Progress (of a sort) {WIP}

I know you are all on the edge of your seats, waiting for me to tell you how I am doing on my list (see last week for details)

First, I need to say, I could have done better. I am in Tennessee/Alabama for the next week and I did not bring my sewing machine. There was no room in the truck (I was also a teensy bit embarrassed to be seen loading up my machine). It is all good because I told the editor of a journal I would have an article finished by the end of April. So, I am writing about archaeology in the evenings (except right now I am blogging... dedication). Don't get jealous. Also, the work is hot and hard... I am tired. I am so full of excuses.

My List (excluding the things I have to finished):

1.) I got my bear block and associated fabrics ready to mail. This will go out next week (as I am away this week).

2.) My embroidery project is almost done. I am posting no pictures here because I want it to be a surprise.

3.) No progress on the whitewashed quilt.

4.) No progress on the voile infinity scarf (as predicted).

5.) I printed the template for my Make it Modern block. Is it fair to ask them to paper piece something? Thoughts? Anyone from Make it Modern reading this?

6.) Baby Quilt. I am proud to announce that I have made serious progress on this task. In my typically intelligent way, I decided to make this quilt out of 3.5" (finished) half square triangles. I made this decision because, I wanted to experiment with some half squared triangle papers I got from the free table at Sew South. Yup. Just for future reference, that is a lot of sewing. They come together really quickly with the papers, but all of those little squares need to be sewn together.

Le sigh.

It looks good though. The nursery is going to be decorated with orange, green, and blue. All the fabrics are from my stash. I think I nailed it.

Last point, I went to the Triangle Modern Quilt Guild meeting on Sunday. It was pretty fun. I will admit it was hard for me to go (I am actually a little shy). When I got there, there were people I knew! Yay for friends! It was nice to see them! I think I may have also made some new friends. I think I will be going back.

Thanks for reading friends! You are looking good!

xoxo

Work in Progress: My List

I have been sewing so much these past weeks friends. I think Sew South totally got my creative juices flowing.

One problem.

I may have bitten off a titch more that I could handle. Put another way, my commitments are threatening to make me crazy. Earlier this month, on Instagram (follow me @stitchingandbacon, I am hilarious) my friend Susannah Kate expressed a similar overwhelmed sentiment and suggested the folks on IG informally commit to using April to get works in progress done (check out #aprilwip). I interpreted this to mean that I needed to tackle my list.

By the way, I had not actually written this list down. Now, I am putting fingers to key board and keeping myself honest letting you know how my list is going.

Projects:

1.) April Blocks for Make it Modern. Done. Going in the mail tomorrow.

2.) Pouch for Paula. I made my father-in-laws girlfriend a pouch for Christmas that I thought would be easy for her to use for her rheumatoid arthritis (easy to carry and open and close). She loved it, told me it was ideal and that she has trouble finding things that work (um, I almost cried from happiness). Then she offered to pay me to make her another. Ha! As if I would let her pay me, she is totally family. Her birthday is this month though, so I made her another (terrible picture alert). Done. Going in the mail tomorrow.

3.) I accidentally (totally on purpose) signed up for a post-Sew South swap. Got to extend the experience, right? I made this little purse for my secret partner (Noodlehead pattern, which I totally recommend). I am so excited for her to get this! Done.

4.) We started a little medallion thingy. More on this later, but I had to make the center of my medallion and I like bears. I know it is a little hard to see what direction this is headed in, but trust me, it is going to be, wait for it.... legendary.

5.) I am doing a little swap with Susannah Kate and I need to finish my end of the deal. She already sent me this awesome ring. I am doing embroidery, which takes me forever. Slow and steady.

6.) My white washed quilt, which is an experiment in minimalism for me. Slow progress here.

7.) I told my mom I would make her a voile infinity scarf. A 10 minute project that I have all of the supplies for and have not even started. Unlikely to work on this for a bit.

8.) My coworker and his wife are having a much anticipated first baby and I need to make them a little quilt before the shower on May 4th. Pulled fabric.

9.) May is my month for Make it Modern. I need to demo the block for the group before May. Unlikely to work on this for a bit.

That's enough right? Oh, btw, I am going out of town for 10 days starting next Monday. Mwhahaha. I may have to let some things go my friends.

Final note. I am going to the Triangle Modern Quilt Guild meeting this Sunday. At least, I am going to try. Schedule cleared. I am building up my courage.... (I am pretty shy in real life).

Actually Unpacking from Sew South

It took me awhile to unpack from Sew South. Partially because there was so much stuff, partially because putting stuff away meant it was all over.

I know that blog posts talking about tons of awesome free swag are a little annoying. I will try to keep this short. I just need to show you some pretty fabric and pattern photos. You understand, right?

 So I made some pretties. That duffle bag has already gone on two trips so far!

Max loves the duffle too. As soon as I took the stuff out, he hopped right in.

We had a secret sister swap and it was so much fun! I had a blast sneaking little gifts to my sewing sister. Then, at the end of the weekend we found out we had each other! I got a clutch purse frame (I am addicted to these now), zippers, a miraculous add-a-quarter ruler, a key chain, some swanky thread, wash tape, and the cutest tote bag which I have been traveling with for two weeks.  Not pictured, a bunch of tasty dark chocolate and yogurt (maybe not around to be photographed). Shockingly, I did not take a single picture of the gifts I made her. They were cute though.

Then... we had a sample swap. I made four little zippy pouches and then we divided into groups of five and I traded for these pretties. I love them all so much friends!

There were door prizes all weekend and I won this little print from Pen & Paint.

At the end of the weekend, Jennifer told us that she had a surprise for us. Then she opened the doors and these carts of giant bags were there, full of presents! It was a very Oprah moment. Patterns, fabric, notions, batting, books, and magazines!

Fabric from Windam, Joanns, Andover, Birch (Fabricworm), Moda, Michael Miller, Art Gallery, Alison Glass, and labels from Spoonflower.

 Coats and Clark thread and zipper (in this adorable tin), Aurifil, and Dritz pins, cutter, and mat.

Modern Quilts from the Blogging Universe (from Martingale, I actually won this on the field trip), Block Party: The Modern Quilting Bee (from Stash Books), Modern Patchwork and Generation Q magazines.

Patterns from Green Bee, Straight Stitch Society, My Favorite Things, Kati Cupcake, Kwik Sew (for our pajama pants, which I have not finished), and Studio Cherie (for the duffle bag)

I don't have a picture of my fancy washi tape from Downtown Tape or my sugar scrub from Old Red Barn Co. Other sponsors include The Warm Company, Pellon, Oliso (for the irons we used during the retreat), We're So Creative (where we shopped in Charlotte, awesome store), While Baby Naps donated the frames for our purses, Brandy Lynn's donated the graphic design, Free Spirit, Rowan, Ty Pennington Impressions, Fat Quarter Shop, Havel's Sewing, Rachel Gresham Designs, The Intrepid Thread, and Swatch Buddies.

Thank you Jennifer! Thank you sponsors!

Mental Unpacking from Sew South

I started quilting a little over a year ago.

I started this blog about six months ago. I became obsessed with blog reading, so I decided to start writing my own. Mostly, I wanted to participate in the conversation with other bloggers. I loved the sense of community on the internet. I still love the conversations we all have on the internet. Talking with people on Flickr, Instagram, and on blogs makes me so happy. Seriously, my heart sings every time I get a comment.

But, occasionally the internet is not enough. Sometimes, you need need to be there. You need to be in a room full of people belly laughing and you need to give and receive. It is truly good for the soul to make new friends.

Sew South was a weekend of laughing, hugging, wine drinking, crying (yup), fabric play, and even some serious learning.

We paper pieced, made a duffle (oh that duffle, please ask me about it if you are contemplating starting this project, I have tips, also thank you Lindsay), pajama pants (mine did not get finished, hehe), and an amazing clutch purse.

Jennifer and Diane

We swapped.

We giggled.

Hey Christine!

In that room no one was isolated. No one was alone. We may sew alone everyday at home, but for this weekend we were together. I think I was truly more "me" this past weekend than I am with anyone but my husband.


It is was a room full of seamstresses (sewists? artists?). A room full of people taking care of each other.

Leah Day

Saying goodbye was emotional. It was hard to leave. There was crying... I am making Sew South sound like some sort of therapy session. In a way, it was. But, mostly it was about sewing and about being relaxed in the company of your 50 new best friends.

I went home full of inspiration and plans to spend time with my new friends.

Amy, Paige, Susannah Kate, Me, Robyn, Chrissy, Christine

Thank you Jennifer. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Jennifer and I

This is just my first post, I think I am going to write another one to talk about my loot! To be continued with physically unpacking...

xoxo

Back from Sew South

Hi friends!

I just got back from Sew South here in North Carolina. I am going to write a blog post (or two) about this weekend, but I am still digesting it now. I am not even sure I could write about this weekend now.

It. was. amazing.

For now, I give you this picture... That happened. No fingers were harmed.

I am also staking a claim on this blog in Bloglovin.

R.I.P. Google Reader, it's been real.

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Travel Stashing [Sunday Stash]

I returned from Portland on Saturday and I wanted to share some of the precious fabric I bought in PDX. 

Okay, so Portland has this thriving crafting community. I passed more yarn stores in this city than I really think most cities of any size could support. The fabric stores made me so happy! We were carrying on our luggage so I tried to only buy unique or special fabrics... umm.. mostly. 

I met up with my friend Janelle, who is also a quilter (squee!) and has known me since I was an awkward freshman in high school. We went to Bolt first. I fell in love with this store and it is just packed with fabric. I mean seriously amazing. A pretty fair range of linens, quilting cottons, home dec cottons, and some garment stuff too. Also, clearly, their buyer has my sense of style.

I got some Japanese linen fabric and a couple of fat quarters that made me smile.

Then I dragged my friend Janelle to Cool Cottons (and my husband, incidentally, guess who was less excited). This store is seriously a quilter's paradise. Also, they seem to still have some out of print lines. Hello Heather Ross, I have missed you.

The Japanese selection was most definitely the highlight. I am a sucker for misspellings on anything (professionally) made. Naturally, I had to buy these Japanese fabrics. Um, 10 points if you find the mistake in the English. Double pat on the back if you see the mistake in the German.

You see, my husband is studying German history, speaks German, and has lived in Germany. He needed this fabric (he would tell me, he did not need this fabric). It is also super politically incorrect. That child with the feathers in her hair, umm, Native American? 

This is my first time linking up to Sunday Stash on Finding Fifth, hosted by Pretty Bobbins. If you are new to my little space, welcome, thanks for visiting, nice to meet you. 

xoxo,
Sarah

A Finished Hedgehog.

This winter I got a precious new laptop. It is beautiful and sleek and light and fast and everything a laptop should be.

Now, a new laptop needs a new case. Clearly.

This case based on a pattern by Elizabeth Hartman on the Sew Mama Sew website. Can I say how much I like the tutorials from Sew Mama Sew? You guys are rock stars. The pattern is super easy to modify for any laptop (or tablet presumably).

I got the free paper piecing pattern pattern from Artisania. The fabric is an assortment of low volume scraps from my stash and solids. The main body is yarn-dyed essex. Obviously, I had to give him a little eye with a french knot.

I am in love. Swoon.