The Important Stuff

Life here has been completely chaotic and stressful for the last month or so.  It just seems to be one thing after another and we haven't had much time the breathe.

Nothing devastating, just enough to disrupt normal life.

A friend recently asked how life was and I responded "life's great, but it totally sucks right now".

There are so many good things happening in my life right now, that even the biggest speed bumps seem smaller.

Not a lot of sewing going on here, just too busy maintaining my family.

I did manage to get a few bee blocks done and in the mail. 

These are for Megan.

Wonky houses

I am so tired of building wonky houses.

These turned out great and I had fun building them, but I'm ready to be done with houses. 

The Important Stuff.

Kids.

Easter.

Good food and dresses and family and friends.

Easter was tiring, but the kids had fun.

Here's all six.

My three and my nieces.

 

Hannah Mae, Jack, Tessa, Stella and the twins - Lucy and Olivia.

No, I didn't make the dresses, I just happened to find 5 of the same dresses in the right sizes.

at decent prices.

Do you know how hard it is to do that?

I couldn't pass it up.

Of course it was cold and rainy, but Easter is for sundresses!

We introduced the twins to chocolate fondue.

I was in charge of dessert, and I wanted something easy.

I totally think it will become an annual tradition.

YUM.

Last but not least, I built a test block for my 3x6 bee this quarter.

This one is for me.

I haven't been making one for myself, but I decided that since I make such cute blocks, I need to make one for me.

Didn't the picture turn out nice?

The rain and hail stopped long enough for me to dash outside and take a picture. 

This one was a test, I ran into a few road bumps during the design and build, but I've got it down now.

Happiness to you.

I did it!

Well, I did it.

The sew night was scheduled from 6-9, so at about 4 I started getting nervous.

I couldn't decided which project to take with me.

I knew I should take bee blocks to work on, but I was afraid I wouldn't be able to concentrate.

 and what if they think my projects are lame?

In the end I took two different projects to work on, both were at the point of needing trimmed down and what-not.

no actual sewing.

I didn't want to take my machine in.

I decided it didn't matter what they thought, I would work on what I wanted to work on.  I wasn't going to try impress anyone, I was going to get out of the house and meet people who quilt in person.

I drove around the block at least twice before I had the courage to park.

Then I waited in the car for a bit.

Finally I gathered up my stuff and walked inside. 

When I got there there were only two quilters there.

I'm horrible with names, but I recognised one of the ladies from the quilt shop.  Jessica, the president, wasn't there yet. 

They were very nice and I sat down and took out my stuff.  I won't say I was relaxed, but I was enjoying the fact that I wasn't at home. 

Eventually 2 other ladies and Jessica showed up. 

I had fun.

I got all my boring marking and trimming done and it wasn't boring.

All of these ladies are completely different, but unlike the random quilters I run into when picking up quilting magazines or at JoAnn's, they were nice.

and welcoming.

and interested in what I was working on.

One of them, Debbie (?) was putting the binding on a beautiful circle quilt.  She insisted that the circles were easy, but I'm not sure I believe her.

I got my charm pack.

 

I think I know what I'm going to do.  I had it all planned and then I started changing my mind.

Here are the rules:

Robert Kaufman Solids Challenge guidelines:

1)A quilt top or quilt using only solid fabrics (the fabrics that you supply do not have to be Kona solids, but do need to be solids, not tone-on-tones or marbled)
2)Must use at least half of the charm pack colors (22 charms)
3)Top must be at least 36"X 36"
4)Tops/quilts ready for the July 13th meeting

 

I have two ideas I think I'd like to try, and I am working on samples of both.

When they're pieced I might ask for help deciding.

 

Would I go again?  yes. 

 

I wish I could make it to the meeting, but it's at the same time as Miss Mae's ballet class, so maybe I'll be able to make it this summer, when we're not doing ballet.

 

I took a chance and stepped outside my comfort zone.

and it was good.

Season's Over...back to normal?

I made it.

Whew!

The Ballet season is over.

All I have left to do is clean the costumes and pack them up.

My sewing area is a massive pit of doom.

Can't find a thing.

I spent over 40 hours last week building and rebuilding 7 pairs of silk chiffon pants.

I have acquired an extreme dislike for silk chiffon.

It was cut on the bias, and was slippery and bunchy.

I didn't even take any pictures.

I'll ask and see if any were taken, they turned out pretty nice.

Muffin is FINALLY feeling better, only coughing once in a while.

Which is good, 'cause I'm soooo tired of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Little Mermaid 2.  (her favorite movies)

 

I really need to clean up, sort through the projects and catch up on my bee blocks.

Maybe tomorrow.

I found time yesterday to finish up my 3x6 1st quarter blocks -

paper lanterns!

I also managed to knock out 8 blocks for the block lotto.

I used to participate every month, but life got in the way.

The block this month is a super simple clover block.

I'm in love.

So springy.

I played with the bonus triangles that I got from the stem unit and made smaller and smaller blocks.

The smallest is about 1 1/2" square.

Right now I need to finish my coffee, shower and start working on the ballet laundry.

On a side note -

Tonight I might be going out!

The Eugene Modern Quilt Guild has a sew night tonight, and I think I'm going to attend.

WAY out of my comfort zone, no one I know quilts, so I'll be going by myself.

I HATE doing new things by myself.

I know they're only new things once and it's silly to be scared of new things.

It's part of the anxiety crap that goes along with my bipolar.

Irrational fear of new things.

BUT - a long time ago I decided that I wasn't going to let my bipolar control my life, so I don't.

I do the new things and tell the anxiety to take a flying leap off a rolling donut.

I contacted the president a while back about participating in the Robert Kaufman Solids Challenge, and she's got a charm pack for me, so I have to stop by to pick it up.

Besides, it might be nice to talk to people who don't call me momma, and who's eyes don't glaze over when I mention fabric.

wish me luck!