Didjya ever....?

Have you ever made some pieces and then tried to put them together and discovered that they just don't go together? This was my problem yesterday:

I had made these two blocks to go together as a mug rug. Two problems: 1) even though they are the same fabrics, they just don't go together, and 2) that would be one GIANT mug rug. Now, they are two mug rugs. Aha! Problem solved. Will post completed mug rug photos later.

Can we talk about the name "mug rug" for a minute? I hate it. Is there another name that I can use?
Please help me come up with something else to call it.

Get your sew on!

Finally got some work done.

Happy Friday!

I'm so glad the week is over. I finally got a chance to get some sewing done. I completed two bee blocks yesterday and a block for a mug rug (herringbone - yay!). I also started knitting some golf club socks for my dad for Father's Day - I hope he likes them. I figured it was better than a tie and it will keep me busy. Here is what my day looked like yesterday:

baby quilt layout - still need to sew these together and finish the top.

woven block for simply solids bee - I really like how this one turned out. The colors are wonderful!

Foundation piecing Lone Star Burst block for Beeful of Paper.

A spy.

Finished Lone Star block for Beeful of Paper

Herringbone block - not sure I really am loving this block - but it can be turned into something good.

Sock for driver - it only has one stripe. I can't wait to make the big fluffy pom-poms for the tops of these.

 

 

 

Golf club socks were a truly inspired idea. He probably won't like them, but maybe he can be persuaded to use them if some nice cigars are included in the box.

Have a great day and get some work done yourself!

Just visiting

Before I get to sewing today - my first time sitting down at my machine in over a week - I thought I would take some time to visit all the current blogs in the "get acquainted blog hop" I'm participating in. Please stop by and visit these lovely blogs in the next few weeks:

New Blogger Blog Hop Participant Schedule

Friday, June 7th

Nancy @ Owen's Olivia

Amy @ 13 Spools

Ashley @ Wasn't Quilt In A Day

Casey @ The Studiolo 

Nanette @ Yeah, I Made That

Ange @ Heart Of Charnwood

Kim @ Robot Mom Sews

Erica @ Kitchen Table Quilting

Friday, June 14

Julie @ Jolie Maxtin

Melissa @ Melia Mae Quilting

Adrianne @ On The Windy Side

Molli @ Molli Sparkles

Laura @ Little And Lots

Sarah @ Duck Egg Threads

Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

Cari @ There's A Thread

Valerie @ Between Quilts

Friday, June 21

Leigh Anne @ Ella's Cottage

Stacey @ The Tilted Quilt

Sarah @ Quilt Candy

Jackie @ NW Patchwork

Liz @ Beadqueene's Bits And Baubles

Erica @ Happy Fabric

Stephanie @ Simple Sewendipity

Lauren @ Seraphym

Amy @ Cloud CouCou Crafts

Friday, June 28

Green @ So Sew Green

Gwendellyn @ The Rainbow Revolts

Jessica @ Stitched In Thyme

Amira @ Little Mushroom Cap

Kathy @ Kayak Quilting

Michelle @ Factotum Of Arts

Paula @ The Sassy Quilter

Kris @ Sew Sunshine

Camilla @ Faffling

Friday, July 5

Christa @ Christa Quilts!

Alyce @ Wonderland By Alyce

Anna @ The Crooked Banana

Rachel @ Sew Happily Ever After 

Stephanie @ Quarter Incher

Shayla @ Sassafras Lane Designs

Caroline @ Carolines Craftiness

Lisa @ Hilltop House Creative Works

Fridau, July 12

Leona @ Leona's Quilting Adventure

Karen @ Karen, {Novice} Quilter

Anne @ PlayCrafts

Rachel @ Let's Begin Sewing...

Jan @ Sew And Sow Farm

Anna @ Quilting Along The Grain

Cath @ Wombat Quilts

Sarah @ {No} Hats In The House

Friday, July 19

Karen @ Little Birdie Quilting Studio

Kathy @ Kwilty Pleasures

Katie @ Snuggle Up With A Dish From Karma 

Alison @ Making Happyness

Ella and Nesta @ Ella & Nesta's Little Room

Adrienne @ Chezzetcook Modern Quilts

Nicole @ Modern Handcraft

Aylin @ AyliN-Nilya

Kelsey and Amanda @ Everyday Fray

Friday, July 26

Vicki @ A Quilter's Mission

RobinSue @ RobinSue Quilts

Elisa Lea @ Lovelea Designs

Elizabeth @ In The Boon Docks

Jenny @ A Note To Follow Sew

Lorna @ Sew Fresh Quilts

Sonia @ Fabric & Flowers

Emily @ Sew E.T.

Em @ Sewing by Moonlight

So far, I've really been inspired by the blogs and projects I've seen. So, get acquainted, leave a comment, maybe even subscribe to some blogs. My hop day is 6/28 and I will be having a giveaway of some lovely fabric - so please remember to check that out.

Happy hopping!

 

Sick.

My daughter has been so sick that I haven't had time to do anything other than take care of her for a whole week. My mother-in-law just got into town today and I didn't even have the time to clean my house as well as I usually do when she comes to visit. I will have to rectify this tomorrow.

smiling despite her 103 degree fever

Mama needs a brewski

late night strip cutting

I don't wanna cut into my mustache fabric (wah!)

 

 

 

 

I have a lot of strips cut for the herringbone blocks and I have a ton of UFOs right now. I really need to finish something. I have really been at a good creative place, but I don't just work on something until it's finished. I'm more likely to start something and get going on it and then stop and start something new the next time I sit down to cut and sew. Who else has the non-finishing problem? Do ya'll get sidetracked by all the new, shiny fabric, too? UGH! It's unavoidable. I just keep buying and buying and then looking and petting. Then I decide I want to make something and I have to buy MORE fabric - especially for that project. It's a disease, I tell you!

Now go and finish something!

Something new

Okay. That's it. I'm tired of the same ole, same ole. I need to break out and try something new today. I'm really gonna do it. I'm going to try and sew some curves. I'm participating in the Ellison Lane  Modern Mini Quilt Challenge and I have to do something new for it. I'm excited. I'm a little bit sleepy, but I think I can pull it off. I just need to get out my retro flowers templates out and my curve master foot and get to it. Photos later this afternoon.

Penelope is sick again. She has been sick a lot these last six months and I'm sure that it's due to school. Being around all of those kids is not good for anyone. I'm so happy to be home with her now, even if we did have to stay up until this morning.

So-sew... get to it.

June Goal Setting

I started cutting on some baby quilts and I will say that I will finish at least one by the end of the month. Here are the photos of my cutting:

I did end up going to WalMart and getting some cheap-o fat quarters for these projects. Today I ran over to Hancock's for some muslin for the other side of the HSTs. I ended up getting the fabric for an additional 10% off because I was a patient customer (I'm glad my willingness to wait gets me treats sometimes).

Tonight I'm going to cut up the white and get started on the HSTs. I should finish them all and be well on my way.

Another and another

Has anyone ever known that you quilt or knit or make something and they decide (quite randomly, I might add) that they are going to purchase something from you. Yet, they have never seen your work and you think they may be expecting something very different than what you tend to make?

This is all cryptic, maybe, but my mother told me yesterday that my aunt wants to buy a baby quilt from me once she knows if the baby she is buying for is a boy or a girl. Now, this is great - it would be my first quilt sale. However, I don't have baby quilts lying around - I would have to make some. Also, my aesthetic is not to make "boy" or "girl" baby quilts. I tend to make bright color, unisex, baby quilts. Modern baby quilts. I use black and white and high contrast colors for baby quilts since that's what babies can see. So, I decided that I wanted to make a herringbone baby boy quilt (I'm calling it baby boy, but it could be for a girl). I cut 2" strips of several of my very special fabrics last night and I'm a little bothered by it because I thought, what if she is expecting something very different and doesn't want to give my version of a baby quilt away? What if she doesn't buy it? I suppose I need more direction, but what is a designer/artist/crafter to do? I didn't intend to make a baby quilt right now, much less two and I wasn't aware that I was making commissioned items currently. I could just go to Jo-Ann's and get some less-than-special fat quarters and make two less-than-special baby quilts. It's just so not who I am right now. I wanted to only make things that I want to make and if I wanted color direction, I would specify that on etsy. I also have no problem making something if someone buys the materials for the project. I've knitted many a Harry Potter scarf.

On a lighter note, I want to make an, I think it's called an arrow quilt? It has triangles and it's really awesome. I was trying to think of how they are made and I figured it out in my sleep last night. I really want to start on it today, but I've got my daughter all day (two days a week, she spends the afternoon with her Bubbe) today and I need to think of something for us to do. Plus, I really need to wear out the dog. The poor puppy has so much energy and needs an outlet so she doesn't drive us all nuts in the evenings. Maybe a trip to Wal-Mart is in order to get ...bleeeeeck... baby quilt fabric?