I'm bad...new projects!

I went shopping today with my "twin"...i'm trying ever so hard to get her hooked on making quilts! I bought more fabric today for new projects. I'm horrible - I know. BUT - I did start to work on one of my projects from the list of "to do's"...so i'm not too terrible. I am now working on my strip quilt. It will take me awhile, but I hope to at least get one block done a week, if not more. That will be the fun part about the quilt, each block is something differnt, so it keeps it ineteresting and I reach my goal one block at a time. But this anemia is killing me! I'm only able to get myself downstairs a few times a week, but now that we know the problems, and i'm taking additional iron each day, that will hopefully help me feel good enough to be down here quilting!

I found this cute project online tonight...i'm going to have to dig into my scraps and make a few for fun. Not sure what i'll do with them, but it's too cute not to try!

The new project is a another baby quilt for Brice. The fabrics are just so bright! And the theme of "jungle animals" is really cute. I will have the main panel in the middle with a few boarders and then the other large print of just animals as the backing and maybe a large boarder. It will be a fast quilt!

I found this great fabric by Alexander Henry...not sure what to do with it yet, but it will definatly end up in a quilt for Brice.

And then of course I had to add to the fat quarter stash! I can't wait to get to work on a scrappy quilt with all of these great finds!

Nursing Cover-Up

Today's project: Nursing Cover-Up! It was so fast! But I didn't get to do it exactly as I would have liked. I really wanted to have it lined with this ultrasoft cordaroy I found yesterday, but I wasn't quite sure how to go about adding it in. Since i've never seen one of these in person, I was just making it as I went along. But, still, i'm quite happy with how it turned out. I really like the fabric - I just hope the receiver likes it as well!

These are some of the fabrics I bought while out with my mom yesterday, in the hopes of making more nursing cover-ups, but for me this time.

I especially love the multicolored one of flowers and leaves. I really like the green one with yellow flower's too. That one was quite expensive. So i'll perfect my pattern before using it.

I HATE Sashing

For those that don't know what sashing is, it's the fabric between the quilt blocks. I don't know why, but I always have the hardest time getting my sashing cut square. One (or both) sides are usually wonky. But, you can't tell once it's sewn on.

I went out to my moms late Thursday night and got to work loading it on to the HQ. Everytime I load a quilt I have to re-teach myself how it's done. So, we took pictures and i'll be making a tutorial for next time.

I really wanted to do circles (or bubbles) for the quilting, but I couldn't quite figure out a fast enough way to do it (and I hate using patterns, I like to freehand quilt) so I jus went with my usual swirls.

And here's the quilt all quilted! I like the colors much better now that the white sashing and borders are on. I'm so excited to have a quilt all for myself! I usually make quilts for everyone else.
And here's the back. I had a little of the fabric left over and just need a little bit more for the backing, so here's what I came up with. I love a pieced back - it just adds so much more interest!

Now all I have to do is add the binding, and it will truly be a finished quilt!

Disappearing 9-Patch

It's coming right along! I got all of my 9-patches sewn....


And then I began to cut the "disappearing" part. First down the center one directions...

Then across the center the other direction...

And I had all of those "disappearing" block pieces (36 to be exact)

Then I had to square them all up (tedious!)...

And finally, I started sewing them together! The fabrics are really cute, but part of me is not totally thrilled with it. They are too mtachy-matchy...not enough contrast. So i'm thinking i'll have to do this quilt again. I'm going to go on the hunt for fat quarters in our next quilt shop stops and dig into the stash I already have (which is extensive, but not quite what i'm looking for in the way of color and patterns).

And here's all the stacks waiting to be assembled into the larger blocks.

And for good measure, here's an updated picture of my little basketball...I mean, baby. :) See my sewing space in the background???

Attempts at crafts

Well, last night found me working on the wipes/diaper pouch...but there is a small flaw in the directions I was following and I couldn't quite get it stiched up. I got funny puckers at the side. Usually I can goof my way through something like that, but i'm a little stumped right now...so I have to think on it.

Then I moved onto sewing the baby sling for a friend...well, that didn't turn out how I like it. So i'll be buying her the sling she registered for. :) Now I just have to figure out what to do with the 2 yards of that fabric! Actually, I think i'm going to make this apron with it. Here's the failed attempt at the baby sling... Since the apron pattern is for a reversible apron, these two fabrics will be great to use. For the solid part of the apron i'll use a chocolate brown. I think it will compliment both sides nicely.

And finally, here is a glims at my latest project. I'll be doing a disappearing 9-patch with this fabric by Moda. It's their "Swell" collection by Urban Chicks. Yes...one more "project" on the pile. Why I start new projects when I have drawers full of started ones is beyond me!

Baby quilt for Brice - Check!

I actually got one of my projects done! I made the denim quilt for Brice like I saw on Etsy. I just love it! It's so retro and cute!
Here it is all layed out on the floor just before I sewed all the layers together.

And here it is all finished! I would love to post a how to, but since I took this idea from someone that is selling it on Etsy for $110 I'm sure that would be getting me in trouble somehow. I think once all was said and done it cost me about $30. I put the top together Saturday night and then put the layers together today. This is defiantely a quilt-in-a-day quilt.

And yet, there is still more...

Cleaning means I find more unfinished projects. I guess i'm the queen of starting projects. : /

This is a little carrying case for baby wipes (in one of those thin baby wipe plastic cases) and a diper or two. I found this so-cute fat quarter in my stash that I bought this summer at Quiltique in Henderson, NV that i'm going to use to make it.

This is a wall hanging I made two years ago and still need to put the binding on. Maybe by next fall, huh...

This is that other hand quilting project I mentioned before. Drunkard's Path. I'm almost done...just that bottom left section and then the binding and then I can hang it on the wall!

Then there is this needle punch that I need to do. But it's Christmas-y...so I probably wont touch it until next winter. That, and I want to take a punch needle class since i've never done it before. I'm a little frightened to just give it a go with out some instruction.

Here is a wall hanging that I started to put together to take to Spain with us last May to hand applique and quilt while my mom was in the hospital. Never quite got started on. It will be really cute finished and hanging in my quilt room, though!

This is a shamrock quilt that I started for a friend for his birthday last year. I have one block done. I really need to finish it. But it will probaly remain low priority for now.

Here is my "Crow" quilt as I like to call it. It has a little bit of crow fabric in it. I just need to put a border on it and then load it on the longarm and quilt it. It has the most adorable backing fabric.

This is a little beachy, starfish wall hanging I started working on. No pattern. I saw one like it in the Center Diamond Quilt Shop down in Cannon Beach, OR and just had to have one. The starfish is suppose to have french knots on it, but I can't quite get the french knots to turn out. Does anyone have some advice?

And finally, this is two stacks of fat quarters I bought at the Northwest Quilting Expo in Portland two years ago from the shop Mamma Made It. I was thinking I wanted to do a star quilt pattern with these. But, again, like most, this is a back-burner project.

Look what I can do!

I can finish a project! I unearthed another project that was partially finished. I started this two years ago and was literally 30 minutes from being done. So, I sat down and finished it! Now my little boy has a crocheted blanket from his mommy! This was my first crocheted blanket that wasn't just a simple single chain for the whole thing. This actually has detail and scalloped edges. I'm so proud of myself! Next I want to attempt to make this cute little crochet basket.

More Projects!

At least this project is out of the way - I did finally get all of my fabric from the last few weeks shopping trips put away. I brought in a three drawer plastic organizer thing and put all my current projects in it. Now they are all in one place and easy to find. No excuses for not working on them! (Yeah, right...)

Unfortunatly (or fortunately?) in cleaning I found more projects I had forgot about! Like this one...it's a small quilt to hang on the wall. My pieces are all cut out and pretty much all cut and ready to sew, but they are so small, and it will be so tedious, that I just keep putting it off. I need to stop that.

Then I found this! I have been working on finishing this for a few years. It has sat for the last two probably. It's all sewn together, i'm just hand quilting it (which takes awhile). It's relativly easy and my first attempt at hand quilting (damn, that reminds me...I have another hand quilting project I need to finish!!!!). I am just quilting around the edges of the blocks...but I will probably load it onto the long arm after i'm done with that and quilt the boarder to have a little bit better hold. Then again...maybe not. It's full size, so it's pretty big (as far as my projects go). It would be nice to have it done and maybe on the end of our bed.

And my last find of the day...I need to repair this old quilt. The fabric was very light weight and obviously didn't hold up well under washing. It's older. I think my stepadad's mom made it. At least that's where I inherited it from. Once it's repaired it will be a nice, scrappy quilt to have around on cold winter days.

Well, at least I got my room cleaned up today...tomorrow: Decorating! And maybe some quilting. For now, it's off to a birthday dinner for a friend!

Valentine's Day - What a let down

Tuesday I went out shopping with my mom and found the cutest card at Powell's Book Store for Aaron.

I was having the hardest time trying to figure out what to get him for Valentine's Day - but finally decided on making him a pot roast dinner and a layer cake. The first cake i've ever baked! And this was from scratch!

My only complaint about the cake so far is that the frosting should have been a little thicker. So next time I make it, i'll add more powdered sugar. The biggest accomplishment out of this all (to me) is that the cake plate is actually being used! How many people get cake plates for their wedding and then never make a cake to go on them? Tons i'm sure.

And as for the "let down"...I got a "Happy Valentine's" from my husband. You'd think our first Valentine's Day married i'd get a card, or flowers, or something... Oh well, I know that he loves me and that's what's important. I will be getting flowers...because I asked him to buy me some when he goes to the store so I can have some on the dinning room table for dinner tonight. My mom is joining us for dinner since she would otherwise be spending the day alone - so I thought flowers on the table would be nice. At least there wont be any expectations for the years to come. I hope you all had a great Valentine's Day!

A clean slate

I wiped the blog "slate" clean and am starting fresh! I am so inspired by all of the quilter/crafter blogs out there detailing their projects that I want to join in! I'm hoping it will help me stay on track with my projects knowing that other's will want to see what it is i'm up to and my progress in crafting.

Right now I have a huge list of projects...and I just keep picking up more along the way! I'm going to make a list so I can begin checking things off:

1. Finish Andrea's quilt - DONE!

2. Finish Lizzy's quilt - DONE!

3. Make new ironing board cover with cute fabric from my mom

4. Make Moda "Blossom" quilt

5. Make "Flea Market Charm" quilt by Urban Chicks (these are some of the fabrics i'll use)

6. Make "Windy by the Lake" quilt from Feb 2008 American Patchwork & Quilting magazine

7. Make "Heart & Home" quilt with Jelly Roll pack (my first Jelly Roll quilt!)

8. Make "Summer Time Tote" from new bag book I got from my Aunt - DONE!

I also want to make "Kidlet" wall pockets for the boy's room and this adorable denim quilt (DONE!) I found on Etsy.com and some baby bibs and a nursing cover-up (DONE!).... There are just so many things to do! I need to get going on them!