Thursday, January 29, 2009

Pink and White Baby Quilt - New UFO

Decided to make a small quilt using only scraps that I had and found a bunch of two inch squares from Valentine Day hangings I made last year for gifts. It was based on Finn's quilt at CHICKPEA SEWING STUDIO. It came out pretty well if I say so myself. Someone is going to have to have a baby girl soon!


Independence Day Quilt - turning into a Project Improv effort

So I've been working on the raffle quilt and it's coming together pretty well.  Made 4 more blocks since the last post.  I am working without a plan - so it's gonna be an interesting process putting all the blocks together in the final product.   These are the most recent blocks:

I made another block which I'm thinking may be too white and too big for the quilt, so what do you do with those types of blocks?  Make a hanging for the door of course!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Independence Day Quilt


I committed to make a quilt for Independence Day to be raffled off at the nursing home where I work for the resident social fund. I've decided that I will make a bunch of different blocks using different techniques (paper piecing, wonky piecing, etc.) and somehow put it all together. So far I have 3 blocks done. There is some time before this has to be done, so I'm gonna do a few blocks a week through February, then somehow assemble it all! Here's the first 3 blocks.

Monday, January 19, 2009

My First Wonky Log Cabin


Here's my first attempt at a wonky log cabin block. I used Jacquie's tutorial (http://tallgrassprairiestudio.blogspot.com/2008/04/for-dana-wonky-log-cabin-block-tutorial.html) as a guide and went at it. I think it came out ok - definately out of the box for me!

Sunday, January 18, 2009

New Block for Project Improv!


I did it - a simple block for Project Improv! I had this busy colorful fabric that I've been eyeing forever - never really knew what to do with it - pulled it out and decided to play with it and this is what I came up with. The fabric is so busy that I decided to go simple. The next block I'm making will be using smaller pieces of the busy fabric and draw more from the focus colors, but this one was so pleasing that I went with it. I guess that's the point - go with what works at the moment!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Cutting Strips for Stash

I've been thinking about fabric and how to make it more useful - I know - who could say fabric isn't useful? My stash is comprised of mostly one yard or greater pieces or scraps which is comprised of strips from other projects or just plain old scraps. In the reading on other blogs I've noticed that people work from strips that they cut from their fabrics. Tonya talks about it in this post on her blog: http://lazygalquilting.blogspot.com/2008/11/cutting-strips.html. Makes alot of sense to me so now I have another dilemna - what sizes do I cut the strips and how do I organize them? Talk about overthinking! I think my answer is like the nike commercial: Just DO IT! So...I'm on my way to cut strips and see how it goes! Any suggestions would certainly be welcome - especially from my PROJECT IMPROV buddies!

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

What a great day I had. Went to my friend Nancy's house and we had a "craft" day. I worked on some hand sewing and pinbasted a couple of quilts. .She hemmed her handwoven dishtowels and then did a little spinning. While we were accomplishing these things we got the chance to chat and pump up our enthusiasm for future projects - fabric postcards, etc. I can't wait

Saturday, January 10, 2009



My Donnie is really a great guy in so many ways. Today when we were decluttering and cleaning was a perfect example. Check it out - he's vacuuming!

On Thursday I went to Costco after work to pick up a few things and while I was there bought him a present - the cute little Armor All Utility Vac with all the attachments. He was thrilled to say the least. He wanted this before xmas and I talked him out of buying it thinking I would give the kids a hint. Well, that never happened for one reason or another.

Anyway - I hope the novelty of this new toy doesn't wear off too quick.
Today wasn't much of a sewing day as Donnie and I decided that this weekend would be focused on decluttering/cleaning. I did get a small amount done on a small baby quilt I started using pink/red squares that I cut a long time ago for valentine wall hangings. Anyway - I will post about that soon.

The news of the day, though, is that we filled a 96 gallon trash container with junk - literally! I am so amazed that we lived with all that for so long - mostly in the sewing/computer room and the old room across the hall from there. We have lots more to get rid of but that will require me going through basket making supplies to give to a friend that still does baskets and finding out a place to donate/recycle old computer/electronic equipment (any suggestions?). Definate progress was made for sure - we are going to do more tomorrow morning too.

Friday, January 9, 2009

Good morning...got a good nights sleep, drank a fabulous cuppa jo that my dear dear husband left for me in the thermous, sat down to read e-mail and found the e-mail on the details of Project Improv. I'm so excited!

Since I have to go to work for 3pm I decided to do a little work formatting my new blog. Learned a lot. I guess I'll get better at it as time goes on. The next job I will do on the blog is fill in my profile and maybe even some text in the header. Since I've been missing school (love the learning process) this is right up my alley!

Thursday, January 8, 2009

I'm struggling with this blogging thing. Not sure why I'm doing it, why I want to do it, or what I am even going to blog about. I've read a lot of things about blogging - enough to know that it's a good way to chronicle creative endeavors as well as journal life's happenings - I guess its just that place to start I'm having trouble finding.

So I'm gonna start with the group I've just joined - Project Improv. I've always wanted to do unique works - but seem to stick with traditional blocks and labor over the colors, etc. - I'm thinking this will stretch my imagination and lead me in a different direction. I've also committed to make a block for a charity quilt through this group in the orange/pink family of colors. This will be interesting as well. We'll see.

Until tomorrow.