WIP Wednesday 6.1.11

Changing things up.  I usually link up to the Sunday Stash report but I'm trying on something else for blogsize. I'm linking up to WIP Wednesday. This is a perfect motivator.  And just in time because I've devoted myself to finishing things with the lovely Sarah over at  Fairy Face Designs hosting the summer sewing plans list. You can see my list HERE

Finished:

Yep, I finished my May Bee Blocks - my previous post but I'll show it again the two (I think) are the beauties of the bunch

 

I'll be anxious to get back home tomorrow to see if any more fabrics are waiting for me for this next month's bee blocks.

New Projects:
None
Oh yeah - I started a mug rug.
I needed something I could actually finish within a reasonable timeframe.

I'm out of town traveling on business without any quilting projects. . who knows what may happen with my magazines. {Thus the lack of photos of my quilty projects}

Works in Progress (WIP):

- Postage Stamp
Sigh I just keep moving around the unsewn rows and the blocks around my sewing room.

- Cat quilt
I actually worked on this on Memorial Day

- Knitted sweater for 18 month old
Whoo hoo I actually picked this up again and it's smooth like butter. .

Things I would love to be working on but are on hold:
- Gift for GF
- Arcadia quilt
- Sliced Coins Quilt
- Choose and cut fabrics for Dresden quilt
- Finish top for quilt for nephew
- Summer top for me
- PJ pants for fella
- Summer dress for friends little girl
- Pick fabrics and blocks for on-line quilt bee's
- Birdie Sling bag
- "baby" quilt



 

I'm adding this post to be part of

I'm excited to join Lee at Freshly Pieced and this week's linky host Elizabeth at Don't Call Me Betsy.

May's nearing an end

Phew . . . I made it! 

May's coming to an end 

and

I finished all of my May bee blocks!

So, here we go ~

{Modern 12} Bee

gock's frocks asked for 

an awesome wonky string block.

She's put a tutorial up for anyone that's interested.

I didn't want to chance the red being perfectly matched so instead I made two centers for her.

I did add my own red as a backdrop to show the idea she has in store for these blocks. 

Threadheads 

JennyGoLightly asked for  

Oh Fransson Mod Mosaic block

I had a bit of trouble with this one.  I adore the smaller pieces in blocks and wanted to use this with the wonk.  I ran out of sashing.  No worries, she'll put these two pieces that I'm sending to make up one block.

Aqua & Orange Bee

breathe and sew asked for

whatever we want with the fabrics she sent.  Oh gads this one was hard.  Not only was this hard but I'm in two bee's with breathe and sew.  She did this for each group.  

What a grand idea.  Here's what I came up with. 

I based this on Lily's Quilts block 

and 

I also had to roll with it to actually make it big enough (only 10") since my HST's were SMALL!

Aqua and Red Block Bee

This is a great group.  It's a 6-month group with 12 gals.  

It's two blocks a month but we'll be done so much faster.  So, I like it a lot.  

First gal is breathe and sew 

She asked for whatever we wanted. . yep same gal as above.  Since I had SO many small HST's left I decided to make a few pinwheel's  I {heart} Why not Sew's tutorial and then filled the space with the fabric I had left.  

Crazy I know.

The second gal is whynotsew?  

So not only did I use her tutorial for a block from someone else, I get to sew for HER!

She asked for

a  wonky star block.  I learned from this tutorial a few months ago

I adore these colors!

Sew Modern Quilt Bee

FairlyMerry asked for

two confetti blocks.  

These blocks my mother {I think} would love.  These were fun to make.  

I even have a few scraps to send back with these blocks

GO ME

Twice as Nice

Kreated by Kari supplied us with enough fabric to make a Spiderweb block.  I mainly followed 

{House} of a la Mode's tutorial

I love the colors Kreated by Kari and it will make a great fall quilt.  

 I learned that I'm not a fan of the Spiderweb blocks. I don't really know what about them isn't fun.  Well at least I know now!  :) So, I'll glad it make it for other's but not myself.

There's the low down on May.  I'm so glad that I actually finished my blocks before the end of the month, but as well as before my next business trip.  Which I have no craft ideas to bring with me - yet!

Sunday Stash Report- Week 21 of 2011

My word how can it be the END of May? I'm another year older and boy-howdy are there some plans in store for this year! I've had a lovely time this week as I spent the first few days bouncing around on SMS giveaways.  I found soooo many more distractions.  I talked to a grade school friend who wanted some crafting advice - which I still need to find more tutorials.  Oh and I even cleaned my sewing space.  Yep I even worked a bit.

While I was traveling in the Bend area this week I finally made it to The Stitching Post in Sisters, Oregon.  What a grand little store this is.  The Stitching Post is quilting famous because of the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show & Jean Wells and Valori Wells.  You know the book writers, patterns, and fabric designer.  Right here in my back yard.  The gals there were nice.  I could see the stress level starting to gain speed because the show is right around the corner.  At least a few of the gals were SUPER nice. I gladly picked up a few items there.  I had to pick up some Heather Ross - 50% off and then this lovely Alexander Henry Fabrics for a modified 241 Tote.  Yeah.  

Oh I also got the package I purchased from the lovely Heather at { House } of A La Mode I've been stalking her Etsy for her destash.  I was lucky enough to be at the computer when she put things up.  I adore the network of friends she has gathered in this community, the projects she finishes, and that she lives in Oregon.

I've been working on my bee's I'll post those tomorrow.  I have a few finishing touches on blocks today.  It's raining (again) and it's a perfect day to sew.

Sunday Stash Report- Week 21 of 2011

FABRIC

Used this Week: 0.5 yards
Used year to Date: 7.8 yards
Added this Week:  3.5 yards
Added Year to Date: 220.8 yards
Net Used Added in 2011:  -213 yards (Negative = added to my stash)


YARN

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 867 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 655 yards
Net Used for 2011: 212 yards (Positive = used/sold from my stash. . YEAH)

Click on over to Patchwork Times to see how others are doing.

Friday's the day

 Over my birthday it was the lovely "Giveaway Day's" all over blogland! Many thanks to Sew, Mama, Sew! for coordinating this event! 

I'm kicking myself as I feel as if I should have participated.  So, I shall in 6-months! Yet again I found many amazing folks out there.  I'm excited as I found a few yarn lovers out there this time.  

It also helps that I won too!  I will be made a super lovely shawl by Amber over at What to Make Next?.   It's gonna be in the colorway Matrona aka purple {my super favorite color} Her birthday was this month too!  

Over the last few weekends I cleaned and organized my sewing room.  I've been working on my bee blocks this month.  I've almost got them finished.  Here's a few of them.  

I'm excited to get these in the post as a whole new batch is coming in.  Checking the mail isn't that bad anymore.

I'll post all the May blocks I've made in a separate post.

Whoop!

Sunday Stash Report- Week 20 of 2011

This week I've tried to be so good.  I haven't ordered any fabric yet some happened to arrive in my mailbox.  This is the Dick and Jane fabric that I could find.  Oh how FUN this is gonna be in something.  I only could find 1 yard of it on-line. 

Also an early birthday gift came in the mail from my mother. I got an ironing cord holder!  My grandmama had one of these and we were all super jealous of this nifty device.  I now have one.  I'll even take the cardboard off now I've taken a photo of it here. :)

My girlfriend came over and laughed how we love these geeky things.  It's true - I love it!

I also got some $ for whatever I want, which more than likely will be fabric.

So, since I was in my sewing room I took the opportunity to organize it all. 

 

  

 I just have to say that with the many bee's I'm in, the design walls I made are rocking it!  

Both of my design walls are shown here with May bee projects!  

My design walls will be a holder of the many projects that could easily be lost in this place!

 

 

  So while I didn't get any of my own projects completed here we go:

 
Sunday Stash Report- Week 20 of 2011

FABRIC

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 7.3 yards
Added this Week:  1 yards
Added Year to Date: 217.3 yards
Net Used Added in 2011:  -210 yards (Negative = added to my stash)


YARN

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 867 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 655 yards
Net Used for 2011: 212 yards (Positive = used/sold from my stash. . YEAH)

Click on over to Patchwork Times to see how others are doing.

Japanese Imports Fabric Swap - sent out

I cut up 1 yard of this lovely stuff into 56 charm squares. They are now in the mail to Gen X Quilters. Again just at the deadline.

I'm participating with 28 others.  I can't wait to see all the lovely things people purchased in person in a few weeks. 

And in a few weeks I bet some of these amazing folks will start posting some creations.  Go check out the flickr group. 

Sunday Stash Report- Week 19 of 2011

It's my birthday month!  Therefore these are birthday things.  Okay not all of them.

Instead of sending coupons from Oregon to Indiana and sending my dearest sister on a wild chase, I tried one last time to find the DS Quilt fabrics "locally" So I drove 1.5 hours after work to my last known JoAnn's.  It was actually really nice during the weekday in the 'big city'. 

With this. . I have it ALL!  Okay all that's available from the US.  Now on to Spotlight in New Zealand.

So I went to JoAnn's and then went to Craft Warehouse where they were having a super sale of quality quilting fabrics on sale from $6.00-$3.00/yard.  See. . too much stuff of potentials!




Oh and then it's my monthly fabrics from Pink Chalk Fabrics.
OMG!  It's perfect this month.
Purples and grey's = LOVE

 

I didn't sew. . as we are painting our place. . sooooooo much work. I need to go back to my job to rest.

So my weekly confessional is below. . . .

 

Sunday Stash Report- Week 19 of 2011

FABRIC

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 7.3 yards
Added this Week:  40 yards
Added Year to Date: 216.3 yards
Net Used Added in 2011:  -209 yards (Negative = added to my stash)


YARN

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 867 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 655 yards
Net Used for 2011: 212 yards (Positive = used/sold from my stash. . YEAH)

Click on over to Patchwork Times to see how others are doing.

There were tears and community

Yes, there were a few tears, but tears of joy mind you.

I've been crafting for a large portion of my life.  Not a long time . . uhh wait, okay  I admit it. . I'm crafty.

It just weirds me out to pay someone for something I can make myself.  So I've made myself curtains and invitations to many of my 'life' events.  I even threw myself (and Bob Dylan) a birthday party.  The theme was Bob Dylan, carrots and drinking out of mason jars. . something like that. 

And then life hit.  I graduated college and had to get a grown-up job. Crafting went on hiatus. 

In 2009 my crafty grandmama passed away {it doesn't feel that long ago}.  And last year my father passed away{this still doesn't feel real either}.  I keep hearing a saying in my head: "they" say you always go back to what you were raised with.  Well this past year it's been more than true.  So I picked up sewing, again.  And why not make a quilt. . people do that.  Yep, I can do that. 

So my first quilt material and off to the Internet.  I needed some help and I use the Internet for everything else.  First a few descriptions, then a few blogs, then a lot more blogs, start my own blog, find flickr, join flickr, find on-line bees, join bees, find swaps, sign-up for swaps--- it's a large community.  A community that is down right amazing.

Soooooo, I'm participating in many bee's this year (6 total - I jump in with both feet people!).  Some of the women I'm getting to meet through their blogs and their photos are so talented.  And some are just the sweetest women I could ever imagine.

So, back to the tears which is also ties into this community stuff. 

I had one of my newly found bee-mate send me a special something as part of the package of her fabrics that I am oh so privileged to work on.  She sent me a swatch of  Denyse Schmidt gold seeds from the coveted Flea Market Fancy line.  This line came out way before I knew such amazing fabric existed.  And I'm in LOVE with it.  I now have a small bit of it. 

I received my package last Monday . . and it's Friday.  I know I haven't said anything and it's not because I'm ungrateful mind you. It's the impact of a "stranger" sending something, so precious. This is still so hard to wrap my mind around.  Yes, it's fabric!  Yes. . . it's fabric.  Yes, I know it's only fabric.  But it's the everything behind it.  How did I survive without this community?

My new found community is one that shares openly, takes things personally, loves the same things I do, doesn't mind when I don't love about the somethings they do {as I don't leave such comments}, tries to make the best of what we have going on.  Yep we struggle but all in all we make it. It all happens here - life happens.  I am so lucky to know some of the most amazing people just down the street and around the world. And I'm still a beginner - I think I'm the lucky one!

SpRiNg CiTRuS sURpRisE sWAp!! blocks - sending out

Apparently I function on deadlines.  I want to be ahead of deadlines. I seem to find myself behind too many times this last 5 months.  But pressure is good.  

This is the group of blocks that I'll be sending out for the SpRiNg CiTRuS sURpRisE sWAp!! the flickr group is full of pretty blocks. . go check it out. 

Here are my favorites.

I like how the strips work in this.  I'll do this again for sure. 

An hourglass that I've wanted to try.

Wonky Star. . in green of course.

I like this one too. Interesting look. 

This one I think is my top favorite! Makes me think of summer.  But it's spring.

These are the blocks that I'm sending out.  I'm excited to see what I get back.

Summer Sewing Plans

During the new year I missed the new year resolution quilt blogging bandwagon.  I did start to track my stash building adventures {it feels more like a weekly confessional} Now that my stash is oh SO lovely and I want some motivation to get things finished since I'm good at starting projects.

My 11-year old step-daughter works very well with the daily chore list and our monthly family calendar.  I may have had a hand in her working off of lists {for my own sanity}. It's so nice to know what is expected of all of us ahead of time and not just rely on what we think we have stored in our memories.  Yeah there have been a few fights about what we "remember" happening, saying, or commitments we might have entered into.

Wait what was I doing. . . sorry for the diversion into my step-mom issues.

Lists, yes lists.

So over at Fairy Face Designs Sarah is hosting a summer sewing plans list.    I'm a new-ish follower of Sarah's and will be gladly adding a list of what I wish to accomplish.  I love accountability!

Works in Progress (WIP)

1. Postage Stamp
2. Gift for GF
3. Arcadia quilt
4.  Sliced Coins Quilt {kinda a WIP - I have the fabric chosen}
5. Cat quilt
6. Knitted sweater for 18 month old


Projects in the Wings - these are projects that I dream of, but I'm not sure when I'll start these

1. Single Girl Quilt - I'm hoping this will be out of Denyse Schmidt fabrics.   I "need" 31 fabrics and only have 5.
2. Dresden Plate
3. Heather Ross quilt
4. Sherbet Pips something
5. Central Park something

2011 Summer Sewing Plans

This is the list that I hope to accomplish by August 31.

1. Choose and cut fabrics for Dresden quilt {maybe a bee block?} Since I LOVED Lindsey's block that I finished here.

2. Finish top for quilt for nephew - this has been greatly helped by the {Modern 12} gals.  These are the blocks that I have to-date.

3. Sliced Coins quilt top - since I have everything for this YUMMY quilt I would like to have the top finished.  It's these fabrics with a to die for purple.

4. Knitted sweater for friends little girl - it's purple! It's a bit farther along than this photo. 

5. Summer top for me - no photo here because who knows what this might be.


6. PJ pants for fella - I've chosen a lovely chocolate brown.  Cuz he loves chocolate and for my first pants I'll use something that isn't precious.  Oh and he really wants me to do this for months now.  :)

7. Summer dress for friends little girl (I just got an Oliver + S pattern)

8. Postage Stamp quilt top DONE {dreading this one} I have 30-something of these puppies make up. . UGH. 

9. Choose all my blocks for the remaining 5 (yes FIVE) on-line quilt bee's I'm participating in {Threadheads, Aqua and Orange, Aqua & Red, Sew Modern Quilt Bee, Twice as Nice} This means pick out the fabric AND prepare it to send out.  Yeee Haaaw

10. Birdie Sling {I already have the fabrics for this one too!}

11. Finish the blocks from this "baby" quilt. I have everything cut for this beauty. 

Okay 11 things. . I can SO do this!  As Sarah said, a mid-summer check-in will happen around June.  Whoop!

**Edit** For the summer I've made a page (upper tab of my blog) to track this list.

 

Sunday Stash Report- Week 18 of 2011

It's the start of something beautiful!  I have a summer planning list {I'll post this tomorrow}

I have some more lovely fabrics in my stash.

Since I'm so tired of driving I've postponed my trips to Portland or Boise {sorry Mom!!}.  I 'had' to buy these fabrics for my Japanese Fabric Swap.  Which is totally true because I don't have such fabrics in my stash.  This is why I'm participating in this swap.  The flickr group is gonna show some amazing things. . go check it out. 

These fabrics also came in my order..adore Urban Chicks. 

 I love the different colorways in the same pattern.  

I'm thinking borders for some blocks. 

Oh and these two awesome Joel Dewberry prints.  I have more purple now. I also adore Joel Dewberry anything. 

And during my multiple trips to Walla Walla, WA I went ahead and I stopped by Jo-Ann's and picked up these awesome magazines.  No fabric purchases.

Here's all my loot for this weeks stash report.

Sunday Stash Report- Week 18 of 2011

FABRIC

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 7.3 yards
Added this Week:  5.5 yards
Added Year to Date: 176.3 yards
Net Used Added in 2011:  -169 yards (Negative = added to my stash)


YARN

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 867 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 655 yards
Net Used for 2011: 212 yards (Positive = used/sold from my stash. . YEAH)

Click on over to Patchwork Times to see how others are doing.