WIP Wednesday... My 1st!

Today I actually got some work done on my Block 4's for the "Happy Quilting Stars Quilt-A-Long". I managed to get all the fabric cut for the 6 blocks.

You know how all the tutorials about cutting fabric say to be careful that you keep your fingers out of the way? I read them and thought, duh! everyone knows that! Well... I did it today! It wasn't too bad. I was doing a small cut and got the tip of my index finger. It wasn't too bad but it did bleed. Why is it that finger cuts bleed so long? I put some pressure on the wound, cleaned it up, and bandaged it so I could get back to cutting. I hated to have to stop to tend to my wound. That's two days in a row now that I've gotten hurt in some way (all of my own doing). I wonder what's coming tomorrow and things seem to happen in 3's? By the way the toes feeling better, although I still can't put full pressure on it. Wouldn't you know that it's my foot petal foot? I managing fine though. Can't stop sewing!   :)

After I got all the fabric cut I started sewing it all back together again. I chain pieced the blocks to get them done faster. I didn't get them completed but managed to get the centers done.

Things went pretty smoothly except for one part. I was supposed to cut a pieced block down to 3". I got 23 out of the 24 right. Of course I cut one too small. I had to cut two new pieces of fabric and start all over on that one block. Actually I had to start all over on that one block 3 more times. I kept cutting the original blocks too small. I don't know what I was thinking?!!! I was getting real frustrated. Finally I got it right on the 4th try. Then I sewed the blocks together in sets of 4 and stopped at that point. My son was due home from school soon and I didn't want to mess anything else up. I figured that was the smart move, if you know what I mean.

I'm hoping to finish up on these blocks tomorrow. I'm proud of myself for keeping up on this quilt-a-long now that I'm caught up that is... injuries and all! I hope it continues.

Until next time...
Cherise  :)

Fab... Fab... and not so Fab...

Hello!  :)

Remember back on August 18 when I told you I'd share my second quilting project with you later? Well... it's later and I'm actually going to share my 6th project with you instead (I mean why go in order?)  ;). I found this cute runner on Moda Bake Shop. I knew I just had to make it! Here's my version...

I was a little intimidated by the prairie points as I'd heard they were difficult, but I went full speed ahead anyway. I actually didn't have a problem with them at all. They were actually pretty fun. I fell in love with them and can't wait to add them to another project. I used fabrics I had on hand in pinks and greens. I machine quilted it with a simple pattern and added chocolate rick rack to finish it off. I still want to add buttons at the tips of the prairie points but haven't found any I like yet.

Today I didn't sew at all. I was in one of those Lazy Daisy kind of moods. I did manage to drag myself to JoAnn's to pick up a couple of items I needed for my Stars Quilt-A-Long. I know what you're thinking... how could I not be in the mood to look for fabric? Well I usually have no problem going fabric shopping but today I just wasn't really in the mood. I did go and am glad I did.

One of the main reasons I needed to go is because I need a need blade for my rotary cutter. Mine is very dull. Of course they were out of the one I needed. I did pick up the 12-1/2" square ruler I needed. Actually I got a set of 4 which included the 12-1/2", 9-1/2", 6-1/2" & 4-1/2". It was a much better value as a set, $34.99 then if I just got the one I needed right now which was $22.99 and with a 50% off coupon I just couldn't pass it up.

I also found the perfect border fabric for my stars quilt.

Isn't it just yummy?!!! It goes perfectly with the other fabrics I already had.

I think I did pretty good considering I forgot to bring the fabric samples with me.  :)

Well... here we are... I've shared the fab... and fab with you. Are you wondering what was 'not so fab'?

Here's my story... Every day Mr. Hunky texts me when he's almost home from work (he texts while stopped at a light and not while driving). Then I go outside to meet him. It's just something we do. It makes us happy. Anyway...  today after I got the text I walked down to the mailbox and got the mail. I walked back up to the house and went to sit on an electrical box right next to where Mr. Hunky parks. It was hot outside and only part of the box was in the shade. So I proceeded to sit on the corner in the shade and guess what? I totally missed, slid off the box, hit the box and the pole that was there to prevent you from running into the box. The mail keys, mail and my flip flops went flying. I landed on my right side in the dirt, rocks and a pile of ants! On the way down I bent my big toe and the two next to it backwards, skinned my knee, scrapped my arm and hurt my hand. I was not a happy camper. I managed to scoot over to the grass, only a few inches away. Looked up to see that no one was there. Thank God no one witnessed that. Then I wiped the ants and dirt off and started to cry wishing Mr. Hunk would get here already so he could hug me, give me sympathy and help me up. As soon as he started pulling up I really started crying. He parked and came over and asked me what happened. Of course he thought something bad had happened to someone and that's why I was crying. As soon as I told him I fell he asked how I managed to do that and then started laughing. I totally understand his reaction but come on... where was my hug and sympathy? He eventually hugged me and helped me get up. I hobbled into the house, cleaned myself up and sat with my foot up. My big toe is very sore. I can't bend it very much. The other two seem to be fine, which is good. My hand is very sore and I can't lean on it. I'm sure I'm going to be sore tomorrow and my foot is pounding right now. Oh well... Motrin here I come. Thanks for letting me share my mishap with you. If I had seen it myself I'm sure I would have laughed my head off. I'm sure it looked pretty darn funny.

Until next time...

Cherise  :)

I did it!!!

Hello!

I'm all caught up! Yea me!!! Friday I got all 6 of the Block 1's done for the "Happy Quilting Quilt-A-Long Stars Quilt".

Then I started on the Block 2's. I finished those on Saturday.

I was also able to finish all the Block 3's on Saturday as well!

I'm so excited! It was fun and pretty easy! They're not perfect but I'm okay with that. They are all approximately 13" right now. I'm supposed to cut them all down to a wonky 12-1/2" but I'm not sure if I want to do that or not so I'm not doing it yet. Plus I don't have a 12-1/2" square template yet... hello JoAnn's 50% off coupon! I can't wait for the next block! There are only 3 more blocks then the borders. I think I can actually do this! Melissa gives great instructions and lots of tips and techniques for saving time. I hope to be able to keep up with the rest of the quilt-a-long.

Hope you had a great weekend! I did! The boyfriend and I just stayed home in the air conditioning trying to keep cool. It was 104 outside! Yuck!!! Did I tell you I hate heat!!! It's supposed to get a little cooler this week but then get hotter again for next weekend. I can't wait for Fall and cooler weather! I hope it gets here soon!

Hope you're safe and keeping cool!
Until next time...
Cherise  :)

All Cut & Ready To Go...

Hello!

I had one of those rough days yesterday where I didn't seem to get much of anything done. It started out with ants in the pantry (I HATE ANTS!!!) and it went downhill from there. I know ants serve a purpose but I just don't understand why they have to come into the house. I mean I didn't invite them. I think I might dislike them more than spiders and I definitely don't like spiders!!!

Today I had a more productive day. I packed my apron swap up and it's ready to go out in tomorrow's mail (one day early!).

I was finally able to sit down and get started on the "Happy Quilting Quilt-A-Long- Star's Quilt". I'm already 3 blocks behind and you need to make 6 of each block... so I'm really 18 blocks behind!

These are the fabrics I'll be using for my quilt...

The striped fabric in the middle is a vintage sheet I came across about a month ago. I knew immediately that I wanted to make a quilt with it. I found 12 fat quarters that would go well with it (4 pinks, 4 purples, 4 oranges). When I heard about the quilt-a-long I knew I would be using these fabrics. I needed to add White Kona Cotton and I'll eventually have to add border fabrics. I haven't decided what I want to use yet. There are two borders on the quilt. I thinking of using part of the sheet for one border and the rest of the sheet for the backing. Then I'll still need another. I think once I start getting the blocks together I'll be able to figure out what I want to do with the borders. This will actually be my first quilt-a-long AND my first real quilt! I say 'real quilt' because all I've made so far are runners and potholders.  :)

Today I cut all the fabric for the 18 blocks I should have completed already (6 each of block 1, 2, and 3).

I'm hoping to be able to sit down and get started on them tomorrow. Friday afternoon's I drive my son to meet up with his dad in Orange County. It's usually a 20 minute drive but because it's Friday, and I have to take the overly congested 91 freeway, it usually takes me 1-1/2 hours to get back home. It really sucks! I feel sorry for those people who drive in that every day. I couldn't do it.

Wish me luck for tomorrow! Until next time...

Cherise  :)

They're Done!

The potholders are done! I'm so excited! Not just because they're done, but because they should have been relatively quick and easy to finish ... but of course it didn't work out that way.

Originally I wanted to bind them in a solid chocolate brown fabric which I had on hand... or so I thought. It turns out I used it all up already on another project (I could have sworn I still had some!!!). So what do I use now....hummmmm. I looked in my stash and saw a medium brown... it seems to match nicely so I cut it, iron it and sew it on the potholders.

While I was getting ready to hand sew the back edge down I looked at it again... it didn't look right. I walked away from them for a while and then came back. They just didn't look right. Although the color matched it just didn't jive.... if you know what I mean. They needed a dark brown. Out came the seam ripper. All that work was for nothing... oh well.

Now what? Do I go to the store and get more of the solid brown? I wasn't sure.... so again I walked away and came back later. Then it hit me. Why don't I just use the Thanksgiving print fabric for the binding? Afterall it was mainly dark brown. It looked like it would work.

So... I started all over again... cut... iron...... wait a minute... What if I add some rick rack in there too?! It's solid dark brown and it would tie it into the apron more (plus look cute!). So I sewed the rick rack on... hoping that once I sewed the binding on I would still see it. Next came the binding.... I pause to peek and make sure you could still see the rick rack... you could!!! Yes!!! Finally something worked out the way I wanted on the first try!!!! WooHoo!!!

I finished sewing the binding on. Sewed the back on by hand... and... I'm done!!! A quick finish on a project turned into a day long event... oh well. It's done and turned out cute! (Much better than with the other fabric.)

Tomorrow I'll work on getting the apron and potholders (plus a couple other goodies) packed up for my swap partner and mailed out. I also need to get started on "Happy Quilting's, Stars Quilt Along". I'm already a week behind. Hopefully I'll be able to catch up quickly. Melissa's great and has already been there to answer any questions I've had (since I'm a beginning quilter).

Until next time...

Cherise :)

Potholders

I sewed today! I wanted to make my swap partner some potholders to go with her new apron.

I used the two fabrics from the apron and added an additional one I had in my stash. I came up with a simple design, fussy cut some pieces, laid out the blocks and arranged them in a way that pleased me.

Potholder 1...

Potholder 2...

Then I proceeded to piece them together and cut the backs. I was happy with the way they were looking so far.

I layered them together with some Insul-Bright batting and machine quilted them with a simple checkered pattern.

Potholder 1...

Potholder 2...

Backs...

I was tired and hungry so I decided to quit for the day. I'm hoping to get the binding on tomorrow. Sometimes I wish I could just finish a project on the same day I start it. Oh well... maybe next time. :)

Friday Night Sew-In

This was my first time participating in the Friday Night Sew-In. It was a little stressful at first as I wanted to have my pattern all cut-out and ready to sew ahead of time but of course I didn't. I did have fun though. Thanks so much Heidi for hosting it!

I worked on a fall apron for a swap over at Mary Jane's Farm: Farmgirl Connection. I found some adorable vintagey Thanksgiving fabric that I fell in love with and then some orange pumpkin fabric, trimmed in gold, that worked perfectly with it.

I actually didn't quite finish the apron on Friday night but finished it up today. I love it! Now I just need to make one for me!

Until next time...

Cherise :)

Goodies for me!

Hello!

Look what I got while thrifting today...

6 vintage sheets, 2 vintage pillow cases, 1 cute homemade pillow case, 2 yards of purple/blue batik fabric (only $1.99), 4 rolls of crochet thread, Debbie Mumm quilting book and a gorgeous vase. I got all this for about $20! Lots of fabric to use in quilts as backing or piecing. I will probably offer some for sale eventually too. I've been actively collecting vintage sheets for about a month now and have a lot. The thrift store I went to today has a good variety of them. This was only my second time there but well worth the trip as it was 30 minutes away and with the price of gas I try to stay close to home. My man doesn't understand my obession with the sheets but he's learning to deal with it. :)

Until next time...

Cherise :)

Welcome!

Here's a little about how my journey has brought me here to this quilting and sewing blog...

About a month ago I happened upon a quilt blog (can't remember which one... sorry!) I found myself reading the whole thing (yes from the very beginning). I was fascinated and in awe! Then that blog led to another... which led to another... and so on. I was hooked!

I learned to sew in high school and have sewn off and on over the years. I've always admired quilts and said "someday I will quilt!" I always put it off until later because I had other things going on. Now that day has come with the help and inspiration of so many wonderful quilters out there who readily share their talents and love of quilting with others. I thank you! :)

I had some fabric on hand, although not very much, as I had made a major move last year and got rid of most of my fabric stash (major regret!) I went shopping and picked up some tools and fabric to get me started. It was so fun and so exciting! I forgot how much I love fabric! I found some patterns at Moda Bake Shop that I wanted to try. The first was a grocery bag holder, which I needed as my bags were totally out of control! If your bags are also out of control you might want to make one for yourself. :) My boyfriend also wanted one as his bags were out of control too! Here's the bag. I think it turned out pretty good.

I wanted to start with some small projects to get the hang of things. My next project was a runner, also from Moda Bake Shop. I'll show you it and tell you more about my journey later. Right now I'm going to blogger Heidi's blog, "Handmade by Heidi" and join her "Friday Night Sew-In". I've seen so many blogger's participating and I wanted to also... and now I have a blog and I can! :) Please check it out if you haven't already.

Until next time... I"m off to go thrifting... wonder what goodies I'll find!

Cherise :)