Try #2

Trying to get the blogger app right. At first, it defaulted to the wrong blog.
I followed a series of links this morning and found these, so I made 4. Future pillow, perhaps?

AAAAAND it's a flimsy!

 Laying it out on the bed like that, it's tempting to dream up borders to make it king-sized... but how on earth would I quilt it? I'm sure I could manage, but I think I just want it to be a large throw for me to snuggle under on the couch.

Let's recap: Today, I did 5 loads of laundry, a load of dishes in the machine and a whole counter full and sink full by hand, swept, vacuumed, and finished my Made in Cherry top. I'm calling it Superstitious, too, since I started it on Friday the 13th while laughing my butt off at all the people who believe in silly superstitions. I'm a positive thinker; I only believe in things that are lucky!

Oh, and did I mention I quilted and bound this little wallhanging?

It's made from 2 small hearts from last year's block lotto leftovers, plus I made a pair of large hearts this year which created the second pair of small hearts. Then it was just a matter of playing with the layout, adding scrappy black, letting it sit on my ironing board ready to be quilted for 2 weeks, and then, in today's extended fit of productivity, I finished it! Simple, but fun. And it makes me happy, so quilt police be damned!

I think I'm too tired to be writing anymore... bordering on cranky. Much love to you all, and again, HAPPY WEEKEND!

The great thing about chores

... is that some of them allow you to be productive elsewhere at the same time!

I made great progress on my Made In Cherry QAL, after having been stalled on Wednesday from a massive migraine.

I've been sewing while the dishwasher and washing machine and dryer run. I did vacuum, too, but that caused me to stop sewing for a bit.

Today, I got the 6th point pieced, and then, in my excitement, added the solid grey all around three sides.

Isn't it funny how the color changed in these photos from morning to afternoon?

All that's left are two points and their solid pieces (which are already cut).

I'm using the Denise Schmidt prints I picked up last summer along with a few more recent ones that I picked up this January (wish I had known more were coming out the week after I finished piecing the middle of this, though!), along with Kona slate.

A note for anyone else using Kona cotton: I don't know if it's because I prewash or what, but my solid was not the needed 43" wide that the pattern called for (honestly, when I bought it, I didn't check). No big deal, though- I simply cut 20.5" strips, then used a completed point to guide me kind of like a giant Easy Angle ruler (which I used in the main part of the pattern, anyway, rather than having to use those silly 7/8" measurements). I was able to get 4 HST's from each giant strip, and frankly, it made me pretty darn happy to not have bias edges along the outside like the pattern ends up as written!

I really like this quilt. It is simple, yet has a big impact. And the squares are big enough that I don't feel like I"m losing any of those gorgeous prints. The rate I'm sewing, I need to start thinking about what color for binding, backing, and how I'll quilt it!

I'm becoming more of a fan of patterns lately. While I absolutely adore designing my own quilts, sometimes a certain pattern and a chunk of my stash seem to be destined for each other.
Which is why once this one is done, I'll start Swooning. :D

Happy weekend, everyone!

Time for a new table mat.

I have a small table that I use by the couch for my drinks/snacks/remote for the TV. I've been making seasonal table mats for it, and since Christmas is well over, it was time for a new one. 

Ta-da!

Simple quilting, which I'm pretty proud of since I just eyeballed it and still managed to make circles!

 I've been wanting to make a dresden plate for a long time, but a whole quilt seemed a bit much. Maybe some other time.
 The cherries played nicely with the hearts, making it Valentine-y enough without making me gag (I'm not the biggest fan of that holiday, though it has been growing on me since I got married). Part of me wishes they contrasted more, but the other part of me likes the way it's subtle, almost like a flower. Perhaps that's why I ended up choosing a yellow center!

And in the interest of saving space when it gets stored, I figured I'd make it multi-holiday:

I made this side super simple so that it wouldn't really matter how I quilted the dresden plate.

I'm pleased with it. It brings a little cheer to my snack table.

And the winner is..

Out of two who commented... I help out my fists, right side labeled 1, and left side 2, and waited for the dogs to investigate... and they chose #1 !

So congrats to Alannah! I've contacted her already, and am just waiting for her addy so I can mail out the certificate.

What a great way to start the Chinese New Year, eh?

Year of the Dragon. Perhaps I should make some sort of small dragon project today.

Enjoy your week, everyone!

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Today would have been my dad's 59th birthday, had he not lost the battle to cancer a little over 2 years ago. It still brings a twinge of pain to think about, but it seems the whole family is beyond the gut-wrenching stage and into the the duller pain, so that's good.

I wanted to do something today to bring me joy. So why not pay forward some of my good fortune to you? As in, a GIVEAWAY? After all, that was something my dad taught me to do: with all the help we received during his battle, he made sure to instill the pay-it-forward gene in my brother and me.

Recently, I received this lovely gift certificate from The Painted Daisy. She's a crafter in Madison, Wisconsin, who has the cutest upcycled skirts, wrist warmers, quilted bags, and more in her shop.

Like this...

And this...

Doesn't that look so cozy?

You can win this $10 gift certificate:

All you have to do (leave ONE comment) is :

1. Visit The Painted Daisy and tell me what item of hers is your favorite (I love the skirts for little girls, even though my only little girl is of the 4-legged variety!).
2. Tell me what you do to feel happy (I exercise/eat to beat the blues. Which means I'm running and baking today).

Make sure I have a way to contact you! A winner will be drawn at random whenever I get up on Monday, which gives you a little over 24 hours. The window is small because I'm going to the post office on Tuesday, and would love to only have to make one trip this week. :)


And, GO!

My little model

I made her another jacket. She's such a poser. I think that face might be Blue Steel.