It's the Humidity

This is the kind of weather that makes you ever so thankful for air-conditioning.  Mid-90s and about 2,000% humidity in Atlanta.  Seriously.

OK so checked NOAA and it's 50% humidity.

So I was close.

Anyway---

S. has done a tremendous amount of yard work and outside chores this weekend including washing the siding and making pea gravel paths.  My house and yard look great.  Better than great--amazing!

Saturday, I stayed inside and cleaned house, cooked, and prepped hexies.

Today, I worked at Starbucks, did laundry, made blackberry cobbler, and am sewing binding.

 I really would like to say we are tied for the amount of work done this weekend, but I'll admit washing the siding in this humidity is winning.

Little Leaping Apples

Here is my June Schnibble for the parade.  Early!! Woo hoo!  The pattern this month was "Leap Year" and I used two charm packs from the "Little Apples" line by Moda.  I love the use of colors in this line.  Really, I love anything with gray.

The sashing and borders is a Free Spirit Designer Solid in Pale Gray.  It is a very pale silver color and feels wonderful.  Wish I had a bolt of it.

I can't wait to see everyone else's versions and can't believe I'm so early that I have to wait another week lol!

Bits and Pieces

It's been a busy Sunday with working at Starbucks, wishing Happy Father's Day to my dad, and grocery shopping for the week.  Now I need to get a few chores done and get ready for another week.

I was so excited to get the first block and the finishing kit in the mail for the 2012 Designer Mystery Block of the Month from Fat Quarter Shop

The Moda Vintage Modern fabrics are to die for--gorgeous saturated colors. YUM!

First block is done.

Next up is my first finished block for this month's Schnibble--the brand new pattern called Leap Year.  I just love 16-patch blocks. I love them better than 9-patches; don't know why.  I am using 2 charm packs of Little Apples fabrics. Cutemous!!!!!!  Look at the little fussy-cut squirrels. Adorable. 

In another (ahem) package from Fat Quarter Shop this week came a fat quarter bundle of Lily Belle by Bari J. in the cool color way for the Hexy Quilt Along on the Fat Quarterly blog.   The manufacturer is Art Gallery Fabrics and the silky hand of the fabric is just wonderful.   Beautiful fabrics that computer screens don't do justice too. You need to see in person.  It is nearly too pretty to cut up.  

Oh Hello Mid-June

Apparently I fell off the blogging cliff for awhile.  Too much BS going on with day job and my head has been full of dark & stormy clouds so I haven't been doing much of anything.

Well I'll try to shake out the cobwebs and get back into things. Although I have been saying the same thing for 2 weeks now and it hasn't happened, but as Dory says in Finding Nemo "just keep swimming, just keep swimming."

I did manage to get a new project started and completed.

The pattern is "School Day Satchel" by Fig Tree Quilts and the fabric is my favorite prints and color from Flea Market Fancy.   I made the laptop bag, although I think I'm going to use it for a regular briefcase bag.  It was a fun project to make, but it is helpful if you have made some bag projects before in constructing this pattern.

As usual (for a quilter), I am getting pulled into another quilt along-- a Hexy Quilt Along held by Fat Quarterly.   I love this modern version of a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt and have ordered the supplies.  I'm using stash, a FQ bundle of Lily Belle in the cool colorway, and Moda Bella solid in Granite.  Anyone else joining in?  Anyone have an idea why I thought I needed another project???

I am also coveting these soon-to-be released fabrics from Liberty of London, which should play nicely in the Hexy quilt too.

Remy is growing up so fast.  He is about the same size as Gomez now.  His one-year birthday is approaching in August and he is just as mischievous as ever.

Here he is after getting in trouble for biting on my MacBook cord.  Look at that face. You know he's going to attack that cord again.

Accomplishment

I really enjoyed Memorial Day weekend and had two days off from both jobs.  I really would've liked another day but oh well, at least it's a short work week.

On Monday, I decided to stretch my sewing skills and attempt a skirt for my niece Mackenzie.  And I did it!  I made clothes!  First attempt at clothes making since home ec in middle school.

Don't look too close because it's not exactly perfect but it will look great on a 2-year-old running by at top 2-year old speed.

The pattern is called "Julia" by ModKid.  The pattern was easy to follow and had great instructions for newbie garment sewists.  The size range is 2T-7.

I just adore the Snoopy fabric and think the scale of the design is just perfect for this little skirt.

The book Stitch by Stitch: Learning to Sew, One Project at a Time by Deborah Moebes was a great help in relearning/learning about garment construction.  The projects in the book are great and someday I'll get around to making some of those too.

Mackenzie's skirt should be arriving by mail soon and I can't wait to hear how she likes it.  (Hope it fits!)

If all goes well, I may try more clothes and hope to venture into sewing for myself.  Too bad I am a bit too old for twirly Snoopy skirts.  Guess I'll stick to my usual black, gray, or brown.

Memorial Day 2012

Remembering and honoring the brave men and women who served our country past and present.  A grateful nation thanks you all for your service.

Luck All Around

Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday weekend.  I had a busy week so it's great to have a couple days off to get some fun time in.

Yesterday I finished the top for this month's Schnibble parade.  This may be one of my favorite Schnibbles ever. I used Kate Spain's line called "Good Fortune" and the solid is Moda Bella solids Zen Gray.  I just love the colors in this line and also like the play on the theme of the card trick block (Good Fortune = Lucky; Card Trick block = Cards) 

Speaking of luck, I was super lucky to be a winner in Fabricworm's weekly giveaway. The line is called "Grand Hotel" by Jenean Morrison.  This line just says late summer to me with the great graphics and saturated colors.  Big thank you to Fabricworm!!! 

The cats are enjoying the warm sun and gorgeous weather we are having in metro Atlanta this weekend.  Here is Gomez lounging on a pile of quilts on the back of the couch in the late afternoon sun.  

Ahhh the life of cats.   This black cat sure lucked out adopting me.