February Bee Blocks

It’s been a little quiet over here, huh?  Don’t worry!  I’ve been so busy…working on secret projects (which will be revealed very soon).  I haven’t even been able to keep up with my Sunday stash reports because I’m having trouble keeping track of my fabric out.  Crazy, I know!

Last night I managed to whip out this bee block for the Scrap Bee on Flickr.  It’s Jennifer’s month and she requested a square in a square block.  I had a slight math error at the end…but managed to work it out and come up with a 12.5x12.5” square.

Tonight’s goal….mug rug for the Philly Modern Quilt guild swap.

More clutches

Two more clutches made using Noodlehead’s gathered clutch tutorial.  No straps added to either of these…because I sort of forgot and realized it once they were sewn together.  The brown one is for my mom and the red one is for a friend.  The red one is exactly the same as the first one I made…I just really liked the color combination. 

Fabrics are Bliss by Bonnie and Camille for Moda.  I even shortened the zipper on the red one…it may sound silly but my experience with zippers is so limited.  Shortening the zipper was super easy!

I think this might be the last time I use this tutorial though.  I might refer to it time to time for construction tips but I think I might make a patchwork clutch or something “non-gathered”.  I’m still confused about the zipper tabs and what exactly I’m supposed to do with them when sewing around the clutch in the final step, but I think I managed to fudge it properly.

WIP Wednesday

I had a record sewing weekend {for me}, but on Monday I just felt blah.  A complete lack of motivation for sewing, blogging, and all things crafty at the worst time possible…my mom’s birthday gift sat unfinished.

I finished her quilt top last week and ordered backing one day too late to receive it in time to finish her quilt over this past weekend…so I finished another {secret} quilt instead and burned myself out.  Unfortunately, this is a very special birthday for my mom so I feel a little guilty.  I’ll finish it this weekend, but I’m a little disappointed in my complete lack of energy.  I think she’ll like it…when I saw the Central Park fabric, I knew I had to make a quilt for her with it.

Pattern is Charming Stars via Moda Bake Shop. 

Other things in progress:

• 2 gathered clutches ala Noodlehead for mom’s birthday and one for a friend.
• Another Amy Butler Frenchy Bag
• It’s A Hoot patchwork quilt

Knitting…

A few weekends ago, I spent Saturday afternoon with my mother-in-law, while Hubby was out with father-in-law at a sporting event.  MIL brought along some crocheting and we spent the day on the couch watching my favorite movie ever (Zombieland), her crocheting and me knitting.  I mostly taught myself to knit from a book I picked up at Joann’s a few years ago. 

Well, I’ve caught the knitting bug again.  I’d never actually finished anything until now. 

 

Scarf made from some random purple yarn I thought would look really cool knitting with huge needles…I was right :)

My first scarf is done…and I’ve started on a second.  I even found a pattern online that involves slightly more than just the single knit stitch….it looks awesome!  I unfortunately caught the flu last week so knitting kept me busy while I was recovering on the couch. 

Sunday Stash

Week 4 of 2011 and I’m only getting around to my first Sunday Stash post.  I’m expecting my stash reports to be pretty boring with the fabric diet, but we’ll see.

Recent additions to the stash are 8 yards of Tula Pink Parisville.

And a fat eighth bundle (5 yards) of Central Park by Kate Spain (which I’ve already cut up).

Fabric out this week: 1 yard Robert Kauffman Kona cotton in white and 2.5 yards of Central Park by Kate Spain for a quilt top using a Moda Bake Shop tutorial ~ more on that later.  One block down (above) – 15 to go. 

Fabric Used this YTD:  3.5 yards

Fabric Added YTD: 13 yards

You can check out how everyone else is doing here.

DQS10

Dear Partner,

I was so excited to sign up for the swap that I rushed through the entry form and don’t really remember what info I left for you.  Hopefully, this will make it easier for you! 

I love cheery colors…pink is by far my favorite color.  You know, that bright pink?  I heart it!  I love traditional designs in modern fabrics…and hand quilting…LOVE it! 

I really only have 2 dislikes…batiks and wonky design.  I was not a fan of the wonky log cabin quilt along on flickr.  I tried so hard to participate but I couldn’t bring myself to make those cuts!

Hopefully my mosaic helps your creative process and really, no matter what you make for me I’m sure I’ll love it.  Just have fun!

 

1. wedding quilt for my cousin, 2. Kate Spain Booth - Fall Market 2010, 3. DQS9 on my wall, 4. DQS9 - Quilted, 5. Finally!!, 6. Finished Doll Quilt Swap 9, 7. Block 2 - For Monika (monaw2008), 8. Hexagon top, 9. California Bound, 10. City Green Front, 11. Short Story Top, 12. Finished_Subway_1, 13. Scrappy in Progress, 14. dqs9-received, 15. DQS9, 16. Bliss top complete

New Year, New Bee & A Blog makeover

I really need a blog makeover but I haven’t figured out how to do it yet.  I used to be pretty tech savvy in college (oh the things I used to do)…but I haven’t had the time to devote to teaching myself anything new lately.  If you have any tips, let me know.  For now, I’ll keep using the blogger templates.

My first bee ever started this month -  Scrap-bee Blocks {on flickr of course}.  It’s a stash busting bee – because each month we make a block using our own fabric and send it to the Queen/King  Bee.  It’s Dustin’s month and he requested donkey blocks.  At first, I was a little scared of the tiny 1” finished blocks, but once I started putting it together it wasn’t soo bad.  I consolidated some of the blocks so there would be less piecing.  I’m really happy with how it came out.  I wish I would have made it a little more fun, like some of the others in the group but oh well.  It’s done now! 

**Oh and BIG NEWS**

I’m so excited!  I got into Doll Quilt Swap 10!!!  SO EXCITED!  Participants were drawn by lottery so I was waiting and crossing my fingers, followed by more waiting, and received an email this weekend telling me I was in.  I can’t wait to get started!

Hello 2011!

This year I vowed to stay home to ring in the new year….but instead I hung out with family, drank some wine, ate lots of pizza, and only had to walk 2 blocks home.  It was a perfect night!

While I’m sad to see 2010 go; I’m welcoming 2011 with open arms.  I can’t wait to see what’s on the road ahead.  Like everyone else, I’m making some resolutions…the biggest of which is a {fabric} diet.  So for at least the first six months in 2011, I’m working from stash {insert GASP here}.  I don’t think it will be difficult unless something absolutely amazing is released but even then, I’ll be ok.  There are exceptions to this diet…like backing, binding, and batting.  Of course, I’ll work from stash where possible but I don’t have a whole lot (or any) 5 yard pieces of fabric laying around for a quilt back.  Two other tiny exceptions…things already on their way to me….some must have Central Park by Kate Spain and Parisville by Tula Pink ~ both ordered before Jan 1st so I’m good! 

Why am I doing this?  Because I have a feeling I don’t even know what I have.  There’s a whole mess of fabric in my studio and every time I go grab something….I think “oh wow, I forgot I had that!”.  Another reason - $$$.  I bought a brand new 2011 SUV at the end of 2010….car payments are going to suck.

My other goal for 2011 is to give back  a little more.  I only made one charity quilt during 2010…I want to at least double my goal and make 2 (and hopefully more) for this year’s Stitch N Pitch with the Phillies.  

And because I didn’t want to leave you all with a photo-less post, here are some  of the things I made during 2010.