Been working...

on evals mostly.

But I took out time to sew this weekend.
Gonna sew some more tomorrow.  The plan is to bind  Starlight #1.  I have it hand quilted and the binding made.  I have two other quilts basted.  Mom's Quite Contrary and the Penny Patch quilt.  I might even get to quilting on both a bit.  I also plan on working on the clutches for my soon to be cousin in law.

Starlight #1, waiting for binding:


I have my red/purple done for the ALYOF, but I haven't gotten decent pics yet.

Which leads me to the crummy pics I took tonight.

I finished my installment on the Crazy and Twisted quilt that was mine to work on.  I have one more coming my way.  This one is done early!  I'm going to mail it off Tues.



I finally got to work on my Gypsy wife.  I'm 3 months behind in the QAL.
Here are May's blocks:



It's actually mostly red, purple, chartreuse, and some yellow.  I could not get it to photograph decently.

I'm going to go knit a bit before crashing.


Linking up to Sewjo Saturday over at gogokim's.
and to the Gypsy Wife QAL, hosted this month over with Daisy at antstosugar!

Bloggers' Quilt Festival: Economy blocks

It's one of my favorite times of year.  I've been sucked into turbo mode at school, so I almost missed throwing my hat in.  There is a ton of eye candy over at Amy's.


I picked one to enter into the hand quilting category.  I used a ton of perle on this one.  I love hand  quilting with perle.  Just found a brand new brand of needle that I'm using now for perle.  I'll have a review of that up in June.



Anyway, this quilt came about from seeing all the Economy blocks pop up all over IG.  I'm a sucker sheep at times, so I had to make them.  I cut into my hoarded AMH Field Study, which is almost gone now save for a few scraps.  (Love love love the blue leopard print, wish I had a bolt)

I mixed in some Kona I had.  I find I keep coming back to the purple/tangerine combo.  My husband calls this my trailer park quilt.  I've already warned him that he can expect a lot of leopard prints when I'm a senior citizen.  It's backed in magenta flannel, so it's been put up until cold weather comes back.  I even got pics during our one of two snow storms in Atlanta.



I might even have to make another Economy block quilt this summer.  I'll add it to my already insane to do list...which apparently is how I roll.  If you're visiting from Amy's, please consider becoming a follower.  I'm three short of a goal to have a giveaway.

How time flies....

I did finish my May ALYOF goal...the red and purple beast is quilted and bound.

I delivered my orange Starburst to my friend who is retiring.  I got to teach a mini course with her and gifted it on the last day.  It is already being actively loved.

I'm knitting my 2nd brickless.
Working on my twist of the 2nd to last Crazy Twisted quilt to come my way.
Hurt my knee pin basting three quilts over the weekend.

Mostly trying to power through my evals.  I'm officially done with 4 out of 15.  So so slow going.
It's all I'll be doing tomorrow after school.

I'm trying to juggle all the usual end of school year meetings, paperwork, ipads, not to mention the actual work I still have to grade.

How come I feel like I'm living in a tornado?!   And why does my house look like one ran through it....

Sigh.  Looking forward to regrouping this summer and just sewing/clearing clutter/regrouping in general.

Right now I just want to eat all the chocolate/ice cream/carbs..which isn't helpful with my knee.

A Lovely Year of Finishes, May Goal

I'm going to keep this one simple.  I'm juggling a lot of projects and commitments right now.
Feeling super relieved to have finished pattern testing for a friend and having gotten two hives' worth of blocks done (and almost all packed up for mailing) for the 4x5....done with parent conferences, but not with evals.

Getting ready for high school graduation and retirement party season.

It's going to be a whirlwind month.

I'm working on a Penny Patch this month, but that's not what I'm counting for this month.

I'm going to put the Red/Purple quilt on my list as my May goal, simply because, if I don't, I worry it will sit in the chair in which it currently resides for another month.  It's basted; I'm just not jazzed about quilting it.  It's going to be a lot of straight lines.  Meh.



I really need to get my butt in gear and practice FMQ this summer.  I'm kind of bored of straight/organic lines.  I tend to hand quilt by default because of my crap FMQ skills.
That needs to change this summer.

Linking up!

Stash Bashed It!!!

I went to the Stash Bash over the weekend...it was major win.  Amazing women, friends from afar, new friends, lots of sewing and fabric.....heavenly.




I bought fabric.  (Fabric diet officially off....I'm going to concentrate on the food diet part as I've gained almost 10 lbs since the winter.)  Stash Fabrics seriously makes me dance.  Beth is amazing!




I pieced a quilt top:




I pattern tested.  (not showing it here because I know it was ok to show at Stash Bash, but I haven't asked if I can show it off here yet)

I learned how to follow the directions for the Sew Together bag.  Seriously big thank you to Schnitzel & Boo for her teaching skills.  I never would have succeeded on my own.  Now I might make another one.





I got seriously amazing gifties and swag:











Some finishes for the FAL list ticked off:

Tube Quilt #2 (delivered to the mama of the little boy it's for)



Needlebooks (I'm still making a few more, but I'm counting it as done as far as the goal for the FAL because I made 42)



Starlight #2: ( I am going to sew on a label and wash it, but it's done, too.)
This was also my ALYOF goal for April.



Stitched in Color Bag:



I didn't get as much done as I thought I would, but I had so much fun.  I'm already counting the days til next year.  Thank you, Chris!!!

again next year!!!!

I keep forgetting to post...

So, I don't have any awesome pictures today.  I have a few coming, I promise.

I finished Tube Quilt #2 today.  It's all washed and crinkly even.  I finished the Sherbet shawl.  Needlebooks almost done.

I'm hand quilting Starlight #2.  I am kind of dissatisfied with the needles I've been using.  Anyone have great recs for a needle with which to use perle?

I've been prepping like a mad woman for Stash Bash.  I cannot wait.  Literally counting down.

In the meantime, I've got a boatload of parent conferences.

Oh, and I'm running the 4x5 bee over on flickr this round.  It's a learning experience.  The spreadsheets (and sharing them) was NOT as easy as it should have been.  My fault, I'm sure.  I had to get the hubs to help me out when googledoc refused to be cooperative.  Still not sure why it suddenly stopped doing what I wanted it to midstream.

Any who...

Prepped for Stash Bash:
43 (soon to be 50) Tula sampler blocks
Penny Patch quilt
Feathers #2
Squares and stripes geek quilt
Tutti Frutti sock

Still have to prep/pack/decide if it's coming with:
7 Tula sampler blocks
bee blocks
metal clasp purse bits
Sew Together Bag kit  (def. need to pack)
Stitched in Color bag
Hexy Diamonds (not sure if I'm bringing it)
sock yarn scrap blanket (it's good mindless knitting)
Gypsy Wife quilt (I may just bring the book and a stack of fabric)
Starlight #2 (if I don't finish it before then)
Heal circle quilt as you go blocks

I will be packing and cutting this weekend!

FAL list, Quarter #2

So, my lists seem to have to border on crazy epic.  Which is fine.  I have a three day sewing retreat and part of June off, so anything is possible.



Sewing Items:
1.  Hexy MF--This one needs to get done and sent off to be long-armed.


2.  Marcelle Medallion--I kind of petered out on this.  I want to at least add some more layers this quarter.


3.  Tear Drop quilt--Have to figure out a plan for this one...and probably send it off to be long-armed as well.


4.  Hexy Diamonds--ticking away at this one.  I'm slower at EPP than I think I should be.


5.  Converging corners--it either gets done this quarter or pitched.


6.  Sidekick bag--mama needs a summer bag!


7.  Meridian #2--it's getting too warm to wear this.  I'd like to have it ready for the fall.


8.  Starlight #1--I have the backing...


9.  Starlight #2..my April ALYOF goal.  It's a gift.


10.  Penny Patch--I have planned this one since Rachel posted the tutorial.  On tap for Stash Bash.


11.  Tube Quilt #2--Also a gift.  With a deadline


12.  Tula sampler--I have about half the blocks sorted.  It's coming with me to Stash Bash.


13.  Black/White and color quilt...needs more blocks.  On tap for the 4x5 this session.


14.  Needlebooks...on a deadline.  Almost completed.


15.  5 metal clasp purses for C...making for my cousin-in-law to be's wedding party.


16.  Gypsy Wife...so so need to do this one.  Fabric and bits sorted for a while now.


17.  Feathers #2...I have the paper pieces and fabric sorted.  Coming with to Stash Bash.


18.  Cluck Cluck Sew Squares and Stripes quilt  (Geek version)  Coming with to Stash Bash.


19.  Stitched in Color bag..so, I intended to make this back when Rachel was teaching her Color class.  It got shelved because of the class play.


20.  Red/Purple quilt...I basted it.  Started quilting it.  Petered out with the ick.





In terms of knitting, I'd like to clear out the projects that just need sewing or one sock to finish.

Knitting Items:

1.  Peacock mittens


2.  Sherbet shawl


3.  Pink cinnabar and spice sweater


4.  Central Park hoodie


5.  stripey sock


6.  tutti frutti sock


7.  pastel shawl


8.  Leaf sock


9.  green belt


10.  blue sweater


11.  icarus shawl


12.  yoda hat


13.  cable scarf


14.  black cardigan


15.  socks scraps blanket


16.  brown alpaca sweater



So..um...yeah. That's 36.  Not counting all the BOMs, Heal circle blocks, and running the 4x5 this session.  Oh, and parent conferences.  Hrm.  I'm throwing it all at the wall and seeing what sticks.

Linking up!!!!