Back!

So, I survived camping with my class.

I'm exhausted.  Finally clean.

My highlights included:

* making my kids laugh because my cheerleading style is decidedly cheesy (as in "WOOOOOO....(insert kid name here) is a ROCKSTAR!  Climbin' that wall like a boss!)

*Getting to see the sunrise at a gorgeous outdoor chapel.

*fixing boo boos from climbing (makes me feel useful and they were all minor)

*watching a lot of proud grins

*getting begged to read aloud at bed time  (I start the morning with a read aloud book.)

*seeing actual stars

*no rain

*seeing live cicadas


The lowlights:

*living on cukes and salad and cereal because of food allergies

*being in pollen/dust/lots of allergy triggers

*almost stepping on a copperhead

*being woken up by two students who "couldn't sleep because someone is snoring"

*getting up before dawn for the hike to the outdoor chapel for sunrise



So, maybe no sewing tomorrow.  I am still wiped after napping for 4 hours when I came home.  And, now the lowgrade and sore throat are back.  Blarg.  Gotta get through a whole school day tomorrow.  Also, on the upside, my hubs got me takeout on the way home because I hadn't eaten a normal meal in 3 days.

Marcelle Medallion...or how I'm easily sucked in...

Ok, so, I really wanted to make a Marcelle Medallion this summer.
And....I didn't.

I kind of ran out of time.  I've even let my FAL list fall to the wayside.  (*gasp*Shocking, I know!)

The I signed up for Rachel at Stitched in Color's Penny Sampler class, which I am totally digging:



I saw the Marcelle Medallion QAL (#mmqal on instagram) posted up at Penny Poppleton's blog.

I need another project like I need a hole in the head.  I mean, school is back in session.  I have stacks of papers to grade already.  I'm going camping with 6th graders for 3 days in another state. I'm in the Penny Sampler.  I'm trying to keep up with the Sisters Modern Ten BOM.  (FINALLY caught up on that one.)  I have a quilt to make for our guild.  I have a bunch of other quilts in progress.  So, um, I was TOTALLY going to just watch from the side lines....until...Lisa at ModernBalabusta (another incredibly awesome lady I got to meet in person at Sewing Summit last year) asked me if I wanted a copy of her paper piecing templates for the center.  I'm not good at paperpiecing.  Did that stop me?  Nope.  I said "sure!" and planned on putting them in a file with the pattern for the quilt.

And, um, that steely resolve lasted all of 12 hours?

So, yeah....I pulled fabric and started.



 I have NO idea how/if I can keep up with the QAL.  Frankly, the next year scares the bejeesus out of me.  Even cutting that many triangles seems daunting.

So, apparently, I get sucked in easily.  (This also explains why all the ice cream commercials leave me wanting some, right?)

Bess top pattern release!

So, today, I'm breaking my blog lazy streak....Two, count 'em, TWO posts today.

Rachael over at imaginegnats is launching her Bess top pattern today.  It comes in a shirt, a tunic, and a dress version.

I was lucky enough to pattern test for her.

First, I LOVE Rachael.  She is an awesome lady, and I was super lucky to meet her in person when I was feeling all shy and awkward at Sewing Summit last year.

Second, I've been wanting to garment sew for a while.  I've tried my hand at a few skirts (loved the Cerisy Rachael posted and sewed a couple of Amy Butler skirts).  I've wanted to use some Jay McCarroll fabric I've had hoarded saved for a top.  I couldn't find a quilting cotton pattern I liked that was up to my garment sewing level.  Enter the Bess top.

Rachael's directions are super easy to follow.  Plus, you can use jersey knit as like a bias tape.  Lots of great pieces of technique and ideas that I've filed for future garment sewing.  Plus, the top is super comfy.  (And it coordinated with my colored hair.)  I'm just waiting for it to be not disgustingly hot to wear it on the regular.  (Right now I'm living in tank tops, the less strappage, the better.)  I can see more versions in my near future.  (Selfish sewing week, perhaps?)

Anyway, if you want to sew with quilting fabric (and who doesn't?!), try Rachael's pattern!

I'm loving my version:



Yes, I was told I look like a hippy.  (And, my mom hates my hair...*cough*not changing it back*cough*)

A Lovely Year of Finishes, Sept Goal.

I'm still playing catchup.  (Block updates coming tomorrow.)

However, I wanted to make sure I got my Sept ALYOF goal up and linked.

I'm taking The Penny Sampler class, taught by Rachel from Stitched in Color.
If you are ever thinking of taking an online class, hers are fabulous.  Lots of good technique instruction, cool projects...Nope, I'm got getting paid for this.  I just highly recommend her!

The first big project she posted was the Dogwood Blossom pattern, as a quilt or as a pillow.  I had a FQ stack of Notting Hill that I've been waiting to use.  So, I went all out on the whole quilt.  I've got the top:


and the back done:


Hoping to baste it tomorrow.

So, my September goal is to finish it!
I will need to get some binding purchased in order to do that....hrm.
Other goals:  quilt mom's ginormous quilt (so I can give it to her for Xmas)
                   CATCH UP!!!! (on overdue projects and blocks)

There are a bajillion awesome quilt alongs right.  (I saw  Marcelle Medallion one is going up tomorrow, but I just need to get some s*** done.)

Linking up!

A Lovely Year of Finishes, August goal done!

I'm trying to play catchup this long weekend.

If you follow me on IG, you've seen my August heal blocks and me catching up on back months (so far May and June down) on the Sisters 10 modern block of the month.

Sisters 10 blocks:
May's:


June's:



I haven't uploaded all my pics to flickr.  I've also been working on my Dogwood Blossoms quilt for the Penny Sampler class.  The top and back are done.  My goal is to baste (and maybe quilt) them tomorrow.  More pics coming on that one.

I finished my August ALYOF goal.  It was kind of a disappointing project.
The one thing I will NEVER do again is use paper as the foundation.  I hate ripping it up.  Triggers all kinds of OCD finding little bits of paper around.  Several seams popped.  Blarg.




I tied the quilt.  I don't know if it was the tying that did it, but when I washed the quilt, the batting (the generic poly/cotton stuff from Hancock's) just shredded.  So, I have bald spots in the quilt and spots that have tons of stuffing.  Meh.  So, it's done.  I have to fix a few seams.  (You can see one that popped in the pic if you look.) Anyway, I am just not excited about it.  Gonna throw it in a car so I can have a quilt for the dog to sit on when he rides in my car.  I *am* excited about Sept's goal.

Linking up:

Not being lazy just trying to catch a groove....

It's the second week back at school.  Still in whirlwind mode.
It took a while to sort out my math class.  (I teach the JH level math for elementary kids...so I get kids from all 6th grades.)
I think *knock on wood* that it will be sorted by Tuesday, including the WHERE I teach bit.  (My normal building is being renovated.)
Let me just say that so far I'm totally digging my students.  Incredibly sweet bunch.

Today I started my knitting afterschool.  I may die from the cuteness.  I have a 1st and a 3rd or 4th grader.  So tiny.  AND HILARIOUS.
They have to "catch the bump" when they're making a new stitch and then drop the old stitch.

Somehow it morphed into "Kicking the old man off" the mountain or cliff  or hill (aka needle).
Then followed by sound effects.  I laughed so hard, I almost was late dropping them off.  (Couldn't believe an hour had passed.)  Also, they're awesome at knitting.  No dropped stitches or panic moments, even with slippery metal needles.

I'm working on the Dogwood quilt from Stitched in Color.  I've got 12 out of 20 blocks done, but I got marker (?) on one petal and have to remake it....cross your fingers, as I have one 6in square of that Notting Hill fabric left.  But still....
WOOOOOO!

Also, sadness....my string quilt is done but already in need of repairs.  I tied it.  Not sure I'll try that again.  Plus, I used Hancock's batting.  Um...it shredded.  as in there are spots now with no batting and other spots with lumps.  Blarg.  Good thing it was going to be a dog or a car quilt.  Two string seams popped.   (I had some tension issues on my crappo machine (the Brother from Walmart).)
Ah, well.  I'll have the finish and pics of the somewhat disappointing quilt up, may be tomorrow.

So it's my birthday....

And I've had a lovely day.  Low key after a weekend of birthday treats.

Friday, I got to go to Folkfest with the hubs and one of my bestest friends.  I didn't buy anything, but I ogled lots of vintage quilts.

Saturday, we were going to go to the Piedmont Arts Festival, but it was kind of gross out.  So, I sewed on my string quilt instead.  God, those blocks were endless.  I don't know how I thought I had more done.  Turns out I needed 48 blocks.  Anywho.  We went out to dinner at Cakes and Ale Sat.  I cannot recommend them enough.  It will definitely be our go to special dinner location.  They were amazing about my food allergies.  Their desserts were fantabulous.

Sunday was more sewing...and cupcakes.  Mmmmm.  Camicakes.

Today, my actual birthday, I got lots of texts and phone calls. I had to be at school.  (Actual teaching starts tomorrow.)  I got to see old students coming in for 7th grade orientation and a few new ones.  I got to pick my choice for dinner tonight.  The Hubs made pretzel rolls yesterday.  I had a bacon cheeseburger with hot peppers on a pretzel roll.  Up next, chocolate and peanut butter cupcakes and ice cream. Mmmm.  So going back to the diet tomorrow.

Things I have done as of late:

I have now tied the string block quilt.  It still needs binding.  I'm going to keep it as a car quilt as the tension went off somewhere and I'm not sure I trust it to stay together.




I dip dyed my hair.  It was intended to be purple and red ombre, but it came out kind of reddish magenta-y.  I'm going to have to do it fairly frequently.  I love it.  (Thank you, Terri, aka sew-fantastic on Instagram!)

I'm also addicted to watching Dr. Who again.
I haven't gotten to Torchwood yet.

Oh, and I may be 39....yup, 39, but I'm really really proud that I am in better shape weight/health-wise than I've been in a decade.  So, Yay!  I'm off to eat that cupcake now.