New year

The idea of new year has taken on a different meaning for me. As I'm writing this, my two month old daughter is happily sleeping on my chest. This is her special new year, with amazing developments every day.

I wish anyone who comes across this post a happy and healthy 2009.

Happy happy, joy joy...

Do you remember that song "Happy Happy, Joy Joy" from Ren and Stimpy? I think it has been well over 10 years since I've heard it and it still pops in my head once in a while.

I took a quiz, and it looks like I will need to be careful that my happy doesn't irritate. That song seems like a perfect fit. :)

you are greenyellow #ADFF2F

Your dominant hues are green and yellow. There's no doubt about the fact that you think with your head, but you don't want to be seen as boring and want people to know about your adventurous streak now and again. Your saturation level is higher than average - You know what you want, but sometimes know not to tell everyone. You value accomplishments and know you can get the job done, so don't be afraid to run out and make things happen. Your outlook on life is very bright. You are sunny and optimistic about life and others find it very encouraging, but remember to tone it down if you sense irritation.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

Also, I must be so busy running out and making things happen that I haven't taken time to post any crafting. Next time I'm out, I'll need to make buying batteries for my camera happen.

Sweat Shop

I'm sooooo hot (not in a good way, but in a sweaty, wilted, tired way). Temps have been in the 90s since early July with no break. Yuck!

Bird quilt pattern

I just stumbled across a blog and take a look at the bird quilt! I just had to share. (In case anyone actually reads this anymore, it's been a while since I've posted.)

I have done little crafting lately. Somehow 90 degree weather in a non-air conditioned house is not conducive to my creative flow. Well, that and being pregnant and starting to be more tired. I did do these super simple earrings Sunday night though.

Drum roll please....

It looks like it is a girl! The ultrasound was this week and they think it is most likely a girl. The technologist said she only goes to a max 80% likelihood with girls, but it seems pretty sure. We saw 3 lines, and nothing even close to boy parts. I do think I may make a boy quilt as a backup anyway. :)

"Girl Quilt" top finished!

I was able to finish up the "If it's a Girl" quilt top this weekend.

I've got to pick out my backing, which will either be Full Moon Forest bunny damask or whatever else I can dig up. I bought a lot of the green + white bunny damask for the nursery, only to realize it clashes with the carpet in the room. Duh! (We still have the not-so-loveley green carpet in all the upstairs bedrooms.)

Once the backing is ready and I pick up batting at the sale at Joann this weekend, I'll drop it off for the longarmer. I would love to do it but I have neither the time nor the skill to do it right at this point.

Etsy or eBay?

With the upcoming arrival of a new member of our household, I've been in a cleaning frenzy. Excess is being purged, and I've found quite a few lots of yarn and some quilting fabric I would like to unload. My question is whether it would be better to sell it on etsy or eBay. Have any of you tried selling these items either place? Do you have a preference?? Advice???? (other than decent photos which is now a given with either)

Oldie, but goodie

I made up this pattern a couple years ago. It was the first (and only--so far) paper pieced pattern that I have created myself. Even with the binding it measures less than 14" x 14". Someday I'll have to post the instructions.

One quilting trick used for this quilt that works with dark fabrics is to:
1. Print out your quilting pattern line art, or draw on paper
2. Take a pin and poke a series of holes closely spaced on the lines
3. Position quilting pattern over quilt or block
4. Use a chalk pounce over all the line work to transfer design

The quilt lines will get transferred through the perforated holes and the marks easily come off when done. I don't know if there are colors of chalk that will work for lighter fabrics. I can't imagine this is an original idea, but it is not something I remember hearing anywhere.

That darn cat!

So much for finishing up the quilt today. One of my two cats puked on the quilt top, so now I'm carefully washing it out by hand. Grrrrrr.....

We're meeting friends for lunch so this morning was my main time to sew. Guess I'll work on the strippy border.

Progress on "girl quilt"

All star blocks are finished and sewn together. It is really coming together. Hopefully I'll get more time tomorrow to finish it up, or get closer. There is a small inner border and a strip pieced outer border left.

I *heart* Lillypilly

My friend and I went to a bead show on Saturday. My absolute favorite vendor was Lillypilly Designs. You can buy their beads and pendants on their site or at Art Beads. (Art Beads has a better selection.)



I made the necklace with one of their pendants. It is perfect for the summer and has a natural-relaxed-beachy feel. I also picked up 3 sets for earrings. The colors are fabulous. It was hard not to buy more.

The photos aren't the best since they are from my scanner. DH has the digital camera.

If it's a girl...

I've been working on this quilt a while back. It would be perfect if we have a girl so now I'm completing it. Aren't those Freshcut fabrics great!?

The pattern is a freebie called Star Fling from P&B Textiles by Terry Atkinson.

As you can see in the photo the blocks aren't sewn together yet. I'm going to have many leftovers so I can use them in another project too. When I get them sewn I'm going to play with the mix and see what works. Everything is cut including the borders, so I just need to find more time to sew.

First baby sewing project

I picked up a Nurture Nest pillow form and a pattern at Joann's Friday. The cover was super easy to put together and I even used the ruffle rac trim that Michael Miller fabrics sent me. It is cute, and gender neutral since we don't know what we are having yet. The lime green gingham I had had in my stash for a while. I'm going to make another cover too, but maybe use a bit smaller seam allowance as it is so tight that it is hard to get on the pillow form (hence the bumpy pillow in the photo!).

I'm alive!

I'm making it through the tail end of morning sickness. (hopefully it is the end!) I haven't been doing much quilting or even cooking, more just trying to stay afloat with work and cleaning. I'm looking forward to sewing soon. Plus I have a birthday coming up and can have a birthday discount at my LQS.

Jolly Jabber has a word scramble contest that is kind of fun. Check it out here.

Quilt-a-long setting

I just made this rough sketch and I think it is what I am going to go with for setting the quilt-a-long blocks. I tried a courhouse steps sashing which would be nice too, but I think the pinwheels help unify the whole thing.

Getting my sew on

Not quite caught up for the quilt-a-long, but getting closer!

String of good luck

I've been lucky in the past couple months, winning a few drawings on other blogs. A very belated thank you to Melly and Me, Quilters Buzz, Michael Miller and Sew Mama Sew!!!

A bunch of people got lucky (including me) at Making it Fun from Michael Miller when they pulled an "Oprah" and gave away a bunch of trim. They are debuting their ruffle rac (how cute!) and bias trim (how time-saving!). The colors I got are sky ruffle rac and banana pindot bias trim.


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I won a copy of Toffee Apple from Melly and Me. It is a lovely pattern and I am definitely going to make myself a fun spring bag. I've been hoarding some Amy Bulter prints that I think might work great. Melly and Me design fabulous purse and softie/flossie patterns.


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For a new year's giveaway, I got lucky to win these beauties, courtesy of Gina and Stephanie at Quilter's Buzz/The Threaded Pear. They are super easy patterns and will definitely help me use up some stash (so I can get more fabric, of course).


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Sew Mama Sew is always giving away goodies, and this time I was the lucky one. New fabric to play with is always great!! I didn't have any of these so it was just perfect. Some of them might look great with the Michael Miller trims.

Just plain (lucky) me

I really need to do something fun this weekend. Sewing sounds good, although I'm wrestling with finishing up projects instead of starting a new one. I want to start a new one though. :)

On a nice note, I hit a string of good luck on some blog drawings and will post photos when I get some batteries for my camera. Yipee!!

New Floors!

DH and I gave each other new/refinished hardwood floors for Christmas this year. We had hardwood floors in the kitchen, dining nook and entryway already. The living room and dining room had seafoam green carpeting, and boy was it quality carpet that just won't die. (Stains practically disappear into it...) We were able to freecycle it to a friend who put it into their basement playroom, which felt good since it was in such good shape. NOTE: we did not install that carpet, it was from the previous owners.

The prefinished floors were red oak, stained gunstock. They installed new red oak where there was carpet and refinished the rest. Then it was all stained nutmeg and sealed at the same time. You can't tell at all that it wasn't installed at the same time. They even got rid of the beveled edge from the prefinished floors.

BEFORE:



DURING:
Here is the progress two days later after carpet was ripped up and walls were painted. I know, we got rid of one green only to paint another. But, this time it is a modern fern green.


The contractors came and covered what they could with plastic. It was such an uncomfortable feeling to have everything a mess and covered up with the sheets. DH and I were glad to be able to stay at a friend's house while the work & varnishing was going on.



The new wood (red oak to match the existing)


AFTER:
Ta da! New floors. Trim is in progress. DH is doing that part. It looks white in the photo but it is pine that isn't stained yet (its just resting on the wall). We are in disagreement over the use of a shoe or not. We have to put a shoe in most of the areas where there was hardwood since the previous owners left a huge gap between the wood and the walls. I want it to go everywhere to be consistent. DH doesn't want to do all the work. Normally, we come to agreements easier than with this one. EDIT: we have shoe everywhere. I have the best husband!



The floors really look fabulous. The color is light enough to brighten the space but the dark grain picks up on the dark color of the woodwork in the rest of the house. I can't wait to have the project complete!

Nice Holiday Break

I had a really nice holiday break. My husband and I went to Iowa to see my family for a week. We saw nearly everyone. It was very low key. Unfortunately, we forgot our camera!

While there, I taught my Mom how to rotary cut. I was hoping to get a little farther along than that but she has sewn before and should pick it up pretty easily from here. She has fabric, a nice sewing machine and some books but hadn't made the jump to making something yet. Now she has most of the pieces cut out to make a relatively simple table runner. I hope she keeps going with it.

Also, we went on a day trip to the Amana Colonies. Looking for a restroom, we stumbled upon a quilt shop and I got to meet fabric designer Stephanie Brandenburg. She even had the original painting used to create this fabric. It was fun to visit and got me thinking how I would love to design fabric.

My Grandma didn't really react to the quilt I made her. I'm not sure why and it was definitely disappointing. It looked beautiful and it looks great in her bedroom or living room. Even when I've talked to her twice by phone since then she hasn't mentioned it at all. Bummer...

(I didn't blog about it but I had it long arm quilted with a rose pattern and used the solid brown for the binding. Maybe one of my family members has a photo of it they can send me and I'll post it.)