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!

My Space

I didn't have any plans today for a blog post since the boys and I are in the midst of first week of school activities.

It seemed to be karma that Moda is having a linkup party to show off our stash!

Precuts  (Jelly rools, Fat Quarter Bundles) on the top of the bookcase

Recently, I was Sidetracked and I finally moved my quilting fabrics out of my closet into the main room of my studio.  I made mini bolts which seem to be all the rage.  Moved out a old rack that held my ribbon, and replaced it with a tall bookcase.

It was the best decision I have made in my room in a long time. 

I still have felt, fleece, and various home deco  fabrics in the closet.

 But by moving the cottons and quilting fabrics it has relieved some space for my WIP projects in bins and baskets!!

The rest if the room is quite a mess right now. 

I have school uniforms and other school paraphenelia being embroidered with school logos and names and monograms

I have my oldest son's bedroom curtains waiting to be ironed and hung. My new iron taking up space and waiting for a few more loads of laundry to be ironed.

Someday, I'd really like to take everyone on a detailed tour of the storage and such, but all those UFOs, WIPs and chores need to be finished by this day's end.

Go check out some other rooms at Moda Bake Shop. 

Click Image

I am going to go and get some ideas.

A New Iron

Just call me the Iron Killer.  Iron Serial killer.  Iron Torturer.  Iron Mangler.  Iron Abuser.

Any and all irons call me foe.

I am quite rough on them.  Not only do I quilt and sew.  I *think* I am one of few quilters that actually use my irons for the laundry?  

I have abused three Rowenta irons in particular the last several years.  I have kept the one above as my backup, but her water tank leaks, so I just use a spray bottle.  In it's defense, it was one where you remove the water tank and can fill it.  I have decided that any irons that have extra gadgets like that or self-winding cords?  There are more things to break!
I relegated it as my quilting iron since I don't need steam, right? 

But I have a confession....I am addicted to steam.  I have been pretty happy with my Rowenta Pro Master the last 3 years

Rowenta Pro Master

but she started leaking too.  Probably from mineral build-up from our hard water?  When I cleaned it out with a vinegar/water mixture...I had a mess.

  Mr. Boss has decided that I just plain wear them out.  When you iron your kids t-shirts and have been known to even iron underwear...you have ironing issues right?

Meet my new girl.

Source: Rowenta

The DG5030 Steam Station

I have had her a week and she seems at home on my cutting/pressing island in my studio.

I named her Sassy, since she is hot and sassy.

I love that the steam runs from the large unit and doesn't "sit" in my iron anymore! And their is still the option of just using the iron without steam.

And when she is hot, I can rest her in the station.  No worries about burning my ironing board!

Mr. Boss was VERY skeptical when I brought her home....but when he saw me press some very difficult creases out of my fabric?  He was sold!  

Don't tell him, but it cut down my ironing time.  I don't know the exact amount, but I was sure surprised when I looked up at the clock and was finished so quickly!  I don't want him to know because I can pretend I am sweating away ironing all day, when really?

I am working on another Merry, Merry Snowman Block...since I finished Block One this week!

Merry, Merry Snowman Block #1 via Flickr (via Instagram)

I hope I can rave about my iron in the future.  She sure is pretty nice right now!

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!!!!!

The Next Generation?

He is addicted to my machines, my Button.

Snuck up on him!

He is a tiny little guy and has been climbing for awhile, but this past week, he finally grew tall enough to get his foot up on my chair.   Now I catch him in my room all the time! 

Checking the upper thread tension

The gate that used to keep him in?

"Trapped"  October 2011

 

It serves a dual purpose now!  To keep him out when I am not in there.  And to keep him in when I am trying to sew.  I don't have to worry about him climbing and standing in the middle of the kitchen table!

I also have accepted that he likes to sit on my lap when I sew, so I do a combined trapping of his arm and managing my fabric with one hand....

I have now picked up the habit of turning the surge protector that my machines are plugged into off when I leave the room.  

Any other sewing safety tips?

 He is my first of the four boys to be this young and utterly fascinated in the machines!

Another Sneak Peak

via Flickr @ Buttons and Butterflies

Quilted!!!

And I truly owe all to the Craftsy Class I am taking!

Click on Image for more info!

I am working on the binding, hanging sleeve, and quilt label today.  

I need to mail it ASAP!!!

Instagram

I joined the craze.

The older boys really wanted to join.  I really didn't want to "follow" one more thing. 

But if they join something online?  I do to.

You have to watch them like hawks!

 But I am having a little fun already.  I posted the photo above on Facebook as PROOF to all my friends that don't believe that my house is ever messy or unorganized!

But they still don't believe me.

I guess a 2ft x 3ft area doesn't count?