Every Plan Needs a Back Up

Happy Memorial Day!  How's everyone doing?  Any picnics happening or just chilling at home?  That's what I've been doing.  Just chilling out.  In my sewing room.  I spent most of yesterday in there.  Ran a few errands and then headed upstairs for 8 hours or so.  Felt good.

I had said that I was going to work on Swoon.  And I did - sort of.  I got block 7 cut and started piecing the parts.  Then I got another idea in my head and put Swoon aside.  I'm sorry Swoony.  I will get you finished soon.  I promise.

On my way home Saturday I stopped at Joann Fabrics for a few odds and ends.  I found some cute fabrics and decided to make Amelia's teacher a table topper as an End of the Year Thank You.  Minimal piecing.  It came out cute, I think.  I got it pieced and quilted and now I'm working on getting the binding on.  I will show you as soon as I'm done.

I've also had making couch pillow covers on my to do list for over a year.  I had the fabrics for all that time as well.  I decided that this weekend my couch was getting new accent pillows.  The accent pillows on the couch, the covers can't be removed and they are just getting ugly.  They are now pretty and I'm using those same pillows as the filler.  Good deal.  Pillows are expensive.  I used Pure by Sweetwater.  I busted out my Lil Twister tool that I never used and went to town.  Made some granny squares too.  Next set of pillows will be Make Life by Sweetwater.  I've had those fabrics as long as I've had Pure.  I started pinwheels way back when but I don't like them any more so I need to start over.  I think I will make another twister.  That was fun.

My Postage Stamp top is finally FINALLY finished!  Now to get it quilted.  I need to get some backing.  I have some fabrics for it but not enough.  But it fits my bed nicely so I would REALLY like to get this quilted this year.  Sigh.  I'm going to try.  Maybe I'll do it myself (HA!).  Most likely I will send it out.

Fabrics - Giddy by Sandy Gervais

Lastly, I made 2 new pillowcases for Punk.  Retro ice cream trucks and ice cream sandwiches.  Cute!  Heidi made the same pillowcase in the April FNSI and I totally fell for the fabric.  Found some and ordered it.  Washed it and put it aside.  Got them done this morning.  I think I want to keep them for myself.

fabric - Ice Cream You Scream Ice Cream by Timeless Treasures

I feel good, getting some of these projects done and out of the way for now.  I wish one of them was Swoon but the day isn't over yet.  ;)

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Postage Stamp Quilt

I buckled down and got one thing marked off my list.  Took me a total of 5 hours this weekend to get the blocks set and sewn into a top.  It's a wonder why I put off doing this chore for 10 months.

Fabric line - Giddy

I did this the Jen way.  Just wing it.  So there are some repeats and blocks next to each other.  But it worked for me.  I didn't stress about the  block layout.  I just wanted to get it DONE.  I'm at a cross road though.  I have backing and binding fabrics already but now that I'm seeing it on my bed, I'm thinking of adding a border so that I can use it a bed quilt versus a lap quilt.  What do you think?  Leave it or add a border (just one)?

The next big decision is to quilt this myself really simply or send it out.  Decisions, decisions.

I hear today is the Super Bowl?  Won't be on at my house.  :)

Enjoy your day!
Jen :)

I'm swooning along

Block 4 done!

Not my favorite but I like it.  I'm working on getting block 5 cut now.  Taking a little Swoon break for a couple of days and moving on to get my Postage Stamp blocks into a top.  I have put this off far too long because one of my least favorite things is block layouts.  I don't have a design wall so I'm doing it the Jen way.  Just WING IT!  LOL!!  So far I have 3 blocks sewn together.  First postage stamp row, half way done.

Here are my 4 Swoon blocks completed so far.

I went back through my Ruby stash and swapped out the fabrics for one of the future blocks.  We'll see how it turns out.

Enjoy your day!
Jen :)

A panel, fat quarters and some yardage

That's what I've been working with.  I bought a flower panel from the Lovely line by Sandy Gervais and some fat quarters to go with it a month ago and forgot all about it.  Found it hiding in my sewing room and pulled it out.  I wasn't quite sure what to do with the panel.  I did a little mental brainstorming and cut it up.  Added a border around each block and make some coordinating 9 patch blocks and here you go!

What I haven't decided is how to big to make this quilt.  It will be going to Punkie.  She called it.  She likes it and wants it for her bed (I think).  I toying with either a 4x6 layout with an outer border for a lap quilt or a 7x8 with a border for her bed.  Either way I need to get a couple more panels.  Fat Quarter Shop has them on clearance for $4.50.  Until I decide and actually order the panels, I will continue making the 9 patch blocks.  Amelia is going to have quite the collection of quilts soon.  I have 4 others that I have fabric for to make quilts for her.  I don't have a single one for myself but Punk has 2 completed quilts, 1 that needs to be quilted, 2 being worked on and 4 waiting in the wings.  What does that add up to?  NINE quilts!  Good thing I love that little girl!

My postage stamp quilt... blocks are done!  Woohoo!!!  I was going to start laying them out and sewing row but my energy level isn't there.  They still have to wait a little longer.  But the blocks are done. 

That's all for now!
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  :)