Fat Quarter Projects

Oh my goodness -- if you're looking for clever projects to make using your myriad of fat quarters, try going to The Sewing Loft.  If you can't find something to make there, you may need to have your head examined!

Getting Around

Up until a few years ago I would look at someone with mobility challenges -- strokes, amputees, birth defects -- and think to myself how sad it was that they struggled to get around.  But my great-niece Reese reminds me how wonderful it is that people like her are able to get around.  Look how happy she is!  She's a great teacher and she doesn't even know it yet!

Perfect Balance

Here's my Olympic quilt top.  It's not a quilt yet, don't get excited.  I need to choose a backing and batting, layer it, then quilt it.  I'm thinking of going 'round and 'round in the stones and straight stitching the rest, although that might get to be too boring.  What do you think?  The stone fabrics are from the marvelous Marcia Derse and the pattern is called Perfect Balance.  Oddly enough I was machine appliqueing the stones while watching Ordinary People and then Downton Abbey -- not a lot of balance there, eh?  It's taller than me at 24"w x 66"h!!

On a side note, does anyone besides me think that $12.95 is a bit much for this pattern?  I think I missed out on this gravy train.

In contrast, I picked up my Share and Share Alike quilt from Quality Quilting this afternoon.  They only charged $45 to quilt a 56" x 83" quilt -- such a bargain.  I was hoping to find a couple of tall guys around the office late today to help me photograph my version but they had bolted on account of the dire weather predictions.

Now I need to trim it up and bind it.  Originally I was going to use the backing fabric to bind it but now I'm thinking, meh.  I need more of the Eggplant color of Peppered Cottons -- sounds like another trip to Pink Castle Fabrics or Mabelena Quilting Supplies and Other Comforts is in my near future.

We're getting more snow tonight but I'm grateful I made it home before it started.  Someone please tell Mother Nature we are very sorry and whatever it was, we won't do it again.  Ever.

Looks like I'll be working from home tomorrow if the roads are still bad.  All right by me....

Olympic Quilting

I started a new project on Monday while watching the Olympics on TV.  Usually I don't make it a goal to finish something during the Olympics but I will this time.  I've got my quilt top done and now I need to do some machine applique, add the batting and backing, and get it quilted before closing ceremonies!  Pictures coming soon....

What are you doing during the Olympics?

Organizing My Fabric

Little by little I've been organizing my fabric by folding it around magazine and comic book backing boards.  Certainly not my invention, many have already done this and I finally jumped on the bandwagon.  I'm going through all of my cubes and doing a container at a time so I don't get wiped out and give up.  I use the magazine size for pieces over 1 yard and the comic book size for 1/2 yard - 1 yard pieces.  

Here's an example of what the cubes look like before and after the update:

It's so much easier to see what I have when they're folded this way on the backing boards.  When they're in stacks I can only see what's on top, so this will make searching for a particular fabric so much easier.  Now on to the rest of the cubes!

Feeling Better

I took the advice of Joyce and Sue and picked up some Emergen-C in a tasty raspberry flavor.  With that and all the vitamin C I've been drinking/eating/popping I may be turning the corner on this nasty cold.  Now if only I could figure out a way to slay the un-helpful co-worker.  I was near tears again yesterday because he just wouldn't help me.  I'm good at what I do but I'm not wired for in-depth technology and I know when I need help.  I'll just have to find someone else to coach me.

Up and Down

I managed to finish my wool coat this weekend, pictures coming soon, and began tidying up my fabric stash.  What a lot of work and so many yards left to fold.  You'd be surprised how I can recall where I bought it, who I was with, and what I was going to do with it.  There's an odd emotional attachment to fabric for me.  Because I can remember so much about its purchase, I have a hard time getting rid of it -- unless I'm absolutely, positively, without a doubt, willing to sever that relationship.  There are a couple of pieces that I've come across that I don't recall what project they were meant for but darned if I'm getting rid of it.  You know as soon as I do, the sister fabrics will appear and wham -- I'll be thumping my forehead like the V8 commercial!

Today was not an especially fun day at work.  I was hounded for microscopic junk and when I needed help, well, I couldn't get any.  I work with one developer who just can't be bothered with me or my teammates.  He doesn't want any part of testing and doesn't want to help me understand so I can test better.  Things that are just too technical (and probably boring) to go into but suffice it to say that I'm NOT bringing donuts or fragels or guac/salsa/chips in ANY more!  So there.  See if I try to play nice with him again.  Phooey.

All day long I had the tell-tale signs of a cold coming on.  Even though I took my Zyrtec, Mucinex-D, and four vitamin Cs this morning, I still started sneezing and my nose started dripping.  Uh oh.  Last year I was sick at this time and had to miss my quilt guild's Mystery Quilt Day -- one of the highlights of the year!  Don't.  Want.  That. To. Happen.  Again.  So I stopped at CVS on my way home and stocked up on orange juice and:

Before I left their parking lot I downed 2 tablets and a small bottle of OJ.  I'm writing this post early -- before the pills kick in.  I'm hoping to get a really good night's rest so I can kick this thing quick, fast, and in a hurry and be ready for this Saturday's MQD.