completely random

I haven't been doing a lot of sewing this week - mainly because I haven't been feeling good - forever plagued by migraines :( 
If any of you have had one you know exactly what I'm talking about!  I made a trip to my sister who is conveniently a chiropractor and she gave me the Owusu special (2 hours away - wish she was closer).  I just got home and am feeling better. 
The last few days I've been thinking - "what am I going to put on my blog?  I don't have anything crafty to show off.....
So, in lieu of crafty, quilty goodness - here are some random addictions of mine.  Maybe some of you will relate.

I'm addicted to reality TV.

Two of my favorite people in reality tv land are:

Jeff Lewis

Betheny Frankel

I just don't understand why my husband doesn't find it as funny as I do.  Is it me?  A female thing?  Not sure, but regardless, they're hilarious, no question.

I'm addicted to my iPhone

I can't seem to do anything without my iPhone - I might need counseling.  However, I know my mom has the same issues - maybe there's group counseling out there?  Something to think about.....

I'm addicted to the color Pink. 

I love color in general, but if it comes in pink it just makes me happy.  Well my daughter and I were watching tv the other night and we stumbled upon a show called my strange addiction.  Have you ever seen it?  Crazy huh?  Well, they had a woman who LOVED the color pink!  Even her dog was pink.  I like pink, but this is carrying it a bit far.



 And of course I'm addicted to fabric

I did manage to make it to the fabric store.....again.  Hey, I HAD to get the last of the fabric I needed for the fabric swaps!  A couple extra prints just jumped in - it wasn't my fault :)

Here's a pic of some of my goodies

I got some of the new Alexander Henry - pretty excited about that :)

Another WIP

Since my half moon modern project is on hold until my fabric comes in the mail I was looking for a new project to start.  I really couldn't and shouldn't spend more money on fabric so I thought I'd see what I could do with what I have.  Which, by the way, isn't much since I haven't been doing this for years like some of you out there. 

On Sunday I was playing around with scraps and made this cute little pincushion

 Do you like my fuzzy pillow?  JC, the cat, sure seems to think it's the best.  It's a wonder you can't see all the cat hair!

I filled it with crushed walnut shells.  I Love, Love, Love pincushions!  And I've seen some cute stuff out there!

And then when I was done with that I tried to do some improv quilting.  That didn't last long - for some reason I was getting bored.  So yesterday on my way home from the quilt store (I didn't buy anything - just had to get my daily fix) I was thinking about some Michael Miller daschund fabric I had bought a while back and just never did anything with.  The whole way home I was trying to picture how I could use it in a quilt.  I didn't get real far, but this is what I have so far. 

Cutting out all those dogs is a pain!  And again, I didn't continue because I have some of Michael Miller's ta dot line coming soon in the mail.....I know, I know - addicted!  In fact my husband had to move a pile of fabric to sit on the couch last night and said, "we've got fabric coming out of the walls in here" (okay, I edited a bit, but you get the point). 

I don't think he understands completely.  He should be thankful - I don't have a FRACTION of what my mom has!

I just love fabric - the colors, designs, everything!!!

yes, another fabric swap

Swap is Full - Thanks everyone!!

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What can I say?  We are all fabric hoarders and addicted to online fabric swaps!  I've been exercising some self control.  I haven't signed up for every single fabric swap out there.....kind of.  I figure if I host them I save on shipping costs - right?
Whatever the reason, here is another swap except this one has a twist!  That's right, a bit of a change.

We are swapping three different types of fabrics!

1.   i spy
2.   polka dot
3.   stripes

This swap is open for 56 participants - US only (sorry - I don't have a paypal account set up yet to accept shipping payments).  I am saying 28 and if I get a large response I'll open to 56.
Each person will purchase 3 DIFFERENT yards of fabric. 
One yard will be an i spy print.  When I say i spy I mean a novelty print.  Here are some examples:










Your second yard will be a polka dot print.  I'm not going to separate us into groups or colors - just please make sure we don't duplicate prints or have too much of one color.
Finally, your third yard of fabric will be a stripe.  Again, I'm not going to assign a color, but try to make sure we don't have too much of one color group.  We are looking for a variety.

You need to press and cut your fabric into 5x5" squares. Each yard should yield 56 squares or "charms". When cutting fabric be careful because 1 yard of fabric will give you 56 charms but not a lot of waste.  I usually buy a little extra just to be safe.  Each person will send in 168 charms total and receive 168 charms.
Here's the breakdown:
Send in 56 i spy prints and receive 56 i spy different prints back.
Send in 56 polka dots and receive 56 different polka dots
Send in 56 stripe prints and receive 56 different stripes back.
I have started a flickr group and will use that so people can coordinate with members so fabric is not duplicated.  Please head on over and become a member so I know everyone is participating.
You can find the flickr group here: i spy flickr group

Fabric Rules and Requirements
All fabric must be new, unwashed and come from a smoke-free home.
Must be quality, quilt shop, designer fabric - no JoAnns, Michaels, Hancocks, or Hobby Lobby Fabric please.

There is no cost to this swap, just the cost of fabric and your time of course! You will need to send your fabric in with a prepaid, self-addressed stamped envelope - USPS priority mail so I can use that to mail you your beautiful charms.
Fabric will be due by April 28th.  I am going out of town the fist week of May, so I'd like to send everyone's packages out before I go.
I will try and keep an eye on sign ups and take down the form when I have enough people.  If I don't get to it right at 28 people I apologize :(  Either way, I will keep you posted.
That's it for now - please email with any questions you might have!!!  Below is the sign up form - please complete and submit so I have your information.

Good news and Bad news

Well - Good news first.  My mom and I went on a shop hop yesterday and traversed the west side of Michigan!  Started at 7:00 am and returned at 7:00 pm.  12 whole hours of fabric shopping!!  It was a lot of fun, but by the end of the day I was beat.  We made it to 9 different quilt shops and found some great prints. 

Some Pinks for my collection

My mom was picking up prints for a couple fabric swaps and then for her New York Beauty.  I bought the last prints I needed for my fabric swaps and then whatever I "had to have" I bought!  Before going my husband sent me a text message saying, "have fun and please, please don't spend our life savings on fabric".  Funny right?  Not sure if he was trying to be funny or if he was serious.....I told you I'm quite obsessed with fabric!
Anyway, here are some more:

For my future black and white quilt

And here's everything I bought....oh so pretty

Okay, and the bad news....
because I was traveling all day I didn't get any quilting done, so I don't have anything fun to show you.  AND to make it worse I probably won't get any quilting time today either.  I need to clean the house - Ughhh, and sort fabric for the swap - better, and prepare for my daughter to have a friend spend the night......wish me luck.
Alina is an only child so I'm not used to having multiple children running around. The plan is to get them from school, go to the mall, get pizza and survive the rest of the night. They are pre-teens, and have informed me they are going to be really, really, really, really hyper.....groan!  Now, here's the worst part - my husband is out of town so I will be suffering alone!
Whew - might warrant a cocktail with the pizza!!!

Finished!

I finally finished up my hubby's quilt....well kind of.  I did most of the quilting and threw the binding on so I could give it to him for his birthday.  I still have quite a bit of quilting to do.......maybe tomorrow ;)

Everyone's pics on their blogs look so nice and mine never seem to turn out that great.  I originally used my iphone, then rummaged around until I found my canon camera - still not so great.  So, I called my dad who is really talented when it comes to photography, and asked if he'd help me out.

We went down to the beach and here they are -

I even figured out how to place a watermark on them!!!  Pretty crafty, this girl....
Here's one I took myself

WIP - Half Moon Modern

Ok - here's what I've been working on even though it's been hard to get motivated.  It's been sunny and an average of 70 degrees outside!  I'm in Michigan and this NEVER happens!  We usually still have snow on the ground or it's muddy and rainy.  Hard to stay in the basement sewing when it's so nice.
Anyway - I bought this charm pack of half moon modern awhile ago and had no clue what I was going to do with it, but couldn't resist :)

Started cutting it all up the other day with the intention of doing a fun chevron baby quilt....

Laid it out on the floor so I could decide on a pattern.........

Do you see a problem???????
I have about four teal blocks and a couple grey left - that's it!!
I don't know how I got an abundance of one color and just a few of the yellow and orange.

Now I know I'm new to this sewing thing, but is that common?  This was a charm pack I bought - and I can't remember if it was disclosed as being a random selection or what.  When buying a pack from a collection are the prints random or pretty even in number?

Guess I have to search for some more!......

Darn

Giveaways!!!

Who doesn't love free fabric?  I think I've said this before, but I am addicted to fabric and if I had a money tree in my yard I would need a storage space for my endless stash of fabric.
Unfortunately, I don't have a tree producing money, but blogs hosting giveaways are the next best thing!  I haven't won one yet, but I always keep my fingers crossed!
I found this blog and it's great!  It lists all the free giveaways in one spot!




www.onestopgiveawayshop.blogspot.com



I was pretty excited when I stumbled upon this - check it out!  Couple of flea market fancy giveaways going on.....

St Patricks Day...OR....National Quilting Day?

Happy St Pat's!!  Will everyone be drinking green beer?  Maybe watching some basketball on tv?  Did you know today is also National Quilting Day...I think.  I'm geting conflicting information.  Anyway, we can pretend it is and have an excuse to maybe buy more fabric?

fat quarter bundle from pinkchalkfabrics.com

some green inspiration perhaps?



I'm hoping to get some sewing in later this afternoon. 

Back to work on my husbands quilt.....and then I think I'll tackle a smaller project!  Those large quilts are beasts to quilt.

Pinterest....and the Periodic Table of Sewing

Now I know there are some differing opinions about pinterest, and I can see both sides.  Sometimes we don't give/get credit where credit is due. 
However, I cannot stay away!  I think it's a wonderful place to find great inspiration or maybe just something to make you smile.

I was perusing again tonight and found this

I went to the source and a free printable can be found at thescientificseamstress.blogspot.com
She also posted some pics of her organized workspace, which is what originally drew me to her site.  Look at all these pretty fabrics!

Fabric Friday

Before work on friday I made time to go to my local quilt shop to see if I could find some goodies for the fabric swap.  I've been having commitment issues when it comes to fabric, however.  I just think, "Is that the one?  Maybe I'll find something I like more". 
Such choices!  The closest fabric shop (besides JoAnn's) is about 20 miles away and it's not huge, so the selection is ok, but not great.  So I always think - "well maybe I'll go here or here next week".  For whatever reason I just couldn't pull the trigger.
I did find one fabric for the swap but that's it - I guess I'll just have to go again (darn)!
This is what I came home with.....mind you my color assignments are red and orange.

The red polka dot is for the exchange, but everything else is just because I'm obsessed with red and aqua right now.

I just can't resist pretty fabric!

Fabric Swaps

My charm swap is full, and everyone else's swaps seem to fill so quickly!  I'm thinking that there are not enough swaps to go around!
I'm thinking about hosting another, but would love some feedback on what people are looking for or like....

• Rainbow
• 5x5'' squares
• Layer Cakes
• I Spy
• The bigger the better?
• 2, 3, or 5 yards?
• Japanese Fabrics

What should we do? 

Pinned...Now time to Quilt

whew!  my back hurts - that's all I can say!
My husbands birthday is on monday so I'm trying to scramble and get his quilt done.  I've had the last 6 days off from work and feel like I haven't really accomplished much, and now it's back to work, back to work!! 
Ughhh
piecing done, borders on, pinned and ready to go!

Someone wanted to help....

 This is Emma, my baby dog

Now to decide on the quilting......

I've got fabric on the brain

Could it be the charm swap? Or is it that I have no self control? Whatever the reason I've got my eyes on these beauties....

Photos from Fabric Bubb

Full Moon Polka Dot Bundle, Lotus Collection, Amy Butler for Westminster Fabrics

And this one would be perfect for an I Spy Swap

Cassette Tapes, Retro Music, by Timeless Treasures

cassettes?  love it!

Charm Swap Sign up Form

The swap is full - thanks to everyone for signing up!

I will be emailing everyone with colors and final details

who doesn't love pinterest??

I know this doesn't have a WHOLE lot to do with quilting, but we all need some random in our lives right? 
I have recently been introduced to pinterest by my sister and all I can say is....I'm addicted!  I love everything about it - kind of like quilting I guess.  If I'm not surfing my favorite blogs I'm most likely on pinterest looking for anything really. 
I always find something worth pinning on a daily basis, but this one had me laughing out loud, hilarious!

from pinterest via google.com

I'm at the computer laughing and my eleven year old daughter is like, "I don't get it"

good, you shouldn't!!

there's something about a quilt

I always say..."there's just something about a quilt."
Not sure what it is, but they're inviting, cozy, warm, comforting...the list goes on.  Like I said before, I was raised around women who quilted.  Anniversaries, weddings, birthdays, graduations, new births...what do you give?
A quilt!  I'm not complaining because obviously, I do enjoy quilts!  Ever since my mom forwarded information on the modern quilt guild i've been hooked!  I have always loved quilts, but modern quilting is so much fun and just my style!

 how cute is she?

See???  Even dogs can't resist a good quilt!

Charm Swap Update

Still trying to get a group together, but I've got all the details sorted out and here's how it's going to work:
This swap is open for 28 participants - US only
Each person will purchase 3 yards of fabric.  They will be assigned a color along with 1-2 other people.  The colors are red, pink, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, aqua, black and grey.
You need to cut your fabric into 5x5" squares.  Each yard should yield 56 squares or "charms".  Each person will send in 168 charms and receive 168 charms.
I have started a flickr group and will use that so people can coordinate with their fellow group members so fabric is not duplicated.
You can find the flickr group here flickr group link

Fabric Rules and Requirements
All fabric must be new, unwashed and come from a smoke-free home.
Must be quality, quilt shop, designer fabric - no JoAnns, Michaels, Hancocks, or Hobby Lobby Fabric please. 

There is no cost to this swap, just the cost of fabric and your time of course!  You will need to send your fabric in with a prepaid, self-addressed stamped envelope so I can use that to mail you your beautiful rainbow charms. 

That's it for now - please email with any questions you might have!!!

Rainbow Fabric Charm Swap 2012

Well, unfortunately, I missed out on the color wheel charm swap hosted by from the blue chair so my mom and I are going to host our own.  We are hoping to get 56 joiners so we can swap 5 yards of fabric.  I have started a group on flickr so please join here.

More info to come.....