Cozy Toes

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Sockage

In preperation for fall (which I’m grumply doing) I have knitted my first pair of socks. They’re certainly not perfect, but since I’m really not a very experienced knitter I’m okay with the way they turned out. For some reason I’ve been in the mood to do a lot more knitting this past week than quilting…hmmm, I wonder why.

Done!

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It’s SO done! After a weekend and a few extra days of relaxing after our friend’s wedding, I’m finally ready to show off the pictures of the latest wedding quilt. I’ve had a hard time not really talking about this quilt much over the last year (since it took so much work to make!). It came down to the wire (yep, I’m a procrastinator!) but I finished it up last Thursday night and had it ready to pass along to them on Friday at their rehearsal dinner.
I did mangage to squeeze in a photo shoot before I packaged it up!

It's Finished!

It’s amazing how different it looks to me when it’s open and not right in front of my face. I really didn’t get the full effect until I had it all done and could look at it from far away.
A Ton of Squares In That Thing

I put a patch on the back like I have for the last three quilts I’ve done. It looks about the same as the others!
A Ton of Squares In That Thing

I realized when I got home that my camera did not take very good pictures of Laura and Steve opening their quilt in the dark restaurant. So here’s the best I can do for now though:
It's Not a Girlie Quilt, Steve!

It’s such a big relief to have it done. Enjoy it, Laura and Steve! 🙂

Almost Done

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With only a week to spare, I’m once again finding myself in the situation of stressing out about finishing a quilt for a wedding (Anyone remember my rants from last July?). For this one, I’m close to having half of the binding on, and two more borders of quiltling left.

Binding!

For so long I’ve been putting this project off–it’s been too hot this summer, other projects were more important, going back to work–and now I’m worried that I waited too long. People keep telling me it’s not a big deal–that even if it’s not finished, I can give it to them after the wedding, but I really, really don’t want to do that. I’m so close, but I have so much to do the next few days (and I recently started knitting a pair of socks, and that’s way more fun right now than flipping out about a quilt being finished).
I’m coming to the conclusing that I love working on big projects until right before I’m finished with it. Stupid, isn’t it?

Quilt Along Update

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Denyse Schmidt Quilt-Alongers, I haven’t forgotten you! It seems like progress for some of the people who have already started their quilts has been a little slow, but I really can relate lately. Of those coasters I mentioned last time I posted, I have ONE finished.

One Lonely Coaster

I do love the first one though! I think the set will be very cute when I get it finished.
Not everyone is as pokey as me though. Allison (also a friend of mine who comes to my sewing group!) has finished her Zigzag Bag!
Allison's Zigzag Bag

I really like the projects from the book that include vinyl, but since I don’t have a Teflon foot yet, I haven’t tried any of them. Allison said she used her walking foot to sew the vinyl for her bag, and it worked just fine.
Also to mention, Cassie and Karen have joined the quilt-along. New Quilt-Alongers are always welcome!

Squished Marshmallows

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Squished Marshmallows Bag

I totally think this canvas print looks like squished multi-colored marshmallows. Anyone else? I also think that this bag proves that if I take longer than an hour to think out and make a small project, it really can turn out good.
My friend Alice gave me this fabric before she moved earlier this year, and I knew right away that I wanted to make a bag with it. It’s just perfect bag making fabric! I didn’t want to make as hastily as I do some of my other things though. There’s not really anything different about this bag as compared to my last round (other than some pockets) but taking my time and paying attention to details really made it a lot nicer than others I’ve made.
Inside The Squished Marshmallow

I’m in the process of opening an Etsy shop, and the squished marshmallow bag will be for sale there, hopefully by later this afternoon!

DSQA Update

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I’ve been debating for about a week on which quilt pattern I’m going to do for the Denyse Schmidt quilt-along, and I really can’t decide. I’ve decided to start small. The first project from the book that I’m going to do is the Mix-It-Up Cocktail Coasters.

Coasters!

I’m pretty sure that I’m going to end up making one of the quilts for my friend Kate, but she won’t be able to pick which one she wants me to do until she visits me in September. So for the time being, I’m going to start with small projects! I’d also like to try some of the Dis-cards and the Step Lively Slippers. I see good ideas for Christmas presents here!
So far, both Chawne and Jessica have decided to do Drunk Love 2-Tone. Jessica has hit up Hancock’s of Paducah for their Kona solids, after Denyse left some advice on her blog about where to find a wide variety of solid fabric. If you’re planning on using solids in your projects, they’re a great bargain and they come in every color possible.
I’m off to make my coasters!

New Kitchens are Good

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Yummy Cookies!

Look at all the goodness our new kitchen has produced! I made these yesterday for my sewing group and I don’t think anything I’ve ever baked has turned out this good. (I’m a terrible cook!) Mmmm.
We’re just about finished with the renovation. There’s still trim to be put up, I have to make a curtain for the slider door, and in place of our old pantry we still have to install two cabinets and a countertop for a mail cubby that we’re planning on putting in. But overall, we’re so excited to have a working kitchen again that’s not only functioning again, but also pleasing to be in.
Here’s a look at the before and afters of the room:
East Wall, Before
Before: East Wall of Kitchen

East Wall, After
East Wall, After

North Wall, Before
North Wall, Before

North Wall, After
North Wall, After

Southwest Corner, Before
Southwest Corner, Before

Southwest Corner, After
Southwest Corner, After

I’m still kind of in awe when I walk in and see everything. I was starting to get used to that panneling. (HAHA!)

Fabric Experiment

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With just over a week to go before I go back to work, I’m starting to notice that I’m in a little bit of a frenzy to get as much quilting as possible done before next Wednesday. To most people, that would probably mean working on the projects that I’ve already started and committed myself to (like finishing Laura and Steve’s wedding quilt, basting the Modern Quilt-Along Quilt, making a final decision on which Denyse Schmidt pattern I’m going to do for the quilt along) but apparently, I just can’t do that. Instead I decided that I wanted to try something else, without a patten. I came up with this:

Blue and Yellow Blocks

I’m really happy with what they’re turning out like. No two blocks are the same yet, which I think is good. I figure I’ll make as many blocks as I can until I either run out of the fabric, or I have enough to make a quilt. I’m thinking I’ll also add a cream colored muslin sashing between the blocks. We’ll see.

Another Bag

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Second New Bag In Less Than a Day

I said I was making more! This one is also a bandana I found (cool bandanas, aren’t they?) and I quilted it in spirals. Here’s a little bit better of a look at that:
Close Up

Sometimes it’s important for me to take a break from my bigger projects and do something I can get done in a few hours. I’m ready to get back to my other projects now.