Summin' up a year of projects...

It didn't feel like I got much done this past year, but here is the sewing version of my year's worth...

Not to bad :)  I'm happy with it!

And the big project of the year, that was mostly non-sewing related (however, quite a bit involved sewing now that I think about it)...

...it's definitely the most fun too!  Thinking of doing it again, to an Airstream this time!  That'll keep me busy for a few months ;).  On to 2013 and lots more fun!!!

Defined...

I love old books- seriously, I have no reason, I just LOVE them. I love the stories they tell- especially children's book, and I love thinking about who read them when they were new. Thrifting is a great way for me to find these fun treasures. I found a wonderful book a bit ago and thought I would share it. It's a children's dictionary, and the definitions and illustrations are wonderful!

The word "lazy" sold me- I guess some days I'd like to be lazy, but I can't remember the last time I had a chance to be :).

Then there was "sewing" - so sweet.

It's full of charm and delightful words like these :)

My entry and confusion...

I'm linking up with Lynne's small blog meet today!

Been busy working on the RV, getting it ready for the first journey :) Planning more curtains and bed coverings, etc!! Still looking for that perfect, thick fabric :) Here's hoping - and within the budget! hehe!

Made an entry for the Moda Sliced competition- only to realize that I think I was an hour late because I got my time zones messed up!!! I have cried and cried!! Horrors! I NEVER mess them up- that's my hubby's job, and I always correct him. Unfortunately, when it counted, I got it all skee-wam-pust! So I am praying that the quilt fairies smile down on me and a miracle happens and I can be evaluated for the contest. If nothing else, I am praying that someone will at least tell me what they thought of my entry. I created BOOK END FRIENDS :) Quilted, cute, wood 2x8 filled book ends, with an adjustable strap to expand or decrease with the books they hold. Batting, Moda fabric, and a buckle were the required items. I couldn't think of anything ingenious to enter until hours before the end. Inspiration hit and I worked like a mad woman to finish. So we'll see what happens- there are some amazing entries!!

A picture many be worth a thousand words, but a book is definitely worth a thousand pictures! Thus the "worth 1000" and the teensy pieced Polaroid pictures. Very me!! Here are my book end friends :)

Have a marvelous weekend, filled with SUNSHINE!!!

A Few in Progress :)

I have a few more quilt tops in progress- one for a teacher and one for a kiddo :) Here's the one for the teacher- using Miss Amanda's amazing fabric!! Delighted! It's all ready to be sewn together.

And here's the one for the kiddo :) The fabrics were all per request. The backing is the block center. I'm making Miss Fiesty Eily's Hello Pickles pattern and can hardly wait to get the other half of the squares pieced! The half I have to do have Ash in the middle and then the colors in pieces around the center. I'ts gonna be sooooo cool :) Hoping to steal a few minutes soon to work on this again!

More soon...

Off I go!

The Sewing Summit or BUST!! :)

I have been so excited for this for over 8 months now!! I can hardly believe it's here. I have my stack of things to take, my schedule of "extra-curricular activites", and hopefully a Google doc bookmark in my iphone to help me figure out what I'm doing once I get there :). I am scared, hoping that all these amazing people I know will soon be called my friends. I am nervous because I don't know if I know enough to be in their ballparks! I am giddy to meet these amazing crafters. I am thrilled to attend the classes and learn from these people! I am looking forward to visitng and talking and dining with these lovely ladies! I hope to come home knowing so much more and full of insight and ways to put things into action that are buzzing around in my head :). I heart sewing and creating and this will be the ultimate experience, in my mind! What a way to spend a few days- surrounded by inspiration, enthusiasm, ideas, and dear friends :). Gotta make one last thing- a notebook cover, then I'll be ready! So Fun, ready or not, here I come! I am from the South, so I hope these ladies like hugs!!

Warm Cool quilt along and Zig Zag updates...

I have all my hst's finally sewed, trimmed, ironed, and ready to lay out for the official "design" of the quilt. Just to find time when there is floor space and time enough to do it now :) I am going with a centered diamond pattern, so it should go together very quickly. I am nervous about making sure they all get sewed the right way once I put them in rows- I will have to be very precise in my stacking :).

Then my zigs and zags are getting sewn and pieced together with the solid Kona basil. It is looking pretty schnazzy! When I get the first row done, I promise a photo :) Lots going and lots in the works!

Kermit's Path starts to look like a path :)

Miss Angela, over at http://cuttopieces.blogspot.com, has dubbed my version of her Zig Zag Quilt Along, Kermit's Path. And it finally started looking like a path yesterday! :) Yipee! I spent most of the day, that wasn't filled with kiddos and family, ironing, sewing, and ironing more :) I wound up with 20 "paths" of the same fabrics and 8 "paths" with different fabrics on either side of my Kona Basil. I worked out a really cute layout for it and am itching to see it laid out. BUT we gotta make cuts first and sew and iron more before the laying-it-out stage hits :) I'm trying so hard to be patient! Working on my other bazillion projects should keep me busy- HA!! Here's a few of my favorite "paths" to give you an idea of the Basil- I think I am gonna just go ga-ga over how it looks all put together! I am soooo going to love the darker backgroud :)

I have also been working on my folding- another one of Angela's amazing tutorials! It is easy, I just am really slow. I don't know why but I am not too lickety-split at it :) As long as it looks lovely like this, I am good :). Look at that Kona rainbow--Drool!!

Exercise can kill you...

That's why I just simply don't do it :) HA!! Well, in moderation, exercise is a very good thing, and I need to be better. It's that whole "the kiddos keep me too busy", "I sew during my exercise time", "I hate running" thing :)!!

Growing up, I danced- lots. And I adore dancing still, but over the years I have tried to find some other alternatives to help keep me in shape. Running is NOT an option. Actually, I hate it- there are not many things in life that I will claim to hate, but unfortunately, running is one of them. I like walking, but in the mountains, in over a foot of snow all winter, it doesn't work. And summer gets too dang hot :) hehe! Excuses, excuses, I know :). I like my elliptical, but it fades in time too.

So the one thing that has kept me going- that I started back up today (after our mini vacations in so many rows) is Yoga! I LOVE the stuff! I have many DVDs but my favorite instructor for "my" style is Susanne Deason. I love Amazon too- that's where I buy all her stuff :). So it's a win-win. I get exercise and Amazon makes money.

Today I tried a new DVD and it was a hit! (And no, you will not get a picture of me in my yoga outfit :). )So back on the exercise train I go- and I will create time to sew!! :)

Binding!!

I worked all day today free motion quilting squares- more and more huge squares on my Bottled Rainbow quilt! And I LOVE it- oh, so much better than the loops ever dreamed of being :)! Yipee! It was worth unpicking for over 8 hours to be able to quilt it in lines. And it was my first line project too. I really like the look. I got the binding cut, sewn and stitched on the front. Now to pin the back and hand sew away :)!! hehe! I'll be busy tomorrow!
I can hardly wait to put in the the wash and watch it come out crinkly :)!! Oh, I have a hard time being patient! It will be worth the work- the colors just make me smile, and the Kona Ash with the lines on it look great! So excited!

Then I'll be on to my next project- or several at one time, probably :) Here's how my first block of 36, it was 3 a month, not 1, HA!, turned out. I love the Pink-ness! Going to be so much fun seeing all the pink in this one :)

That's my progress at the moment- wait a day or two and I'll have FINISHED Bottled Rainbow pictures- woot, woot!! :)