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!!







 

spring break!

Two midterms down and a week off.  I swear I felt the stress physically falling off my shoulders yesterday as my classmates gathered for drinks after stats class.  I've been counting the days for this one as classes seem to be at a much faster pace with a heavier workload this semester.  I feel like I've always got my nose in a book, journal article, or other miscellaneous work.




So tired of constantly having a to-do list.  But for the next 10 days, I don't.  Not a school-related one, at least.

Given the increase in class intensity, and the corresponding decrease in time with my family, my hobby projects have shifted more towards yarn work because it's something I can do while watching TV, etc., with the boys instead of being holed up in a sewing room....despite the fact that I'd *rather* be holed up in my sewing room.

I've had several finishes this month, though none of them are sewing or quilting projects.  I started and completed two cowls, two sets of fingerless gloves, a scarf and a doggie sweater.  It feels so productive to say that!  The scarf and one of the gloves sets were knit...a new hobby that I'm quickly falling in love with.  Here are a couple of photos of the crocheted projects. 










The cowl at the bottom is my favorite and I get tons of compliments each time I wear it.  It's a simple half-double crochet stitch done in the round.  I used two strands of Malabrigo worsted as the pattern called for a chunky yarn.  Two skeins and two evenings later, I was done (and that included pulling it out once halfway through because I didn't make it long enough!)  So.  Very.  Easy.   In fact, the pattern is called "Effortless Cowl" and the name certainly fits.

With my break finally here, and having Monday and Tuesday off from work, I have all sorts of pie-in-the-sky ideas about the many things I'd like to work on.  Truthfully, though, I'm seriously considering spending all day Monday in bed.  Yes, all day.  An alternative may be to spend the day at my best friend's lake house...but even then I may not get out of bed, unless it's to go sit on the boat dock for a while.  Doing nothing sounds so heavenly.

Other than that, though, I hope to cut several more Oh My Stars sets so I can organize them for some quick sewing once classes start up again.  I'm also starting to receive some TwitterB blocks (last month was my month) and I want to play with them a bit.  So fun to receive happy little packages.  I need to get some things painted for my sewing room, too.

Regardless of what projects I end up working on, I'm going to relish this time off, catch up with my online (and real life!) friends, and just sit and enjoy life a bit.  Spring break looks a lot different at 39 than it did at 21.

Enjoy your weekend!!

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!