. *cough*
I am also hustling to the dentist to get a sore spot checked out. My mouth is hurty because of a blister looking thingie on my gum. Let me tell you, it has to be pretty hurty to lure me to the dentist on a non cleaning appt. This whole daylight savings time thing wipes me out anyway.
Blarg.

Oh! I got a new puter! Er...I got loaned a new puter from work. It has a spiffy purple case.
Oooooo.
Also, I forgot to take Rockin Robin pics still. I promise I'll get it up sometime this week.
What are y'all up to?

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Some finishes...

I finally bound the Rockin Robin. I won't lie. It's terrible.
It's also currently in the wash in the hopes that it will improve with washing.
It may end up being a doggie blanket.

I finished my mug rug for the scrappy mug rug swap. I don't need to mail it off yet, but I'm trying to decide what else to put in the package.

I have some finishing bits left to do on my FTLOS big object...mostly sewing on snaps for closures on the bag. I wish I had thought of doing a recessed zipper ahead of time, but I didn't.
I hope my partner will like it anyway...

I did my New Bee block for March.
I REALLY like this one.
New Bee on the Block, March 2012

I also received my Mouth Stitches pouch on Sat.
It's bright and happy!
Mouthy Stitches Pouch Rec'd!
It came with scrappy goodness!
Mouthy Stitches scraps
It journeyed here all the way from Australia!

I have way too many projects going...and my parents are coming to visit this week.
The craft room will have to revert to the guest room by Tues. Ack.

ooo...The Pirate and I went to see "The Artist" yesterday. We both loved it. I can definitely see why it was nominated for so many awards. Two (four if you count The Pirate's) thumbs up.

I'm linking my Sparkle mini up to the mini-fest over at Ellison Quilts.

I'm calling it "Where the Sunset meets the Sea"
where the sunset meets the sea (Sparkle QAL mini)
It's 29"x29".

Here's a detail:
close up of Sparkle

Head over there and check out all the fabulous mini's!

Friday, March 2, 2012

still haven't finished off the quilt crime...

I can't bring myself to hand sew the binding.
Instead, I finished the 2nd block for the Heal Circle of Do. Good. Stiches.
Pinwheel for Heal circle


I started a mug rug for a swap.
mug rug

I ironed some veils my dance student and I dyed. Hers came out really intense in color. (She used up 4 half jars of dye.) I think mine looks like poppies, but I kind of wish I had less white in it.
dyed veil

I still have to clean and finish some bee blocks tomorrow.

We're on a tornado watch until early early Sat morn. Plans to head to the botanical garden have been shelved due to the crap o weather.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

quilt heinousity...

I committed heinous quilting today.
I spent a long time making a pieced back for the Rockin Robin.
It went wrong early as a project. (I had work off today.)
I tried to square it up, FAIL.
It was a trapezoid.

I pin basted and sweated. (It's unseasonably warm in GA today.)
I couldn't figure out how to quilt it, since the layout wasn't conducive to straight lining it.
I won't try to quilt anything bigger than a mini on my Janome.
I don't have walking foot that works with it.
I ended up with lots of folds and crinkles....and just BAD looking quilting.
Ah well, I think it's destined to be a car quilt.
I REALLY didn't know what I was doing when I made it...subpar fabric, crappy seam allowances.
I had a BLAST making it, but it wasn't done well.
It was one of my first quilts during the summer.

Anyway...I FINALLY got my Feb New Bee block done.
New Bee for Feb.

I also got one block down for the Do. Good. Stitches for March.
Do.Good. Stitches, Heal, March

Tomorrow...cleaning and plugging away at the to do list.

Unless the quilt gets magically better after washing, I may not post a finished pic. It's THAT bad.

also..tests came back from the Dr. They think it was a heart misfire or a panic attack. No idea why. No history of either....but all the tests came back normal...so that's good at least.
Oh...and I got the go ahead to go to the Sewing Summit in Oct!!!!

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

WIP wed 2.29.12

Today I got to be the Oracle of Delphi.
Kids gave me offerings, mostly chocolate.
One kid insisted I take an entire cake home.
Holy chocolate abundance. I had trouble carrying it all home.
I ate ALL the chocolate covered pretzels as soon as I got home.
I ate the slice of homemade chocolate pie after dinner.
Oh my goodness...I have two girls who really want to be bakers.
One of them makes the best frosting I've EVER had.
I'm freezing part of the booty...or I'll eat it all by tomorrow.

I got a few things done yesterday. Today was just about trying to get tax stuff ready.

I'm caught up on my Sew. Happy. Quilt blocks.

Sew. Happy. Quilt. Quatrastar

Sew. Happy Quilt. HST block

Quilt for Kids block:
Asterix for Quilts for Kids

Oh..I never posted my Cyclops hats. I had fun making them:
Cyclops hats

Tomorrow, I'm attacking a GIANT to do list of sewing...
Friday will be cleaning..and maybe more sewing.

Tentative To Do List:

Apron for Pirate
Finish FTLOS big object
New Bee Block for Feb...it's stumping me
Neutral and Not block
2 stars for Heal circle at Do. Good. Stitches
top finish and back finish and basting of Rockin Robin
secret finishes (2)

I'm sure there is more....