Nobody's getting anything done...

Hi All -
Linking up to Freshly Pieced's WIP Wednesday! Check it out!

It was an interesting week while my older two boys were away at Scout camp. I took my younger son to our vacation home 2 hours away to check on the progress of the new deck we are having put on the house. It needed replacement because the old one had never been installed correctly, and as time went on, I worried more and more that it would fall and someone would get hurt. When I got there, it wasn't as far along as it was expected to be. We stayed 2 days, and I debated staying there for an extra day to be sure the crew showed up and got stuff done. I ended up not doing that, and as a result, that darn deck is still not done.

Meanwhile, I did NO sewing, and I was pretty unhappy about that! I have been struggling with a chronic nerve pain condition, and it is hard for me to get a good night sleep lately. When Mom doesn't get her rest, nobody's happy! My patience is at an all time low going into this last month of summer, when the kids have a LOT of unstructured time. Perfect.

So, sewing and feeling like I am accomplishing something is going to be key! I've kicked myself in the butt today to try to get one of my WIPs done. Now I wish I has made that lavender border narrower. I'll have to think about whether I can live with it or if I am going to take it apart.

I also pulled out a VERY old WIP to see if I can "make it work"as Tim Gunn would say. Speaking of which, I am going to be very torn this week at Project Runway time - Olympics? Runway? Olympics? Runway?  I bet the remote will be working overtime!

Here is my OLD project that stalled many years ago when I had no idea what to do next...

I may try to turn this on point, add a border, or make this into a more modern quilt with just this square on a large solid background. I have to see what fabrics I can pull out that might work. If I can figure out how to finish this, it would be a great quilt to donate to a children's organization. 

I can't believe its the end of July already... Happy August everyone!

Freshened Up Family Room

I bought some summer striped fabric a while back intending to re-cover some old and worn pillows for my family room. With three boys and a dog, they get hard use! But, as usual, life got in the way and it's now mid-summer and I've just gotten these pillows made!

I think they look nice, and pull together the colors in the room. They lighten things up a bit. My "winter" pillows are chocolate browns and blues, so this is a fresher, more summertime look.

I've also been looking for a block pattern that I can use when I am "Queen"of the Liberty and Justice Bee in November. I made a test block yesterday that I think would work. It's a bit larger block (finished size is 15.5") so I would only ask my Bee-mates for 1 block. The link to the pattern I used is here. I love the QuilersCache site. So many patterns for inspiration!

This is how my tester turned out. The pattern was easy to follow, and it only requires 3 fabrics, which I think may be a plus:

Worst case scenario - I make a nice big 20" pillow out of this, right?

Way too much wonky fun!

I had an hour or so to kill in between running the kids to their activities today, so I did it. I cut right into that Grinch fabric and started sewing. I cut out a scene, whacked into some scraps of fabric, and off I went into the World of Wonky!  A new and scary land for me, but guess what? I LOVED not having to measure and cut each piece. I knew that it would all fit into the crazy world of Seuss!

Since this is a new thing for me, I am linking up to TNT Thursday at Happy Quilting!

Here are two blocks I worked on today - The Who's in Whoville, and the Grinch stealing Christmas.

Honestly, these were so close to the edge of the fabric cut that I figured I could spare them. You'll notice that I had to cut off Mr. Who's hair at the top of that block, and the star on the Christmas tree in the Grinch block. I figured if I hated them, I could still use the other repeat of the same scene and do something else. I truly had nothing to lose and that gave me more freedom to screw up! 

I realized I seriously need some greens for my stash. Seriously. These were pretty much all that I think would work, so I may have to wait to do much more.  I did buy some of the Grinch panel fabrics as well, so some of the blocks will not need much extra work - probably one row of white around the edge, so that will be simple. 

Yea - go me! I'm so excited.

Christmas in July

Have you seen all of the Christmas in July posts this month? I recently saw the new Kaufmann Line "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and I could not resist. I loved the Grinch as a kid, and of course my boys love the Grinch too! So, I figured that I could make us a quick Christmas quilt using fabric from that line, using the panels as a jumping off point. I'd like to try a little bit of improv piecing. Wouldn't that fit with the Seuss style? Perhaps some wonky log cabins or stars in between each panel. This will definitely mean stepping outside my comfort zone!

Some of the graphics on the fabric I think are not from the Grinch Christmas special we all love. Perhaps they are taken from the illustrations in the book, but I don't remember the scenes. I think I will try to stick with the scenes I loved best! I have got to include the Roast Beast scene, and the ones with the dog Max getting that huge heavy antler strapped to his little head. Love that! I only wish there was an image of the grinch's heart "growing three sizes that day" and busting out of its little frame. That would be cute!

And I have ideas for that panel that looks like the front of the actual Grinch book. Thinking I'll save that one and make something special for the elementary school librarian who I have worked with as Volunteer Coordinator for many years. Maybe a children's book quilt? Some Eric Carle, some Ed Emberly, other Seuss fabrics? I'm sure I can collect some other fabrics based on kids books too!

Camp Preparation

I've been enjoying the last few weeks with no schedule and nowhere to be. Next week, however, is my boys' week away at Boy Scout Camp. Preparing for this seems like it takes forever! I went to three different stores in the last two days hoping to find a battery-operated fan for my husband to use while he's there for a few days. Otherwise, he threatened to steal one from the kids! Thankfully I found one today. Whew! Also had to pick up the candy that is used for money in the troop poker tournament. Ahh yes, male bonding.

In between camp prep I've been working a little on a bunch of WIPs. Liberty and Justice Bee blocks are done, and I think they turned out nicely. I hope Marian likes them!

I also finally got off my tush and forced myself to work on my niece's quilt (See here). I am still unsure of how I want to proceed, but at least the pieces are off my living room floor and are beginning to come together!

Yesterday, I made a bunch of portable (Small) design boards with individual pieces of Foam core. I picked up a vinyl tablecloth which was plain white and has a flannel backing. I flipped it over and stapled it to the foam board and Voila- Design surface! I made 4 of them each 2 x 3 feet. I still have some of the tablecloth material left and could probably make 2 more. I got the boards at Michael's for half price so all together it cost me about $9. I can see how I will not be able to believe I ever pieced a quilt without these things!

I also began the slow process of cutting out pieces for a quilt I designed. It has a lot of curved pieces, and so it requires templates. Yuck. I am so spoiled by rotary cutting. So I decided that if I cut it out one color at a time, and I didn't make myself crazy with it... eventually I'll be ready to sew something. I have gotten through 3 colors so far. I have one more color that requires templates, and then I have some stuff that I can do with the rotary. Yea!

Liberty and Justice Bee

Liberty and Justice

What better way to honor our troops? A quilting bee focused on creating patriotic blocks to be used in a quilt for one of the many young men and women who serve or have served our country. I am so glad to  have joined up. We have 8 ladies who all will pick their own block or two. We got our first "assignment" today and this one should be fun and scrappy! Marian of LadyFace has chosen this tutorial to make her blocks. Waiting on a package to arrive with some more red, white and blue stash fabrics so I can get started. These blocks look like fun and should make a nice finished quilt.

Photo from Stitched In Color Tutorial

There will also be some little gifts that will be sent out towards the end of the Bee schedule, and I'm already looking for some fun things I can make for my Bee-mates.

Still entertaining ideas for what my own month's block will be, but I have plenty of time to decide since I am not "Queen" until November! 

It's Finished!

I am linking up today with Sarah from Confessions of a Fabric Addict today!



I am excited to show the finished quilt for my new nephew who can not arrive in the US fast enough! We are all anxiously awaiting the day my brother and his family can travel to India to bring him home.  I sent this out to be longarmed. Dena of Mrs. Longarm did a great job and was SUPER fast. I had it back in my hot little hands in just under two weeks! Fabulous! She suggested a curvey all-over pattern to contrast the straight lines of the design, and I think it was a great choice.

I added this fun polka dot binding from the same Michael Miller Backyard Baby line of some of the fabrics in the quilt. I neglected to take a photo of the back. Have to remember to do that soon, before I get to send this off to its sweet new owner!

Can I get a Whoop Whoop?

Hope you all enjoyed a fun Fourth! Keep cool this weekend.

Kathy