Friday Happenings

I don't know about anyone else but I was very excited for the Royal Wedding.  I kept my feelings to myself but I couldn't wait to get up this morning (no, not super early) and watch all the pomp and circumstance.  I DVR'ed the whole 6+ hours of coverage and then I got sucked into watching all the bits and pieces on TV this morning.  Amelia and I are going to watch the highlights of today's events tonight so that she can see a real princess get married.  Yes, I know technically she is now a Duchess but I like Princess better.  :)

My sewing mojo has been on the fence since last week.  I just haven't been feeling it.  Quite possibly because I'm forcing myself to work on projects that I've already started and won't let myself start anything new.  What I'm showing you, I finished about a week ago but just never pulled out the camera to document until today.  I did waver a bit and I pieced a Schnibbles pattern for myself.  You know that this is my very first one that I've ever did.  Seriously.  I did "Hat Trick" using some Sunkissed charms.  I modified the pattern just a tad and added borders on all four sides.  The pattern only has the borders on the top and bottom but it looked unfinished to me.

It's a little light on the pink because I had used a few of the pink charms in my Chubby Charmer tote.  I'm going to do a pink binding to help bring more of that color to the top.  I think I'm going to quilt this one myself and hang it in my bedroom.  I have the perfect wall for it.

I got the cherries put on my Red and Black summer wallhanging.  The pattern had me hand-sewing some red ric-rac into some rosette looking thing but hand-sewing is NOT for me and I didn't want to be frustrated with the project so I just machine appliqued some circles on and there you go, cherries.

Tomorrow Punkie and I are attending my cousin's daughter's 1st Communion and I was asked to make cookies as a giveaway favor.  For 50 bucks to use towards some future fabric purchase?  Sure thing!  They aren't fancy and I really don't care for how I decorated them.  The dots just don't go but I had a bunch of icing left over and I hated putting it down the sink.  Plus it helps to cover up some of the imperfections on the cookies.  They taste good.  That's all I care about.

One last thing.  Punkie left me a message on my whiteboard that is in my sewing room a while ago and before she decides to erase it, I snapped its picture.

J + A forever

Right back at ya, Amelia.  Mama loves you forever too.

Enjoy your day!
Jen

I have things to show you...

But I can't tear myself away from the Royal Wedding.  Gorgeous dress and lovely ceremony.

I'll be back later.

:)

AnnaSophia

I've mentioned several times in the past that my BFF lives in TX.  I made both her girls a personalized pillow.  You can refresh your memory here and here (if you want).  At Sydney's birthday party, my BFF's neighbor really liked the pillow and inquired about how much I would charge to make one for each of her girls.  Instead, my BFF ordered 2 from me and she's giving them as birthday gifts this year.

This one is for AnnaSophia.  She turns 1 in May.

I tried to get a decent picture of the pillow but her name is so dang long.  LOL.  The lettering took me 3 hours yesterday morning to complete... AFTER I got home from the sewing store with my embroidery arm that I thought was busted.  Turns out there was a loose screw and a 5 minute fix.  Thank goodness!  I ended up ripping out 5 letters out as I went along.  The spacing was too off.  Too much white space.  Since I have to squish this baby into a box for the mail, I wanted it as short as I could get it.  As you may see, by the end of her name, I wasn't really too picky on my spacing.  It's hard to judge when everything is hooped up for the embroidery arm but I'm getting better at it.

I haven't worked on anything else.  I need to get back to my Postage Stamp blocks, Bliss blocks, my Summer wallhanging and blocks that I haven't even shown you yet.  Maybe later.  Right now, I'm starving and I have 40 cookies to decorate for next Saturday.  That's a whole 'nother story.

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Friday Night Sew In Results

I got some sewing done yesterday.  I also got side-tracked by another 'need to make' project.  I focused my time pretty much on getting that one done.  But I'm not finished with it yet.

I've ignored my Bliss Disappearing 9 patch blocks for some time now.  I finally pulled those back out and got 4 more done.  They haven't "disappeared" yet.  If my math is correct (and it hardly ever is), I think I need 36 blocks plus sashing and borders for the top to fit my bed just the way I would want it to.  I need my husband to do the calculation for me to double check.

Postage Stamp top - 6 more blocks done.  Rachel is way ahead of me!  I have lots of sewing to do to catch up.  My plan is to sew some more this afternoon.  At least for an hour.

And the 'need to make' project.  If you are familiar with the site youcanmakethis.com and are a "fan" of them on Facebook, they are giving a free download until the end of the month for a super cute Summer wallhanging.  Mine isn't completely finished yet but I'm super close.  It will be done next week.  At least that is my plan (minus quilting and binding of course).  I'll show it again when I have the white blocks completed.

There you have it.  My FNSI results.  I have something else I've been working on.  I'll show that soon.  I know I've been complaining about my non-working status but I've been getting tons done in the sewing department.  I just feel guilty sewing the day away so I've made a schedule for myself.  House chores in the morning (or errands or whatever) and sewing after lunch.  It has worked out for me.  Someone suggested that to me in a comment in one of my blog posts.  I can't remember who but it has worked.

OH!  One more thing... today is my husband's birthday!  We did our little family celebration last night with a delicious ham dinner, a sinful chocolate truffle "bomb" dessert and presents.  This morning, Punk and I treated him to breakfast out and this afternoon, we're going to his parents for steak dinner and cake.  Weekend full of celebrating.  Happy Birthday Honey!  We love you!

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Ole!

I'm sure you are wondering about my blog post title.  There is an (weird) explanation - this morning about 5:00, the cats woke me up so now I'm wide awake.  I started thinking of what I wanted to post about today and I needed a snappy title.  The word "snap" reminds me of castanets.  Castanets remind me of bull-fighting and OLE is what the crowd cheers.  Told you it was weird.  But I'm sticking with it.  :)

I have been making some progress on my Postage Stamp quilt.  If you remember, Rachel and I are doing a duo quilt along.  Last I looked, she was working on getting blocks together too.  This is easy but slow and boring.  I've only gotten 7 blocks together so far.  I have 41 more to go.  My goal during tonight's FNSI, is to get 7 more done.  Maybe 8.  We'll see how focused I am.  I have two more projects going along with the Postage Stamp one and I'm cutting fabric for a 4th project I would like to do.

Come back tomorrow to see what I worked on during the FNSI.  I have no idea which project is going to tickle my fancy tonight.  It is a mystery.

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Duo Postage Stamp Quilt Along

Rachel of p.s. i quilt fame hosted a Postage Stamp quilt along at the start of January and I wanted to make one but didn't really have the time to do so.  Rachel expressed interest in making one too so we decided to have our own mini quilt along.   And from the looks of Rachel's new banner on her blog, her strips are made and I love how she color-coordinated each set.  Now why didn't I think of that?!

For my Postage Stamp quilt, I am using Giddy by Sandy Gervais with Snow Moda Bella solid.  I REALLY wanted to use Sunkissed as a lot of people in Rachel's quilt along did as well as I really wanted to use Sugar and Spice but Giddy was handy at home and I that's what I used. 

Here are my strips, all made and ready for the next step.  I hope to have them cut by Friday this week.  Wait.  I WILL have them cut by Friday this week.  What else do I have going on that's so pressing?!  LOL!

If I stay on target, I'll be making Postage Stamp blocks during the Friday Night Sew In.

Enjoy your day!
Jen  :)

Friday Night Sew In

Tax day is the day!  April 15th.  Hop on over to Heidi's blog and sign up!

Some (early) Christmas fun

I found this swap through Sandy's blog.  As she said, I thought it looked like fun and I'm posting here if anyone else would be interested.  It's a 6 month commitment but the rules sound totally do-able.

Check it out!

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Goodies Received

Hello again.  Happy Friday!!  Is it a happy Friday for you?  It kind of is for me.  Today, I'm going to be officially laid off from my company.  The last two weeks, I have been "on the bench" - meaning I got paid for 2 weeks for hanging around at home, sewing and cleaning while they looked for another assignment for me.  I could have taken a 4 week extension to this time but it is unpaid.  I opted not to and requested to be laid off.  I can now start with a clean slate and find work elsewhere.  Now that my work fate has been determined, I'm in better spirits.

Enough work talk.  I would like to show you what goodies I've received in the mail this week.  Thelma was hosting an Eventide quilt along.  I didn't participate in the quilt along but she was giving away prizes to people who commented along the way.  I happen to be one of the lucky winners!

I won a fat 1/8 bundle of Charlevoix!  How cool is that??  Thank you Thelma!!

Next up, there was a book tour for Pat Sloan's "Tour Ireland with Pat Sloan" book and I was one of the lucky winners from AmandaJean's post.  Super cool!  I haven't read it yet but I'm planning to this weekend.  Thank you AJ!

Well, my husband needs the computer and I have errands to run.

Enjoy your day!
Jen  :)

Three in a row!

I think this is a record for me.  It's been a while since I've posted so often in one week.  I guess I have lots to say.  Thanks for all the ideas on keeping my boredom at bay.

I made a tote out of from Darla squares that I've had hanging around here.  I'm not crazy about it.  For one, I made the handles way too long for my comfort.  I like longer handles on totes but these are WAY long.  The pattern is from the 2009 BHG publication "Bags, Totes and Pin Cushions" (or something like that.  The book is upstairs right now).  I also tried to do an inset zipper for an inside pocket following this tutorial.  I messed it up and cut my initial opening too big and I had a hard time sewing the zipper.  THEN I thought I centered it on my lining; I measured twice.  When I put the lining in the bag, my pocket is off-center and to the left.  So yes, not my favorite tote.

side one

side two

inside

I won't be making this pattern again.  Or if I do, it won't be with super long handles!

It still needs binding but I made a table runner for Easter.  I bought this kit from Connecting Threads a couple of years ago and put it away as soon as I got it because it was applique and I wasn't comfortable with the process.  And then I forgot about it.  When I cleaned and organized my sewing room last week, I found it and got it together.  It's cute.  I did outline quilting around the big squares and the HSTs.  Nothing fancy.

I have a few more things to talk about, but I'll do that tomorrow.

Enjoy your day!
Jen :)

Birdie Stitches - March Block

I told you I would be back.  I may even post tomorrow! 

First off, I would like to say how BORED I am right now.  This not working is the pits.  I have been trying to keep busy here at home.  You know - laundry, dishes, vacuuming... general picking up the house.  But you can only do that for so long.  I've been wanting to go to the library and drop off the books that I've collected from Amelia's room and from around the house to donate to their book sale but I've been too lazy to get in the car and drive.  I've been wanting to go to my LQS to spend the gift certificate that my team gifted me before I left but I feel guilty spending the money.  So here I sit.  Sewing projects have been worked on but again, I feel guilty staying in my sewing room all day while my husband works.  I'm waiting for the weather to warm up so that I can at least get outside.  The sun is actually shining today but it's COLD. I don't want to work in the garden with a heavy winter coat on.

Okay, enough whining out of me.  Here's what I've finished....

I added that little pot of gold.  The block just needed it

January - March blocks

I'm getting better with my stitch length.  Just a tad.  I tend to get off-kilter when I'm tired but the blocks are coming along.  I'll be starting the April block this week sometime.  I have my border fabrics picked out.  Should be a cute block once I'm done.

I'll be back tomorrow to show some more progress being made here.

Enjoy your day!
Jen

What I've been up to

Hello friends!  Feels like forever since I've posted and it's only been a week.  I've been getting lots done around here.  And lots of sewing has been happening.  I have a bunch to show you but I'll do it in different posts.  :)

Allison from Cluck Cluck Sew did a great tutorial on a Sprocket Pillow and I HAD to make one.  I just HAD to.  So I pushed everything else that was getting my attention here and made one.  I made the larger one.  Can I say it is CUTE??  I love it.  I dug through my stash and used some cherry fabric that's been hanging around here.  It matches nothing in my house but it looks cute on Punk's bed so it is now hers.  She hasn't seen it yet since I just finished it this afternoon.

makes a great bear cushion too

I have a feeling I'll be making at least a couple more of these.  I would like to make a few out of my Darla scraps for my bed for this Summer. 

Thank you Allison!  Super easy to do and it's totally cute.

I'll be back tomorrow with more stuff I have completed. 

Enjoy your day!
Jen  :)