Lovely year of finishes - February

Hello my little poppets! Made up a whole post for January, only to realize I was a day late for the finish linky. So is life.

Let's see what's under the needle for the month!

First up, one that is already finished. This is what I'm sending my partner for Pretty Little Pouch Swap. She listed the colors she likes, and best yet, the ones she doesn't. I was so thankful she included that or I would have used colors she doesn't care for.

  

Here is one side of it. For the circles I used my new Sizzix cutter. Man oh man is that thing cool! If only the dies were more easily available. I almost returned it in exchange for an Accuquilt, but the dies are all crooked. Sizzix makes it easier to line everything up. 

 

And this is the other side. Is it weird that there is a different layout on each side? Seemed like different designs but the same fabrics would Jazz it up a little. 

 

Here is the inside lining and the simple little pocket. I ordered the orange fabric a while back and wasn't sure what I would ever use it for, but it was perfect for this! Isn't it great when it all works out.

After making this lil lovely what else could I possibly need to finish? Other than the 2398234 different projects in various stages of incomplete, I'm going to go with my Madrona Road challenge.

Fort Worth Modern Quilt Guild, which I haven't been the best member of because of pesky work, joined in on the fun. Our guidelines were to only use this line but could include up to 3 solids, and had to be a quilt of some sort. The deadline is the February meeting so its pretty much a given this has to come together. 

 

Here is part of the top. I drew it all out on some graph paper and made blocks, then rows. Sadly, as it was coming together I would step back and see if it was working and damned if there weren't mistakes throughout! God bless the post it! Some of the goof ups were right smack in the middle. Only a few rips and snips and inset seams, right pieces in the right spots.

 

This is where it is at as of this morning. The back is giving me giant fits! I didn't want one solid piece, especially since I didn't have anything that was big enough. Now its piece piece piece and make something big enough! Thankfully I effed up some HST and could use those as a center. 

Goal for February: Make a backing big enough that doesn't look a hot mess, and quilt this bitch in time for my meeting! 

Now go see what other people are marking off the list!

Since it so happens to be Wednesday I'll even link up with the lovely stitchers over at Freshly Pieced! Go look around at those lovelies too!

More experience = no older projects

I had the best of intentions, honest. But when I sat down to work on the older projects I just wanted to pull my hair out! Let me back up a bit, and tell you a darling story.

Once upon a time, there was a sweet little quilter just starting out. She didn't quite know what she was doing so off she went, consulting the Google at every turn. A list of supplies, blogs, tutorials to read, and a machine - the girl was all set.

Sadly though, her new crafty love was relegated to a small card table in the corner of her bedroom. On this card table sat the cutting mat and sewing machine. They would doe see doe when one was needed. After a while, the girl was having issues with her projects. No matter how many times she checked and rechecked, her strips weren't straight. She was using all the right tools and holding rulers the right way, but nothing came out straight. The girl even tried sewing with out wine! She persevered and made it work.

Then one day she had a realization, a moment of clarity so painful and obvious it could only compare to stepping on a Lego.

The $&@#^ing table was bowed! The weight of the machine and pressing down on the card table had made the damn thing bow in ever so slightly. Realizing the cause of her cutting despair, the girl moved the mat to the floor and never had a problem again.

Let's just say, the birthday fabric pieces were cut pre realization.

Now what did I do with that bottle opener.....

Bring it on 2013!

Day one of a new month, new year. Oh, the possibilities are endless! One thing I definitely plan on doing is finishing what I've started.



See these bins? All various stages of projects. And yes, that's a skirt on top, all wadded up. It was an adorable skirt from goodwill but was about 9 sizes too big. All it needs is the waistband sewn on. I just got tired of looking at it.




This is from a bundle of fabric I got for my birthday in 2011! L is a hair stylist too and has a great eye for coordinating fabrics. (I'm thinking she has an inner crafter begging to come out.) The pattern is from a quilt along on Jaybird Quilts. Not sure how this will turn out, or how big, but I'm at least going to finish piecing the strips that have been cut and go from there. I can tell I've learned to plan ahead with fabric amounts. And to starch all fabric within an inch of its life. Especially bias cuts. Wish I'd realized that a looooong time ago.

Speaking of lessons learned, this is what happens when you don't check your stitch setting before sewing. >_<



Thankfully the needle didn't shatter and take out an eye.

These two little lovelies went to a friend's little girls. Craptastic iPhone pictures are the best i got before going home with them.




This was a zip pie pouch destined to hold Hello Kitty stamps and notepad.



This was a baby doll bassinet. The pattern was found....somewhere. If anyone is interested in it email me and I'll try to find it again. Definitely want to make more of these but change the pattern. Shattered a needle that almost did take an eye out. Thank god for safety goggles aka reading glasses!

Since its the first of the month, linking up for Fresh Sewing Day and the Small Blog Meetup. Love having new visitors, hope you like what you see and stay a while :)

A year in review - and a winner

Holy smokes! I really didn't think I did Jack Squat all year. There are even a few little goodies that didn't make it in there. High five for me!

Rundown of the year for yours truly: 

- Randomly made purses for myself and others. The urge comes and goes, usually corresponds with exploded pens or spilled drinks.

- Signed up for my first bee, but sadly had to leave due to life getting crazy. That really sucked. I still feel bad about it. 

- Successfully participated in 6 swaps. Got some hella cool stuff from all around the world to boot. 

 - Made baby blankets for 2 different friends and one as a thank you to my aunt for loving my kid. 

- Managed to learn how to embroider and had a blast with it. 

- Started using zippers and quickly fell in love with them all over again 

 - Tried curved piecing and fell madly in love with it. Can't wait to do more of that. 

-FMQ an entire (baby) quilt and didn't throw it in the trash. Larger ones will not be done any time soon. 

Life away from the thread was......ok. Certainly not the best year, but very far from the worst.  Can't wait to see what 2013 brings for everyone.


Also, the winner of the giveaway is  Liz DandelionD. I'll be emailing you shortly for your info :)

Giveaway goodness!

So while browsing through the blog reader, I found this awesome linky party!! Since I'm already doing a small giveaway I thought I might as well combine them.




Having helped with the Sailor Mouth Swap via Flickr, I'll stitch up something with your favorite naughty word. It will be a complete surprise but I'm sure you'll snicker. Since not everyone has potty mouth, I'll be glad to make something with a rated G word too.

But wait! There's more! If more than 30 comments I'll even throw in a charm pack of Little Apples.





Leave a comment telling me your most interesting Christmas gift experience. Think Ralphie and his pink bunny suit. If you follow me on my blogging adventure, you get another entry.

Entries will be open until December 22nd. If you're a no reply blogger leave me an email address.

Go check out the other awesome goodies too!

WARNING! NAUGHTY WORDS! and a small giveaway :)

Before I fell off the face of the earth, I had said something about our Sailor Mouth Swap. It was a blast! After the 1st of the year round 2 should start up. I was a nervous wreck sewing for the lovely Sarah of Narcoleptic in a Cupboard. She is just awesome. Love the stuff she makes and her silly wit. I kind of want to steal her cat and love it all day. She's so fluffy! From yours truly she received a pillow cover, a hoop and bag.

 

This bag was a bit of an after thought. I went back and reread her survey and she wanted a bag! There's nothing spectacular or sweary on it. Its just kind  of spiffy. Perfect size! Fits all your junk and an Ipad.

 

Here's the hoop. It was my first hoop ever, so I hope I made it right. This was inspired by a conversation about comfort zone needed for "doing paperwork". It's even been pinned on Pinterest!! That put some pep in my step.
 

This was the pillow cover. Hehehe! I tried to make the writing look as swirly girlie as possible
.

 As per most swaps,the envelope was obnoxiously decorated. (Photo from Sarah's flickr.)

I got THE BEST goodies sent to me. Amy of [Amy's] Crafty Shenanigans sent me the coolest stuff. I'm an ass and didn't take pictures of it all perfect and pretty. Now it's all being used and loved so here are the pictures she took when everything was perfect and crisp.

Borrowed from Amy's flickr.

LOVE the fabric! One of my favorite prints. And we had just used some for a block for FWMQG. I was so confused as to the pouch though. Whale oil beef hooked? At first I thought it was saucy Jack Speak but instead you say it fast and it sounds like something else. Of course, having a twangy Texan accent so it didn't click right away. Duh!!! Once it did, I almost peed my pants laughing. There was even some heavenly British candies in the pouch. So tasty!

So, the giveaway? I'll pick one comment, assuming there is more than one, and make something from a naughty word of your choice and mail it to you. Won't tell you when or what it is but it will be a swearing surprise :) Hell, I'll even ship it out of good ol "Merica.

Well hello, we meet again.

Good lord, the last time I posted on this thing was July?? Wow. Quick recap of real life events.

- August was my last month of working for someone else. Trying to get all my ducks in a row so I could try and keep a clientele was hard. Me and the bestie share a small suite in a salon now. It's kind of like having a dorm except neither of us went off to university. It's a much happier atmosphere, I work with all my friends and the hours are more forgiving. One of my coworkers is amazing in that she used to teach quilting classes! She is a fountain of knowledge for me. I love the hell out of her. Sadly, the move means no more sit and sew with quilt guild girls.

- My son has started school. He's in the 3 yr old class even though he turned 4in November. We had to switch programs because he had a terrible teacher at his first one. This is the first week at the new school and so far he loves it. It was my first choice for school but they didn't have an opening until now. Perfect timing really. It's hard seeing him get so big. It only speeds up from here.

- I've decided that the plumpy was getting too bad and went on a bit of a diet. Cutting back a lot on carbs/sugars. The first week I was a bitch, plain and simple. My blood sugar went all crazy but now I've adjusted to it. It's nothing extreme, but definitely a necessity. Getting closer to 30 is making me more observant to my bad habits.

-Late October my dad died. He wasn't a good father by any stretch of the imagination. We hadn't spoken in 7 years. Now its a super fun legal go round with everything because there was no will and I have a lazy older brother. Blarg.

I say all of this to say, life got in the way of fun stuff for me. Other than estate stuff everything is going along swimmingly. I have been busy sewing and swapping though. I want to get back into the bloggy goodness. In the mean time, I've discovered instagram. I'm sosaysthehermit if you want to follow along.