Little Projects

I've gotten a few little things done! Nothing big, mind you, but they might add up to one mid-size accomplishment, so here goes!

I planted a "garden". It was contained in two pots, and I started them from seeds. I had bachelor buttons and marigolds, the seeds of which were both gifts from Firefly.

Here are the marigolds, just starting out - not very big.

Then, they started doing really well, but a raccoon decided that he wanted to eat the bugs that were living in the soil and he tore up my nicely tended "garden". These two flowers survived:

It's getting cold enough that they'll probably all go away soon, so I might get some bulbs ready to plant... they're always pretty in the spring!

Next, I crocheted a monkey! (One of my coworkers wonders if that's a euphemism for anything.) Isn't she cute! She needs a little sundress and a bow for her "hair", but for now the fact that she exists is enough for me.

Here she is trying out the strainer as a swing.

I like to buy myself flowers and practice my arranging skills - here's the latest: spray roses in a spherical vase.

And finally, tonight's project was a baby sling for a friend who's due to deliver next week. Nothing like waiting until the last minute, right? Turns out I didn't buy enough fabric, so it took some fancy cutting and sewing at the beginning, but it was a fairly simple process once I got those kinks worked out. I used the tutorial found here.

The inside fabric has the names of all different kinds of tea - picked out by the expectant mother. I found the polka dot fabric to match at Joann. It's reversible, and I believe that the words can be right side up. (That did stress me out a bit.)

Fun stuff, and like travel, it makes me want to do more!

More Loot - and what I plan to do with it...

Since you know me pretty well, you know I did not limit myself to the Neptune purchase while I was shop hopping. I also bought a layer cake - also a Tula Pink design, but this is her latest - Plume. I got it at the Bellevue shop, Quiltworks Northwest, which I liked very much.

I bought the layer cake with this quilt in mind - I like the fun circles - although I'm not sure if I'll be able to let myself do raw edge applique. I may end up modifying the pattern a little bit. I haven't gotten the binding or backing yet - but all in good time. :) Suppose I ought to get some sewing done. ( I know, right!?!)

My camera battery died, so I can't show you all the fabric I got a Quiltworks - but this is part of it. One fat quarter, and one quarter yard that I'm planning to use for another coin purse from the pattern I got in Sisters, OR.

Fun stuff!

You thought I was gone? Nope, just shop hopping...

Last weekend I participated in the Western Washington Quilt Shop Hop. Before I set out, I thought to myself, "what would I really like to get, besides all the free block patterns?" and the answer was "a precut strip set." At first I was thinking something like a Bali Pop set, but then I happened upon this:

A honey bun! On 30% off clearance. I couldn't resist. (Cuz it turns out those Bali Pops are expensive. But have no fear - I will eventually buy one.)

So then I had this honey bun and I was thinking "what will I do with it?" Now, to make this story interesting, I need to tell you that I love diamond quilts and have been wanting to make one, so when I stumbled across this pattern:


It was decided. Then, I just needed to find yardage. The honey bun was on sale because it's older fabric - but I was in luck. I found yardage at two stores that I hopped afterward, and who knows what I would have found if I had started the shop hop looking? So here's the plan... The palest turquoise blue will take the place of the white on the pattern. The darkest piece laying across the bottom is the border - and the peachy/pink is the setting triangles.


Now I just have to find a charm pack. There is one on etsy (as pointed out to me by the lovely firefly) which I may buy, because even though it is overpriced, it'll be cheaper in the long run than buying half yards of a bunch of different fabrics and then having a ton left over.

My adviser in the picture taking process was so kind as to also warm my spot in the bed. Now I think I will go curl up in it and dream about fabric.


Sweet dreams of whatever your heart desires!

My Next Quilting Project

Never one to leave well enough alone, I've started planning my next quilt before I've finished the one I'm on. I think it's pretty exciting, so I thought I'd share it with you! First off, here's the pattern I'll be using:


It's from Quilt Sampler Magazine (their Fall/Winter 2009 Issue) and it's the quilt from Temecula Quilt Co. I love it because it's a sampler without having applique. I'm just not quite ready to add another thing to my list, so I'm sticking with piecing right now. Anyway, I love the pattern, but I really don't need to buy more fabric. I'm pretty sure I already have more than I can use... but that's not really the point, is it? Anyway, as I sat admiring the quilt and thinking about the fabric I do have, it hit me: Use the Christmas fabrics I collected after last year's Stash Dash!! It's perfect because the pattern calls for medium/dark fabrics:


For which I will use the reds/greens I collected! It also calls for light colored backgrounds. As you can see:


I got those too! And finally (this is where you get to voice your opinion), it calls for a bit of tan. You can see it in the picture as a border around the center area. These fabrics don't really fit in to the background or medium/dark categories for me, so I was wondering, "Could I use one of these as the tan border?" and "If so, which one?"


Now's your chance! Let me know! Anything would be helpful - like should I get rid of the two fabrics in the red/green picture that stick out like a sore thumb? Or maybe one of those fabrics that I don't know how to classify is really a background. Thanks in advance for your help!

I'm pretty sure I've seen it all, now.

This morning I was minding my own business surfing the web, when I stumbled across this fabric by Alexander Henry. Isn't it a riot? What exactly do you make from fabric that has foot tall Ken dolls on it?

Here's a close-up of the pirate:

And, it comes in blue! Wow. I'm very nearly speechless.

I think I'll go get ready for work. I'm dressing as Betty Suarez, by the way. Pictures to come!

We've got some catching up to do!

The highlights: I had a birthday and I finally took the PE exam! But rather than bore you with long stories about what I did/did not do during October, I've decided to bore you with pictures!

First up, I made some cards. This was the cutest (in my opinion):

October was notable for the number of sweets I ate (and the tight jeans I have to prove it). Here's a particularly beautiful cupcake, even after I dropped it!

I encountered this surprise on my way to work one morning. Come to think of it, I didn't have any celebratory ice cream, and this guy is worth a sundae, at least!


I cultivated a healthy appreciation of bedhead as well - saves time on grooming. Just kidding, but I did wake up with the best hair I've EVER had:


I decided to eat up food before buying more, so here's a delicious little something I whipped up with baby potatoes, sour cream, broth, chipotle puree and cheese. Yes, it was good.


The cutest part about my birthday? My cupcakes, custom made by Firefly herself! So cute.


The first post-test celebration involved quilt shops and my mom. Very good combination. Here are the patterns and fat eighths I got:


I got a bit of fabric for my stash while I was at it... A couple fat quarters, a couple quarter yard cuts and a couple half yards. All in all, very successful.


So, that was October, as told by 8 photos. Hope you enjoyed!