a weekend visitor + quilt in progress

It was Olivia's turn to bring home one of the MANY class pets.

Hello Goldie.

Or Golden. We are not quite sure of it's name. Or gender. But the girls are L O V I N G it.

And I finally just said "heck with it" and sewed all my vintage quilt blocks together realizing that I was not going to finish a dozen more in a timely manner. I will make do with a lap quilt size...although it is really more of a baby quilt size. I'd love to photograph a wee newborn on this (or two, hint-hint!) someday. The back will be the yellow sheet that features the butterflies prominently. Wonder how long it will take to get me to that step?

View more crafty goodness by clicking the button above. I shared my quilt :)

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more quilt as you go blocks

I could not quite string them all up but I now have 9 blocks completed. I first saw the quilt as you go blocks here.

Here is a sampling plus Skipper the Dog.

Aren't they pretty?! I placed a reinforcement order at Whimsy Dots on etsy (ETA: TODAY HER FABRIC IS 25% OFF!) to get a bit more variety in my sheet selection AND because I am going b i g g e r. I quickly moved beyond pillow (unless I make 9!) and decided against a baby quilt b/c I really don't want to give this away and have instead set my sights on a picnic blanket. I have a large thrifted sheet already for the backing.

Here are some close up shots of some of my squares. It is beyond hot and humid outside but also overcast, making it prime picture taking time.

So, I have a renewed desire to find more thrifted sheets but I don't find them often around here (SW OH). Any thoughts or suggestions?!

I shared this at Today's Creative Blog. Lots of great ideas over there.

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quilt as you go

I saw this last week for the first time here. And when she mentioned they were addicting, I'd say she was right!

I have not mastered free motion quilting at all, and tend to focus on smaller projects anyway but this "quilt as you go" looked so intriguing, I gave it a try. It was perfect for using my small collection of vintage sheets. I originally thought I would make this one and create a pillow but as I am already underway on block #2, I think a small quilt may evolve instead! I have gotten smarter already...I made my strips a bit wider and planned ahead by laying out my fabrics before beginning to sew...and I am clipping strings on the front and back, as I go!
You can find the 4 part tutorial here and try it yourself. I have found the instructions super easy to follow. Of course, I have not tried affixing blocks to other blocks yet...or backing...or binding BUT I am optimistic!

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do you ever sign up for something....

and then wonder why?

That is the case of this pillow. I got all caught up in the lovely pillows on Flickr and signed up for a swap...with a stranger...who more than likely is an expert seamstress. Seriously, I love what I made but when I see the others in the group I am dying. And embarassed. I am still learning...a lot. As of right now, this is the working "exchange". The fabric is Katie Jump Rope which may be it's only redeeming quality :) What do you think?

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shark!

Did I scare you? After reading a recent review, I went in search of a new iron. Mine was old, lightweight and really produced no steam. As I do more sewing, I saw the value of a heavy duty iron. Thanks to Walmart, I got this for a mere $39.86. I ironed a few fat quarters in seconds. It is like an ironing miracle. Had I known I was suffering so badly before, I would have made the investment sooner. Lesson learned.
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my 2009 coin quilt is

finally done!

I spent time during the Olympics finishing up the binding. I washed it a few days ago. It survived, got good and crinkly but does have a few flaws. That's OK though. I love it. I even took a nap under it one afternoon this week when I was feeling under the weather. The back yellow side is a recycled yellow sheet from our King Size bed, the other half had ripped so I salvaged this one and it is super soft. The grey and blacks were from Hobby Lobby, the two yellows were fat quarters from vintage sheets that I bought on Etsy and the binding is a yellow pin dot. The size is...different. Long and skinny! Once again, this matches nothing in my house (currently) but I just loved the color combo.

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christmas tree pillow

Since I got all the Halloween decor at least corralled onto the dining room table AND I got all the laundry put away plus sheets changed on two beds, I decided to finish my pillow that I began last night. Overall, this project went quickly.

I got all the stitching done during the first half of the Bengals game. I had cut everything out and ironed it on last night.

And then I constructed the pillow itself in just a matter of minutes. I just sewed the two squares together and left nearly one whole side open to insert the form. Not fancy, but it looks good enough for me.

This is a big pillow form, 20 inches. The back fabric is a remnant I bought a long time ago which happens to match my side chair in the family room.

And as I said yesterday, this pillow was made to match a Holiday banner, however, I have yet to give those out to friends so I don't want to totally ruin the surprise here. See those green gift bags? Those hold 4 gifts just waiting to be opened! I am kind of excited to get this all downstairs and do the house up for Christmas. Which is crazy talk considering the 70 degree weather here.

Next up, a knock of this, don't you think?

This is from Crate and Barrel. I don't know any fancy embroidery stitches but I have plenty of felted wool that I am inclined to attach with some simple x's and lines. I bet I can even knock off a snow flake...

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my girl is SO sick

We are on more than 24 hours of puking. The fever is gone, that is just about the only good news. The pediatrician says it is either a virus or the flu, "maybe the flu on the news"...it doesn't matter. Why? Because they don't treat any of those things. No tamiflu unless you are high risk. He even went so far as to say they are saving it for later, as this flu could revisit and be more brutal. Ugh. Everything else was ruled out: strep, ear infection etc. So, she suffers. And I nurse the poor pitiful thing. She finally fell asleep about 1 hour ago and so I ran to my office like a woman possessed. I honestly cannot endure one more minute of iCarly, Spongebob or Zack and Cody. I have mounds and stacks of things to do, that I need to do. Instead...I decide to start making something for me. It will hopefully be a good blend of:
PLUS
Using my left over fabric from a banner I am making for my mantle as the circles/leaves.
So, for now I escape by cutting and ironing until the whimpers beckon me back down the hall.

Both photos are from my favs on Flickr. Pin It

a sample of what's on my to-do list

I have started my 2010 calendars for gifts. My coin quilt is farther along than this picture indicates but still not close to completion. More gifts nearly ready (for my postponed gift exchange) but not quite. I have another banner started for another gift giving purpose and loads of creative ideas circling around. The problem? My job, the kids, the laundry, the dirty house...I have so much to do that I go around in circles trying to decide which is first, end up procrastinating and that is just ineffective! I need to make the best use of my remaining 45 minutes before the kids return from school and then tackle tomorrow head on!

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flickr favorites

1. Hexagon Floorcushion, 2. little school quilt., 3. water bottle holder, 4. Refillable Sketchbook / Journal, 5. Arcadia Quilt, 6. Mini Quilt Finished, 7. yellow and grey table runner, 8. Quilt top - done, 9. motto, 10. custom banners 007, 11. Baby boy quilt, 12. scrap 9 patch, 13. Finished ORBC Quilt #2!, 14. Basted - Front, 15. Modern Baby Quilt, 16. hoot, 17. Minha favorita =), 18. Woodland Bloom Quilt, 19. Quilt backing?, 20. IMG_3283, 21. market bag, 22. modified coin quilts, 23. abby_front, 24. Freedom Pennant, 25. beach pillow, 26. A string bag for a little girl, 27. Mini Quilt Monday :: Yellow Edition, 28. Wonderland sewing machine cozy, 29. In the shop, 30. Ruby, Violette, Tangerene - owl pincushions., 31. Dream Big Quilted Notebook, 32. Composition Notebook, 33. close-up headboard cover, 34. A Child's Wall Tote, 35. Gnome and Mushroom Doll Quilt, 36. YIP 365.65 :: Inside Out Mini Monday

It is not hard to see what has captured my attention lately: sewing, namely quilting. I LOVE the free and fabulous inspiration available on Flickr. I am lucky to have favorites still saved there, and on a few other places where my "history" was saved online, versus on my own hard drive which died a few weeks ago. That info has still not been retrieved. Sigh. I have returned to an up and running status pretty quickly but I do take a deep breath every so often when I remember something great that was on there. Something I am not going to be able to find again. Insert PSA: Please back up your computer data!

To make a mosaic like the one I have shown, go to Big Huge Labs. Cool tools for free! And to view one of my favorites larger, click on the corresponding number listed below the photos. Pin It

my quilting progress

Here are the 20 blocks I have completed. My goal is to make this quilt 5 by 7 blocks, so 35 total. I am short a bit of fabric so I wondered if adding in 3-5 solid white/cream blocks would work? What do you think?

This is mostly Amy Butler fabric with a few of my fat quarters from elsewhere thrown in.

I saw this quilt idea in the store where my Mom bought the fabric. I was too cheap to buy the $14.95 book, so I am sort of creating as I go along, based on these 21" strips pieced together. The fabric widths are 1.5", 3.5" and 5.5". Since I am easy to please, it should work out OK and make a decent lap quilt in the end.

And this is my iphone case. Once I cut each of my 21" strips of pieced fabrics, I am left with little end pieces of patchwork after my 2- 8.5" blocks (which where intended to be 9" but I am making it work). I sewed 2 together and lined it with beige linen.

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a visit from the southern belles...

Our neighbors, have the cutest niece with a totally fun family. We met them last year when they visited in October. This weekend they returned for a few days of outdoor play and swimming.

This is the youngest belle: Sarah. She is one darling, sassy, 4 year old.

This is our neighbor's granddaughter, Colleen. My girls, especially Olivia, love when she visits too.

What the heck? This Hula Hooper lives here! Olivia is actually a quite good hooper, something I am proud to say she inherited from me. I am pretty nonathletic. Ok, totally nonathletic. So my only two claims to fame are that I can hula hoop and roller skate--the old fashioned way on 4 wheels.

And finally, a group shot of the girl power...minus Shelby.

Today, I am settling back in to life...catching up on laundry, doing a little school shopping, a bit of sewing...all things that feel comfortable and more normal than the past week has.

Side note: A week or so ago, my Mom bought me some GREAT Amy Butler fabric to make a quilt. A splurge I would have never made on myself. I have been making blocks when I can find the time and I almost done with that. I hope to start piecing them together this week. Stay tuned for pictures. As per my usual, I get antsy and need more instant gratification so today, I whipped up an Iphone holder from the patchwork leftovers from squaring up my quilt squares. It could use a few tweaks but it is functional and pretty...isn't any thing made by Amy Butler?

Alright, back to the seam ironing!

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iphone accessories

While browsing etsy for some birthday gifts (or gift ideas) I decided to type in "iphone" as that is my current, way cool, totally time consuming, gadget of choice. How about this ultra clever idea of surrounding your phone in ribbon?! That is brought to you by this seller.

And then you have this designer with just a boatload of choices and great fabrics too!

This one appears to be a special order: but is a wow, huh?? You can find that seller here.

and I leave you with this: . An iphone holder made from a patchwork of fabrics. So my two joys in combination: quilting and computing. Find that seller here. Pin It

my coin quilt progress

I laid it out in my backyard yesterday. I am pretty shocked it is to this point. I mean, it actually looks like something!

The fabrics are a mix of vintage (old sheets: yellows) and new (greys and blues from Hobby Lobby). My working option for a back right now is a butter yellow king size sheet that I have on hand, and for some reason, came out of the dryer a few weeks ago with a tear about 1 foot long?? I only discovered this after removing it from the bed a week later, a bed that my husband had made (rare, RARE thing to happen). I asked him about it and he simply said it was like that. Hmm? To his credit, he put the tear at the foot of the bed, on his side, which is why it took me another week to notice.

Alright, back to the coin quilt...because I have this large yellow piece of fabric available, I figure I might as well use it. I hope to add a strip of coins somewhere on the back too. I already bought yellow/white polka dot fabric for the binding. Typing this out makes it all sound so simple, but in reality, this quilting business is a slow go.

Also on my plate today...contemplating an Iphone purchase. That new $99 price has me tempted...BIG TIME.

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my patchwork pillow

First, I am so super proud of myself b/c I made it all in one night, one sitting in fact. The Alicia Paulson, pellon suggestion worked so well. I mis-measured, as per my usual, and it still turned out ok. One row of squares hung over the edge of my pellon on one end but one 1/2 of each block was on the pellon, so it still worked out fine. Also, the finished patchworked piece was a wee too small for my pillow form, so I added a 1.5" border of linen all the way around and I love it!

Ironing all 16 squares down and then sewing, does cut a lot of time off of the project. No picture of the back but I followed these instructions on Sparkle Power so the innards are removable.

I absolutely love this fabric. The one downside, it matches not one thing in my house. But really, I don't care : )

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