Weekend Sewing

Morning!  How's everybody today?  Today is my first official day with no job.  How exciting.  But we're not going to dwell on that.  I want to show you what I worked on this weekend.

I started a couple of my many de-cluttering projects and one of them was my china cabinet/hutch.  It tends to be a "drop it here" area and then it becomes out of control.  I got it cleaned up and thought it needed some quilty pizazz.

I hit my favorite "just for me" stash and made a cute, quick stripped table runner for it.  I even got the binding all hand sewn yesterday afternoon.  I'm getting quicker with the needle on this task.

I also made a little blanket for Punkie's babies.  I practiced my free motion skills on it.  Oh boy.  It's not pretty.  But she loves it and that's all that matters.  I'm not going to show that project off.  ;)

Okay.  I'm off to work on thinning out Punkie's toys.  That is a whole day chore in itself.

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Strawberry Jelly

Working through my ever-growing WIPs and I pulled out those jelly roll sampler blocks.  Man.  They are a bit chaotic looking.  Kim had set her top with a wonky block setting.  I liked it and I copied her.  Don't judge me.  I'm not a leader, I'm a total follower.  :)

I've completed 8 blocks.  And then I ran out of Kona white.  Now I have to go get more.  So far, I'm liking how it's coming together.  This quilt is DEFINITELY for Punkie. 

I have the backing for this quilt already.  And to do some practicing, I think I'm going to attempt to quilt it myself.

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Charming Girls Pincushion Swap - Received!

Michelle and I were partners for the Charming Girls pin cushion swap and we exchanged and received.  I've showed you what I sent her and this is what she sent me.

Lucky, lucky, lucky me!  3 pin cushions to add to my ever-growing collection.  AND some chocolate.  YUM YUM.  Let me tell you, that chocolate bar has been staring at me for 2 days but I didn't want to eat it until I took its picture.  Yes, I'm a dork like that.  So now I can have some chocolate for dessert today.

I LOVE that mason jar pin cushion!!  I LOVE IT!  Punkie loves the flower on the golf tee.  She asked me if she could have it.  I told her it can be hers but it needs to stay in my sewing room.  :)  And I forgot... Michelle snuck a very pretty pin topper in the mason jar.  I forgot to take it out for the first picture.  So here's another shot.

I have plans to make a couple of these mason jar pin cushions for gifts.  But I'm all out of poly-fill so I need to hit Joann's. Thank you Michelle.  I love it all!

Since finishing Vintage Summertime, I haven't been in my sewing room at all.  I needed a break to figure out what I want to work on next.  I've decided to make myself a tote using a charm pack of Darla that I have been hoarding holding on to.  After that, I want to get my jelly roll blocks sashed and pieced into a top.  And I have fabric that I started cutting for a top last year and I quit cutting because you know, cutting is B-O-R-I-N-G.  I have to look at the patten again and figure out where I left off.

I'll have plenty of time to work on all kinds of projects.  I haven't said anything but as of this Friday, I'm out of a job; kind-of.  My contract at my client site wasn't renewed (they've implemented a new policy a few years ago and while I did skate by 3 times, a 4th wasn't in the cards) so I'm done there on Friday.  I have been at this client site for 12 years.  I am waiting to find out what my next steps are with my company.  I have mixed feelings about this whole thing.  On one hand, I'm excited to have some time off to work on de-cluttering my house and Amelia's toys and it's Spring!  On the other, this is the first time I will be potentially out of a job in 21 years.  It's weird.

All I know is that I will be sticking to shopping in my stash for a while.  I have plenty there to keep me occupied.

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Vintage Summertime

I worked very hard this weekend to get Vintage Summertime done and I'm happy to say, that after a year, it is DONE!  Well, the top is pieced.  Needs to be quilted yet.  I have to decide on what I'm going to do for a backing and binding.

It's super long.  A tad too long for my bed but I love it anyway.  I have some ideas on what I'm going to do with my bed since it's long in length but short for width.  I found a very soft and fluffy cotton blanket at Target in their Shabby Chic area of bedding that I think would be perfect under the quilt to help cover the mattress.

I have a lot of threads on the underside to clip and order my backing.  THEN I can send it off for quilting.  Super excited!

turn your head.  I hate when blogger turns the pics

on my bed

top half

bottom half

Next on my list... jelly roll sampler.  Time to get those blocks sashed and pieced into a top. 

I'm on a roll!

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Double Duty - It can be a door stop too!

I finished my Charming Girls pin cushion for the swap a while ago.  I just sat down and sewed a button onto it.  The pinwheel just needed "something".  I used ME fabrics that I had in my stash.  I hope my partner likes it.  I think she will.

The pin cushion is so HEAVY!  I filled it with crushed walnut shells but I didn't overfill it and she can use it as a door stop if she wanted to.  I made a sweet treat bag and 2 covered button memo magnets.  Everything is going into the mail tomorrow.

pinwheel pin cushion - a.k.a pinwheel door stop

Vintage Summertime is coming along.  I have 2 more rows together.  I have 2 more rows left.  Then the borders.  I'm hoping that by next week, I will have a completed top to show you, ready for quilting.

Enjoy your day!
Jen  :)

Layer Cake Quilt Along - block 7 & 8

In between working on my pinwheel sampler over the weekend, I worked on getting blocks 7 & 8 done for the layer cake quilt along.

The pinwheel gets lost in block 7 due to my choice of fabric and fabric orientation.  It's a little busy with all the purple swirls.  It will have to do.  I'm running out of fabric.  I think there are 2 more blocks in the quilt along (I'm still two behind) and then I can decide on what kind of block to make to replace the ones that I decided against even making.  So I'm actually 4 blocks behind.

This will make a cute quilt for Amelia.  My goal is to get this one done and the Jelly Roll blocks that I worked on last year done and give her 2 new quilts for Christmas.  I have no excuses.  My jelly roll blocks are done; they just need to be put into quilt top form.  I even have the backing for it!  Once my pinwheels are done, the jelly roll blocks are coming out.  :)

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Vintage Summertime

Pinwheels, pinwheels everywhere.  I am so tired of making pinwheels.  But I'm so happy to say that my pinwheel blocks are DONE.  Woohoo!  I made 28 blocks.  I was on a roll and ready to make 32 blocks but I ran out of my white on white fabric.  So I squeaked out 28 blocks.  My last 4 blocks don't have mates.  I had to blend them into my top.

I got three rows sashed and put together last night/this morning.  I was going to work on the 4th row but I ran out of steam.  Those little pinwheels in the sashing are a pain in the butt.  But I like the little bit they add to the top.

Of course this morning, I noticed that placed the same block design side by side.  Oh well.  I'm not fixing it.  I was tired last night and didn't notice my oops.

Vintage Summertime is the name of the quilt top that I'm kicking around.  Not sure about it.  Maybe something better will surface.

I have border fabric coming.  Should be here by tomorrow or Tuesday.  I will work on it more tonight.  Maybe.  I have those micro pinwheels to still make.  I only made 6 so far.  15 more needed.

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Blog Giveaway!

I know my blog has been pretty quiet.  It's because I have pinwheel fever and have been feverishly getting those blocks done.  I am sooo ready to be done with pinwheels.  I'm getting pretty tired of making them.  I have plans to take tomorrow off (I think I'm going to be sick... *wink*) and if all goes well, I will have not a completed top but at least all my blocks will be done.

I wanted to pop in and tell you that Vickie is having a super giveaway, celebrating 700 posts and 1000 followers.  You must go and check it out!

Be back soon!
Jen

It's coming along

I have pinwheel fever again.  It's coming together.  In the last couple of days, I have made 6 new blocks for my sampler top and removed two.  The two I go rid of, I made them last year when I was having pinwheel frustrations and they looked crappy and I really didn't like the pinwheel style.  I didn't want them to spoil my pretty top.  :)  And there are a couple that I liked but again, looked crappy, so I'm remaking those.

I'm thinking 11 more blocks and then I will lay it out on my bed and figure out if I need more.  I will have 24 blocks at that point and I'm going to add a border to the quilt too.  It may just be a nice Spring/Summer coverlet for my bed.  So excited!!  I wish I got this pinwheel fever last year then this project would be done by now!

Wanna see what I have done so far?  There is one pinwheel at the top that is hiding.  So far I have 13 blocks done.

not the final layout.  :)

I also went through my remaining fabrics and pulled out the ones I haven't used yet and want to use.  I hope to find some time today to cut a few more pinwheels.

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Pleasant Home Giveaway...

Jodi is having a giveaway to celebrate some special news.  Go and over and see what it's all about.  You'll be glad you did!

Enjoy your day!
Jen