First embroidery finish!

I FINALLY finished my embroidery project for the bestie's birthday. So what if it was a good 5 weeks late. I say in the world of handmade gifts that isn't too terribly late :)

It started out as this


Then got to here



I asked her if she wanted a pillow or a wall hanging and she opted for a pillow.



This was my first time making an envelope closure and I think I rocked it! The front is some Kona I had. It turned out just like I wanted! I was so amazed. My mom helped me pick out threads and she did way better than me. High five for mom! The best compliment was when she took it to work everyone asked if I sell them and if I would make a custom one for them. I don't think I ever would but hearing that my stuff is good enough to sell is such high praise. Made me turn pink just like tequila does.

I'll be linking up to Fabric Tuesday @ Quilt Story because I've never remembered to post on Tuesdays.

Even technology gets brain farts

I got on my blogger app to make THIS post and saw the last one didn't go through. That's a wee bit annoying.

I had these on my phone and thought I would share




These are from my rainbow charm swap. I'm still waiting on the neutral and solids swap to come in. I swear, I sent off for that forever ago. I'll make some sort of patchwork rainbow goodie it of it. My poor husband was not excited about that one hehe. His favorite one I've made has been black and white.




This is the face of a Camille as she spray bastes. That stuff is uhhhmazing but it gets all over. I have enough chemicals in my lungs from hair products and smoking, I don't need glue too thankyouverymuch. I like to consider this the spray baste bandit look :)

What do you do that makes you look like a crazy person while crafting?

A stitchy affair

I haven't been behind the needle so much lately. I've been doing my first big embroidery project and it's zen as all get out, but it doesn't go very quickly.




Here is what's done so far. I'd say it's actually close to finish. I'm kind of figuring it out as I go, so if there are any huge glaring boo boos, someone please enlighten me.




This is my pouch from the pouch swap I did a few months back. This thing is the perfect freaking size and shape. That's a 6" hoop, but an 8" would fit too. Can't wait til the next round of that one.




Here is the top all pieced together. First time I think I've done borders. And here I've put on two! *gasp* This is going to go to my dear aunt that kept my son while I was working. She'd still be keeping him if my uncle's health hadn't gone kaput. It's made it of a layer cake but I effed it up good and proper and didn't take into account how small the pieces would get. The blocks looked like maxi pads with wings. Good times, good times. I like how it turned out, just wish I hadn't wasted so much in the learning process. I've quilted it and just pinned the binding on tonight. I'll take a jillion more pictures when it's all said and done.




I also made this little purse. It's from a pattern on etsy, can't remember from who at the moment. I altered it a bit and made the handles one piece instead of using the metal hoops (didn't have any) and it has a magnetic snap instead of a flap going over it. It's canvas with cotton on the inside. I didn't use interfacing because I didn't want to fit with it if I wasn't going to like it. I know what I'll change when I make another one. I have some cute chevron that would look cute, but with a stripe to cover where the pieces meet.

Keeping the USPS a float

I've been at the post office a lot lately. I sent off charms for 2different swaps, a bee block and pin cushions.





This is what I made for my partner in FLiPS. She said she likes saturated colors Andy when asked about nerd stuff she may like The Big Bang Theory was on there. Being a Sheldon lover, I was inspired to make the Bazinga. It was the first time I've attempted embroidery and been, I think, somewhat successful. I should improve my penmanship.





This is the May block for Stash Bee. Wonky is really hard for me because I'm too organized for it. Even this has a rhythm to it. It was fun though. I want to make a star quilt like this soon so it was good practice.
Other than that, I've been lazy on the sewing front. I've gotten sucked into the best selling smut romance series Fifty Shades of Grey. I'm the type of reader that reads them nonstop until I finish them. The first book took me 2 evenings and a lunch break. I highly suggest them. Your man friend will appreciate it I'm sure.

Fresh Sewing Day!

If this is your first time stopping by, welcome! I'm Camille and I've been at this quilting thing for a year or two now. I sewed clothes a lot many years (and 25 pounds) ago, but quilts don't make you feel bad about your measurements. Kind of like shoe shopping. If I sew any clothes now, it's more alterations. I post when I remember and try to comment on others more. Feel free to follow along

Ok, so it's the second day versus the first but close enough. No late fees in blogging.


Here is what I've finished, worked on and sent off this last month.

1 - this is a stack of fabrics I cut up while working on my own pattern. I'm hoping to turn it into a pattern for sale someday.
2 - this got sent to the lovely Deborah of Little miss sew unsew. She was my swap buddy in for the love of solids and I was HER swap buddy in Bee a {modern} swap. It's a block/ goodie swap off. She also gave me the Leibster award! Everyone I read has already gotten it so when I find someone new I'll pass it out :)
3 - Spectrum Charm Swap - Brights swap. These are actually getting sent out tomorrow. I got yellow and it was so hard to shop for! I'm not a big yellow person, especially bright yellow. I was going to order some online it I think it was all a bit off. Luckily, there was a living social deal for a local quilt shop. It was really hard finding yellow yellows. Most I found (and liked) we yellow orange.
4 - my house block for April in Stash Bee. Stephanie wanted 2 solids but could only get my hands on one in time. I had this cute house print from Connecting Threads. It popped in my head and kind of fit with me. I lived in the big city for years before moving way out here in the boonies.
5 - this was my March block for the Stash Bee. I was running late with this one. Oops! First tree that came to mind was a palm tree. I was dreaming of vacations with sexy cabana boys and drinks with umbrellas.
6 - neutral and solids charm swap. I can't wait to get all these charms back! I think I'll do a warm/ cool project. I had a really great idea for all these, but not sure if it will work out. Time will tell.
7&8 - pretty {little} pouch swap goodies. I had a blast with this swap! Hopefully I can get back in next round.
9 - started and am almost finished with my curlique quilt top. I've actually only got one big row and the small half row left and I'll be done. Curves are really not that scary after all. Once Lynne sells her latest pattern I think I'll get it. I love that design! I think it would work with prints too. Just have to be veeeeery picky with fabric choices.

Now I just have a couple bee blocks to put together and a pin cushion and I'll be caught up. Until I sign up for a bajillion more things.

Swaperoo!!

I think I've become a swap junkie. I did 2 last year and fell in love. Swaps are perfect because 1 - you get mail that ISN'T a bill and 2 - you have a reason to make goodies :) I sent out my FLOSS ages ago and haven't seen her post anything on the group yet. I reeeeally hope it didn't get lost going across the pond. I signed up for Fab Little Pincushion Swap, Bee a {modern} Swapper, Pretty {little} Pouch Swap Round 4 ,and Rainbow Fabric Charm Swap March 2012. AAAHH!!! It's making me stretch my lazy brain and I love it!

This is what I have for my pretty{little} pouch partner. I reeeeally hope she likes it. This girl can sew! I may try to make another one when I go to Saturday sew. Oddly enough, the zipper rocks, its the lining that I'm not completely pleased with.

I did this right after I signed up for the pouch swap just too see if I could still do zippers. That is made out of a charm square and I kinda love it. These zippers are like quilty crack, except you won't end up like poor Whitney. Too soon?

Then I got sewing ADD. I don't know why I've been so damn flighty and wanting to start 39 different projects.

This was the first clutch I made. I showed the girls at work in hopes I could make some to sell. One of the girls is very Jerseylicious. I have the exact opposite in taste. She wanted neon green outside, neon pink inside and some black somewhere. Have I mentioned I hate neons? Anywho, 3 episodes of Supernatural later, I came out with this.

It looks like an effing piece of mail from Blue's Clues. FML. The new one is appliqued zebra sort of. I think it all looks absolute shit, but I said I would do it. My husband said to make things I like and people will either buy it or not. Every now and then a nugget of wisdom pops out.

This one is going better. I still need to figure out how I want to do the band for the top, pop frame or just a snap. Decisions decisions.....

As if I hadn't committed myself to every possible thing under the sun I said I would help out on this.

A coworker uses Coke tabs and crochets these amazing bags. This is a teeny tiny one she wants a zipper in. How in the hell am I going to do that?! When I would knit all the time I couldn't ever sew any kind of linings on, let alone ones with zippers. I'm pretty sure I have thread coming out my ears and this point.

I did, however make some time for goodies for me. I busted this out finally.

Sewing curves is hella cool. I was pinning them all and got sick of it taking so long so I started free styling it with some tweezers and its waaaay faster. I haven't sewn any rows together yet. I'm a little worried none a few seams might not match up. Either way I really dig it :)

I'll be linking up with the usual suspects again. Go check 'em out and spread some comment love <3

For the Love of Solids Swap Round 2

Holy hell! I am seriously the luckiest bean in the bag. I got the mail and lo and behold I got the most drool worthy little goodies. The darling Deborah of Little Ms Sew-Unsew nailed it.

A TARDIS!!

Ok, so here's the dill pickles, I am an uber nerd. I could watch Dr. Who all the time and not grow tired. The fact that this is perfect seamed and the little squares are individually quilted is just flat out amazing. This is my wall o swaps. I need to move one up though. My scrap tub is taking over. Or I could sort those out..... Nah.

This is the mini quilt she sent. It's the perfect size for this wall. I put safety pins in so I can rotate it around. The back is just as beautiful as the front. I loooove the little pop of orange in it. My husband was confused seeing orange and purple together. Bless his heart, he just doesn't get color. Any time any shade of red is next to any shade of green he says it looks like Christmas. >_<


I also got in on the Pretty Little Pouch Swap! So excited! I've been wanting to try pouches so this is the perfect opportunity to kick some zipper ass!

Here is my little mosaic. I hope it is enough help to my partner. Really though, I think anything I get will be amazing. I hope what I make is good enough. Does anyone else have that worry that what they make won't make someone else happy?