New List for the Girl with the Procrastination Problem

Hello Wednesday. Hello friends.

I am not sure you have noticed, but time has sped up. Now, I know everyone says that... but this time it is true. I know this.

Seriously. I have not even been traveling for work (Yay!), but somehow time is zooming. It is all I can do to grip on and hope I don't get dizzy.

Some non-quilty things (in no particular order):

• My bestie returned home from Germany! 
• We made soft-shelled crab.
• I spilled a glass of wine on about two yards of Kona Snow (well, I guess that is quilty)
• I laughed harder than I thought was possible with my friends in the group we are now calling SSU (mountain sewing weekend before last).
• My cat vomited 4 times. 
• My peer reviews came in from my journal article [spoiler alert: they recommended it for publication]

My list makes me sane. 

The list is, however, prone to fluctuations. Things move on, things get finished, things stop getting care and attention. 

This is where it stands as of July 31st, 2013.

1. Label, photograph and mail Confetti Stars quilt. This quilt is boss. it is pretty much done. I am actually laying on it right now. I know my cousin is going to love it. FYI, this is a pattern I have been testing for Elizabeth Dackson. I am going to photo bomb you with the quilt soon. For now, know you too can make this quilt when the pattern is released soon. 

2. Fix binding, label, and photograph scrappy baby quilt. This is heading to another cousin. It is also pretty ridiculous.

3. Finish rainbow houses baby quilt. This one needs a bit of work. Enough with the babies. 

4. Make backing and quilt my star quilt. This is a wedding present and it could be done soon, but I am not feeling it and it is HUGE, so we will see.

5. Make myself a super tote. 'Cause I want one. 

6. August bee block. Just a churn dash, easy enough. 

7. August Hop, Skip, Jump block and Lucky Star block. Can you believe I am all caught up with my blocks of the month? Exciting, right!

8. Finish my Mother-in-Law's Saint Louis 16 patch. This is fun. I predict a fast conclusion, but then again, I could get distracted. What's that a shiny object?

9. Coworker quit. A friend/coworker asked me to make her a quilt and I could not resist. I got particularly excited when she went onto Design Seed (at my request) and chose some color schemes right at the edge of my comfort zone. I think she is going to get a crazy star quilt with some awesome colors. More on this later.

10. Guild Challenge. More on this later too, it exhausts me to even think about what I am going to do with this. We randomly chose one color fabric from a bag and we have to stay in that color family. I picked brown! Can you imagine someone who is less of a brown person? I have an idea, but I am not sure if I want to waste it on BROWN. Le sigh. 

11. Center of another medallion. I just love traveling quilts. I think the theme for this medallion is going to be summer and winter. Is that crazy sounding?

That's all folks. This list may seem insane, but it is not a firm deadline thing. It fluctuates with the moods and the seasons. I am certainly not trying to do this all in a month (hey, maybe not even a year).

Love you. I love your hair. 

Sarah out.

Posting this to WIP Wednesday.

A New List.

Guess what friends? I am back in another hotel room.

Shocking.

This time I am in Charlotte, North Carolina and it is a quick trip. I think I am going to be at home all week next week. A whole week (maybe longer?).

Do you think my husband will get sick of me?

I am updating my list, it has totally been awhile. Maybe I will get some sewing done while I am in town?

June/July List: 

1. Bee Blocks. I have finished my bee blocks for June.

For Make it Modern, I had a churn dash and a patchwork wheel. They were super fun to make. This wraps up the Make it Modern Bee.

For Simply Solids Gamboge group, we made stepping stones blocks. Hope this is not TOO bright. I just love color.

Still have July's bee block.

2. Meredith and Eric's wedding quilt. The blocks are sashed and now I just need to put it all together, make a backing (buy some fabric?), and quilt it. No biggie. They only got married a couple of months ago.

I love the way it looks so far!

3. Whitewashed Quilt. Remember this? I barely do... I have not even touched this! Ha!

4. Wonky Rainbow Quilt. This one needs to be quilted and bound. I can do it! This quilt is for me and I can't wait to snuggle under it.

5. Drunkard's Medallion Along. I am working on Christen's top right now and I think I get Paige's next. I love getting into the spirit of each medallion and playing with new techniques. I can't show pictures here because we decided these were going to be a secret, so I will just tell you that we will all need shades for Christen's quilt!

6. Baby Quilts. In my crazy world I decided I have three baby quilts to make this summer. No big deal right? I need to pick some easier patterns I think.

7. Block of the Month Blocks. I have June's Lucky Star to make and then June and July's Lucky Star and Hop, Skip, and Jump block. I am loving these block of the month's I can not wait to make them into gorgeous quilts.

8. MIL Quilt (better name to come). I decided to make my Mother-in-law a quilt. Here is my fabric pull so far, it feels so soothing. I think I am going to do some simple patchwork.

There will be other projects. I just can't say no to starting something fun and I love it! No complaining here!

I know I need to make some pillows with animals on them for our couch. Derek is getting a new laptop, so he is naturally going to need a case, he is currently trying to decide what animal he wants on his case (right now raptor is winning, who knows how to paper piece a raptor? oh dear...)

I am linking up to WiP Wednesday. Happy Day Friends! You are all beautiful! Sorry for the epic post.

Not Much Progress Here (currently living in a hotel room)

Not a ton of progress this week. I left for Tennessee/Alabama on Monday and I am going to be here until next Thursday. Boo! No sewing machine on this trip either (something I regret). Work trips can be such a drag on my sewing time. 

Before I left for my work trip, I got some list items checked off. 

1.) Bee blocks. Finished for this month and in the mail. 

2.) Graduation Quilt. I have made the most progress here. The quilt has been basted and quilted. I will have pictures of it when it is all done and maybe some photos with the graduate and his quilt... Bloggers quilt festival? Maybe?

It is actually here with me and I am hand stitching the binding in the evenings. I have to do something!

3.) Drunkard's Medallion. I am working on Chrissy's adorable center block. This arrived in the mail and it is currently residing on my design wall (btw, do you see this adorable journal she sent me? Squee!). I have a pretty solid plan for my next border and I have pulled my fabrics. Now I just need to get home so I can play!

May. It's ON.

Hi friends!

There is still time to enter my giveaway here. I am loving reading everyone's homemade gift ideas.

I am back from Tennessee/Alabama early this week because the water levels were so high we could not get into the project area. At least I get to sew a few more evenings this week!

I did really well on my April list, I mean really well.

I decided the list really worked for me. I am putting together a May list.

May List:

1.) Voile Infinity Scarf. This is going to be a late (?) mother's day gift. I am proud to say I finished the hand quilting on my trip. Done. Sorry for the crappy phone photos from my hotel room.

2.) Embroidery Project. Done and received. I think she loved it. Nailed it.

3.) Whitewashed Quilt. No progress. To be honest, it is not a priority.

4.) Bee Blocks. Started, expected completion this weekend.

5.) Baby Quilt. Done and gifted. They loved it. I will share finished pictures in another post.  Spoiler alert... it was is a boss level good.

6.) Graduation Quilt. A friend is getting his PhD this weekend and Derek and I decided that I would make him a quilt full of inside jokes. We had so much fun picking the centers of these log cabins! He is moving to Arkansas in a couple of months and we wanted him to have a little piece of Chapel Hill to take with him. I decided to keep it simple, but he is sort of a big dude, so a lap quilt for him has to be a little larger than it would be for most people... I am happy that I used pretty much all scraps.

7.) Solids Bee Quilt. I have received all the blocks from the Gamboge group from April and now I am gunning to put this quilt together. Rainbows!

8.) Lucky Star Block. Must keep up with May's block. Must not fall behind.

9.) Drunkard's Medallion Along. I need to add a border to Chrissy's medallion when it gets to me. This is a priority, as the next person needs it by the end of May.

10.) Pillow for Guild Swap. I know what I am going to do for my partner. I just need to go for it. Maybe soon? This is also a priority as it has to be there for June's meeting, I can't let someone down. That is not my style.

That's nothing right? I only have to be in Tennessee most of the rest of the month, so right... this might trickle into June just a smidgen. Ha! Let's see how I do!

Linking up to Freshly Pieced's WiP Wednesday.

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).

Wonky Diamonds [Tutorial and Work in Progress]

I  am home from Savannah! Home again! Home again!

Also, on Saturday, I am going to Portland to visit my parents. Yay! I have not been home in 2 years and I have not lived in Oregon since I was 18 (ten years!). If anyone reading this lives in Portland, OR, and wants to pass on recommendations for your favorite bars, restaurants and fabric stores, that would really make me smile.

I got a bit of sewing done while I was in Savannah, honestly, there was not much else to do in the evenings. Some of my projects are secret and some of them are just not photographed yet. Today I want to write out the tutorial I finished while I was in Savannah.

It is my first tutorial (ever), so do not be too hard on me if I made a mistake. I am trying to learn, so let me know and I will fix it. If you have a question, send me a little note in the comments and I will get right back to you.

I put this together for my Simply Solids Bee [Gamboge Group]. This is going to be your April block; fabric will be on its way in March sometime. Each block will be unique and bright. I am so excited about this bright, happy quilt and to putting it together with everyone's blocks.

I am calling this block "wonky diamond." 

It is inspired by so many fabulous people and quilts. The colors really remind me of old school improvisational quilts like this Gee's Bend quilt. Denyse Schmidt's Crazy Star quilt from her Modern Quilts, Traditional Inspiration book really got me started with the wonky angles. Then I made a baby version of that, and I have not quite gotten those blocks out of my system.

My technique was inspired by this terrific string block tutorial from Ashley at Film in the Fridge.  Karen from Blooming Poppies has another tutorial where she explains how to do this as a half square triangle with a muslin base. My block is just a slight variation building on the work of these lovely ladies (and I am sure a ton of uncredited people out there). Thanks!

Also, I love rainbows. So, the colors make me happy. Btw, the pictures are terrible... It is so dark at night, I am trying to work on that, but for now I am sorry.

Materials: 

- Strips of varying lengths and widths. (I used rainbow solids, but I elected to make it totally random)

- 2 9" x 9" squares of background fabric (I used white, but anything goes)

- Four sheets of scrap paper cut to 8" x 8"

- Ruler, rotary cutter, scissors, cutting mat

- Glue stick

- Pencil

(1/4" inch seams, I reduce my stitch length to 1 for the paper piecing)

1. Use your ruler and pencil to draw a straight line from corner to corner on your 8" x 8" paper squares. 

2. Cut your background 9" x 9" fabric squares from corner to corner to make 4 half square triangles. 

3. Using a few dabs of glue, stick a white triangle to the side of the paper you did not draw the line on (see picture), make sure it covers half of the paper and goes over all of the edges, including the center line by at least 1/4". 

4. Pick your first strip. Just make sure it is long enough to cover the length of the diagonal. Place the strip on the diagonal. It does not matter too much if the strip is exactly parallel to the white side. 

5. Flip your paper over and sew along the pencil line you drew on the paper. This makes a perfect line between the white and colored side of the block. Flip the colored fabric over and press it using a hot, dry iron. Trim the excess colored fabric on the end, leaving a little overhanging to trim at the end. Also, trim the stitched line down to about 1/4" away from the seam. Save the scraps, you might be able to use them later.

6. Pick your next colored strip and place it over the first strip. Now, this is where we get wonky. Do not line up your two strips, place the next strip at an odd angle and at a narrow or wide distance. There are no rules. Sew the strip down, 1/4" from the edge of the new strips edge.

7. Use scissors to trim the excess down to 1/4", press the strip over, and then trim the ends.

8. Continue to sew down strip until the paper is covered. Keep using crazy angles and irregular distances. I like to make sure I have 5-6 strips in each rainbow half. It should look something like the second picture from the back.

9. After the paper is covered with strips, use your rotary cutter and ruler to trim the block to the size of the paper. I like to give it one more pressing with a hot iron at this point. It should look something like this.

10. Carefully remove the paper. Then press the block again (you can use steam now). Be careful not to stretch the fabric.

11. Make three more blocks the same way for a total of four blocks (Steps 3 through 10).

12. Line up two of the blocks, colored sides together to form half of the diamond, careful to match the corners. Sew the two blocks together. I actually used pins for this part to make sure my corners lined up. Do this with the other two blocks as well. Press seams open.

13. Sew both of the block pairs together to make the completed diamond, being sure to line up the center seam and edges. Press with heat and steam to flatten the bulky seams.

The finished block should measure 14.5"x14.5"

This is a work in progress right? A lovely bee quilt! Linking up to the fun.