To Do List 2014

Wow can you believe that we are on the Eve of a brand New Year!!!  This time of year everybody seems to be list people including myself.  I have a lot of different lists going on but the only one I'm really excited about is my sewing list.  It's not really a to do list but  a sewing wish list. 

First we need to start with the WIPs and UFOs:

Star Flower Quilt Along:  Still in beginning of piecing phase
Virtual Quilting Bee: Need to make two of each of the last 6 blocks
Tula Pink's City Sampler: about 3/4 of the blocks done
Christmas Quilt: Front is 90% done and back is in piecing phase
Medallion Along:  Need to finish quilting and binded
Star Surround Quilt: Front done, have an idea for the back
2.5 Quilt: Need sandwiched, quilted and binded
Sisters' Ten BOM:  Front done, no idea for the back yet


That list isn't as bad as I thought it would be. It would be nice to get some of these finished but as long as I make some steps forward in each project I will be happy.  This list has not deterred me from starting on some new fun stuff. 

There are lots of QALs I've got my eye on as well as BOMs and you know I'm going to try to squeeze in a swap here and there. 

Lucky Star BOM from Don't Call Me Betsy
Sew Retro Kitchen from Quiet Play
Tone it Down QAL from American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine
Polka Dot Bikini from my new found friend Sharon over at Fabrics and Flowers
Star Light Star Bright QAL from Happy Quilting
I am also now part of the 2014 Stash Bee, a big shout out to Hive 11

Super exciting stuff!!!! 

Also another goal that is somewhat related is to redesign my blog, taking better pictures for my blog, and posting more on my blog.  I know I've been playing hooky but I felt a bit overwhelmed for a moment and decided to get back to sewing without obligations to get myself motivated again and I'm coming back with a bang in 2014.  I'm hoping to learn a lot more not just about sewing but designing!!!

Happy New Years to all of you beautiful sewing people and may your year be filled with lots of joy and happiness.  Thanks for all your support to this newbie last year. 

Sister's Ten BOM Finished

I started my quilting journey back in March and I still remember a couple of my first.  The first blog I followed was none other then Amanda over at Crazy Mom Quilts and she got me so excited and inspired to do so much more.  But it was the Sisters' Ten BOM that I would say was my first real taste of creating a block.  At first I didn't realize there was math involved and I kind of thought you cut these shape out and sew it together but really there are steps that need to be taken for it to really work.  I learned so much from this BOM and I can really see my skills improving with each block from the piecing to my fabric choice. 

Here are my first blocks, like I said before I would've tried to cut out triangle, pieced them together and crossed my finger hoping it would turn out alright.  This was my first experience with HSTs. 

 

 I liked this BOM so much I joined lots of other things along the way such as SALs, QALs, and a virtual bee.  At this point I seemed to have my hands in everything and to be honest I got a bit overwhelmed.  So I got a little behind after these blocks. 

 

 

I would say it was a combination of having too much on my plate and this block that did me in.  I really had a hard time making one of them because I wasn't in love with it and I couldn't get past it for a while.  I saw what others were doing with it on the Flickr page and that really got me inspired. 

 

 

In the end, November came and it was time to put the top together and I was 4-5 sets of blocks behind but I was so in love by the way the top was suppose to turn out that I was determined to make them all and get a complete top.  The blocks are  put together in the most unique way to make this beautiful top. 

 

 

 

 I am absolutely in love with it.  It's so different from everything else I've made this past year and it really shows how much I've learned.  The last two blocks are my favorite and I would say reflects my style the best s far as fabric choices. 

 

 

 

 

Overall I would say I am extremely happy with this BOM and this is the first to many more.  Linking up my finish over at Crazy Mom Quilts.

Finally Blogging Again!!!

Super exciting stuff here.  I've been avoiding blogging and sewing altogether with.  Honestly I thought I lost all of my sewjo.  I mean I've been trying to get into it with making a Christmas quilt out of the blocks I got from my wonderful bee, We Bee New, and believe me the block I assigned them was incredibly not fair on my part, it being my first bee I'm afraid I broke some bee etiquette but my ladies pulled through and I got the most amazing blocks that inspired me to do quite a bit with them.  Still I got about 3/4 of the way there for the top and then put it aside.

Today I had no plans for sewing but I looked over at my sewing table and saw the projects piling up and then it hit me.  I wanted to finish my Sisters' Ten BOM quilt.  I finally had all the blocks made and all the background fabric cut up and ready to go.  I decided to sew it all together once and for all. So I just did it.  It took 3 hours on and off but its done and I can't wait to share my experience with y'all when I can get some pictures taken. 

Now as far as blogging goes, I haven't stopped reading everybody else's blogs I just neglected mine a bit.  But I no longer have any excuses seeing as how we just got a new laptop thanks to Black Friday.  Before this I had to do blogging through my iPad or a very old desktop with a loose mouse and neither made it convenient or fun but I feel like this is way better and definitely more reliable.  Now all I got figure out is how to get pictures onto this thing.  Oh before this I did all my picture taking for the blog with my phone even though I have a really great camera I wasn't able to connect it to the iPad so I'm hoping with the new laptop I can get good quality pictures to share. 

I am very blessed to be able to do what I love and I'm very thankful that the quilting community is such a wonderful place to share all of it with.  Can't wait to keep blogging, sewing, and blogging some more. 

Swapping Friday

We all know the best thing about being in a swap is receiving the package from your partner.  Sure the sewing for your partner is also important but its all about the happy mail.  This week I got two of those and I'm a big geek about it because I don't open it unless my whole family is present.  I feel like its the little moments that count and they need an audience. 

First off I got this from the Strawberry Pincushion Swap.  My partner was  from California.  I love everything about it.  Usually I would give the sweets to the kiddies but I'm going to hold on to these a little longer for something extra special.

Next is my Halloween Swap.  This came in a big UPS box and wrapped with care from Sheri.  Just the gift bag and tissue paper alone was exciting.  (I know I'm super cheesy)  In the bag was some beautifully made coasters and a table runner to match.  Something about handmade things, there is such a sense of specialness.  This table runner was all I needed to be satisfied, I kept touching it as if it was my blankie or something (Please don't judge).  I love the little pouch but the little one claimed it and promised to share the candy inside it with her older sister.  There was also this adorable card and pumpkin silicon pad.  Last but not least a flour sack tea towel that I will not be using but for display, it's too special.

I finally got my own package ready to be sent out with the assistance of the UPS box and some of the tissue paper.  I made the Market Tote and Pincushion from the Patchwork Please SAL, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, killing two birds with one stone.  A couple of baskets using this tutorial from Pinterest.  Last  a fancy folded star hot pad, I almost felt like I was cheating on my husband with this one since he's been all up on me about making more for a quilt he wants.  That's another story for another day.  I packed some extra goodies and off it goes. 

To top off the day we baked some yummy cookie and cream cupcakes for my daughter to take to school to celebrate for 5th birthday.  I can't believe how old she's getting, if it was up to her she would be the older sister. 

What a wonderful finish to a week and the weekend is just to begin.  Can't wait to share.  Oh and one last goody of the week I was at the library returning some stuff and the copy of Doctor Who Series Seven Part 2 was there on hold for me and I've already watched it all and boy do I miss myself some Doctor.  Thanks for stopping by.

Linking up at Crazy Mom Quilts.

What I'm hoping to get done...

October is here and my little one is going to be 5 in a few days.  Then there's Halloween Yay!!!!
This month I'm going to do some catching up which includes:

Finishing up Patchwork Please! Zakka SAL 2.0.  I have 3 projects that need to be done by this Sunday.
Catch up with the Tula Pink City Sampler, I think I'm 20 blocks behind Yikes.
Catch up with the Virtual Quilting Bee QAL, 4 x 2each behind.
Catch up with the Sister's Ten BOM, 2 to 3 months behind.
Finish my items for the Halloween Swap and send it out by the 15th.
If there's any time left I would love to finish quilting my Medallion quilt. 

This list doesn't look too scary.  Happy October everyone.  Linking my goals over at the usual spot for ALYOF.

Strawberry Love!

I've got myself into a few more swaps but the most recent one is the Strawberry Pincushion Swap hosted by Erin @ Why Not Sew?  and let me tell you the stuff coming out of this group are the most adorable things ever. 

Today was the mailing date and of course I wasn't at the post office until 4:30 in the pouring rain.  But I got it out and that's all that counts.

 

I can't wait to see what my partner made me, whatever it is I'm sure it will be incredible.  Next up is the Halloween Swap and I just signed up for the Autunm Swap yesterday hosted by the lovely Martha Fipps.  I think that will be the last of year.  (Who am I kidding?)  Have a great weekend everyone.

 

I'm linking up at Crazy Mom Quilts!

Finished my First Market Day!!!

It's amazing how fast this month flew by.  I mean it really went right over my head and now here is October.  This month my goal was to make it through my first ever Market Day and here were some of my worries:

Was I going to have enough stuff?
How do I price things?
Would I sell anything?

I was so stressed it was ridiculous!!! I was putting so much pressure on myself, I really wanted to make money.  That's not why I sew but I felt like if I made money I could justify this very expensive and time consuming hobby.  You know what they say about turning a hobby into a job, you end up not enjoying it anymore. I finally gave up half way through the month and said there was no point in worrying and what happens was going to happen.  With that in mind instead of sewing I spent the week before reading The Fault in Our Stars, a very good simple read to make you appreciate life and love.  Not productive for Market Day but very much in calming my nerves.

The day of it rained all morning.  I mean really rained but we set up as late as possible to try to keep things dry.  Luckily about an hour in the rain stopped and the sun came out and honestly it got really beautiful and this gave us a chance to just sit outside and enjoy it. 

A panoramic shot, thanks to the iphone upgrade the night before, of the whole booth.

I painted some bunting a white tablecloth from Target. 

My sign that blew over at least 15 times the whole day.  I easel I had gotten the day before at a yard sale for 75 cents. 

I made some bags and pouches to sell.  You might recognize most of these quilts from previous post.  This owl quilt is my newest one I made specifically for this day.  I made some matching pillows.  I also put a lot of things I made from the Patchwork Please! Zakka 2.0 SAL for sale.  The book quilt from that was the only quilt  I sold and it was a very exciting moment.  Most of my decoration came from Target's clearance section and believe me some buyers were more interested in those than my things lol.  The idea of bunting on the tablecloth and my sign came from Pinterest. 
The end result was I didn't sell very many items but I sold enough to feel like it was a successful day plus it paid for all the food and lemonade we bought while we were there.  I priced my items at wholesale price = (10/hr + cost of material) x 2 which I felt was very comparable to others pricing and I definitely had enough stuff to sell.  I plan to sell everything else through my Etsy store. 

I was very happy with the way my booth looked and thanks to my hubby my quilts were displayed beautifully.  It gave me a chance to see all the pretty things I made in a pretty way.  Our tent was blue and that wasn't my first choice (I was imagining white) but it was on sale and you can't argue with great pricing so I tried to make the rest of my decorations match and went with a blue/purple theme and in the end I wouldn't change a thing.  I'm very proud of the way everything looked and it was a booth I would've shopped in and been like oohhing and aahhhing at everything.  I'm also very proud of my products, especially my quilts.  Again I know I'm bias but you don't often get the chance to just sit there and enjoy the fruits of your labor and I got that wonderful opportunity thanks to the support of my hubby and my family. 

We all had a really good time. 

Linking up for a ALOYF and Crazy Mom Quilts.