Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Monstrous pillow case with Blah Blah Blah fabric..


I picked up a half yard of this fabric last time I was at my in-laws at a different quilt shop we found, called Fabrications, in Healdsburg.




What to do with it?  Who knows.  But it was on sale, and for some reason it was calling out to me.  I used a tiny bit in a charity block, and when I had it out my son said, "Oh, can you make me a pillow case out of that?"  He LOVED it!! I told him there wasn't enough.  He answered, "But you can use it for the part at the END! Of the case. There's ENOUGH for THAT!!" Er... yes there is enough for that. I hate to be outsmarted by a 5-yr-old.



FF to FNSI and when I was at the store, (armed with my coupon/plus they were having a sale=yay!) to pick up a couple of fabrics to make some cases, I hear and see these, screaming, "Blah Blah blah," every last one of them:


A match made in heaven.  I love to make wacky pillow cases and my son, lucky for me, loves wacky pillow cases.  I'm pretty sure he'll love this one.




I changed his bedding and slipped it on his pillow while he was at preschool this morning..  it's waiting to surprise him at bedtime.


I think his love of the phrase "blah blah blah" comes from reading this book as a bedtime story.. it's a sweet story called The Gift of Nothing.


It was a baby gift five and a half years ago from a neighbor and it's been well loved.  When he was two and a half, he could recite the story as I turned the pages.  It doesn't have too many words and the pictures are simple, and it's a wonderful book with a sweet message.


He especially loves this page, which always brings giggles when I read it.


And now we have a "monstrosity" of a pillow case to remind us of it. 
I think it will be in our stack of bedtime story books tonight. :o)


I love him.
xo
Sunday, April 22, 2012

What's wrong with this picture?

Do you see it?


It appears that I made more than one boo boo with my FNSI projects. Did anyone notice when they visited my FNSI post?  If so, why didn't you tell me? lol  


I have looked at this block so many times, and only this morning, the mistake jumped out at me! Thank goodness! Good thing I caught it before I mailed it off. I think I am losing my mind sometimes!


If you ever see something that looks askew on my blog, feel free to tell me in case I haven't noticed yet. :o)  I even showed it to my husband to see if he could see it, and it took him a while to figure it out..  Call us the Slowskis. :o)  We catch on eventually. haha


Off I go to pick it out and put it the right way!


Hope you're all having a great Sunday. xoxo
Saturday, April 21, 2012

Friday Night Sew-In Results

Last night was FNSI, and Heidi and Bobbi teamed up with ConKerr Cancer; a case for smiles.. for a pillow case challenge.


I am both a cancer survivor, and a pillow-case-a-holic so I had my fabrics all ready to go. :o)


The first one is a girly one.. and I think it's my favorite. The picture doesn't do it justice.  


The second one is for a boy--approved by my 5 yr old quality control specialist.. well, after I figured out a way to fix the boo boo I made.


I forgot to fold the trim strip over when I pinned it in place and didn't notice until I had both the yellow and red sewn on, and edges zig-zagged. (the site said that they prefer finished seams) Not wanting to rip all that out, I decided to fold it under, pin it, and top stitch it down, so it's more of a band, instead of a flange. Does that even make sense?  It worked out well.  Crisis averted.




I will have to hide this one from my son.


Since I wanted to finish the edges,  I did zig zag on the trim edges, but the main seam I did with French seams.  That was only my second time to try French seams so it took a little longer.  


I also sewed up a couple of burp cloths and a wash cloth for a friend who just had a baby girl.  


This long strip of baby themed fabric came in a $1.99 scrap bag from Broadway Quilts the last time I was there.  I didn't know what to do with it, but then I decided to cut it into three sections and it worked out to be the right size for the two burp cloths, and the left-over square I made into a wash cloth.


They are backed with light yellow chenille. 


That is all I got done last night.. the rest of the things on my list, I finished this morning.


One more pillow case, for either a boy or girl--Froggies.


And my #4 Bee Block, in the scheme of red, pink, and green.  I used some 2 1/2" strips from the Sophie line for this one.


Everything is wrapped and ready.

Only TWO more Bee Blocks to go!




Looking forward to cruising around blog land later and seeing all the other pillow cases, and everything else that got sewn up around the world last night.  


Have a great weekend!
xo
Friday, April 20, 2012

Bee, Bingo, & FNSI

So excited to get sewing tonight for FNSI, but first, I need to say a huge THANK YOU to Sharon over @ Lilabelle Lane for this yummy Bee Block I received today!
I LOVE it!  Thanks Sharon!  It's always fun to see this in your mailbox--
--and know there's going to be something yummy inside!


I also received an email last night from Irene @ Hilachas telling me she had an extra card made for May for Me Bingo and would I please use it and join in?  I said sure, count me in, but I still am not clear on the rules and all that.  I'll be finding all of that out soon.  The deadline to link up is 4/22.  So here is the Bingo card-- (thanks Irene!)


This is the info for the card:


B - bird, handicap sign, telephone, flip-           flops, cat
I - pencil, duck, sun, umbrella, school bus
N - birdhouse, cherry, free space, lady bug, fire hydrant
G - tennis shoe, dinosaur, shirt, pajamas, owl
O - purple crayon, turtle, dog house, cup cake, boots
And the Bingo is being hosted by:
Now I need to go and link up to officially enter.
And start on my FNSI projects--
--pillow cases, a couple of burp cloths for a friend who just had a baby, and Bee Block #4.
Before I go.. here's a pic of my favorite "bear". :o) Who is enjoying himself some air conditioning for the first time this year.  Supposed to be hot this weekend, too!  Good thing we tried out the AC yesterday (it wasn't working) and had the repair guy come today and fix it!
  
Happy Sewing!! (can you hear him snoring?) :o)
Thursday, April 19, 2012

More Bee Blocks..

..and Thursday Think Tank.  Here is another sneak peak of Bee Block #2:


Which also had this Mary Englebreit fabric in it:


OH, btw, Target has lots of little Mary Engelbreit things in the dollar spot section at the front of the store right now.. bookmarks..


..note card packs, sticky notes, etc.  so cute.  All for $1.


Anyway, I got distracted!  Here is a sneak peak of Bee Block #3:


And another:


And a preview of #4:


Okay, I will just show you #'s 2 and 3.. I think my color choices could have been better, but they came out the right size this time!  Hooray for that.  :)








And thank you thank you to everyone who chimed in with advice or opinions re: my Bee Block #1 not coming out to size.  The majority opinion was to just send it on the way it is, and that is even what the recipient requested that I do.  But, I have decided to stick some of the gray and white fabric in the package along with it, in case she would like to sash it with one of the matching prints.  I appreciate all of your help!  


Now if only I can focus and get #4 sewn together tonight!  Tomorrow is Friday Night Sew-In.  Pillow case fabrics are ready!


With Bee Blocks on the brain, I'm linking up with Rebecca's Thursday Think Tank over at Making Rebecca Lynne.  It's been an eventful week here, I hope your week has been going more smoothly!  That's all I will say about that!


Happy Thursday! :)
Monday, April 16, 2012

Can you donate a block?

I recently read a blog I follow (Linda's Quiltmania) who'd read a blog she follows, who'd posted about this request for quilt blocks.  


Turns out the quilt will be auctioned off and Michele from Quilts From My Crayon Box is trying to collect 12.5" 8-point star blocks in the color scheme of red, white, and black.  Any 8-point star pattern.  She needs 20 to make a twin quilt, and if she gets at least 25 she can make it a queen.  She currently has 16.  Do you have a few minutes and some red, white and black scraps?


Here is the one I mailed off today. 



I threw in the baseballs b/c baseball was her nephew's favorite sport.  Please go read the touching story behind the quilt.  And if you feel inspired, stitch up a block and send it to Michele!


Thanks!!
xoxo


oh..and p.s.:


I don't think I will talk on the phone while I am pinning anymore. Too bad I didn't notice this BEFORE I sewed it up and had to unpick it. :)

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Hooray for Progress!

I'm so excited b/c tomorrow, I am going to Broadway Quilts again.. (on the way to visit the in-laws since A. is on spring break this week).. AND I am going to drop off my Swoon quilt top to be quilted.  I think there's a 6-week wait, but it will be worth it!


I also made a pillow case to drop off in their box of donated goods that they collect for the military.  The shop is very close to Travis AFB, and one of the veteran volunteers comes by the shop on a regular basis and collects whatever is in the box and it goes on the next flight out to the soldiers.  The shop owner told me that while they love quilts, they've been collecting pillow cases also, b/c if a soldier has been burned, often he can't stand a quilt touching him, but they love pillow cases.  Here is the one I made with fabric that I bought on my last visit to the shop.  Hopefully someone is a baseball fan.




I also pieced together this huge beast of a backing for my Swoon. I was drowning in red polka dots!

I finished cutting the white sashing for the RD&M diamond quilt. And couldn't wait to sew a couple together.. 

And kept having some fun with my Bee blocks.  #2 turned out the right size even. :o) (sigh of relief!)

Here is a little sneak peak of #2:

And #3 is in the planning stage:

This is quite possibly the most I've EVER accomplished in three days time.  I'm not too speedy, unlike some of you I know.. cranking out one spectacular finish after another.  I'm over here in the slow lane. lol  

Hope everyone's week is going well.  Buster says hello!
Can't you just hear him? ;o)

Looking forward to doing some blog surfing when we get back on Saturday to see what you've all been up to!  Gonna link up with Lee @ Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday.
xo
Sunday, April 8, 2012

A BEE question.. Help!

So I finally did a little fun sewing at my new sewing table, instead of just cutting!  Some Easter fun. :o)


After looking through the Modern Blocks book, and deciding on a block (with the help of my little sonny who said, "THAT one!!"), I started looking through fabrics.. and my first ever BEE block started to take shape.



And here she is:


I love how it turned out.. BUT.. here's my question and mild dilemma.  Since this is my first Bee, I don't want to be the one that does it all wrong. ;)  My block isn't square.. AND--if I square it up, it won't be quite 12.5".  The edges are kind of wonky and skewed.  


So my question:  Should I square it up, and then sew a small border around the whole thing to make sure it is 12.5", or should I let the recipient decide how she'd like to trim it, etc.?


If you were the recipient, which would you prefer?


Thanks in advance to anyone who chimes in with an opinion.  In the meantime, this little baby will sit folded up while I figure out what to do.


Other than the wonky edges/size issue, I really like how it turned out.  It's the "pathways" block designed by Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr.  Am I making another Bee blunder by saying that?  Is it all supposed to be kept a surprise until the recipients receive their blocks?  I'm such a Bee greenhorn.. I need some sort of Bee etiquette book. :o) How many times can I say Bee in one post?  hehe


Hope everyone has had a Happy Easter and a great weekend!  Thanks again for any tips that you have.
xo
Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Modern Sampler Bee Block

Wow.  I mean.. just.. Wow.  Check out the first block I received from Cat's Modern Sampler Bee.  They aren't due until June, but look how happy my mailbox was this week!  Leonie sewed hers up and mailed them pronto, and suddenly there it was.. in my box, all the way from Australia New Zealand. 


It's a 12 1/2" block, and I asked for bright rainbow-y colors, with grey background..  isn't it brilliant?  *LOVE*


I have been mulling over which block I will make for everyone and hoping that they will like them.. this is my first Bee.  Thank you so, so much, Leonie!!!  I adore it!  Beyond words! :o)  


If that wasn't enough happiness for my mailbox, look what else came.. I've had some luck in the contest department..


..Reuben the donkey pattern from Kathy's Friends with Benefits giveaway @ Sew Happy House,


..Dresden ruler, note cards and quilt pattern from Becky @ The Quilting Book Lady (St. Patrick's Day Blog Hop),


and these sweet, SWEET FQ's from the Berrima Patchwork Blog (St. Patrick's Day Blog Hop). I'm in serious love with the trailers. :o) I'm sleeping with them under my pillow tonight. Is that weird? LOL

One last thing.. if you have been thinking about adding any new quilt patterns to your collection, or have been thinking about getting the Kickin' Stash scrap pattern by Beth Helfter, head over to her blog and read her latest post.  She will be donating part of the proceeds of each sale of any one of her patterns to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund for the month of April.  She has a very personal connection to this cause, so new pattern, and raising money for cancer research?  I'm all in on that one.  Do head over there and read about it if you have a minute.

Happy Thursday!
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