A Project List update

So I was looking over my project list for everything I'd like to finish or complete this year... There's a lot on this list... Most of it is not going to get finished (or started).  Having a 10 month old and his two older brothers under foot all day and homeschooling seems to eat into my sewing time a lot.

With this in mind I thought it would be a good idea to update my list.  It's more for me than anything else, but I thought it might be fun to list it here.



I want to list my current UFO's (unfinished objects) on this blog so that I have a list to look back on, add to, remind myself and hopefully keep myself accountable to finishing.  I've separated them all into categories to make it easier to find and account for them.  This list includes both the things I've already begun and never finished and the stuff I want/need to start.

QUILTING

1. Finish HST Christmas Countdown quilt for my bed (Have to wait on this one since we will be getting a King size bed when we move).

2. Get the backing pieced for my AMH Stacks quilt (and then quilt it)

3. Put the binding on the 1974 quilt and list for sale

4. Bind the quilt mom made for me and I quilted

5. Finish piecing Jake's Star Trek quilt 



KIDS STUFF

1. Make taggie blankie for Ronan

2. Quilt and bind the 1/2 dozen baby quilt tops just hanging in my closet. (I did get them all quilted but haven't had time to bind yet).

3. Attempt to make some fabric blocks with scraps.  The small child will love them.

4. Make pillowcases for the boys in the new Super Hero theme (After talking with husband we decided to wait until we move into the new house to do any decorating for their room).

5. Make sheets for R's crib (While I still want to do this, we found a set at IKEA for cheap so this will probably never happen now and I'm okay with that).

6. Make bumper pads for R's crib


SMALL ITEMS

1. Quilt and bind the stack of patchwork mug rugs just sitting on a shelf, waiting to be finished. (Yay! I did it!).
2. Make a lot (read tons) of reusable unpaper towels.  Some for me, some for mom.  Probably some for friends.  Maybe even some for the shop.  

3. Make several sets of napkins for Christmas gifts in 2014

4. Make I Spy placemats for the boys lunchtime  Decided to wait until we move and make a matching scrappy set for everyone).

5. Put the binding on A and O's doggie mug rugs

6. Finish piecing the Christmas pillow covers (and then shove into a bin until 2014) (This is crossed off because I have no earthly idea where these pillow covers went to).

7. Make autumn pillow covers

8. Make the Thanksgiving pillow cover with the fabric I bought just for that purpose

9. Make scrappy patchwork square place mats for family ("i spy" style)  (After we move).

10. reusable nursing pads (my current ones put the disappearing socks to shame) (No longer nursing).

11. Scrappy dish towels (at least some for me.  some for others would be awesome too).



FOR THE SHOP

1. Flannel receiving blankets

2. Reusable wipes

3. burp cloth sets

4. Taggie blankets

5. knit monsters, birds and animals

6. Stroller quilts

7. reusable nursing pads


KNITTING

1. Monster Chunks (some for friends baby gifts and some for the shop)

2. Little Birdies (friends and shop)

3. Knit City Shawl for myself

4. Creme Brûlée sweater for R (I tried. The pattern doesn't like me).

5. New mittens for O

6. Mittens for myself

7. Mittens for Dad

8. New sweaters for A and O (Finished Odin's sweater.  Not sure I'll make one for Aiden.  He said the last one was too scratchy).

9. Neck warmer for my Love

10. Baby blanket for Nephew who's coming soon!  Finished!

11. knit toy balls for R and Nephew

12. knit Christmas light strands for next year

13. knit Christmas bulbs for tree and for next years gifts

14. Knit mini pine trees for next years decor

15. Knit mini pumpkins and acorns for fall decor

A Bit of Sewing and Some Knitting

So, I finally managed to get iPhoto to cooperate with me.  Turns out I had a few 10,000 too many photos for it to keep up with.  Oops.  I'm slowly working on weeding through my photos and in return, iPhoto has begun to work again (albeit slowly).  

Regardless of how slowly it's working though, I jumped at the chance to get these photos uploaded so I could share them.  

I made a whole set (8 or 9 I think) of these mug rugs/oversized coasters  one afternoon with a pile of scraps that had been sitting out on my sewing table for too long.  It was either that or sort and put away and I'm not a fan of putting fabric away.

The middle coaster is my favorite so far.  I love the center square with the feather and the teal background.  Makes me smile.  I bound them all in the black polka dot print.  To be honest, I had a large amount of it leftover from another project and was feeling lazy so I used it.  I'm so glad I did! I love it! I think it frames the rugs perfectly and draws attention to the beautiful fabrics.

I do have more of these finished but just didn't get a photo of all of them.  And the scraps? It doesn't look like I used any of them.  *sigh* I guess I'll have to make a table runner or something.  Or a mini quilt for the wall next to my sewing machine.  Or a whole bunch more mug rugs.  Anything to keep me from the dreaded task of putting fabric away.  Besides, it's too pretty to put away.

This little sweater (it actually looks much smaller than it is) was a gift for a very dear friend's baby girl.  I love knitting for little one's so this was such fun to make.  It uses super bulky weight yarn so it knits up so quickly and is wonderfully warm and snuggly (perfect for my Alaskan friends).  This was taken before blocking so it wouldn't lay smooth and I'm sorry to say I didn't get any more photos of it.

The knit blanket was a gift for Nephew.  I blocked it out in the sunshine the day before he was born and then quickly packed it up so we could start the 2 hour drive to meet him.

This photo of it all folded up is a more accurate depiction of the color.  It's called "marine" and while I can't remember which brand of yarn it is I know I got it from KnitPicks and it's a worsted weight.  The pattern I used was also from KnitPicks.  It was a downloadable pattern and I believe it's called "Welcome".  It makes the perfect size blanket to snuggle a little baby up in.  My sister-in-law says it's her favorite blanket to use for Nephew.  That makes me happy.

And the gnome hat I knit for my little Wiggles.  This was taken a few months ago and man has that kid grown since then, but the hat still fits.  I loved making this hat so much that I made a matching one for Nephew (they're only 8 months apart) and several in different colors for baby shower gifts.

This little guy just melts my heart every day.  He really is the sweetest little boy and he's so happy.  All the time.  Seriously.  I'm so lucky.  I've had 3 babies and they were all such happy little babies but this guy, he takes the cake.

Really though, when you have 2 older brothers who absolutely adore you and shower you with attention and love all day long, how could you not be happy? Oh, and, by the way, he's laying on the quilt I made him.  Love that quilt (and that boy)!

Another sweater I made for my Alaskan friends little girl.  I actually made two of these.  The other is just the same except the body is striped with the cream and a hot pink.  I managed to not get any photos of the other one.  Nuts.  I've got to do a better job at taking photos of all the cool stuff I make. I was working with a self-imposed deadline looming over me though so I was distracted.  I used organic cotton for the sweater and some sweet metal vintage buttons my mother-in-law gave me a little while back.  Worked perfectly for both of these sweaters.

And speaking of my mother-in-law, this is the mug rug I made for her.  She gave me the fish fabric and a few pieces of orange and turquoise and I pulled in the grey and a few of my own scraps to coordinate and fill it out.  I have to say this is one of my favorite mug rugs ever.  I love the colors and the sweet little fish, Splashy and Spooky, just make me smile.

I noticed after finishing this that the binding matches up almost perfectly (the orange and blue) and I did not even plan it so score! I finished it up with about 2" of fabric left after binding.  Don't think I could have planned that better.

 Since I had so much fun making the mug rug for my mother-in-law, I dug out my tiny scrappy bits of the same fish fabric and made this one for myself.  I just love it! I can't figure out how I want to quilt it yet so he's just hanging out next to my sewing machine for now, keeping me company.

Bjorn looks a little lonely though so I'll have to make him a friend soon.  Helen was giving him those big fishy eyes last week so we'll see.

That's all I got for now folks!

I'm here!

I am here and I'd love to post photos of all the knitting and sewing projects I've been working on (they're really cool!) but my computer is on strike right now and no photos will import (sad face).

I hope to post them soon.

A Quilt for my Granny

This quilt is very dear to me.  It was cut and pieced by my mom and quilted and bound by myself.  We made it together for my sweet Granny.  

 It was intended to be a Christmas gift for her, but the holidays were so busy with all the other making I had to do I set it aside and told my mom I'd get it finished and sent after Christmas.

I managed to finish it last week and got it sent off to her.  It was actually perfect timing as she had been very sick over Christmas and was in the hospital for a while.

My mom said she called and told her she opened the box while my Grampa was gone and was all snuggled up in it.  I'm so glad to have finished this for her.  I have a smile on my face thinking of her sitting in her favorite easy chair with this quilt draped over her legs.

Here's a close up of the quilting I did on it.  A new design to me but I had fun with it.  I have to be real though.  I completely dislike that you can see the quilting so much on the back.  Maybe it's more that you can see the thread color, not so much the quilting.  I know I'm being ridiculous about it, but it's just one of those personal quirks.  I don't like seeing quilting on the back.  

It looks wonderful on the front and everyone else that's seen it loves how the back looks so I'm not going to let it bother me.  I'm going to take the advice I often give my kids and "get over it". 

Anyway, it's finished.  It's lovely.  And it's in my Granny's hands.  I can't count this as a finish for 2014 though because I didn't actually make it.  I just quilted it.  

First Finish for 2014 & Fabric Fast Update

I made up this taggie blanket for a friend who is having her first girl in a few months.  She is emphasizing the princess theme and wouldn't you know it, I had this piece of princess fabric sitting right there.  Actually, all three of the fabrics in this were sitting together from a fat quarter stash builder set I'd purchased (don't worry, it was before I started my fabric fast).  

I have been collecting pretty ribbons for some time now and was thrilled to find a use for them.  I think I'll be making several more of these little taggie blankets.  Not only were they a breeze to whip up but they use a lot of my ribbon! 

The back is a soft pink minky.  I've had a bolt of this sitting around for a long time - like a few years - so I was pleased to use some more of that up.  I hope my friend loves it!

This little princess in glasses is my favorite! She's so adorable!

A List of Projects for 2014

I want to list my current UFO's (unfinished objects) on this blog so that I have a list to look back on, add to, remind myself and hopefully keep myself accountable to finishing.  I've separated them all into categories to make it easier to find and account for them.  This list includes both the things I've already begun and never finished and the stuff I want/need to start.

QUILTING

1. Finish HST Christmas Countdown quilt for my bed

2. Get the backing pieced for my AMH Stacks quilt (and then quilt it)

3. Put the binding on the 1974 quilt and list for sale

4. Bind the quilt mom made for me and I quilted

5. Make a quilt for a dear friend using the jelly rolls from my MIL

6. Finish piecing Jake's Star Trek quilt 

7. Make myself a scrappy disappearing 9-patch quilt with bright fun colors

8. Make a quilt for my Aunt C's Christmas in 2014

9. Navy & Red quilt for our bed



KIDS STUFF

1. Make flannel receiving blankets for all the babies that have recently been and are soon to be spawned

2. Make taggie blankie for Ronan

3. Make fabric crinkle toys for Ronan and my friends offspring

4. Quilt and bind the 1/2 dozen baby quilt tops just hanging in my closet.

5. Attempt to make some fabric blocks with scraps.  The small child will love them.

6. Make pillowcases for the boys in the new Super Hero theme

7. Make Super Hero curtains for boys room

8. Make sheets for R's crib

9. Make bumper pads for R's crib

10. Make pants for R


SMALL ITEMS

1. Quilt and bind the stack of patchwork mug rugs just sitting on a shelf, waiting to be finished.

2. Make a lot (read tons) of reusable unpaper towels.  Some for me, some for mom.  Probably some for friends.  Maybe even some for the shop.

3. Make several sets of napkins for Christmas gifts in 2014

4. Make I Spy placemats for the boys lunchtime 

5. Put the binding on A and O's doggie mug rugs

6. Finish piecing the Christmas pillow covers (and then shove into a bin until 2014)

7. Make autumn pillow covers

8. Make the Thanksgiving pillow cover with the fabric I bought just for that purpose

9. Make scrappy patchwork square place mats for family ("i spy" style)

10. reusable nursing pads (my current ones put the disappearing socks to shame)

11. Scrappy dish towels (at least some for me.  some for others would be awesome too).



FOR THE SHOP

1. Flannel receiving blankets

2. Reusable wipes

3. burp cloth sets

4. crinkle toys

5. Taggie blankets

6. knit monsters, birds and animals

7. Stroller quilts

8. reusable nursing pads


KNITTING

1. Monster Chunks (some for friends baby gifts and some for the shop)

2. Little Birdies (friends and shop)

3. Knit City Shawl for myself

4. Creme Brûlée sweater for R

5. New mittens for O

6. Mittens for myself

7. Mittens for Dad

8. New sweaters for A and O

9. Neck warmer for my Love

10. Baby blanket for Nephew who's coming soon!

11. knit toy balls for R and Nephew

12. knit Christmas light strands for next year

13. knit Christmas bulbs for tree and for next years gifts

14. Knit mini pine trees for next years decor

15. Knit mini pumpkins and acorns for fall decor


Wow.  That's a lot of stuff to make… I have no illusions that I will get all of this stuff done this year.  If I even manage to get 1/4 of it finished this year, I'll be one happy girl.

Fabric Fast & Intervention

So, in a few days I will begin a fabric fast for 6 months.  Yes, I know… I'm about to go crazy thinking of all the gorgeous lines coming out in a few months that I will not be able to purchase! sigh It will be good great for me though.  If you could see my stash (which tomorrow's post will highlight) you would be embarrassed for me.  It fills a closet, an armoire, shelves in my bedroom and has begun to take over my garage.  I need help.  Lots of help.  And support.  So I have joined together with a group of like-minded people to help me out, give encouragement and keep me from going insane when all those beautiful new fabrics start popping up everywhere.  

Here's the rules for Fabriholics Anonymous

GOALS:

- To use the Stash I already have! (well I bought it because I liked it right? So… I should use it!)

- Finish UFOs without distraction by shifting to other new beautiful fabric. (I have so, so many UFO's.  They must be dealt with and either sold in my shop or gifted to lucky friends and family or I could actually make something for myself for a change).

- Stop the insanity of constantly buying the latest and greatest fabric.  (There's no sense buying this beautiful fabric and then letting it collect dust on a shelf.  The world deserves to see these fabrics in all their glory).

- Save the $$$ I spend on stashing.  (Really, seriously.  This is a good enough reason by itself to do this fast.  We are saving for our new house and I'm a huge suck on the fundage right now. Just being real!)

- Destash the fabrics that I realize I am never going to use. (I have already begun this actually a few months ago and have given away so much. Still doesn't look like it.)

FABRIC FAST RULES:

1) No fabric purchases for 6 months beginning January 1, 2014.  (I get heart palpitations just reading this!) 

2) At 6 months reevaluate status and decide whether to keep going for full year.  Evaluation July 1, 2014.  (I can already say without question I am going to continue this fast the entire year.  I just have too much! But … I am going to evaluate what I used/made the most during the first 6 months and decide if I need anything to continue. I'm also allowing myself a few splurges on July 1st for any fabrics I've been completely lusting over these next 6 months.)

3) Create a UFO list and complete them!  (God I do not look forward to this list.  It will be epic.)

4) Exceptions

• Backing: purchasing a backing to finish a quilt top is permissible.  However, attempting to use fabric in your possession for a backing is preferable.
• Books and Magazine purchases are allowed as they are not fabric.  Notions acceptable too.
• Swap Fabric: if hosting/participating in a swap you are permitted to buy fabric to execute swap duties, but you may not join a swap simply for the sake of being able to buy fabric!
• Items for Shop: if you are making an item for a client and need certain fabric to execute it correctly then that is a major exception - who can blame you? But, stash should be consulted first!

Look out for tomorrow's post which should be filled with photos of my insane amount of fabric.  I figure if I put the pictures here for everyone to see, then it will embarrass me enough make me start using it.  Wish me luck! I'm off to buy more fabric! (What? I've got 2 more days!).

For anyone looking to join this group or follow along with all of us, here's the link.