The Less than Exciting Navy {Quilt}

"Navy. Never looks like it's trying too hard- It's understated cool."

After a week of seeing our 14 year old son's long legs and arms hanging off the edges of his twin bed, hubby and I agreed it was time for an upgrade to a full sized bed frame and mattress. 

Only problem? New bedding. And working with teenage boys and home decoration can make a person beat their head against the wall. Not to mention that finding bedding to fit that awkward transition between boy to man can be a task worthy of a saint.   After weeks of showing him a million online options and bringing home different quilts and comforters from local stores?  He finally just said, "Mom.  Why can't you just make me a navy blue quilt?"

Uhhh.....why didn't I think of that?
 

Enter in 5 yards of Robert Kaufman 108" wide solid Navy. 

Note:  Lint.  SOOO much lint while making this quilt

6 M class bobbins filled with Navy Blue Superior Threads Omni Thread.

 And a Paradox pantograph by Urban Elementz. 

I translated his "it's fine" as 
"YOU NAILED IT, MOM!!"
after I took it out of the dryer and it was warm and crinkly.

I, personally, love how the pattern reflects the pattern in our carpet and his Minecraft Slime Quilt. 

 I *may* have pat myself on the back for finishing what is, generally, a boring whole cloth quilt in less than three days.

He even vetoed any "different" color or texture of binding. 
More Navy cotton *yawn*.

Quilt Stats

Measures: 86" x 94"

Fabric: Robert Kaufman Navy 108" wide

Pattern: Whole Cloth

Thread: Superior Threads Omni Thread Navy Blue

Quilting: Paradox Pantograph by Urban Elementz on HQ Avante. 

Meanwhile, Button has been patiently waiting for me to finish his older brother's quilt so I can start his new quilt. 

I have a feeling it's going to be a bit more exciting!! Stay tuned!

January 2015: A Year of Lovely Finishes

Ever KNOW that your coming new year is going to be filled with change and adventure?  

I certainly do!

2015 is a big year for our family. I made up #my2015quiltlist the other day and realize I have a lot of quilt obligations, a few quilt goals, and a lot of quilt hopes. 

In order to keep on track, I am going to do my darnedest to keep up with the gals, Melissa of Sew Bitter Designs & Shanna of Fiber of All Sorts that organized A Year of Lovey Finishes at #AYOLF. 

 They have a lot of great incentives to win from their sponsors if you need that kind of encouragement.  I'm also hoping it just gets me to blog some more again. I miss it. 

Come join us!

A Lovely Year of Finishes: January 2015

My January Project this year is my oldest son's quilt, the Argyle quilt.

I actually finished the hexes quite awhile ago (I'm pretending to misremember the date)

 I finally took some time and faced the fact that it needed to be finishes BEFORE he leaves the house for college in the fall...and actually maybe use it and enjoy it?  I spent a day making the pieced borders and then took two days appliquéing the hexes onto the background.  Adding the skinny grey border was a breeze after that.

I pinned the backing onto the leaders over the holidays while chatting with my family...however, when I went to velcro it on my rails, I realized that I put it on crooked. 

 So my task this month is to reload it and then quilt it.

The binding is also all prepped and ready to go as soon as I'm done.  A full quilt by the end of January?  I really hope this makes the linkup for a lovely finish at the end of the month.

  I'm already skating at the end of the day to post this.  

Wish me luck!  I'm wishing all others luck too!

Going Crazy

 SPAM!!!

I cannot take it anymore.  My mailbox is filled with notifications of comments! 

A few of my favorites are when they tell me they like my website and want advice and then direct me to their loan payment website.  The strangest one to date is the continuous linkback to their stetchmark cream website.  Are they telling me I am pregnant based on photos or do they know something I don't know?!??!

At first, I did not mind because I was being notified, but they weren't being posted on the blog. But now they are not going to spam.

The straw that is finally breaking the camels back?  

They are repeatedly posting on my darling baby girls posts and Butterfly Kisses posts.

Enough is enough.

So I have to say, my dear followers, I am going to have to add word verification or "captcha" again edited: try the "Registered user" settings (as Sewing Mom suggested) meaning, no anonymous comments to see if it decreases, but might have to add word verification.  I sometimes go a bit mad myself with it on other blogs, especially on my phone, but it has to be done.  Maybe for just a bit until the spam stops?  I don't know.  I was impressed how well Google was capturing them, but lately the frequency has increased exponentially. 

Am I the only one that endured this?  What are some of your funny or not so funny comments?

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In other news...I did finally finish the rest of the throw pillows of Teen Boy. 

 He hasn't been complaining, but I really wanted to get the fabric out of my way and the pillows out from underneath my long arm.  Just one more project and his room is officially "done".  

Well.  I do need to get started on his t-shirt quilt.  He is probably leaving me in two years now.

WIP: School Blues

I feel like a broken record, but man....I am so sad that school started....

So are they?

The Middle J's are now in Middle School and the oldest is a SOPHMORE.  A SOPHMORE?!?!?!?

Button and I are pretty lonely and I think yesterday, I may or may not have gotten mad at him like a three year old child.  We were yelling at each other because I was trying to clean the kitchen and he was being counterproductive and emptying out all the cabinets.  I think I may have even stomped my foot?

Ever have one of those days?

And to further the depression...my grandmother (who is 82 now) sent me this email yesterday evening:

"So Summer is over.  I can remember that first day of school was always filled with conflicting emotions for me.  Glad for the few hours of peace and quiet, and structure in the days, but regretting having used up another year of childhood.  How can such important years of our lives, parents and children, evaporate so quickly?  Even now, if I let myself dwell on the subject I get a little pang!"
 

 Yeah....get the tissue out.   But hey..isn't she the coolest grandmother EVER?  My kid's great grandmother not only emails regularly, designs and prints her own cards on the computer, but she also Skypes now....wooooah!!

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Finishes: 

Sibling Sets

Non-quilting, but I made these cute applique sets on Saturday! 

 One for a friend/client (aren't most of our clients friends?) 

 

And since I was in the mood, I made another set as a gift.

In Progress:

Black and White Spiders and Webs Quilt

I am I have successfully pieced my eight rectangles. 

(No pictures at the moment...my iPhoto is misbehaving...just picture 4 jelly roll strips sewn together in black and white, okay?)

 I have more rectangles this time so I am not sure how big or how many "webs" I will get.  When I did the the first Spiders and Webs for the Moda Bake Shop, I had eliminated about 5-6 strips for the binding.  I think because Halloween is approaching I was contacted about how many rectangles I did.  I had reconstructed my tutorial AFTER I had completed the quilt, and I am now wondering if I finagled a shorter rectangle with two strips by cutting them in half because I recall doing so....we shall see how it plays out.  

You will be the FIRST to know Whitney!!!!!!

Teenager's Room

I hung up the curtains...but no pictures yet because it has been dreary, dreary, oh...and dreary! 

I have the pile of fabric out 

and all of my magazine/catalog clippings to stir up some throw pillow ideas.

Craftsy Class

The class asks us to make a quilt using her free pattern that is included in the class or purchase a fabric panel from her Spoonflower sets.  I, of course, have to make a quilt. 

 I decided Friday that I would make the solid quilt for someone in particular. 

 

  Fabric.com just informed me yesterday afternoon that the solids and striped backing I ordered are on their way!

No Progress:

Retro Flower Quilt

Button's Nursery Twin Bed Quilt.   

A Figgy Christmas Quilt 

Baby Girl Quilt.

Thank you quilt 

Merry, Merry Snowman BOM quilt

August do.Good Stitches Block

 

New Projects:

 I may or may not have said I would do a quilt pattern test.  Yup, shoot me.

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Off to check on WIP.  I am so excited....since Mr. Boss was gone for four nights, I caught up with my WIP blogs and made a special category in my Google Reader just for my WIP friends.  That way I can just scroll down and read theirs today FIRST!!!  And then go back to Freshly Piece and read any new quilters!

Rebecca from Pieces and Cream is guest posting over there.  I used to live in the Milwaukee area and went to Marquette University with Mr. Boss.  I wonder if she will think I am stalking her if I follow her?

Sorry for the long post.....it may be because my only conversation lately is with an 18 month old.

 

WIP: Summer's Over?

School started this week?  I am absolutely sad that summer is over.  It was too short!!

Via Flickr/Instagram

I think Button will miss the big boys too!!

Finishes:

Merry, Merry Snowman Block #1

Via Flickr/Instagram

I am wondering what I have gotten myself into.  There is ALOT of appliqueing.  ALOT.

French General Pincushion.

I know.  I know. I am absolutely ADDICTED to not only French General, but also the darn cathedral window block.  I had to make a pincushion for all of the needles and pins that are needed for my Merry, Merry Snowman blocks?

Logical, right?  

I am pretty much convinced that I will be doing a full cathedral window quilt for the family room someday. 

In Progress: 

Merry, Merry Snowman Block #2

I have the background pieced...

Just awaiting the appliqueing process.   I did a half starching/pressing and needleturn technique.  I am not quite sure I was happy with it.  I might try the technique I used on the Artist's Palette mini quilt for the round/curved snowman parts. 

The Teen Boy Room

I have the window treatments hemmed and the curtain rings attached.
 Hoping to find some time to hang them soon.  In the meantime, they hang on my quilt top rod!

Photo of my space for Moda post HERE

The teen boy?   He is definitely showing his 15 years clearly and has his opinions.  I have decided that he chose the stripes for his windows and bedding because he watches a little to much of the show The Big Bang Theory.

Sheldon has a striped pillow that he leans against.   I told him very soberly that I was going to just do the curtains in baby pink stripes instead....he grimaced...and then I quickly said "BAZINGA".
He laughed! (for those who are not fans...it is a form of saying "just kidding")

Halloween Quilt

I bought cut my 20 strips to make a fuller jelly roll.  All of the strips are organized and ready to be made into the rectangles I need before cutting my blocks.

Love how the spur of the moment quilt takes precendence over the vast No Progress quilts?  Not to mention the projects that I DON'T have listed here, but are on paper elsewhere?

Definition of insanity =  Heidi

No Progress:

Retro Flower Quilt

Button's Nursery Twin Bed Quilt.   
I was staring at his room while rocking him at bedtime.  I hate that it isn't DONE.  It is definitely on the sooner than later chopping block!

A Figgy Christmas Quilt 
I think I personally smack myself for not getting it done.  It is absolutely ridiculous!

Baby Girl Quilt. 
 I have no idea who I am giving it to now.  These babies are too grown now!

Thank you quilt
Might become a quilt for my Aunt.  More on that in a later post!

Craftsy Classes
At a standstill.  I am so behind on projects, that I really need to take a break...the beauty of an online class, no?

New Projects:  NONE! NONE! NONE!!!!  At least none that I know about ;)!

Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced
Her guest poster today is Cindy at Live a Colorful Life

I "found" her through WIP Wednesdays and ADORE her blog.  Go check her out!

WIP: Enjoying the Process

I am amazed how by just focusing a tiny bit of time on me since I was feeling lost and in Need of Me.  Despite having a million and one things I want to do and have to do, when I did Lower My Expectations?  I really started enjoying myself.  No one is harder on me, than myself!

And the amazing thing is?  I have been dusting off some WIPs, have a few finishes, and finally had an epiphany for some other projects!!

Finishes:

Cathedral Window Pincushion 

A treat for my swap partner. 

 This is my very first swap, but I noticed in other posts that participants don't just send a quilt.  I didn't have any goodies to send, so I made another cathedral window pincushion.  The bandanna fabric with the red,white, and blue fabric are a nod to the origin that the package is coming from...

good Ole Texas!

Artist's Palette Mini Quilt

My Name Game Swap quilt is finished! 

 I mailed it off yesterday and can't wait to see what she thinks.  I can't reveal anything other than this Sneak Peak.

But I promise a full reveal later!!!  I sure hope she likes it!

 Refurbishing Project

I have had this bag that I have always loved.  Except for the scratchy handles...and the awful staining from some sort of trip to the pool with goodies!

A little ripping of seams, using the old fabric for a pattern, new handles and interior ala Amy Butler Midwest Modern II Fresh Poppies Ivory, and a cute pink zipper?

And I am in love with it again!!!!

In Progress:

Merry, Merry Snowman Quilt

I actually opened the package of BOM #1 and accomplished the first task!

10 square in a square blocks!

I also pieced the background, but still need to do the applique's and embroidery...so no exciting pictures of that part.

No Progress:

Retro Flower QAL

Button's Nursery Quilt for twin bed

Christmas Quilt

Baby Girl Quilt Kit

Thank You Quilt

New Projects:

The Teenager's Bedroom

I finally took the kid with me and forced him to wander the fabric store so I could finally get some window treatments up and throw pillows on the bed that has this bedding from Pottery Barn on it.

photo via Pottery Barn

 It was only a tiny bit painful for him, however, Mr. Boss is questioning the seriously abundant amount of stripes. 

 But I must carry on...can't return the cut fabric!

Another Halloween Quilt.

Yup.  I needed this like a need a hole in my head, but when I made the Spiders and Webs quilt last year, I loved it...but it really didn't coordinate with the rest of the black and white theme I had in the rest of the room.  I have a jelly roll that is all black and white, but unfortunately it is only 20 strips instead of the normal 40, so I picked up a few more fabrics to add!  

So, I might have derailed all of my efforts to de-stress, but I feel like my sew-jo is back!  When it is back you can't look back!

Now to catch up with all the rest of the WIPers and link up at

Go check it out!  It is worth it!!!!!