Nurse Nancy {Finished Project}

“Let us never consider ourselves finished, nurses.  We must be learning all our lives.” ~Florence Nightingale 

The new school year has begun and I was excited to be able to hang a little piece of “home” in my school clinic.  

This block means a lot to me. 

COVID hit in Spring 2020, my first year at my new district at a public school..  I was already feeling pretty overwhelmed and having a worldwide pandemic was daunting as a healthcare worker.  It was perfectly fitting that I was able to pattern test Nurse Nancy for Easy Patchwork.

Little did I know at the time, that the next 3 years would be filled with COVID and very little quilting.  Even this new school year, I am still giving guidance to parents and reporting to the State Department of Health. 

This summer, I finally “found” my studio again and decided I would finally finish the block. I had played around with ideas of wall hangings or making more blocks along the health lines.  But after much thought, I felt the block needed to be by itself as a memory for me.  

I found a frame just bigger than the block.  

Added more background so I could stitch some crosshatch diamond quilting.

I found some cute hexagon cork board to surround her!  I love EPP and it is a lovely nod to that. I hope to have some cute updates as I decorate for each new month. Paper bats in October and butterflies in spring pinned to them?

Even if the kids don't care, it already is something that makes me smile when I walk in and out.  And reminds me that I WILL find balance as soon as the beginning of the year demands and deadlines die down.

Mini Quilt, Sketchbook Cover, Pencil Roll, and Totes....oh my! {Swap}

I was so excited to receive my partner!  I squealed when I realized I recieved the sweet daughter of the actual founder of the Schnitzel and Boo Mini Swaps on Instagram!

I thought of a million of things to send her....it all of a sudden overwhelmed me because I knew I couldn't send every and all things to her!

So I started with her fabric and bought a FQ bundle of one of her favorite designers, Jen Baker with Art Gallery Fabrics

Geometric Bliss.

Then I scanned through every nook and cranny of the internet for my partner. It had to be special.

"Girl on the Swing" kept glaring at me.

I did mine a tiny bit different than the original tutorial that Aneela Hooey does. 

Instead of overlapping, I left a tiny bit of white space in between. I'm not sure why, but I just seemed "right" for this mini quilt.

I can honestly admit that "sketchy" applique quilting is not my forte.  I did my best to make the girl on a swing with her bunny companion.

The other change I made was making leaves instead of apples. 

And cut some flowers from one of the fat quarters out so that it lived in the border too.

After that, I decided that since my partner liked to draw and sketch, I would make her a journal cover and pencil roll.

Linen and patchwork of the Geometric Bliss.  Tried to keep it simple.

And then a little rainbow inside the pencil roll.  I LOVE this pattern by Joelle Haverson from the book Last Minute Patchwork+Gifts.  I have used it for versions of other rolls more than once before.

I had started another foundation pieced cupcake block in the middle of all the swap sewing because my partner's birthday was this past week.  I had planned for it all to arrive for her birthday, but in the end, I'd rather not rush during this busy family time in our lives.

What to do with the cupcake block? 
I had intended it for the sketchbook cover, but it felt too big for it. 

I decided on a tote.  A QAYG project. Completely impromptu and fun! 

The back I cut a large piece of the big floral and then worked my way around.

 Linen top and bottom edges and handles.

I was asked if I used a pattern the other day and I did not.  I have made so many totes over the year that I rarely refer to patterns unless they require fancy pockets...I skipped those this time!

I stuffed the inside of the bag with some yummy chocolate and Valentine Goodies that I didn't get a chance to take a picture of...

I sure hope she loved it!

Sewing Studio Mini Quilt

My second entry for the

This Spring I decided to work on a Mini quilt.  I was sorta stuck in a commissioned quilt and "large quilts that are still not done" rut.  

I always feel like I need to spice it up.  I trolled my own Pinterest Quilt Inspiration board and landed on this.

This sewing studio block By Charise Creates glared me in the eye.

I adore this block.  I do not necessarily adore my execution!
 I am, however, really happy with my fabric choices.

I chose my fabrics all around the lace fabric from Serenata by Riley Blake.  

I saw the lace in the original block on the dress and knew I had to use my hoarded bundle!

I was really happy with the basic solids that were included in the Serenata FQ bundle I purchased from Knotted Thread!  The gray was perfect for the dressform and the nice stippled color of the beige made for a great background.

This is where I keep it real.  For those who know, me?   I always have to keep it real!

I didn't stay closely to the pattern on the sewing machine and spool.  The original design is actually for freezer paper piecing not foundation, so I had to improv a few things.  

 It's okay. Make fun of my spool and machine.  I say it just gives it more character.

The only fabrics that are not from Seranata line are the quilt on the machine, binding, and backing.  

The binding (and dress belt) is the Orange Tic Tac from Life in the Jungle.

 The backing is a Joann's special that I had no plans for in any near future.  The colors seemed to compliment well enough.

I just loved the notions and tried to get it to look like the tape measure was hanging out of the jar.

The hexagon quilt is a nod to my obsession with English Paper Piecing right now.  If you want to see my other Blogger Festival submission HERE,  you will understand what I am talking about!
  I used the Jungle Hexie Blue!

I started out with just wanting to outline the sewing items, but ended up outlining, and echoing, and echoing, and echoing some more.

I have linked it to the Blogger's Quilt Festival under "doll/mini quilt".

Quilt Stats:
Measures: 14" x 14"
Pattern: Sewing Studio Block by Charise Creates
Fabric: Serenata and Life is a Jungle by Riley Blake
Backing: Sewing notion from Joann Fabrics
Binding: Life is a Jungle Orange Tic Tac
Quilting: Machine quilted on domestic machine by myself.

I'm not quite sure where this happy little mini is going to live, but for now, it is going on my giant clipboard behind my machine!

It already has sent good sewing vibes in my studio.  I have just completed my 16th quilt for the year!

Off the Grid

Ever feel like you literally fell off the blogging planet?

I feel like my blog is weeping for me and I am just abusing it with neglect.

My week of sewing started out going well.

Toy bags for Button using the Clear Toy Storage tutorial from Make It & Love it.

A little button bag for Button's nesting bowl buttons.
Say that 10 times fast.

I also finished all the remaining Teacher Mug Rugs.

Just in time for the last day of school.

But I didn't find the energy to blog about htem.
Instead, I've been hanging out with the boys since they have been out of school.

Made an ugly cake for one of the boys birthdays (so bad I don't have photographic evidence).
  Ran errands. Ran to dentist/doctor appts.

And I officially learned to knit.  This is a 21x21 inch project.

I started longarming a quilt which I am in love with.

Looks good on top..but my bobbin tension is horrible on the back.  Unpicking time.
 Equates to ignoring time.


I've also fiddled.
I started a sewing studio block.

 I thought it was a foundation pieced pattern, but it is a freezer paper pieced project.  So nw I have to figure out what I am going to do now. 
So I quit.


I've had some embroidery foibles since Thursday.

The embroidery turned out, but the burp rag pattern was way too skinny!

 Last night, I walked away, the tension issues I was having made me crazy.

So I am just going to knit and pray I find some motivation.

Quitting is usually not in my vocabulary.  So maybe we can call it a break?
I took a break from sewing and blogging?

I feel motivation stirring a bit.  But how to take advantage?
I figured I would get back on the blogging wagon.
Maybe catch up on two months worth of blog reading?

What gets you going when you are in a slump?

My Worst Enemy

ME!

I am on a mission to start hitting things hard.  I have a long list that needs to be tackled and I need to really spend every second I can working on it.  I just need to start ignoring "me" for a bit.

I have already been sidelined to make myself this cute Go Faster Box Bag the other weekend.

And I managed to work up a tutorial for my do.Good stitches bee blocks last week.

Card Trick Block in two different sizes!

Saturday, I managed to pull out all of my Fat Quarters out of their bins and get them out on a shelf so I can see them.

This past Sunday, I kinda-sorta tackled the list by finally making a new throw pillow out of placemats I bought for the family room.

And late night Mother's day, I was thinking about my little girl, and decided to design a Butterfly Kiss block.

It is paper pieced and am hoping to find a tester or two after I figure out how to get it into .pdf form.  I was able to finish it up yesterday morning.

Otherwise? I have been working on this.

I promised myself I would NOT take this up.  No knitting or crocheting.

But then I found the DVD I had thought I had given away and I just couldn't resist.   

The first starts were rough, and I do NOT plan on making sweaters any time soon.  But I have a project in mind for a simple square.  We shall see!

 Now to get focused on everything else on my list.  I can't even seem to blog regularly lately!  "Me" needs to settle herself down!!!

Linking up!