Bags

Part of me thinks that I am very good at not buying fabric, I think that is because I don't buy as much as I would like.  The reality is, I have too many supplies for projects that I have not started yet.

Today, I took steps to help that.  I completed one tote and cut fabric for two more.

The tote is a super cute outdoor fabric.  I have more fabric and plan to make more.  I think I would like one to carry my books to my community club meetings.

Next up, 241 Tote.  I finally gave in.  I see pictures of the 241 Tote in so many different fabrics, and I love them.  I finally took the plunge and plan to make a few.  Below are two that I have cut out, but I think I may make at least one more.  I need to get shopping and buy some zippers!

Farmer's Wife :: Real Progress!!

I finally worked on mu daughter's Farmer's Wife quilt.  A little over a month ago I had 8 blocks completely finished, as of yesterday I have 16 blocks completely finished!

I made two new ones from the book:

26 - Cut Glass

50 - Honey's Choice

Then I built up and/or quilted more.

I LOVE this one!

The variegated thread on this one is AMAZING!

The quilt is full of mistakes, but that will be part of its charm.  I am learning a lot with this one, I have worked with 4 different sewing machines, multiple presser feet, and have simply gotten better over time.

Below is a picture of all the completed blocks to date, you can see, I pasted the green one onto the photo because I had not finished it until after the photo was taken.

I am Linking up with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

I Won Fabric!

As I mentioned previously, my blogging is s-l-o-w-i-n-g down.  I have not taken the pictures or sat down to write...anything lately!

One thing I can share is that I won fabric!!  It was part of Sew, Mama, Sew giveaway day/week.  I don't go crazy entering contests on this week, because I don't feel comfortable entering giveaways just for the sake of entering.  I prefer to follow a blog before I enter a giveaway.  I also don't enter contests that require you to jump through hoops (including rafflecopter) even on blogs I do follow.  

That being said, I did find 3 new blogs that I enjoyed that had fantastic prizes.  One of them was Better off Thread.  She was offering 28 scraps (large scraps) of Anna Maria Horner “Little Folks” voile.

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They are absolutely delicious!  I am the proud new owner of these scraps.  I cannot wait to receive them!!!  I don't have plans for them yet, but I have no doubt that inspiration will hit soon once these are in my hands:)

Thank you Janice from Better of Thread!

Knitted Bear

Preface:  I fully realize that I am not a "regular" blogger, however, things are going to slow down even more around here.  I will keep the blog and see how often I post and how much attention I the blog receives and play it by ear in the future. I would love it if you still check in!  I love the interaction of the blogging community, unfortunately/fortunately my personal life is becoming fuller and requiring more attention.

Now about my bear! 

I saw this cute as a button bear on Pinterest and decided I had to make it.  Bubby the Bear.

There was a problem! Mine was not cute!  He looked long and awkward and his "fur" was too dark so when I added his facial features I could not see them.  I became frustrated and put him in a cupboard for many months.

Last night I had a light bulb moment when I saw Bubby on Pinterest again.

My Little knit bear needed a snout!  I found a lighter yarn in my stash, knit a snout and sewed it on.  MUCH better!  He (She?) still has a very long body, but I actually like him(her?) now.

I love finishing projects.

Nothing feels like a bigger waste of time then working on a project that will sit in the cupboard.

And on a completely different note, this is what my car looked like this lovely May 1 morning:

Snowy and cold!!

WIP Wednesday :: Farmer's Wife QAYG

It is time to share my progress on my Farmer's Wife quilt.  The quilt is going to my 8 year old daughter, she claimed it after I made my first few blocks.  The blocks have taught me a lot about precision in piecing, I am sure that I have a more than few mistakes, but I am loving it anyway.

The quilt is getting a twist from the original design.  Each block (35 for a twin size) is getting a border and I am trying out Quilt As You Go (QAYG) for the first time!  

8 Completed Blocks

4 Ready for Quilting

All of my progress together.

Yesterday, I reached out to a group of quilting ladies for some motivation to get cracking on this quilt.  I will have to utilize some of their ideas.  It is time to get working!

In Progress (Current progress in blue)

1.  My Daughter's Farmer's Wife quilt :: various stages of completeness

2.  My Son's quilt :: not yet started

3.  Knit Entrelac Cape :: Almost done!

4.  Lark Kaleidoscope quilt :: fabric's stashed away, just need the courage to start it.

5.  Fleece Slippers for me :: I made one in November - I must make the second one.

I am linking up with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

Birthday Trifle

My Birthday was this week and we waited to have my celebration so that hubby and I could be home together.  Tonight is that night. 

I will let you in on a secret, I was not really feeling this birthday thing this year until I finished my birthday dessert, English Trifle!!! Now I am ready:)

I cannot wait for dessert dinner.

I bought myself a little birthday present as well!

I have Pat Bravo, Indie arriving at my door in the not so distant future:)

Pink Love Quilt

Follow my blog with Bloglovin  (With the news of Google Reader closing its doors, I am jumping on the Bloglovin bandwagon - I am also giving Feedly a try)

I finished this quilt last month, however, I have been slow on the blog front.  I love blogging, for a few reasons.  It is fun to keep track of the projects I complete, it is fun when I get wonderful comments from readers and it forces me to think about the things I am making.  That being said, it takes time.

Back to my finish!!  The top was completed during a cathedral window quilt along.  The individual blocks were blogged here, here, here and here.  And my top here.  I then sat on it for a while.   I picked it up again at the end of January settled in and finished it off.

I made one small change to the bottom right block of the quilt before I finished this quilt.  I changed the colour of the center.  If you read my post here, you will understand why.  I regret not changing it more before the top was done, but I am happy with it now.  

This quilt will be hung on my wall for the month of February.  I had it up for much of the month this year and it is now tucked away until 2014.

The pink fabrics were almost all from my stash.  I am not sure why I had/have so many pinks?  I decided it would be a good idea to try to use them up.  The backing is the red fabric that clashed with my Christmas Package Quilt.  It feels good to put fabric to use!  The binding is Kona Coal.  I think it frames the quilt nicely.

The quilting is the 'orange peel' pattern.  My quilt was small enough (about 4' square) I sewed each circle individually.  I didn't have the patience to draw the lines and quilt it in a more "efficient" manner.  I like the soft lines that it forms.

By the way, we have way more snow in our front yard then we did the day we took this picture!

I have linked up with