Been Busy

But instead of the cleaning (which, there is even more of than I thought. Does it NEVER end? There are advantages to living with a husband who just doesn't see the dirt -- but when it comes time to clean it, um, never mind...), I've actually managed to get some sewing done!!! Woooo Hoooo!

I'm still in Finish What You Have mode here -- I'm really liking the phrasing on this one. I may even borrow another phrase I saw in blogland over the summer soon -- Use What You Have (sounds so much better than "Fabric Diet"). So, no new projects to share, but progress on others -- oh yes.

First up is the t-shirt "dress" I made for my daughter a while back. (OMG -- I just looked at the date on that -- was it really over a month ago??? I have GOT to stop leaving projects 1/2 done -- especially ones that have the potential to be grown out of!!!! It's one thing for a quilt to take 6 months or more to finish, but a child's SHIRT?!?!) I finally got around to putting on the yoyo's I wanted to add. I'm still not sure about these -- not sure what is bugging me. The colors I chose, how many? I don't know. I could add more yoyo's -- super easy to make using those yo yo makers.

Taking any away may be a problem though. 'Cause, I'm not guaranteeing it or anything but I'm pretty sure I used applique to attach these things. Now, the thing is -- applique is NOT my thing. (at least, not yet -- I may be chaging my mind about avoiding it at all costs though) Applique is one of those scary quilting terms and skills I've managed to avoid quite nicely for the past six years. But, I think I may have done some. By hand. And I don't hate it. So, no, these yo yo's are NOT coming out.


Aside from the whole I finally did some applique thing -- these are also attached to t-shirt material! Do you know the pain involved in trying to remove them?? I don't THINK so. So, add some -- I can. Depends on other opinions -- what do you think? But for right now, I'm going to consider it DONE. DD can wear it tomorrow for its first test round of spills, paints, and other gunk to get spilled on.



My other progress has been with the %#@*&*#*& challenge of bias binding. Some of you may recall that I managed to screw up make a mistake while I was making my bias binding for 'Cause I Can't Crochet. I finally got up my courage and tried it again. This time, paying attention to what I was doing. (and thanks to dh for volunteering to do the grocery shopping with toddler in tow when I said "I NEED to sew today" -- he may not see dirt, but, well -- there are many other reasons I love him) So, binding done -- and on the bias this time. Quilt trimmed. Binding attached. Now all I have to do is sit and do the handsewing. (what IS it with all this hand work?) Luckily -- it's premier week for all the new fall network shows. I can sit, I can sew, I can watch TV -- sounds like a plan to me!

So, off to do some more cleaning, some more sewing, if I'm lucky I will get to the post office today to send off some goodies -- I need another me!

Doing My Part to Help the Economy

Or at least, that's what I told my husband I was doing this past weekend. I'm not sure he believes me. That's ok, I'm not sure I believe me. I actually went on a quilt shop hop. These things are dangerous! Especially when 6 of the 9 shops I had never been to before! So, I have lots of pictures of goodies purchased and a couple of pictures of projects I have been working on.

I went on the hop with my MIL and her mother (is that Grandmother-in-law? I think that's what I'll use) who is visiting for the next couple of weeks. My GMIL is a quilter (though my MIL is not) and uses these trips as her annual buying spree. No, I did NOT try to keep up with her -- but well, I kept on finding cute stuff. Our first stop was a lovely shop that is, luckily, too far from my house to make going there regularly an option. Most of their fabrics were reproductions so not too much there to tempt me (thankfully) but I did find these lovelies from the new Moda Peas and Carrots line (I think these may play nicely with my Dick and Jane fabrics for dd's quilt) and some aurifil thread on sale (despite the bright thread on sale, no, there weren't many, if any, brights in the shop -- might be why it was on sale).

Our next shop was also a Bernina dealer. Drool, drool, drool over the lovely machines. A dream or two about being able to one day afford one, and some fun little charm packs. They had just gotten in the charm packs for the new Christmas lines from Moda. These two little Sandy Gervais packs had to come home with me. I have an idea for them, but think I need to go back and buy a couple more. And since right next door is a sushi restaurant -- may even be able to convince dh to come with.

Day one (oh, did I mention this was a four day shopping spree?) ended with our third stop to a lovely shop, which again, if you love antique reproduction fabric -- this is the place for you! I'm not that big into civil war repros -- but my, this shop could convince me to do some work with it! I DID manage to find these lovlies in the clearance area. I originally bought them thinking I would use the blues for a summer dress for dd. She has the most incredible blue eyes -- and well, despite the fact that she's not really a pastels kind of kid -- I thought it might work. I've since found something that will work better (keep reading) but I will find some good use for these. Maybe a nice baby quilt for someone who is having a little boy.

Day two I was on my own with dd in tow. Note -- while my *almost* two year old is adorable and pretty well behaved for her age, serious fabric and quilt shopping is not recommended without someone there to act as child wrangler. Normally this is dh -- but, well, he had to work Friday night so, dd (I really need to come up with a name for her other than dd for this blog) and I were on our own. Luckily we were headed to the shop that is one of "my" LQSs. They know us there -- they've known dd since I was pregnant with her. This helps. So does the box of toys they keep in the book area. And oh, familiarity does NOT breed contempt. They had just gotten in their order of the Heather Bailey Freshcut fabrics! Of course, I had to buy more of the yummies! (THIS is what tells me I'm an addict!) They were also doing demos of foundation by the yard along with the add a quarter rule. Yes, the demo won me over. It's just like paper piecing -- but you don't have to tear anything out. And since they are pre-printed foundations, the prep work is minimal. I've always wanted to try a New York Beauty block -- so now I will (actually I already have -- keep reading). The other shop we headed to on Day Two was new to me and had some fun stuff, but dd had lost all patience with me. I will go back and buy something later -- when I don't have to chase a small girl.

Day three I had dd along again, but I also had MIL and GMIL with -- MIL (also known as Nana) was happy to act as small girl wrangler so I did get to do some shopping! One of the shops we went to on day three is located in a converted barn. Yes, it is far out in the country, but luckily very close to where I live. I only bought this McKenna Ryan pattern (I've been wanting to try one of hers for ages) but I will be going back. They have a nice selection of fabrics (a nice mix of traditional with a few punches of modern) and it's nice to have a local supply of notions and thread.

The second stop on day three was a shop I *thought* I had been to before -- really small town, how many quilt shops can there be? Turns out I was wrong. The shop I had thought it was had closed and this new one had opened. This is good. The former shop was not one of my favorites and, frankly, was one I hadn't gone to often since I seldom found anything there I wanted. The new shop has some really cute fabrics and a few patterns I liked. I don't know if it will be a regular stop for me, but it is one to keep in mind as it is so close. I found the pinks and greens which I decided suit dd much better for the dress I want to make, and the red and white fabric (you can JUST see it peeking out in the back there) was just because I liked it.

Day four it was MIL and GMIL and me without small girl. Dh kept her with him at home so we could go to the last two stops. The first stop of the day was a shop I had never been to -- and oh my, I am still giddy over my purchase! (this is two days later, so you know it's good) Again, quite a few traditional quilting fabrics though she had a really nice selection of novelty prints (I was very tempted by the red skulls on black and a fun halloween print) and I got to see the new Folklorique line from Fig Tree, oh my. Not my usual colors, but lovely. Much better seen in person. Now, for my fantastic find. I splurged at this store. I bought yardage. I rarely buy yardage -- a single yard yes. But unless I KNOW I need it, I rarely will buy a lot of something. There are exceptions. This lovely Amy Butler fabric (Ginger Bliss from when she was with FreeSpirit) was hanging out in the clearance section. It had been reduced to $6.50 a yard and had a further 75% off sticker. Um -- that means this fabric was $1.63 a yard (US). Ummm --- pre-cut fat quarters were on sale during this hop for $1.75 each. Can we say I'll take the rest of the bolt?!? The same for the coordinating stripe! So, 4+ yards of the floral, 2+ yards of the stripe, and less than $12.00 US. Shopping karma -- must love it! Oh, and I may have also bought some fat quarters...just maybe mind you.

After this wonderful find, we were ready to end the shop hop with just one more stop. The last one was a stop I hadn't been looking forward to. It is a shop I have been to several times before and, well, this is another one I was unimpressed by. I rarely found things I wanted, the owner just seemed to not want folks in her store for some reason -- am I the only one who has been to a store like this and just felt like not going back? Again though -- I was in for a VERY pleasant surprise. The shop must have changed ownership because -- WOW! This was the only shop on the hop who carried Kaffee Fassett fabric. Oh, and the lovely Amy Butler Lotus line, and oh, oh, oh, so many others. This from a shop where previously I had had to look hard to find things I wanted to purchase. And they had pre-cut 1/2 yards on sale buy one get one free! Oh. My. I just had to pick up the Kaffe 1/2 yard and an Amy Butler stripe. And get a couple of other things cut as well. (yes -- more Heather Bailey, I have mentioned I'm in love with this fabric right?) They had all three (Kaffee, AB and HB) displayed together and it is amazing how well the three lines play together -- it's giving me ideas which could be dangerous!

And just so you don't think it has been all purchases and no sewing -- well, I have a few finishes and a new project underway! The first finish is dd's pants to go with her cutie patootie Fresh Cut top. The pants turned out really well -- and again, I couldn't get them off the child! Yahoo! (please ignore the stains on the couch and the hole in the slipcover -- really. please? I do have a replacement cover, I just need to spend the time and put the new one on.)

I also finished my MILs mother's day gift. This pattern from this little bag was from the Quilts and More Fall/Winter '06 issue. My MIL bought the fabric, but I made the purse. And while I was at it, I just had to make one for myself. I did modify the pattern a little bit. The original called for the straps to be 13" long finished. Um, I don't know about you, but I need a bag I can put over my arm. My MIL requested that hers be even longer. Easy enough to accommodate, and they turned out wonderfully (even if the photos don't show it -- it was late when I finished them and I just took the photo rather than wait for the morning). I even had the button forms to do the covered fabric buttons tucked away in my stash. I think they were from a project I did over 5 years ago -- so yahoo for me! Busting some of the notions stash!

And finally, I got to work on Mom's mother's day gift. While she was here, she reminded me that she would STILL really like the pillows I promised to make her for her "new" living room couch. Of course, this was something like three years ago -- but, hey, who's counting? I had the fabrics she had picked out in a box -- you know, one of those PIGs I've mentioned I have tons of? But, well, originally the fabrics were supposed to go into some Ricky Timms Convergence tops that I would turn into pillows. Problem here -- I've made one or two of these. They're fun. They turn out well. I don't want to make another one any time soon. So, what to do? Well -- take the fabrics, and my new foundation-by-the-yard -- and here you go. A few NY Beauty blocks for Mom (who is a NY beauty herself) and they will make a fantastic pillow. I'll make a few others -- probably something more modern but that will go with the NYB. I'll post the progress on these as it happens.

So that's it from my corner of the world -- if you are still reading this, you probably deserve a medal (or at least a chance to enter the shop hop prize drawing). Sorry I don't have anything to offer right now -- but stay tuned, there may be something soon. I'm off to work on those NYBs and try and get another finish going!

Project in Progress

I promised in my last post I would share some photos of my progress on my current project made with the yummy Heather Bailey fabrics. This one is not quilty, though it involves fabric, thread and a sewing machine. And thanks to a wonderful spring (almost summer day, we had temps in the low 80's F) despite the fact that we had snow a week and 1/2 ago, I was able to get some wonderful pictures.


I really only meant to have dd try this on this morning so I could check the fit. It's big, but that's good -- she can wear it all summer. I really did mean to then take it off of her so I can finish the pants that are going to go with it. But...she wouldn't let me. She kept on feeling the fabric and playing with the little ruffle. She ran away when I suggested she put on her favorite Elmo shirt instead. Who am I to argue with that? And, ok, it made me feel good that she loved it so much she wanted to wear it. So -- add a pair of jeans, send her outside, and this is what I got.

A trip to the park after being scared by a big dog in our "soccer field" (a grassy area near our townhouse -- the dog was visiting a house separated from the area by a hedge. Seems we got a bit close and she was being protective of the little girls the dog guards. Nothing more than the dog running towards her barking, but a 45 pound dog is 2x the size of my little one -- I see a dog double my size running after me and I will start freaking out too!), and all is right with the world as she follows her mother's regard for the way things are "supposed" to be done (dh was close by, I just cropped his hand and foot out of this picture).

I still need to finish the pants, but she wore the shirt all day long. It has some red jello dotting the front, a few grass smudges and lots of dirt on it. I need to re-do a line of top stitching to make sure the hem doesn't unravel when I wash it, and I couldn't be more pleased. It has been worn, loved, and used and she looked adorable while doing it. What more could I ask for?

For anyone who is curious, the outfit is from a Burda pattern and will, when I am done with them, have a pair of pants to go with it out of the yellow/blue green/pink striped Fresh Cut fabric I bought at the quilt show. I know there are some of you out there who are talented enough to just make up outfits like this -- I am NOT one of them. Clothing is not really one of my talents -- curved and odd shaped seams (um, I LIKE my mostly straight seams), having to go back and finish seams (hunh? doesn't the batting cover this?), and a 5/8" seam allowance (that thing looks HUGE compared to my normal 1/4"). ONLY for those I love would I attempt this -- although this went together so easily, I am contemplating adding to the insanity. I may change my mind after having to work with elastic, I'll let you know.

I've also been playing with the odd sized scraps left over from cutting the pattern pieces. Since they are so oddly shaped instead of going into my scrap bag, or being cut down into strips, these have been my way to "test drive" my new yo-yo makers. Can I just say these things ROCK? No fuss, no muss, no having to press down the seam! Just snap in the fabric, trim around the edge, needle in an out of the pre-marked holes, pull a thread, and voila! instant yo-yo! I've been working on these while I watch TV at night, I think I've already made about 30 altogether. I know one or two are going to be a hair thingy (don't you love my technical terms) for dd's outfit, but what I am going to do with the rest -- well, I'll figure it out. I still have scraps from the outfit left, so I have no idea how many I will end up with, but boy are they fun!

So, there is my current fabric therapy, just about the speed I need right now even with the challenges of seams that don't exactly match up without easing them together and that don't lie flat when you iron them because, well, people aren't flat! I'll post another picture when I finish the pants, and if anyone has any suggestions for all of the yo-yo's, I will gladly take them!