Olivethebeach

Swap Mini!

2011-09-12T19:42:00.001-04:00

IMG_2817-e
Originally uploaded by meganalayne

This is the little mini quilt I made for my swap partner Jill Lee for this month. She loves turquoise, Kaffe Fassett and geometrics.

Kaufman Kona Challenge for TMQG

2011-08-30T18:19:00.001-04:00

IMG_2727-e
Originally uploaded by meganalayne

Here I am with my Nighttime Daytime quilt for the Kaufman Kona challenge we did for our Triangle Modern Quilt Guild. Love a finished tablerunner quiltie!

Processes

2011-07-06T11:57:00.006-04:00

My quilt projects for this month are numerous, if only in my head! I am working on a "true mini" for a flickr group. I scratched my head for awhile because mini isn't really my speciali-T. But, it's time to stretch myself. I thought maybe paper piecing would be good for a mini in order to keep my seams straight and true. I found a cool mini snail's trail and printed off my pages. And picked out some fabric. And voila:

What the heck happened? I don't know. It looked like bad origami on the right side. And you know, I'm fairly proficient at paper piecing. I sad ta heck with that and started something else that felt right and is stretching me a bit in the applique department. Here is how I started with some teeny tiny circles. All of which remind of that Richard Scarry story The Teeny Tiny Woman.

Then I got some cool fabrics cooked up and am off to a start and almost a finish. Hope my swappee likes it!

Aw man and false starts

2011-06-14T14:34:00.013-04:00

I received a bag of lovely little girl clothes and big girl shirts to make a quilt for a friend's daughter who is heading off to college in the fall. I love these projects and she had such a great idea to save her most favorite kid clothes to turn into something memorable. I definitely feel the pressure to do a bang up job and honor this special quilt!

I have run into some challenges though. I thought since I would be using some knits in the quilt, I should try and do a paper pieced quilt to cut down on the stretching. When I did the marathon quilt, I used both fusible and sewn interfacing to face each tshirt. That was time consuming, and in addition, I wasn't 100% happy with the appearance of the fused tshirts after washing. I nixed that idea for this quilt. These pieces will be much smaller, so that is a bonus.

After much thought, sketching, more thought, sketching, I thought I had a great idea. But I wasn't in love with it, though I thought I could make it work. It's a traditional square in square block.

You heard that, right? Traditional. As in, not really me. I started four blocks and after the fourth one, I just knew the quilt and I, as planned, would not be continuing our relationship. It didn't feel right, I couldn't see how it would all come together and look right, so I scrapped that idea.

Panic! New idea!!! I always go to flickr first. And I did and came up with a gallery of favorites that caught my eye for this project. So, off I go again. To choose and to begin and to finish. I'm glad I have learned to trust my quilting gut enough to call uncle when necessary. I'll keep ya posted. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Who wants Scraps?

2011-05-27T09:27:00.003-04:00

No pics today. Terrible, right? What is a blog post without pictures from a quilter? Jeesh.

I've been in between mode. As in, my studio needs a cleaning, a getting rid of really. One of my cabinet drawers wouldn't even close it was so full of fabric I don't really use. I would open it up and stare at some lavender fleece that I bought 4 years ago to make my daughter some cute jammies out of. She's full swing tween now and hates lavender. I would slam it shut, it would bounce back open, and I would walk away.

This week I took on a small commission for a friend's daughter going off to college. I looked around that cluttered sewing room with scraps busting out of 5 containers and unused fabric with no hope of being used and a basket full of UFOs and UFOs hanging in the closet and said Enough of this sh*te. I started with the overflowing scraps. I got that down to two smallish baskets and one of potential backing fabric. Wow. Major accomplishment. I was unnerved by the smallness of some of the scraps I save. I was also surprised that there are only 2 or 3 fabrics that I consistently love to the point of not parting with scraps each time I see said fabric. I put all those scraps in big ziplocs. Who wants scraps??? Seriously, send me an email. I'll send you scraps.

Yesterday, one kid was under the weather (the super active one) and the other just likes getting crafty. I took both kids in the room under the guise of letting them use their creative brains and got busy on that cabinet. It really is easier to purge fabric when surrounded by kids who try and save everything. I don't want to contribute to any hoarding tendencies, so out it goes if I'm not going to use it. One got started on a charity quilt and the other made paper house. And I was so successful in clearing out fabric I'll never use and I know someone else will.

Which brings me to my next clarity moment. When I first started quilting, I would buy and buy and buy and not sew much. When I got a little more serious and house bound (by babies!), I realized that buying compulsively meant I didn't have to be scared to try new things or make the worlds ugliest quilt or quilt blocks. I started sewing more and shopping less. Of course, when I joined coops (sniff I miss them), that shopping thing was so much easier and less time consuming. But gradually, I stopped buying so much and I am working through my stash. I think it also helped that the fabric industry, though way too pricey at retail in my humble opinion, releases gorgeous fabric season after season after season. So, my new rule is, if I love it, but I don't have a specific project in the works, I have to reallllly love it to buy it. Because otherwise, I might end up with a cabinet full of 5 year old sad fabric. And I have made some ugly stuff. If I can't bear to throw it away, I pack it off to goodwill. Yes I do.

I have to tell you, the inspiration to get purging came from Sarah over at House of Krom. Yay! Inspiration is good. So, you peeps out there? Want some fabric? Scraps or fat quarters, I got em for ya!

May already?

2011-05-09T14:23:00.019-04:00

Wait, what? It's May? Whew.

SO, my fam and I were very lucky to take a trip to Portugal this spring. My husband travels an insane amount for work, so those airline and hotel points add up to vacation for us! We love to travel. Here I am on a beautiful beach. Like how I can sneak a beach trip in anywhere in the world? Hehhehheh.

Here are the other parts of Chez Ellington.

There are so many incredible things to see in the world. And eat. My husband and I are big on food. See how happy I am with this big Sangria pitcher in front of me?

This was my (and Joe's) most favorite dish in Portugal. Just looking at this picture makes me hungry. Oddly, it was a very thick sort of zuppa de pesce or bouillabaisse. Normally, I'll not order something like that, just not my very favorite. But, wow. What a dish.

Ok so on to other creative mis-endeavors. Remember the purple quilt with the paper pieced border? It's been sitting in my Finish IT pile for awhile now. I picked it up and decided I just did not like the border on it. So, with trusty seam ripper in hand, off it came. Here is is after being quilted (red flowery things) and pinning the binding. Yes, I machine bind everything.

With both of my bees ended, I turned my attention to the free piecing group on Flickr that I am in. Whoa, I realized, I am 3 months behind! So I got cracking. Some things worked out okay. Like below:

And some things just went kerplooey. This poor sad star is going in the Outta Here pile:

Oddly, I keep having star problems. Not the first time, either. It's not a complicated block, but my brain just refuses to play with it. I'll power through them and maybe say good bye star block for awhile.

See? Just more than wonky and will require a little rippage and resew. Whatevah. It happens!

Next up for me are next month's free piece block, and I start cutting for the Triangle Modern Quilt Guild Kona solids challenge! Those nice Kaufman people sent us 40 charm packs!!! John, the swap swami extraordinaire, chose the dusty color set- very cool. Really, the ideas are still percolating. Which means I need to sketch. And the weather is so perfect for sitting on the deck and sketching. SO that's where I'll be, maybe with some sangria too.

2011-03-21T19:59:00.002-04:00

Some new fun things I've been looking at. Getting some inspiration going here!

I'm enthralled by almost all art. Masters, modern, you name it. I have a special place in my heart for folk art and art that is humorous. I just remembered I have a print I need to frame from Badbird's shop. That will be some great inspiration! Who's working on something new?

2011-03-21T19:17:00.007-04:00

Wow. It's March 20th. Time is marching and all that. I have been working on a marathon quilt now for at least half a year. It's not a marathon quilt because it took so long to complete (which it did), but because it's comprised of over 50 t-shirts representing a marathon run in each state and DC. Not run by me. I should really bold that statement. Not run by me. The gentlemen who ran the marathons thought it would be great to have a quilt of his t's and I was happy to take on that project. I just didn't know it would take me so long to complete! Quilt has been delivered and I am happy to share some pictures now.

And here is my super jazzed face after working an afternoon and delivering a quilt! Yay! Finishing a project feels so good and making quilts for people really does make me feel good too.

Quilting Tutorial for Buzz Cutters

2011-03-01T20:29:00.008-05:00

For all of you non-quilty types, this may be dull, or fascinating! Depending on how interested you are in sewing. I'm posting a tutorial for the Buzz Cuts quilting bee on Flickr which has been around for 2 years!

This month, please use your solid, batik, marbled, or near solid stash/scraps. I'm happy to send some to you if you don't have any. I'm open to any crazy color combinations, so go nuts! I just started sewing this one this way, so if you know of a different way to get the same sort of effect, go for it. You can be wonky or exact-whatever floats your boat. I did a wonky block, as you will see here. We're making 12.5" x 12.5", but if yours turns out smaller or larger, no biggie, send it along. I'm very flexible!

First cut your strips - wonky, straight, measured, whatever. You'll want to cut the strips longer than 12.5" because you will need a slightly larger block since we'll be cutting and re-sewing the strip block. I aimed for 14ish inches and that worked out well. If you need to piece your strips, that is fine too!

Then, sew your strips together. Straight, wonky, whatever.

After your strips are sewn together, you may want to straighten up some edges (or not). Then make between 2-4 cuts in the block.

Arrange and rearrange the segments until you get something different than the strip block then sew them all together!

Voila! Press it, trim it, call it a day!

Thanks so much! Have fun! Send me a flickr mail, email, or comment if you have questions!

2011-01-28T09:41:00.007-05:00

These last few weeks, I've been working on a number of things. I was having a hard time actually focusing on one task at a time in the first few months of the year, but I got on the stick and got a fair amount accomplished. I love to sew and given the choice, I would do it about 18 hours a day. But there is life, work, family, friends and these are important as well.

The marathon quilt is chugging along. I just don't have any pictures to show you.

I joined a new free piecing sewing group on Flickr and I love it! Free piecing basically means no pattern. That is so me. "The only rules I follow are the ones I make myself." Seriously, I have a tile in my studio with that printed on it. This month we worked on birds and log cabin houses. Here are the birdies I came up with. Haven't taken photos of the houses yet.

That middle guy looks like a baby dinosaur! hahahahahaha.

I've also worked on some flickr bee blocks:

That first one was actually the second one I did. On this bottom one, I was looking at pattern, not color. Top one, I focused on color. Interesting how I can get very involved in the detail close up and forget to consider the overall effect. Wow. That probably applies to much of my life!

I've also been quilting a baby quilt that a local gal put together and asked me to quilt. That is fun and makes me want to save my pennies for a handiquilter or a long arm. I'll be saving a lot of pennies for those! Have a great Friday friends!

Winner!!

2011-01-28T09:31:00.004-05:00

On Facebook, I invited friends to post on my blog to win a little somethin somethin in honor of my 100th blog post. River you are the winner!!!!!

Here is River's website which describes her heart opening work and beautiful setting where she lives with Coyote.

Have a great day friends.

2011-01-11T20:32:00.006-05:00

Here is the body of what I am calling my Glam Garden quilt. The fabric was donated to my local quilt guild (Triangle Modern Quilt Guild) by Robert Kaufman Fabrics. We each got a 10 Square (40 pieces of 10" from the Glam Garden Gala line) and our rules were to use only one other fabric. I am using Kona cotton in Crocus. Say that 10 times fast! The fabrics are really POW! so I wanted to do a simple quilt to highlight the pow factor. I did this wonky square in a square thing which measures about 3' x 3'. I thought I was going to leave it at that, but then this idea that I got from Karen Stone's NY Beauty book has been percolating in my head for awhile and it seemed worthwhile to add on a border like this.

I drafted it myself (yay, go me!) using sketch pad paper,which I have decided is a much cheaper option than foundation paper sold at the quilt shop, and is basically the same product. I paper pieced the spokes, made a few boo-boos, and kept on going. I used my rotary to cut those curvy lines. Here is the spires/spokes pre-cutting.

To complete this top border, I laid the curvy cut border on a piece of Crocus Kona, traced the curvy line, cut it, and then pinned the two together. Then I sewed those pesky curves. Usually, I am great at curves ala NY Beauty. But I feel a tad out of practice on this border.

Here is a pic of the border on the quilt, hanging off my ironing board, but not ironed. I like the look of it, but it was fairly labor intensive and I don't see that happening for the other 3 borders.

This quilt will live at home, since I have so few hanging around. Stay warm if you're in the cold part of the world.

2011-01-04T11:23:00.005-05:00

I am sitting at the computer, getting lost in the shuffle of check this, check that, do that, do this. Ugh! Well, here are some recently completed items.

I'm working on the commission quilt right now, and my brain is slipping around thinking of a new quilt for home, despite the multiple UFO's that occupy my space and brain! Does anyone resolve to finish or pass along the UFO's? I need some goal tracking ideas! Enjoy your day.

2011-01-01T19:07:00.003-05:00

Wow here is 2011. I'm not a resolutionist type, but I do reflect on the past year and sometimes that makes for some disharmony in my first few days of the New Year. Not that each year has been bad, but I am pretty hard on myself and we all know that time is in short supply in each of our lives.

Or is it? I've been reading some interesting things lately about having our lives reflect what is really important to us instead of reacting to things that come our way. I try not to dwell on regrets, so I will simply say that I am looking forward to seeing more of my friends in 2011, participating more in creative endeavors, and enjoying my little ones more.

This first quarter of 2011 will have me understanding my own creative pursuits, finishing up a commission quilt, and delving into two family gifts. What strikes me as odd are the few quilts I actually have in my own house! This will be the year I make a dent in the UFOs intended for my immediate family and myself.

I am always amazed at the resources online for both quilting and sewing clothes. I have sewn a few garments, mostly for my Thing 1 and I hope to add to my own wardrobe this year. I have been a member of Pattern Review for the last year and I find it to be a helpful, although personally underused, resource. For quilting, Flickr has been my starting, and often stopping, point for inspiration. In fact, I was thinking the other day that joining groups on Flickr allowed me to find my quilting "voice" and still pushes me to try new techniques or color combinations that I normally would not do. I've also virtually met a number of creative, fun, like-minded people that astonish me with their endeavors.

Last year opened up some roads in my life that I never expected, that frankly took me out of many of my creative loops. To manage, I found myself reading, watching movies, and listening to lots of music, which I love to do anyway. The creative process seemed a bit too overwhelming for many of 2010's months, so my brain found solace in things that bring me comfort. That only reminded me how much I love the written word and how important music is in my life. On most days, I listen to The Revolution and NPR. I am a huge fan of my Iphone, Itunes, etc. I regularly listen to This American Life and The Moth. These are small things that give me great joy-listening to stories and excellent reporting.

For my spiritual fix, I listen to Mars Hill podcasts and a few meditation podcasts. In 2010, I started doing yoga about twice a week. I've continued throughout the year and I am happy to say, I am getting into bakasana now, although only for about 5 seconds at a time. I'm okay with that. I have worked out for years, often through painful limitations of feet, back, or legs. Yoga has helped me understand that sometimes the body doesn't need to be beaten into submission, but coaxed into position. I've learned to feel the minute changes a subtle reaching or stretching of a muscle can produce while in poses. Let me assure you, I am not anywhere near Bendy Wendy status, but I feel happy with my practice. This year will involve more of my own home practice now that I feel more confident in the poses.

I also turned 40 this year. The joy in receiving so many well wishes from so many amazing friends gave me a renewed spirit. I am blessed a thousandfold by the love and presence of my friends. They have really buoyed me through the year and kept me in stitches when I needed it.

I hope you have plans for a joyous year. I hope to write more and read more of your blogs and hear about your intentions and favorite things, and the sucky things too. Because life ain't always a bowl of cherries! Cheers friends. Hello 2011!

Backlog

2010-11-15T21:52:00.000-05:00

Hello little sad blog! Life is busy, as it is for all of us and unfortunately, blogging has fallen behind. Today, I'll just update one of the things I've done over the last few months! These little gems were for my Bee Lovely group and are peacock feathers! What a great idea! Ramona thought up this fabulously creative idea for blocks. I've taken up a new part time job which has cut back on my hours of random creativity, but it is a great gig. I've also been working on a quilt commission that is taking me a much longer time to complete than I anticipated. Luckily, my client is patient! As the holidays start swinging into view, my mantra this year is "I'm only human." Hoping your creative endeavors are going well!

Woohooo!

2010-08-20T10:12:00.002-04:00

Look what I signed up for:

Nope, I'm not really a sketch type. But, you know what, I can be!

Fabric and the Small Business Handcrafter

2010-08-03T12:44:00.006-04:00

This is the lonely blog right here! I have been neglectful, but it is summer and my kids are home, so bloggy is last on the list right now. I also just don't have pics ready to post and I think that in order to post, I must have pics! Well, I'll give you a few and then I want to write about something that has me thinking.

Please forgive the state of the pictures. These were taken not in sunlight and are a bit dark.

These are my favorite fabrics from a layer cake I bought called Botany. All of the fabrics are great, but I was drawn to the blues. Of course! I am not sure if all quilters love fabrics and get excited about new lines, but I'm pretty sure they do. Over the years I have amassed quite a stash. Mostly, I control myself now, but every once in a while I get the fabric buying bug. I started my small etsy business to more or less be able to buy fabrics without dipping into the family budget. Some months are better than others in that regard!

When I began sewing with the intention of making a little money, I realized that I would never be able to recoup my costs if I bought fabric at retail and charged what is reasonable for the buckets, pouches, and quilts that I sell. For those of you who sew, this doesn't surprise you at all. But for those of you that don't sew, you will be surprised by how much quality fabric costs. Just as in true with clothing, often you get what you pay for and this has especially bee true for quilting cottons that I use. What is different about a high quality cotton from my perspective? First, the colors and patterns in a quality cotton are beautiful. Secondly, a quality cotton fabric's hand (the way it feels) is like Baby Bear's bed-ahhh, just right! Third, it washes well, keeping the vibrant color. Fourth, these fabrics sew well. They don't get stuck under my needle or bunch up in odd places or slip and slide all over the machine throat.

Retail, these fabrics run from $8.99 to $14.99 a yard in a local quilt shop or in an online retail shop. One little bucket that I make uses about a half yard of fabric. A twin quilt easily uses a total of 8 yards of fabric (front and backing). My prices also need to reflect the other notions I use (batting, interfacing, thread) and my time. In addition, my prices have to be reasonable for the item. I believe in each crafts person charging a reasonable price for their goods that reflects the materials and labor put into the item. I also expect not to charge as little as the "made in china" goods that are multiplying before our eyes.

It is easy to see how much money would be put into a quilt if the fabric is bought at retail prices. In order to actually price my items fairly, I joined a few online fabric co-ops. These co-ops are made up of lots of small business people (and some home sewers) who depend on buying fabrics at wholesale prices to be able to sell their goods.

In order to be a manufacturer's wholesale customer, a minimum number of bolts of fabric must be bought, depending on the manufacturer. Each bolt, again depending on the manufacturer, has between 15-20 yards on a bolt. A yard at wholesale generally costs about $6.50 not including shipping. In a fabric co-op, sewers commit to buy yards of fabric until the bolt is full, pay the co-op mama for their fabrics and wait for that fabric to be manufactured and shipped. The co-op mama's job is hard, and often volunteer. They decide which fabric lines to run,collect payment, place orders, keep in touch w/ fabric reps about time lines, receive fabric, cut fabric, and ship it out to all of the co-op sewers. This is all done because one single person could likely not afford to maintain the sheer volume necessary to have a wholesale account with a fabric company. So we band together! A pre-sale buying group! Great!

It has been great. Until lately. For a reason beyond my understanding, some of the fabric companies (Kauffman and Michael Miller) have started shutting down co-op access to wholesale accounts. This has happened to at least 3 co-ops that I know of and likely many many more. These companies have no policy against co-ops, but they are now refusing orders because we are not a brick and mortar store. Wow. What that means is I won't be able to use some of these very popular fabrics for items that I plan on selling in my etsy store. Big business once again rears its head and tries to squeeze small business out of the loop. Now, I'm sure these companies have their reasons, but doesn't this activity-choosing prices for certain customers-fall under the Clayton Antitrust Act? Why is it okay for a fabric store to make money off of the fabric, but not a small business person? Things that make me go hmmmmm. That is all for today's rant. Hope you are enjoying summer. I know I am.

A little bit

2010-06-26T15:12:00.009-04:00

Who comes home from the beach with a cold???? Yep, me. Luckily, the humidity outside of my house makes it feel like 104 degrees, so I keep going outside for relief. Crazy! Since I can't taste anything, I went to the farmers market in Raleigh to buy pretty things.

Pretty, right? Tomatoes, bell pepper, cukes for gazpacho, peaches for eatin', patty pan squash to be stuffed with shrimpies, and I just couldn't resist that beautiful basil and mint. And I might fry the okra. Even if I can't taste, it will still be pretty.

I did finish up another set of quilt blocks for the Bee Lovely flickr bee. The instructions and parts that came from Tigerlita looked intimidating at first. But, the block actually came together quite easily.

I was thinking this block would be really interesting in Cool Stream Modern Meadow prints. Joel Dewberry fabrics are often my favorites.

When I came back, my Kona cotton color card was waiting for me! I ordered it from Purlsoho. Super quick shipment from them. It is heavenly-like fabric paint chips.
I needed it to match a particular orange to the UT orange for a quilt commission. And now I can drool over all the pretty colors I want as well! In fact, I think I'll go drool over those colors right now. Have a great weekend.

Sunshine and Rain

2010-06-17T21:47:00.009-04:00

Classic funk tunes have been bouncing around in my head this week.

I promised some quilty photos, so I will do that to start off with. Also, a question-what photo software do you use? I have been using Corel because it came with the computer and in the past I have used Adobe which is very similar to Corel. However, I've noticed that Corel changes the colors of my pictures and when I upload them to say RitzPix, the pictures look like those Obama posters. Not what I am looking for in my photos!

Here is a block I started and finished today for the Buzzcut flickr quilt group. Sunflowerquilt sent us the tutorial link by Little Miss Shabby. I wasn't familiar with her blog, but now she's on my reader! Talk about pretty things!

I found this great post on Zenhabits about the habits of highly creative people. I myself endeavor to be highly creative, but sometimes only manage slightly creative. The post offers some interesting suggestions from successful creative types that I enjoyed reading. One must always remember though that what works for one person, might not for another. The only disappointing part of the article was the section on "Creative Greats." I would have enjoyed seeing some women mentioned because I tend to appreciate the ways in which women are able to be creative because often, our creativity has to be fit into our lives while we care for others. Off the soapblog now :).

One of my habits, of the slightly creative person if you will, is straightening up my studio whenever I start feeling stuck or making faces when I walk in the door. I really honestly do better work when my area is relatively neat and tidy. Here are some photos of my clean studio. No befores here!

There is only one item on my cutting table! You may have seen it before. I started working on the little table runner before my last show. I am just getting around to binding it now that all the sisterly wedding stuff is done.

When I got this fabric, I really liked it. I still really liked it when I cut into it. However, I think I should have gone with another coordinating fabric because now I don't like it as much as I did when I bought it. Oh well! So tell me about some of your favorite blogs to get your creative mind churning.

2010-06-15T22:37:00.003-04:00

I don't have a lot of quilty pictures to post. Sadness! For the last few weeks, I have been working on getting things done before my sister's wedding, traveling to wedding, helping with wedding, and now I am home. I made one girly dress, a feather hairpiece, 7 boutonnieres, and 11 quilt blocks for my local guild bee. Whew. Just writing that made me tired.

I did have a great time in Salt Lake City hanging with my sister and doing lots of wedding prep and being the "wedding manager" as she called it. We had some fun times with our cousins (there are five of us ranging in age from 39-28ish) and assorted aunts and uncles. SLC is beautiful and it has lots of fun, funky places to check out. We had a wonderful sushi dinner at Takashi with my parents and one kid. Had drinks and played pool with the hubby at the Green Pig on a sneak away from the kids afternoon. On the Sunday after the wedding, my husband and cousin headed down to Squatters to watch soccer. Of course, I joined later, cause I do love a pub. One morning we had breakfast at Ruth's Diner which has the largest biscuits I've ever seen. And beautiful scenery too.

I had no time to go fabric shopping :(. But all that good food was great. Promise, next time, quilty pictures.

I'll stop the world

2010-05-14T05:56:00.003-04:00

Sometimes, life throws a curve ball. I don't play sports, so I'm thinking one should either get out of the way or get smacked by the ball. After my period of intense sewing to get ready for a show, I'm back to my puttering about the studio. The show went well, although foot traffic was slow. Some friends stopped by to see me, which is always fun. And as always, I had time to think about what sells, what doesn't and what I really want to be spending my time doing. Sewing, naturally. The summer is coming up and as a sahm, that means I won't be sewing as much as during the school year. I like to sketch and read though when we're at the pool or the beach and that helps to keep my ideas percolating. I've decided I have way too much fabric, so I may be going on a fabric diet this summer as well until I sew down some of this stash. Does the summer change what you do?

Next step

2010-04-29T20:54:00.002-04:00

Next step
Originally uploaded by Olivethebeach

I am moving and grooving here! The upcoming craft show next weekend has me churning out tops, I am happy to say. I have been using ideas that I sketched at various times, in various places and pulling from my stash. I keep finding these interesting fabrics I forgot I had. I do see the benefit of sketching or keeping an art journal, if not regularly than at least consistently. I'm gonna keep on sewing.

Flowers In Progress

2010-04-27T12:03:00.001-04:00

Flowers IP
Originally uploaded by Olivethebeach

I am not much of an applique fan, but I'm trying out a new for me way to do it- sewing fusible interfacing to the wrong side, turning it inside out, iron it down. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Stuff I'm making!

2010-04-27T12:00:00.001-04:00

Originally uploaded by Olivethebeach

I've been on a tear starting new things, like NY Beauty! I never get tired of those. I'm keeping it short here since I have a show on May 8th and all these cool things I'm piecing together still requires quilting and binding. What's a girl to do?

But You Got to Use Your Own Two Hands

2010-04-18T19:14:00.006-04:00

So, Ben Harper is one of my fav musicians/songwriters/singers. This is his new video on his website. I love his Motown sounding voice, the way he sings about Jesus, life, love, his outstanding lyrics. I could go on and on, but I won't. What does this have to do with quilting? It's about inspiration. I am never at a loss for inspiration and today I thought I'd show you some of what I see that gives me good vibes or makes me want to sketch, sew, make something, in no particular order other than my brain's.

First up, Lucyellen06 who also has a great flickr photostream. Her quilts are whimsical, brilliantly colored, fun, beautiful, and exciting. Ah. I truly enjoy seeing what she comes up with in her sewing. We are in a flickr quilt bee together and when she sent my block, she also sent this fun chipmunk with some of my fabrics:

Second is something I have on my wall. I got it during a beach weekend with my girl friends from high school. The ones that know me better than I know myself often. One of them, the bossy one, said we HAD to get some tchotcky to remind us that we must always have beach trips. Me and the other friend smiled and rolled our eyes, called her bossy, and went along. They said this is definitely me- the quote, not the likeness:

Soooo true. I try to remember that in my creative endeavours when the doubt creeps in and I look up at that and laugh like mad. Yep, I do.

Third up, new friends and old friends who do different creative things. I have a good friend who is a Montessori teacher. She could also give the Dog Whisperer a run for his money. She is smart as a whip and reads like the wind and listens to NPR!We have great discussions about everything from Ikea furniture to POTUS' latest policies. And she loves to laugh and I always do around her as well. Her impersonations always crack me up. I have a new friend who is a mystery writer. She also is a broadcast journalist, a prolific blogger, and a great public speaker. Just two examples of many friends that make me feel like making stuff because they live so fully.

And art. I have no formal art training. I even had to drop out of art appre in college because I kept falling asleep in that cool, dark room. I find that I cycle through artists that inspire me. I've been enjoying Chagall for awhile now. His paintings tell stories of people in love with each other, and often feature random goats and chickens here and there. Really! I haven't done any research on the symbolism of the animals, so I don't know. I just like them.

I could go on and on, but enough for now. I need to go make some stuff!
One last thing: the NY Beauty quilted!! Ta Da!

Meet me halfway...

2010-04-13T13:53:00.005-04:00

This weekend I went on a retreat and made some new friends and got to know some acquaitances better, which is very exciting. It was really interesting, rejuvenating, and quite a departure from my normal introverted self. And it was at the beach. Ah, the beach!

As I said last time, I have been working on lots o' blocks lately for bees, swaps, whatnots. Here are some peeks:

The two non-chicken blocks are for flickr swaps using some of my stash. As always, I have tons of ideas percolating. I've been enjoying my fellow quilters' forays into embroidery and now I want in! Of course, I can't be normal and buy a pattern. Nooooo. That would be too easy! Instead I had a great idea-I'll take some of my daughters drawings and use those as embroidery patterns. I'm not a great stitcher, but it is always good to stretch sideways a little bit. I'll let you know how it goes.

Ha! I made it to Flickr explore!

2010-04-08T13:17:00.003-04:00

Well, not me, but my chicken block! How cool is that!!!

That only blooms in the violet hour

2010-04-05T22:43:00.004-04:00

I think a lot about creativity and making it fit into a life that isn't entirely mine-you know-motherhood. I could easily spend hours, literally hours upon hours, in my studio happily making things, but I have people to take care of, people that need care. We all must strike a balance, but that is hard to do.

During Lent, I seriously curtailed my internet hours, particularly Facebook. I found myself reading more mostly, thinking more, still wasting time online more than I should, but not necessarily using that time to create. That is okay because I love to read and I finished a book I never thought I would-the Bible- in 90 days. That was part of a concerted effort in my church and it was a good exercise in solidarity. And sticking to something I didn't necessarily often want to do-which is how creating is for me. I have often felt like I need to "feel like" creating something. Honestly, though, Picasso was right. I am more creative and learn more techniques when I keep at it consistently.

So, after all those words, some pics! Right now, I am doing "something" with the 12 NY Beauty blocks I made a few years ago. I've decided to make 3 separate small 15"ish quilts and mount them to be hung on the wall. This is one pre-quilting which I completed today (the quilting):

I also made something for myself which was much needed:

I made a slew of blocks for bees and swaps, at least it felt that way! And I received a slew of blocks for my bees. What are your ideas about consistent creativity?

time CH ch ch changes...

2010-03-15T00:14:00.008-04:00

You sing it David Bowie. I'm still up and tomorrow morning is coming soon. So, just a little recap of the bits and pieces I have been working on.

In the "This present is so past due it's going to be for the next birthday" column:

All I had to do was stuff the dang things and sew their little tail feathers together. For so long, it seemed like a huge task. And then it got stuck in the bottom of my "in process" basket, which until today was more like a black hole basket. Took 10 minutes in front of a yard show. Done! The birdies will be made into a mobile.

Next up: Quilt blocks:

Have a good time change Monday. Yeesh. Spring forward to fatigue!

Rolling like a river

2010-02-21T22:38:00.004-05:00

All of those half circles turned into many circles. Because I usually start with a sketched plan instead of just winging it, I got a teensy bit stuck after I got the circles up on the design wall. I came up with these two options (and please excuse my photos-it was a dark and stormy night...)

This one looks like a piecing nightmare, but that is what a (brand new) rotary cutter is for!

This is definitely a straightforward sew it up option, but I think somehow it lost the fun of the circles. I'm leaning towards the piecing nightmare, but making it about waves. And maybe some lighter blue kona...I'll keep ya posted.

Bee Nice to Your Friends

2010-02-10T23:16:00.008-05:00

Ha Ha! Look what my Buzz Cutter Friends have been sending me:

I am really enjoying everyone's creativity. One of my favorite things about these online quilting bees is the variety of quilters' ideas that come from the same fabric.

Since I am not sending out blocks this month, I started another little somethin somethin with seahorse fabrics and turquoise:

With no plans in mind, I decided to try my hand at semi circles, and maybe circles after the semis. Here are 2 that are not ironed.

And a pile of semi circles waiting for their set in fabric:

This afternoon, I had a nice little break at my favorite coffee shop and sketched an idea for all my half circles. I usually work the other way-sketch an idea first, sew next. However, cutting out those circles (with the uber cool ez quilt circle template) gave me some great ideas. Which is good for these super windy cold days. Keep warm!

2010-01-17T16:26:00.005-05:00

After many months of staring at green foam sitting in this quaint chair frame, finally I made the cushion covers. One down on my list of projects I need to do for my home and family. I've had the fabric for ages as well. Other things kept getting in the way!
I've decided that I will be making binding this way until I get my handy dandy binding machine. I make lotso binding and for some reason, drawing the lines with chalk and then cutting worked out better for me than simply using my rotary cutter. And there was something relaxing about using the chalk.

It was really an easy project, and only slightly snarky...sometimes my machine did not like all the layers and seams in the binding. The chair turned out pretty well and is the perfect "sitting in front of the tv and pinning or hand sewing" in my studio chair.

In fact, it is so comfy that someone else got to it before I did!

Did I mention that I grabbed this chair at my favorite thrift store for $5? Bargain!

This week, I am working on a few things for one of my flickr swap groups, 6" x 12" minis. I'm making 3 valentine inspired blocks and for my S.T.U.D. flickr group I am making a valentine inspired mini. I'll probably construct them all at the same time. My idea right now is to use pieced half circles and triangles. I'll show ya all about it later.

Another very exciting upcoming event is the first meeting of the Triangle Modern Quilt Guild in February. So far, we're up to 31 members! I am looking forward to meeting other quilty folks in the area. In one of our forum posts, I ran across the Craft Hope site. This group helps others in need by working on various projects and donating them to various organizations. Right now, they are running an Etsy site to benefit the people of Haiti by donating to Doctors without Borders. Many different sellers have donated items that are sold on the site with all proceeds going to Doctors without Borders.

I'm off to do some sewing. Enjoy your evening.

Scraptastic...or something

2010-01-09T15:15:00.004-05:00

Remember all those scraps? Lovingly cut and organized. I decided to use them quickly, get the good mojo going and try out hexagons. I've not been able to do y seams very well yet, and I think this hexagon practice will get me on my way to mastering that. And voila!

The pillow matches dd's quilt. Who doesn't need a big squishy soft pillow? Next up-containers for a friend's cubbies, scrub hats for a friend, and I"ll start ds's quilt. February is MY month for the quilting bee Buzz Cuts I belong to so that means I send out the fabric and receive blocks. Love it! I have been collecting my fabric since December. I'll be cutting this week and mailing out on the 15th. Keep warm...unless you already are.

Sewing Goodness

2010-01-07T13:12:00.006-05:00

Remember all those scraps? Well, I got busy with them! Actually only about 10 pieces of them, but that is a start. I worked on my ipod case and here are a few that I created, now stocked in my etsy store:

That is just a sampling of the ones I have done. There are more views on my flickr page as well.
I am trying to come up with some new products, like those for my etsy store this year. Quite a few of my items from last year made great teacher gifts for Christmas. I still haven't tackled any of my family's sewing projects. Yikes! Is there enough time in the day?

If you are on Facebook, you can find me there as well under Olivethebeach. That seems to be an easy way to keep up with friends and favorite businesses lately. Hope your winter is going well!

Woot! Found!

2010-01-03T21:08:00.008-05:00

After my hub and I had given up on ever finding my new lovely camera, I found it! Apparently Thing 2 had "placed" it in a special place for me. Good thing I opened that container! Having found the camera, here are some pics of my stacks of scraps cut down to easy to use sizes:

What's not readily apparent is that each stack is about 3" tall. Churning, churning, churning ideas about those scraps. In fact, after finding my little aqua beauty of a camera, I decided to make a striking camera case, just in case it wants to go on walk about again.

It was an easy peasy case. I just cut 2 pieces of fabric 15" by 5", sewed on a 2" piece of elastic, layered those fabrics with a piece of batting and sewed them together leaving a hole at the top with the elastic. Then, I turned it out, pressed it, folded the bottom up to a height I liked, and topstitched it in place. Hand sewed a button (blech on the hand sewing!) and voila! I'm thinking of jazzing this up and bit and putting some in my etsy shop.
Cheers!

Oh NO!

2010-01-01T22:05:00.003-05:00

Sigh, it is true. My brand new lovely aqua camera is lost. My fam and I have torn up the house and cars looking for it...camera, where can you be????? Come back!!! Unfortunately, the MIA camera means I can't post any pics now. I am giving said camera 5 days to turn up before I start to think it is really truly gone. But I must say, this totally bums me out.

What I would show you, if I could, is my cutting table covered in scraps cut into consistent sizes. The better to sew them up my dear! My scrap box is a hard plastic 12" by 12" by 14" container w/ a lid that folds back in half or just pops off. I bought it last year sometime when I decided stuffing my scraps in a drawer was not working...and the scraps were taking over as well. While I am working on a project, I keep a pretty African basket next to my cutting board and I just throw any scraps for that project, no matter the size, in the basket along with any leftover yardage I may need. Then, when the project is done, I stuff all the scraps in the box. I've had it in my head for awhile to neaten that stuff up and make it easy to use, so that is what I have been doing for the last few days. Thankfully, I've come up with some good ideas for using those pesky scraps, which are now nicely cut squares, rectangles, and strips.

I've taken care of my few sewing responsibilities for January...again, I can not show you as my camera is MIA, but that is a good thing. February is "my month" in Buzz Cuts, so I only need to cut all my fabrics...which I would show you but...

I am going to tackle some UFOs and pull together some scrap projects this month. I've also been brainstorming about new things to make for my Etsy shop. Not to mention all the project my sewingly neglected family wants me to make for them. I had such a productive December that I am hoping to carry on with that trend in January.

Happy New Year!

Word for 2010

2009-12-29T00:59:00.003-05:00

I recently read an interesting blog post about choosing a word of the year and using that as a starting point for the upcoming year, rather than resolutions. That idea is me because I don't like resolutions. Too much starting and stopping. But a word, I can do. This last week of December is always fun for me. I like to clean out as many nooks and crannies as I can, take as much to Goodwill as I can, and start the new calendar!

I look forward to all of the inspiration that seems to pour from the world around me. I will be completing some artsy quilts this year, as well as all the other fun stuff I like to get up to. My studio and I had to take a break while we had company over the holidays and now I am slowly getting back in there. It is time to tackle the scraps box. I do use many of my scraps, but there is definitely potential for more use. This week's project is to just cut those scraps up into sizes I can work with instead of the mangled bits and pieces I see right now.

I'll leave off for 2009 with a look at one of my fav places in the world. Because....olivethebeach.

Black Friday

2009-11-27T11:34:00.004-05:00

It's a beautiful day here today in North Carolina!

Here are a few things I have been working on:

This is a commission quilt for a wedding gift for a running couple. I downloaded and printed out (on fabric paper) logos for triathlons they have down together. That book on the table has been a great help in my efforts to branch out with the actual quilting of my quilts. Those little gloves have also been a great help. I don't know how I quilted without them!

These are some great little pouches that are custom made teacher gifts. I have a few others in my shop and of course, I am always open for making some with any fabrics I have in stock.

Speaking of Black Friday, shipping in my shop is free until Cyber Monday, so head on over to my etsy shop and pick up some gifts! I also have a sale on key fobs, which would make great stocking stuffers or teacher gifts. Enjoy the weekend!

November Creativity

2009-11-05T09:24:00.006-05:00

Over at Creative Everyday, it is art a day. I'm jumping on the bandwagon and attempting to create something a day! Here are a few things I've pulled out of the gray matter:

November 2nd

November 4th
And the piece de resistance, Vicky's completed quilt!

I can see that when I throw in something like "make something creative everyday," I spend way too much time on the internet! Have a great creative weekend.

Poor little blog

2009-11-03T21:50:00.007-05:00

Wow, it has been another 2 months without me posting. I just haven't had words, I suppose. I participated in the BazaarSpark and met some cool craftspeople and saw some fun sidewalk chalk art.

I've been reading alot lately and facebooking (oy vey timesucker!) and trying desperately to finish a commission quilt which has been afflicted with some problems. So, for now, I will leave you with a few photos that I actually have on my computer ready to go!

Oh Toodles! Keep on makin' stuff!

Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall

2009-09-04T10:01:00.006-04:00

Really, although I haven't been writing much, I have been sewing much! I am currently working on some commission pillows, commission quilt, and have other family projects staring me in the face. "Moooom, when is MY quilt going to be finished???" Soon sweetie, soon.

I also found out this week that I will be at Raleigh's bazaarSPARK at Hargett St/Fayetteville St on September 19th. If you are in the area, check out the website for SPARKcon .

There are lots of interesting things planned, and for me, I have lots of sewing planned before then!

Just a tease, here's a few bee blocks I sent out recently:

Have a great Labor Day weekend.

Ahhhhhh.

2009-08-06T17:05:00.003-04:00

Here is the finished top and a close-up, named Starry Day:

I am happy with how it turned out, but I am still waiting to see how my client likes it before I start quilting it. Fingers crossed!

Today I finished making a window seat cushion for a friend's sister in law. It was nice to finish and get paid, but I realized during the process that I really need to be more organized in my work habits, whenever possible. I think I am accustomed to working in 15 minute spurts before I hear "Mooooommmmmm!" I find myself, even when there are no little people around, working for 15 minutes and jumping up, even if I don't need to do that.

Now, I am happily cleaning my studio (on a break!) and my sewing machine is off getting a tune up. The ladies at the shop say I'm supposed to be oiling the dang thing. Whaaat? When I took the classes for it (Bernina 140), they said don't oil it! Hmmm. It sounds like "chunka chunka chunka chunka..." I time this "annual" tune up for vacation time, so it is that time as well. We'll enjoy some sand and water and I will relax, read, drink frou frou drinks and breathe in the salt air. Ahhhhh.

Puzzles

2009-07-17T17:36:00.004-04:00

I'm in puzzle mode right now. I'm juggling around the squares and will fill in with solids here and there. Progress!
This was yesterday:

And here is what is going on today:

Fill me with hope, fill me with faith

2009-07-15T12:30:00.006-04:00

Today I though I would share some bad pictures of a quilt I am working on for a friend. Bad photos, bad! It was a rainy day and I didn't want to move my setup to a more natural lit position.
These are some layouts I have been playing with for the starry day quilt. I think I am going w/ the bottom option and filling in w/ other stars. Now to decide on color placement of the other stars. Off to sew and tryout starts!

Sleep, sleep tonight

2009-06-14T05:19:00.008-04:00

Elusive, that dang sleep. Must sleep now. Or not.

I have been very disengaged from my bloggy here. That's okay. Sometimes there is just not enough time in the day for all things. And if you are like me, there are too many projects, both real and imagined, floating around in the DOIT stratosphere.

Currently, I am working on 2 quilts for friends. One is a wedding gift for my friend's friend. The other is a wall hanging quilt for a friend's wall. It is wide open-she gave me a pillow from her room and said have at it. I sketched a few ideas. The colors are a bit problematic-only because the place where I buy my solids has horrible lighting and when I got the colors home with the pillow and used my sunlight and ott light, I said "Huh???" S'okay, I'll figure it out. Feels strange not to be working from my stash.

Here are a few blocks I have done for my online quilting bee group. I love doing blocks. For awhile, I was doing mini quilts in my flickr swap groups, but those got a little overwhelming when I started getting some actual paid work. Okay, like 2 things of paid work. But still, getting paid is a good thing. Unless you hate what you are doing. But, even then, it is still a good thing. I love sewing and figuring sewing things out, so no hate involved.

I apologize for the blurriness here. Youch. It was a bad picture taking day. Cloudy outside and me, in a hurry as usual, to mail these off.

And these as well. I actually took these in my car outside of the PO.

Last night we watched Gran Torino. Good movie. And I would love that car. I was just wondering why Korean War vets are portrayed as grumpy, caustic, curmudgeons with a talent for fixing things up...think Red Foreman. Maybe these are our current Archie Bunkers.

Well, off to surf. Happy Sunday.

Rolling like a river

2009-05-17T17:16:00.003-04:00

What a rainy day!
As promised, here is a pic of the spiderweb table runner quilt I was working on:

And a carnival blooms table runner:
And I made about 5 sets of napkins that I will need to post to my etsy shop.
All this for the show! I didn't make a lot of sales, but I did get a commission from a friend that is really exciting. It is for a wall hanging and I have ideas ideas ideas. I also am going to make a quilt for wedding gift. And a few other things in the works. So overall, I have some projects going on. Not to name the wips for my family that I need to get a move on. And myself. I really want to sew a few shirts that I already have the fabric for and have done pattern alterations for as well. What the heck am I waiting for???? The time fairy! I do feel very blessed and grateful to have the resources and space to sew and a head full of ideas. What are you working on right now?

Here is where I've been:

2009-04-29T13:26:00.005-04:00

Sewing like a fiend getting ready for my very first craft booth:

I am very, very excited. And very very busy getting ready. I'll be posting some pics soon of my lovely garden and a few things I've finished. Hope everyone is well.

Table runner in process!

2009-04-09T17:47:00.004-04:00

So, I mentioned the table runner. Like many projects, I jump in and after doing a few blocks, or seams, I think hmmmm. Maybe I would like a common element in the design here. This is the table runner while I was thinking that thought...

I decided to make the triangles with the same border to make the spiderwebs pop more. Here is the end result of that decision:

I'm pleased with that decision. The table runner is on my sewing machine right now waiting to be quilted.

I did finish the Thirteenth Tale. It was a good read. Up next, The World to Come.
Toodles!

Oh, yeah, One More Thing!

2009-04-05T21:16:00.002-04:00

I forgot to mention this great book I am reading that I am really enjoying. It's by Diane Setterfield called The Thirteenth Tale. If you love to read, this is a great book. Maybe even if you don't love to read! The story is clipping along and I am enjoying the rich description. It's for my monthly book club and I am anxious already to see what everyone thinks. Toodles.

Hello again, hello

2009-04-05T21:07:00.002-04:00

Poor lonely blog, sitting here patiently, waiting for me to write! I have honestly been enjoying the on again off again spring weather, watching the pear trees flower and leaf, the Jane Magnolia flower and leaf, the cherry trees are in flower, my daffodils came and went (came and froze really) and the hyacinths have come and gone. I have been cleaning up and dividing the lambs ears, one of my very favorite garden plants, and replanting in some pesky spots. We'll see how those come up. I also began taking some of the black eyed susans out of my main flower bed. They took over last year and I missed seeing some other flower that I love more. Like cosmos. Don't worry, the susans have also been transplanted. I think those things will grow anywhere. I'm watching the clematis vine its way up it's little trellis. New for me, I planted 2 roses that are supposed to be vine-like. I also pulled up 8, yes 8, indian hawthornes that looked terrible and have since we moved in. I moved them to a less blazing sunny spot and I hope they make some kind of recovery. In there place, on either side of my huge lavender bush, I planted two bushes whose names I can't remember. I did lots of research and garden center visits before I chose them, so they should work out really well. I just can't remember their names....

So, really, I have been busy! I have also been working on a few WIPs. I was going to tell you all about this fun table runner that is ready to be quilted, but for some reason, the picture upload isn't working. Hmmm. Tomorrow, we'll talk quilt. Cheerio!

Mardi Gras mambo, down in New Orleans

2009-02-24T14:46:00.008-05:00

I've had my fair share of Mardi Gras fun, but that never stops me from missing it each year.
Here's a little something something for groovage: the Meters! If you're not familiar with the greats of New Orleans funkitude, go grab some tunes. You can't help but roll with the punches listening to this stuff.

And now onto the quilting! I finally got my squares finished to send off to themad1s on my flickr Buzz Cut group. I had a super hard time cutting into the fabric and then deciding what blocks to do. I went with part of Karen Stone's Indian Orange Peel pattern, a triange thingamajig, and a log cabinish thing with what was left. In the mail it goes today!

And I received my BOCE birds! Absolutely delightful. Cheers everyone. Happy Mardi Gras. It's all ashes tomorrow!

Been a long time, been a long time, been a long lonely lonely lonely time

2009-02-21T16:53:00.004-05:00

But here is some eye candy...I think! I like this little quiltie I made from an Alex Anderson book.
I'm still working on my dd's quilt with her name on it. I'm also struggling a little w/ squares I'm doing for a flickr group. I think I was just nervous about cutting up someone else's fabric and trying out a new something on it!
Does anyone watch Flight of the Conchords? Well, here is my fav song today.
Have a good one.

If I could save time in a bottle...

2009-02-03T18:32:00.005-05:00

I've been working on dd's bed quilt and it has been a collaborative effort. Needless to say, it wasn't what I envisioned, but it must be what she envisioned! Sew sew sew...

I'll throw in a few pics of the Gee's Bend inspired quilt I sent off for my flickr group swap and one inspired by my favorite book (Time Travelers Wife):

I'll post a site next time with some more info about the original Gee's Bend quilts. Have a good one!

Save Handcrafters from the CPSIA

2009-01-28T22:02:00.002-05:00

As some of you may be aware, our government has put into motion more legislation to protect us from ourselves. Or maybe protect us from Chinese lead in toys. In any event, this legislation as it is currently written, will put small handcraft businesses, like mine, out of business. Please read the Forbes article and make your opinion known. None of us wants our children harmed, but don't we all want the freedom to choose handcrafted gifts (which are not harmful)? If you haven't done so, visit Etsy and take a gander at the amazing creations offered there for babies and children. It would be a terrible thing if we lost the ability to purchase handcrafted goods from artisans.

The Winner Is...

2009-01-24T16:55:00.003-05:00

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to enter the birds of change giveaway. You are very kind and I appreciate your warm words and greetings. The winner is Lydia! Here are the birds, some done, some waiting for some more deco. Oh, I used the Spool pattern for the birds, found here. Nice, easy, cute, simple pattern. The best kind. Thanks again. Have a great weekend.

Bird of Change Exchange GIveaway!

2009-01-20T11:50:00.002-05:00

Hi Wonderful Readers,

I am very excited to be part of this Bird of Change Exchange and Giveaway organized by the talented Creative Kismet. Happy Birthday to her and Happy Inauguration to us! I am in the process of making some colorful, hopeful birds and one of them can be yours!

Leave a comment on my blog and I will choose a winner on Friday.

I am so excited by this Inauguration, by the hope in the air, the joyful attitude in our country. Blessings to you all.

Let it Snow Let it Snow Let it Snow

2009-01-20T11:39:00.000-05:00

In my part of the Southeast, we don't get snow very often. Maaaaybe once a year. And last we got around 5 inches. Wowzers! So here is what we've been doing this morning...

Good fun. And now we are watching the Inauguration. In just a minute, I'll make a post about the BOCE giveaway here on my blog!!!

And may your dreams be realized...

2009-01-19T09:51:00.002-05:00

I'll be honest. I love U2. I could wax poetic about them for paragraphs, but I won't. I'll just direct you to listen to "MLK" written waaaay back in the day in 1984 when I was a young teenager. I've been listening to U2 for over 20 years. As you can imagine, seeing them (on tv) perform in front of the Lincoln Memorial was great. It was moving to see Bono so exhuberant and joyful. I wonder if he was reveling in the moment of MLK's dream come true, looking out over the crowd and seeing faces of every color and shape, a hopeful America, joy in the air.

Already, Obama critics have popped up overseas. I think they have missed the point, at least the point as I see it. We are seeing our history made right before our eyes and we are energized by it, not saddened by it. In the midst of difficutl financial times, war, and general despair, our country has hope that is seated in the fact that we have overcome a racial barrier many thought we could not.

I'll end the soapbox talk now and move on to some quilting...

This is the end project of ooak baby quilt for baby nephew. The backing is the same brown Kona cotton as the binding and squares. I wasn't real overjoyed with the quilt when I first finished it, but I like it now.

Tomorrow, as part of the BOCE (Birds of Change Exchange) from Creative Kismet I'll be giving away a handmade birdie. Tune in tomorrow for a chance to win a birdie right here!

Haaaallelujah!

2009-01-10T10:45:00.001-05:00

I'm still working on that danggum header. What I am really happy about is Firefox. My hubby told me about it. I had no idea how much fun it could be to use a different browser that I can trick out! When I'm finished putzing with firefox, I'll upload the pics of the finished baby quilt.

Please excuse my dust..

2009-01-09T22:05:00.002-05:00

While I figure out how to configure my header and blog! Geeeeeeeesh......

Birds of A Feather

2009-01-08T13:19:00.002-05:00

I'm in the birdie exchange for January! Creative Kismet set up this really cool exchange. Info can be found here. I am busy working on some swaps...one overdue, yikes, and I did finish the brown and green baby quilt. Hope everyone in bloggyland is well, warm, and safe.

Tonight we're gonna party like it's...

2008-12-31T11:40:00.003-05:00

No, not really. It will be a quiet New Year's Eve around here to match the wonderfully low key Christmas we had. I've been toodling around doing home mama things and haven't spent too much time in the studio, other than cleaning it up. I think my quiltie arrived to its recepient for November, so here is a pic:

I don't make resolutions because it seems like an awful lot of pressure to put on myself when Jan is typically a crazy month anyway. One thing I would like to focus more on this year is getting family pics put into albums of some sort. I might try shutterfly or something like that. How about you? Anything you want to do this year?
Have a good one and be safe!!

We wish you a Merry Christmas

2008-12-16T13:03:00.011-05:00

I'm finally all done decorating inside for Christmas. I leave the outside to the hubby, who seems to require more and more lights each year. Our neighborhood seems to be in an unconscious state of keep-up-with-the lightses. It must be that fun festive mood brought on by Christmas!

A few years ago, a friend gave me this wonderful hurricane glass filled with beautiful sparkly, beaded ornaments. I love it and put it out each year. I think it is a great gift idea. I think she made smaller ones as teacher gifts as well.

I like to decorate the mantle, so I started with this stuff here in a jumbled mess and transformed the mantle into Christmastime!

I've been going and going on the brown and green OOAK baby quilt. I'm a little stuck on the quilting. Not sure why. This is before basting. I can't quite get the idea in my head of the end product. Hmmmm.

I baste with quilting pins and that funny looking rounded awl thing to close the pins. I've tried the spray basting, but it didn't work for me. I tended to get to many bumps in my batting (Warm and Natural). I just lay the backing out on the carpet, plop the batting on, then putz with the top until I have it more or less squared up. Then I put on the tv and pin! Once when I had to baste a queen size quilt, I reserved a room at the library and basted on a bunch of tables pushed together. Now I have more room to spread out and I don't undertake those giant quilts too often!

I hope everyone is enjoying the JOY of CHRISTMAS. We've had some great fun already and I am looking forward to more. I hope by the time I write again I'll have that quilt done! And maybe I'll be able to fill you in on some groovy refinishing projects. I scored an awesome chair today for $5!. Love it! Tootles.

Turkey Trot! Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T11:01:00.003-05:00

I did it, I did it, I did it with my good friend KB! We ran the turkey trot 8k this morning and although there were lots of walking breaks involved, we finished and ran lots. She was very patient with me and we had fun. Thanks KB!

Have a great Thanksgiving and enjoy your turkey, tofurkey, pork loin, ham, whatever it is you dig into at your house.

Think craftilicious thoughts!

To run away from you was all I could do...

2008-11-21T18:24:00.003-05:00

So, today I did something my body has been needing for about 4 days. Long duration, moderate intensity cardio. Let me just remind you, I don't love to exercise, like some people, see husband I married. But, my mind, more than my body needs to exercise. I mean, I've done some days of shorter, high intensity stuff, and fitness yoga, but today was long, hard day. 4 running miles on the treadmill. Wohooooo. Yeah baby. For some of that time, that painful "I wanna quit" time, I thought of my friends KB and PT, athletic momma types. They are always super supportive and excited about each baby milestone I make. Awesome women. Thanks, chicas.

On the craftilicious front, I've been making kitchen curtains. And jammy pants for a boy who needed them. I learned how to use the blind hem stitch and foot. Yay! It's only been 7 years that I got my machine with said feet and stitch.

Have a great weekend everyone. Stay warm, or cool. Whichever hemisphere you're in.

This is how we do it...

2008-11-12T15:12:00.012-05:00

I am always interested in the processes that people use in their creativity. Very analytical of me, isn't it! I know some people just jump in and go and others plan. Sometimes both those things work for me, but more often, I need to write or draw to get an idea flowing. I've been reading about a technique used by DaVinci called mind mapping. I might be a little late to the party on this one, but it is an interesting idea - the brain doesn't think in a linear outline to generate ideas. There's also all kinds of software out there to generate mind maps. Cool stuff. That's one I started for an upcoming swap...bubbles instead of roman numerals!

So, I thought I would share the creative process I generally use when I am making a specific quilt. This one is for a baaaaaabbbby boy coming into the world sometime in December.

First I looked around for inspiration and found some (Denyse Schmidt from an old old M.S. Living magazine) in this gigantanormus binder I use to keep and haven't kept up with lately. It's full of magazine cut outs and instructions and things like that. So, this jumped out at me because I really like squares:

Then I find some place to sit and think. Deck, porch, table, coffee shop. I just need relative quiet from kidlets. Hmph. Imagine that! I have a sketch book that I use for ideas or art journaling or writing or whatever. I put it in the library book return one day. Dangit! Thank goodness I was hanging around to check out books. Unnerving to hear ones' name over the loudspeaker in the library! Note to self: continue to write name in notebooks!

And then I doodle:

And then I doodle some more and when I think I have a good idea going, I start thinking about measurements. This stuff was fun. I did it after I went to the Handmade Market and stopped to have a beer and doodle a bit. Great stuff at that market! So drinking beer, I worked on measurements. I can tell you if I could have had beer during algebra class in high school, I would have understood a whole lot more.

Then I pick fabrics out from my stash, hoping that I don't have to go buy anything else. I didn't! Wohooooo. And then I start cutting, and of course things don't always work out as planned, but it was only a plan. I keep a small cutting mat on my sewing table and the ironing board is very nearby and I work on my blocks that way.

I usually try and figure out a way to assembly line it, but this quilt has lots of different things going on, so no. I keep my notebook nearby w/ a highlighter or crayon or something to mark off blocks as they are done.

As I finish the blocks, I hang them on my felt wall, which is in serious need of some border help. That dangling piece is ribbon that does not want to stay up in its place. Oh well. That's at the bottom of the list.

After I get that part of the quilt done, I'll lay it out on the floor and try out some fabric borders and binding. And then the quilting and binding. Here's a close up of one of the finished blocks:

I'll try and keep my progress posted. Have a great night.

ChChCh Chaaanges

2008-11-10T12:13:00.003-05:00

Change is in the air, in all sorts of ways, yet as a sahm, things still stay the same. Don't get me wrong, I crave the quotidian rituals that keep me in balance, remembering to feed, clean, and clothe myself and others. Without these things, I would surely be at the sewing machine, reading, or crafting about 14 hours out of the day, with a little time out for working out. I constantly have so many projects brewing in my head, with a list of WIPs that only gets longer. I really enjoy making gifts for people, but there is only so much time in the day!

The fall gets me thinking about colors and the interplay of light and dark on those colors. The leaves here are turning a full rich red that is hard to imitate outside of nature. Those little evergreen bushes and trees seem that much brighter with the yellows and oranges flitting to the ground. Color everywhere, and it is fall. A sweet mom had her kids on the sidewalk outside of my house today picking out different colored leaves.

Can you remember when there was no internet? I remember when I got my first internet "account" in college, waiting in line at the library to check it all out while those goofy boys looked at illicit things. I remember not knowing what there was to find out there on teh world wide web. Now, I can find hours pass as I jump from interesting site to blog in amazement of the wonderful creativity of people on the 'net. Thanks for all the inspiration people.

What I've been doing...

2008-11-04T11:46:00.005-05:00

Vote! Vote! Vote!

2008-11-04T11:45:00.000-05:00

Just a friendly reminder to vote!!!

You've Got to Move it, Move it!

2008-10-20T16:44:00.004-04:00

I thought I'd do a little Monday Madness and tell you about something that has been extremely helpful to me since the end of July. That would be exercise. Yep, sweaty, heavy breathing, achy muscles, heart pounding exercise.

Since the end of July, I've been able to jog again since foot surgery (a long time ago). It's not easy and sometimes it's painful, but each day that I jog the 3.1-4 miles on the treadmill, I actually feel as if I am accomplishing something, which I am. I'm a task oriented kind of person, so when I finish something, I am happy. Which is probably why housework and I don't get along...as soon as the laundry is caught up, there's more. As soon as the dishes are done, there's more. As soon as one meal is cooked and cleaned, there's another. But if I run 3.1, hey, I'M DONE!

I've been an emotional eater for most of my adult life, so jogging is helping me change that voice track in my head from "eat, eat, eat" to relieve stress to "run, run, run" for stress relief. I've exercised for most of my adult life as well, so I know about the benefits, although sometimes I just don't want to do it. Like dishes, laundry, and sweeping. But when I exercise, my brain relaxes and later, I feel more creative and get more accomplished creatively.

So creative types, get out there! Do something that gets your blood flowing! Dance, walk, waltz, jump on the trampoline, hit the gym, lift something. Whatever it takes to relax that brain!

Ugh, it happened again!

2008-10-14T16:22:00.003-04:00

It's been 2 weeks again! Just like that. whew. I've been working on bits and pieces of various projects, with a few things complete. I also had a birthday and even made and wrote out thank you notes! Yay! Here they are:

I've also been working on a few collage items, some sewing projects, and of course, the requested Halloween costume by DD and curtains. Of course, and somewhat sadly for my creative processes, tv started again, so the hub and I are watching a few more shows than before. I've started reading The Sound of Paper by Julia Cameron. One of the very first exercises is to make a list and wohooo I love to make lists! I think I might actually buy this book and let the library have it back. Off to cook some dinner!

2008-09-30T09:42:00.003-04:00

I'm making a few things that are easy and cute that can be used as small hostess gifts and may go on my Etsy shop. Dishtowels! I don't know about you, but I can always use more of those. I do things the easy way-I buy some plain dishtowels and fancy 'em up. Very easy stuff. Just cut a strip of fabric the width of dishtowel in any width (I think this is about 3"). Then, I sew 1/4" on each long side and go visit the iron. The iron and I have a testy relationship, which mainly involves me burning myself. The stitching helps me turn over a nice straight 1/4" without burning my fingers and saying Ow! After steaming the 1/4" down, I go back to the machine and sew on the strip with a 1/4" stitch. Voila! Easy little useful gift. Ta ta for now!

2008-09-23T11:43:00.009-04:00

Fall is coming, fall is coming, is fall here? Is fall here? (To the tune of Brother John/Frere Jacque). Weather is cooling off, but I've been fooled before!

Ah, after all of our wet soggy rains, which we needed and were lovely, there were lots of mushrooms out and about. Do you remember, when you were a kid, stomping on those mushrooms that would emit brown dust? I found one of those the other day and the kids and I stomped and stomped. It sounds kind of evil, doesn't it? But it's all good fun. So, for my September mini quilt swap, I redid my mushrooms quilt and made it a bit more colorful.

I think it turned out pretty well. I had started with brown tops and red and white striped gills, but went this route instead. Mushrooms and owls are all the rage right now, aren't they?

Another project I worked on this week was this Mini Quilt inspired by Inspire Me Thursday. The inspiration word for that week was opposites. Do you see the opposites? Bit of a stretch, right? But it did get the ideas flowing and a project finished, which is what inspiration is about.

As the cooler winds blow in, thoughts turn to my birthday (edging closer to 40) and Halloween. I have a few projects in mind for Halloween that the kids and I can do. As always, Living magazine has some fun ideas and so does Family Fun magazine from last year. Have a fallish good day!

I Will Buy You a New Life

2008-09-18T22:03:00.008-04:00

So, what I did last weekend and into the week was take this old thing,

rip out it's seat innards,made a pattern out of the old fabric (which my dd dramatically told me was so ugly it made her want to throw up),
and recovered it with this fun fabric!

I was armed with a screwdriver, a hammer, and a staple gun for this project. No thread involved! The funny story behind this chair is that while my husband and I were poking around in an antique store, he saw it and liked it and asked what I thought. Yeah, sure, I said, ASSUMING it was going to be HIS office chair. You know what assuming does, right boys and girls? Well, when we got it home, that sucker ended up in my sewing room. So much for the IKEA chair I had in mind. But in the end, this is better because I like old things and I actually covered a chair, new foam and all. It has good bones, this chair, real wood and all. Happy Upcoming Friday!

2008-09-16T11:42:00.004-04:00

I finished my Laugh quilt! I blogged about it here at the Lazy Gal blog . Tonya provided some great inspiration for quilting this summer.

I've also finished some stars for the Star Quilt Along which can be found at my flickr page . I am enjoying the color combo I choose. We've got some really breezy weather today after a weekend of mid 90's so I am enjoying that. Tomorrow I'll show ya what I did this weekend with my old antique office chair.

God Bless America, My Home Sweet Home

2008-09-11T08:50:00.001-04:00

My prayers and thoughts go out today to everyone grieving, remembering, and serving today on September 11th.

My pretty fabric needs a new home

2008-09-04T21:37:00.004-04:00

I just can't send it off to Goodwill. I would love to swap a fellow fabric aficionado for something. These are Michael Miller fabrics from some years ago. It is called "Nouvelle Panels" and "Companion Stripe" with numbers C675 and C742. The colors are very nice and as you can see the design is an arts and crafts type Asian thing. Each is a yard and you would get 3 full panels (of the Asian ladies) out of the yard. I would love to swap my 2 yards for your one yard of ....something black and white or yellow, purple, aqua, green, or brown. Just post a comment and we can figure something out! By the way, it has been cleaned and stored properly. We don't smoke or have any pets.

I'm giving up this nice stuff because I just won't be using it. I don't use these colorways any more and I can't for the life of me figure out what I would do with it.

New home...where are you????

Thanks Everyone.

2008-09-03T22:00:00.009-04:00

The guilt, sometimes it cause me to do avoidant things. Like keep pretty fabrics all folded up in the box in which they arrived. I finally gave into my guilt and opened the box. Wow, pretty stuff in there! And this is just a little tiny bit of it. By the way, I'm on a no increasing the stash diet as of right now. Starting.....now! Now! NOW!

And as I promised, so you wouldn't think my poor little sewing room is still a heap, here are some improvements:

This is where I am hanging my mini quilt swaps. Aren't they beautiful!
And my new whiteboard, scored from a friend who got it for $2 at a yard sale. New writing desk, courtesy of IKEA.

And this is the kiddos craft table and their new cork board. I bought the frame at Goodwill and cut some old cork to fit. Voila! So, as I am washing all that new fabric, I am trying to refold what I've got. I may be offering some up tomorrow for swapping! I've got some yards that I've had for a very long time now...

Goodbye Ruby Tuesday

2008-09-02T22:03:00.004-04:00

Here's what I have been finishing up the last few weeks.

First, a little nightgown for the dd.

She picked out the fabric at a swap meet and told me she wanted a big ruffle on the bottom. Ai ya ya. But I figured it out. I pieced it together using a ruffle from another pattern. I did a little bias around the armholes and on the hem. Binding is a whole lot easier than hemming.

And I also finished the little quilt for kayakknitter in the mini quilt group on flickr. I hope she's not looking here! She might have it by now...

This was a sew strips, cut, sew little blocks, cut, sew. It was fun and meditative.

I've started reading a book about creativity and making it part of everyday. The book suggests having a small ritual to start off the day, or when entering one's studio. I think that is good advice. I need to develop a ritual that says brain, get going now! Does anyone out there have a ritual like that?

Have a good one.

2008-09-01T23:18:00.008-04:00

Ah, summer is officially over and school has begun. I have been in a tear to further my studio organization and it paid off. But first, a picture of what it looked like for a few days:
It's better now, much better now. Just needs some vacuuming.

I am one proud sewer! I also have been successful at two other things that I've never tried before: I can now run 3.1 miles on the treadmill, and I made kimchi! I had foot surgery way over a year and a half ago and recovery took much longer than I anticipated. I've never been a big runner, just a mile or so here and there, but I've tried to exercise regularly. Now, I'm running and having no pain in the foot and that is such a great thing!

Now for the kimchi. For those of you that don't know what it is or think eeeeewwww when you see it, I will be frank. It is basically rotten cabbage. No, not really. It is delicious spicy fermented cabbage that is a mainstay of Korean cuisine. I decided to try and make it after reading this wonderful book:

So, just for fun, I'll show you some pics of the process and tell you how I did this. I deviated a bit from the recipe because I didn't have everything I needed, but it still turned out great. First, you need a big ole non-reactive container. I believe glass or pottery is preferred. I used a big ole glass jar that I found at World Market. For ingredients, I used sea salt, napa cabbage, garlic, a daikon radish, green onions, a hot pepper or two, fresh ginger, and that garlic chili paste that comes in a plastic jar with a green lid and a picture of a rooster on it. I believe I've seen it in World Market as well if you don't have an Asian market where you live. Most traditional recipes call for Korean ground pepper, but I didn't have that so I did what we like to call winging it around my house. First I chopped up that cabbage. My hubby and I prefer the kimchi that has all of the soft inner leaves over the big chopped pieces of cabbage rib, but hey, I was not about to waste that cabbage! I chopped up the outer leaves and tried to keep some of the inner leaves intact. I placed all that cabbage in glass bowls and poured sea salt over it and put some plates or bowls on top of the cabbage to submerge it.

The idea is to draw out some of the water and get the fermentation process started. I julienned the daikon radish and did the same sea salt treatment.

Those goodies sat for about 5 hours. Some recipes suggest letting it sit overnight, but that might have been a disaster in my house with spillage. I chopped up the green onion into two inch sections and threw the white parts into my mortar with the garlic and some grated ginger. I added the chili paste and mushed all that stuff up real good. I drained off the cabbage and radish, saving the brine. I mixed up the cabbage and radish with the paste and begin stuffing it into my container with the pepper and green onions.

After the jar was full, I put some brine in until all the veggies were covered. I closed that puppy up and put it in my pantry. Every day for a week, I opened it, stuffed the veggies back under the brine and put it away.

One day, my sister came over and I had her smell it. Kimchi she said! Then, I brought my husband in and had him taste it. He acted appalled that I was making him go first, but come on, we all know that old saying right? If I was trying to kill ya, you'd be dead already. SCORE! Kimchi! Now, I am in no way upholding this method or my ingredients as traditional Korean. I just think it is pretty darn cool that I made kimchi, which we happen to love around here. Next I'm trying yogurt.

Oh, sewing stuff? I'll show ya tomorrow!

2008-08-06T09:52:00.002-04:00

I've been busy at my sewing machine, but I think she might need a tune up. Every few stitches the machine sounds kinda clunky. But I don't wanna drop her off at the shop for a whole week! She (the machine) doesn't have a name, and I'm wondering if I want to go that route...hmmmmm.

I am almost finished with the Laugh quilt for the summer class over at Lazy Gal's blog. It's coming along and I decided to make it into a wall hanging. But, you know, I'm just not ga-ga over it. Usually when I'm not crazy about something I've made, I get it out of my sight, but I think I'll just keep on quilting (keep on quilting, keep on quilting...)

I don't have any pretty pictures to show right now. Need to charge up the camera. I have been working on lots of things like some applique onesies for a friend's new baby, a nightgown for dd, dishtowels for moi, mini quilt swap, quilt for dd. I received lots of fun new fabric that I had ordered and I am now getting to the point where it is getting tight in my fabric cabinet. That just means I have to sew faster, right????

I scored some really fun things at Goodwill the other day. The most cool was a yogurt maker that I have been eyeballing on amazon for awhile. I told myself I would get one if I ever saw one at Goodwill. Five dollars later, I was a happy girl. Watch out homemade yogurt, here I come! To go with the cheapo yogurt maker, I had to go to Barnes and Noble and get a fun book called Wild Fermentation to learn how to make the yogurt and various other fun things like kimchee and sauerkraut. But later, because right now my friends in the neighborhood have been incredibly generous with their lovely tomatoes and I am in a gazpacho mood. Tootles!

In the time of chimpanzees, I was a monkey...

2008-07-27T20:00:00.005-04:00

Anyone else love the nonsensicalness of Beck? What the heck is he talking about most of the time? I don't know, but I love it. I do get the whole chimp, monkey reference. I've got some anthropology degrees, had to learn all the scientific names and differences of those little buggers past and present. Chimps are a whole lot brighter than monkeys. For better or worse, chimps and humans share some interesting social and emotional qualities.

But the Beck reference, that's about being one step behind, and I understand that. I'm thinking specifically of my inability to show off stuff that I've made. In my head, I'm jumping around, waving my arms. But in reality, nope. What is that? Fear of rejection, right? I had a new friend come for a quick visit. She was hemming this great dress that she had made with piping and bias sleeve binding. Very nice! And instead of hauling her up to my studio and showing her my stuff, I demurely said "Yes, I sew a bit." Why didn't I scream "I LOVE to sew! I LOVE my sewing machine, come LOOK at all my goodies!" For some reason, it's harder to do that in person than it is online.

It's hard to let people in to see my creations. I've never had any artistic training, and very little sewing training for that matter. I took one sewing class while I was in college and the rest I taught myself through books and trial and error. I don't regret not having the art classes, but I wonder if art classes help one learn how to get the ideas out of one's head and into a medium. For example, that is a collage bit I have been working on for some time. It was fun painting and layering the background, but it's not easy visualizing where to go next. Quilting is a little bit easier for me. I don't mind trying things out and giving up on what doesn't work. Like for this little one for my July Triangle Mini Quilt swap:

This little quilt was so much fun to make. I originally had another layer of oranges in between the triangles, but it didn't work, so rip, rip, rip. Away it went. I hope the recipient enjoys it as much as I did. Happy Sunday night. Big bad Monday is right around the corner!

I'll Give You Paris in the Morning

2008-07-19T13:29:00.006-04:00

Do you see this? You know what this means right? One word- macaroons. Not the coconut, bumpy ones, but the Marie Antoinette beautifully colored gems of sugar. And sadly my pictures of the little beauties did not come out well. But they tasted good! Our European vacation turned out well with lots of pretty sights and food. As you can imagine, not much was going on in the creative department other than soaking it all in. Good stuff to soak in, eh?

It's always nice to come home after a long trip. Minus the laundry. I'm ready to whir away on the sewing machine. So many projects, so little free time.

And the rockets' red glare...

2008-07-04T22:35:00.006-04:00

Lookeee here at this eye candy! My new shoes! As I have gotten older and have less use for them, I find myself buying more heels, more snazzy, grown up shoes. It's been awhile since I bought some useful shoes. Well, except for running shoes. But that's a different animal altogether. These fun ones were love at first sight. And double bonus, when I got to the register, the cashier told me I would be getting a certificate good for buying MORE shoes for buying so many shoes! Ahahahahahaaaa (witch cackle). Really, I'm not that bad. It's taken me about 5 years to rack up that many points. And yes I've already worn them!

I did finish week 5 of the Star Quilt Along. I think these are turning out pretty well. It is nice to work on them week by week (never mind that I am about 7 weeks behind) and really concentrate on those points and triangles.

And I made this cute dress from a pattern I bought on YCMT. I think it is called the Faith dress. Easy and quick. It's for my husband's niece and it should fit her for quite a while.

Oh, and here is something great that I received in the mail from the June mini quilt swap. Ulla made it and it is so beautiful. It's hard to tell from my picture (skill I must improve), but she hand stitched stars on the yellow star and all over the inner blue. Each time I look at it, I think of the summer sky at night. The two mini quilts I have received have been so creative. Such a joy to share quilts with these great group members.

We've got some qt (quality time) family time coming up for a little over a week. Just realized I should have brought my machine in to be serviced since I won't be using it! Oh well. My mother in law told me she once went for about 10 years without getting hers serviced, so mine should be okay. I keep thinking I should give my machine a name, but I'm still trying to figure out her personality. Yep, definitely a she.

Happy 4th to everyone here in the US of A . Enjoy your many freedoms and remember what a tumultuous, exciting, fearful, yet hopeful time it must have been during the Declaration of Independence. Do ya think there's really a watermark map on the back of that thing (National Treasure reference)???? hahahaha.

Not Enough Time

2008-07-02T15:09:00.003-04:00

Does anyone remember INXS? I mean the REAL INXS? Not the one with the modelboy lead singer backed by leathery old men, but Michael Hutchence INXS? I went to see them once at a small venue when I was 15. I wore a blackflag tshirt to the concert. Wonder where that thing went...anyhoo, that is how I've been feeling-not enough time, those lyrics. I think I've been running around like a caged cheetah trying to get to all of the things life has on my plate. And then I realized how little living I have been doing in the midst of all this running around, busy business. I like the satisfaction of finishing projects. But for some reason, I pile so many projects on that I can't complete them all. Last week in the midst of life, I managed to finish a cute little dress for my husband's niece and my FIRST pair of pants. Whew, those pants are hard to do and I still need to tweak the fit. Sewing clothes for myself is hard. Not like quilts-where I can visualize the problems in my head and fix them.

So how does anyone do it? Be the mom, the wife, the chauffeur, the blahdy blah and still manage to fit in time to create? Creating is important to me. Necessary even. I think this most be an age old question with few answers. Kids do have a way of not adhering to the schedule imagined...Next post, pictures and hopefully a brighter attitude. A happy thought - the sewing machine is just a room away...

The Questions

2008-06-15T15:40:00.001-04:00

The Questions
Originally uploaded by Rae4beach

Here are the questions which I saw on this cool blog: http://www.dontcallmebecky.com/
The Questions:

What is your first name?
What is your favorite food?
What high school did you go to?
What is your favorite color?
Who is your celebrity crush?
Favorite drink?
Dream vacation?
Favorite dessert?
What you want to be when you grow up?
What do you love most in life?
One Word to describe you.
Your flickr name.

Happy Father's Day all.

Weekend! Stars alive!

2008-06-14T07:53:00.008-04:00

Wohoo, weekend! Which I would like to think means "lots o sewing."

But nah, other commitments this weekend, including father's day! We want to do a crab boil. So I need to mosey on over to the seafood market and see if they have enough. This week, I only got 2 stars done in the Star quilt a long. And I also started a pair of black knit capris. Because I've always wanted to try sewing knit, and now I will Make It So. Sewing for myself is a tricky business. I have about 3 different adjustments that should get made, but I have a difficult time doing so. I think I just need to practice, but it gets hard for me to make practice clothing in cheapo fabric when what I REALLY want to do is whip together some cool thing and get on with it. Which is why I like quilting. Cut, sew, iron, arrange. Have a great weekend.

All These Things That I've Done...

2008-06-10T06:45:00.005-04:00

One day, this creature that I created popped up on my sewing machine. "Mom, his tail is broken. Can you fix it please?" is what I heard.

It's a fleece monkey and all of his seams stayed intact for 5 years. Holy cow! Five years! I made 3 others for cousins and I wonder how they are holding up or if they have been relegated to the back of the closet. I think monkey ended up on the floor already. So that was a little aside of things that can be done. and I even did the mending by hand. Have I mentioned that I am an AWFUL hand sewer? I have a nice sashiko kit that I like to work on in the car. Luckily, the stitching lines are printed on the fabric. And that is the only way I can do some nice stitches.

I woke up at the crack of dawn today...for no good reason. Just did. This has been happening with some regularity lately, and I must say I would rather just be sleeping. But I wasn't so I worked on star quilt along week 2. The triangles were a bit more difficult this time, but I'm chalking it up to tired. And the block isn't wonky, just my picture taking abilities. That is next on the 'skills I must acquire' list. I'm perfectly capable of taking photos of people, just not things. Well, happy Tuesday. Hope your place isn't as hot as ours. Even the pool feels like a bathtub already!

When the Stars go Blue....

2008-06-09T08:46:00.011-04:00

I did it! I got started on the star quilt along! I am planning on making a quilt out of these great stars, so I just need to chug along. I remembered about triangles doing this quilt-precision work. I'm glad the quilt along is one star at a time. Easier to concentrate that way on the points and things.

I've made a full size quilt with lots of half square triangles in the past-for that one I used a plastic template that worked out great. I got it at G Street Fabrics many moons ago.

I made a little WIP list to get done for last week. I got 4/5 done. Not too shabby. The one left is the dad's day gift. Really, it's very small because it will be accompanying some single malt scotch probably. Or some other fun party type drink thing. No ties over here!~

I did receive some lovely goodies from a recent work trip by said dad. Super fun, cute stuff. Here's a little bit of it...I really like the cats' eyes on the stamps. I don't have cats anymore, so this is a good reminder of those funny things. I wish I knew what that Halloween witch with the slash through it meant! No witches, I imagine. And this little white thing on the left is a washcloth! How fun is that? Funky smiling monsters and leaves! I really enjoy all the unique whimsy that seems different from normal run of the mill kid stuff. The dd is trying to make some shrinky dinks with the stamp images, but I wonder if they will come out Lilliputian size. I'm trying to think of fun things to do with the shrinky dink stuff myself. Maybe some olivethebeach keychains? Hmmmm...It's hot here, so guess we're off to the pool to cool off. Cheerio.

Crazy Weekends

2008-06-07T13:37:00.007-04:00

If I our weekend had a sound, it would be one of those old record players on the "high" setting, an unintelligible warbling. Seriously, when did it get so busy with kids? The end of the year stuff is in high gear with parties here, rehearsals there, meetings, meetings everywhere. Amidst all the other daily boring things like exercise, cleaning, laundry. And did I mention it is super hot right now? Luckily, I got a few hours yesterday to steal away into the studio. Of course, for much of the time I was accompanied by a small whiner who was not appeased by Miss Spider, Little Bill, or Wonder Pets. Still, I did manage to finish a super cute pillowcase dress for a super cute little 2 year old. How fun is it to watch little kids who get bored opening presents? Or toss aside the ones that are completely not interesting to them...like above dress!

I received my main fabrics for the star quilt along over at Crazymomquilts from Fabric.com. As you can see, I am not even caught up. But I will be soon. I just need a chunk of time without any whining, laundry, or strange requests (Mom, can I use the plastic wrap and some dried beans?) I've got some other blues that will be great in the star quilt. I have a thing for blue, really I do. It all goes with that ocean thing I've got. Which gets me thinking, it's been way to long since I was at the beach...I do a lot of creative thinking at the beach. And swimming, sunning, reading, building sand castles. I wonder if the lucky dogs who live at the beach go every day like I think I would. Well, I'd love to hear what you're working on, so leave a comment!

Cutting to the chase about sugar

2008-06-01T23:39:00.003-04:00

Lookie there! Something new I finally posted on Etsy because finally I could upload pics. Maybe it wasn't my computer after all...

Well, the new studio is a blessing. I say that before delving into my usual half-empty glass shtick. I walked into it today, after a "Happy Birthday Nana" afternoon and wanted to shut the door and wish upon a star. My husband will be shaking his head knowingly. As in knowing that I have a hard time not starting umpteen projects simultaneously and then having them spread all over the room. Sigh. These aren't the plans in my head!!!!

I was so overcome with sugar fatigue (from aforementioned cake) that I decided to take the night off from sewing and crafting. Just to get my head in order, I said to myself. Because right now, I just don't know where to begin. It's a giant puzzle. Do I start the new projects to beautify my space and inspire my mind, or do I just get things put away and go nice and slow with the "inspiration"? The practical part of myself just reminded me that this is a non-issue. There are far more important things in the world, so get in there and get it cleaned up! I do realize that having so many projects going on at one time may be a way to slow myself down and not really look at what type of quilting/sewing/crafting business I want to get into because of fear. Yep, I might be a tired mom, but I got that whole self reflection thing down pat.

Speaking of tired and that yummy birthday cake I had today, my BF gave me one of those sentences that she often gives. The kind that reminds me how dang long she has known me. Is freakin' forever an adequate description? I called her on my ride home and was jabbering her ear off when she said, very politely, "Did you have a big piece of cake today at your mom's?" I cracked up inside. She continued "Because you sound kind of like when you use to drink all those cokes. You know, all funny and witty." My mind flopped over and I think I actually said (and happily thought) "Maybe I should start drinking those again!" And she immediately replied, "Noooo, no because those are bad for you. Those are not good for you." And she meant me specifically. Because coke the drink does get me all crazed, like I'm on an all day coke-acoaster. If they had a Coke drinker's Anonymous, I would have to be there. Why? Because I have the superwoman ability to drink a 2 liter in less than 2 hours. I kid you not. Not just drink it, but enjoy it. Each and every sweet, cold, carbonated sip. It ain't the cocoa bean so much for me folks, it's the coke on ice!

Unfortunately, due to some uncomfortable physical reactions, I had to give up coke and it's sugar. While I love coke, it doesn't love me. It's taken me this long in my life to see what sugar does to me. And it ain't purty. But sounds like, at least according to my BF, it's at least funny. And that is the sad thing about being a tired mom. The funny, witty part of me makes rare appearances. There is hope, I am sure. Hope without the cold coca cola.

Have a good Monday. Cause you know, Mondays generally suck. Unless you're looking down a sweating glass of iced coke. But I'm not and I won't. Really.

Mini Quilt Time!

2008-06-01T07:05:00.004-04:00

Happy Dance! That is what I did when the picture came up on the blog because I have been having serious problems uploading here and etsy, and occassionally flickr. Actually, I thought about doing a happy dance, but let's be honest, A.M. Sunday morning and I'm still in bed.

This mini quilt (whose size I now don't remember but is around 8" x 8") is for my swap partner over at the mini quilt swap group on flickr. Love it! I received mine from Taylynnsbean. She made this great mermaid dolphin quilt and handquilted it! Which is fabulous because when anyone asks if I handquilt, I cackle like a halloween witch on halloween. I tried it once and was utterly disgusted with my stitches and the whole time factor.

You may have noticed that the Jane Sassaman fabric (funky yellow, blue, green one) is making quite an appearance lately. Well, I'm almost out of that stuff. I will be sad when it is gone. Internet searches have not turned up anything. I know I'm supposed to buy yards of a fabric I love, but honestly, until I use it, I don't know that I love it. And with that one, it took me awhile to start some projects in which it would be fun and not overwhelming.

Since my friend KB laughed about my mommyhood comment the other day (and I do love a good laugh, though not usually at my own expense), I'll tell you another good "mommy needs more sleep and is not thinking correctly" story: It's hot here now, summer hot. Which means air conditioning in the car hot. I put on the air in our old car that still gets great gas mileage, and it felt lukewarm, not cool, and definitely not cold. Thinking hmmmmm, about our longish morning school commute, I drive straightaway to the place near the house where I get the oil changed. I drive up and tell the guy that my air isn't working well, maybe not at all. He sticks his hand over the vent and tells me they only recharge air and he wouldn't recommend it since that might not be the problem and it costs $100. Random hunge on something that might not work? I think not. So, I drive off wondering where I could take it and I hear this little, peep of a voice in my head that whispers "is the air really on?" So I look down, and whaddya know, NOPE! Air is not even ON. Good thing I didn't even get out of the car at the oil change place. I wouldn't have been able to go there anymore!

Have a good Sunday.

Lazy Gal Class and other fun stuff!

2008-05-27T18:54:00.002-04:00

Lazy Gal Class
Originally uploaded by Rae4beach

I know it looks like I've got multiple personalities and blog entries going on today, but really I don't. I am having a problem uploading photos to blogger and until the hubby can help me out, I'm doing this from flickr!

So, WIPs! And not the Indiana Jones kind either. I've got WIPs going on! First off, I've been lucky enough to join LazyGal's summer quilting class. We'll be working on repetition. Here's what I've got so far (up there). I blogged about it on the aforementioned Lazy Gal site. Intentions, ideas, intrigue! For me, anyway...

And I've joined the Mini Quilt swap on Flickr. Yup yup. When my swapee gets her mini quilt, I'll post pics. I really enjoyed making the little thing and it's quite fun if I do say so myself. The binding gave me a quilting headache. I tried to use an itsy bitsy 1/2" binding. Not so good. I tore the whole thing off and started anew and gave up on the teensy weensy mitered corners.

I'm hoping that these new group endeavors will help me be a bit more regular in my STUDIO. Aha! I now have my OWN studio!!!!! That just sounds great. I'll leave on that note. Have a good one.

It's been a month?????

2008-05-27T18:46:00.001-04:00

Chair nook
Originally uploaded by Rae4beach

Really, where does the time go? I really thought it had been only about 2 weeks since I posted. Guess not! I've had what could be called a studio windfall. My husband has officially moved his home office (which shared a space with the craft room) to another room. I can hardly believe my good fortune and the good humor of the hubby (in this matter anyway). Seems he is just as tired of threads, fabric scraps, and straight pins littering the floor as I am of office detritus. Now, I gave him about a day to change his mind, and when he didn't, I promptly moved my sewing machine to the part of the room that has these awesome spotlights. And I scored this comfy chair and turned the nook (where I use to sew) into a cozy reading spot for me and the kidlets.

I also put up a rudimentary design board-just some white felt and black ribbon. I've got big plans for this space in my head! Well, not the SPACE in my HEAD, but in my head, there are big plans for this space. Whew, mommying can take a toll on communication.

Love the Weekend

2008-04-26T19:45:00.008-04:00

Sometimes I build too much expectation into the weekend. I have a running list in my head of things I will FINALLY get done. Some are mundane: laundry folded, winter clothes put away, drawers organized. Some are much more creative: starting a new quilt, contemplating quilt designs, reading magazines, making nightgowns. Alas, those creative things just didn't get done today. But I did finish a pillowcase dress this week for a friend to give as a gift! Score! And a minky baby blanket. Score! I love when I get the unexpected few hours of crafty sew time, but it just didn't happen today. Maybe tomorrow.

How lovely is that clematis? It's actually two that I bought at the end of a season when each had one pitiful bloom and looked as though it would be potbound for life. Sometimes finds from that bargain plant rack work out! We spent some time last weekend cleaning out part of our yard and planting some baby hostas that just cropped up. It's nice to have consistent spring weather. That also means, it's time to plant a few more things.

In a technique vein, I never did figure out how to use the simple binder foot. It may be making its way over to ebay. Pinning the binding around the armholes seems much easier than fiddling with that attachment foot. I still am curious about the binder foot for quilting. I will say that those little Clover binders are great! So much better than practically burning my fingers with a hot iron. My aloe plant fears for it's little life around here.

Have a great weekend.

One of those days...

2008-04-15T21:05:00.005-04:00

You know the kind of day I'm talking about. Wake up late. Forgotten lunch boxes. Extra trips to school. Skipped workouts. An afternoon of running around. Dinner not quite working out. Laundry to be folded. It smacks of "beer time." Sam Adams Summer Ale.

But Tuesday night is always a good crafty night for me. I just don't have a lot of umph in me right now, so I'm going to tackle the photos. Really. Because I bought this cool album and set of precut papers and this is all it will take to make an album:

Yes! That's it! It's an album with slots for these cool papers and photos. Kinda like cheating, but you know, it's still a scrapbook. Ah, simplicity just when I need it. I posted an item on my Etsy shop. I'm off to a slow start, but a start none the less.

Super relaxing weekend

2008-04-13T21:59:00.009-04:00

Here's the turquoise quilty! How nice is that batik that has been hanging around my stash for over a year, waiting to be used? I quilted some crazy folk artish circles in each of the colored squares and then, using the walking foot and guide, quilted some spiraling blocks. The back and binding are the same as the batik. I do love a spotted fabric too.

This weekend we had a First Birthday party to attend. I decided to make a little pillowcase dress for Miss Birthday girl. I practiced and made a little nightgown, which turned out, well, eh, not so great. I made self binding for the arm and tried to use my simple binder foot. That was sort of a disaster, but not entirely. Does anyone have any hints about using that thing on armholes? It seems to do fine on a straight run, but I couldn't figure out how to make it work for the curves. I gave up and just applied the binding to the armhole using lotso pins. I was intrigued by the idea of using a binder foot for a quilt. I might go to my LQS and have a look see at the binding feet options.

It's back to the grind tomorrow, after a lovely spring day today. We're supposed to get a "freeze" this week, which I am dreading. My plants are coming up! The clematis has 3 blooms on it! Hold on there, flowers, don't get too cold! Time to contemplate my next quilt. Perhaps a snowball quilt? Hmmmm. Probably, a more likely venture will be to sew down my stash. I love the thought of turning all that pretty fabric into something fun and useful. Enjoy the flowers.

Quilt Picture!

2008-04-09T22:03:00.006-04:00

I made this quilt for my bf's baby back in December. I was so excited to give it to her, I totally forgot to take pictures of it! No worries, I knew I would get pics from her. She thinks it took her a long time to get around to it-ha! That is called "on momma time." There is nothing like a baby to get down to basic priorities. There are more pics of it on my flickr page.

I was also excited because I knew how much my bf would appreciate the quilt. She's a painterly type artist and has been ultra-supportive and engaging about my quilting and sewing. Sewing this quilt was a calm, joyful experience...and I did it on a deadline! I hope baby enjoys it for a long time.

I had a very productive spring break last week. I was on a scrapbook kick, after going to a scrap at a friend's house. I sorted through 3 years of photos and made probably 15 pages. I will finish! I did realize after about 14 pages that I was toast and had to put it all away for a little while. Most of those pages are verrry simple. But done.

I also finished the turquoise quilty! And tomorrow, pictures. My picture system is a bit tedious.

And I finished a sushi apron...pictures...you got it...tomorrow.

So, a few of my favorite things...British colloquialisms...such as: going to hell in a handcart; billy two sheds; wanker; daft as a brush; shanks pony;sticky wicket...

Tata.

2008-03-29T21:22:00.000-04:00

Here is some of my space! These cabinets were already installed in the room when we bought the house, what a bonus for me! And those cabinets and drawers are full of crafty items. I'm almost done with the turquoise quilt. Just working on the binding now. I'm trying a new method to machine sew the entire binding on, not just one side. I'll let you know how that goes. I am a terrible hand sewer. Although, strangely, I do enjoy sashiko.

I've had some productive craft days lately, but the laundry has fallen by the wayside. A friend had a scrapbook night at her house and I completed 4 pages there, and another 4 pages the next day at home. Making headway! Once all these hard copy photos are in scrapbooks, I'm going digital.

Mother Nature gave us a bit of cold weather back this weekend. What's up with that? My clematis is snaking up the trellis and I sure hope it isn't affected by this cold snap. I'm patiently waiting to throw out some cosmos seeds.

Since it's college basketball playoffs, I'm off to sew and let the husby have his time with the tv.

All That Jazz

2008-03-27T09:52:00.000-04:00

Here we are: a pic of quilty in progress. I am enjoying the colors and feel calmed by them each time I work on it. The turquoise is a nice batik bought some time ago. I've also used it for the backing and binding, which is patiently waiting for me on my craft table. As always, I have many, many ideas percolating in my head. I hesitate to make a master list of ideas or wips because I don't want to feel overwhelmed by my crafties! It is a relaxing hobby and it should stay as such, right?

As I folded clothes this morning and listened to an All Things Considered podcast (bless you ITunes), the interviewee mentioned that sisterhood is powerful. "Duh!" I thought in my head. So, in gratitude, thank you to all my friends out there, each of whom inspires me and makes me laugh and gives me warm fuzzies when I think of you. Enjoy the spring.