Sewing Small Projects Part 2

Yesterday, I finally finished this long-time languishing Schnibble project.  The pattern is Recess and it had been so long since I worked on it that I had to search Sinta's blog to find out when I started the project. Way back in June 2011. Ah...2011...that explains everything.  My traumatizing year...let's not drag up any memories from that year and just move on to the finished top.

I had all the rectangles cut out and about a third of the rows sewn together.  It just took a couple afternoons to finish sewing and this UFO is nearly done.
I love the fabric line--Charlevoix by Minick & Simpson.  It is the perfect summery fabric line and even better, reminds me of Michigan.

Over the weekend, I finished my second "Everyday Bag" from Sherri McConnell's A Quilting Life book.  This one is for nephew Cameron.  

I don't really have any kid-type fabric in my stash and my goal is to use what I have right now.  I did find a random fishing/camping charm pack (Northern Shores by Holly Taylor for Moda) and some random camping/outdoorsy fat quarters (Northern Flight by Holly Taylor for Moda) in my stash.  Wonder what my original idea was for this fabric??? Who knows. 

I pieced the handles and the lining from the fat quarters. This is a fun bag to make and I have two more that I want to make this summer.

Cat photo for this post is courtesy of Gomez who enjoys sleeping away the warm afternoons under the ceiling fan.  

Hurricane Irene with 100% Chance of Flurry

image of Hurricane Irene from space courtesy of www.nasa.gov

 Hope all East Coast residents (two- and four-legged) stay safe and dry in this monster of a hurricane.  Sounds like extreme rain and flooding is headed your way.

I hope everyone has their disaster preparedness kits ready and stocked up on water, food, manual can-opener, Starbucks Via, pet food, and if you have cats, cat litter. 

 I am sad that Irene bypassed Georgia without sending some rain bands our way.  We really need some rain.  



I am a big weather nerd and have been listening/watching the coverage all day.  (S. is not a weather nerd and has no interest in watching windbreakered reporters standing in wind & rain shouting into the camera for hours on end.)

Since there was no weather event here in the ATL (still hot low to mid-90F and sunny), I worked on the le petite project for this month and finished it up.  The pattern is a Schnibble called Honeycomb by Miss Rosie and the fabric is Flurry by Kate Spain for Moda.

I love working with these cool, icy, wintery fabrics while the A/C is running, running, running. 

This Schnibble was fun to make and the hexagons were easier to make than I thought they would be. 

Guess It's Wednesday Night

Well this week is flying by.  I thought I posted since Saturday but I guess not lol!    I did get some sewing done this past weekend as well as going to see "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2."  Loved the movie and very sad to see the series end.

Here's my Civil War blocks.  Carolina Lily

 and Empty Spools from the week before.

 I started working on Honeycomb (a Schnibbles pattern).  I was really worried about sewing these blocks together into a row because there is a lot of bias edges and potential for wonky blocks is pretty high (like at least an 8 on the wonkiness potential scale).  I think I'll keep my eyes closed and my toes crossed that this little quilt turns out OK.

Under my ironing board.  Stella found a box that was a bit too small for her.  I'm getting a box of stuff together to send to my mom so maybe Stella wants to visit Grandma?   Well I think Grandma will have to come visit Stella because it doesn't look like Stella is going anywhere anytime soon. 

Looks like I'll have to find another box to mail too.

Le Petite Plans for August

Although I still haven't finished Le Petite from June? May? Whatever month Recess was the pattern. I am ready to dig into some Flurry charm packs (anything to speed cooler temps along.)

Saturday: More Catching Up, Le Petite for April, Worthy Cause

OK I am all caught up on sleep after traveling, storm watch, general insomnia, and a too busy partial week at work. Whew!  Hopefully life is back to its normal hecticness. 

I don't like to advocate for causes in this blog because that's not what you readers are here for so skip down to quilt photo if you want.

First up, now that the Royal Wedding is over with, please consider refocusing your attention to the storm victims in the Southeast.  The devastation is horrific and residents need help.  I humbly ask you to do what you can for the organization of your choosing and thank you for anything you do good thoughts, prayers, donations, quilts, whatever. Thank you.

There are too many worthy causes in this world and I am often overwhelmed by the great need out there and feel helpless with the inadequacy of my "discretionary" income each month (or lack thereof). But when I think that I have an extra $5, $10, or $20 when others do not, I know that every little bit helps.  My choice:  I follow @HomerBlindCat on Twitter.  Homer is the blind wonder-cat from the book Homer's Odyssey who has captured my heart.  Homer's mom and author Gwen Cooper has set up a donation account for Canat Veterinary Hospital in Tuscaloosa, AL.  Read the blog post here. 
Many vet clinics and animal shelters in Alabama were damaged by the tornadoes and the heroic staff of Canat Veterinary Hospital is taking care of any and all animals hurt or lost by the storm. Donation page is here if you so choose.

OK onto Le Petite project for April. 

 I took my Le Petite project for April to Michigan with me and was able to complete it there during a couple of sewing days with my mom and SIL.  The pattern is a Schnibbles called Brocante by Miss Rosie and the fabric is Bliss by Bonnie & Camille for Moda.  (I used leftover charm squares to make Mackenzie 2 bibs.)   The background fabric is from my mom's stash because I forgot to bring background fabric.  Thanks mom and I owe you some fabric!

The square-in-a-square pattern is more subtle in my version of Brocante. I'll be interested to see the other versions in the parade. 

 While I was gone my goodies from Fat Quarter Shop came.  I was so lucky to win a FQS gift certificate from the Eventide quilt along and here are the resulting goodies:  Fig Tree "Strawberry Fields" jelly roll, yardage of Christmas owls and sweet kitties on gray, and 2 patterns.  HUGE thanks to Thelma at Cupcakes n' Daisies and Kimberly at FQS!!!

Another package arrived while I was gone. Thelma who did such a wonderful job hosting the Eventide quilt along, made and sent mug rugs to all the participants.  How sweet is that???!!!??? I will send Thelma a proper thank you but I just want to say a public thanks for such sweetness.  Thelma--Really, the fun of the quilt along was more than enough and I will cherish this cute mug rug as well as the resulting quilt from the quilt along. You are too kind!

 As frequent readers of this blog know, I love to help out the Michigan economy when I visit and save up my fabric acquisition money especially for the trip.   Here's some goodies from my favorite quilt shops in Michigan:  Lake Street Mercantile, Guildcrafters, and Mabelena.  These are for my Civil War Block of the Week (that I am now behind on...)

February Le Petite and Catching up on Civil War Blocks

After a very long week at work, today was definitely a sewing day.  Finishing up the February Le Petite project was first on the list. This month's pattern was a Schnibble called "Sweet Spot" and I used a Moda line from a few years ago called "Chocolate"

It was a fun quilt to make, even though I am not a big fan of making flying geese.

Maybe it has something to do with a quilt I made with 482 flying geese early in my quilting years. I have a photo somewheres (I gave it to my grandparents).

Next on the list was catching up on Civil War blocks of the week.  Here is today's called "Birds in the Air."  I loved the idea of using blue for the birds to represent bluebirds.  I have some bluebirds that hang around the house and they always make me smile.

I liked Karen's ( Sew Primitive Quilter ) use of the "union" fabric so I found a similar fabric in blue in a charm pack of Barbara Brackman's new fabric line "Civil War Reunion."  The fabric for the large triangle reminded me of feathers. 

I didn't make last week's block "Cotton Boll" so I made that one today too. Now I'm all caught up.

More sewing is on the agenda tomorrow.  Shhhhhh don't tell S. He probably thinks it will be a spring cleaning Sunday.

A Monday Post

Mondays always come around too soon.  Today is President's Day so at least traffic wasn't bad this AM.  Here's a couple of blocks I finished this weekend. 

The second block for the Bunny Hill's BOM Henrietta Whiskers. 

No, your eyes aren't blurry, I think the photo is blurry.

Must have been a Stella-assisted photo when she decides to paw at me while I'm trying to do something.



I hope to finish the top for this month's Le Petite project. February is rapidly getting away from me.  Here's the sawtooth star blocks made at Thimbles on Saturday. The pattern is a Schnibble called "Sweet Spot".

This week is a really busy week for me at work. Wish it was Friday already! 

Le Petite Project: Mon Ami & CW block 5

Here is my Le Petite Project for this month "Mon Ami" Schnibble pattern.  The charm squares are "Nantucket" by Minik & Simpson for Moda. 

 I decided not to add the plain border because I like this finished size for a wallhanging. 

If I get this quilted, I'll be all set for the 4th of July this summer.    

 Not much else done on the sewing front this weekend.  I didn't feel well so I saw the sofa more than the sewing machine.  I did make the Civil War block for this week called "Kansas Troubles" 
Hopefully I'll have a less busy week this week and I'll get caught up on some things. 

North Star

The second block in the Civil War block of the week.

 I didn't get as much sewing done this weekend as I wanted to but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the big snowstorm headed for Atlanta is enough to cancel work for a day...

...2 days would be better as long as the electricity stays on!

I need to get busy on RRCB again since I have RRCB envy from all the finished or near-finished quilts I see on the internet. Check out Michelle's here.
It is STUNNING, Michelle!  Great colors and fabrics.

My buddy Karin is rolling right along on her quilt too.  Love those bright colors.

I'm still working on Mon Ami.  Here's a sneak peek at the center. 

It has been a sad weekend for our country and my heart and thoughts go out to the victims and their families in Arizona.

Snapshot: Monday, January 3rd, 2010

Gomez sleeping on heat vent with his new Xmas toy

Here's what is happening at my house right now.  (This photo of Gomez is especially for karendianne!)

Le Petite in progress

Morph says "hey! enough with the photos you woke me up!"

Edgar Poe sleeping under the couch in front of the heat vent

Stella Bella sleeping on a flannel quilt

S. working on lectures on the opposite end of the dining room table/sewing space/office

Sewing Like Mad Sunday

Very busy sewing day today!  The morning started with working on the Civil War quilt. Block one is done. 




I finally finally finally finished sewing 60 string blocks for Bonnie Hunter's Roll Roll Cotton Boll (RRCB) mystery quilt. Whew!  I am so happy to be done with these!!!!  I did use up a ton of random neutral scraps that more than likely would have moldered in shoe boxes or be tossed out in a cleaning fit but I was determined to finish these up today because it made such a mess.  Bits and pieces of fabric everywhere, bits of pieces of paper everywhere, threads and threads and threads everywhere.  Bleh! Now everything is tidied up and vacuumed and just better.

I still have 90,000 half-square triangles to finish piecing. Well really around 300 or less. I hope it's less.

I decided to work a little ahead and make the 30 center blocks just to give me an incentive not to give up on this marathon quilt.  I adore these centers.  Just adore them.   


Not to be forgotten is the le petite project for this month "Mon Ami" Schnibble.  I dug out an older Minick & Simpson line "Nantucket" and am going to work on this tomorrow.

Oh yes tomorrow is a holiday for me.  Why January 3rd?  Well originally state workers were to have Dec. 31st off but then someone discovered that we were given too many holidays for 2010.  And because the world as we know it would end people if GA state workers had one more holiday in 2010, they moved it to Jan. 3rd.  I took Dec. 31st off as annual leave just for spite and to have a four-day weekend.

So yes tomorrow is another sewing day. Perhaps another pj day too (I promise they are clean pjs. Really we do have some standards around here).

Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt RRCB step 3

Instead of working on my to do list yesterday, I goofed around and played with fabric and surfed around blogland before scrambling around to get the laundry, housework, cooking, and oh yeah picking up S and E at the airport.
I worked on my Le Petite project Saturday night and now just need to do the borders. 

I also worked on Step 3 which is 60 - 8 1/2" string pieced blocks.  I had two boxes of neutral scraps of all shapes and sizes so got those out....

and made a huge mess!!!  Poor Stella nearly got lost in it.

I am so happy to use these scraps up! What was I thinking saving crazy bits and pieces of all sorts of sizes???!!?? I now cut scraps up in usable sizes and sort by size rather than color. 

I have 10 blocks made (you can always tell when I take late afternoon photos in winter).
And 50 more to go...

Le Petite Project: Butternchurn

Here's my Le Petite project for this month.  The pattern is Butterchurn by This n That patterns and the charm squares are Moda "Rites of Spring" by Brannock & Patek from a couple of years ago I think.


I love this fabric line with my favorite colors of purple & green. The designers have a new purple & green line coming out in the spring called "Lilac Hill."  You know I'll be getting a little bit of that :) 

And because no post (or quilt project) is complete without a cat.
Guess who had to get into the photos this time?
Here's Morpheus who missed me terribly because I was gone overnight last night for work.  Poor Morph had no blogging time.


And just so you don't think she is neglecting her photo ops....is of course....
Stella!

Blog Hopping and Schnibbling

Yesterday was a day off work for Veterans Day.  I spent the day catching up on all the blog hops going on (whew there is a lot! and it's exhausting!!!), finishing the quilt top for November's Le Petite project, and working on a Schnibble quilt.  A very productive day off!  Here's a peek of the Schnibble. 

Pattern is "Scratch" 
Fabric is Moda "Fandango" by Kate Spain. Love it! Really interesting patterns and colors.  The colors remind me of Fiestaware dishes.

I hope to get this basted and quilted tomorrow along with the Nov. Le Petite project.  More show n tell tomorrow :)

November Le Petite: Paganini

I think I'm late posting this project for the parade of Paganinis over at Sherri and Sinta's blogs.  Here is my Paganini. I had hoped to get it quilted too but Halloween monster movie marathon got in the way.  

and of course Stella had to help organize the rows and make sure they didn't go anywhere. 

The charm squares are "Renewal" and "Looking Back" by Brannock & Patek for Moda.

A Wednesday in October

Anyone else watching the "Ghost Hunters" marathon on SyFy channel?  I love watching this show and "Haunted History" shows just to see the great historic places and hear ghost stories. I'm not so sure about the evidence though their little meters, etc. All in fun.

I started working on the Le Petite project but haven't gotten very far.  I better get a move on before Nov. 1st.  For my Paganin schnibblei, I am using one charm pack of "Looking Back" and one of "Renewal" both my Brannock & Patek.

Paganini step one

Don't forget to enter my giveaway on this post. I've had so much fun reading the comments and visiting new blogs!!  A few entries were no-reply. Karen at Sew Many Ways is hosting a wonderful tutorial series and tips for using Blogger.  Check her post on how to change your blog from a no-reply to a reply! (note to Karin:  you can do this!!!!! You've already conquered applique!)

Hope everyone is having a great week! Let me know what kind of fun seasonal and/or Halloween activities everyone is doing.  I'm taking Friday off of work and plan on having a mega-fun weekend.