In the nick of time!

I have a big finish for 2013.  Only 2 years in the making.  Maybe I should have held off and blogged about it on the 2nd anniversary of the first block.  I made the first block early January 2012 and here it is... December 30, 2013 and I can say it is finished and ready to be quilted... when I get backing for it.

SWOON!  FINISHED!!!  WOOOHOOOOOO!

Happy to have this one finally finished.  Sad that it took me so long since all I had left to do was to sash the 3rd row and sew the three rows together.  I made some little pinwheels for cornerstones in the sashing for fun.  I used a lot of red in this quilt.  I should have taken a better look at the blocks as I was making them. Another gray one would have been nice.  Eh.  It's done.  I'm happy.  Moving on.

I made a travel pillowcase for one of my BFF's daughters.  She lost her pillow and case that I made her a couple of years ago.  Requested another pillowcase for the replacement travel pillow.

Last for right now, some looming fun.  A warm scarf and a little hat for my God-son.  This loom knitting is super fun and addicting!  Christmas night, I was home alone.  Husband working and Punk went to my Mom's for a few days.  I sat in the recliner for 5 hours, just looming away.  I had to force myself to turn the TV off at 11pm and go to bed.  I kept telling myself "just one more row".  This scarf only took me a couple of hours over a 2 day period.  What I was working on Christmas night is just a fun project.  Using up some yarn.

The little hat is more of an aqua and celery color combo.  I couldn't get them to come through correctly in any picture I took.

 OH!  The memory quilt for my Grandmother.  I gave it to her last week on Sunday.  Unfinished but that's okay.  I will grab it from her in the next couple of weeks to put the binding on.  She cried after REALLY seeing it and figured out what it was.  She thought it was just a quilt.  The pictures in the blocks kind of got by her at first.  Once she really looked at it and saw pictures of my Grandfather, her children, her grand-children and great grand-children... waterworks.  It was a big, big hit.  Even my Dad shed a tear.

Enjoy your day!
Jen :)

Number 8

I have resurrected Swoon!  Block 8 is done.  I can't believe I ignored it for so long because it only took me 30 minutes to finish getting it together.  I did have to do some un-sewing as soon as I was done with it because I had sewn one of the sections upside down.  Oh I was soooo mad!  I un-sewed and put it down for the night.  I quickly threw it through the sewing machine the next morning and all is well.

FQs for block 9 (last block!) have been pressed and they are ready to be dissected.  I solemnly swear that the next time you see Swoon, it will be a completed top!

Enjoy your day!

Jen :)

Swoonin' again

I got back into the Swoon groove this last week and I actually surprised myself when I finished my next 2 blocks.  I thought I had 3 more to go.  Turns out, I only have 2 more to go.  Woohoo!  Then sashing and borders (I want mine a bit bigger for my bed).

I'm running out of room on the floor

Taking another Swoon break.  2 blocks in one weekend is enough for me.  By the end of finishing the second one, my head was swimming.   I may start cutting #8 this afternoon.  We'll see.  I need to work on those mini messenger bags.

Oh and I just wanted to say that we are out of the 200s.  198 more days until our Disney vacation!  LOL!

That's all I got.  It's been pretty slow around here in the sewing department.  My motivation is slowing down.  I think I just need to veg out.  I think that's what I'm going to do.

Enjoy your day!
Jen :)

Swoonin! Swoonin'! Swoonin' down the river!

Block 5 done!  It's like a sickness.  An obsession.  I just can't stop.  I said I was going to take a break from making Swoon blocks.  And I did.  For less than 24 hours.  I got my Postage Stamp top done and then I picked block 5 right up and started in.

The only thing about making these blocks is that they are very time consuming.  At least for me.  I stepped into my sewing room around noon and got the block completed by 3:30.  And that is only ONE block and I did the prep work the night before!  Lots of seams.  Lots.  Of.  Seams.  One a week is good enough for me.  But everything is lining up so nicely and no cut off points.  I am proud and I can't wait to get these blocks done, quilted, bound and on my bed!

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 :)

Swoonin'

Snowy day out there today.  I had commented last week (I think) on Anna's blog that I didn't want any snow.  She told me that I needed to "embrace my inner snow" and my husband pretty much told me the same thing.  He got a commercial plowing job for the season and told me that he needs only 4 good snow storms and that will pay for our trip to Disney.  So... C'MON SNOW!

Speaking of Disney, we met with a travel agent yesterday to learn the ins and outs of our potential trip and we're getting close to booking!  WOOHOO!  I thought for sure the prices would bug my husband's eyes out but he was really mellow about it.  After some discussion on the way home and a bit more looking online at the different resorts the travel agent priced out for us, I think we've made a decision as to where we're going to stay when we're there.  More on that later.  I will just say that I am SUPER EXCITED and having a hard time holding my secret in around Amelia.

On to Swoon.  Block 3 is complete.  Block 4 fabrics have been pulled out of the pile and ready for cutting but I'm not feeling it.  They will have to wait.

Some other finishes.  I finished the first round of gifts for Christmas Through the Year that Darlene and Cheryl are co-hosting.  I'm not ready to show you yet though.  See, MY part is done but I need the husband's muscles for the last bit.  If I get on him before he leaves for work tonight, I should be able to show you tomorrow.  I also finished my accessory bag for the swap that Kris is hosting.  Again, I need the husband's muscles for one last part.  I'll explain when I show you what I made.

I know a few weeks ago I promised  a 500 post celebration giveaway and I haven't forgotten.  I just need to snap a picture and post.  Stay tuned!

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Ruby, don't take your love to town

Classic Kenny Rogers song.  Have you SEEN him lately??  Too much plastic surgery!

Block #2 is done over here.  Now I'm taking a Swoon break for a week or so.  Other things are calling my name so I'm moving on and I'm okay with that.  But I've pulled my fabrics out for block #3 so that they are front and center.  I won't forget about them for too long.

Other things happening.  I'm almost done with my accessory bag for the swap.  I pulled the fabrics out this evening, started cutting and sewing and then POOF.  Adding a zipper and sewing the bag together.  I would like to get that finished and into the mail soon.  It has to travel to Australia this time. 

Any plans for the long weekend?  IF you get MLK Day off.  I would like to get to the fabric store on Sunday and pick up backing for Amelia's "Amelia" quilt.  That is one of my 2012 "goal" quilts to get finished.  I would also really like to get the last block for the 12 Days of Christmas BOM done and start laying out the top.  Would be nice to have it done before the 2012 BOM shows up.  Speaking of, have you seen it??  Vintage Modern.  Can't wait!  And all I need to get for my stash are a couple of charm packs (maybe a layer cake too) just to have around.  No need to stress over which fabrics I like the most out of the line.  Someone else will decide that for me.

Sunday afternoon, I think we are going to head out to spend the night at a hotel.  Why?  So that Amelia can swim and we can pretend we're on vacation.  LOL.  Those are our plans.  I'm hearing about all kinds of snow around the mid west.  Here?  Windy and rain.  It's been pretty warm.  Too warm for January for sure and too warm for snow.  However, cold weather is on its way.  We may just get hit with the white stuff sooner rather than later.

Stay warm and remember, bend at the knees not your back when shoveling!
Jen :)

Swoonin'

I'm swoonin' over here.  Got my first block completed.  8 more to go!  And my second block almost all cut and ready for piecing.  The blocks are big but lots of cutting going on.  I decided to cut one block at a time; including my white background.   To stand and cut 75 3.5" squares (or however many needed for the whole quilt)... I will screw it up.  One block at a time is more my speed.

I'm making mine out of Ruby.  I've had all my FQs picked and matched together for a couple of months now.  Just waiting for the time to start cutting into it.  I have changed my mind on a couple of them.  I may re-thinking the pairing up.  We'll see.  I also have enough FQs to either make another Swoon for Amelia or digging through my quilt patterns and books and seeing what else I can create with Ruby.  I really don't want to toss the FQs into my stash and be forgotten about.  I want to use them.  They are really pretty.

Guess what came in?  No.  Not my secret.  You all have to be patient like me.  3 - 6 weeks.  BOOO!!  No, Punk's glasses came in!  She looks so cute in them.  See?

We need a haircut.  :P

I think they make her look so much OLDER.  I don't like that part. 

She wore them to school for the first time yesterday and did really well with them.  Wore them all day in school, except for recess and lunch.  I just don't want her to lose them.

I think I'm going to sneak upstairs for another 20 minutes or so and get my second Swoon block prepped.  And I need to cut the last block for the 12 Days BOM.  And I need to finish my first round of Christmas gifts.  Lots to do.  I think I'll be taking a "mental health" day soon so that I can just sew the day away.

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Being Creative

Howdy!  How's everybody doing?  Things here are good.  I FINALLY got time to sit down at my sewing machine this weekend.  Ahhhh.  Felt so good.

I played catch-up and got a few things accomplished.  I made a test "Swoon" block out of some Verna that's been in my stash.  I wanted to get a feel for the pattern and all that before cutting into my precious Ruby fat quarters.  My only mistake was using a directional fabric.  I didn't think it through all the way.  Some of my tulips are upside down but that's okay.  I have a new wallhanging or table topper for the Spring.

I need to pretty up my desk at work so I made a mug rug for myself.

Lastly, I finished part 1 of my November gifts for my Santa Sack swap partner.  Can't show the whole thing.  I'll give Melissa a sneak peek...

Hmmm.  What can it be?!

Amelia will be home soon from her weekend getaway to New Hampshire so I'll close it here.

Have a good night!
Jen