June Already?

Where is this year going, my friends?

And where have I been?

Life is, as usual, hectic. I have basically been sick since we came back from vacation. I've had a horrific case of Mono, resulting in many hours of just sleeping or lazing around.  I'm not entirely over it, but I have been working on a few things...

My Mother-in-law was kind enough to send me some pewter wire for making some Sami bracelets.
I went through 10 meters in just a few days, but I had so much fun making them.

This is one of a handful of viking knit chains and cabochon pendants I made by hand. I will be selling them at my next Preservation Station appearance. 

I made my sisters prom dress. 

One of several cross stitch pieces...

My love of making totes is well known, here's one I recently made with some Paris themed duck and tan canvas.

Another dress in progress for my sister, this one of my own design! No pattern used, and I'm pretty darn proud of it.

Multicolored Lattice Quilt. I was going to sell it, but I have fallen in love with it.

A handmade antler ring with inlay sapphire

Etched sugar skull wine glass, gifted to my Mom on mothers day. 

February Project

Here is my completed February project, on this, the first day of March. 

I realized yesterday afternoon that if I was truly going to stick to my goal, I needed to finish this. 

All that I had left to do was bind it, but that's my least favourite part of quilting. 

Well, next to ripping seams, that is.

It was a challenge binding something so large, and the sheet backing was impossible to make stiff so there are a couple of spots on the back edges where the sheet ''buckled'' on me, and I had to put in a few extra stitches to keep it down.
So frustrating. 

This was also a hard quilt to work on for other reasons.
Normally a simple design like this wouldn't have taken me months to complete, but it's made from my Papaw's shirts.
There were times when I would start to work on it, and I just couldn't shut my mind down.
I miss my Papaw very much, but I was so honored to be able to make this.

I know he would be proud of it, and happy that his wife has it as a reminder of him.

My March Goal: Use up all this fabric I have for bags!
I have SO much cute fabric, duck, denim, cotton, all waiting to be made into these cute totes I have been doing lately. 

I'm trying to mix them up a little.

You can see the last is just a plain tote , no pockets, or zippers or hardware.

I also did a little organizing in my sewing room yesterday.

It's even more organized now, this was before I put all my fabric away. The two shelves are ALMOST full of fabric. I imagine, to most other quilters, my stash is quite small.

To my husband, the entire closet seems to be stacked with fabric.
I wish.

:)

Bandana Blanket and a Cozy Valentines!

Hello!

It's been a pretty active week, though most of my activity has not been all that crafty.
My physical therapy for my foot is going well, but I'm experiencing extreme back pain that isn't getting any better, even with hourly stretching. I also spent a few days sick, but that didn't keep me from making an adorable little cake for my Swede for Valentines Day!

It is a 6x2 inch round white cake, with vanilla cream frosting and red fondant.

The heart on top is actually the bottom part of a devil's food heart shaped cupcake, also iced and covered in fondant.
I made the roses using stiff icing colored red with gel food coloring!
It is quite tasty, and not too much for us to enjoy together.
Actually, each day of the week I gave Husband something, everything from cards, to his favourite Monster flavour, to candy.

He got an adorable little plant for me. Potted mini roses!

I love them, and I can't wait for spring to come so I can put them outside in the sun and watch them bloom!

I shared this picture on my Facebook page, and it will be the last photo I share until the quilt is finished...

This will probably not be finished until March or April, so I kind of cheated and worked on my March project... Ok, so I didn't just work on it, I finished it!

I made the bandana top a while ago, 6+ months at least, and have had it in a drawer just waiting to be finished.

I hadn't really planned on finishing it, but my other quilt is very time consuming and I had the desire to get something DONE.

I will either sell it, or give it as a present to someone this year. It's not really my flavour...

Unlike these paintings I did this week.

I haven't painted in so long, but a good friend of mine just got her first apartment on her own,

and I felt that art was the perfect gift!

Who doesn't love some unique, hand painted art works?

I haven't done much painting or drawing lately, because of carpal tunnel.

My hands and arms often go numb when gripping things like pencils and paintbrushes, and sometimes even cups.

Sewing is a much easier activity on my hands, especially when I can use pre-cuts. :)

12 Months of Sewing Challenge: UPDATES

     I have to say, that the last week I have really enjoyed my blog. I had forgotten for a while why I began writing it. Truthfully, I love creating of all kind. I love my sewing, and my crafting, and I love sharing everything I do with the world. And even if I have no comments or followers, every time I see that I have views, my heart gives a little flutter and I am so thankful that I am reaching anyone!

My sewing/crafting challenge is going really well!
I'm actually surprised at how much I have been getting done. 

My January project was completely in a timely fashion, and I love using my Dala Horse quilt.

Here's a few pictures of other things I completed in January

A bear for my sister, made from our Papaw's shirts

I painted this setee, and also the side table for our bedroom!

A Hobbit I sculpted, for our Hobbit themed terrarium!

February has been off to a great start as well, I am almost done with my memory quilt for my Grandma out of my Papaw's clothes!

I've got it basted and ready for quilting now, but here is the top!

A sneak preview of my next quilt. One block down for this full size quilt!

Another thing I learned to do this month is crochet a rug. I completed a small one that I was unimpressed with, but then I made this one!

It has 13 yards of fabric in it! Cut into one inch strips and crocheted into this lovely oval, that my cat would love to eat!

He was a little upset with me when I told him it wasn't a food, so he just started licking it and hugging it instead.

My goals for February is to finish off this t-shirt quilt, and in March I hope to get all the blocks sewn for my next quilt top, and bind a quilt I've had in the closet for months. 

Wish Me Luck!

Thank You!

My 12 Months of Sewing Challenge

I felt like I was in such a slump last year. I had all these ideas for quilts!

So many projects I wanted to complete.

This year I have decided that each  month I will finish a quilt or at least some project.

Also, once a month I will be writing about some sewing product I try, whether I like or dislike it.

I feel like this is a great way to help other quilters, by sharing my experiences with quilting and sewing products.

It could be anything from a certain fabric, a notion, or pattern.

My January project was the Dala Horse quilt that I shared last post. :)

And the first product I will blog about is one I think most of us are familiar with...
BASTING SPRAY

A lovely alternative or addition to pin basting, there are many brands/types out there, but they don't all work so fabulously.

I have tried a few, and so I have a few small reviews...

The first basting spray I ever used was the June Tailor.

It wasn't the worst I have ever used, but I didn't care for it. 

My main problem was that it didn't hold very well, even for a short period of time.

I had a similar problem with the Sullivans basting spray.

Either of these is great for smaller projects, but I didn't like them for large quilts.

I have also used Dritz basting spray, which I found really sticky and it gummed up my needle.

I wouldn't recommend it. 

I am currently using Mettler Web Bond, which I love. It hasn't gummed up my needle, and it has great longevity. 

It holds larger products and is amazing for applique! 

Last, and the best of all in my opinion is 505. The only problem I have with it.... It's too expensive.

But if you are willing to shell out the big bucks, it's worth it. 

It lasts quite a while, and stays sticky if you have to re-position your fabric, where the others are not as good for that.

My New Baby!!

BEHOLD IN ALL OF ITS GLORY!

The Janome Memory Craft 6300

It makes me feel like a pro.
Giddy, squealing, jumping up and down, excited... But still, a pro.

I haven't done anything more than put it together and sew a straight stitch, but I have read amazing reviews about it in recent months. When I came across it at a local Vac and Sew / Repair shop, and found out I could get financing, I knew I needed to have it. Aside from that, I was told that it was not worth it to fix my old machine.
Even if they fixed it, it just wasn't made to handle heavy quilting.

RIP Brother 

And WELCOME M.C. Hammer.

Badum-dum. ;)