Friday, July 6, 2012
Thursday, July 5, 2012
27-WIP--Happy 4th of July!
Happy 4th of July! Last night we woke Ziona so she could watch her first set of fireworks from the upper landing with many of our neighbors. She was definitely underwhelmed and looked at us in curiosity. Thankfully we were about 2 miles from the launch site so it wasn't nearly as loud as it would have been if we had we been at the event. We had a wonderful meal with some friends this evening so I put aside my crafting for the day. Tomorrow I am hoping to work on a few more of my blocks for the RW&B Blog hop. I will be posting my turn on July 13th!
So It's late now, long after my husband and baby girl have drifted off to slumberland. I just can't seem to fall asleep tonight, so I thought I would show you how my finished brick pathway quilt is now looking now that I have the binding sewn on. It's counterpart will be at the top of my to do this for my POD List this week.
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| Brick Pathway Quilt 1 Front |
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| Here is the back of the quilt |
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| A Close-up of the back with its stitching |
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| Nicely folded up on a chair in the living room! |
And now for the WIP projects I am looking at this week!
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| Brick Path Quilt #2--(Sorry no new picture) |
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| Blue/Black Churn Dash-- I am thinking ideas about a unique sashing idea. |
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| Double Pinwheel Twist--Need to add back, stitch & bind |
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| Jacob's Ladder Quilt--Needs sashing, backing, stitching & binding |
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| Blocks & Patches-In the same position |
I am still not ready to talk about this disaster.
Poppy Quilt-
In my timely fashion I am now finally figuring out how I want to make a quilt for my friend's baby girl (who was born last June!), perhaps for her 1st birthday? Its a really cute pattern from Erin R called Dimensional Poppy she shared last year on her blog. I almost have this worked out in my head.
I started this Quilt last year to make a signature quilt for a friend and her husband who was battling cancer and going through the gambit of tests, radiation, and surviving. Almost 6 months after he is in remission and here the blocks still sit. This is one of those projects that I really feel bad about, because I messed up their construction so I have to do so much extra work to square these off.
These blocks were going to be placemats once upon a time, but the more I play around with these not-so-quick random 4-patches, the more I realize that they might make a better quilt. I am now in planning stage, trying to figure out where to place the words and if I should add something spiffy for the border!
Advent Calender-
In the same condition as the past couple months unfortunately...I have to mark the top for stitching and there is currently no room to set up my large cutting table to make sure the lines are straight. This project has no chance for completion until I can get a new marking pen to get my stitching lines straight.
Conclusion-
I definitely need to complete my blocks for the Red, White & Blue Blog hop, but I am hoping to get one of the quilt tops made into a quilt. It might be the brick Pathway Quilt #2 or I may get inspired by a couple others I have found from the boxes so far!
Linking up this week to:
Bowls with borders? Huh?! Yeah that was my confused reaction at first, but then you see the pictures of some projects and its just too tempting! Only a few more days and they will be closing the door on being added to the blog hop, I just got my acceptance myself. Check it out, it just may be just as interesting to you too... Head over to SEW WE QUILT to learn more.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Monday, July 2, 2012
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Do First: July ("Real Life First...")
In online computer gaming we have a phrase you will hear alot, "Real Life First." It means that no matter how much you would like to be there for an online mission op even if you have responsibility in your corporation (what they call the groups of people banded together in the particular online game I play) in the end you try your best while keeping the foundation of your family strong. That is how I have felt about quilting lately. I haven't gotten to do much sewing or crafting as we prepared our new place for an open house-warming party about 2 weeks after we moved in (yes, I am a crazy a little bit).
And then there is my baby girl, who truly is the most delightful part of my life right now. In some ways, it has been easy for me to get into a groove of being a mother. I have struggled with the fear and doubt if I am not successful though and in the past I have felt that way about quilting. I wanted to always do my best work and yet those feelings pale in light of motherhood. I don't really want to be a mother-blog because I have no advice nor do I want to share all my private failures to the world honestly, but it has changed how I approach quilting. I already feel that I am now open to more risks and ideas than I have ever been before! I have signed up for a couple Craftsy classes that I can't wait to tell you about! I have bought some unique patterns I would like to review, and I have bought a book that I would love to incorporate into a craft-along (more about that in a later post). These are just a few changes that you will come to see over the next 6 months and beyond.
Do First Lists and Links:
I am getting into the swing of my new schedule over the past couple of weeks and I think its going to work for baby girl and I. My main goal for the month of July is to stay focused! Between my work with Thirty-One Gifts, my care of Ziona, taking care of our household, online computer gaming, responsibilities at Church, and time volunteering at our Church School, it doesn't really feel that I have time to add quilting or crafting to such a life. This is especially true if I also want to stay connected to my friends and family!
Must Do:
1. Make Post for Red, White & Blue Blog Hop
2. Plan Projects for August
3. Get one quilt completed for a Fundraiser
4. Plan a Mystery Dinner party
Might Do:
1. Family Tree Quilt
2. Work on UFO's
3. Plan and make Ziona's Quilt & decor
4. Finish writing up a tutorial
4. Finish writing up a tutorial
What do you have planned for the month? What do you want to finish or start? Make your own list and link up for fun! I have found that posting to WIP Wenesdays and TGIFF for my projects has kept me a bit accountable in the past when I was actively crafting and blogging. I am trying to live up to the Process Pledge by showing more of my projects while they are in formation mode. I love the input and I have been given fantastic ideas that I would not have thought of for a project and would have missed out on great learning opportunities had I not shown my projects unfinished and developing!
Friday, June 29, 2012
One hundred and one
Welcome to my 101st Blog posting!
Why do I write?
How do I think blogging has changed me?
Tell me please, why do you blog and/or write?
I wish I had something to give away here, perhaps I can find something for next month for my day in the blog hop!
Speaking of bog hops, be sure to check out the Red, White & Blue Blocks that will be making their rounds on the blog-o-sphere Start July 1 and running through July 16th. I will have all the party links here as well, but for all the info and to see what other blog hops are in the offering check out SEW WE QUILT!
When I started writing this blog last year, I did it as a challenge from my friend's blog. I have always wanted to be a writer, I have even taken classes, and yet I was always too scared to try. Once my words were released into the world I was afraid they might do more harm than good. One of the points that my friend made about writing is that one should start out writing about something they enjoy. .
Why do I write?
Last year I had more time on my hands than ever before in my life while I was recovering from meningitis. My condition made it impossible for me to return to work, but I could sit up for 20 minute stretches every few hours or so, that is of course when I was actually awake. If you have ever met me in person you would know that I like to be constantly doing something; I used to be described as "always in motion" but I am rather calm compared to my previous whirlwind existence! Quilting really helped me have that thing to do that saved me from idleness. Once I actually started joining communities and leaving a few comments or two, my whole world opened up! Plus I enjoy fabric..
How do I think blogging has changed me?
One little-known fact about me that always surprises people is that I am painfully shy and people intimidate me, often overwhelming me. I have to work really hard to talk to people face-to-face. I used to enjoy being busy as a way to stay in the same room as people without having to really talk or interact. With blogging I have found wonderful people who I would truly consider a friend even though we might never meet face to face! One of the aspects that has changed about me since I started blogging is that I am more organized and better at planning out my projects. I like the idea of feeling like I have accountability for what I am doing. Now, would someone send me an email letting me have it cause I haven't been working on projects this spring? No, but I receive wonderful emails asking after me and my baby, encouraging me, uplifting my spirits when I felt at my worst. And I am a better person for it...
Tell me please, why do you blog and/or write?
Speaking of bog hops, be sure to check out the Red, White & Blue Blocks that will be making their rounds on the blog-o-sphere Start July 1 and running through July 16th. I will have all the party links here as well, but for all the info and to see what other blog hops are in the offering check out SEW WE QUILT!
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Finishes 26: The Yellow Brick Road
Welcome to Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday (TGIFF)!
Thank you for all those who stopped over to link up and to just browse through everyone's finishes for the week. If you haven't yet participated, please consider doing so! Its a rather encouraging group to be a part of and I look forward to looking at all those linking up today!
Lately I have been going through so many transitions that I just want to reach my new "normal" and that is what I set out to do this week. Having just moved into a new apartment, most of my quilting and craft items are still packed away. I have this long list of new items that I want to get accomplished but I am trying so hard not to be tempted while I still have unfinished projects calling out from the depths of Baby Girl's closet.
This week I chose to tackle these two quilt tops that have been tucked away since December 2011.
How did I come to choose these two items? Well, to be honest they were the first projects I found in the first craft box I opened after I got my boxes of tools unpacked and settled! I love the colour combination on these two quilts so much that I decided to completely change Ziona's bedroom decorations to these colours. I don't have enough prints to do what I want to do so her quilt will have to wait a little bit longer while I trade fabric with friends!
I really debated with myself on which FMQ stitch I was going to try out for this quilt, but as soon as I saw the yellow fabric with the little white flowers I had to use my favorite flower stitch I randomly came up with last year. I have a very short list of stitches I am able to do right now; I still wish I could have participated in several of the FMQ-alongs that have been going on the past 6 months. Thankfully the web keeps a copy of the posts so I really can join at any time!
Now as you can see as of this post on Thursday (posting early due to International Linkers) I was only able to complete the back, stitching and adding the binding on Quilt #1. I plan to work on Quilt #2 tonight. If I get it completed I will post pictures and link up as well! I am hoping to post pictures the final products on Monday next week; we are purchasing a clothes line to put on our porch which I think I might be able to use to get a full shot of the quilts!
Last, but not least, my favorite item to share for the week is that after 2 rounds of vaccines, a pediatrics doctor visit and a nutritionist visit, Ziona has been encouraged to add cereal, fruit, and veggies to her diet! She is not quite sure that she wants to partake so we have reverted to the bottle while planning to slowly thicken it with cereal until she gets used to the idea. Thank you for joining me today! Please link up your finishes below; I will keep it open until Tuesday night (American Time Zone) just in time for you to look forward to WIP Wednesdays at several blog locations.
Be sure to check out next week's TGIFF hosted by Laura @ Quokka Quilts!
A Year of Making Life Beautiful
I was so excited to receive my copy of Melissa's new book in the mail a few days ago. I pretty much want to make every item in the book! Would anyone be interested in doing a blog-a-long going through this book month by month? I could put up a link party perhaps at the end of each month. If you are up for it, please give me some way to contact you! You can check out the book HERE. Look for a giveaway soon!
Thank you for all those who stopped over to link up and to just browse through everyone's finishes for the week. If you haven't yet participated, please consider doing so! Its a rather encouraging group to be a part of and I look forward to looking at all those linking up today!
Lately I have been going through so many transitions that I just want to reach my new "normal" and that is what I set out to do this week. Having just moved into a new apartment, most of my quilting and craft items are still packed away. I have this long list of new items that I want to get accomplished but I am trying so hard not to be tempted while I still have unfinished projects calling out from the depths of Baby Girl's closet.
This week I chose to tackle these two quilt tops that have been tucked away since December 2011.
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| My 2 Brick Path Quilt tops as they were December 2011 |
How did I come to choose these two items? Well, to be honest they were the first projects I found in the first craft box I opened after I got my boxes of tools unpacked and settled! I love the colour combination on these two quilts so much that I decided to completely change Ziona's bedroom decorations to these colours. I don't have enough prints to do what I want to do so her quilt will have to wait a little bit longer while I trade fabric with friends!
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| The Back of Brick Pathways Quilt #1 |
I really debated with myself on which FMQ stitch I was going to try out for this quilt, but as soon as I saw the yellow fabric with the little white flowers I had to use my favorite flower stitch I randomly came up with last year. I have a very short list of stitches I am able to do right now; I still wish I could have participated in several of the FMQ-alongs that have been going on the past 6 months. Thankfully the web keeps a copy of the posts so I really can join at any time!
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| A close-up of the FMQ Flower stitching |
Now as you can see as of this post on Thursday (posting early due to International Linkers) I was only able to complete the back, stitching and adding the binding on Quilt #1. I plan to work on Quilt #2 tonight. If I get it completed I will post pictures and link up as well! I am hoping to post pictures the final products on Monday next week; we are purchasing a clothes line to put on our porch which I think I might be able to use to get a full shot of the quilts!
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| Ready For Saturday Night Movie/hand-sewing |
Last, but not least, my favorite item to share for the week is that after 2 rounds of vaccines, a pediatrics doctor visit and a nutritionist visit, Ziona has been encouraged to add cereal, fruit, and veggies to her diet! She is not quite sure that she wants to partake so we have reverted to the bottle while planning to slowly thicken it with cereal until she gets used to the idea. Thank you for joining me today! Please link up your finishes below; I will keep it open until Tuesday night (American Time Zone) just in time for you to look forward to WIP Wednesdays at several blog locations.
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| Daddy Feeds Ziona her first bite of cereal with bananas. |
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| Lilac Lane LLC--Use by Permission |
I was so excited to receive my copy of Melissa's new book in the mail a few days ago. I pretty much want to make every item in the book! Would anyone be interested in doing a blog-a-long going through this book month by month? I could put up a link party perhaps at the end of each month. If you are up for it, please give me some way to contact you! You can check out the book HERE. Look for a giveaway soon!
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