WIP Wednesday - time for catching up

Summer is in full swing here and things are finally starting to settle down a bit. I realized this morning that I haven't posted a WIP Wednesday in...well...forever!  I actually have several things to share and my posting is further behind than my projects - which is nice for once!

My last update was February.  Yes, February.  I'm such a slacker...  So, I'm going to go beyond what I've done in the last week...but don't worry, I won't let the post get that long.  :)

In Progress

Oh My Stars QAL:  Yes, the actual QAL finished a long time ago, and I still only have a few stars.  I've completely changed direction here, though.  I've exchanged the white backround I was using for a dark gray.  Can't remember the color...one of the Free Spirit ones.  Still using Terrain and I've managed to create quite a stash of it in the past few weeks.  Fat Quarter Shop had it half-price and I also snatched up some at a local fabric shop.  I may qualify as a hoarder now.





Paintbox Quilt:  Squares are steadily coming in from my TwitterB group.  Only a few more outstanding.  I'm going to have to supplement with my own blocks, but I'm good with that as I need to dig into my stash to make room for new fabrics.  :)





Tangled Webs Pattern:  Still working on this, but I have made a big decision.  The pattern will be FREE.  I've debated it for several weeks and "decided" I should charge for it because of the time involved, but it never felt right.  I've grown my skills thanks to the generosity of other bloggers and I feel that my first pattern should be a thank-you gift of sorts.  So...be watching for my pattern soon.  :)

Sherbet Socks: The initial motivation for learning to knit was socks.  No matter what time of year, my feet are always cold.  I hate cold feet.  I want knit socks.  Warm, toast, colorful knit socks.  Well, I've finally (five months later!) started a pair.  I love the fun colors. (BTW - the pic is old...they are halfway down my foot now. )  :)








Sewing Room:  Work has started on finishing up my sewing-room re-do.  All of my stuff is out of the room and I hope to finish pulling border down tonight and paint tomorrow.  I made a little schematic on Monday so I could play around with furniture placement.  (I told y'all I'm a little OCD...).  The back page is the room - to scale, of course - and the top is my furniture pieces.  I then cut them out and move them around.  Like a puzzle, I guess.





Finishes

Charmed Prints Quilt:  I actually finished this in April, but haven't posted.  Pics and a full write-up soon.





Prince Charming Quilt Top:  I finished my Quilt Top last month in hopes of having the quilt done in time for Tula Pink's visit.  No such luck on finishing the quilt, but she did sign the label I made.  Now, to get to the long arm!





Tropical Tote:  This was last week's easy Saturday project.   The boys left on a two-week trip to Michigan and I needed some sewing therapy.  Tutorial will be up next week.






and finally.... Baseball!  We finished up the Spring baseball season on Friday.  Both boys' teams finished in second place in their divisions.  So proud of them and all of their hard work.  They both want to be pitchers and are well on their way.  It's wonderful to watch them excel at things they love.  :)






Would love to hear what you've been up to... don't forget to link up with Lee!!







 

oh my ... stars!!

I know - what a terrible play on words.  But, I have stars!!  Well, sort of....  I have fully trimmed, ready-to-sew stars.  I finished them last night, so they are now patiently waiting to be sewn so they can join their lonely mama-star in the finished pile.  (Yes, I still technically only have one star finished.)












These are the first set of the Oh My Stars! quilt along and I can't wait to get started on the next set.  They all look so beautiful.

I've also managed to finish two TwitterB blocks... my last ones, sadly.  I can't believe we've gone through the entire year!   Linda sent a beautiful butterfly fabric, so I played up the aquas and yellows.  She asked for Scrappy Hedgerow Blocks, using Elizabeth Hartman's tutorial. 




Charlene sent some Amy Butler Soul Blossoms and asked for a block using Elizabeth's Mod Mosaic tutorial.   




I was last in the group, so my fabric went out last week.  I asked the girls to make... wait for it... yes, an Elizabeth Hartman block.  Are you seeing a pattern here?  Hmmmm.

The block I chose was the Paintbox Quilt Blocks.  I sent out some solids based on the "Fresh Tints" palate by designseeds.




I also asked them to make siggy blocks to add to the back.  Can't wait to see what the girls do with it.


School is going well. I actually had a stats-free weekend and it was wonderful. I cleaned out my sewing room closet so my father-in-law could start on making some shelves...and he finished them yesterday! I'll have before and after photos to show soon.

On the yarn front, I still haven't finished my beginner's scarf, but I've started another set of gloves and a Honey Cowl.  I'm using Berroco Boboli.... oh, so soft!!!  I can't wait to get this one finished.  Looks like I'll be keeping my pattern of starting a bazillion projects and finishing none.  Just like my quilting.  :)




A local shop is having a yarn sale through Friday, so I'm heading out today to see what I can find. I've never been there before, so it should be fun!

Happy Wednesday... don't forget to link up with Lee!

wip wednesday...two weeks later

Hello!  Remember me???  LOL!  Have I been neglectful or what?  Classes have been kicking my butt and I feel like all I do anymore is eat, sleep, and read.  In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if my kids filed a missing persons report....  *sigh*  I sure do appreciate those of you who are sticking around and your kind words always make me smile.  I really do try to post at least once a week, but last week was a bad, bad week.  Ugh.  But.....I did manage to sew a bit last night and, oh, it felt so good!

So, let's go through the list.... 

In-Progress:  Oh My Stars and Bethlehem Star quilts, scarf for beginning knit class, sewing room makeover.

No progress on either quilt or the makeover.  But I have gotten a few more rows on the scarf.  Next up is the purl stitch.  The middle section uses the stockinette stitch to make a stripe down the middle and it will be in a magenta yarn.  :)







Finishes:  Crochet Scarf and Fingerless Gloves - I'll share these (with pics!) in another post.  :)


New Projects: Crochet class, Quilt class, and more iPad cases

Yes - another class... but this time, I'm teaching!  A few of the girls at work asked me to teach them how to crochet, so I am.  We had our first class this week and I'm happy to say they all excelled on their single crochet stitches.  :)  Next up is double crochet and then we'll start on the cowl we picked out.  I'm really enjoying teaching these ladies.

I'm also teaching a friend and her daughter how to quilt.  Our first class was on Monday and we talked about expectations and looked through fabric designs.  We ended up going with Lemon Squares - I'm sure you're surprised - and we'll get started cutting next time.  We only meet every other week, so it should be a nice, easy pace. 

On the actual sewing front, I've been on a roll with the iPad cases.  I have had five requests since making my Owl case.  I started on three last night and got the zipper ends and velcro flaps done, including top-stitching.  Hoping to get the rest done either tonight or tomorrow.



  





On top of that, my mom dropped off fabric for two more earlier this week.  They're still wrapped up from Karen Gray's because they are for birthday gifts.  Can't be spilling the beans just yet, but I will say they are fabulous! (And don't you love how Karen bundles her fabrics?  So cute!)




I know you've heard it before, but if you haven't checked out Faith's website you should.   Fabulous tutorials for just about anything you can imagine.

Hope you all are doing well - it sounds weird, but I miss you!  Just a couple more months and life will be back to normal.  :)




Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced...hope you'll hop over there and do the same!




Happy Wednesday!

wip wednesday

Wow, it's been far too long since I've posted one of these. I guess that's a good thing, though, since I had a flurry of finishes over Christmas break. Believe it or not, I still have two quilts to show you! I don't yet have pictures, but that's what happens when you go into work at o'dark-thirty and leave again at o'dark-thirty. Maybe this weekend.

Grad-school is back in full swing and the stress has already skyrocketed.  I'm hoping it's just typical re-entry stress and that it will be gone in a week or so.  In the meantime, lots of chocolate....




In-Progress:  Oh My Stars and Bethlehem Star quilts.

I haven't touched the Bethlehem Star quilt and have only managed one star in the Oh My Star's Quilt Along.  One.  So sad.




Only 110 to go. *sigh*  I have the others in this "set" cut and the flying geese parts together.  Maybe I can get the blocks formed this weekend.


New Projects: Knitting and Sewing Room Makeover

I can't remember if I've shared this or not, but I started a beginners class with a friend Thursday before last and it's so fun.  Next class is tomorrow.  I'm supposed to have 10-inches done on my scarf and I have about two.  Guess what I'm doing tonight?  *cough*

first stitches (mine is the blue)

On the sewing room front, a friend of mine came over last Saturday and helped me get the ball rolling.  I'll be using Terrain as my inspiration fabric - there's a surprise.  The walls will be a light aqua/teal and we're re-purposing some old office furniture that was in our storage room (that used to be a home-office).   Next up: Cleaning out the room so I can paint.

Well, ok... next step is actually buying paint.  :)


Finishes:

I did manage to finish my latest iPad case and I've gotten an incredible amount of comments on it.  Once again, if you haven't checked out Faith's website you should check it out.  Fabulous tutorials for just about anything you can imagine.




And finally, thanks so much to everyone who voted for me in the Quilting Gallery contest last week and left such wonderful comments.  Jane's Black and White Quilt took first place!...y'all really know how to make a girl feel good.  :)

I'm working at Karen Gray's this weekend for one of her famously huge sales.  I hope all the locals will stop by.  I enjoy working for her and am actually in process of setting up my first teaching class there.  Woot!

Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced...for the first time in what seems like forever.  Hope you'll hop over there and do the same!




Happy Wednesday!

WIP Wednesday

Another Wednesday has rolled around...something tells me the next few will be just as quick.  Is it me or is time going by lightning fast lately?

My WIPs this week are nearly the same as my last check in, with a couple of additions.  The biggest of which is my new sewing room.  Hubs and I decided to switch places with my sewing space and the boys' school room, so I am now upstairs on the main floor.  Yay!

please forgive the graininess - lights weren't set up yet.  :)

I have a long way to go to make it work, but it will get there.  I'm going with a soft green (Jardin, by Sherwin Williams, to be exact) but have no clue when the actual painting will begin.  Mostly because I'm working on three new quilts.

That's right...three.   Though, admittedly not all must be done before Christmas.

Quilt #1 is for my dad for Christmas.  I bought some wonderful camper fabric a while back and have been wanting to make him one for a while.  Lots of teals, grays, and touches of orange.   All mixed with a good bit of white, of course.  I'm using Faith's Lemon Squares quilt tutorial...and love it.  I have four of the six block types done - well over halfway!

Quilt #2 is the Charmed Prints Quilt Along I talked about on Monday.  I now have all of my diamond-in-a-square blocks done and a few stars.  Hope to finish them tonight, which means I'd better get crackin'.  Of course, this is the one that doesn't really need to be done by Christmas, though I would love to have it ready for the boys that morning.  :)

It was a little of a bear to get organized, but that's mostly because I was dead-set on chain stitching similar blocks.  If I just went by the layout, I probably could have saved quite a few stickies...

Quilt #3 is a surprise.  Sorry.  I know s/he reads this blog so that's all you're going to see on that one.  Good news is that it will be delivered by Christmas, so you don't have very long to wait.  Blues, teals, and whites on this one.  :)

Other remaining projects really haven't moved much.  I need to piece the back for Sierra's quilt and get it ready to quilt.  Mexican and Bethlehem stars are still as they were.  One day, one day...

Happy Wednesday...don't forget to link up with Lee!

WIP Wednesday

I think things are *finally* starting to settle down a bit, as I've been able to get a good bit of sewing time in this week. Classes are ramping up, but I feel like I'm in a routine at this point, which makes all the difference in the world. I have a couple of things to share with y'all later - like my finished iPad case - but I want to wait for some good pics. One of the disadvantages of going to work at o'dark-thirty is, well...it's dark. No snapping pictures on my way out the door like I could in the summer.

Completed:  iPad Case; Misfit Quilters Hoop Swap

That's right, I finished my hoop last night.  I can't wait to show y'all....I'm so tickled with it.  Thanks to my wonderful twitter friend Carolyn at Just One More Stitch I was able to add some Pips scraps to add to my hoop.   Can't reveal just yet as it's not sent, but here's little sneak peek:





Ongoing:  TwitterB October Block

I came close to finishing this one last night, but really needed sleep.  The most-awesome Belinda sent us some Loulouthi fabric for inspiration, with specific instructions to not use it in the block, only use it for color choosing.  I think I'm happy with my fabric, but will have to wait and see when it comes together - hopefully tonight.  :)






Ongoing, No Progress:  Same as last week - Black-and-White Quilt and Sierra's Quilt.  *sigh*

And, for once... no new projects.  Though I do have to get busy on my post-Summit swap.  It's due out next week.  Eek!




Don't forget to link up with Lee! 

Happy Wednesday!!

WIP Wednesday

Here we are once again with another WIP report... finally!!!  I must say, I've really missed being able to post progress...mostly because of my lack of progress...LOL!

No finishes this week - yet.  But I am working on a couple of things. Feels good to get some sewing done.

Completed:  None.  :(

Ongoing/Progress Made:

My Misfit Quilters swap is moving along quite steadily.  Probably because it's mostly embroidery.  I only have pedals to add on my little bicycle.  Hope my partner likes bikes....   (**wink**)





The swap is for 9" hoops, so I'll be adding some fabric to this.  And, well... a hoop.  *note to self - buy hoop.*

Next up is the beginnings of an iPad case.  Technically, this one is finished - I'm using it as we speak - but I want to make several adjustments, so I'm not quite ready for a full reveal.  I hope to have time this weekend.





I used Lee's Kansas Dust Storm block and then off-set it a bit for a little different look.  You could really do this with any block and I've thought about a little tutorial for the case part.  What do you think....is that something you'd like to see?  (Oh - the fabric is from Joel Dewberry's Heirloom, btw.)

Ongoing/No Progress:

Bethlehem Star - haven't touched it in weeks.  :(
Jane's Black and White Quilt - I really need to get moving on this one, it's done except for the binding!


New Projects:
Despite swearing I was at my limit, I've joined two new swaps.  One is for a post-Sewing Summit group and the other is through the Triad MQG.  I'll be making a zipper pouch for the former and potholder for the latter.  I'm thinking of using up my leftover Central Park scraps for both as I have plenty and both partners have stated they like bright colors.  Hopefully will have some pics next week.  :)


So that's it for me.... enjoy your week, everyone!!

WIP Wednesday #10

Ok - I have to admit up front...I have no idea if this is really "#10" or not. And my brain is too fried to look. So, do you trust me? LOL!!!!

Grad school classes started yesterday and I haven't slept well since Sunday. I'm so nervous about taking on such a large responsibility on top of everything else I do.  As I walk around in my half-daze, I am starting to sound like the Little Engine That Could.... "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...". Really.

A little more coffee and everything will be ok, right?   ;o)

I did manage to work on a couple of WIPs this week. With Flipside being quilted, all that is left is the binding. Here is a close-up of the quilting. It was the first time I've used a pantograph and I really liked it. I see many more of these in my future.





I'm giving it away this weekend...assuming I can actually make myself do it. I desperately want to keep this one for myself. I bought the pattern and supplies fully intending it for me, but while making it, I knew exactly who I needed to give it to. (Sorry - no names, as there's a good chance that she reads my blog.)   :)





I promise - more pictures will be up next week.  I can't wait for y'all to see the full quilt.  It's gorgeous.

My other main focus for this week has been my Bethlehem Star quilt. I have *finally* put together some diamonds out of the ka-billion strip sets I had made.






In class this week, my friend Claire taught us how to put in the glow blocks using Y-seams. A new technique for me - and I must say, not as difficult as I imagined.





This makes two new techniques in this quilt alone - sewing circles and sewing Y-seams. Both were a bit cumbersome, but nothing that couldn't be handled. I love learning new things! (Of course, that may explain the desire for grad school, too.)

My last "WIP" is the 10-for-10 interview series. We started with Interview #1 yesterday and Interview #2 posts tomorrow. And there are giveaways with each one. I hope you'll join us! (You can keep up with all the giveaways on my 10-for-10 page).





Don't forget to link up with Lee over at Freshly Pieced - who just might be one of our upcoming interviewees later this month. *wink, wink*






Have a wonderful week, y'all!