Life is Full of Twists and Turns [WIP]

I like these little Wednesday posts. It gives me a chance to assess where I am in my projects and my bees.

This week, I am on the road for work in northeastern North Carolina. It is hard to be away from my sewing machine when I travel for work. I am sad I do not have much to show you all. Sometimes, when I am gone for longer trips, I bring my sewing stuff. This trip is only 5 days. Sigh...

I also really have to work in the evenings. Double sigh...

I get to work here though. Worth it?

I am doing some hotel room hand stitching to get my Stars Align quilt binding done. Pictures will be here next week, I promise. If you follow me on instagram you have already been photo bombed with pictures of this quilt (follow me at stitchingandbacon). It is awesome cuddle under this little quilt in my hotel room.

Mostly, I have been grappling with some non-sewing news.

This blog is called Stitching and Bacon. I chose this name because I feel that bacon is a metaphor for treating yourself. Also, I like bacon. My husband and I cure our own bacon. I live in North Carolina, this is a pork state!

A week ago from Thursday, I found out I was allergic to bacon. Well, not just bacon. Technically, I am allergic to all mammalian protein. If you want to get really technical, I am allergic to a sugar found on the protein. This is a rare (not rare enough!) tick born allergy most commonly seen in the American south. I will not bore you with the details, but basically reactions to mammal meat range from indigestion to anaphylaxis. I barely notice anything, but my doctor is worried that if I get a tick bite again it could quickly get much worse. I am an archaeologist and ticks are everywhere.

This sounds like a made up allergy. It is not (see here and here for some stuff describing this allergy), I wish it were. No more bacon. At least until my next appointment.

I know. This is not that big of a deal in the scheme of things.

I did not think I ate that much meat until I could not have any...

In Pilates class on Sunday, I was telling my instructor about this freakish allergy and she said, "people still eat red meat?" with an honest question in her voice. Well, not me. Not anymore.

Now back to watching hotel room television.

Gone Quilting [WIP]

I had this whole post thing planned for today. Then it got to be 10 pm and I thought meh. I have been away from my computer for the past couple of days...

You see, I finished my stars align quilt top. If you follow me on instagram, you know. I have been obsessed.

Then I made a back and basted it. I have been quilting. I am a woman obsessed. Of course, I chose a time consuming quilting design.

That is it. My bathroom is filthy, we are nearly out of food, I am depriving myself of sleep... I think about this quilt at work. My name is Sarah and I have an obsession.

Gone quilting.

See you in a few days.

Also I finished this block for my the Simply Solids bee Gamboge group. Hope you like it Erin! You have excellent taste.

Gone Quilting [WIP]

I had this whole post thing planned for today. Then it got to be 10 pm and I thought meh. I have been away from my computer for the past couple of days...

You see, I finished my stars align quilt top.

Then I made a back and basted it. I have been quilting. I am a woman obsessed. Of course, I chose a time consuming quilting design.

That is it. My bathroom is filthy, we are nearly out of food, I am depriving myself of sleep... I think about this quilt at work. My name is Sarah and I have an obsession.

Gone quilting.

See you in a few days.

Also I finished this block for my the Simply Solids bee Gamboge group. Hope you like it Erin! You have excellent taste.

Gone Quilting [WIP]

I had this whole post thing planned for today. Then it got to be 10 pm and I thought meh. I have been away from my computer for the past couple of days...

You see, I finished my stars align quilt top.

Then I made a back and basted it. I have been quilting. I am a woman obsessed. Of course, I chose a time consuming quilting design.

That is it. My bathroom is filthy, we are nearly out of food, I am depriving myself of sleep... I think about this quilt at work. My name is Sarah and I have an obsession.

Gone quilting.

See you in a few days.

Also I finished this block for my the Simply Solids bee Gamboge group. Hope you like it Erin! You have excellent taste.

Building Quilts Block by Block [WIP]

In 2013, I have been making blocks. I am desperately craving a finished product, but in order to do that you need to get your construction materials on hand!

Also, your bee mates do not really want you to forget them. I am new to this whole bee thing, but I would presume that makes them cranky.

Okay, my blocks.

Sew South House Block

Jenifer from Ellison Lane Quilts asked all of the Sew South attendees to make a house block for a quilt for the Ronald McDonald House in Charlotte.

I searched the interwebs for something fun and, dare I say, whimsical. I used my newly polished paper piecing skillz to make this mushroom house (awesome free pattern here).


Make it Modern Bee Blocks

This month I put together an improv log cabin block for Kelie of Craft Nurse. I am calling this block "I put a bird on it".... (Portlandia, anyone?).

Sami's Quilts and Crafts, requested this block she is calling Mama Goose. Her final design for all of these blocks is pretty spectacular (btw, this particular block is not quite done...).

Lucky Stars Block of the Month

I finished my January Star. I am already looking forward to February. Who knew paper piecing could be so fun.

Look how pretty the practice block and the January block look next to each other...


Lining up the Stars Quilt (working title)

I doodled out this block based on a design my friend painted on the an egg (she does these amazing wax died/painted blown eggs). Then I went. to. town.  I need 25 of these blocks to finish this as a throw quilt. I have 10 done and 5 in the hole.

This is on the fast track though. I am anxious to get this on the couch before winter is over.

Why?

Because it is pretty.

Would people be interested in a tutorial on how these blocks were made? It is pretty straight forward modification of the basic HST star. I am not sure I can claim to be it's "designer" per se... I am sure someone has made this sucker before. I would be happy to write out how I am doing these blocks if there is interest.


Dad's Tool Roll

This is not a block. It is a long overdue Christmas present. But, it is AWESOME. I am finished with all of the little pockets. Now I need to make labels and hand sew them on to the pockets. I also need to hand sew on the velcro (poor planning on my part has resulted in this necessary evil). So, it still needs a lot of work. But, it holds tools. It is adorable. My Dad will love it.

That is my week. In patchwork. Exhausting.

We are going to have a friend (who does not sew) coming to visit this weekend, so I do not expect to get a ton of sewing done. Maybe, if I am lucky, I can finish my Dad's present? In between glasses of wine with Amber?
 

Linking up love!