Sunday, May 31, 2009

Pinwheel

A weekend of sewing ends with results like this. The top edge also has a small pinwheel border like at the bottom.
I started out making the entire quilt of the small pinwheels. My problem was I liked the fabric too much and I lost the fabric pattern in the small pinwheels.
So I ended up making large pinwheels for the middle. Finished top size is 54 x 76 inches. Just need to pick up a backing and fabric for binding. No more quilt tops until I get this and my Love is in the air top quilted.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Sun Loving Day

I forgot to show you the red, white and black scrap quilt I finished a couple weeks ago. It is from the left overs from the quilts for my Mom and sister. It really needed a good sunny day to get a photo. And today was that day.
Just a small strip of white on the backing.
Of course my little sunshine had to get in the photo.
When it was time to go in she just dropped to the ground and wouldn't move. She was trying her best mind control on me. It didn't work.
Walked up to get her and she rolls over playing dead. David home tonight, hopefully the grass will get mowed so I don't lose the dog in the jungle.
I will have to show you tomorrow what I have been sewing all day. And a note to my Mother: I know you would rather see photos of the two legged kids but they are no where to be found today.

My Little Sunshine

Buttercup loves the sunshine. She is on one of the chairs I recovered last summer (love that fabric). If I can get Buttercup out of my lap I will go back to sewing.

Working Dangerously

I am going to work dangerously today without a list, now that is living on the wild side.
Half of the scarf is embroidered. Not sure I like the two tone petals. But I am not going to change it.
Off to get a shower and see what damage I can do in the next 12 hours before David gets home.

Friday, May 29, 2009

Lady Bugs

Lady bugs are one of my favorite things. Not sure why, maybe it is the red color or that they represent good luck.
My swap partner sent me a package full of lady bug goodies. Came at the perfect time, when I needed a pick me up.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Pinwheels

There are very few traditional quilt blocks that interest me. Pinwheels happens to be one.
Probably not the best project to start working on right now. Not with the other things I want to get done, this looks like it is going to be time consuming. I may use it as a filler project. Two blocks done, only 214 more to go. Yikes.

Kids are officially out of school.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

In The Bag

We didn't do much of anything this weekend, seems like the first weekend in a long while DAvid was home. Rained and rained and rained. We did dodge the showers and did get some steaks on the grill. Just barely. Birthday bag for someone. Hmmm... who could that be?
Drawstring tote bag for Whitney.
And a few more bags from scraps.
I did get a bunch of fabric cut up for a quilt. Still looking at the old blue jeans. Good news is David is gone to Oregon again this week. Kids only have a half of day school on Wednesday. I should be able to get a few more things done.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Scarf

One of my swapbot partners sent me a silk scarf embroidery kit. I picked up the pearl embroidery thread yesterday. The colors are great. She didn't know it but I cross stitched for many years. Haven't really done much embroidery at all since before Mason was born (he is now 17). So this is a great little project for me. It is a good hand work project while I sit with the family. For some reason they think I am mad a them when I don't give them undivided attention. Go figure.

The holiday weekend is fast approaching. I need to get a list in place before I waste my weekend.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Buttercup Hunting

Buttercup and I get the house to ourselves for about an hour every morning. The kids have already left for school and I have enough time to grab a shower and breakfast before running to the office. But I couldn't find Buttercup this morning.

She wasn't in David's recliner, she wasn't on the sofa or loveseat. She wasn't in her bed in the kitchen. She wasn't hiding under the covers in Mason's room. She wasn't finding things to eat in Kim's room. She wasn't shut in the panty (yes I have done that by accident a couple of times). I finally found her laying in a sun spot in my craft room. Wish I could have stayed home with her today.

Hand and Bag

If you email me regularly you already know that I fell the other day. My hand landed on the only thing that could have hurt me, a disposable razor. Took a couple nice chunks out of my hand. At least it isn't bleeding anymore. It has slowed me down a bit.
Another doggie tote bag. This is the one I was working on while waiting for the plumber to arrive. Note: don't use clear buttons in the future. I like the button closure I added. I just don't really like clear buttons, never knew I had this problem in the past.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

My Affair

My neighbors must think I am having an affair with a plumber. I like my front loaded washing machine on the pedestal base but the draw back is you can't see behind it. So when you finally realize you have a problem it is a big problem. Plumber found two leaks. Another pin hole leak in the copper piping and the diverter to the shower on the other side had no sodder at all on the joint. Now to get it dried out.
The good news is I was able to do a little bit of sewing while I waited on the plumber to arrive. More on that later when I finish what I was working on.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Photo of Mason

You really need to compare this photo to yesterday's photo of Mason standing next to his car. Notice the difference in his hair? Mason's hair has never been this short. Even when he was born he had a full head of hair. David was joking that the pile of hair they cut off was bigger than Buttercup.
I have gotten nothing done this weekend. Between car shopping, school projects, running around taking care the problems David caused (long story) and chauffeuring kids there was no time left for myself.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Swap Goodies

My final three tote bags are sewn and shipped.And goodies from my partners have started arriving at my door.

Cruising

Sucessful day of car shopping. Mason will be crusing in style in his PT Cruiser. It fits his personality perfectly.

Friday, May 15, 2009

I Am So Excited

Just an overall bad week for me. I have been worried all week that Mason would have to have surgery and spend his entire summer break recovering. Right now the doctor is optimistic that he will not have surgery. I am clinging on to that. On to the exciting news. I won this give away on BlueQuilts blog. I was half asleep at 5:30 this morning. Didn't have my glasses on, I really shouldn't read without them. Or should I say I can barely read without them. Buttercup was boucing around my lap. I had to read it a couple of times to make sure it really was me.
I am so excited. I moved into a much larger office at work. I think this just may have to come to the office with me.

What was I thinking?

Not sure where my head was. I guess I have been pre-occupied by a health problem with Mason. These are the fabulous tote bags I made yesteray. Don't you just love the lady bugs and polka dots? What you can't see them? Yes I know. For some unknown reason I packed them all without taking photos. Must be stressed out more than thought.
Although I did decide the doggie tote had to stay with me. Notice the is a chihuahua on there, I had to keep it.
And love the doggie bones and hearts on the inside. Think it just needs a little embelishment on the outside and it will be done.
David will be back home around midnight tonight. Need to finish 3 more tote bags. That shouldn't be a problem if I can find the right fabric today. Car shopping for teenager this weekend so not sure how much I will get done.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

One more down...

Faries tote bag done. Still wish I had hot pink ric rac but they were sold out, I resorted back to the pale pink. Looks good but doesn't have the pop I really wanted.
Four more bags cut out, 5th one partially cut. Craft table looks like a mess but I am getting a bunch of things accomplished. Hope to finish these tote and get them all in the mail by Saturday. Total of 10 need to be shipped out. Then I can start dreaming about the denim rug again.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Goodbye Kitty

I am ready to say goodbye to Hello Kitty. Funny thing is both kids commented on the bag. Not unusal for Kim to notice. But Mason noticed and even liked the bag.
I really wanted to put bright pink ric rac on the outside but didn't get a chance to go shopping and only had light pink. It looks good on it. Bright pink would have looked better. Need about 3 minutes to do the top stitching around the top edge. But it is done. Decided I would make tote bags for all my Swap-Bot partners. Three done (Kitty included in that count). One in the works and little fabric shopping today should get me what I need.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Totes

A black Hello Kitty tote with pink Hello Kitty lining. And a wonderful fariy tote are in the works. I think a little hot pink ric rac detail are in order for both. More to come.

Monday, May 11, 2009

A Little Purchase

I stash busted around 8 yards of fabic this weekend. So I splurged a little today. I two big big swap-bot swaps I am in right now, with about 10 surprise packages I need to mail within the week. YIKES!!! I work well under pressure. One of the partners likes Hello Kitty. Guess I will be creating something with those. Bottom left is a really cool Robert Kauffman lizzard fabric. I am thinking a few boy baby bibs. All five prints total 2 yards. I really didn't spend that much. I have found I like buying fabric in smaller quantities and giving myself some variety. I tend to get bored very quickly looking at the same print. Although I can never get bored looking at the little piggies.

Hmm wonder if I could patchwork the Hello Kitty fabrics together for something cute. The black is a woven cotton, the pink is a flannel. I would give a fun texture to quilt them together. We will just have to wait and see.

My Mother's Day

I decided to hold off working on the scrap denim rug and play with some of the fabric I had bought recently. The kids were great about letting me have my Mother's Day all to myself. I did watch a movie with Kim. But they kept the drama to a minimum. Turned a couple yards of pink pigs into 10 burp cloths and 10 bibs. Need to buy more snaps but they are totally done.
Had a half yard left over after making my tank top last weekend. Got 4 burp cloths and 3 bibs out of it. Soft flowery knit and flannel on the back make these really snuggly.
And even worked on my hexs some. Am guessing I need another 60 white hexs to finish this. But mad some great progress. My list for the weekend was almost totally wiped out. Funny how more things just get added to the list when I am not looking.

Saturday, May 09, 2009

No Monkeying Around

No monkeying around for me today. Mason didn't think I was home and accidently woke me up at 6am. Hemmed Kim's pink dress. Quilted and bound the Red, White and Black scrap quick. And even thought of a name for it... "Beat the Clock". Odd name but I was trying to finish it before David and Mason got home. Finished the redesign on my green tshirt. Must have done something right, I even got a compliment from Kim about it. Buttons and button holes done on the sleeveless tropical twist shirt. Made the cover for David's sub-woofer for the truck. Only bad thing is I pulled something in my lower back. Got so much done off my list I splurged and made two burp cloths and 4 bibs. Just need to add the snaps and they will be done.

Even had time for the kids to take me to lunch today. I didn't want to fight the crowds on Mother's Day. Today was close enough for me. We spent a couple hours at the mall afterwards. David has arrived safely in Washington. Very little laundry needs to be done on Sunday. Hope to have another productive day.

Friday, May 08, 2009

Not On My List

This was not on my list. Not on my list when I walked in the store and not on my list of things to accomplish this weekend. I decided several months ago I was a Debbie Mumm fan. Love her country-ish look. I am not a gardener so not sure why these appealed so much to me that I had to buy them. Maybe I will treat myself to a fun sewing project after I get my "to do" list done.

No Bones About It

There were no bones in my original sewing plan yesterday.
These are one of Buttercups favorite toys. They fly really well and don't break anything when thrown a little off course. Several of our friends and co-workers have little dogs under 20 pounds. Two have been recently spayed and need some cheering up.
Back to my regularly scheduled crafting.
Plans for the weekend:
Hem Kim's pink dress
Sew Kim's camera case
Quilt and bind Red, White and Black scrap quilt
Redesign the green tshirt
Button holes and buttons on the Tropical Twist shirt
Sew cover for David's stereo
Denim scrap rug
White hexagons
Any one want to guess how many projects I complete this weekend? Will I complete my list? Will I get distracted on other projects?

Thursday, May 07, 2009

Attention Deficit

My attention deficit has come back. It appears I have been bouncing around from project to project a bit lately. Finally laid this out, just need to baste, quilt and bind. Shouldn't take me more than a couple of hours to completely finish. Made from all the left over from the two quilt I made my Mother and sister.
Nice summer weight tshirt I bought before our Florida trip. After two washings it is short enough for a toddler. The star marks a safety pin, that is where I plan to cut and add some length. Shopping with a list makes me so much more productive. Boring white knit to add length to the green tshirt above. Yellow buttons for the short sleeve top I made over the weekend. And zipper for a camera case for Kim.
Two more hex flowers finished. Started making white fill in hexs. Plan is to circle each flower with white making a circular table runner for the round table in our kitchen. I don't recall having an obsession for yellow but it appears I made need an intervention for that also.
New acronym. BOC for Back of Chair. Kind of like a WIP (Work in Progress). For some reason my partially finished projects end up laid over the back of chairs. Unfortunately I have 6 chairs in the craft room. Goal this weekend is finish the BOC projects.

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Rain-Rain Go Away

I have had enough of the rain. Yesterday was the first day in 7 days it didn't rain. Notice I didn't say it was sunny, it just didn't rain. Luckily David got the lawn mowed. The thunderstorms rolled back in around 3am this morning. Thunder, lightning and a knock on our bedroom door. A teenager scared of the storm. Note: I am not the most pleasant person at 4am when I know I have to get up at 4:30 and you just stole the last 30 minutes of sleep I could get. This is the pattern I used to make Kim's pink dress this weekend. McCall pattern M5039. It was very simple. The only thing I would caution is there is a zipper under the arm. Which works out great to be an inconspicuous place. So if your zipper skills aren't the greatest it can be hid easily. The zipper does give the dress a great fit so it is well worth the little effort. Not much fabric and you can use a nice cotton print. Great summer dress. Of course I left all the fru-fru trim off the dress, Kim would have removed it anyway. Lucky to get her in a dress at all.

David leaves for Washington state this weekend. Only gone a week this trip. Need to work on my project list for the weekend. See how much I can get done inside since I know it will be too soggy to be outside.

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Stuffies Arrival

A couple of stuffies have arrived in the mail. Both from swap-bot swaps. Aren't they cute.

Monday, May 04, 2009

Bluebird Quilts Giveaway

What an adorable giveaway. Check out Bluebird Quilts Blogaversay for a chance to win this adorable wall hanging. I know the perfect place where I would hang it if I win.


The Shirt on My Back

Far left is a cotton print called Tropical Twist, now a sleeveless buttonup for summer. Actually it is still button-less and buttonhole-less but otherwise done. It may take me all week for the 5 button holes. I haven't done a button hole on this new machine and need to practice before attacking my shirt.

The other two floral prints are new summer tank tops for me. Pink one finished, red one needs about 5 minutes at the sewing machine to hem. Rained all weekend so I couldn't do any of the yard work that has been calling my name. There is always next weekend.

Saturday, May 02, 2009

Dressed for Success

It just needs to be hemmed and it is done. Very simple dress.
Simple enough I might even make more.

Friday, May 01, 2009

Sampling

A small sampling of what I have been working on. You would think I have an obsession with pinks and flowers by looking at this photo. The top pink will be a dress for Kim. The middle one should be a sleeveless top for me. And the bottom one is a super soft knit that has plans of becoming a tank tank for me. All the patterns are simple so with a little luck they will get accomplished soon.
Burp cloths magically finished themselves. Love the green gingham, that was restashed from my Mom's stash to me. Put to very good use. Another example of I needed to buy fabric to reduce the fabric stash. The 24 burp cloths used about about 3 yards from the stash. Still haven't decided on those piggies yet.
Busy weekend ahead. Baby shower for a co-worker. I didn't get to make what I wanted to for her. Baby not actually due until June so I may sneak a few extra projects in just for fun. Collierville Fair on the Square is the weekend also. We have a historic downtown area in our lazy little suburb. They do several craft events like this through the year.