Happy (belated) Valentine's Day

 

 

 I hope you all had a sweet day yesterday! I've always been a big fan of Valentine's Day with all of the hearts, chocolate, flowers and hopes of love. It just seems that everyone is a bit kinder, a bit softer and a bit more caring as Valentine's Day approaches. That alone makes it special.


I usually make a treat to hand out to my friends to celebrate the day.

 This year, I got my idea from Pinterest for the Twinkie Minions shown above.

 They took maybe 30 minutes to make them for a full box of Twinkies.

I even put one in our neighbor guy's mailbox who often scoops the snow off our driveway.

For Christmas, we gave him a box of Ding Dongs with a note that said: "From your Ding Dong neighbors"!

***Hey, if you want to join me on Pinterest, I'm here: https://www.pinterest.com/duchick/

Just Friday, my follower number hit 500!!! Who will be 501?

 

 

 Another project I saw on Pinterest was a patchwork heart, so I thought I'd try to make one as use it as a pot holder. The directions were limited, so I had to wing most of it. At this stage of quilting, my knowledge base doesn't involve "scale" and how large to make squares and HSTs.

So it turned out kinda big, but it looks nice as a decoration or trivet behind my stove top.

Yes, I do remember to remove it when turning on the gas!

 

 Here's a pic of the sewing along the way....(it took a lot longer than I expected!)

 

This is a recipe I really planned on making over the weekend, but it didn't get done. It is pinned, so I'll remember it for next year...or next week.

 http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/raspberry-almond-scones/

 

 

 And finally, this is my sweet Sophie relaxing in my sewing room as I plug away on a project.

BOM #4 for Sew Sweet Simplicity

 

 

 

Back as promised...only 5 days later!

 

Making block #4 was the most enjoyable one for me. I'm not sure why, but it just flowed so smoothly and I didn't have to do any ripping out! Perhaps it's because (gasp!) I'm getting better at piecing and keeping my seam allowances consistent. Maybe it's just cuz I'm finally following the instructions! ha!

I'm still not completely sure what I'll do with these blocks once I'm done. I'll be making the 2 bonus blocks for a total of 6. I'd really like to make a lap quilt for our family room, but I want it long enough to cover my tootsies too. These colors were chosen to match our colors in that room.

Below is what Jacquelynne Steve's block #4 looks like on her blog:

 

 

 

I hope you can see the resemblance!

 

 

We are heading back into the teens this week, but no more snow expected for a while.

Have a terrific week and stay warm!



BOM #3 for Sew Sweet Simplicity

Hey there! It seems like forever since I've been here. If you're checking, it was November 30th, to be exact. Those holidays, a road trip to Florida and lots of work have kept me busy. I've certainly not had enough time to spend sewing!

Anyhoo, I finished Jacquelynne Steves BOM #3 several weeks ago, but I didn't jump to post it for a couple of reasons. One, it didn't turn out right! I'm not sure where I went wrong, but it doesn't look like the sample she has in the tutorial. I played around with it, even ripped out stitches, and finally sewed it together as shown above. (BTW, the colors are a bit off due to photographing on a gloomy winter day using only my Happy Light in the background, which usually works pretty well.)

If I have time, I'll make this a bonus block and try #3 again. Otherwise, it will just have to do!

This is what it should look like (minus the applique in the center):

 

I'm thinking I want to do some machine embroidery stitching in the center of each block when I've got them all completed and sewn together with the sashing. I've got a feathered design that I won on a blog that I'm very interested in trying. Maybe even some trapunto. Has anyone tried trapunto embroidery? I'd love some tips!

 

Soon, very soon, I will post BOM #4! Promise!

BOM #2 for Sew Sweet Simplicity

Earlier this week, Jacquelynne Steves sent out her super-easy-to-follow instructions for Block #2 in the Sew Sweet Simplicity Block of the Month.

Of course, I wanted to sit down immediately and start putting it together. But, life was not scheduled that way!

I was subbing in Art class (of all places) on Monday. (Yes, it went very well!)
Tuesday was Clean The House Day for Thanksgiving and
Wednesday, was food prep for the feast on Thursday.
So, finally on Friday, I was able to meet up with my sewing machine and put this baby together!

Please remember that I'm still pretty green with this piecing thing and making HST's and Flying Geese and aligning corners and seams. Jacquelynne really spells it out clearly with pictures and easy steps to follow in her tutorial. I would highly recommend anyone who is new to quilting to follow along!

I hope this gets better with practice. OK, so don't go scrutinizing those areas!

 

I do like it and am pleased with my color choices and fabrics. I'm already looking forward to Block #3!

A close up for pinterest...



 

 



 

 



BOM #1 for Sew Sweet Simplicity

Hi friends!

Gosh, it's been a while. As I sit here uploading photos, I think back 3 days ago when the temperature was 60 degrees, I look out the window now and see snow floating in the air.
 It's been a crazy week weather-wise. Ol' Man Winter is on his merry way.

About a week ago, I took on a personal challenge to sew up a quilt block from Jacquelynne Steves  who writes an e-magazine called Art of Home. I can't even remember how I found her or her
Block of the Month project, but I'm so glad I did!

She's also on facebook. (you should be proud of me learning to add a link here!)

 

 Why was this a challenge for me? Because I've done very little in the way of formal quilting. I've done several quilt-as-you-go projects (see below) and a few more crazy quilting things, but as far as cutting fabric in dimensions and ironing open seams and cutting at angles, I was scared!

 But I took it on none the less.

So here's my first block from the Sew Sweet Simplicity Block of the Month:

 

I think it turned out really well, at least for a beginner! No enlarging allowed here to peek at imperfect seam matches. I was so excited to make this and Jacquelynne's tutorial was so easy to follow. I am really looking forward to the next block!

 

I chose the colors based on my home's décor. We have lots of deep reds, beiges, olive green and black accents. This block will be among 5 more blocks that will be made into a lap quilt for the family room.

Here are a few more of the projects I've made using many of the same fabrics:

 

These are coasters (or mug rugs) that I made In-The-Hoop on my embroidery machine.

 There are 4 in the set, but one of them is MIA.

 

 

 

 

This is a square (duh) table topper that sits on an end table. Once again, it ain't perfect!

 

 

 

 

 

Above is a table runner that I have on a larger end table.

 

My mind is really wanting to learn more about quilting. While I wait for the second block to come out, I'm working on a Christmas tree skirt for my son.
That's another post.

I hope it won't take me 6 months to get it here.

 

 

Tell Me What You Want. What you really, really want!

 

 

Hi friends! I know it's been waaaay too long since I updated this blog. It's been on my mind more than I'd like to admit. I've thought so many times of writing a post, then I'd get busy...or lazy...or lack the confidence...or didn't take pictures...or just felt like no one would care.

Since my blog's beginning, my life has changed dramatically from being an unhappy, stressed-out middle school teacher. I am now a happy-go-lucky substitute teacher who works when I want, where I want and enjoys hobbies for the first time in many, many years! I know, I know... I'm a lucky one. I now enjoy sewing, time in the kitchen, books, traveling, gardening, being a Morkie mommy, long walks.

So here I am and want to know from you:

Should I continue this blog? What would you like to see and read here? If I don't hear from anyone (feel the pressure?), I'll get the message. I won't feel bad, I promise. Well, maybe for a day...but I'll recover.

Work In Progress

 

 

W.I.P.

 

I suppose most people have at least one unfinished project that haunts them. This is mine. It sits tucked away at the bottom of my sewing room closet, all rolled up in a laundry basket. Poor thing. It was started with such verve and anticipation and innocence...thinking that a few squares could be sewn together in a weekend to make a lovely quilt.

 

 

 

It didn't take long to prove myself wrong. I got it out again this past week while I'm on spring break. I reconnected with some of that verve. I made 2 more squares. Each square takes me about 90 minutes to sew. That does not include the time it takes to cut the strips.

 

 

I really didn't follow a pattern for this baby. I looked at some quilts online and had some ideas. It's definitely in the category of "quilt-as-you-go", meaning it's sewn and quilted onto the batting all at once. When all the squares are made ("when" is an open-ended term here), they are sewn together, attached to a backing and then sewn to a binding. I'm thinking I'd like a white sashing between the squares. Any thoughts on that? 

I like to lay it out and just let my eyes settle here and there. I try to imagine it covering our guest room bed. It'll get there someday. Someday when that verve beckons me back to the corner of my closet. For now, it's tucked away and collecting dustballs energy.

And just because today is the LAST freaking day of this never-ending winter, I'm posting my view out of my sewing room. Welcome, Spring, and all of the lusciousness you have to offer!