Back in the groove

I'm finally feeling like I'm beginning to get caught up with life.   I actually started and completed a project all in the same week.

(can you believe it?)

I made a little quilt for my mother-in-law for Mother's day.  The idea came from the a magazine I picked up - Quilt Almanac 2011.

I was rather disappointed in the magazine.  I was expecting templates and patterns for all the flowers and leaves, but there wasn't any.  The other patterns in the book were okay, but nothing super exciting.  I wouldn't recommend spending $10 on it, it wasn't worth it. 

Anyway, back to my project

It was challenging.

I'm not super comfortable with applique, but I think it turned out neat.

Each hand print is one of the grand kids.

I practiced my stippling and "organic" outlining.

I'm a bit more comfortable using fusible web.  The web had problems sticking to the back of the hand prints, even when I followed the actual directions on the packaging.

She was thrilled with it, which is what matters most.

I've started packing up my UFOs that I know I won't work on this summer.

I'm trying to be realistic, summer is busy enough and then adding in building and moving...  I'm totally thrilled to be building a house that's almost double the size of our current home.

(and I get my own room, JUST FOR SEWING!!!!!)

I'm also dreading packing and moving.

We've lived here for 9 years.  When we moved in it was just me, the Mr. and a nine month old baby.  We've managed to accumulate 2 more kinds and a lot of stuff in 9 years.

School will be out for the summer in about 6 weeks, and that's when I'll really start packing up everything.  We should be moving at the end of August.

Super exciting!

W.i.P. Wednesday

What a week!

Miss Mae had a birthday - (she's 9!) She picked out the fabric for her birthday dress - one I would have NEVER chosen. 

Now, I'm glad I bought extra, I think it would make a great focal print for a quilt.

Her favorite part is the orange flower.

Nine.

Am I really old enough to have a nine-year-old?

When did that happen?

If I stop feeding her, will she stop growing? 

I get teary just thinking about it.

Time to change the subject.

sewing.

bee blocks.

Green and purple strings for Eileen.

    

Lovin' these colors!

I have 2 sets for Jen - I'm in 2 different bees with her.

First, we have a block that completely defeated me.

I admit it.

I'm baffled.

The fabric won.

I'm waving the white flag.

She wanted blocks based on this waverunner quilt.

I'm not thrilled with how they turned out, but I hope they're acceptable.

I felt like I was forcing the fabric into a shape it didn't want to be in.

I couldn't get them to lay flat for nothing.

I followed the directions and everything. 

*sigh*

The second set for Jen was much more fun.

Wonky quarter logs using this tutorial from Quilt Dad.

    

Pretty.   Have I mentioned that purples are my favorite colors?

And, my work in progress.

My very first truly original design.

I designed it for the Solids Challenge, but wanted to test it before I started on the "real" one.

I am pleased to present

"Following the Leader"

I can't decide - does it need a border?  or will a contrasting binding be enough?

Currently it's about 50" square.... 

This one's for niece Skylar.

She's Muffin's age and in love with pink.

Her mom, however, is growing tired of all the pink.  I thought this was a nice compromise.

Pink without being overwhelmingly princess-y pink.

what do you think?

 

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.