Random Ramblings....

Not to much to blog today, just a bit of this and that. I have finished all of my little snowflake blocks for the 4 Seasons Swap Quilt and must make a decision about the fabric to use for the little triangles that go on the corners and the border. I have never used white fabric to finish a quilt, but this one seems to be asking for it: maybe a white on white print to represent the snow on the ground that my little flakes will soon join. I don't know, but I'm planning on finishing it this week so the decision must be made soon.

My sewing plans for the week were relying on the fact the the Australian Open is on TV, or so I thought. I very much enjoy a good tennis match and they're not often televised. So I plan to be home as much as possible during the weeks of the Grand Slams so I can sit at my machine and listen/watch tennis on the little TV above my head. Kind of sad, but there you go. Anyway, I checked my local listings today to plan out my week and was quite dismayed. ESPN has elected to broadcast daytime coverage on ESPN Classic, which my local cable company dropped earlier in the year. ESPN 360.com is not available from my internet provider (same company as the cable company). So I called them a couple of bad names and tried to come up with another plan. I can TIVO the nightly coverage to watch during the day, but I can't watch the TIVO in my sewing room. It seems I can get a "tournament pass" to watch via the internet for $25. This irritates me, but I'm not sure I am willing to forgo my tennis -- I was SO looking forward to it. I'll stew on it and decide tomorrow.

And I really need to fix my blog. I've been visiting blogs around the internet and I see so many with nice backgrounds and headers. My header has a photo from one of my quilts that used to be centered, but now it's all wonky and I don't know why. I don't have the skills to do anything really tricky, but I'd like a nice header and background. I need some sort of Blogger for Dummies...Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

So busy week ahead. Hopefully some tennis on TV, a finished swap quilt, and a better blog. I've also promised to help a friend with some window treatments and the kiddies get the day off on Friday. And my Etsy shops really need some new stuff. I can't believe January is half over already. So, I'm off to get some rest so I can hopefully get started bright and early tomorrow.

A Flurry of Flakes

I'm sewing snowflakes! And they're going together quite nicely. My Winter Swap Quilt is turning out to be a fun project so far. Just a few more little flakes and I'll be ready to put them all together. Less than 24 hours between the 2 photos, which is really fast for me.



Today marked a very sad anniversary for me. My mom died seven years ago today, quite suddenly. It seems like yesterday. She would have liked these little quilt blocks very much. She loved to sew and she loved blue. She left a few WIPs behind that I intend to finish someday, just not yet. It was good to keep busy with such a pleasant project. And if you are lucky enough to still have your mom, give her a call and tell her you love her.

Winter Blues

Does it look like winter to you? I'm pre-washing and pressing all the fabrics I've collected for my Winter Swap Quilt. I love all the purply-blues. Can't wait to start piecing the blocks. I'm trying something new this time.

...And a Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. I've been a very bad blogger, not keeping up at all with my blog posting or reading. I find the holidays so very busy, probably because I think I can do more than I should and I'll admit to being a bit disorganized. (Does that sound like something to address in a resolution?) I spent the last days before Christmas feverishly finishing gifts, cleaning, wrapping, cooking, decorating, shopping, etc. So much so that I found it hard to relax and enjoy. Well, it's over. A few more days of the Christmas holiday with my husband and children home and then things can get back to normal, or so I hope.

I have a long list of things to do in the new year. At the top of the list is my Winter Doll Quilt for the Four Seasons Swap. I have an idea and have actually looked through my stash for fabrics. I hoped to make it entirely from my stash, but don't have everything I need. After that, I have to spend some serious sewing time making some new things to stock my Etsy shops. I would love to be successful on Etsy, but know that I need to become much more dedicated to do so.

May your New Year bring you joy and happiness!

Snow Day!

Pretty, isn't it? As long as I don't have to drive in it, I can look out and say, "Oooh! How pretty!" Unfortunately, a lot of people did have to drive today and the roads were a mess. I think the first snowfall every year catches people off-guard. They have to remember they need to slow down a bit, this stuff is slippery! I think we had about 5-6 inches. So we had a snow day today, no school, no errands. I worked in my sewing room and the kids played video games. I did manage to wrestle the snowblower out of the corner of the garage and get it started. What a back saver that thing is!

Today I worked on a t-shirt quilt, a special order. I've got the front all together with the borders. I'd show a picture but it's meant to be a gift so even though it's highly unlikely the person receiving it would see, I'd better not. It's turning out quite nicely. Tomorrow after bowling, I'll get it sandwiched and quilted. I stitch in the ditch along the sashing and border and tie inside the squares. I'll be happy to finish this and move on to the next thing on the list.

I got my Hinterberg frame down to the basement. Poor thing is leaning up against the wall in all the mess down there. I've kept it up all year in the living room, but haven't used it as much as I'd like. I needed to take it down for the Christmas tree. My plan is clean out part of the basement and get a few area rugs and set it up permanently down there. I'll need the help of an electrician, as there are only 4 little light bulbs and one outlet in the whole basement. That can wait until January...

Well, back to the sewing room!

Shop Update

I finally made a couple of these little patchwork zipper pouches to put in my Etsy shop. I've been thinking about them for awhile and finally sat down today to make them. I'm planning more, as I have more fabric squares that I think will make cute little pouches. I'd like to make some bigger ones, too. They'll be great gift ideas, especially for those last minute ones that just seem to pop up. Even better if you put a gift card inside.... My shop is here.

Last week was a busy week. I can finally cross my SIL's kitchen window treatments off the to do list. They turned out quite nice; she was very happy with them.

This coming week will be absolutely crazy. My son has a food allergy challenge tomorrow am. My daughter has an appointment for braces removal on Tuesday am. And Wednesday am, they have to go the the eye doctor for a check-up. In the future, I really need to plan these appointments out more. Then Thursday is Thanksgiving, of course. And Friday, we head out of town for a few days. I don't think my sewing machine will be running much this week.

I doubt I'll have the opportunity to post again before Thursday, so have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

It's November!

Oh my goodness! Another month is over. I've been so busy, I've neglected to post to my blog. Not that I've accomplished much sewing lately. My list of things that must be finished before Christmas is growing and growing! And once November arrives, there doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day with all the seasonal things that need to be done.

Back to October and Halloween, I did finish the costumes in time and the banana actually looked like a banana. Not quite perfect, but good enough and my son was delighted with it. And that was the most important thing anyway. The pictures were all a bit blurry; I guess my hands were shaky after the marathon sewing session!

I've been working on a custom order for Etsy. It's about finished. And then I want to make a few more Blythe dresses. They're just so much fun to make! I have a pile of fabric waiting to become tote bags and purses. My idea of getting these in the shop in time for Christmas shopping is looking harder to achieve. I have to finish a custom window treatment and a t-shirt quilt and then I can get back to working on things for my shop.

Today, I signed up for the Winter Four Seasons Quilt Swap. The Autumn Swap was lots of fun and I already have a pretty good idea of what I'd like to do for the winter one, provided it meets my partner's requirements. The quilts aren't due until the end of January, so I won't have to start until after Christmas. There seems to be alot of interest, so the sign-ups may close quickly. Click on the Four Seasons Quilt Swap button for a link to the site and more info. It's a great chance to try something new and fun to swap little quilts.