Buzzing about Finishes

Z's Bathroom right off the hallway

 I have not gotten very far on Ziona's decorated bedroom besides it being painted yellow (which was really mostly my FIL's work).  At last I am able to add a little touch to the hall bathroom with adding fabric to the bottom of a pair of yellow towels.  The colours for her bedroom include the yellow and black, but it will also feature white and grey as well.  She has a set of curtains completed below, but a quilt of her own has yet to be made for her!  I have been collecting fabrics for her quilt, but I have not yet settled on a particular design.  After seeing some beautiful works at Spotted Stone Studio I am inspired!  Krista's Modern Mountains made me simply homesick for Alaska and a bit teary eyed; she is very talented!  I found the site from Rachel @Stitched in Color on the Wednesday POST a couple weeks ago.

Not a big project, but enjoyable

The curtains had been sitting for weeks, ever since I hurt my hand, just waiting for a top and bottom hem.  I am so proud of the way the lining turned out for the back.  This is my first set of curtains for Z's room and that is exciting to watch how her own choices will develop over the coming years!

Curtains for Z's room, I even lined them and the blinds are down, but it is often very Sunny in Texas!

I also completed Ziona's Christmas dress, but I am going to share more about that tomorrow.  I just couldn't help sticking in her smiling face in at least one shot!

Thank you so much for coming by and visiting!  I am posting finishes a day early for the TGIFF link party, especially for those who live on the other side of the world.  I hope you will link up your finish this week and/or visit a few of the links below.  After all, everybody likes visitors.



Don't forget to check out my 200th Post Giveaway:  HERE

Stash Report Saturday

After this week I am finally in the positive!  Not by much so I really need to hustle this next week.


Here is my Stash Report through 12/22/2012*:
Used last Week:  10 1/8 yards

Used year to Date: 77 5/8 yards

Added last Week:  0 yards 

Added Year to Date: 77 1/4 yards

Net Used for 2012: +3/8 yards

Thanks again for stopping by and you shall see me tomorrow!

*This is a rough estimate in the foggy haze of birth and all that.  I do remember getting a stash of fabric from some people moving out of my building in late April & my mother gave me fabric as well (some got passed on to others) but I had to guess at amounts.  I will be better about exact amounts from July onward.

WIP Thursday

Z's Christmas Dress:  Fabric cut with a different pattern, but having a few troubles

I am in the place no sewing parent wants to be:  a few days off from Christmas with no finished Christmas dress!  I really love this fabric I chose from Z's dress,but I am having problems with the pattern instructions.  Normally I am able to just look at pattern pieces and onward I go, but that doesn't happen often with Oliver + S Patterns for me.  Sometimes I think they are needlessly complicated.  If I keep struggling tonight then I am going to put this dress to the side and just wing it with The Party Dress by The Cottage Home.  I have this scrumptious Emerald green decor fabric that would look fantastic in this dress style.

Well, everything else is just going to have to wait today!  Tomorrow I have to clean and last minute shop for Christmas day meal so today is my last chance!

Blue-Black Churn Dash:  Project is lost & now MIA!
Chain Quilt:  Some blocks are assembled, many more to go
Christmas Advent Calendar:  finish Stitching & binding
City Weekend Project:  We are back to table toppers/wall hangings
Dusty Rose Quilt:  Currently in 4-patch and 2-patch segments, needs some love
Dot Explosion Quilt:  This needs some reworking in concept.
Hello Sunshine Crib Quilt:   I was laying out squares when I realized some went missing.  I need to cut missing squares, then assemble, sandwich, stitch and bind.
I'll Fly Away Quilt:  Pieces cut but this one is a long time project.  Since I am planning for this to fit our bed there with be many, many flying geese that needs to be made; I am guessing this one will take 3 months in among all the other projects.  
Martinique Strip Quilt:  A festering WIP, one of my oldest needs lots of focus
Poppy Wall Hanging:  a small bit of progression, trying to figure out stems & leaves
Rainbow Stars:  This block is complete, 3 more are in progress, might use in a mixed quilt
Red Eye Quilt:  Making adjustment to top, then needs to be sandwiched & Finished
Squares & Patches Quilt:  Some blocks are squared up, more to do during movie day maybe
Soaked Crib Quilt:  Top is complete, quilt is sandwiched   Still need to: stitch, bind and sew on info batch on the back.  I am waiting on Hello Sunshine Quilt so I can stitch them at the same time.
Summer Games Table Runner:  the quilt idea just wasn't working so I turned this into a table runner
Z's Christmas Dress:  Fabric cut with a different pattern, but having a few troubles
Z's Christmas Nightgown:  Pattern is cut out, fabric and trim rounded up, just no progression

10 months...Caught Blue Handed

Ziona clapping Grandpa over Thanksgiving (Daddy is in the background)

Z giggling with Mama [me], during an attempted nap

Z hiding behind a storage tub after swiping Mama's phone.

Our daughter finds our phones and calls my MIL,She really does find her phone number somehow and leaves messages on her voice mail of her chattering and breathing into the phone!  I can't figure out how she knows how to unlock the phone first of all and then find the number!  That day she also obtained a roll of paper towels and spread out "snow" like the movie we were watching.  Its hard to explain "snow" to a child living in Texas, especially since all the books we received from a far off seems to have plenty of it.  Some day when we move somewhere colder she will know!

My precious baby is 2 months from turning 1!  She already is standing and walking on her own.  There is just something about Ziona that makes one happy with her constant smiles, laughter and contented personality.  She takes delight in everything it seems, well except bedtime and getting the phone taken away!

UFO Sunday & Stash Report

Chain Quilt:  4-block sets making more links, starting to get some where

It wasn't my intention to work on any other projects than the four projects I have been highlighting lately, but I wanted to used up a bit of cream thread to empty a bobbin for a different thread color. I almost have things figured out with this quilt.  I think I am going to make either 2 baby quilts or a twin quilt with a bit of blocks on the back.  I will show you my design thoughts when I have the blocks sewn up in these 4-patch "link" blocks.

Blue-Black Churn Dash:  Project is lost & now MIA!
Chain Quilt:  4-block sets making more links, starting to get some where
Christmas Advent Calendar:  finish Stitching & binding
City Weekend Project:  We are back to table toppers/wall hangings
Dusty Rose Quilt:  Currently in 4-patch and 2-patch segments, needs some love
Dot Explosion Quilt:  This needs some reworking in concept.
Hello Sunshine Crib Quilt:  Pieces cut for the top and binding
I'll Fly Away Quilt:  Pieces cut but this one is a long time project.  Since I am planning for this to fit our bed there with be many, many flying geese that needs to be made; I am guessing this one will take 3 months in among all the other projects.  
Martinique Strip Quilt:  A festering WIP, one of my oldest needs lots of focus
Poppy Wall Hanging:  a small bit of progression, trying to figure out stems & leaves
Rainbow Stars:  One block is complete, 3 more are in progress, might use in a mixed quilt
Red Eye Quilt:  Making adjustment to top, then needs to be sandwiched & Finished
Squares & Patches Quilt:  Some blocks are squared up, more to do during movie day maybe
Soaked Crib Quilt:  Top is complete, quilt is sandwiched   Still need to: stitch, bind and sew on info batch on the back.  I am waiting on Hello Sunshine Quilt so I can stitch them at the same time.
Summer Games Table Runner:  the quilt idea just wasn't working so I turned this into a table runner
Z's Birthday Dress:  Have now bought fabric and pattern
Z's Christmas Dress:  Fabric chosen, but  pattern  is wrong size pattern; maybe next year?
Z's Christmas PJ's:  Changed pattern?? 1 week to get done!
Z's Bedroom Curtains:  This is a Project I started before I hurt my hand.

New Fabric:

3 yards of Kissing Booth Fabric  for Z's Birthday dress

Fabric for December BOM 

Z and I went to pick up the fabric and instructions for December's BOM at the Old Craft Store.  While I was chatting with one of the ladies Z got very excited over some bolts of fabrics standing up on the cutting island.  I thought she was excited about the pink fabric, but as I pull the bolt toward me to look at it she launched herself at this white fabric with swirling pink hearts from the Kissing Booth line by Basic Grey of Moda.  And then she hugged it, holding it tight in her arms...oh how could I say no when she looked up at me with hopeful eyes?  So I picked up 3 yards of it to make her birthday dress.  I think I am going to make either The Birthday Party Dress or Family Reunion Dress, both patterns by Oliver + S.  I have a couple months to get this ready for her First birthday.  This week I HAVE to get her Christmas dress & Christmas PJ's completed in the next week!  I highlighted the projects I am focusing on this week in bright green, smack me if I deviate by Wednesday! 

Stash Report:

With nothing actually completed last week except BOM blocks, I had no pluses for my fabric stash-busting endeavors this past week.  I don't regret finding that fabric for Z's Birthday dress though so its hard to be mad at myself this week!

Here is my Stash Report through 12/15/2012*:
Used last Week:  0 yards

Used year to Date: 67 1/2 yards

Added last Week:  3 1/4 yards (Includes BOM Fabric)

Added Year to Date: 77 1/4 yards

Net Used for 2012: -9 3/4 yards

Thanks again for stopping by and you shall see me tomorrow!

*This is a rough estimate in the foggy haze of birth and all that.  I do remember getting a stash of fabric from some people moving out of my building in late April & my mother gave me fabric as well (some got passed on to others) but I had to guess at amounts.  I will be better about exact amounts from July onward.

A Soaked WIP Wednesday

I have made some advancement in the Soaked Crib Quilt.  Its a rather easy concept to sew and the fabric is a dream to work with being so silky and yet not so much that I have to wear gloves to sew with it.  I have also been working on some Christmas Costumes which I have to have completed and dropped off by Friday.

Soaked Crib Quilt:  Squares sewn together to form rows for top; need to iron, sew rows together.  Still need to:  add borders, sandwich, stitch, bind and sew on info batch on the back. 

I'll Fly Away Quilt:  Pieces cut but this one is a long time project.  

Blue-Black Churn Dash:  Project is lost & now MIA!
Chain Quilt:  Some blocks are assembled, many more to go
Christmas Advent Calendar:  finish Stitching & binding
City Weekend Project:  We are back to table toppers/wall hangings
Dusty Rose Quilt:  Currently in 4-patch and 2-patch segments, needs some love
Dot Explosion Quilt:  This needs some reworking in concept.
Hello Sunshine Crib Quilt:  Pieces cut for the top and binding
I'll Fly Away Quilt:  Pieces cut but this one is a long time project.  Since I am planning for this to fit our bed there with be many, many flying geese that needs to be made; I am guessing this one will take 3 months in among all the other projects.  
Martinique Strip Quilt:  A festering WIP, one of my oldest needs lots of focus
Poppy Wall Hanging:  a small bit of progression, trying to figure out stems & leaves
Rainbow Stars:  This block is complete, 3 more are in progress, might use in a mixed quilt
Red Eye Quilt:  Making adjustment to top, then needs to be sandwiched & Finished
Squares & Patches Quilt:  Some blocks are squared up, more to do during movie day maybe
Soaked Crib Quilt:  Squares sewn together to form rows for top; need to iron, sew rows together.  Still need to:  add borders, sandwich, stitch, bind and sew on info batch on the back. 
Summer Games Table Runner:  the quilt idea just wasn't working so I turned this into a table runner
Z's Christmas Dress:  Fabric chosen, but  pattern  is wrong size pattern; maybe next year?
Z's Christmas Nightgown:  Pattern is cut out, fabric and trim rounded up, just no progression

BOM's Away: Another BOM in my future?

So I have gotten the Block of the Month fever and although the new Sugar Block Club BOM just announced a few weeks ago @ Stitchery Dickory Dock may not be the complete cure, I am sure it will alleviate a few of my symptoms!  It does not cost very much to join and I can use my own fabrics although I may delay my start and see if Husband might be up for a nice FQ pack for my birthday, lol!  Or I could start with my scraps for practice blocks and end up with 2 sets of 12 blocks by the end of the year.  I have enjoyed making practice Blocks for the Legacy Sampler BOM at The Old Craft Store, although I want everything to be perfect so I would probably do practice blocks anyways!.

I have been making the test blocks from the Martinique fabric line (I have a bit from several Moda Scrap Bags) so that I will end up with all the blocks for 2 quilt tops by the end of the BOM Club!  I have to be honest though, I just feel like the fabric chosen for November's Block was rather modern and the fabric for the first block screams "country" to me.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the way this block turned out, but "Country" was what sold me on this BOM as I planned for the quilt to go to my mother for Christmas next year.

The Old Craft Store The Legacy Sampler.  Courage at Pickett's Mill--2nd block (November)

I know that they are not just using up out-of-print fabric or ends of bolts (that bright modern Red fabric is from the same line as Z's Christmas dress fabric that just came out a few months ago), but they just don't seem to go together as well as the sample picture of the finished Quilt.  Ironically, this is my husband's favorite completed block out of the 4 done so far.  I also signed up for the extra 4 blocks they are offering.  I know, I know, I just need to have patience to see where this BOM will lead me.  I have been glad to have come to count at The Old Craft Store as my local shop, the ladies there are just darling and of course baby girl loves their attention!  I jokingly say that we come for the fabric (for me) and the Grandmas (for baby girl)!

Martinique Test Blocks The Legacy Sampler.  Courage at Pickett's Mill

Recap for Past Blocks:

The Legacy Sampler:  Woven Union Block @ The Old Craft Store's First Saturday BOM Club (October-block 1)

The Legacy Sampler:  Woven Union Block Practice Block (October-block 1)

Next week I will update what blocks I have completed for the Grandmother's Choice BOW.

UFO Sunday

Baby Girl seems to be recovering as the rest of us lay in puddles of sickness.   Not much change on UFO/WIP list except the parts are now cut out for the two commission Quilts which are to be made from the Soaked and Hello Sunshine lines from Connecting Threads.  My deadline is January and I was told not to rush, but I sure wished I could have had both of these quilts completed right now and handed off.  I plan to focus on these two quilts as well as finish up some costumes for the Christmas pageant at Church.

Soaked Crib Quilt:  Pieces Cut for the top and binding

Hello Sunshine Crib Quilt:  Pieces Cut for the Top and Binding

Blue-Black Churn Dash:  Project is lost & now MIA!
Chain Quilt:  Some blocks are assembled, many more to go
Christmas Advent Calendar:  finish Stitching & binding
City Weekend Project:  We are back to table toppers/wall hangings
Dusty Rose Quilt:  Currently in 4-patch and 2-patch segments, needs some love
Dot Explosion Quilt:  This needs some reworking in concept.
Martinique Strip Quilt:  A Festering WIP, one of my oldest needs lots of focus
Poppy Wall Hanging:  a small bit of progression, trying to figure out stems & leaves
Rainbow Stars:  This block is complete, 3 more are in progress, might use in a mixed quilt
Red Eye Quilt:  Making adjustment to top, then needs to be sandwiched & Finished
Squares & Patches Quilt:  Some Blocks are squared up, more to do during movie day maybe
Summer Games Table Runner:  the quilt idea just wasn't working so I turned this into a table runner
Z's Christmas Dress:  Fabric chosen, but  pattern  is wrong size pattern; maybe next year?
Z's Christmas Nightgown:  Pattern is cut out, fabric and trim rounded up, just no progression

Stash Report Saturday

Black Friday Morning** we were still at my in-laws in Kansas.  We had no plans to hit any Black Friday sales as we were literally "in the middle of nowhere" (according to my 5-year old nephew who asked his daddy, "Does Grandpa and Grandma live in the middle of nowhere?") and we pretty much already had purchased or made all our Christmas presents for this season.  But as Baby Girl was still getting adjusted to the time change, being away from home and waking up to mommy and daddy only a couple feet away from her, 5am wake up calls were beginning to become the norm by the end of the week!  Grandma had swiped Z into her clutches as soon as I made my way down stairs for some morning cuddling so I checked my email.  Connecting threads had an ad in my box about their mysterious Black Friday Sales so I waiting for their 6AM PST sale to start...

Maple Skies Quilt Kit

Even after the sale finally started loading I debated for over an hour on which Quilt kits I wanted to purchase.  In the end I picked up 2 Quilt kits using the Maple Skies line marked down to 60% off even while their yardage was still marked at full price. My original thought had been to make the lap quilt pattern included with the kit so I purchased the second kit to use the fabric for the backing, but once I received the fabric I loved it so much I just have to make this into a quilt into my own bed quilt.

Fabric for the Legacy Sampler BOM Club For November Block

I realized yesterday that I forgot to add in the fabric I received for the BOM from The Old Craft Store for both the month of October and for November (come back on Monday to see the finished block), so I am adding it in the counter for this week, estimating 1/4 yard for each week.  I will not be counting the fabrics used in the blocks however until I finish and bind the completed quilt.


Here is my Stash Report through 12/07/2012*:
Used last Week:  2 1/8 yards

Used year to Date: 67 1/2 yards

Added last Week:  24 3/8 yards (Includes BOM Fabric)

Added Year to Date: 74 yards

Net Used for 2012: -6 1/2 yards

Thanks again for stopping by and you shall see me tomorrow!

*This is a rough estimate in the foggy haze of birth and all that.  I do remember getting a stash of fabric from some people moving out of my building in late April & my mother gave me fabric as well (some got passed on to others) but I had to guess at amounts.  I will be better about exact amounts from July onward.
**Black Friday refers to the Day After Thanksgiving, the 4th Thursday in November, in the United States.  It is called such because it refers to financial operations going from red ink to black ink indicating a profit.

Finishes 49: The Last Word

The Popover Sundress:

I do not have much to share (or say) this week just a little project I completed before I hurt my hand.  I couldn't share it before because it was a gift for my niece for our Thanksgiving/Christmas family gathering.  I adapted this Sundress from the free Olive +S Pattern (Found HERE).  I added a lining made from peach polyester and made it a little bubbly on the bottom for a little extra fun while spinning.  And my niece certainly loves to dance and spin about!

A Popover Sundress in size 4

Inside Out:  A peach lining

Where the hem connects to the Lining

A Close-up of the yoke attached to the lining

Teapot Cross-stitch:  I have almost completed the Cherry Teapot!

I am on day 4 of having no voice; I don't know why I keep trying to talk it only delays it coming back.  A slow progression has been made on my Tea pot Cross stitch, but now I may put to the side to get some commission quilts done in the next couple of weeks.  I Hope I will have more to show you next week!  BE sure to check out theses linky parties below for many great finishes!

TGIFF Hosted by Laura a@Quokka Quilts
WHOOP, WHOOP Fridays @Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Link A Finish Friday @ Richard & Tanya Quilt
Fresh Sewing Day @ Lily's Quilts