It is finished!

I started this little beauty last week.  I finished it up this afternoon while catching up on some soap operas, Deadliest catch, and Dr. Oz.   

I picked this pattern out of a McCall's quick quilts book that I purchased several years ago.  The pattern is called 'Simply Squares'  It is a very easy pattern and doesn't take much time at all to do.   

I did free motion quilting on this and I apologize I don't have a close up of the quiting, but it is far from perfect, I purchased some Sulky thread at a quilt shop to do my quilting and I will just say I was very disappointed with the thread.  It was very 'linty' and kept breaking once I hit the half way point.  

I'm trying to decide if I want to mail this or deliver it in person since I will be in the same town where it is going on Thursday night/Friday morning.     Thoughts?  

Well I am going to wish everyone a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend as I will be doing some traveling the next few days going to some races, visiting friends, and attending a wedding.  

Binding day.

It is binding day for the quilt I have been working on.  I finished the free motion quilting on it yesterday,  I would go take picture of it right now but everything is dripping wet from last nights rain.  Oh, and the buses are running and I'm not suitably dressed to go outside at the moment.  I mean I could be the crazy neighbor out in my night-gown taking pictures of a quilt draped over something soaking wet, but I wouldn't want to cause anyone to go blind.

I'm determined to get the binding done today, but hindering my determination is a massive headache.  We are supposed to get some storms later today, and the barometric pressure is rather low.  I don't need a barometer to tell me this, I have a throbbing headache that says it well. At least for the moment the sun is shining and there are very few clouds in the sky.  

It's time to get busy,  I hope to get some finished to almost finished pictures up tomorrow.

My table has been overrun...

I've finally made it to the point of quilting my latest quilt.  I spent a few hours last night sandwiching it together and even did some quilting. But not before realizing I didn't have enough batting, so off to the fabric store I went.

When did the price of batting go up?  I remember the nice cotton batting being $9.99 a yard.  The last time I bought it I think the regular price was $11.99/yd, and last night it was $13.99/yd.  Sheesh I spent more for batting even with the 40% off coupon than I did for all the fabric in the quilt, just saying...

 The top all finished

I found some cute labels, well  a panel of labels at a

shop that was going out of business near me.

The backing all pieced together.  This is the first time I have ever pieced backing.  I have some lessons to learn...On the plus side, I don't have many scraps left from this project going in a pile somewhere.

I really hope I'm not too tired tonight to get some quilting in.   We spent most of yesterday at the track watching practice.   Today, hubby is there watching qualifying, I have a bridal shower to go to,  and the kids are stuck with me.   I might take them to 'safety day' a the Sheriff's department on my way to the shower if I can get everyone around rather quickly here.

Here are a few pictures from yesterday.

This was completely full at one point,  everyone moved to the other side of the track to be in the shade.

My son's flags.  I thought they looked pretty laying in a heap on the bleachers.

Danica Patrick's car, I'm not a huge fan of hers but I could't get a good shot of cars at speed with my phone.

Randomness. It was a perfect day out.  

My rotten girl, normally I don't give them soda, but they had been good and it was caffeine free.

Next week is super busy for us and some travelling, but I will get the finished quilt up asap.

WIP Wednesday 5/18/11

I had to run a few errands this morning, so I'm getting a late start.  I also stayed up a little bit late sewing :o).

My pretty fabrics from yesterday.

Have turned into...

a pile of pieces behind my machine 

I close up

A sideways picture of the half finished top.

My goal today is to finish the top, and just maybe get my backing pieced together.  My new phone is supposed to arrive today, so hopefully I won't get side tracked playing with it and will get the quilt top done.  

To see other great works in progress, head over to freshly pieced and gain some inspiration for more projects to add to your list of must do's.

Tackle it Tuesday!

 Here is a peak at the fabrics I got yesterday to make a simple lap quilt for my photographer friend.  Some of these fabrics are from the JQ Marley Cherry line at Jo-anns.  The yellow and green viney leaf fabrics I think are just Keepsake Calico's 

I just loved the deep rich colors in them and can't wait to see my finished product.   I have all my pieces cut and ready to sew.

I love the side view of my fabrics all stacked up once the pieces are cut.

I got the link for the pictures from my dads party late yesterday and my daughter shows just how sassy she can be for the camera.  I made her little dress.

I hope everyone has a great day and stay tuned tomorrow I might just have a finished top, I said it was going to be a simple quilt.

Enie, meanie, miney, MOE!

Now that all the birthday festivities are over with, I can get back to my sewing.

My birthday boy!

The surprise party for my dad went of without a hitch.  He was very surprised, and I am now known as the 'conniving' daughter'.   I can't wait to see all the pictures my friend took.  She  is a great photographer and loves taking the 'candid' shots so I'm sure the pictures will be amazing!  I need to get a gift for her since she didn't charge us anything for her time.  I've thought about a lap quilt and a gift card with the leftover money, or should I just give her cash and forget the quilt?

I have a bridal shower this Saturday, and either need to go buy a gift or get myself to the fabric store in the next couple of hours and then get myself busy sewing up something cute.  I'm in the mood to sew and I have a vision of something I want to do, but that all depends on what they have at the store and what is on sale.  I never pay full price for anything so a sale is a must.

Now Kiera over at 'It's sew Kiki' has designed a great bag with a wonderfully cute fabric collection by Connecting Threads called 'around town'.  The bag is great for whatever your needs be.  So go her her page and check it out.

I promise to be back tomorrow, see you then.

WIP Wednesday

I have lots of works in progress, but the one closest to being finished is this cute little pillow case dress that I started making for my daughter.  I still need to run the elastic through the top casing where the ribbon currently is.

This was the intended recipient, but well it will either have to be a shirt or I need to shorten her torso...   I just love the damask so I will probably try to find some more of the fabric.

She will be disappointed if it doesn't end up in her closet, so I am going to need to pray they have more of this fabric at the store or hope she forgets about it.  Kids have impeccable memories, or at least mine do.


Edited to add finished photo.

Motivated Monday

I feel like I have so many projects going on I don't know where to start, or I will be working on one and think maybe I should really be doing something else. I hate when that happens.

Today, I'm motivated to do several things.  This is going to be a busy week coordinating everything for the big Surprise 80th Birthday party we are throwing for my dad this coming Saturday.  That reminds me I totally forgot to get him a birthday card at the store when I was there last night, and so it begins, the endless to do list.  I know something is apt be be forgotten, but hopefully someone will remember whatever it is I forget and help pick up my slack.

So this week I must put down my sewing and focus on the task at hand.

'you can buy fabric squares online...'

Spouses of quilters 'just don't get it'.  I ordered a box of fabric, 2 1/2" squares to be exact, from someone on Etsy.   I got the package yesterday,  and was so excited to dig into it.  Seriously what fabric lover wouldn't be?  I medium sized flat rate box stuffed beyond the gills with fabric.

I opened it away from my husband because I wanted to enjoy it all for my self, he comes to me and asks what was in the box.  I said fabric, with a big grin on my face, and he said 'you can buy fabric squares on the internet?'  I wanted to smack him right there, but I turned my back to him and just rolled my eyes and thought, if  you can buy race tickets, car parts, clothes, etc.  why not fabric...

Here is my treasure.

Happy Friday everyone!

Sewing day

It has been almost 2 weeks since I have had a sewing day.    I spent yesterday cleaning so I could have a guilt free sewing day today.

I bought some fabric to make some of those recycled market bags last weekend when it was on sale pretty cheap.  I even bought a bag to do my own pattern

Here is the fabric I bought, now if my kids would behave long enough for me to get some of these cut out and sewn, because I really hate those little plastic bags that rip when they put a box in them at the grocery store.

So this is my Thursday--'Sew What!'

Share your 'Sew What's!' With It's Sew Kiki.

Sew What

Until next time...

I want cake!

Not the traditional cake you are all thinking of but a cake of soft cuddly flannels.

It's Sew Kiki has a sponsored give away from Connecting Threads  for this beautiful collection.

photo from It's Sew Kiki  (Aren't they pretty?)

Three 3 lucky people are going to win one of these cakes.   I really hope I'm one of them, but if not then it wasn't meant to be.  I'm sure going to try though!  If you want your chance head over to Kiki's blog and sign up,  you can click on her blog title to get there and she has her instructions on how to get your name in the drawing.  You have until 8 a.m. EST on Monday, May 9th to sign up.  

Projects left unfinished

I know we all have the the random pile of unfinished projects.  I'm guilty as well.  

I spent Friday and Saturday helping my mom clean for company that she has coming in a couple of weeks.  While she was out checking on my kids and playing with them I came across an old cookie tin.   I could tell something was in it so I opened it up to see what my mother had stashed away in it because I remember the tin from when I was a lot younger.

To my surprise this is what I found.

Look at all those little squares!

Look at the little Scottie dogs with balls on the dark blue.  I wonder what the outfit looked like that was made from that fabric.  I'm sure one of my uncles wore it.  

These are tiny 2 inch square pieces of fabric hand sewn together by my Grandmother.  This quilt is unfinished and I plan to finish it as a surprise for my mother for Christmas.     I plan to keep the integrity of the quilt and continue hand sewing these little pieces together.

I never got to meet either of my Grandmother's.  The one who sewed this beauty together passed away 2 weeks before I was born,  so I value this piece of history in my heart wishing I knew where each piece of fabric came from.  Was it from one of her aprons, or an old flour sack?

I don't think I have enough fabric to finish what is here so I will be scouring the goodwill store and craigslist to find pieces to finish this up.