February Sewing

The month is almost over!  I'd actually been sewing a bit - mostly in 15 minute increments when I need a break from school-work.  I actually set a timer, I have to - otherwise I'd get lost in fabric and lose time.

Would you like to see what I've been working on?

Block Lotto for February

Quilter's choice of Heart Block is "winter sunset" colors.  Lovely blocks.  I made two and donated them.

Orca Bay
a mystery quilt by Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville.  The mystery's done now, but I'm still plugging away at the steps.  I love her quilts, but my-oh-my all the tiny pieces.

I even made up a song - sung to the melody of the chorus of "Elenor Rigby" by the Beatles. 

Ahhhh

look at all the tiny pieces, 

do-do-do-do-do -do -do

ah, look at all the tiny pieces,

where do they all belong?

yes, I know, I'm weird.

back to sewing

Liz's Baby

A quilt for my sister-in-law, who expecting her first baby.  She wanted a uninex (they're waiting to find out) quilt in grays, greens, yellows, blues...  It supposed to be a surprise, but here's a sneak peek.

Sew We Quilt tutorial -  I'm totally excited!  I'm going to be guest posting on Friday with a new Choose Your Own Adventure pattern.  I've never guest posted anywhere!  

Cotton Robin - No pictures, since it's a surprise.  I had a plan for the border I need to put on the block I was sent - drew it out, built a test mini-block and then realized that the math wasn't going to work without the block being bigger than it's supposed to be.  So, on to plan B.  

So, that's my month of sewing.
Looks like I accomplished quite a bit when I put it all together in one month.

Meanwhile Back at the Ranch...

I'm not going to recap 2011.

I'd love to, but it would take a while, and I'm not up for that right now.  Instead, I'd like to share what's been going on around here.

The holidays were a wonderful time filled with family.

I've been busy keeping the kids busy, hence the lack of blogging.  It's last on the list of priorities.  I'm not apologizing, just explaining.  

Sunrise from my living room.  Pretty isn't it?  One of the best changes to happen in the last year was our move.  I've never been happier.

The coming year holds a lot of changes for me.

Starting next week, I'm heading back to school.  I've enrolled in Oregon State University's Ecampus Horticulture Program.  

why?

well, it was always the plan to find gainful employment or continue my education once all three kids were in school all day.  Muffin started the year in Kindergarten but at our request was evaluated and bumped up to First grade.  It is a much better fit for her, and she's having fun.  

So, I was suddenly home most of the day without kids.

My ideas/thoughts/loose plans had to be moved up a year.

okay, that's why I'm going to school - but horticulture?

I grow roses, I have about 50 of them that I dug up and moved here.  I used to root cuttings and sell the baby roses online.  The stopped when we moved.  

I have this dream of owning my own rose nursery.   Now I have the space to start that.  So, Horticulture.

So that's where I am.

I start with Chemistry and Math - and I'm pretty nervous.

Those aren't my strong areas and it's been awhile.  The program I'm in strongly suggests that these course be complete first, so here I go.

I've also confirmed my summer work as a Stage Manager for The Shedd, where I worked last summer.

I'll have less time for quilting.

I'd like to say I'm going to work of finishing my WIPs. But we'll see what happens.

I'm limiting myself to The Block Lotto and a single round robin swap, The Cotton Robin.

I'm horrible at keeping myself on a schedule, which I find hilarious, because I'm a good stage manager and 90% of that job required juggling a billion different schedules, and keeping track of them all.

So, if anyone has any tips for self-scheduling, I'd love to hear them.

I Won the Block Lotto!

I won the Block Lotto for November!

blocklotto.blogspot.com

I was so surprised.  

I had to read the list twice and then check the participants to make sure I was the only Kristin.
I almost didn't enter my blocks, 'cause I wanted to make something for me.
I'm so glad I did!
Whoo hoo!

I entered 5 blocks.

It was totally fun to use up the "what was I thinking" and "thank you for the wonderful gift"  fabrics.  Individually some of the fabrics are cringe worthy, but together they make a happy scrappiness.

The pattern and info are here.

These blocks are great because they are so scrappy.  Putting them together should be a breeze.  I won 37 blocks, and I made extras to bring the total to 42, which is a nice 6 block x 7 block layout.

I've decided I'm going to do it completely randomly, sewing them together, just making sure that there aren't two blocks with the same fabrics side by side.  I'm leaning towards a barn raising layout, but I'm not sure.

The pattern is on Bonnie Hunter's website, Quiltville, and she's got a couple different layouts pictured there.

That got me thinking about the other blocks I've made for the lotto.  

Looking Back...

I started playing the lotto in August of 2009.

I was new to quilting and totally stressed over each block making it perfect before I entered it.

The official 2009 Block Lotto archives are here.
(The archive has links to pattern info and what-not)

I made 39 blocks that year.

2010 was a year of improv-y wonky blocks, which I'm not a huge fan of.

I won in January. a set of 40 blocks.
Those totally awesome Tic-Tac-Toe blocks are waiting patiently.  I had a hard time coming up with a setting I liked, and then when I did I got busy, so they are still waiting.
I have a plan now.  It's nothing like what I originally was going to do.

I only was able to participate the first three months before life got in the way.  The word blocks were fun.  The rest of the year I looked at the blocks each month, but they didn't really strike my fancy enough for me to take time to make them.  

The 2010 archives are here.

I made 24 blocks that year.

This year the lotto was a mish-mash of patterns.
If sophie had a theme, I'm not sure what it was. 

The archives for the year are here.

I made 36 lotto blocks this year.

So, I've made a total of 99 blocks over 15 months, and won twice, a total of 77 blocks.
useless facts, I know.

It's been totally fun and I'm looking forward to next year.

It's been fun to play with all the different patterns and fabric combinations.

September Block Lotto Blocks

blocklotto.blogspot.com

This month's blocks are batik curved rails.  Here's the link to the directions and guidelines. 

A simple block made by stacking the pieces and drawing with the rotary cutter.

I pulled and washed my fabrics way back at the beginning of the month.

Then they sat.

Why?

Curves scare me.

To death.

So I waited.  and waited.

Then, suddenly it was the end of the month, and I still hadn't made the blocks.

So last night I bit the bullet and did it.

They turned out just fine.

I still don't like curves, but they turned out nicely.

Found It!

I found my camera - packed in box with random Tupperware lids.

Why?

I have no idea.

Yesterday I weed-whacked our "seasonal creek" and tried to clear out some dead blackberry brambles.

I also took a few minutes to work on Stella's birthday quilt - I gifted it to her in July and then took it back to finish the quilting.

I also managed to build one block for the block lotto.

I love playing the lotto.  It's a great way to try new techniques.

Here's the block I built.

It's pretty cute!

Now that I have my camera I'll be able to snap pictures of my new little slice of heaven!

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!

April's Quilting Commitments

Sew Bee It

It was Dianah's month.  She asked for a specific block.  I think they turned out nice.  Crisp and clean looking.

Fussy Cut Love

Krista wanted an inprov block with the birds as fussy cuts.  Since the prints were so busy I opted to frame the fussy cuts to help pull attention to them.  I love how it turned out.

Christmas In July

April is my month, so I sent out these fabrics and these were my guidelines:

Guidelines:

~I would like two 12 ½” unfinished blocks.

~Frame the block with one of the two fat-eighth Christmas prints.

~You must use the white somewhere.

~You don’t need to use every print.

~You may add your own fabric.

~Other than that, you can do what ever you'd like. :)

We'll see what I end up with!

 

Block Swap

 

My partner this month was Virginia.  She asked for this log cabin in red, white and blue.  I finished it pretty early in the month, but I admit it is still sitting here waiting to be sent home.  Before Friday, I promise!

 

She sent me this wonderful block

And last but certainly not least, the block lotto. 

I was only able to make two blocks, but they're good'uns.

March Blocks

Currenty I have 2 monthly quilting commitments, and really the lotto isn't a commitment, but it's fun.

My March Block Lotto blocks were super easy and addicting.

 

This month I joined the Quilt Block Swap and my first partner asked for "any star."  No color guidelines.  Well, I wandered through Quilters Cache and found Another Nine Patch Star.

 

 I think it's great.  Just need to sew the blocks into rows and then the rows together.

 

I've already recieved my block for the month.  A nice, simple friendship star.

 

Miss Mae's Garden Scrap Strips

Miss Mae finished all her homework for the week so she sat and read the guide lines for the March block.  She only had a couple of questions - why do they call it a log cabin block? and what are cool colors?

After she read through everything she went through my strips and picked out 10 different fabrics, making sure she had the required black and white.  She decided to do a "garden theme"  She did pretty good.

Maybe we'll start this weekend.

She did it!

Well, she did it.  It took an incredible amount of patience on my part and ripping out a few seams on hers, but she made the block, took a picture and posted it.

You can see her post here:  http://blocklotto.blogspot.com/2010/02/hannah-maes-block.html

Half Way There

I've recieved 20 of my forty blocks...

Love Letters

Two More Blocks!

I recieved two more blocks in the mail today!  So, instead of folding the mountain of clothes on my bed or reading my Ecofeminism book for class (blech!) I played with layout.  

It's hard to wait to see what colors will come...I'm kinda thinking about a colorwheel-esque layout....hmmm...

Tic Tac Toe

More lotto blocks arrived today.  My brillant husband had the brainy idea to scan them as they came in so I could "play" with layouts without making a huge mess and taking up the dining room table.    So here are the first 12 blocks, scanned into photoshop.

Then I played a little bit, skewing the blocks on a black background just to see....

That same brillant man also pointed out that the point of the lotto was to USE the stash so therefore I shouldn't buy any fabric to use in the finished quilts.  Arg.

Miss Mae's Sewing Skills

Miss Mae has been watching me make blocks for the block lotto for months now, and she asked if she could try to make one.  After getting the okay from the group, she and I sat down this morning while the others were at dance and thought about what word to make. 

Trying to explain terms of endearment to a seven year-old was hilarious.  I told her it was a nick-name you call someone you love.  She thought about it and came up with 'booger,"  "silly goose" and "goof-ball".  Can you tell what I call my kids?  Anyway, after trying not to laugh, I suggested she think of a name that anyone would like being called.  She choose Sweetie.

We got out the graph paper and she printed her word, using only straight lines.  (Easier to sew)

Next, we laid out the fabric strips in a shape to build an "S"  I had pre-cut a bunch of 1 1/2" x 6" strips.

Then we trimmed the strips until it looked right and then added strips of background to fill in the holes.

First she sewed the end pieces to the background strips.  She pressed them, and used the ruler and rotary cutter to trim everything square.  No pictures of this, she made me too nervous using the rotary cutter!

Then she sewed the horizontal pieces to the middle pieces.  The machine was on turtle speed, which was just fine!

She pressed and trimmed after sewing each seam, which helped to keep things straight and even.

Here's the finished "S"  with a narrow strip on the right, to add the next letter to.  Pretty darn good for a second grader!

One letter down, 6 more to go!

Love Letters

This month's block at the block lotto are "love letters"  Pieced or appliqued terms of endearment word blocks.    My first attempt was "Lover"  totally failed, tossed it in the trash.  My second one, "Cupcake" came out better.  Still not perfect, but getting there. 

Next was "Baby Doll"  Which I opted not to connect, so the winner can use them side-by-side or vertically.

Then I decided to try thin letters - I have an idea for a super long "love letters"  so I wanted to perfect the letters before attempting it.  So here's "Hunny Bunny".

I think this turned out super cute!  I'm only allowing myself to use fabrics from my stash for the block lotto, and I was totally thrilled to find a use for the polka dotted background.

Stay tuned for more!

I Won!!

I won the block lotto for January!  I was one of six winners!  The blocks are tic-tac-toe blocks and I've been playing with how to set them....I get 40 blocks.   This is what I came up with for 20 of the blocks.

I figured that the blocks are already wonky, I could frame them wonk-ish-ly (which also would also allow me to fix any of the blocks that aren't perfect.)  The blocks finish at 12". 

I'm not totally in love with the black, but it seems to pull the color out more....we'll see what happens when the blocks start arriving.  :)

Totally excited!

January Block Lotto

I joined the Block Lotto in August of last year, and have had fun making the blocks each month. This year starts a year of “liberated blocks.” January’s block is called Tic-Tac-Toe. Sophie posted the instructions here. I made the first few as she instructed, starting with a 10 inch square of background and making cuts to it.  After four blocks, I ran out of WOW fabric.  I'm not supposed to be spending any money on quilt stuff and I was NOT going to load up four kids and go to JoAnn’s for ½ yard of fabric, so I devised a scrappy method.   It worked, and I took pictures, so I’m going to attempt to write a tutorial. After lunch. When they’re all supposed to be resting.