Friday, March 28, 2008

It's Almost a Quilt!



I'm still playing with the final arrangement of these little blocks for my spring swap quilt. But I did make some progress this week when I wasn't sure I would have time. These little blocks went together fairly quickly and soon they will be sewn together. I'm still on track to finish by April 15! Yay!

The closet cleaning is about completed. Now I have a mess on the first floor of the house until I can sort and remove all the unwanted things. A neighborhood garage sale is planned for May, so I might see if I can turn some of the toys into a little cash but I think the clothes will all be donated next week. Except for the dresses I made my daughter -- I just can't part with those.

Thanks to everyone who has left a comment on one of my posts lately. I was trying today to respond to people, but there seems to be something wrong with my ability to send email. So, I will try again another day!

Have a great weekend! Happy sewing!!

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Time Flies!!!

Oh my goodness! Ten days since my last post and not much to show for it! I have been busy, with Easter and some house cleaning and cooking that needed to be done. A belated Happy Easter and First Day of Spring to everyone!



My kiddos are off school this week, so we are having the Great Closet Purge of 2008. I cannot believe the quantity of outgrown clothes, toys and other things in the closets and drawers. I knew it was getting bad when I couldn't find room to put things away, but the piles in my living and dining rooms are growing at an alarming rate! We have a small pile to pack up and store and a much bigger one for garage sale/donate. There's a new IKEA store just down the highway a bit, can't wait to run down there to get some new organizing stuff!

Anyway, I have been working on my little spring Four Seasons Swap Quilt. I finally decided on a design and I have been making lots of little QSTs and HSTs.

I've got some paper piecing to do, then I can get the center part together. I think I'm going to have to use some partial seams to get it together, never done that before! And I just signed up for another swap. The first Doll Quilt Swap that I participated in is having Round 3, so I'm in for that one, too. That one is due 4 weeks after I get my partner's name. Better get busy!!

Saturday, March 15, 2008

National Quilting Day

Today is National Quilting Day. In observance, I'm going to make a decision on the design of my spring Four Seasons Swap quilt. It's been giving me fits. There are just too many possibilities. And I want to make them all.

What are you working on today?

Thursday, March 13, 2008

A Beautiful Day



It's amazing really. Just a few days ago, it snowed. A lot! We had a good 14-15" of soft white snow and windy conditions that may have qualified as a blizzard.


Today, the snow is nearly gone, just a few small piles where it was heaped during the removal process. It was a beautiful 64 degrees, with sunshine and blue skies. I left my coat in the car and felt the sun on my face.

Lovely

Gives one hope that spring is actually near!

On the swap quilt front, I've played with EQ5 this week. For hours. I've got some basic ideas that I really like, but I'm having a huge problem making them work with my stash. I've decided that my stash isn't a very good one. Most of the fabrics are in the muted, mid-tone range. I want to make a quilt with happy, bright pastels, not muddy roses and muted blues and greens. So, I'm tossing my "rule" to use my stash out the window. I'm going shopping early next week for something fun. Bring on the sunglasses! My stash can sit and wait for another project. I've certainly designed enough doll quilts to keep me busy for awhile!

Saturday, March 8, 2008

A Blizzard?


I was so ready for Spring and today we are having a blizzard!! Yes, a real blizzard, which really doesn't happen often in Ohio. Look at what I found outside my front door! We've had 12 inches of snow and it is still snowing. The winds are blowing, the snow is drifting and we are housebound. The roads are treacherous. I was supposed to attend a bridal shower today about 1 hour away in Kentucky. But, I'll be staying home instead. Thank goodness I have lots to do! I think I'm going to sew.

The arrival of the blizzard also marked the arrival of my Winter Swap Quilt from Abby. The package contained a sweet little blue and white quilt and lots of extra goodies. Very sweet! Thanks Abby!


So I'm off to the sewing room to play. I'd like to decide what I am making for the Spring Four Seasons Quilt Swap. I've got a couple of good ideas, but I need to sort through my stash to see what will work. I've made a goal to make it completely from my stash, if possible. I should be able to do so; I've got lots of fabric piled up but sometimes the right colors/values just aren't there. So I'm going to start with the stash and design around that for a change. I usually do it the other way, which almost always means a trip to the fabric store! Have I mentioned that I LOVE to buy fabric??

Have a happy Saturday!

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Yay! It's March!!!!

Everything looks so much better when the calendar says "March"! I struggle with the winter months, February especially. I feel a sense of relief when the month is finally over. Thank goodness it's the shortest one!

Anyway -- bring on Spring! I'm ready for flowers and warm weather. And longer days and sunshine. I've got my fingers crossed that we won't have much more snow.

I've got the name of my Spring Four Seasons Swap Quilt partner. Now I can get down to the business of designing a cute little spring-y quilt. My partner hasn't made too many specific requests as to the type of quilt, so almost anything goes!! I'm setting some rules for myself: 1) Try a new technique, maybe curved piecing, 2) Most of the fabric must come from my stash, 3) Maybe add some embellishment, 4) Get done early! I'd like to mail it 2 weeks before the deadline, so I need to get busy.

And I have a question for any EQ quilters out there. I have EQ5 and think I'd like to upgrade to EQ6. But I have limited funds.... Are the differences worth the cost of the upgrade? I haven't had a chance to demo it; just looked at it online a bit. I know I want it, because I'm kind of techy geek - I always want the latest gadget. But I'm not sure I actually need it, know what I mean?? Anyway, please leave me your opinions. I rarely get comments, so I'm hoping someone will respond.

Thanks a bunch!! And keep looking for signs of spring!

Wendy