Finally. A quilt for my husband

My husband has been feeling neglected in the quilt department.  He was whining that he didn't have one.  I wanted to make him one for Christmas but the same song and dance.  I ran out of time.  His birthday is in April so I pushed his quilt back until then.

It's so hard picking fabrics for a man.  Everything is just too girly sometimes.  I wanted something quick with little cutting and piecing together.  I picked up a Bali Pop of batiks blue and decided on a quick rail fence block.  Strip piecing.  Good to go.  I still want to make a black/white/gray check quilt like Anna's.  It was in the running for my husband for this birthday but I changed my mind.  Good thing is that there are plenty of Christmases, birthdays and other gift-giving occasions in my future for him.

This is where I am with this quilt so far.  Don't look at it too closely because there is one area in the quilt with the same block... multiple times.  I must have been sleeping when I was laying it out and didn't notice.

It's too short.  It's a 8x9 layout and it's just right for me but will be too short for my husband.  I'm thinking borders.  My other option is to get another Bali Pop and make 2 more rows but I don't know if I want to spent $40.00 for a few more rows.  I can always use the rest of the Bali Pop as a scrappy binding.

Decisions, decisions.

Enjoy your day!
Jen  :)

More Strings

Hello All!  How is everyone on this snowy Tuesday?  Well, it's snowing at my house again.  Can I say I'm tired of all this snow?!  We're expecting another 3-6 inches of this dreaded white stuff.  Thankfully, Amelia is on a winter break for school so today doesn't count against her.

I have been keeping up with my sewing.  My personal goal was to have 12 additional string blocks done by the end of February and I'm happy to say, I made my goal.  24 string blocks done.

I need to dig through my stash a little more.  I have a bunch of strings cut but I'm tired of the repeats so time to expand further into the stash.  I will say that my sewing room is a disaster.  Bins of fabrics all over.  Fabrics thrown willy-nilly back on the shelf.  But I am so focused on the sewing, I'm ignoring the rest of the room.

My next goal with this project is to have 16-20 (24 would be nice) more blocks completed by the end of April.  Ultimate end is 36 blocks. I think that would make for a nice sized lap quilt.

LOL!  If Jen knew how to add!!  If 36 is my ultimate goal, I only need 12 more blocks.  DUH!  40 blocks wouldn't be bad either.

Enjoy your day!!
Jen :)

Pillow Talk

I worked on three requested personalized pillows for friends.  One was requested back late last year.  They aren't hard to do; just time consuming.  I figured if I was busting all the equipment out for one, I might as well get all three done.

I made some pillowcases for Amelia and my husband for a little something for Valentine's Day.  I love the fabrics I used for Amelia's.. Honey Bee Mine.  I want a set for myself.  How can you not smile when you see those bears!  Vintage trucks for my husband.

I have been keeping busy with various other projects.  I got a few more string blocks done and I'm working on a Schnibbles for the March 1st parade.  Maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to join this time!

Enjoy your day!
Jen :)

Ready for the Beach

Seems like my blogging time gets further and further apart.  I hope to NOT have a repeat performance of last summer and my lack of blogging. 

I bumped into a very fun (and quick!) project earlier last week and it was on my mind for most of it.  So I gathered my supplies and went to town in my sewing room over the weekend.

Did I say this was a quick project to sew up?  Yes?  Well, trust me.  It was.  2 hours and I had a new bag done.

Isn't it CA-UTE??  It's big too.  If you want to make one... click here!

It really is a nice size and has six pockets on the outside.  I put two beach towels rolled up on the inside to give you an idea but there is so much more room for lots more stuff.

I made mine with a home dec weight on the outside and DS Quilts fabrics from Joanns for everywhere else.  I love that orange print that I used for the lining.

Now I'm ready for the beach!  Or at least the pool.  I love bags and totes.

Enjoy your day!
Jen :)

An Apple for the Teacher

The end of the school year is fast approaching and of course, I am scrambling.  I had this mini quilt idea way back, when Lori posted her apple row in her Row Along.  I put it off and put it off: "I have PLENTY of time!" and look - June 1st is Saturday!

In between rainy days this weekend, I worked on this mini for Amelia's teacher.  Happy to have the top done. 

Here is my question... what color do I quilt it in?  I'm going to a simple straight line quilting of some sort but I don't know if I should go with a red or a neutral - like a gray or cream?  Thoughts?  I'll welcome any ideas because I need to hustle to get it done for the last day of school. 

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

To ease myself back into sewing, I worked on getting all the pillowcases made that I bought fabric for when we went away back in April.  Our weather for the Memorial Day weekend was terrible.  Raw, cold, and raining.  We were very happy that we decided to stay home and not go up north.  My in-laws went and New Hampshire got 4 inches of snow Saturday night.  I heard that upstate New York got upwards of 3 feet of snow!  It felt more like March than the end of May!

Thankfully, the sun found its way back and Monday it was nice and sunny.  End of this week, the weatherman is saying we are going to hit the 90s!  From winter to mid-summer with no Spring.  As usual for New England.

Question is... which ones will go on the beds this week?

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Hello? It's me.

Sorry to have been so quiet on the blog front.  You know the old story; life gets busy.  Work is crazy.  Blah, blah, blah.  With all that going on in my family life, no sewing happening.  I did take some time to work on 2 more barn blocks for my little wallhanging that I'm doing but decided that I will show you my completed (but not quilted) progress of a filmsy top.  So you will have to wait a little longer for any sewing progress pics.

What else?  Oh.  I have 3 personalized pillows to get done for next weekend so Punk is going to my Mom's for the weekend this week to give me some quiet sewing time.  She's looking forward to the sleep over and I'm looking forward to a whole Saturday of nothing but sewing.  I had planned on tearing apart my closet and Punk's linen closet but those boring chores can wait.  I want to sew.  That is my priority.

Did everyone have a nice Easter?  We sure did.  Eat too much but had a great day.  My husband made it out of hiding too.  He was down and out for 4 days last week with a terrible head cold.  For him to spend almost 2 days in the house, in bed?  He must have really felt lousy.  Between work and caring for Punk, I played nursemaid to my whining husband.  I'm glad he is feeling better though.  Double glad that I'm not sick nor Amelia.  We can do without it, thanks.

Remodel update?  Ummm.  Since my husband was ill, nothing progressed there.  Walls are painted in the dining room.  Our new dining room lighting was put up (my husband did it in between feeling better and not feeling better).  Flooring is still not in.  Fingers crossed that he finds time this month to do it.  I'm really hoping he will.  I'm tired of looking (and walking on) the sub-floor when I know my beautiful hardwood flooring is in the garage.  Our new back deck is staked out.  Maybe by the end of the summer that will be put in.  I need to clone my husband.  I hate to push him to get these projects done because I know he is busy.  But it would make me feel so much better to get my house in order the proper way and just be DONE with it all!

And that is that.  You have a run-down of everything that has been going on the last few weeks.

I should have something sew-y goodness to show you this weekend.  I have to dig in my stash for some fabrics for some upcoming fun but you'll have to wait to hear more about that.  ;)

Enjoy your day!
Jen :)

Quilty Barn Along - Block 1

Lori Holt created a very cute barn block complete with a quilt block tutorial and I just had to make one.  She is making a quilt with 12 blocks.  I think I'm going to stop at 4 blocks for a wall hanging size.  Appropriate for us since we're a farm now; even though we don't have any red barns with a quilt block on it.  It was quick to put together.

Lori's example showed a Weathervane quilt block but I did a Churn Dash block instead.  Less pieces to cut and piece together.  Each of the 4 barns I do will be a different red fabric but the roofs will all be black gingham to have them all coordinate somewhat.  I have my second quilt block done and ready for the next barn.

Thanks for stopping by!
Enjoy your day!
Jen :)

Natalia

About a month ago, I was asked if I could make a few pillows for some little ones as birthday gifts.  Me being a slacker got the first one done over the blizzard snow-in to be delivered this coming Saturday.

This one is for Natalia:

I like it. I hope the recipient feels the same.  I have to do another for Natalia's little sister Lilly and one for a boy (Anthony).  The one for the boy stumps me because I don't have any boy fabrics.  I guess some fabric shopping is in order.  Oh darn.  ;)

Enjoy your day!
Jen  :)

Love to Be Mine

Sweetwater's Label Crew for February; too cute!  I don't have many Valentine themed fabrics hanging around and what I do have wasn't enough so a trip to my LQS was in order.  Unfortunately, they too didn't have a big selection but I picked up 4 that coordinated and set off to work.

Over-sized mug rugs. Punk picked "Be Mine" so I'm left with "Love".  My heart has a bit of a straight edge at the top.  Not sure what happened there.  I'll be bringing it to work for the month of February. I have no idea what Punk is going to do with hers. I'm sure it will end up somewhere and I will rescue it and put it in my sewing room for safe keeping. The Label Crew project for March is another one I will be doing as soon as it comes out. It's featuring their newest line "Noteworthy". I can't wait to get it!

Enjoy your day!
Jen :)

My solo weekend sew-a-thon

I had plans for this weekend.  Big plans.  The three projects that I wanted to work on and complete are sitting, just waiting patiently for tomorrow evening.  A solo sew-a-thon.  And POOF.  It's not going to happen.

I just talked to my Mom (Punk was going over there for the weekend) and she has the flu.  :(  So no weekend with Grandma for Punk.  No solo weekend for me.  No sewing. 

I am bummed.  I was so looking forward to hanging out in my sewing room.

Feel better Mom but feel sorry for me please.  :)

Enjoy your day!
Jen

BOM Rehab

Sinta told me about her great idea last weekend and I forgot to post about it.  We all have them.  BOMs that we started with earnest and a plan and then it all falls apart.  I have a few.  One I'm totally not finishing and will give the blocks I have completed to Punkie.  She can do whatever she wants with them.  Others, I DO want to finish.

Sinta's idea... BOM Rehab!  Work on a BOM project over the weekend and then post your results on Monday.  You don't have to finish that weekend.  Just work on it.  Let Sinta know and she will post your hard work on her blog AND put you in the pot for a nice prize at the end of the month.  See?  You will (if you win) be rewarded for your efforts!  I plan on dragging out my Birdie Stitches and finishing those.  I think I'm on July's block.  Only 1/2 a bird is stitched.

C'mon and join in.  I am going to TRY.  I think I will give the iPad a break in the evenings and get to stitching again.

OH!!  Also, do stop by Sinta's blog and give her your congratulations.  She is now a proud GRANDMA!  Congratulations Sinta!

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Creative Slump over?

I don't know what my problem has been all month but I just haven't been feeling very sew-y.  No sewing = nothing to share.  Sigh.  I even have a couple of things that I can send out to be quilted but I haven't even done that.

I finally pushed myself into my sewing room today and while I have no pictures to show you, I promise I was crafty.  I worked on a zippered tote and getting some Ruby snippets (as Darlene would call them) HSTs together.  I have no idea what I'm going to do with them but I'll figure something out.  I would have finished my zippered tote today but I didn't have a big enough piece of fusible fleece. While I have MANY little scraps of FF, it was not in me today to piece them together for a larger piece.  I also got my swap partner assignment from Heidi so I did a little blog snooping today.  Swap partner = favorite colors are purple and green.  Orange; not so much.  I have an idea of what I would like to make for her plus a little extra.

Good news is that I am NOT traveling this week to San Fran for work.  I will miss the overtime pay from that trip but I'm glad not to be going.  Trip got delayed for some time later in the year.

Here's a picture of Punk at her first Karate tournament.  She had such a good time.  She's the one in the yellow belt.

Enjoy the rest of Sunday!
Jen :)

I'm back!

So soon??  LOL!!  I do have a couple of things to show you that I've worked on in the last couple of days.  If you read Kris' blog, she posted some very cute coupon clutches that she made for gifts.  After speaking with her and her promising me that they are quick, I made one.  SUPER quick!  I have decided to make some for Amelia's teachers for Christmas gifts and I'm going to give some out to various family members.  I am following Kris' lead and only using a focal fabric versus a patchwork look.  I don't have the time to sew a patchwork clutch.  I wish I did because it is cute but I'm going to set myself up assembly line style and get the 13 I need done.

Thanks for the great idea Kris!  Amelia and I hit the fabric store this morning and picked out 13 1/3 yard cuts.  Yes, yes.  I could have shopped in my stash but I wanted the fabric to "match" everybody's personalities and I don't have many big cuts of fabric and what I do have.... I'm not willing to part with just yet.  ;)

Another thing that I whipped up just on Friday is a wipe holder.  My good friends Lori and Paul welcomed a sweet new addition to their family on 11/1.  Their family is now a family of 4 and Amelia and I are going to visit them on Friday afternoon; time better spent instead of fighting crowds for Black Friday "specials".  I bought the new baby girl a couple of outfits and of course big brother is getting a little something but I wanted to make a wipe holder too.  I ran out of time (and matching fabric) for the pacifier holder.  This time I used the quilted pattern instead of the stippled.  I like it much better.

just a little green on the inside for a bit of "pop"

Be sure to stop back again soon.  I have something else that I started working on just today.  I'm sure you'll want to see.  :)

Enjoy the rest of your day!
Jen

Where does the time go?

It's been a while since I've posted and I didn't even realize it.  Things have been busy over here.  I've been working to get a bunch of things finished so that I'm not stressing, getting the laundry done that I like to ignore (sheets, towels).... there is a reason why I own 8 sets of sheets for my bed and have 30 towels and wash cloths!  LOL! 

Some good no GREAT news came my way a couple of weeks ago.  I'm super excited and super nervous at the same time.  I GOT A JOB!!!  WOOHOOOOO!!  As much as I was enjoying my time at home these last 6 months, money has been super tight.  So I start a new full-time job on Monday.  I need some good vibes my way on Monday, okay?

Onto some other things.  On Monday, my aunt and grandmother came over and we had a "Pierogi Making" lesson.  Only my aunt and grandmother know the recipe and process.  My cousin has no desire to learn how to make them so I stepped up.  4 hour lesson and I have 15 dozen pierogi in my freezer.  Homemade.  YUM YUM!!  Now, I would like to post the recipe and I can for the filling but for the dough?  I have no measurements.  It's all by look and feel and I had my grandmother coaching me all the way.  But at least I know what to look for.  Here are a couple of snapshots from my lesson.

Grandma hard at work, rolling and cutting dough rounds

My batch before getting boiled

13 dozen - cooling for the freezer

I finally finished Amelia's "Amelia" quilt top.  Finally.  Now I can get backing for it and get it quilted so that I can give it to her for Christmas.

One last thing.  Ellyn received her chickens so I can post them here.  She and I had a mini swap and I made her a little chicken family.

Cute chickens!

I've also sent out my Santa Sack Swap gifts for September and October yesterday.  Melissa - be on the lookout for the box! 

Amelia is going to be home from school soon and I have to get a light dinner ready for her so that she won't be starving at her Karate class. 

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Amelia's 4 Patch

Hello there!  Well, we are back from vacation and we had a great time!  Super.  The hotel was awesome with the indoor waterpark.  We did manage to get out and see some of Lake George.  I'll give you the highlights in pictures.

we took a steam powered paddle boat ride - The Minnie HaHa

Horse and Buggy Ride - that's Sunny

Played a round of mini golf.  Amelia's first time.  She loved it

Lake George

Amelia and Daddy

My future summer home.  HA!

We also rode go karts and did I mention the water park??  We had a blast and we will go back again next year.

Sewing is happening here but nothing is ready to show off.  I will show you Amelia's very first attempt at "real" sewing.  She picked out some fabrics and I cut them into squares and showed her how to do a 1/4" seam.  She did the sewing.  I did the pinning and pressing.  She's very proud of herself.  I am too!

She wanted to do some "fancy" stitches so I added a backing to it and let her have at it.

It's going to be a birthday present for her stuffed cat, Shitake.  This cat has a birthday every other month.  LOL!

I hope to have some projects of my own completed or semi-completed to show you soon.

Enjoy your day!
Jen

12 Days of Christmas BOM

I'm working diligently through some projects that have been hanging around the sewing room and needed to be completed.  I have gotten all the blocks that I have in my possession pieced for the 12 Days of Christmas BOM that the FQS has been hosting the last 12 months.

Here are blocks 7-11

And here are all 11 so far

Only one more block to go!  Just waiting for it to arrive.  Should be here any day now.  I feel good getting these blocks done.  I was debating buying the finishing kit that the FQS has for sale.  But for $64.00, I'm going to pass.  This non-working girl doesn't have that kind of money right now and what money I have set aside for fabric is ear-marked for other projects.  So I'm going to finish it myself.  I think I'll sash it with a solid red and make aqua cornerstones in between the blocks.  I have some of the aqua from this line in my stash.  It will work out perfectly.

The kits are more than generous with the fabric and there is enough for a second set of blocks; I think block 10 (pinwheel present) will give me a little trouble because I know there isn't enough of the blue fabric left in my kit but I think I can substitute something else.  I know others have gotten 2 blocks out of the kits.  I'm thinking that I will make a 2nd quilt and put it away for Amelia for when she gets older and has her own home waaaaaay in the future.  Makes no sense not to use it.  I went around and around trying to figure out who would get my 2nd quilt and the logical answer is Amelia since I don't want to have hurt feelings among my extended family if I gift to one cousin but not the others.

Now, what next?  Postage Stamp blocks or Bliss?  Or trimming threads from Vintage Summertime pinwheel top to get it ready to send out for quilting?  OR my Birdie Stitches?

That's all for now!
Enjoy your day!
Jen