January Goals and 2013 Plans

Phew! I'm exhausted from 2012. Aren't you? Thankfully, I have 2013 to get me all excited about new quilting adventures!

Since my family is moving back to the midwest this month--midwest friends, you better be cheering!--I'm going to take it easy with my to-do list. I have two blocks for the Make It Modern Bee and one for the Lucky Stars BOM. I'm toying with also doing the Sisters' 10 Modern BOM, but I think I'll make that decision when I see just how much I get done. And if I get through those five blocks, well! I'll have to get started on some of my works in progress, won't I?

WIPs:

• HST BOM--Quilt top is pieced; need to baste and quilt
• Marie Quilt--Quilt top is 1/2 pieced
• Le Mille--Quilt top is pieced; need to baste and quilt
• Triangle Mini--Quilt top is pieced; need to order perle thread for handquilting

The Purple-y Quilt, aka Mama L's Quilt

For December, I didn't get to touch Banzo's cape, but I'm blaming that on unexpected sewing machine shenanigans.

• Mama L's Quilt
• Finish I-spy quilt for Banzo
• Cape for Banzo
• Holiday gifts (1 Ps, 6 Zs, 2 Ms, 2 Ts)
• Pillowcase for Husband
• Advent Calendar
• Packing for move
• Get everything to the post office

I'm linking up with Fresh Sewing Day at Lily's Quilts. And since I'm leaving on Wednesday to spend a week with my BFF, I won't be blogging much, but I do hope to spend time reading blogs and drooling over your projects! 

The Purple-y Quilt

I finished sewing the label on this bad boy two nights ago. Yesterday, I took a few quick photos before bundling it into a box and getting it ready for mailing.

Since we pulled names for Christmas gifts this year, I was charged with picking out a gift for my husband's grandma. I was looking to get something customized with all of the grandkids and great-grandkids names on it or something, and then my husband had the great idea to do that, but with a quilt! So I made a signature quilt. My mother-in-law had the great idea to add some sort of quote or saying, so we added a portion of Proverbs 31 to some of the blocks.

This was my first big project attempting FMQ. I had read on Leah Day's site that taking a quilt and doing one huge design on it will ensure you've improved your skills by the end, and that is mostly true. It would've been more true in my case if my machine hadn't gone in for service halfway through the quilting. They adjusted the timing, so when I got it back, it was totally different! I initially tried a stipple on the blocks, but it looked terrible, so I spent three hours ripping out stippled lines and went with a loopy curly thing on the patchwork instead. The hardest part was getting an even distribution of the loops from block to block.

I did okay. Some areas are definitely nicer than others, but I did learn some things about FMQ. (I also picked up some quilting gloves, which helped a lot!) I'm glad to have this one finished, and in 2012 to boot! It's a great way to finish off the year.

Hustlin'

I was on track to make a good dent--or possibly even finish--my 100 Day Hustle list. (Thanks again to Kelsey for hosting!) Then, the purple-y quilt came into my life, and I dropped pretty much everything in hopes of getting it done.

The purple-y quilt--I finished the quilting two nights ago, and now I'm working on handsewing the binding. Woo!

Second Half Finishes: (First half are here.)

Finish I-spy Quilt for Banzo - DONE

Finish HST BOM Blocks - DONE (Added plus, it's a quilt top!)

Finish HST BOF Blocks - DONE (Added bonus, it's a table runner!)

Triangle Quilt- 1/2 done. I had hoped to finish it entirely, but I'm glad I got this far!

4 Capes - 3 of 4 DONE

Holiday Gifts - DONE (All of the below photos are holiday gifts.)

Scarf for my Mama

Pillowcase for my husband

Tote for my Senpai

Pillow for Friends

I didn't get my tags done, and I didn't make any further progress on my Marie quilt because of the purple-y quilt. There are a few other gifts I finished, but I can't show you yet because they haven't been delivered. But soon, Friends. Soon. 

This didn't seem like all that much until I uploaded all of the pictures. Yikes! I guess I got more done than I thought. Hopefully I'll be able to get my Marie quilt top done early in 2013, and then get started quilting all of these quilt tops! Y'all know about my list-love, so the 100 Day Hustle was a great tool for me. Dare I say, I hope it becomes an annual event? I'm linking up with the final list. 

All is Well.

My darling Agatha is back from the shop. Those shop people must think I'm nutty. I was there within 15 minutes of them telling me they could fix her, and as soon as they called today, I threw the baby* at my husband and bolted down to pick Agatha up.

Now, back to work quilting.

*I wouldn't literally throw my baby at anyone. 99.9% of you probably understand that, but just in case someone is freaking out because they think I threw my baby, well, rest assured. There was no baby throwing. Although, even if there was, I'm pretty sure the baby would adapt mid-flight and land in a stunning display of acrobatics because that's just the kind of kid he is. Sheer awesome, peeps.

Also, I'm getting a late Christmas present! Both of my boys are still sleeping, so I can get some sewing in right now! Adios.

Finishing Up.

I spent a lot of time over the weekend looking over my 100 Day Hustle list and my December to-quilt list, and I gave myself a little pat on the back and said, "I totally have this." 

Because I was so confident, I even took the time to put together my triangle quilt top because I'd finally decided how I wanted to set the triangles.

When I was about halfway through quilting the purpley quilt, Agatha got very angry and started making terrible, terrible noises at me. In her defense, I have been working her pretty hard to get through all of my gift-making, but the screaming was really unnecessary. (Can we say, drama queen?)

I freaked out and looked at Agatha, too stunned to consider what this meant for my gift-making. While I was panicking, my husband had already googled sewing machine repair shops and read a bunch of reviews on the location of the best shop in our area. Twenty minutes later, Agatha had a diagnosis, and they determined that she probably just needs a cleaning.

Oh, Friends. I feel listless. What to do with myself? I might actually have to do something like pack. Or worse! Clean. (Bleh.) Thankfully the holidays and the holiday cake have somewhat filled the void.

Until Agatha is back, the purpley quilt and I will be waiting.

Merry Christmas, Friends. I'll see you around in a few days.

SS: Lots of Yummies!

Friends, I lucked out this week. 

My Monday was off to a terrible start--a mix of crying, whiny, nine-month-old who is so close to cutting a tooth and a two-and-a-half-year-old clamoring to go to school so he can ride on the school bus--and then the mailman came and brought me some squishy mail.

And this was inside!

Have you been to Marika's blog? I found it a few weeks back, and she just so happened to be having this awesome giveaway where she'd make a pouch for the winners based on their favorite color. And I won, which is all sorts of awesome. Then, when I received my pouch, I freaked out because I didn't ever purchase any of the infamous typewriters fabric, but I've always wanted some, and now I have a typewriter of my very own! (Can we say super generous?)

Did I mention the pouch was full of fabric lovelies too? Yum yum!

Talk about making my day! It was awesomeness in a hot pink pouch. Thanks, Marika! You're a peach. (PS-Doesn't this pillow that Marika made overwhelm you with its sheer awesomeness?)

THEN! Oh, Friends! Then! My mailbox received another bit of lovely yesterday when I got a box from my friend J.

Yay! I saw a bobbin necklace for the first time a couple of weeks ago in someone's post, and I thought it was rather clever. Now, I have one of my very own, and it's piiiiiiiink! Pink chain, hot pink thread in the bobbin. Delish! (My baby also thinks it must be delish because he keeps trying to eat it. No, Lito. Mama's necklace!)

You know what else was delish? The cookies that accompanied it! I think I ate about ten of them yesterday. What? It could have been the end of the world, and I didn't want to go out thinking, "There were cookies left!" I estimate I'll polish them off today. (J, if you're reading, thank you! and yes, I did share.)

I'm linking up my Sunday Stash with Fiona at Finding Fifth.

FF: Multiple finishes, woo!

I loved him as a block, but I'm seriously smitten with him as a pillow. And sadly, this pillow is destined for a friend's home. I will still love him from afar, but it will be hard to part with him. I used the mushroom block from Cut to Pieces Super Mario QAL (sans stabilizer), then added a 1" black border and a red envelope style pillow closure as per this tutorial. He's not 100% perfect when it comes to lining up points, but when dealing with 324 1.5" squares, I gave myself a bit of wiggle room.

I struggled with deciding how to quilt it. I was limited on thread options, and I didn't want to use white on the black and red areas, so I just echo quilted the white and did a couple of echos around the border.

I finished up Banzo's I-spy quilt, which is pretty much a carbon copy of the I-spy quilt I did for 100 Quilts for Kids. The binding is different. Otherwise, they're identical. I was going to wait until Christmas to give it to him, but he saw me quilting it, and he's going through a "mine" phase, so it immediately became his, and how could I deny him?

Finally, I finished up my advent calendar. (Three finishes in one week--yay!) To be honest, I rushed this, trying to get it done by December 1, which didn't happen, mostly because it didn't turn out as I had hoped, and I lost my enthusiasm to work on it. The final product is okay. And it'll do the job, which is the most important thing. I couldn't decide on how to number the pockets, so that's a future project. I really should start my Christmas projects in July, but that seems like so much work! Tree skirt and stockings for next year? We'll see....

I'm linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts and TGIFF. As always, go check out everyone's lovelies!

WIP: Sooooo Tired Edition.

We're almost there, friends. Christmas. With less than a week, I'm scrambling to make enough progress on projects. I want quilt tops finished so I can least take pictures and tell people what is coming their way--and hopefully soon!

 
My purple quilt is a quilt top. Woo!

I started the FMQ on it yesterday by doing some swirly swirls in the square in a square blocks. I have no idea what I'm doing after that. 

I might be super late with it, but my advent calendar is almost done! As in, only a few more inches of binding to sew. Then, we'll get to use it for like two whole days! Woo!

My gray HST quilt needs its borders attached. Woo?

And I have a few other projects in the works that I can't show you just yet. Bring on the woo!

I'm linking up with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced. There are kajillions of lovely talented people who link up every week--if you're one of them, thank you for stopping by--so if you haven't already looked over the list, head on over!

 

Oh, My Lucky Stars!

 

Hi Friends! 

I'll have pictures and project updates for you tomorrow, but I wanted to pop in and let you know I'm all signed up for the Lucky Stars BOM over at Don't Call Me Betsy.  

In late November, I started to have this panicky feeling in my gut. What would I do in 2013 when the In Color Order HST BOM was completed? What would I look forward to on the first of the month? Apparently, I need a BOM in my life. 

In an attempt to fill the void, I signed up for a bee. (My first--eep!) The Make It Modern Bee starts January 1, which gives me something to look forward to, and in the meantime, I've been chatting with my bee mates, who seem lovely. (Hi Bee Mates!)

Then, I started to have this twinkling of an idea. My husband loves paper pieced star blocks. He always tells me how cool they look, and I thought I would make up my own little personal BOM of sorts. Except, now that I'm all signed up for this BOM, I'm good to go, which is awesome because my to-do list isn't getting any shorter, and Elizabeth's blocks look something fierce! They even have husband-approval--fist pump!

Anyway, I'm pretty excited about this new BOM, and I thought you might be too, so check it out, and if you're feeling it, sign up too! 2012 was the year of HST for me, and it looks like 2013 will be the year of the Bee and the year of paper piecing.

I'm off to baste something big and purple-y. More tomorrow!

FF: T-minus 11 days.

Have y'all ever heard the Doom Song from Invader Zim? It's my current theme song. Lots of doom but sung in a really positive way! And that's how my sewing and quilting is progressing. Lots of doom. Lots of destruction. (Seam ripper, anyone?) But I'm staying upbeat. Why? Because I heart it all so much that I can't help myself! Sure, I'm tired. I'd love to be done and feel like I wasn't under this pressure any longer, but until the magical day of Christmas arrives, I'm going to stay positive.

But I'll be singing along with Gir in the background.

I took a break from my purpley quilt because my sewing table was starting to bow under the weight of the projects and materials I've piled on top of it. Perhaps not literally. Maybe it's my mind that was starting to bow? So I spent the past two days working on other projects. I needed to get something off the table, and I was hoping for more than one finish, but instead of handsewing binding last night, I collapsed on my couch and watched a movie with my husband. (Totally worth it.)

I finished this tote bag, using a pattern by Oliver & S. It was my first time making a tote and using interfacing, but it came together quickly and easily. I'm sending it off as a birthday gift for a friend, and I hope she likes it! I see lots and lots of totes in my sewing future.

Today, I'm linking up with TGIFF and Crazy Mom Quilts. (Go check out the finishes! There are some gorgeous finishes!)

WIP: The Purple Edition.

Hi Friends. I posted last Wednesday about possibly needing an intervention. I'm sad to report that this week did not get better.

On Thursday, I cleaned my house because my in-laws were arriving that evening. On Friday, we went to the beach, woo! On Saturday, I picked up some purpley fabrics for a quilt for my husband's grandma. I also had some red velvet cake/cheesecake hybrid, and I have been thinking about it almost every moment since I finished eating it. If I pull off this purple quilt, I totally get another piece as a reward, okay?

On Sunday, my in-laws left, and I did some more purpley cutting. I also organized my fabrics because...

...on Monday, I started piecing patchwork blocks.

On Tuesday, I finished piecing the patchwork blocks and started and finished some square in a square blocks.

And today, I linked up with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced. I also have big Wednesday plans to make (16) 6" square blocks in a variety of designs like this one. Woo! Maybe on Friday I'll piece this quilt? Saturday and Sunday quilt it? Bind it next week? And pop it in the mail just in time for Christmas. That's the plan.

I did manage a few other projects this week. I basted my mushroom block, but have no idea how to quilt it. Any thoughts? I should check out the flickr group and see how other people are quilting theirs. My first inclination is straight line, but I didn't use the stabilizer, so I think that will draw more attention to any imperfections....

And a peek at a Christmas gift in progress. I mailed the bulk of my gifts yesterday, but I have a few left to finish, and some that just aren't going to get finished before the holidays, but the recipients have been informed, and they're excited about their gifts, so they've given me a little room to slide.

Purple!

Last night, I had the awesome pleasure of cutting into the above stack. (Correction: My mother-in-law cut into the above stack. Besides helping me pick out the fabrics, she grabbed my rotary cutter and went to town. Thanks, Mom!) Seven different lovely varieties of purple. My favorite is the third down from the top--silver and purple--though the shot cotton underneath it is truly wonderful as well.

Check out that selvage label! Love.

And this will be the backing fabric. I picked out these lovelies for the quilt I decided to take on last minute. I really should get back to cutting and organizing fabric, but I had to share. I'm linking up with Sunday Stash with Fiona at Finding Fifth!

Progress?

Because of my crazy need to take on yet another quilt this month, I downsized my December to-quilty-do list. And since I'm picking up fabric tomorrow for the new quilt, it seemed like a good idea to push forward on some of my outstanding projects.

Used this tutorial.

It's not much, friends, but it's something! I finished the pillowcase for my dear, dear husband. Personally, I think it rocks. (It's really hard to keep it hidden because I want to show it to him now.) And it's one less thing on my December list. Woo! Sure, it's the easiest thing, but progress is progress is progress. Is progress!

Revised December List:

• Finish I-spy quilt for Banzo
• Banzo cape
• Holiday gifts (1 P, 2 Ms, 6 Zs, 2 Ts) - I finished the Zs, I've got one M done, and I may cut the Ts. We'll see.
• Packing for move
• Mail gifts
• Pillowcase for husband - DONE! Woo!
• Finish advent calendar - Mostly done.
• Quilt for N's Grandma. And it will be awesome.

I yanked my Marie quilt from the list. Since she is for my bed, she's the first to go. And since we're celebrating the holidays when we get back to the midwest, if I need to, I can finish Banzo's quilt and cape next month. I'll get around to finish her eventually, though I'm not sure I'll have her finished before the end of winter. Sadness.

So tell me! What are you up to this weekend? What projects are you working on? Anything fun and exciting? Wanna help me procrastinate?

WIP: The Edition Where I've Lost My Mind

I think we're entering into intervention season. Days after I made my December list, I've got to rework it because I decided to take on another lap quilt. (Why do I do these things to myself? Is this perhaps a sign of instability?)

But I'm excited! And the quilt was actually my husband's idea, so I'll blame him. He even offered to help. (The man helped me trim HSTs a few weeks ago because he's a crazy nice guy, so maybe I can have him do some chain-piecing for me?)

In the meantime, I've got to finish up my other projects, and fast!

There was no way I was going to get a baby-free shot. Enjoy the chubby baby fingers!

Advent calendar. Needs binding!

And back to work...but maybe after checking out a few other blogs linked up to Freshly Pieced!



Edit: The Mario Mushroom block is from the Super Mario QAL, just in case you were wondering!

December Goals

If you're visiting from Lily's Quilts: Hi! How are you? Other Friends? It's good to see you too!

You all know about my list love. Oh, I love me a good list. They are just so...magical! And December's Quilty To-Do is especially magical because it's huge!

But first, wanna see some fun stuff from November? (Why do I ask? Of course you do.)

• HST quilt-finish piecing top
• Marie quilt-finish piecing columns
• Banzo and Lito's quilt-finish piecing top
• cut fabric for holiday gifts
• kidlet capes
• finish skirt
• BOM and BOF blocks
• piece BOF top
• Scout's blanket

And that, my Friends, is called rocking November's To-Do List. Woo woo!

Now, for December:

• Finish piecing Marie quilt top
• Finish I-spy quilt for Banzo
• Banzo cape
• Holiday gifts (2 Ps, 2 Ms, 6 Zs, 2 Ts)
• Packing for move
• Mail gifts
• Pillowcase for husband
• Finish advent calendar

What do you have on your to-do list for December?

I'm linking up with Lily's Quilts Small Blog Meet and Fresh Sewing Day!