2013 FAL, Q3

I have a ton of unfinished projects, but I haven't really been starting a lot of new ones.  Most of my projects last quarter had a wedding deadline, so....my list is short this time, at least for me.

1.  HST Project Linus quilt


2.  Sewing Summit Mini


3.  Tula skirt


4.  Halloween Spider Web quilt


5.  Red/Purple quilt


6.  Hexy MF


7.  Mom's quilt


8.  Converging Corners


9.  String Block quilt


10.  Scrappy Trip along


11.  Wonky Star quilt


12.  Retro Rubies (from the QAL, but I pooped out with wedding projects instead)


13.  Pillow cases (which were supposed to be a homecoming gift to the hubs, but never got done)


14. Figure out what to do with this orphan block.


Other ongoing projects:

Sisters Ten BOM
Skillbuilder from Pile of Fabric  (uh, yeah...I have bits for some of the blocks cut, but nothing is put together)
Marcelle Medallion quilt (fabric chosen)
Tula block QAL


I'm feeling like I've lost my sew-jo.  I haven't even set up my machine since I've been back.  And, I've been back a week and a half.  (UNHEARD OF!)  The fact that we're on a low sugar/no carb diet isn't helping so much.  I wanted to stab someone for a bagel with nutella today.  On the up side, I lost 3 lbs already.

Linking up!

Plea to the health gods....

I'm still not feeling 100% from the bug/ick I got on the honeymoon.

This week has been a health rollercoaster...but mainly for the animals.
They feature in my banner (which I really need to redesign) *adds to "to do" list*.

Both were due for checkups.  The Kraken (the cat) for her annual Mon.  The Smooshbeast (the dog) for his biannual "senior" dog visit on Tues.  (Shut up...he's never going to die.  We're going to win the lottery so I can clone him.)

Anywho, the cat had something in her eye that was to be monitored.  She's scratched an eye before, so I wasn't all that worried.  The doggy has been pee dribbling, but we weren't sure if it was a submissive thing since he was kenneled for a week and a half, or what.  Thankfully, I asked if they could check him for a UTI.

Fast forward to Wed.  The cat is now winking one eye almost closed.  Yup, the eye that we were "keeping an eye on."  Shit.  Which, of course, she didn't show signs of until Wed night.  It seemed to be less painful Thurs, so I didn't take her to an emergency vet.

So, today....I end up back at the vet again.  Yup, she's got an eye infection.  Yup, the doggy DOES have a UTI and needs to go on antibiotics.  So, they're both on the mend, but I'm feeling a bit frazzled...and a LOT more broke than I was on Mon.  (I'm only half heartedly complaining about that.  Our vet office is fabulous and much cheaper than ones I've used in the last decade.)


So, please make a plea on my behalf to the health gods.  I need to be back in fighting shape (and back on a diet plan), and not to be inundated with animals that either feel like crap and are needing extra love or having to chase animals that do not want their meds.  Eep.

I'm including a cute photo because all posts need photos, right?

Seriously, you'd want to clone this, too, right?

July Goal...ALYoF

I have a goal for July that I think I can manage.


I'm kind of feeling a loss of sew-jo post honeymoon.  I messed up my workhorse Janome machine before I left for the wedding.  I've got to get some sandpaper and try to clean up a burr.  I'm praying that fixes things.  It's not a super expensive back up machine.  My Walmart Brother isn't great.  I had planned on keeping that one at school to use with kids.  Here's a question for you.  If the machine isn't super expensive (like around $150), as what point do you just give up repairs/cleaning and just replace the machine?  I hate the idea of throwing things out/replacing things a lot, but cost wise, at some point, it has to come to that, right?

Anyway.....back to my goal.

I want to finish hand quilting my Halloween Spiderweb quilt.  I've got it partly done, but I have a lot of border left to do.  I'm thinking a spiderweb-ish straight line thingie.  We'll see how it goes.

Q2: 2013 Finish Along...what got done...

Okay, so my FAL list for Quarter two might have been a bit Cray Cray.  Because I wasn't, maybe, trying to finish my school year or, you know, plan for a wedding.

It had 33 items on it. I blogged about it here.

Surprisingly, I got more done on it than I thought I would.  I apologize in advance for the crappy photos.  Some were from my iphone and, since the finishes need to be posted individually, I've had to enlarge bad photos.

Here's my report:

1.  Must Dash Quilt--Completed and gifted to faculty member for new son!
I finished it at the Stash Bash.



2.  Star Block bag--Done!



3.  Orbit Quilt--I got the top done before Stash Bash.  Love this one.  Sad I missed the QAL deadline.



4.  HST Project Linus quilt--yea, not really sure why I haven't finished this one.  Maybe because an older Project Linus quilt (which I think used some of the same fabrics) bled when I washed it.  (Even with color catchers)

5.  Bag #1 (khaki Irish chain)--



6.  Bag #2  (batik)



7.  Bag #3  (white Irish chain)




8.  Bag #4 (grey/black)


9.  Bag #5  (Red/black drunkard)



10.  Bag #6 (B/W/Green)



11.  Bag #7  (Malka)



12.  Bag #8  (B/W pinwheel)



13.  Bag #9  (B/W swirl)



14.  Bag #10  (red/black block)



15.  Bag #11  (Orange Hope Valley)




16.  Bag #12 (blue/green)



17.  Sewing Summit Mini--Yeah, didn't do it.

18.  Tula Skirt--gained weight.  Since I can't comfortably wear my other frog or the spider skirt in this pattern, I'll wait til I drop some weight to finish this one.

19.  Halloween Spider Web--got all the blocks done (and back).  It's got the binding on and part of the quilting done, but I decided to hand quilt it, so it will be done in July.  Progress, though!

20.  Red/Purple Quilt--on hold.  Still waiting on blocks.  Will hopefully finish this one in the next quarter.

21.  Heal Orange March quilt--done and delivered by Nicke!



22.  Hexy MF--I've got this on my summer plan.  I really want it done.  I can't start another EPP quilt until I finish this one.

23.  Mom's Quilt--Still hanging in the closet.  I have to look it over.  I don't think it's mom worthy since I made it so early in my quilting career.  I question how good my seams are.

24.  Converging Corners--Not feeling it.

25.  Bridesmaid Clutch #1--Done!  and delivered.  I even made her a second one for her bday.



26.  Bridesmaid Clutch #2--Done!  and delivered



27.  Best Woman Clutch--Done!



28.  Infinity Scarf--Done!



29.  String Block quilt--Uh, the supply box is still sitting in my car from Stash Bash

30.  Scrappy Trip Along--top done and the rest not.

31.  Wonky Star Baby quilt--still in bags from not getting it done at the Stash Bash.

32.  Secret 80s swap--Done!



33.  Pouch for Stash Bash...which I apparently forgot to take pictures of.  Elena over at Hot Pink Stitches got it.  (I swear.  I did it.  I was just trying to organize stuff and forgot the pic.)


So, 22 out of 33.  Not bad.

June ALYoF Fail...

So, I picked finishing my scrappy trip along baby quilt as my June goal.
...And...it's still hanging over my railing, just a completed top.

I haven't bothered to find backing fabric or binding....or baste it.

So, um..I've given up on June.

But, I have a goal for July!...and it won't be the scrappy trip along.

Um...so, I'm back! And I'm married!

I will have a ton of posts going up today...mostly about Finish Alongs.
This one will be the shortest, as I have yet to upload any pics to my computer from my phone or my camera (which, sadly, did not get used much as my shoulder didn't like it when the camera and a giant water bottle were in the load of stuff to drag around town).

So, here's a pic from one of my BFFs post ceremony.

I only had glasses off for the ceremony.  My eyes couldn't take them after the shoot with our photographer, so all the receptions pics feature glasses.

I think this was from the first dance...which may or may not *cough* have been Queen's "Fat-Bottomed Girls".

Summary:  I don't feel any different, any more "married" than I did before the ceremony.  That may be, in part, to being exhausted.  We both got hit with some kind of tummy bug on day 2 or 3 in DC and have yet to kick it.  Ugh.

Anyway, more pics forthcoming....

*hyperventilating into a paper bag*

So I've been quiet.  Which is not to say that things have been quiet over here.
Mostly hectic, despite it being summer break.

Because....holy crap...I'm going to be a married broad (yes, I like that word) in less than a week!

I've given up on my June goals for the Year of Lovely Finshes.  It's not getting done.
Instead, I've made 2 Cerisy skirts.  (One is coming with me on the honeymoon.)
I've been working on my Halloween spinning star.  It's at the adding more hand quilting, binding is already sewn on stage.  I think that will be my last finish for June.

(I'll have time to get it done post honeymoon.)

I'm tired.  My face is peely.  (My stress/food allergy reaction of late.)
I hate the moments leading up to flying.

On the plus side, I'll actually get to see my dad on Father's Day.  I'm heading up, leaving The Pirate to tidy up loose ends on this side.

I'll be around, on Instagram and Twitter (EllaThrowawench), but I probably won't be doing much blog posting til I get back...or at least until I'm a married broad.

Eep.  Wish me luck, peoples.  I'm not sure what I'll do without a sewing project to keep me from going nuts, but I just don't have room to pack one.  I may have to do a Joann's run tomorrow.