Bad Idea

Instead of working on the real Purina quilt this weekend I made lined zippered bags. I actually made more than this. I would like to tell you that I am not posting a photo of the other ones because they are a suprise for someone. But that isn't the case. I actually packaged them up to mail and forgot to take a photo.

And when you think something is going to be a bad idea it probably is. For a couple of months I wanted to wash the denim rug. But I have heard people having problems washing rag quilts in front load washing machines. At least I waited until all the household laundry was done before I did it. The good news is I do know where the secondary filter is on my front load washer. What a mess I created. I found 85 cents, the missing button to a blazer and a handful of denim threads in the filter. Not to mention another handful of threads I pick out from inside the washer. Another handful in the lint trap in the dryer and another handful picked off the three towels I washed with it.

Overall just a bad idea. But the denium rug is looking awesome, so much softer than before. I would love to wash it again someday.

Attitude

I promised you a photo.

A little scrap from the Yee Haw quilt became the finishing touch on Zippity's behind.

And when his zipper isn't all the way open he shows a bit of his attitude. Kind of like dealing with teenagers on Monday mornings.

Zippity

I had a few minutes between loads of laundry. By the time I got to this point I was getting excited.

I think he turned out pretty good, my favorite part I forgot to take a photo of... an appliqued heart on his backside. I see more critters in my future.

The Imposter

It looks like a Purina checkerboard but it isn't THE Purina quilt. The swap was Red. One of my favorite colors. So a mini table topper, pouch bag and a stuffed doggie bone for her little Chihuahua.
And I even ordered myself some red measuring spoons this week.

Lady Bug Mini

I bought the fabulous new lady bug fabric this week and didn't even use it.

I had some seersucker fabric from a craigslist purchase last fall. Made a little doll quilt, which is also a great table topper size. It ended up around 20 x 20 inches. I like that the colors are not a traditional red lady bug.

I didn't have much of the pink seersucker for the back. Pieced a few more squares together. I think my swap partner should enjoy it. Now just to make 4 more lady bug projects.

At It Again

Busy week but I did find time to shop a little again

Adorable frog print for a couple special projects. And had to buy the Tweety print, it was on clearance. I needed some lady bug prints for a swapbot swap I am in . Have to send 5 lady bug themed items.

Project list for the weekend:

Purina quilt - I would like to get it hand tied with buttons

Lady Bug swap- Make tote, pouch bag, maybe a key chain (if I can find my d-rings)

Red swap- I am sure I have red fabric around to make a pouch to send.

Zipper Critter- This guy is tormenting me.

Frog project- I should have time to at least start.

Scrappy Quilt- Only if I finish the others will I play with this. I promise.

Scrappy Sashing

So I went shopping yesterday for sashing fabric for my scrappy quilt. I found this fabulous blue and delicious green print to keep it bright. Picked up some simple white on white print while I was there.

Love the blue, hate the green print. Well actually I love the green print just not with the blocks, way too busy.

So the green print now stands alone. It will become part of something yummy, just not the scrap quilt.

And look at the adorable ladybug I got in the mail yesterday from the Craft for a Craft swap on swapbot. I have got to get a better photo of him, he is adorable. I wish I knew how to crochet and make something this cute.

Cool with a Capital C

This is cool with a capital C. I am surprised I hadn't run across this before.

Little Birdie secrets posted her version of this fabulous idea on Mitsy's blog. And you also need to check out Mitsy's etsy site. I fell in love with her ceramics a few months ago. If anyone is looking for a birthday present for me, I would take any of her mini ceramic feelings.

Sashing choices

The scrappy blocks need a small sashing of white. But what color to choose for a larger sashing? Black?

Brown ?

Blue?

Right now I am leaning towards the black with blue as its runner up. Yikes, the more I look at the photos I am thinking blue. I want it to remain light, bright and colorful. Red or Pink would just be too over the top. Yellow too blah. Maybe it is the polka dots on the black that is throwing me off. Too many choices.

No sewing tonight. Open house at the school. I get to follow Mason's class schedule, 15 minutes with each teacher he has. Note to self: wear quiet, comfortable shoes. My heels tapping down the hall bring too many annoyed looks.

Zipper... No Critter

Not too bad on my weekend project list. Work on the Purina Quilt - I did get as far as I wanted. Just waiting until I am motivated to quilt it. Labor Day is fast approaching.
Make one Zipper Critter - Got a bit side tracked on the scrappy blocks. I did pick out a metal toothed zipper and want to use some of this denim on the critter. Maybe later in the week.
Finish Retro Baby Bibs - Done
Sew a few of my own banana slices - I made two of them. Mason said they looked like buttons not bananas. I put two pieces of felt together. I think I need to try 3 or 4 layers. They were so thin I wouldn't have put them in my Rice Krispies this morning.
And revamp Mason's closet - Completely torn apart. Spakled all of the nail holes. Need to pick up a small roller and tray on the way home today. Finally convinced myself it was going to be much easier to paint before I put up the shelving. How dare I actually do something the smart way.

Scrap Busting

I got a little side tracked over the weekend. I was thumbing through quilting magazines Friday night and a scrappy quilt caught my eye. So I started cutting up strips random width between 1-3 inches. Sewing them together in 14 inch squares. Then layering them right sides together, one horizontal and one vertical. Sew areound all four edges.

Cut them in an X.

Open up the squares and admire the scrappy goodness.

Repeat with another 4 of the pairs of 14 inch blocks.

And then you end up with 20 of these fabulous scrappy blocks. Now just to find something simple for the sashings. Amazing what a little scrap busting can create.

One Added to the List

This little quilt has been hiding in the house for at least four years. I don't normally keep projects this long. Just two pieces of fabric sewn together with batting in the middle. I just never quilted it. Why? I don't know, never got around to it.

Adorable little frogs. I just free motion quilted around all the little green guys. Nice to see this is finished. It really is cute in person.

Two Off The List

I can mark two projects off my list for the weekend. Four retro fabric bibs and two burp cloths are done. The yellow retro fabric is from my Mom's stash. I am trying very hard to use stuff I have. I have bought several fabrics lately but I also use from my stash.

I have made my way to a stopping point on the Purina quilt. The front is done, the pieced checkerboard backing is done, the binding is even ready and waiting. It will wait until next weekend before I put it all together.

Trends and Traditions Give Away

I try to only show you the best of the best of the give aways I run across. If you are not already a follower of Heather Mulder Peterson's Trends and Traditions blog you must go check this out.

This fabulous quilt is the grand prize give away. The colors and design are beautiful. I love how Heather blends classicc quilting with a very modern look.

Tempted

I am getting ready for the weekend. If David doesn't tie me up with too much yard work I should get some sewing in.

I caved into temptation and stocked up on a few more half yards from JoAnn's, I really like the black and white print. Another one to add to collection.

My list for the weekend:

Work on the Purina Quilt

Make one Zipper Critter

Finish Retro Baby Bibs

Sew a few of my own banana slices

And revamp Mason's closet

Completely realistic list as long as I stay focused and the 80 degree weather doesn't tempt me too much.

Short Stack Give Away

I run across several blog give aways. Some are just not my style or taste. Others are simply outstanding that I get really excited about and just have to share.

Right now before you get side tracked run over to The Design Girl Blog and enter for your chances at a short stack of pancakes. The detail on the banana slices is just yummy.

Out of the Closet

I didn't do too bad with my crafting list from last weekend.

Got as far as I had wanted on the Purina Quilt
Craft for a Craft swap for Swapbot Tote and small matching bag-Done and ready to be mailed
Plaid Quilt-Done
Flash diffuser for camera-Done
Zipper Critter-Ideas are still in my head.
And this closet is looming over my head. We really do have great closets in our house. Except this one is more of a hall closet but all Mason has access to in the downstairs bedroom. My simple goal for tonight is to get everything out of the closet. The shirts are Mason's and I think his guitar is down there somewhere but everything else is mine that needs to find a home in another closet.

How many blue and white shirts should one teenager own? I guess if it works why change it.

Jumbo Checkerboard

It dawned on me that the smaller I cut the squares for the checkerboard pattern for the back of the Purina quilt, the more I would have to sew.

To solve my problem I decided on jumbo squares for the checkerboard. These are 8 x 1/2 square. Now the question is should I do the entire back in the checkerboard pattern or should I break it up somehow? Such difficult questions so early in the morning.

I have started using my iPod while sewing. I keep it low enough that I can still hear what is going on around the house but the kids bother me less. I guess they think I can't hear them, that will be just our little secret.

Sew Many Ways Give Away

Awesome give away at Sew Many Ways. 4 1/2 inch charms squares of Thimbleberries.

These would make an gorgeous quilt. Head on over and leave a comment for a chance to win.

Yee-Haw

The plaid cowboy quilt is done. Not bad considering I didn't buy any of the fabric. All the plaids came from an online friend and the brown for the hat and the pieces on the back are all from my Mom's stash.

I should have ran lint brush over the hat before the photo. It is a little fuzzy from being worked on. But over all I really like how it turned out. Both Mason and David recognized it as a cowboy hat so I must have done something right. Although David asked me who I made it for, and I didn't have an answer. Not sure what I am going to do with it.

The back shows the quilting lines quite well. I was going to do a triple line with one more line down the middle of the pair of lines but on second thought it would have just made this a little too fussy.

A Great Sale

JoAnns has their Quilters Showcase fabrics on sale for $1.99/yd until the end of the month. So when you buy 1/2 yards that is only $1, can't beat that price. Of course I had to get a few while I was there. I may go back and get a few more. I really need to venture away from the brights I love and get something a little more subtle.

Cowboy Hat Applique

I found an free applique pattern here. My first real attempt at an applique. I have done a couple other very simple single letters appliqued. But nothing like this.

The hat looks a little flat like construction paper in this photo. You will just have to wait to see how it turned out.

Purina Almost Done

This is almost done.

I need to sew the two large patches on both sides of the jeans square. I don't think I will be able to machine quilt it, the embroidery on the tan is very puckered. Will probably just tie it. And it may take me a week or so to get the backing ready for it. Piecing together a checkerboard red and white flannel backing.

On The Fringe

I started and finished my swap for the Craft for a Craft on SwapBot.I have used this same print in the past. This tote is a little smaller and I used fringe from my Craigslist purchase. It sure feels good to have this one done. Not sure why I was just not really into this swap. Now just to find a box and send it on its way.

Homemade Flash Diffuser

Good lighting is key to good photos. I usually turn off my flash and try to shoot with natural light. Although that isn't always possible. The above photo is taken with the flash on and no diffuser. Notice the washed out white on the Purina patch.

Exact same lighting situation except I put the diffuser over the flash. I will have to do a couple sample photos of people to show you the real benefit of this. So far I am thrilled.

I Won

I would love to say I won the lottery but I didn't. I fought the blue jean square of the Purina quilt and won. It really is square, the angle makes it look out of wack.

The List

I need to stay focused to get a few things accomplished this weekend. Of course I need to work on the Purina quilt. I am actually having a little fun with it now now that the jeans are worked out. Mason walked through the room last night and saw all shirts cut in strips. He warned me I was going to be in trouble when Rex finds out what I did to his shirts. Why does everyone keep telling me that?

This is the short list of what I really should work on:
Purina Quilt
Craft for a Craft swap for Swapbot (thinking a tote and small matching bag)
Plaid Quilt
Zipper Critter

I have some ideas for bibs and appliques, I was trying to come up with simple shapes that even I could handle. Maybe I can find some time to play around with these ideas.
Monkey Duck Fish
Lion Bear Dog
Cat Pig Frog
Lady Bug Bee Rocket
Pirate Rabbit Butterfly
Cupcake Strawberry Monster

And last weekend I bought all the hardware to completely redo Mason's closet. He said he would help me this weekend. Tiny closet so we should be able to accomplish it in a couple of hours. Closetmaid has a great design tool on their website that will give you a complete parts list. I first used it when I redid the pantry last year.

Last but not least I want to make a flash diffuser. Odd little project, I will have to let you know how that one goes.

Working on the Fly

Working with blue jeans is not as easy as it may appear. The waist band on jeans is actually curved when you lay it out flat. Instead of fighting it any more I am going to work with it. Laying out the jeans on top of the fabric from one of the legs and sewing it down. Then I will cut the size and shape I need. Why didn't I think of this a week ago.

It is very important to have the zippered fly as of the pants so they can be opened to show a little but of the Purina checkerboard "boxers" on the inside. I can't take credit for the idea. My mother is totally responsible for it. I confess that now so when Rex sees it I am not to blame.

I do have a bit of concern about balancing the weight on this quilt. The Purina shirts are pretty thin after decades in the laundry. The denim is heavy, I am hoping I can put the denim more towards the center and bottom of the quilt so it lays better across his lap. We will see how that works out. Now that I think about it, I guess the fly part of the pants needs to be in the middle. I am going to get in so much trouble for this quilt.

Just A Little

Just a little shopping today. I am not sure if I like the middle ones that are half black, half white. They might not make the cut. I know I already have a black with white polka dota but this is a smaller dot. I steered clear of the florals, just wasn't what I was looking for. I think I need a couple more black with white

and then I can work on picking my color.

Work Has Resumed

Work on the Purina quilt has resumed. The plan in my head has changed a little bit from my initial design.

I am thinking more of a checkerboard stripe between the rows. Partly to add some length to the quilt. Rex is a tall guy.

I am loving the checkerboard fabric. Should get a little more sewn tonight after work. The blue jeans are trying to get the best of me so there is no photo of them yet.

I picked up some minky fabric in the remnant section yesterday. Almost a full yard of minky for $3. Not a bad find. The green was a nice cotton print, half yard for $1.

And then I splurged. I am back to collecting black with white prints. Not to be confused with white with black prints. I just love the look of black prints with a bright color. I have a project in my head but need to collect several more prints before I attempt that.

Now I just need to make a list to work on this weekend so I can be super productive. I think my attention deficit is kicking in again.