Having Fun

My DH was very busy last week making me a ruler storage area. I can finally get those things out of the drawer so I know what I have and can use them. They are out of the way and they have their own home. If everything I had had a home I would be much better at returning things to where they belong.

Ruler storage 10/2011

One of the projects I worked on last week was a camera strap for my daughter. I used the tutorial from Simply Modern Mom. Anyone who knows me knows I have a hard time with patterns. The third time was the charm. First too small, then too big, then just right!

Kate's camera strap 10/2011

My pick up sticks quilt is going to be a tag quilt.  I have never made a tag quilt before but doing the same exact thing for 400 blocks is hard for me. So you sneak them in one at a time while doing other things!



I am working on this at the moment. It's a slight change in color for me. I got bored with doing the little squares so I made a BIG one to see what it looked like. I think I am going to make one using all big squares. That would be a very quick quilt. Maybe even a quilt in a day.

Watermelon 10/2011

Going to my Farmers Wife group tonight. Will get lots of laughs in as well as some sewing done. I haven't forgotten about the Thangles and my itty bitty's.

Until next time. Whatever it is you like to do try to do it with a smile. Happy sewing.

Two Projects

I am working on so many projects at once and it is so much fun. I told you about the Farmers Wife project that I am doing with a local group. Last week much of my time was spent choosing fabrics for the blocks. I haven't done much traditional block assembly so this is a learning curve for me. They are at least turning out the right size so I am thrilled with that.

Farmers Wife 9/2011

Sparky just has to be in the middle of whatever I do if he is awake.  I find myself leaving my studio when he wants to lay right in the middle of my cutting table. Yes, when I'm trying to cut! When he was younger I made a bed for him I would put near by and he would be satisfied to sit on that. Now, no such luck.

Farmers Wife 9/2011

You might notice I am not using traditional colors. These will be made of only the fabrics I have in my stash. A stash buster it is not because the squares are only 6".

Farmers Wife 9/2011

Just a sample for now. When I finish more blocks I will put them up on my design board and show you all that are done.

Here is the other project that I have been working on since late last week.

Pick-Up Sticks 10/2011

This is on the cover of the latest issue of Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting magazine. The fabric is Terrain by Kate Spain for Moda. It is not a stash buster for me because I was looking in my studio for fabrics and couldn't settle on any. I was at one of my local shops for a meeting and lo and behold I was stopped in my tracks when I saw this fabric and knew I had to have it for this project. Unfortunately I now have enough for an over sized king bed thinking this was going to be my next quilt for our bed. My husband saw it on the design board and said he loved the colors but the lines going this way and that was not for him. He didn't know it was going to be our next quilt. He's an engineer, what can I say. Maybe I will stand on the corner and sell it to the highest bidder when it's done.


I'm still working on my itty bitty half square triangles. Will post soon.

Until next time, happy sewing, quilting, whatever you do, do it with a smile!

On the Road Again

I am so glad to be in my sewing room for long stretches of time instead of just a few minutes here and there. I'm not getting near as many books read, but that's a good thing. I feel great!
  
I signed up to do the Bloggers BOM organized by Jackie at Canton Village Quilt Works. I had it on my calendar that the first block would be available yesterday so I was excited to get started. If you don't know about this quilt along, go check it out here. You have a whole month to get the first block finished. This morning I picked out my fabric and I just finished the block. I have to say I was very pleased with the results.

Bloggers BOM September 

I am also doing another project that has taken a lot of my time that I vowed NOT to do. I saw a lot of my blogger friends were doing it and I told myself I was not going to start it. Well, guess who started the Farmers Wife? I am doing it in my brights so they will be different than most. A few friends and I get together twice a month to do Farmers Wife. I have found that if I get the fabrics picked out at home and put them in the sleeve all I have to do when we meet is cut, sew, visit and eat, of course.

Farmers Wife 9/2011

With my blue bag in hand along with my sewing machine I am ready.I only have about 5 blocks finished so after tonight I should have plenty for a post. Stay tuned for Farmers wife, Thangles, and itty bitty half square triangles.

Until next time, happy sewing. 

Scary?

Now I am worried about this fabric scaring the girls or being too busy for them to sleep on. Do they turn into real monsters in the dark? They will be three in November.

Close up of girls pillowcase

If you have any thoughts on these questions I would appreciate your input.

Pillowcases Got Me Going

This recovery has been way too slow for me. I needed something I could do and finish quickly. I think that's called instant gratification. 


I haven't seen the twins in about six weeks and that is the longest I have been away from them since they were born. I want to take them something I made, and pillowcases came to mind. I have had this fabric since they were little and hope it isn't too 'young' for them. They are still under three so this should be good. I was so excited to make these, and I had forgotten how easy they are, I think I see a lot of different pillowcases in their future! I'm not usually into holiday prints but I am now on a mission so I will keep my eyes open for happy Halloween fabric.

Pillowcases for the twins. 9/2011

Miranda's favorite color is pink and Sophie's favorite is green. They are alike, but they aren't, just like the girls.

Floralicious fabric line pillowcase  9/2011

This one I made for me just because I LOVE this fabric.

With a 3 day sewing retreat coming up next weekend I need to work up to sewing all day so I won't wuss out and have to come home early. A friend made up a kit so I don't have to worry about having enough fabric cut to sew on for three days. We'll see how well I do. Happy to be back into my sewing world with lots of ideas in my head.

Thanks to all those that sent their positive healing thoughts my way. A person can never have too many friends wishing them the best. Now on with life!

Until next time, happy sewing.

On the Mend

I've been on quite an adventure since I posted last. At the end of July I went to UCLA Medical Center to have a portion of my kidney removed due to renal cell cancer, by a robot no less. The good news is that it was contained, so no chemo or radiation and an excellent prognosis. The bad news is while I was feeling really good, at exactly two weeks out I had blood in my urine. Not a good sign when you've just had kidney surgery. Another 5 days at UCLA and I'm on the mend. A little slower this time but that's okay. 


Since all I have been sewing is hexies and yo-yo's I have no sewing pictures. I have seen many a bloggers beautiful flowers from their garden so I thought I would share my Las Vegas garden with you.

As I write this it is 108 degrees and our large metal flowers and fish are surviving well.

 The fish don't seem to notice they have no water around them and they are happy with the fake kelp.

The ceramic mushrooms are always happy and full of color.

When it cools off I will go out and uncover, rearrange and clean off the petals of the summer's dust and grime.


I hope to be back in my sewing room in the near future with something to share.


Until then, happy sewing. 

I'm Back

Yes, I am back but I don't know if I am hitting on all cylinders yet. No sewing on my machine but I am getting some hexies made. I've even sewn some together. As small as the piece is because my hexies are only the 1" ones, I am very proud to say it is coming along. 

I wanted to get this posted so you know I am on the mend and will be full speed ahead in no time. Until then, I will continue to grow my little piece using my scraps hoping to make a dent in my stash. 


It will be good to catch up on my many blogs to see all the cool quilts these creative ladies and gentlemen are coming up with. 


Until next time, happy sewing!