WIP Wednesday 6.29.11

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What a week, traveling to Portland, Oregon for work again. It always throws me for a loop. I wasn't pleased traveling again.  So I had to console myself with a trip to Fabric Depot. 

It was lovely, as always.  I picked up some Kona grey which one?  I don't remember!  It's the dark one.  :)

I promptly cut up for the Queen bee blocks I sent out.  Yep, that's what I've been doing.  Bee things.

Finished:

Sending out blocks for my month being Queen Bee
A few bee blocks

Like these two!

Anna wanted 1.5" postage stamp blocks.  She sent such lovely fabric.  I was happy to make these.  I was impressed my attention to seams made these two blocks go together so quickly.  My own postage stamp quilt is a WIP because my attention to detail wasn't as grand.

 

New Projects:

None. . what really?
I did buy the Farmers Wife book. . another QAL in my future

Works in Progress (WIP):

- Knitted sweater for 18 month old

I'm on the arms - finally.
Slowly I'm telling ya!

Things I would love to be working on but are on hold:

-Postage Stamp

-Mug Rug for Swap

- Quilty 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 - the other ones I'm in
- Birdie Sling bag
- "baby" quilt  
-Skill Builder Blocks
-Embrodery 101 blocks

I'm adding this post to be part of

I'm excited to join Lee at Freshly Pieced this week.  Go check her and many other great folks.

What they don't tell you about being a Queen Bee

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All I have is corny musical tidbits in my head today . . . what's up with that? 

This morning it was Julie Andrews rendition of 'getting to know you. . getting to know all about you' as I'm trying to encourage conversations in my bee's I'm hosting.

And then later it was the tune from one of the 007 'secret agent man' when talking about a password protected post, Jenna talks about it here. 

But, right now for this post it's Mel Brooks proclaiming 'It's GOOD to be King' (From History of the World, Part I)

Well it IS good to be Queen Bee but it does come with some responsibility. Pfft what a dirty word. 

So beeing Queen Bee . . takes a lot

• Planning what you want made
• Having enough fabric
• Cutting fabric
• Organizing fabric
• Making piles of fabric
• Fretting about fabric piles and changing your mind
• Going and buying fabric at a craft store instead of the LQS because it's too far away and you need these out the door tomorrow instead of later in the week
• Undoing fabric piles. Replacing some 'crappy' fabric with the fabric you just bought
• Oh and because you can see the piles again you freak out and put in more fabric for variety for your bee-mates
• Folding the outrageous amounts of fabric into small enough rectangles to place in a sandwich size closeable bag
• Finding pre-bought envelopes - I bought these just for my bee's
• Find my bee-mates address (again)
• Realizing not only you have to put their address on the packages but mine too
• Finding decent sized labels to place inside the package for my bee-mates so my fabrics + blocks make their way home. This has made it So much easier for me . . so why not extend the love.
• Folding instructions and placing  the self-addressed labels  into the folded packet (you know around 12:15 a.m. when you gotta work the next day)
• Shoving all these items into the small envelope (lesson learned - bigger envelopes next time)
• Writing on the outside flap of the envelopes which bee this is for (some of us *like me* are in multiple bee's)
• Off to the post office to mail the envelopes only to find they have to be a different postal class because they are a wee bit thicker than a "regular" envelope (again lesson learned - bigger envelopes next time).
• Forgetting to include something about a siggy block - no worries I'll do something like Lindsey posted about self created labels.
• Fretting about the color choices - yes after I mailed these buggers
• Worried the free-form instructions won't be accepted by my bee-mates

Well it's done.  :)  Letting it go.  July will be an "off" for me (in this bee).  I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with. I'll be stalking the photos in the Twice as Nice bee flickr group.

When it rains, in commitments, it pours

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So my fella's daughter is gone for the summer.  Sewing and fabric have filled a lot of my tense setp-mommy moments and have also provided me with a LOT of fun new awesome people to interact with. Now with the house empty and all that time. . I'm having a grand time.
This may also be to my recent tweeps with Sew Happy Geek and Beeclef

All of this free time - I just can't help myself. 
There is a 4x5 group to use up my own stash - it needs it.
 Oh and it's a "short" commitment.

 
So here's an inspiration mosaic I've created 

{This took me WAY longer than it should have!}

1. Seaside States Top, 2. 3x6 Bee - Hive 10 {Made}, 3. block for carla, 4. 1st quarter blocks received!, 5. 3x6 Mosaic, 6. [3x6] Sampler Quilt Mini Bee - 2nd Quarter, 7. 3x6 Sampler Quilt Mini Bee, 8. 3x6 Bee Inspiration, 9. 3x6 beehive 7 2Q

Oh and I'm thinking of doing a followers giveaway soon. . . it's exciting
to have over 50 virtual (aka imaginary) friends.
If you are looking for a giveaway today. . go check out Issabella the Cat.
I highly suggest pairing up with her! I'll show you the fabrics and blocks she has us making for her later this next week.

Mid-Point June 11 Bee Blocks

Well these are what I have so far.  There are a few more to do but here we go!

Threadheads 

Cream and Cotton asked for Starburst blocks a la Film in the Fridge! This most awesome tutorial

This was something else to try and it will test your 'eye-ing' the 1/4" 

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.

 I've only finished one block.[dreamfctry] requested lovely wonky stars.  

I think I got my wonk on.  These gals are teaching me for sure!

Aqua & Orange Bee

 

Our Queen Bee asked for these awesome zig zag pattern

This is learning again - read read triple check.  I think I cut these blocks too small.  It's kinda hard to un-cut these once you start.  So I just rolled.  I can SO see why she chose these!

This just a few of the blocks.  I just have to make the rest of them . . yeah for weekends!

Sunday Stash Report- Week 24 of 2011

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I've been gone.  My fella and I traveled from our place in Northeast Oregon to Southwest Oregon.  It was a long but good drive!  We got in a grand vacation.  I've never been to so many State Parks in such a short time frame.  The 3 parks we stayed in were great.  I love to see my tax dollars going to good works. 

The best experience, which was hard to choose what was the best, was going down into California to see the Redwoods. I feel really small is all I can say.

I proposed that we quit our jobs and I go back to school for Redwoods genetic research. Someone needs to know about the fantastic traits of these plants.  My fella just smiled.

Overall we had a great time. A vacation we got to do anything we wanted.  My fella was so nice and let me stop along the way at any fabric or yarn store I wanted. I stopped at my yarn store Knot Another Hat.  But I also stopped along the coast at The Wool Company in Bandon.

I bought some yarn.These are larger projects but they are pretty simple. We'll see if I get to these soon.

 This one is for a "simple" sweater for me.  I've never made anything adult size . . this will be interesting.

And this one is a shawl. . . ohhh pretty.

Just a grand week. I'm looking forward to getting back into my routine and back to my sewing room.  There are fabric projects in my near future.

Sunday Stash Report- Week 24 of 2011

FABRIC

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 8.8 yards
Added this Week:  0 yards
Added Year to Date: 232.3 yards
Net Used Added in 2011:  -223.5 yards (Negative = added to my stash)


YARN

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 867 yards
Added this Week: 2180 yards
Added Year to Date: 2835 yards
Net Used for 2011: -2623 yards (Negative = added to my stash)

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

Sunday Stash Report- Week 23 of 2011

I was thinking I was going to stop filling out these Sunday Stash Reports. . one week gone and here I am again. :) Hi! {waves} Hello again.  I just can't get away.

The last two weeks I got fabric but let me tell you. . I've been good.  Really good - promise.  Not only did I resist many a fabric stores on a 12 hour drive to the west (aka populated) side.  I even walked into my LQS and didn't buy a thing.  All the things that I got came via mail. {Oh darn it}

What I did get from a purchase not too terrible long ago was the Australian prints of the DS Quilts (Denyse Schmidt) collection.  Can you say LOVE!

 Cheesy photo above the day I received these fabrics. I couldn't even let them touch the grass.

Here's the entire family together. 
This is my future Single Girl Quilt - Queen size
Ahhhhhhhhh

Oh pretty I also got my fabric from my monthly fabric club over at Pink Chalk Fabrics.  I so need to get these into something.  I love what I'm getting from them! I am a solids lover.

I also purchased a surprise box from Cherry House Quilts
I got some lovely things.  Some that I'll dive into myself.  Some that I haven't decided will be gifts just as fabric or in items.  Gotta love it.

What I've made?

Letter E


Scarf

that I wore to the 2-year old's party that received above mentioned E

I am working on other stuff.  Oh this is why I veered from these. I'm depressed. :)

Sunday Stash Report- Week 23 of 2011

FABRIC

Used this Week: 1.0 yards
Used year to Date: 8.8 yards
Added this Week:  ~11.5 yards
Added Year to Date: 232.3 yards
Net Used Added in 2011:  -223.5 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.

{Sew Bee It} - in the beginning

I'm hosting my own bee.

I'm excited to see what these lovely ladies come up with.

Gals please grab the button on the sidebar.  It will be up for a few weeks before I take it down.

Are you in a few virtual bee's or interested in them?

The image above is created by my lovely friend Kristin.

If you are interested in contacting Kristin for personalized web, button, badge, pretty cool looking things she can be found at:  Modjeska Designs  or email Kristin(at)ModjeskaDesigns(dot)com

I've yet to have her work on my blog as I can't figure out what I want.  

So I putter along. :) 

I thought that I was the only one . . .

I was so thrilled when I found my vintage fabrics, bedsheets, and vintage reproductions.  Silly because as my mother can tell you I hated these colors as a child.  What is is about getting older?  Apparently this is my "style" according to one of my college bff's.   

I have a green flower print that I only have a top sheet.  I beam with joy every time I put these on my bed. I actually can't wait to chop it up into a quilt one day.

So, I found my Urban Chicks and Heather Bailey fabrics kinda lost in my sewing room.  I'm not sure what I'll do with them - but I found them again.  {yeah}

If you adore vintage just as much as I do go head over to The Little Mouse she has a lovely handmade giveaway.  Is it bad that I would LOVE to own this for my own self?

Forget a 2 year old's birthday?

Sew and stuff a letter E

Ohhhh.

Took me about 1 hour.

First "real" swap

You have 5-ish hours to join from NOW.
Just click on the pretty button above to read the rules and join the fun.

Sew Happy Geek is in my new bee and she's introducing me to swaps.

I'm scared but here we go.

I can SO make a mug rug and post it by July 15

 Sew Happy Geek is trouble!

Embroidery 101- fabrics

Other people are doing it.  Okay so a lot of people know embroidery.  I am not one of those people.  I know how to cross-stitch, needlepoint, make those cool friendship bracelets. 

So, to add to my own skill set this is just in time.  I'm learning something new peeps.

Of course I'm right in the nick of time. Reading the kick-off over at Clover and Violet I'm putting my hat in the ring.

But seriously this one is slow enough that I'm sure I'll be able to keep up.  Slow means I'll learn! :)

Here at the 9 fabrics I have picked out.

I'll gather the pearl threads up soon, in the mean time I'll practice with what I received from Liz.

Pay it Forward Giveaway

My first giveaway. . I'm so excited!

I came across this post over at Cotton Addiction about the Pay it Forward. I have lovely girlfriends that are all about the pay it forward concept, so I'm participating in my own way.

So here we go, It's a simple game.  Here's how it works (I copied this from Cotton Addiction who gleaned from both  Clover & Violet and Quilter in the Gap):

1.  I will make a little something for the first 3 people who comment on this post.  It will be a surprise and it will arrive when you least expect it. You have to give me someway to contact you.  Make sure you have your email associated with your comment.  Make sure you're NOT a no-reply blogger - you can see how to tag your comments with your email HERE.

2.  I will have 365 days to do it in.  What's the catch?  To get a handmade present from me, you have to play too!  This means YOU pledge to send a little handmade something for 3 readers of your blog.  It doesn't  have to be quilty - just handmade.

3.  You must have a blog. {This is where I'll draw inspiration}

4.  Once you comment here, you must post about your Pay It Forward on your blog to keep the fun going with the Pay It Forward badge.  Also, feel free to join the Flickr group to see what else is being sent!

I love the fact that I have a full 365 days to surprise you when you least expect it!  Please make sure your email and blog are in your profile {or leave your email}, so that I have a way to contact you.

WIP Wednesday 6.8.11

Oh there has been a lot o' happening around these parts.  Not much craft love. 

This weekend my fella was my superman. He not only planted the blueberry bush but prepped the garden spot.  The garden wants are a bit larger than the spot I have available. 

I hope overall it will work.

Here's the result of the weekend prep plus Monday planting bonanza.

Monday I set out to do a lot of things.

Most of them accomplished.

One of the big items were to go through my many flickr groups.

I wanted to find the bloggers that I'm participating in bee's with and make sure that I'm following their blogs.

I was missing a few peeps, but not anymore.

Here I am wandering again.

I've started two new virtural flickr bee's.

{Sew Bee It}
&
New Bee on the Block

I was looking to start a knitting project for a little addition for a bee-mate. I couldn't find any of my needles.
I might have all my needles but they have WIP knitting projects on them.
-Oh dear-

Finished:

Nothing crafty
Finished planting for garden
I did finish teaching a college course. . whoop whoop

New Projects:

I joined one new bee
and started two of my own


Works in Progress (WIP):

- Knitted sweater for 18 month old
I've made a ton of progress on this. . I'm in love again! 

Things I would love to be working on but are on hold:

-Postage Stamp
-Mug Rug
- Quilty 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  
-lots o'knitting on needles 

I'm adding this post to be part of

I'm excited to join Lee at Freshly Pieced this week.  Go check her and many other great folks.

*Edited to fix my brain jumps.  Oh dear*

Orange You Glad Bee

orange.gif, a photo by the confused quilter on Flickr.

I need a new bee like a new hole in my head. I think I've over that stage in my life. Apparently on-line bee's are the new thing in my life.

If I join more than 3 more I'll ask for an intervention.

Royal Mail - all shades purple

So a while back I stumbled upon a lovely lady Liz Quilts she not only is fun to follow but she was giving away some pearl cotton.  I have yet to get my hands on some {mostly because I haven't looked yet}.  So she was giving away her thread because she knew she wasn't going to use it.  Doesn't want it to go to waste. And what does she do .. she sent it to folks.

Oh and look at what I have now!!!!  Have you hear the excitement?
It's a mixture of my favorite colors!

This beautiful mixture sits on my sewing desk inspiring me while I work.

Thanks Liz. . . I love Royal Mail.  Because I'm in the US - this feels pretty special.

I know it's the simple things.