a bit flighty...

Lately I've been a bit flighty when it comes to projects.  I have zero focus.  This past week I've started a new quilt, bought all the fabric for a different quilt, and have not touched a single UFO/WIP for too long.

Oh well!

Here is the new quilt I started on:

Scrappy Sprouts (using this tutorial from Traceyjay Quilts).  Only two blocks done and I'm already in love!  My plan is to make these using only scraps (too bad I had to actually pull a little fabric for the background from my stash, but the goal is to not purchase anything for this quilt, except maybe backing...but we are so not even close to that yet!).

Here is the one I bought all the fabric for:

It's a free quilt pattern by David Butler, and as soon as I saw it...I decided I want one!  So I printed it out on Friday and hit Joanns...and an hour or so later...came out with the stack of fabric you see above! I'm very excited to see this one come together!  I did purchase some template plastic as the pattern called for, so we'll see how that works out.

And well...the UFO list (check tabs at top of page) now has two new quilts added...and none crossed off lately.  Oh well...such is life!

Laundry bags...

I must admit...I'm not a huge fan of doing laundry, especially after a trip out of town.  But laundry is a must, and I was trying to find an easier way to keep the laundry sorted (real basic here...what is clean vs. what is dirty) while camping.  So I downloaded this pattern by Jeni Baker of In Color Order...and wow...let me tell you...LOVE IT!  (and can I just say how much I love downloadable patterns...instant shopper gratification!)

The pattern was very easy to read and follow, the bags went together quickly...and I love how many different sizes are provided.  So here are the 3 laundry bags I made:

I did use ric-rac for the drawstring of one of them, and it worked out pretty good, I may have to change it out at some point.  The size is perfect for an out of town trip!

Sisters' Ten BOM - February

Yes, I know it's May.  I'm a little behind on some BOMs, so I did a tiny bit of catching up and worked on my Sisters' Ten blocks for February:

Block 1:

Block 2:

Loved this block, very quick to put together, and I love how the centers turned out with minimal effort in the fussy cut department!

Now I only have 3 more months worth to catch up...

Can I just have a minute?

Because I need to vent...seriously vent.  There have been quite a few things going on behind the scenes this year, personally and professionally.

Let me first say...Guy and I are good...way good...seriously...no worries there.

Other family has been good...really good.

But there is a part of my professional life that spills over to the personal...I happen to work with a couple of family members.  And our paths do cross at work...and sometimes...our jobs clash (it's a David v. Goliath, Hatfields v McCoys kinda thing)...and often...the professional clash can become a bit personal if we are not careful (been this way for the past 5 years, and even some before that)...

and lately...it's the things going on in the professional world have gotten my dander up in the personal world.

I'm trying very hard to "take the high road"  and not react to the professional in a personal way...nor try and react personally in a professional environment...

Sometimes I'm just not that tough!  So today...I'm having a personal meltdown over a professional situation.  (and I almost feel bad for Guy...he has to hear it from both sides!! note I did say ALMOST).

Long and short (and what I can actually say without crossing the line)...I think one family member is getting the short end of the stick and not necessarily a fair chance because of another family member...who is getting an opportunity handed to them that they may not deserve...or be ready for...and I will have to deal with both in a professional environment even though I personally AND professionally don't think that one should have the chance right now...and I can't say anything.  Because I could burn both the personal and professional bridges.  If I say something in the professional environment...it will be written off as personal...if I say something in the personal environment...well then I'm mean and hateful and don't know what I'm talking about professionally.

Yeah...can't win for losing.

So instead...I had to take a minute and vent.

Thank you for listening.

I will now go drink a giant margarita, go to bed...and pretend it's not happening when I go to work tomorrow.

oh snot...updated 5/16

Have you seen this post over on Fig Tree?

I think I really need that bag (in different fabrics)...so as soon as I saw that post...I went to buy the pattern...not quite available yet...5/16/13: it's officially available...and via download...so I'm set for some bag sewing this weekend I think!  so I'm desperately waiting...because for whatever reason...I really want that pattern...NOW!  heehee

And then...I scrolled down...and saw this post...and 100% fell in love with the orange color way of Fig Tree's new line Honey Sweet...and now I'm having an oh snot moment...where I'm realizing I'm going to be waiting awhile to get my hands on it!!!  (urghhh...i want it NOW!  heehee!)

well snot!

the whole "patience is a virtue" stuff is crud!  LOL!

15 minute challenge...week 44

Checking in with Kate and the 15 minute challenge for the week!

Tuesday: Camo quilt

Wednesday: Camo quilt

Thursday: Camo quilt

Friday: laundry bags

Saturday: none

Sunday: none

Monday: none

So there you go, a 4 of 7 week and a deadline met and a quilt finished...and new fun stuff to play with!

On to this month's theme of fostering creativity...exploring other creative interests.  And I must say...other than sewing non-quilt items (bags usually), I don't really spend a lot of time pursuing other creative interests.  Two years ago, it was a completely different story.  I used to stamp, make cards, scrapbook, and pursue other paper craft interests.  And then I started sewing.  I did both paper crafts and sewing for awhile...but in the end, I really lost interest in the paper crafts.  Sewing became my major creative outlet.  I have kept some of my old paper crafting supplies and some stamps...but got rid of a TON of stuff.  And I have been so happy since I cleared all of that out.  It was sitting there for a long time and as much as I looked at it...I just couldn't do it.

So I consider sewing my major outlet...and figure that since I look to do more than quilts (love making bags!), then I have more than one creative sewing outlet.

Scratch one off the list...

and mark this deadline as met!  I just finished up the Camo quilt a few minutes ago.  Finished the quilting yesterday, so all that was left was the binding, which I prepped last night!

Front:

Back:

Close up of the quilting:

I FMQd a large stipple/meander...and it is by far my best attempt yet!

I'm so excited to deliver this one to the recipient tomorrow!

Details:
Pattern - sew T-shirts together...end of story
Fabric - Kona solids, Camo material is from unknown source
Interfacing - Pellon 911FF
Batting - Pellon (first time I've used this kind, so excited to see how it washes)
Thread - piecing and quilting - Mettler; binding - Gutterman

15 minute challenge...week 43.

15 minute challenge time again!

Tuesday: none

Wednesday: Camo quilt

Thursday: none

Friday: Camo quilt

Saturday: Camo quilt

Sunday: Camo quilt

Monday: Camo quilt

5 of 7!! woohoo!  (Only because this quilt must be done this week!!).  I'm actually very excited about this quilt and can't wait to see it finished!

No time to chat today...gotta get back to quilting!

getting there...

Well...I am making pretty good progress on at least one quilt on my "deadlines" list from Friday.

I started working on the T-shirt quilt on Thursday, mostly just doing prep-work.  To me, that's the hardest/most tedious part of putting together a T-shirt quilt.  I was given a large number of T-shirts to chose from, and since I had this fab camo material all set aside for this quilt, I chose to work with all browns.  And then went through the stacks of brown T-shirts, eliminated any doubles...and got to work, assembly line style:

I do a rough cut of all the T-shirts, then fuse the shirts (I used Pellon 911FF), then trim them down.  For these shirts, they were large enough that I trimmed them all to match my largest square ruler (15x15).  Then it was time to lay them out, then get them sashed...and here they are:

Now...I decided at this point to add some borders (I may only add one), because the person to whom this quilt will belong is a tall fellow (I'll tell you the story of him when I finish this quilt, he's quite a character).  So right now, that's where I'm at...sewing on some border(s).

Then I need to get the backing pieced.  I'm excited for this one, the back has 3 more shirts, and will be pieced with a nice brown Kona that I picked up.

I even know how I'm going to quilt this one (I think).

So I best be getting to work!

Deadlines...

Oh my...have I let some deadlines sneak up on me...so I guess I will just have to make this weekend another "sewathon"!  

I have a T-shirt quilt that must be finished by next Thursday.

I have the Lawn Chair quilt that must be finished by mid-May.

I have the memory quilt that should have been finished in February.

I have another Lawn Chair quilt all cut out that I would like to finish by mid-May

and then there is Soda Shoppe...which has been patiently awaiting binding for a few weeks now.

So there you go...my weekend plans are made!  (Have some other stuff going on this weekend, but that won't be but half a day total tomorrow).

15 minute challenge...week 42!

Here we go with this week's check in with Kate and the 15 minute challenge!

Tuesday: none

Wednesday: none

Thursday: none

Friday:

Saturday:

Sunday:

Monday: none

3 of  7...not bad...got some stuff done...wish I'd gotten more time in on the other days.  I am still working on being an observer.  There are times I tend to just plow ahead and not really worry about the opinion or expectation of others.  This can be both good and bad.  Good chance that if I'm not concerned at all with what someones opinion is...then I won't be offended if they don't like what I have made.  Now, this could be a problem if I actually want them to like it, or made something at their request, and didn't take their expectations or opinion into consideration.  I have a WIP on my table that has been in progress for months.  This is not my quilt.  This is a memory quilt for someone in the family and I want them to love it.  I think part of the reason that I haven't finished it, is that I am nervous about the recipients liking the quilt.  I know it's pretty likely that they will, no matter what, but it's still a bit scary.  So I'm thinking I just need to suck it up, get it done, and get it to where it belongs.  Guess I better get busy!