Working here and there

I've been around.

Working here and there on different projects, most of them being Christmas presents that I can't show here. Well, I can't show here yet.

But this one is for a beautiful baby girl in Washington, DC.

I learned how to make these maverick stars here. They're quite addictive, so consider yourself warned.I put said stars in the "middle" of wonky log cabin blocks, and outlined them in orange. And, as usual, I had a supervisor, ready to step in should I need assistance.

I hadn't made sleeved pillow cases before, but it was a cinch, and I got to use up two blocks that otherwise would not have had a home. They were just a tad too big for the quilt, and I needed fronts for the pillows anyways, so I quilted them and attached a bright orange backing.

And now it's back to more Christmas sewing!

Finally Finished

This is the face of someone who has been banned from my work area:

I think I'll call it his "I like this box better anyway" face. Being a typical cat, Duncan has a tendency to sit on any piece of paper, scrap of fabric, or article of clothing you may be trying to read/sew and/or wear. It's a never-ending battle that I lose on a daily basis.

Somehow though, I can sometimes scoot him away long enough to take a picture or two.

Yeah, or one. Make that one picture without his fuzzy butt. Outside, however, things are out of his reach, and I can stand on my tip-toes while Husband takes a few pictures for me (I could only find one clip, so please pardon my hand, and the neighbor's fence isn't exactly my favorite place to take pictures, but I'm trying to make do).

TAH-DAH!

It is finally, finally, FINALLY done! How many needles did I break on this one? Probably about four, and I don't even want to recall the amount of swearing that came from my mouth, along with cave woman-ish grunts, squeals, and "ah crap" comments. I decided to stipple quilt the entire thing, and I'm not quite sure why I ever thought it was a good idea. Now don't get me wrong, I love the way it looks and feels, but geeeeezzz. That was a pain, and I don't know how much recovery time I'll need before I considering doing another large quilt. I think it might be like recovering from a hangover. The next day you say "I'm never going to do that again", but give it a few months and you'll say "hey, let's go out again and drink amaretto sours/buy more fabric".

I did hide a little something special in the border.... can you find it?

All-in-all, I'm in love with it. It has the perfect amount of wavy, crinkly goodness I was looking for. I wish I could have made it bigger, as it just fits over the edges of our queen-sized bed, but I didn't have enough fabric.

I had a crazy dream during one of first weeks we slept under it. I had eaten a little bit of a serrano pepper, and apparently they make me hallucinate. No, I'm not joking, and it was not a fun night for me. I mention it because I woke up to find myself frantically checking over every inch of this quilt, because my delusional dreamland, it was torn to shreds. Of course that night I also thought the lights in the house wouldn't turn off, and that the dog needed to go pee at 1:30 AM (he was really confused), and that Husband had driven my car off a pier.

I think I'll stick to peanut butter and smaller projects for a while.

How does your garden grow?

I LOVE my "Elsa Spath" clematis. I have to say that it was one of those plants that was growing like a weed (oh wait, everything was) when we bought our place, and I had no idea what it was. A neighbor told me "oh, I think that has flowers on it or something". I decided not to rip it out of the ground and let it grow.

I'm really glad I did! There's nothing quite like a giant bouquet of purple flowers to welcome you home.

And I actually have pictures of quilt I finished! Of course I finished it in the car on the way to the baby shower, but that doesn't matter, right? And the pictures were taken at the shower after giving to the recipient, but I don't think she minded.

I've decided I'm quite a fan of the wonky long cabin blocks- I liked not trying to make them "perfect". I tried to make something neutral, since we don't know the sex of the baby, so I chose orange, yellow, green, and gray.

Now if only I could finish a project of my own!

Spring Buds

Winter has finally given way to Spring in Indiana...

The warmer weather has meant long walks with the pup, daily checking of the flower beds, and the need to pull out t-shirts and put away coats to encourage Summer to hurry up and get here.

It's funny when you wait all Winter to see what flowers will bloom. There are things blooming where they shouldn't be, but I don't mind...

And this change in the air means I need to hurry up and finish our summer/fall quilt...

So that new quilts for soon-to-be-born babies can be started on...

Platters, Piecing, and Scraps

A Valentine's present to myself....

That just happens to match my very-favorite Easter candy...mmm... Cadbury candy coated chocolate eggs.  I would happily eat a bag a day of these little guys!

I'm still very very slowly working on my fall quilt.  I find that I have to take my time on large projects, or else by the time it's done, I won't want to look at it. I've done a lot of chain piecing, which has helped it to go faster, but I'd still rather just twitch my nose and have it all be done! 

I've accumulated a nice little container of scraps from this quilt top:

And I have considered giving them away...

I'll have to think about it though (or be talked into it)- I am just so in love with these colors!

Memphis- It's Warmer Than Where I Live.

That was the main thing on my mind as we walked around downtown Memphis on Saturday. Being able to wear a coat, but no gloves, hat, or Appalachian hiking boots was awesome. 

 We decided to explore the city after a lunch of a-maz-ing BBQ:

The wife of one of the restaurant owners just happened to be dining near our table, and she took us in back to show us where they smoked the meat.  Let's just say three words I would use to describe that experience are huge, greasy, and delicious.

During lunch we began discussing the song "Walking in Memphis", because we were questioning some of the lyrics.  Particularly where myself and a friend thought the words were, "Walking with my feet ten feet off the pier".  It's completely wrong, but not quite as bad as "We built this city on broken glass"- which is what one of my old roommates used to think the words were to "We built this city on rock and roll".  

So after googling to correct lyrics, we learned it was "Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale", and made up our minds to go find Beale Street, and the Lorraine Hotel, where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated.  

We were awe-struck to actually see the hotel in person, rather than rely on the images we had grown up with in our history books. 

Beale street had so much character....

Neon signs.....

Mose the howling carriage dog......

Crumbling building facades held up by a network of steel so as to preserve them.....

On the way to and from Memphis, I worked on hand quilting a quilt top I made last year, and just never found time to finish:

Not that I'll have time to finish now either, but I thought I'd try to make a little bit of progress!  I'll start working on Emily's mini family tree quilt as soon as I hear back from her, and of course I'll post pictures of the quilt during it's creation. But now I'm off to make a tutorial for Lollychops on how to use freezer paper to make quilt appliqué!

And the Countdown Begins...

It's not too late to enter for the mini-family tree quilt-  I have had so much fun reading all of the comments and names you have left for me! I will choose and announce a winner on Friday, and then start your quilt on the long drive down to Memphis, Tennessee.  If anyone has any "you must go here" advice, I'd love to hear it!

Thank you for all of your advice on the sticker removal!  I received a few emails about using things such as peanut butter and olive oil too, but I decided to tempt fate with an ancient bottle of Goo-Gone.  I figured I would try it on one patch, and then try someone else's remedy on another patch.  

But, lo and behold, it worked, and it didn't even make the bright red color fade or run.  I still want to try all of the suggestions that were sent my way, and I'm sure I'll have the chance! After the disaster was averted, I cut up a few more scraps of fabric and sewed a couple of courthouse blocks:

And what's better to end a night of sewing with than a root beer float (in the dead of winter, mind you)?

But of course, there's someone who decided that all of the attention can't be on sewing and ice cream eating:

He's weird, but at least I'm pretty sure he knows it.

So Very Excited....

Wow!  That's about all I can say at this point!  It is so wonderful to read all of your great comments and visit your blogs and websites!  I am itching to get started on this mini-quilt giveaway, and I'm debating about whether or not to do two or three instead of just one....

Until I can get started on that project though, I'm cutting all of my pieces for our quilt top:

I'll be very glad when I have enough scraps to someday make a large scrap quilt instead of buying yardage.  Mostly because I don't appreciate when this happens:

I purchased a quarter flat at Joann's, and now I can't get the stupid sticker off.  Please help if you have any remedies for getting rid of this sticky gunk!  If you do, I may give you the recipe for a piping hot bowl of "Baked Potato Soup", complete with bacon, cheese, green onion, and of course, potatoes.

Now this is off subject, but I have to share a picture of Dax with his best friend ever, Charlie. Charlie lives across the street, and they love to do things that all dogs do, but playing tug-of-war is their speciality.  

Someday I hope to be able to post a video of Dax running across the street to go see Charlie.  My neighbor and I check the street for cars, and then I open my door and Dax runs as fast as his little bunny legs will let him to go play with Charlie.  

Hilarious, I tell you. 

Giveaway!

The guilt of not posting after mentioning a giveaway has finally gotten to me... oh the shame.  I promise there is one though!  I got a bit too busy with last-minute Christmas gifts that turned out to take a lot more time than I expected.  An entire quilt in three days?  All done by hand?  With everyone in the family's name embroidered on it?  Ah, why not!?  Nuts, I tell you.

Anywho, I would like to make a mini-family tree quilt for you too!!  All that you have to do is leave me a comment that lists all of the names you would like to have on the quilt.  You can enter up to three times, and you can enter on behalf of one other person also.  I mean, think of the brownie points you can earn here, geesh.  I'll give everyone (who ever may still be there after my hiatus, that is)  up to two weeks to enter, and then pick a winner randomly. Good luck!

Until then, I shall be having fun with a few books from a co-worker,

and, finally delving into my stash of favorite fabrics....

I can't wait! 

UPDATE:  Entries for this giveaway will only be accepted until 12:00 AM, January 16th, EST.

More Hours in the Day, Please!

I believe that there may be nothing better than being wrapped up in a quilt and a sweatshirt on a cold fall day.  In case you haven't noticed, it's my favorite time of year.  Yes, I love Christmas too, but falling down because of ice, having the cuff of my jeans get wet from snow, and being broke from buying gifts does mark it down to maybe third place. 

Dax loves fall just as much as I do.  Probably because it means I'm more than willing to take him to the park to make new friends.

But, I promise that going to the park has not been the only thing I've been doing!  I've been mainly working on a wedding dress and birdcage veil for a friend of Husband's. She had her alterations done at a national wedding dress chain where she purchased her gown, and they did a horrible job "fixing" her dress.  I was amazed at what I saw when I took it apart! 

This is a (poor quality) picture of her birdcage veil in progress.  I drew out a 10 second sketch of what her floral lace pattern was, and re-drew it onto freezer paper.  That was then ironed onto satin, cut out, and sew onto muslin to give it stability. The end product was beaded to match her dress, and I'll post pictures of it after she, well, gets married!

I still haven't free motioned quilted yet.... yes, I'm scared. I think I may be too much of a perfectionist to just "go for it".  But, I'll keep practicing and let you know when I work up the courage to use it on a project.  

Here is a quilt top that Husband says looks like a pantone book:

I have to agree with him, and I like it that way. Gradating colors make me happy! I appliqued the circles on using a blanket stitch, and I've backed it with a piece of thick cozy fleece.  I want to try something that doesn't have as much weight as a quilt, but still has that quilt "look".

I think Dax approves.

Yay for Etsy!

Oh gosh. It's finally getting there.  My legs are on fire from my MacBook slowing roasting them while I have been diligently setting up my Etsy shop. It still has a way to go, but at least I have two whole quilts posted!  How excited am I!? If you absolutely have to check it out, my shop URL is: jellybeansoup.etsy.com.

On another note, guess who else was excited today?  Excited about nothing, that is. Who was running around, smacking Dax in the face, and then giving me the "chase me, I'm crazy!" look?

That would be our beloved Duncan Nonuts.  I wish that I could of gotten a picture of him with his crazy eyes and his ears down in a pre-pounce moment. Usually, you can find him curled up in his little bed, or on top of one of the couch cushions taking a morning nap (yes, my beloved fuzz butts often sleep the morning away).

He's quite a character, this cat. He used to sleep on my head at night.  And no, not just on my pillow - he would curl his body around my head and then lay his head on top of mine.  I didn't mind it much, actually I kind of liked that he wanted to cuddle up with me without force.  Usually he has to withstand me saying things that I know are stupid to him.  Examples include:

• "Meowmers, kitty kitty"
• "Meow-meow Dunk-a-dunk"
• "kee-kee"
• "Aww...King Duncan"

And yes, I know I sound like I should be committed when these things come out of my mouth, but look of disgust he gives me when I mix all of those phrases together makes it all worth it. 

He really gets worked up and hyper when I bring out fabric or I'm trying to sew.  He does everything he can to try to nonchalantly leap onto my sewing area or ironing board.  He knows that if he cries enough I'll let him wrestle with any scraps of fabric I'm not using until Dax steals them from him.  So if you can imagine, it was a wonder that I ever got these quilts done for Etsy.  

I made my own template for my "Bees and Blossoms" quilt.  I like Dresden templates, but I didn't want that many pieces, I'm not quite sure why.  If anyone is interested, I'd be more than happy to post tutorials on how to create your own templates from sketches or ideas you have.  I am a schooled and experienced pattern maker, and although I make patterns for clothing, that knowledge transfers to quilting. 

This pinwheel quilt was so fun to make!  I'm sure I could have made it faster than I did had the aforementioned kitty not been reaching up from under the table and stealing my supplies. I should videotape that sometime- it's quite entertaining to watch that tiny orange paw.