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!

Thursday

Sorry I've been gone so long.

Life Happened.

Anyway,

Today is Thursday, which is the most stressful day of the week.

Remember the twins, my nieces?

They turned one in January. 

Any parent knows what this means - nothing is safe.

I do try to hide things.

A couple weeks ago one of them decided she didn't like the way my pink scraps were organized. (I think this is Olivia, but I'm not sure...)

Back to today.

On top of the normal stress,

My littlest has pneumonia.

AND

The ballet opens a new show in two days.

 My WONDERFUL husband came home for two hours so I could finish the costumes that HAVE to be on dancers at 3pm.

AND

we're trying to get started on the site prep for our new home.

STRESSFUL.

CRAZY.

Today my darling nieces had me laughing so hard I was crying.

Literally.

Let me 'splain.

After lunch I decided that I liked them contained in their booster seats. 

So I set up a coloring station.

They had fun.

Then Lucy decided to put the crayon on her head.

She put it one her head, rolled her hair in it and pulled it forward.

It took me a few minutes to figure out what she was doing, but when I did, I laughed so hard I cried.

She was curling her hair.

Lucy was mimicking her mommy.

OH

MY

GOODNESS!!

I feel much better now.

bring it on,

i'm ready.

Isn't it amazing the way that little ones can make everything better?