January funk

I know I'm not the only one because I've read it on several other blogs - I've been in a bit of a funk this month when it comes to quilting. I think I am out of it now - I got motivated by working on some possible quilts for Doll Quilt Swap 8. That group always motivates and inspires me! I wish it were continuous.

I did return to the scene of the crime so to speak - my friend Ann and I took a ride to that LQS that is going out of business for some more $3/yd goodness. I got some backing for some donation quilts and a few other one yard pieces but what I was most pleased with was this:



This was a shop sample and it was selling for $60. I thought it was cute and it was something I would never make and could never make for $60.

Other than that the only thing I've done all month is make a makeup bag for my youngest DD -



I have two more to do for my oldest DD and one of her friends - these are quick, easy and fun to make.

I hope the rest of you that were in a funk are finding your way out of it - I know I'm glad to be feeling more productive finally!

Have a pieceful day!

Stash building - 53 yards worth!

Now if you read yesterday's post carefully, you will note that I did NOT say ANYTHING about reducing stash this year - which is a VERY good thing considering my unplanned trip to the LQS today. That would be the LQS that is going out of business - and sent an email this morning that ALL fabric is now $3/yard.



So what's a girl to do when you get an email like that? You call a girlfriend - in this case Florence (better known to those who read the comments on my blog as "Anonymous") and off we went. We got there a 1/2 hour before closing and quickly got down to business. About 45 minutes later we walked out very happy and proud of our purchases.

Now its not for me to tell tales of what Florence bought... so I'll just tell you about mine. The picture above shows the damage - if you enlarge it you can see more detail - its hard to photograph 53 yards of fabric without a wide angle lense! Most of it is 1 yard pieces but there is an 8 1/2 yard piece of flannel for backing, 5 yards each of a pink and a blue flannel for baby items, 2-3 yards each of 3 different black and white fabrics and a lot of 1 yard pieces of various beiges, novelties (for pillowcases, donation quilts, etc) and other "basics".

At the cutting table I told Florence that after this I could not buy any more fabric until the Quilt Fest of NJ in March - the first big quilt show of the year. I told her she would have to hold me to it - her response - "yeah, right."

Have a pieceful day!

Thoughts for the New Year...

I have come to the realization that quilting resolutions or even goals for the new year are just pointless for me. I can start out with great plans but then a class or new technique or something catches my eye and the excitement of that carries me away from my plans - and that's okay, this is a hobby after all! It is supposed to be fun and inspire creativity. So I "resolve" to go in whatever creative direction the wind carries me.

That said, there are a few things I will try to fit in between the creative wind and the inevitable gift and swap projects I will commit to. This year those things revolve around trying to finish projects that create guilt by remaining unfinished (or in some cases unstarted!). Some are flimsies that need to be quilted and some are projects I bought a pattern and fabric for and never began. I have been holding off starting new projects (except small ones) due to the nagging voice reminding me of these projects. The curious thing is they are all projects I still love, it is not that I've lost interest in them, just got sidetracked and never got back to them. So this year I would like to finish them!

On the creative side, I would like to work on improving my machine quilting skills this year. This will require a little more patience than I've had in the past - patience to practice on muslin, not actual projects and patience to take a little more time to do a more involved quilting design instead of something "quick" to get it done. I would also like to work on more "artsy" projects - dolls, art quilts, painting on fabric, embellishments, working with fabrics other than cotton, learning new techniques, etc.

Lastly, though I don't think I can expect to make scrap quilts this year along with all of the above, I would like to start cutting for scrap quilts - Kathie always cuts for more than one quilt at a time and I would like to start doing the same as well as cutting some of my scraps into usable units. Maybe 2011 will be the year of making scrap quilts if 2010 can be the year of cutting for them!

And because I hate a post without a picture, here is a cute pic I snapped of DS and our dog Dooley. DS and his girlfriend are here for Christmas break from college and sleeping on the pull out sofa - after his girlfriend got up to go to work, Dooley jumped in her spot - I texted her and told her "you've been replaced"

SSCS sent and rec'd

First, here is a pic of the awesome table runner that Kerry sent me in the SSCS:







Here is some detail:







These are the present and goodies I sent to my partner, Lurline:









Another great SSCS! Thanks to Kerry and to Donna for organizing this wonderful swap!

Have a pieceful day!

Where is the time going????

I've been meaning to post for sooo long! It isn't even a lack of things to post about - just a lack of time and energy. The cold I had around Thanksgiving is hanging around and combining with allergies to wipe me out!

I want to show you my SSCS package - here is the ornament that Kerry from Forever Friday sent me:



and here is the package (that we are not allowed to open until Christmas - although my willpower is weakening!) Thanks Kerry - I can't wait to open it.



Its pretty cool - Kerry was the partner that I sent to in a bag swap last year and now are paths have crossed again with her sending to me!

I've got more to show and tell but I am going to try to do it in small bits each day.

Have a pieceful day!

I'm Exhausted!

or I was anyway! My son came home from college for Thanksgiving and brought his girlfriend and 3 friends with him. So we had 4 houseguests for the long weekend. They went to the parade in NYC on Thanksgiving and then came back for dinner - twelve of us total. The next day we went to our cousins' for a family dinner and the next night DH and I had a dinner to go to. By the time DS and his friends left on Sunday I was exhausted. I am just now recovering!

I wanted to show you a few pictures before all the Christmas prep starts- I know its already started for most of you - but not here! Knowing I was going to have that many houseguests showering in our one bathroom, which is being remodeled so there are no towel holders or hooks up - I made each guest (and DS) a towel with his or her name embroidered on it and bought one of those old fashioned drying racks. They were instructed to hang up their towel and reuse it!



They all seemed happy with their little "favors" and it did keep my bathroom and laundry a LOT more organized.

My friend Karen who is very Martha-like made us this wonderful Cornucopia out of refrigerated breadsticks:



Isn't it awesome? The little pilgrims on either side I made years ago and lost them. This summer I was cleaning out the attic and found them in a box tucked in corner. I was so thrilled! I love these little things! Here is a closer look -


Okay, Thanksgiving officially over - let the Christmas festivities begin!

Cards, tree, shopping, baking...... where do I start?????!!!!

Have a pieceful day!

Funny Story!

I have a funny husband story to tell but first I need to show you my latest finish. This is a sewing organizer that I made from a tutorial by FlossieBlossoms.



I won the fat quarter of retro NYC fabric at the Brownstone Guild Quilt Show a few weeks ago. It was donated by City Quilter in NYC who has a whole line of NYC themed fabrics. While they are very pretty they are not practical for a lot of things because this is a large print so its not a fabric to cut into small pieces - much better for a bag - or a sewing organizer! Here are some pics of the inside - it has a little needlecase that snaps closed, a holder for scissors both while traveling and while using the organizer on the couch, thread holders, pocket, trash baggie and tool holder.





On her blog, FlossieBlossoms tells how she created this organizer to keep pins and needles and other unsafe sewing items from the paws and mouth of her cat - whose name is NoseyParker. She advises that it would be good for keeping these items out of the hands of young children as well. Enter the funny story....

So I am showing DH the finished organizer last night - after he very generously installed the snaps for me when I was having some issues - a fact I add only to point out what a terrible wife I am for what I am about to share with the world - but it was just too funny not to....

so DH is looking at the finished product, opens it up, looks at the needlecase part and sticks his finder INTO the closed needlecase asking "what's this for?" as I am at the same time starting to say "be careful, there's a needle in there" - before I could even get the words out, he lets out a loud "OUCH" and I fall to the floor laughing hysterically as any terrible wife would! As soon as I could pick myself up and compose myself I told him "that is definitely going on the blog!" So my advice is if you have nosey cats or nosey toddlers they are probably safe but if you have a nosey husband you might want to add an additional layer of security to your sewing organizer!

Have a pieceful day!