Airport Stitching

I travel for work.  I found i had all

This time sitting in airports and on planes to do something.  I don't sleep well on planes so i would get bored.  So now I stitch, either needlepoint, hexies or redwork - all very travel friendly.

Here is a sneak peak at something I am working on for a Christmas in July swap. Sorry I am mobile so I can't

post the link to the swap.

Dresden Madness

You should know by now, I love dresden plates.  So when Denise said dresdens for a block swap, I was all in!.

Here is a sneak peak!







This last photo gives me all kinds of 3-D ideas for a candle mat!

I finally got something done!

I know I'm busy but it seems like I never get anything done. However, this weekend I was able to finish up one small project.  As you read (hahaha) in my previous post, I had these quilt squares from the Crafty Girls weekend that we made (one each from Regena, Karen and Denise) that we swapped.

So, I dug through my stash to find some sashing, made up some make-do squares for corner stones out of the scrapes I had and came up with this little table runner.

I decided to do free-motion quilting - at which I'm still learning.  I crossed a few lines and got some points, but in the end it doesn't look too bad.








I know that last photo looks like it's wonky, but it's not in person, I just suck at photography.

I also, finally added the sashing and make the quilt sandwich of the scrap quilt I started way back when.

Shaking and a Grovin'

Over the weekend, the hubs and I attend the Grand Cru event.  It's a local charity event put on by Legal Aide.  There were over 1,000 wines tasted and some wonderful food from local restaurants and market.  We had a really nice evening at the downtown park, sipping some amazing wines.



Then early the next morning we headed over to the antique flea market, where I added not one, but two new pottery pitchers to my collection. The hubs was not thrilled.  However, this was the most fun thing I saw all day. It's a spider man pogo stick..hahahaha




I took a day off from work this week and this is pretty much what I did all day.


I'm playing swappy goodness with the girls again, this time it's Dresdens (YEAH) made out of this.




Someday when I have loads of spare time, I plan on sewing something with this stack of fat quarters.  Oh and the hubs has grounded me. So I should be home a lot more so maybe I can get caught up on my sewing.

Summer Summer Summer

I've had a very nice summer so far.  However, every now and then, I catch myself looking at sweaters and boots with a longing for fall. What a shame!

At the end of July, we had our 2nd Annual Chica's Weekend.  Denise of My Whittle Adventures and Regena of The Distracted Domestic drove down to visit with Karen of Sew Much 2 Luv and I.

 We saw some amazing quilts at the festival.  We also had several friends join us - Sam, Oma, and Marcia - it was a great day!



 We spent a day at the International Quilt Festival and a day sewing on our swap blocks.  We bought the charm packs last year at the IQF.





Then I had a business trip to Iowa and I found this little quilt shop that I had to stop in to see.  Found room in the suitcase for all my goodies.


Sam, recommended I visit Country Threads shop in Iowa when I was there, but it was too far, so I ordered online of course!.  I bought this quilt pattern called America's Quilt

Then yesterday, it was HOT, and I mean HOT for around our parts.  Too hot to garden or do much, so I stayed in and sewed. This is my version of the America's Quilt.  Earth tones, to go in our master bedroom.  Not so patriotic now, but in person the colors really do blend really well.

Aunt Pitty Pat Spring Mug Rug Swap

I participated in another one of Aunt Pitty Pat's swaps! Her swaps are so much fun.  Here is what I sent.



Plus a few other things like a hummingbird mug, some fat quarters and some quilting pins.

Here is what I got from Janice my partner!  Isn't it adorable?  thank you so much!







Thank you Aunt Pitty Pat for another fun swap!

On going projects

Being home this weekend was nice. I was able to work on some UFO's. I finished the hand quilting on the modified stacked coin quilt and got it all prepped and ready to bind. Here is a picture of it with the backing and the fabric I found for the binding. Then I worked on the Lil' Rascals Quilt I'm making as a Christmas gift. It was my first quilt to back with minky fabric and boy was it easy! Now I need to bind it and pack it away for wrapping. I also finished up my two swaps - Aunt Pitty Pat's Halloween Tote & Mug Rug swap and the Charming Christmas Swap. These are mailed and on their way to their recipients. Happy sewing everyone!

Halloween Tote & Mug Rug Swap

I signed up for Aunt Pitty Pat's Halloween tote & mug rug swap this year. I sure had fun making up the tote and mug rug for my partner. I even made up some additional goodies too. Plus all the necessary swap tuck in's and fun stuff. I'll mail it either tomorrow or Monday depending on if I can find a box around here or have to wait until I see what I have at the office. I did receive mine today from my partner! It is just adorable She really did all kinds of extra goodness in there. Here's a picture minus the candy (the hubs snagged it quick). Thank you Jackie it's really great!

Hot Mama Apron Swap

is going on and I've stalled.

Here's the fabric I got last weekend.



Like it don't love it. Not sure how it'll work.

Then here's all the other fabric I got last weekend. Not sure what to use it for.


On a side note, we went to a traditional Quinceanera this weekend and here is a picture of the father/daughter dance taken with the hipstimatic app on my phone.



Go take a look at the great give away at Prairie Flower Farm! Great canning ideas and information too!

It's Martini Time!

In the words of one of my favorite bands of all time - "The Reverend Horton Heat".

Yes, that's right, it's hot outside, it's just sweltering. So doesn't that just make you wanna throw some ice into a glass and sip on some cool refreshing something?

I know what you're thinking - she's gone and lost her marbles (again). No, No I've only signed up for another apron swap!

That's right, Hot Mama Apron Swap is at it again.

So to get some ideas, I've found this nice little link to one of my all time favorite TV Show - Mad Men Cocktail Guide.

Dust off that cocktail shaker and be prepared to pour!

Aunt Pitty Pat's Sewing Accessories Swap

As you know I participated in this swap. It was an open swap, meaning we knew who our partners were and we were to communicate with them to find out what they like. My partner was Nadine over at Apron Valley Road. We exchanged a few emails to each other outlining fabric lines we liked or designers, the dimensions of our sewing machines, if we wanted pockets or not. We were to send each other a sewing machine cover, apron and pin cushion thread catcher. All things we should already have, but never take the time to make for ourselves.

I received my swap package yesterday from Nadine. When I got everything opened, I almost cried at just how wonderful it all was. She is really a creative person with some mad sewing skillz.



Then I started ripping into everything. I just was overwhelmed...

adorable snips!! love her

An Awesome thread catcher pin cushion


The Sewing Apron for under the sewing machine to keep you tools handy. She even backed it with no slip shelving liner - totally smart.


Look at this cool catch all basket! I already have it full!


She made me TWO of her shoop shoop bags! I'd read her tutorial and they were on my to do list when I finally took time to sew for myself!


In her note to me, she described the wonderful applique pieces with all the fun words on them to me. She used www.wordle.net to create the printed fabric with her ink jet printer. The words are from my blog! Is that not uber fabulous?


She also sent this awesome grey marking pencil, a quilt pattern, some flower top pins (I've been wanting and not getting these for some reason)and this incredible little tool called a "Lil Twister" for making pinwheels easy! I can not wait to try it - I have a charm pack screaming for this!

When I opened up the sewing machine cover, I literally almost fell down. I have no idea how she knew I'm having a love affair right now with dresden plates, but holy buckets batman!


I am kinda sorta new to quilting - I've only made 3 small quilts so far, and made my first dresden just a few weeks ago from a Missouri star Quilt Company tutorial on you tube!. So when I saw this, it just really did me in. I can not thank Nadine enough.


Ok so here is a little of what I sent to Nadine, that I feel a little like a schmuck about. I had started on her set twice before I finished one set I liked. Yes this means, I made almost 2 of everything. The first one was using the Central Park fabrics. Here is a picture of the sewing apron I made.



I got all concerned it was a little too bold and crazy. Go figure. I always worry that my mixing of prints and fabric will get me in trouble on day and here I thought I'd gone a bit overboard.

That's when I ordered more fabric and a thinner batting. I ordered up Free spirit Moon dance and linen. I love linen and for some reason just thought Nadine would too. I had bought a pattern from Bloom and Blossom. I really liked the ruler tape but wanted to tone down the design and mute it a little since the Moon Dance fabrics are calming to me. I was afraid if I patch worked them, they'd turn all crazy.

This is the cover and apron that I made up with the Moon Dance and linen.


I was hoping to get to a nice neutral that would go in Nadine's house as her sewing area is out in the open inside her house. I wanted it to be part of her decor with out scream "HERE I AM".



I included some tuck ins, but nothing as fabulous as what Nadine sent me. I'll just have to surprise her one day!

Also, I decided that I may not be sewing the most perfect line all the time, but that I need to trust myself a bit more and reach out to those areas of creativity that I feel I've lost from working too darn much. The quality of work Nadine sent was off the charts and her creativity is something I truly admire. She may not know it but she has set the bar for me to reach out a little farther in my scope of work on just how creative I can be. Thank you so very much Nadine!

Survival!

My planned escape went successfully. I was able to pick the lock on my shackles and slip past the guards. I hitched a ride on an outbound vessel headed west. The way was bumpy and crowded. We landed close to home successfully. I maneuvered my way south through vehicles and building along a well traveled path. My final stretch of road was glorious to see my home off in the distance with my waiting family.

We spent a nice evening catch up and loving each other. The last minutes before sleep and needed rest were having a rousing session of iphone battleship. Where I proceed to win 3 consecutive games - it was my night.

Tomorrow we will get back to our regularly scheduled program.

oh and I thought I'd share what I sent Nadine for the SAS swap now that's she's received it and it fits her machine!

Do you Derby?

Tomorrow will be the running of the 2011 Kentucky Derby. So we recently ordered some Maker's Mark Mint to mix up some mint juleps to celebrate!



This week my partner received her Flirty Apron Swap Apron so I can reveal it now!


Sorry I don't have a dress form or a kid or even a husband that would be willing to model it for me. I hope she liked it :).


Now I'm in full wait mode for Nadine to get her Sewing Accessories I mailed off this week. *groan* I just don't handle waiting well.

Looky looky!

Remember that Iris that was about to bust open? Well, here it is!

It makes me so very happy!






I also packed up the Sewing Accessories Swap box last night and got it ready to ship off to Nadine!. I sure hope she likes it. I included the scrapes from the fabric line I used in case she thinks of something else she'd like to have to match her set. It includes a sewing machine cover, a sewing machine apron and a pin cushion thread catcher. I have to say I am having a hard time parting with all of it as I like the one I made and I really like the soft tones of the fabric. Alas, it is not mine to keep as I made specifically for Nadine! Now if only I made it well enough to fit her sewing machine - yikes!


Thanks to Aunt Pitty Pats for putting this swap together!

Flirty Apron Spring Fling Apron

Last night I came home to several packages and a note from a good friend. It was a good mail day- Not even one bill! Anyway, I had a box from Mary Lea! I was so excited to open it. Look at what I saw!


Look at all that goodness! She really set the bar high for swappers. What swap box doesn't like to have chocolate in it?


I GOT THE BUTTERFLY PIN CUSHION. I LOVE IT!.
Can you believe that the little soap and lotion in the bag are my favorite scent? I mean really - how did she do that?

And look at these - I got a hoot outta these!


Here are my initials:






I love all of them!

But wait we're not done - I bet you all want to see the apron too don't you? I saved the best for last!


I asked for an Easter apron (did not think Easter would pass on me i guess) and it didn't stop me from wearing it to make dinner last night either! Last year Regena sent me a cute Christmas apron, so I got the idea I would gather up aprons for each holiday - so now I have Easter!

Thank you Mary Lea for sending me so much love in the swap box! It really is all wonderful and I appreciate all your work and time to put it together for me.