Rainy Craft Day!

I have started a few projects recently. The weather has been so pleasant and warm it makes it hard to stay in doors. I have planted herbs, flowers and veggies out side. The weather suddenly changed yesterday with lots of rain and a cold front. My nose is actually cold. I was wearing skirts and tank top the last two weeks. Oh well, I did get things accomplished in doors yesterday. I cleaned the house (Well, hubby did most of the dirty work.) His family is coming for Memorial Day weekend. 

I pulled out a paper flower kit, that my Mom gave me for my birthday, and sat down for a couple hours in the afternoon. I ended up making five flowers. The kit had really great directions, but of course I ended up making my own petal patterns.  This glass vase was sad with out flowers, but looks lovely now. You cant see from the pictures, but my living room has oranges in it so it coordinated nicely. Awesome gift Mom!

However, I did end up making a pretty mess as well!  FYI Vacuum the floor after this project, NOT before.  The paper petals are rapped onto metal florist wire with floral tape. The tape is really tricky. It is not particularly sticky or strong.  I had to start three flowers over again after the centers popped off. My hands actually ached after finishing. I would not recommend this project for any one under 15.  It is tedious and time consuming. The out come and reward is awesome and beautiful. The would be beautiful in pale color schemes as well. I might make some another rainy day!

Shelf Idea

Here is the shelf that I made. I recycled the pine boards that my hubby uses to break in his Kung -fu. It is hard to tell from the image, but the edges facing out are raw from where they were broken. I painted the background  way before the shelf idea was born, it fits together nicely though! I put cup hooks to hang keys by the door. I love spray paint and have a nice arsenal, I must have used six colors to get the right one. I have made a few of these, all different sizes and colors to match different decor! This one needs slight repair, that is why it is sadly resting on the floor. I think I would like to make more but use stain instead. I still enjoy the painting in the back rather than cardstock. I will have to get started now that the cold weather is disappearing. 

Baby quilt done!

So I was able to finish the rest of the quilt today. I had to attend court this morning from an incident that was a witness to. I thought that I was going to be there much longer than planned. I came home and cleaned the house, we are leaving this weekend for a wedding. I enjoy returning from a trip to a clean home. I settled on doing a very basic machine quilt on my co-workers. I feel certain that I will put much more detail in to the one for my cousin. 

I also printed out some handmade tags. I took me about 20 min on the computer. I have really enjoyed the new printer that I got. I printed it out on some really heavy cardstock. I was very happy with my work when it was completed. I sat down and did the math about $8.50 a piece and I feel better giving something handmade. My repurposed ribbon looks a bit sad in the picture, better in reality. I will get back to the fence rail/mountain quilt when I return from the wedding.

Baby Quilts

So i found a really great idea on how to cut down three yards of fabric to make three quit toppers for baby/crib blankets. You simply fold a yard lengthwise( as it was on the bolt)and then widthwise. Then orient the folded edges to the bottom left corner. Trim fabric size to 18x21 0r 18X20 as long as all three yards are cut the same. Then from the both raw edges measure in 9 inches then cut. When done three different fabrics it yields interchangeable pieces.

Well here is the quilt put together with batting and backing. I haven't pressed it or quilted it together. Wow! I am impressed how fast this has gone, So far! It was much more cost effective for me since I needed three blankets. I will post final quilt before I wrap it up for mom.

Fabric for Baby Quilts

My Sister came to visit while she was on Spring Break she wanted to go get some fabric for the inside of her purse. So, I took her down to Jo-Ann's. She did end up finding something she liked, but I also had to purchase fabric. We have a cousin that is having a baby boy soon, whom we don't know that well, but we were invited to the shower (in Califorina!?!!) (Have I mentioned I live in the beautiful state of North Carolina?) I had looked at baby flannel prints previously, unenthusiastic about any I had not made a purchase. I found these prints and a great idea of how to cut the yards down in order to make three blankets out of three yards, not including the backing (I have a co-worker having a boy also). I was very excited to find these. Prints for boys really are lacking in the fabric world they either are adolcent boy prints with writing or they just seem silly. I enjoy crafting, however I feel that 80% of the stuff out there to craft from is tacky! I am fairly traditional when it comes to picking fabrics, especially when it comes to baby stuff! I settled for the moon and stars and polk-a-dots. it was not my first pick. The solids were very cheap as well. I will post a finished picture soon since my co-worker's shower is on Friday! I enjoy fast quilting sometimes!
Oh yes! Here is 'Fat Girl' draped in ribbon. She is so patient to let my sister do this to her. She loves the attention though. Can't you tell. She adores my sister. 

What Happened to February?

Here it is March and I am sitting here wondering what happened to February? I am aware that February is a short month, but it disappeared in a blur of snow, birthdays and colds. I did have a few unexpected days off from work. I spent those days either in the bed, sewing or cooking. All with my gorgeous doggie by my side. I am sitting at my sewing table and up wanders a wet nose with this sweet face attached. How could you not take a picture.

Here are my existing squares. I am getting really close to finishing the 1,052 that I need. 

I love seeing the colors together. My piles of strips are shrinking. I am sure the dog will be happy to have her futon back. She loves it. The other morning I woke up and could find her. She was snoozing peacefully on the futon in the middle of all my strips. When she finally sauntered out into the kitchen she had a strip wrapped around her curly tail. 
This is my favorite group of strips before I cut it up into squares.

Quilting as a job

Wow, wouldn't it be wonderful if someone would pay me to quilt. I know that people do this but, I don't think that I have the skill yet. I saw on tv this lady in Kansas was doing free machine quilting (i am sorry, her name escapes me). I was in awe, she has my dream life. Her set-up was incredible. I can't wait until I have the time and the space to create things like that. I know that I  have it in me me. I just need the resources. Right now, I am enjoying drooling over the things that other quilters are creating. Even though, there is a slight pang of jealousy.  I would even go as far as saying that I would like to own my very own quilt shop. I can see myself in there giving classes, helping customers pick out my fabulous fabrics. Oh, I am in such a dream world.

Crochet Blanket in Purple

I have been crocheting this king sized blanket since the start of the new year. It will hopefully complement the quilt that I am making. I have enjoyed looking at many other blogger's images of their quilts and blankets. I think it is so wonderful to make something tangible that my family can use. I love working with fabric and yarn. I know that their is much invested time in making things this way. Other ladies at work asked me why I was going to all that trouble. I answered, 'because I enjoy it!' I have thought a lot about what she said. I think part of is the nurturing part of me to make something warm that will comfort others. The other part is making something and saying that it was all me.  I guess that is a bit self-serving, but aren't we all?
I have many different types of yarns in this blanket, I love purple! and blues too! Well no certain pattern. Just use what ever color I want. I didn't want to have too many chunky sections from using a skein of solid yarn. I have many partials from other projects. Some skeins I went out and purchased just for this project. I love that I can tell when I bought them by looking at the blanket. I am sure I will have to buy a few more  in order to make it a King, but right now I am trying to use up what I have. That is my motto for this year.

Purple Mountain Quilt

Here are all of the strips cut out and piled on the futon in the sewing room. I watched Pres. Obama's Inauguration on Tuesday. I was very overwhelmed with emotion. I though it was a wonderful speech. I was very thankful that I was able to watch it in real time. I did not get as much done as I had hoped that snow day.

I am still working on the purple king quilt. These pieced strips are all piled up and waiting to be pressed. The color flow that I am working on is in the background of the image. The pile of strips on the futon is getting much flatter. I am excited about having time to get this quilt underway. It has been cathartic to work on this task.

Snow Day!

Yeah It is snowing... the first snow of the year!  Here in the piedmont of NC we do not normally get snow. I lived in the mountains of NC for years and saw snow often. I have missed it terribly since moving. It is so peaceful outside.  This is a picture at 7 o'clock this morning. I have already called work and the message encouraged us not to drive in even for a few hours. We are on a snow day.  NC is just not prepared for this kind of weather. Not enough plows or slag to make it around. People who are out, drive like idiots, and taboot there is ice under all that snow. Not for my faint of heart. Hubby ventured out to work very early. God willing he will make it home tonight. It is supposed to keep it up all day and into tomorrow night. Well, I am excited about the quilting that I can get accomplished in the quiet, peaceful snow. 

New King quilt

I have been very excited since I got my new machine.  I have had the opportunity to sit down and get familiar with it. Being laid off of work for two weeks has not started off so bad. I have accomplished a lot of unfinished tasks around the house. Now I am on to my crafting projects. I have vowed not to spend any money on trying to occupy my time during my sabbatical(that sounds so much nicer). I spend the better part of a a morning a few days ago trying to decide on a quilt pattern for the King sized mountain quilt I wanted to make this year. Hubby and I just upgraded to a king and we have nothing coordinating in our room. I have more than enough fabric  in my stash to make  a king quilt, pillows, curtains, etc.. I really wanted to do more of a realistic image of the mountains (see earlier post). Well, after looking at many a blog and many a book. I decided to go with a much simpler plan, my skill level is not there yet. Some day! I  found an image of a Fence Rail Quilt that  I was immediately struck with. I could visualize it in the purple color scheme I was hoping for. I decided to do a different color block per each fence rail for two reasons: 1. I don't have enough of any one fabric and, I think it will look more like mountains 2. I later found the Dimensions for a King and decided I would go for it. Yesterday, much to my husbands whining, I pieced together the first block and cut out many strips. I will start piecing more blocks soon.

50-100 of Top 100 list of things to accomplish.
Bold means I have completed the task.
50. Live at the Beach 51. Make a King sized quilt 52. Live in another country 53. Become a mother 54. Ride in a helicopter 55. Watch all Star War movies back to back 56 Live in the mountains 57. Rocked to sleep on a sailboat 58. Publish a book 59. Own a brand new car 60. Own my own home 61. Have my ears pierced 62. Bake a Lady Baltimore Cake 63. Feel comfortable wearing a bikini 64. See the Northern Lights 65. Hike part of the Appalachian Trail 66. Fall asleep with out Monk 67. Build a home to my design 68. See Panic for New Years 69. Do yoga 5 times a week 70. See the Great Barrier Reef 71. Live in the Country 72. Raise a dog to have puppies 73. Ride a horse on the beach 74. Lost a loved one 75. Sell my crafts 76. Meet a boy who really loves me. 77. Have the confidence to tell someone what I really think 78. Start a new job 79. Drink more than two martinis before falling asleep 80. Dance for no one but yourself 81. Beat Super Mario Galaxy 82. Brew my own beer 83. Have a party with all of my friends 84. Plant a tree 85. Learn to say no and mean it 86. Ask for a raise 87. Drive from Atlantic to Pacific 88. Learn to take a compliment 89. Learn to trust my fingers. 90. Spend Christmas on a beach 91. Learn to complain effectively 92. Ride in a hot air balloon 93. Find a job I love. 94. Learn to bartend 95. Be comfortable with myself 96. Teach someone to read 97. Look in to my children's eyes only to see myself 98. Forgive my family 99. Get passionate about a cause and do something about it 100. Complete all 100 tasks.
(The list is partially from "100 Things you should do before you die" and partially of my own mind)