A little good news

We had Sammie’s 2 week follow up appointment with the oncology vet this past week and we got a little good news – her lymph nodes have shrunk a little, Yay! The Dr was very pleased by this and said it normally takes a little longer to see results so she’s encouraged that Sammie will continue to respond well to the treatment, Yay again! She’ll continue with the chemo & steroid meds and we’ll go back in 30 days for another checkup.

I snapped this picture of her the other day – she hates to have her picture taken but while I was getting ready to let her clean my oatmeal bowl she sat there so pretty I had to grab my phone and snap a pic before the moment passed

That little tongue sticking out just kills me ❤

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I’ve made considerable progress on the commission tshirt quilt – the top is almost done! I have two vertical seams left to sew.

I reached out to Kitty to get her ideas for backing and then went online to find some options. I sent her six possibilities and she chose this one, which I’ll also use for binding:

I’ve been itching to start something new but I really, really, really need to finish up a few other projects. I have everything ready for basting on three other quilts (Rainbow Improv, Meadowland & Granny Cabin) so I’m planning to spray-baste them the same time I do this commission quilt.

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In WW news, I was down .4 yesterday…I only need .8 more to hit the 10# mark! I can do this!!

That’s about all for now…enjoy the rest of your weekend 🙂

Lots of sewing going on

I’ve been working on my new Scrap Attack project for August and it’s really coming together beautifully.

Here’s the project I pulled – this beautiful quilt was made by Cynthia Brunz and I found the instructions for the blocks on her blog

She didn’t have a name for this design so I’m going to call it “Framed Out”. I started by cutting 2.5″ strips from my scraps and then sewed them into 4 strips sets. I then cross-cut them into 2.5″ sets of 4 aquares.

I quickly realized I would also need sets of 2 and 3 squares so I made a few more. I then had to figure out what I would use as the accent fabric for the frames. I have a whole tub of fat quarter solids that doesn’t seem to have a bottom, so I decided to use those. I can get 1 of each block A & B from a single FQ so the frames will be ‘scrappy’ too!

Here’s my first Block A

And here’s what I’ve finished through last night… OH! I am so loving this!!!

I have four more blocks to make – 2 with green frames and 2 with orange – then I’ll have to figure out color placement.

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I had another finish earlier last week…this pattern is called Limelight and it’s free from Benartex. I made my top from Lily and Loom Daisy Delights. I’ve had a half yard bundle of this fabric sitting on the shelf for months and I’ve also had this pattern on my ‘to make’ list for a couple of years. It came together pretty quickly since the pieces are pretty big…and the fabric just sings!!

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Not a lot of walking this week – it’s rained almost every day – but I did get out at least twice. Fingers crossed next week will be better. I follow a blogger who laid down a challenge for others to follow along with her as she posts every day how she’s doing following her eating plan. I jumped on and I’ve been checking in on her blog every day. Hopefully this will be the kick in the ass I need!!

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Have a great rest of the weekend!! ttfn

 

Finishing WIPs & UFOs

Over the past month I’ve been working on finishing some WIPs & UFOs that have been laying around and I have more to show this week…squeee!

This first one is a WIP I just started last week but at least I got it finished so it wouldn’t become a UFO! This is called Sarah after the pattern in the Fat Quarter Baby book. I highly recommend this book, all the patterns are adorable and so quick and easy to make.

A few weeks back you saw a glimpse of this next quilt (which I’ve titled “More or Less” after the name of the block) when I got it basted and now it’s done! I decided to use a quilting motif I call ‘Daisy’…it really makes a statement but it’s kind of a pain to quilt because it leaves so many thread tails to bury. Thankfully this quilt is only 47×59 so it wasn’t too horrible. This first picture is before binding – it shows the quilting in all it’s glory!

For the binding, I went with a medium brown fabric from my stash to try to keep it gender neutral although that backing fabric speaks for itself, lol!

I’m super happy with how this turned out and will be posting it for sale on my FB page.

Speaking of posting things for sale, I posted the Sarah quilt for sale last week for $45 and got an email from a quilting friend I met online saying the price for my quilt was way too low and didn’t reflect my time in the price. She’s right…I know that…my husband has told me that many times. I have a hard time putting appropriate price tags on my work because I don’t place enough value on my time. She shared this blog post with me as a way to encourage me to be better.

I read the blog post and I also reviewed some additional information she shared and after all that I’m going to post this recent finish for $155…just typing that makes my stomach flip!! I have no illusions that it will actually sell for that price but I have to start somewhere, right? 😉

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I shared a few weeks back that I made some elephant plushies for my great niece and here she is with them… she is just the cutest baby ever!!!

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In other news, I didn’t walk as much this past week – only 2 days…ugh. Can someone please kick my ass?!!! ‘Nuff said.

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Have a great rest of the weekend…ttfn!

 

 

 

Busy, busy, busy

I’ve been doing a lot of sewing and quilting…and walking!

First up, I made this table runner for our kitchen table several weeks ago and forgot to post it 😮  The fabrics are from a Tula Pink bundle I got in my Sew Sampler subscription box (can’t find which month it was!). At the same time I made this, I cut the pieces to make a matching table runner for my dining room and…

I finally got around to making it!! Every time I look at these they make me smile 😀

Next up, I was craving a quick finish project so I cracked open my Fat Quarter Baby pattern book and chose Sarah.

The top is not completely pieced in this next picture but it’s the only one I have! I had to switch out one of the blocks (second row, far right) because there wasn’t enough contrast …this is the ‘after’ picture.

Then I finally pulled out a few completed tops and cut the batting needed so I could get to the basting process. Pictured below from left to right: Sarah, More or Less top made from The Quilt Block Cookbook by Amy Gibson and my scrappy version of Stoplight from Sunflower Quilts

And it was just cool enough this morning to take everything outside on the deck to get them all spray basted…notice my trusty companion standing guard, LOL!

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I haven’t gotten back into running yet and I’m not 100% sure I will… but I have been taking 30 min walks almost everyday just to get outside for some exercise.

That’s about all for now…have a great rest of the weekend 😀

 

Smaller finishes

Since I finished three quilts in the last few weeks I decided I’d work on some smaller projects…and how cute are these Elephant Plushies (free pattern alert!) I had some fun fabric and extra polyfil laying in the corner so it all just happened!

I made the big blue one first and then made a baby…

Then I added another baby…

I’ve made two more big ones to send off to my sweet great niece – her room is decorated in pink & gray and I used some of these same fabrics to make a quilt for her crib last year.

Next up I’m going to make a golf seat cover for my friend in Myrtle Beach – we’ll be going down next weekend so I’d like to take it with us.

That’s about all for this week…Have a great rest of your weekend 🙂

 

More finishes!!

I took off a few more days this week…since the 4th of July fell on Wed, I added Thur and Fri. The weather here has been so uncomfortably hot & humid, I spent a good part of those days in my sewing room getting things done!

First up, I quilted and bound my Velocity quilt. This was my scrap attack project for July that I started early and now it’s completely done!

These first two pictures are before washing, it was cloudy almost all day yesterday so as soon as I saw the sun peek out I ran outside for pictures, lol

And here it is after washing…LOVE that crinkly goodness!

You may recall I had basted three quilts last week so the next logical thing to work on was that third one – it’s called Piece Out and the pattern is from Missouri Star Quilt Co Block magazine, Fall Vol 3 Issue 5.

I started quilting on it last night with intentions of finishing today…but I got in a groove and the quilting was done before I realized it!

I saved the trimming and binding for today and finished that off this morning. I didn’t have any of the original fabrics left for binding so I searched my FQ stash and found four prints that match pretty nicely to make a scrappy binding!

And that backing fabric is just so pretty, in fact it says that word along with dream, love, bloom, cherish and a few others.

I was about ready to post it for sale on FB when I showed a picture of it to a friend and she bought it!! Wow, that was fast! 🙂

That’s about all for now…have a great rest of your Sunday!

 

Sewing & quilting…no running

I’ve been working on some sewing projects over the last week.

First up is a new table topper I made to represent summer…I love the little quilted clouds!! I had a bit of help from the ‘footprints in the sand’ fabric and the stripey binding reminds me of a beach umbrella so I’d say mission accomplished!

Next up is a WIP I’ve had basted for probably 4 months now! Ugh…I started quilting on it last week and today I finally finished it – whoop whoop!  Here is it laying on the deck in full sunlight…

This is a shot showing the back…before I put the binding on.

It measures 74×84 and to give a size comparison, here it is laying on our king size bed. It’s in the wash now getting all crinkly good…it’ll be ready for the first cool day of fall – ha – hopefully many months from now!!

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I have not run – AT ALL –  since returning from my business trip a week ago Friday 😦  It’s been unbearably hot here and although there are other options I could’ve checked into for running indoors…I simply did not do it. The temps are not supposed to get any better in the next 10 days so…I’m going to need to figure something out! Come July, I need to start training in earnest for the Half Marathon in Myrtle Beach in October…and I’m not even sure I could go 3 miles right now.

Happy Sunday! ttfn…

Scrap attack and C25K

Now that the focus on the Hands 2 Help challenge has passed, I got back to my May Scrap attack project…and I have a finished top!

The picture on the left is the pattern I chose for the May Scrap attack challenge and my finished top is on the right using my solid fabric scraps. I already know how I want to quilt it but it’ll have to wait it’s turn in line because I have 4 others that need to go first!

I pulled my challenge for June and once again, it’s a FREE pattern! This should go pretty quickly because the pieces are larger.

I still have so many solid scraps/fat quarters I’m going to use solids again for this one; in fact I already have all the pieces cut and the HST marked for sewing!! I altered the size of the blocks just a little because I didn’t have enough background fabric, instead of 10″ blocks mine are 8″. It will still make a nice size throw and I can always add borders to make it bigger 😉

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I’ve been keeping up with the C25K program and I’m really happy about that. I usually listen to upbeat music when I run but I’ve switched it up for the last few weeks by listening to podcasts. And to my surprise, the workout feels like it goes by faster and it doesn’t feel as taxing! I know, I know, it’s all in my head but I’m really loving it right now!

The podcast that I’ve liked the most is called Half Size Me by Heather Robertson and it’s all about sustainable weight loss. Heather lost 150 lbs and has kept it off for 6 years – she’s not a doctor and she’s not selling any products; I really enjoy her style and her message.

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I’m headed back to my sewing room – have a happy day!!! 😀

Procrastination sucks!

I haven’t been as productive as I would’ve liked but hey I’m the only one preventing that! Ugh, I’ve got a bad case of ‘procrastination’ and I can’t seem to shake it. I’ve had ample opportunity this week to sew but instead I’ve planted my arse on the couch watching TV and surfing my phone – argh!!! WTH?

I did get a few things accomplished before being a couch potato took over…

I’m up to 18 Stoplight blocks for my Scrapattack2018 February challenge…these come together really quickly once all the pieces are cut. I planned to cut a bunch more this week…but ahem…I didn’t 😦  I want to make a throw size quilt so I need 52 more 😮  Geez, how long will it take ME to complete that!??

I also wanted to make a bowl cozie for me to keep…and I finally did!! I’ve been hoarding these FQ fabrics for a couple of years waiting for the right project and finally I used them! I’ve used this cozie many times already 😀

Lastly, I started piecing the t-shirts for the commission quilt…I really, REALLY should be done with this already…argh!

OK, I’ll stop beating myself up now…I can only hope next week will be better 😉

ttfn…

Busy, busy

I had a bit of unexpected travel last week which means I didn’t get as much sewing & quilting done as I had planned. A dear friend from Maryland lost her husband rather suddenly so I traveled to spend a few days with her during the services. I left on Thursday and got home yesterday [just in time for the Superbowl…too bad my team didn’t win but it was still a pretty good game to watch].

I did do a few things last week before my trip: I finished the top for the baby-size Scrap Attack 2018 January project. I pulled this from a tin where I have placed tiny sized Pinterest pictures of projects I plan to use my scraps to complete. This one was the “Mother’s Own” block – free from Fat Quarter Shop. A simple white border and now it’s ready to be basted & quilted – it measures 34×44.

Before I left I pulled my Scrap Attack 2018 project for February; this one is a picture of the finished quilt called Stoplight by Keepsake Quilting.

Before I left on my trip, I also laid out all the tshirts for the commission quilt and landed on this layout. I sent the pic to the customer and she was pleased, now I need to finish putting stabilizer on the shirts and start squaring up and sewing. I’ll need to add some sashing/filler for some of the pieces but overall it looks like it should fit together pretty well.

please excuse the doggie steps – I laid this out on my bedroom floor

That’s about all for now. I took off work today so I plan to get in my sewing room and make progress…ttfn!