Long Time No Sew!!

I have not touched my sewing machine since my last post!!  Ugh!  The entire summer has gone by without anything to show for it.  Life Happens!  I had to take on a second job at the end of March which cut my available time down considerably, and recently due to the foundation of our house sinking, and other timely incidentals, we have now relocated to my mother's home, with the majority of our belongings stowed away in storage.  Regardless of the fact that there is ABSOLUTELY no room for fabric, tools, and sewing machine, I ignored my husband's protesting and brought them.  Well, as much of them as I could without looking insane.  A great deal of fabric is storage - this pains me - but I managed to smuggle two totes worth of scraps and fat quarters covering the spectrum of all colors one could possibly think they might need to have a smidgen of on hand! :)  So, I've been driving around with the said smuggled items in the back of my car for 4 weeks now - did I mention I was trying to not look insane?  With the only space available to work in/on being the kitchen table - I can see this going to be difficult, but I intend to perservere.  So I took my fabrics & tools out yesterday -- knowing I had an hour on hand that no one would be around, and I wouldn't be in their way or visa-versa -- and I cut out fabric needed for my September BOM for guild (meeting tonight).



Then today, same time, I was able to sew my block together!


At least I have a little relief.  Sewing for me is like therapy and I've been missing it sooooo much!  And having the night off so I can attend a guild meeting??  That like a 2 for 1 kind'a day! :)

March BOM

Into every quilter's life . . . a little scrap must fall.  :)  Thank goodness for that!  Got some time to sit and sew - gotta get it while the gettin's good!  Today I get to work on my March BOM for guild.  I have to admit, I really don't like cutting all that much - I'm impatient and it seems like a chore keeping from my "play". . .

. . . but I sure do love the hummmm of my machine!

If It's March

. . . why am just now working on February's block of the month for guild?  Dunno.  With work, kids, chores, and on and on - boy it's hard to find time to sew.  So here I am, squeezin' it in!  This month's block (a'hem, excuse me - February's block) is Spinning Star.  This is truly a scrappy endeavor.  I'm going to rip through all the scraps I have to throw into these blocks for 2012. 

  

Like so many blocks, cut, sew together, cut apart and sew together again.  The only problem I have, especially with smaller pieces - after the layers start building up, it's hard for me to make nice smooth, straight seams with all the bulk.


My spinning star: 

and my two blocks so far: 













I'm also making a set in black - so I guess I'll do the black February tomorrow.  You know . . . on March 2nd. :)

Some Quick Holiday Gifties!

I've been busy gettin' ALL kinds of stuff done - REALLY!  I have!  I'm just terrible at stopping to take pictures, and post updates and info on it :( ...  LOL!  Anyway, it's a great time to make a resolution to get better at it!  :)   So, since there's still 7 sewing days 'til Christmas, I was looking to get a couple of holiday goodies done (just in time!), so a BIG THANKS to Rachel at "Not-so-Plan Jane for this too cute Snowman Mug Rug tutorial! Today (with camera by my side) I started these adorable mug rugs.  I'm making 16 to give as gifts - 4 sets of 4.  Something that doesn't require too much fussing, and I will be able to get them done between today and tomorrow.  Today I gathered my holiday type scraps and cut out my blocks, strips, and some assorted leftovers for a backings.


... now, everybody line up - it's assembly time!

Apparently I can't count - during this prestigious procession I ended up missing some of my 2" squares - back to the cutting board! LOL!


... all my my snowmen are clipped - now on to the next two assembly rounds - the sides and backs . . .

Again, thanking the Lord for my never-ending stash (hoard) of fabric, I quickly retrieve some orange, and after applying wonder under, I cut out the noses.  They're starting to come to life :)

Now, I have the batting cut, and with all 16 mug rug tops done, I'm calling it quits for the day - I'm ready to - it has nothing to do with the fact that my husband and kids are complaining about fending for themselves for breakfast and lunch . . . or that they're starting to ask if I will be fixing dinner today.  Honest!


Tomorrow I will put my mug rugs together, quilt, and machine bind.  [Note to self - put dinner in the crock pot in the morning!] 

Hex-A-Long

A Hex-a-long! Oh Hex! Why not?  Lily's Quilts is having a Hex-a-Long, and I think that would be a marvelous use of all my sraps.  After looking (drooling) over some of the hexies - I can't wait to get started!  These hexies over on Gayle's blog are lovely, and I'm nuts about the QAYG hexies on Pings and Needles post, and these yummie beauties over at Freshly Pieced!  Hmmmm!  I'm definitely in!

I quick sketched my first two patterns, and pulled together my scraps . . .

 My Hexies will have a scrappy look cuz I'm goin' through every draw, box, and bag and I'm gonna throw every scrap I have at it!

I've really been wanting to experiment with QAYG and sewing directly to the batting, like I've seen over on the Quilted Edge, so this is it.  I started out my test block here with an oversized piece of batting . . .

after pressing and trimming, my test block - I'm happy with the dimensions, so I'm off and running!  I'll make more of this block this week, and I'll try my second sketch pattern next week.   Happy Hex-ing!