Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Too Many Irons in the Fire?

I have been feeling like I have a lot of projects, but I actually feel like I am making significant progress and so there is little to no anxiety!  However, I am sure Mr. Boss thinks I have too many irons in the fire, anyway.   I have a ton of things in progress, but I really want to keep this short since, well, the irons are getting HOT!


 
I have five complete tops and four pieced backings in waiting in line for a turn on Ole Betsy.  You can see them on the rack in the background.  The order of quilting goes Giant Vintage Star, Primarily Sean's Quilt, Spiders and Webs, and then Blizzard.

They are all gifts or quilts for our family!!  

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My other slightly time consuming work in progress is my long arm business adventure.
My soft opening of my Buttons and Butterflies Quilting Services is underway this week!  



The great thing about having quilting friends that will be guinea pigs for you is that you don't have to be too embarrassed about layout problems or typos.  I get to have them try my links, read my instructions, and fill out forms before going "live".   I already some questions have come up and are already helpful for me to fine tune things!!

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But, I digress, you want to see quilting, right?

Rodeo Quilt
   
I am excited about this project!  I was able to piece this completely Monday night.  It went together pretty quickly.

I already picked up my backing fabric and binding fabric.


I love the nod to a bluebonnet on the brown and I am calling the rose a "Texas Rose" even if it isn't.  The cool biased stripe is Grace from 3 Sisters and I love it.  

Of course, I am having a debate. 
The top and bottoms of the quilt have a cool angle that I want to keep. 


 But it would require a continuous biased binding.  Which means I would lose the diagonal effect that I would get if I cut it WOF?

Help me decide?

Bias binding and I will get a straight boring lined up pattern?

-or-

Cut it the opposite direction and hope I get a "striped" look?

-or-
 
Cut the cool edge off and just cut WOF binding to get a diagonal stripe?

 HELP!!!!!!!





Linking up with Lee!!!!!

WIPWednesday

Monday, February 25, 2013

Weekend Bits

The weekend brought little bits of time here and there.

The teen boy's birthday is approaching. He loves Mr. Boss and I's alma mater Marquette University basketball team.  Since his bedroom bedding/decorating project is at the finish line, I thought an MU pillow would be perfect for his room.  

I thought?  A foundation paper-pieced project would be cool?



Until EQ7 shut down from mulitiple errors on me!!!



So I simplified my logo.  It isn't perfect, but I hope it is close enough?   




Now I just have to sew it.

I also was really excited, because it was the first time I used my portable table out in the family room.  I bought it from Target so I don't always "rabbit hole" into my studio at nights.  It also came in handy on my scrapbook retreat.  I like to have an L formation and it helped me!  Dual purpose!!


I also cut some more hexies! 


Still have to address the 50+stars

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On Sunday, I was had a different mission while doing the laundry. Of course, it all happened AFTER the laundry and the kids went to bed!

The mission was this stack of rodeo prints that I "won".



 It was more of a contest than a giveaway by Carla at Lollyquiltz.
I was actually super excited to win the bundle because, if you have been following me, you know that we get excited about the Rodeo around here.



I was waiting for the perfect rodeo pattern to fall into my lap since last year and it never happened. 
I found a couple of cute patterns, but I was looking for simple.  The rodeo officially starts this week and I want it...well...NOW, of course!  After some thought, I remembered I have the Accuquilt Tumbler die cut.  That would be simple.  I wouldn't lose the motifs!  So I hunted down a few tumbler patterns and found these three.

Sources: Top, Bottom Left, Bottom Right

Last night, after laundry, I sat and starting cutting my tumblers.



I couldn't figure out why it was taking me so long, until I realized...I cut out 100+ tumblers!!

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This morning, Button and I have been arranging the blocks. 



 I also made the decision to cut into the last two fabrics in the top right corner since I still had a handful of "background" fabric tumblers leftover (middle photo).

For now?  I am off...Button and I have a date on a wagon.


I just wonder if he is bringing his friends along with us again!


Friday, February 22, 2013

My Brain Hurts

The past few days, I haven't had a lot of time to sit in front of my sewing machines.  I have been spending more time in front of my iPad or computer.  

It makes my brain hurt.



I have been working on my longarm machine quilting website.  It isn't anything terribly special, but trying to gather my thoughts and plans to make it an easy and smooth transition is taxing!

I won't pretend that I am all cool and actually building a website from scratch.  I am finangling Blogger to work for me.  I don't have a ton of overhead to hire someone!  I am also hoping it is a good starting point for someone to design the website for me based on what I envision, right?

I am feeling much better about it the today and hope that Mr. Boss and I can spend some time proofread and fine tune it this weekend for my "soft opening" on Monday.   I hope my guinea pigs realize what they are in for!!

Monday??! Eeeek!!!

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I DID also do something yesterday that needed to be done for a very long time.
Home Dec fabric shopping.  Our home is now 5 years old and some of the rooms still need some decorative window dressings.


I found a great chocolate embroidered silk for our dining room windows.



 The colors couldn't match the existing upholstered furniture or the rug any better.
The butterflies?  Match made in heaven, right?

Not only was it on sale, they gave me an additional 50% off because I also ordered 32 yards of this fabric for just one room.



Yup, you heard that right.  THIRTY TWO yards.   I think Mr. Boss might be having some sticker shock too.  I have been telling him for the past 5 years that I haven't been able to focus and make a decision on such a large amount of fabric.

I even had a bit of anxiety yesterday.  What if I ordered the wrong fabric? What if my calculations are wrong?  What if I cut it wrong?

Luckily I have 7-10 days to sweat it out....



Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Move Over Quilts

This needed to be finished today!



I was asked to help with some needlepoint crosses for my son's high school auction this fall.  



 I actually had it almost completed before Christmas, but I ran out of some of the background blue.  I also did not get the white edge twisted silk in my kit!  I stopped by yesterday at the beautiful shop that our school had made arrangements. If I wasn't as in love with quilting as I am, I think I would have found my chapel to worship in (just kidding).  

The background filled quickly as I sat at my doctor's waiting room as I waited my alloted 20 min after my allergy shot. 


Last night, I started the t-stitch edge.   

By bedtime, the timer turned the lamp off over my head and I couldn't keep my eyes open! 
Luckily, Button was feeling a little off this morning and I finished it up while watching Mickey Mouse with him.

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I really wanted to finish my Giant Star today.  It is really shaping up!



But Button really wanted to take a spin on his new birthday toy.  



I couldn't say no!

There is always another day!

WIPWednesday

Linking up with Lee, last minute!
 





Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Winter Wonderland

I have been remiss in posting this!
 Please join us.



 
A special blog hop hosted at Patchwork Posse!
 
A Winter Wonderland Quilt.  
You will be given a  pattern/tutorial for a row on each of the dates below.
  Each row will become a completed quilt at the end.
 
And yes, yours truly, is going to be doing a row on March 25th.  


Designers and Post Dates :

March 11th- http://quilterchic.com
July- finish up helps and hints http://patchworkposse.com


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A Flickr Photo Gallery is set up for the Round Robin.  This is a great place to post photos of your progress– from fabric choice to final finish.  We want to see it all!

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I know.  I am terrible.  I should have posted this mid-January.  But it isn't too late!  Join now.

But if you just feel behind?  Guess what?  There is a thing called Pinterest!




Click the button above and head to the host!
You can "pin" it and save it for later.  All is not lost!

But I am going to give it a go myself.
  I'd really want a winter only quilt!


Monday, February 18, 2013

Busy, Busy, Busy

I knew this month would be busy, and it really shouldn't be too busy, but the boys seem to have a ton of things going on!

I have been squeezing some quilting here and there this week.

The Giant Vintage Star Quilt was cut
(loving these Free Spirit fabrics)



the night before his braces came off!


And I squeezed in cutting the background the night after!
Madrona Road text!!!



This is the VERY first time I have ever bought and used text and I am in love.
 I am still shocked that I was able to keep the text oriented in the right direction.

During naptime on Friday, I was able to piece it together and by night I was making backing and binding choices.



But I had to stop to get ready for
Button's Birthday!



I am trying to finish it, but explosive baked potatoes and clogged up washing machine pump filters are slowing me down!  I am still trying to figure out how Mr. Boss managed to create the perfect combination to make a baked potato explode in the oven!??!?! 


Normally, I really try to interact and reply back to comments, but I just have not had the time.
Here is my THANK YOU!!!!  Thank you for all the kind comments on Imagination.  I am in love with that quilt!  After I unclogged the laundry pump filter, I was able to wash and crinkle dry it!
 It is off to Threading Hope this afternoon!!

After the birthday "party", I did need some quilt therapy after the cake debacle
 (I promise you will be hearing about the cake debacle because it makes me giggle).


Needed some quilt therapy after birthday cake making. My head was ready to explode.

It is ready for some embroidery for the backing!

Now I have to get back to laundry, I burnt my hand on the iron last night and decided to call it quits for the night!!

The day can only get better, right? 
If not, I really don't want to know how awful it can get either...



Thursday, February 14, 2013

Anti-Valentine's Day

Around these parts, we don't really celebrate Valentine's Day.

 Twenty years ago, our first Valentine's day was really romantic. I recall my darling husband making chocolate mousse, dipping strawberries, Kenny G in the background and being "oh so romantic" *currently rolling my eyes*.  The second Valentine's day consisted of him dropping off some sad looking flowers in a McDonald's super-sized plastic cup at the dorm front desk I was working at that night.  

Since then, Mr. Boss and I both agreed that Valentine's should just be everyday, since he lost all imagination after the first.  Just this morning, he even clarified that his morning kiss today was "just the normal goodbye morning kiss...that's it."  He is such a goon.

However, this year?  I thought I would give a little love to the boys for Valentine's Day!



He was so funny this morning.  
He was lockin' and poppin' while I was trying to take a picture of him in his Valentine's duds that I made him.




In case you can't see the heart, here is a close-up.




I also was able to whip out a Valentine's Day Bunting for the fireplace mantle yesterday.



They are just simple 8.5 inch block cuts with hearts that I appliqued with a machine blanket stitch and letters I cut out using a word document, wonder under, and a zig-zag stitch.

 
 I flipped and stitched the squares to some random ribbon in my stash.  Actually, all the fabrics are from my scrap stash and the striped fabric, that reminds me of feed sack quilt backings, was from some yardage for a future quilt backing.   No money spent!

I bought some small candy items for the boys and a red rubber ducky for Button since he collects different duckies for the bath for when they arrive home.

Don't worry, I didn't totally go crazy.  I went a bit, um, cheap with the Valentine's Day cards for Button's Class.  I had some blank textured card-stock cards that I colored a heart on each and then let him go to town with his crayons.   



Keepin' it real around here!

Someday, I will make a Valentine's Day quilt....
 However, I have to admit, it is low priority on my bucket list of quilts to make!

To those who love the holiday, I hope it is everything you hope and wish it to be.  To those who are in my camp....give the family a hug and kiss just because!  I plan on doing so when they all get home!




Wednesday, February 13, 2013

WIP: Finish Lines

The race to get some things done around here is at full speed.

Finished:

Imagination

I am so happy about this quilt. 



 I posted about the design process and other yummy photos of this quilt.  I am so happy with the piecing the other bee ladies did.  

Quilting


I am also a bit tickled that Lynne from Lily's Quilts posted on her blog.  To have the quilter that designed the blog say she liked it makes me so proud of the work our Imagine circle for do.Good Stitches did!


In Progress:

Southern Blizzard

 Can you believe it?  14 months later?


I finally finished the top.  I am going to try to cut the backing soon.  Since I have 10 more months until I need it,  I have it third or fourth in line for Ole Betsy.


Turtle Quilt

"Just keep swimming, just keep swimming" always pops in my head when I work on this quilt.



I decided to hand stitch the appliques.


And am now in the process of finishing up the embellishment of hand embroidery. 


  Next on the list is how I am going to tackle the name.  I originally had thought I would do some machine embroidery, but my heart is saying no.  More to hand stitching to come?

No Progress: 

 16 projects.  I won't list them. You might fall asleep and your head might hit the keyboard.  I don't want to be responsible for any lacerations to foreheads.  

New Projects:

Vintage Star

A friend asked me to help her out with a baby quilt.  How could I say no?  We first discussed using the pattern that I used for Button's Quilt and Lyla's Quilt.
However,  when fellow blogger posted this large star made up of oversized HSTs?

 
I was sold and so was she.  

Free Spirit Fat Quarter Bundles

I have pulled the fabrics from this bundle and am getting ready to cut and piece!

 Linking up with Lee.

WIPWednesday

Things are a bit different. 
 Whenever Lee makes a change, it always seems to be a good one!

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