A rainbow of a finish!

So excited to share this finish with you!  This quilt was originally "supposed to" have been done in time for Christmas.  It didn't quite make it...in fact it has been sitting partially quilted since I last posted about it here.  But not any longer!  I finished up the quilting on Saturday, and then did the binding today, popped it in the wash and then to dry to knock off all the dust and fuzz it collected just sitting get all crinkly.

I love this quilt.  And thankfully so does Girl as it is her quilt.  Of course I reserve the right to "borrow" it from time to time!

Back (pieced directly from what I had in my stash that was large enough):

Each "arm" of the star was quilted in it's matching thread color.

Details:
Fabric: a little of everything, all pulled from my stash (includes some Cherry Christmas, Sweetwater, DS Quilts and others.  Solids - Kona and Designer Solid).
Pattern: Giant Vintage Star Quilt by Jeni Baker of In Color Order
Batting: Warm and Natural
Thread: Piecing - Gutterman, Quilting - Gutterman, Mettler and Aurifil

Marcelle Medallion, Part 1

Happy Easter!  We are having a very quiet Sunday here, Guy is working night shift, Girl is on Spring Break, and it's slowly raining.  So we will be quiet and cozy today.

I did get part one of my Marcelle Medallion  (<-- link is to the Liberty Love Book flickr group) quilt done yesterday (well technically it was almost 1 this morning...but it was before I went to bed, so it's still yesterday).  I am pretty sure I'm already in love with this quilt.

First up I sketched out and picked fabrics for the center medallion:

I am mostly using Comma by Zen Chic (and a few other from my stash that match) but as I tried to figure out the medallion yesterday, I decided to add some magenta (fuschia?) to the mix.  And I'm loving it!

I got all of my templates ready for the medallion pieces using freezer paper:

And then I got to ironing, cutting and stitching.  And voila:

I am in heaven with this block!  This was my first time attempting y-seams, so I was a little unsure at first, but a quick google search and review of a few tutorials out there, I just went for it!  And it worked!

And now I'm off to audition fabrics for Border 1, and to get binding on a quilt, and maybe a little paper piecing.

quiet Saturday

at least that's what I'm hoping for!  I have a few projects I would like to work on, even narrowed it down to 2 that I really want to work on (we'll see if I stay at 2, because there is a 3rd I've been wanting to get to!).

Project 1: finish quilting the quilt under that divine stack of fabric...Project 2:  cut into that divine stack of fabric!

Might be back later with more!

My addiction...

At one point I would have said I was addicted to cigarettes, food, and Diet Coke.

In October of 2012 I kicked my cigarette habit.

In January of 2013 I kicked my Diet Coke habit.

I'm still working on the food one...but food is so good!

With each of these things, I have swapped the bad for something better.  I dropped the smoking and the junk food and sodas for exercise and water (I still allow myself coffee...because life would not be good in my house if I didn't have a little coffee each day).

These are just my plain ole life addictions.  Now let's talk about the more serious one...

My addiction to BOMs and QALs. 

I love them all.  I've tried very hard since I first learned what they were to only sign up or participate in a few.  And usually only one at a time.  But not any longer.  2013 will be known as the year I went bonkers for QALs in particular.  And often, not a full on formal QAL...but these lovely informal ones that keep popping up on instagram and the WWW.  (I'm lesleyworth on instagram by the way).  My current list of unfinished QALs includes: Swoon-a-long (finished top, but that's it), Scrappy Trip Along (finished top, but that's a different post), Starburst QAL (only half the blocks are done)...and soon to be added, the Marcelle Medallion from the book Liberty Love by Alexia Marcelle Abegg (another "informal"  (check the tags #marcellemedallion on instagram)).  It's just a gorgeous quilt.  And I want one.  And I'm going to use this fabric (and a few extras).  And it's going to be fabulous...when it ever gets finished...which means I have to start it.  So that's my plan for this weekend (my fabric won't be here until then)...to start (yet another) QAL. 

Maybe eventually I'll actually develop an addiction to finishing these quilts...

Sew South

I cannot even begin to describe how fantastic the Sew South Retreat was.  Putting in to words just how much the whole experience means to me, well, I've tried, and I just can't. 

So I'll just take this moment to say thank you to:

The fabulous Jennifer (our director/leader/paper piecing teacher/head of the tribe)  pictured with our incredible teachers (Lindsey and Diane) who taught me new skills:

(special shout out to Leah Day, I am so ready to get going on some FMQing now!  Sometimes we all need to hear that there are days it's just going to be ugly, and thank you for that.)

The amazing sponsors (who made it possible for us to have tools to use, products to play with, prizes and all kinds of goodies):

(side note...check out the amazing bag o' happiness we all took home):

My new friends (all 50 of them!):

All of you have inspired me in so many ways.  As was mentioned often in the closing on Sunday...we are a tribe...a community...a group of people that all speak the same language.  And I am so thrilled to be a member of this tribe. 

Thank you.  Thank You.  Thank you.

I can't wait to do it all again!

15 minute challenge...week 37!

And I'm back in the game!  Had a VERY productive sewing week, so let's check in with Kate and the 15 minute Challenge:

Tuesday: Tote bag

Wednesday: Tote bag

Thursday: Sew South

Friday: Sew South

Saturday: Sew South

Sunday: duffle

Monday: duffle

7 for 7 baby!!!

To review the first part of 2013, I've been up and down.  Had a few weeks where I was sewing almost every day, and then had several weeks where I was doing almost no sewing.  It's ok though.  It's all part of life.

Right now I'm feeling really good and inspired and can't wait to get home each day and sew.  I have some more thoughts on this amazing quilting blog community that Kate mentions in today's challenge post, but will save those for my big ole Sew South post that I'm still trying to write.

Until later!

Full...

Wow...a day later and that's still all I can say as I try to describe Sew South.  It was WOW.  My heart and head and spirit are so full right now.  It was a truly fantabulous experience.  I'll try to put it into words later, but for now a few pictures:

the clutch we made:

the dang duffle:

and my first attempt at paper piecing (I am so doing this again!):

Back later...or tomorrow...I'm working on dang duffle part 2 for my Girl, and I really want to get it finished! 

tick...tick...tick

That is all I can hear in my head right now.  It's the sound of the clock moving too slow, and the sound of time going too fast right now!

Sew South starts TOMORROW!!!!!!  EEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKK!  I'm seriously over the moon excited about this.  However...that's tomorrow...how am I ever going to get through today?  Not to mention come to work tomorrow, work a full day, THEN drive to Charlotte.  The clock is moving so slow!

And then...time is also flying by right now.  Sew South is TOMORROW???????  Oh crud!  I'm so behind!  I don't have everything ready, and there really isn't enough time in the day for me to get it all done before I have to come to work for a full day tomorrow!  So much to do...so little time!

So now I sit, and ponder the supply list and try and figure out how I'm going to squeeze a few more hours in my free time!

As the impatient part of me wonders why tomorrow isn't here already!

15 minute challenge...week 36

Happy Tuesday!  and we are already over half way through March...and heading very quickly to spring (had to start taking allergy meds again...ick).  Time to check in with Kate and the 15 minute challenge!

I actually did some sewing the past week, all of 2 days, but that wasn't for lack of trying or enthusiasm.  I am prepping for Sew South, so I have spent quite a bit of time with fabric and odds and ends, but only 2 days of sewing.  It's an improvement over previous weeks, so I'll take it!

Last night I quickly put together a strap cover for my camera using this tutorial at Moda Bake Shop (so quick and easy to put together! fabric = Ruby by Bonnie&Camille):

I like it!  I'm so excited for this retreat!  It's really sparking my creativity!  And it also happens to fit in with the 15 minute challenge March "theme" which is to talk about your sewing.  Which I manage to do quite a bit!  Several of my co-workers have learned quite a bit about the sewing process.  And I give them lots of credit, as they appear interested most of the time!  At the same time, other than on this blog, I really don't talk sewing with that many people that actually sew.  Some of that will change this weekend, (have I mentioned I'm over-the-moon excited about this??), and we'll see what I'm feeling about it next week!

Prep time...

Oh my word!  Sew South Retreat is THIS WEEK!  I'm so behind on my prep, so it was crunch time yesterday to get some done!  I'm all ready for one of the classes:

Getting ready for the others won't take me too terribly long (I hope!).

and then there is getting all my FQs ready for the FQ swap...and getting my treats ready for my Secret Sister...and then...I really have to get some stuff put together so I can travel at least semi-handmade! 

Best get busy!  Later!!!

being an adult

Sometimes being an adult bites the big one!

There is a lot going on behind the scenes right now at my house (nothing bad, just stuff).  Some of which requires those big ole fashioned grownup decisions.  Decisions I'm still working on, the kind I'm not sleeping too well about right now because I've got pros vs. cons lists rolling over and over in my noggin.  Time is about up for some of these decisions to be finalized, so we'll see how it goes.  I'll let you know more at a later date.

Some other stuff going on behind the scenes...I've been working out like crazy.  Made the decision at the beginning of the year that I needed some changes in my health (another grownup type thing).  I quit smoking last October, and started my new eating plan and working out in January of this year.  And so far, so good.  Pretty pleased with the results.  However, it does mean that my work outs are often taking up sewing time.  I just need to reschedule some things and try to figure out how to fit it all in! 

I haven't sewn at all the past week.  I'm really missing it, so my plan right now is to get back on the 15 minute challenge wagon, and set the timer and make some room in the schedule for me to get my creativity on!  (ESPECIALLY since SEW SOUTH RETREAT is NEXT WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I have a bunch to get done between now and then!)

15 minute challenge week 33 and 34...aka recovery

Well...it's been a little while since I last posted.  Not too terribly long, but long enough.

In the past two weeks I've accomplished 3 days of sewing...and all of that can be found in my posts from the 23-25 of February.  Making the swap back to day shift has taken me a lot longer this go round than in previous years.

Plus we were out of town over this past weekend.

Plus Girl has developed some insane cold that has kept her out of commission for most of this week.

So around my house...it's all called recovery time right now!  I haven't even done my usual blog crawl lately.  Part of fostering my own creativity is seeing how others employ theirs!

So now, it's time for me to recover some sewing time!

Posting with  Kate over at Life In Pieces to see how everyone has done lately!