Week 3 of 4x7 Challenge

Well, I kind of fell flat on my face this week with sewing.  I made a cute little drawstring bag for my little knitting projects and then I got sick, Timmy got sick, and then Jared got sick.  We were just a lovely family of sickies last week.  :)  All are better now and I am already halfway through the final week of this challenge and doing better.

I used this tutorial, again.  :)

It is just the nicest pattern and the cutest little bag.  I really need to buy 

the pattern so I can make all of the different sizes.

And now my little zip pouch that holds my knitting tools matches my bigger bag and my smaller bag!

I got some more done on my sock, too.  I survived the heel and gusset, so on to the toe I will be marching!

Week 2 of 4x7 Challenge

So, I got some stuff done this week!  Woohoo!  The weight of my self-inflicted project due dates lifting off of my shoulders feels good.

Small Christmas quilt - done.  It measures 35"x42", perfect for throwing over the top of a chair or using with a wheelchair.  Not sure where this is going yet, but I think my mom has her eye on it and she gets first dibs.  :)   I tried a new border pattern and it isn't perfect, but I was really happy with it for the first time.

I love the back.  :)  It is another gray day here, so it looks yellow, but it matches the cooler tan colors of the front.

Baby Quilt - done.  2 out of 4 piles of half triangle squares used up!  This is just a little guy, measuring up at 28"x28", but it would be great to roll up in the diaper bag.  If it doesn't find a home by this summer, it is a strong candidate to donate for our Project Linus collection our quilt guild does.

Yellow minky on the back.  Working on evenly spacing my meandering line is a goal of mine...little uneven, but improving!

"take my picture with daddy, mom!"

A pretty little ring of posies, waiting to go on a workbag for myself.  I went to get a solid gray from our local fabric store and they were all out, so hopefully it comes soon so I can finish this up before the end of the month!  (These are 3/4" hexagons if you are curious)

In other crafty news, I learned how to knit a sock!  It isn't a whole sock, but I did it really larger so I could really see what I was doing and I made it through the heel and gusset steps, so it will be ripped out and rewound for another project.  So exciting!  (does anyone else have random stickers stuck to their coffee table?)

Here is my first official sock, thanks to my secret pal at quilt guild.  She knows I like yarn, too, and got me this beautiful sock yarn for my birthday and with it the motivation to get my first pair done.  It is going to take forever with size 1 needles, but it will be great project to take on the road!

And on a sad note...I got ready to baste my swoon quilt this morning and my 90" backing that I bought last spring was not cut correctly and is only 80" wide.  My quilt is 82".  Sigh.  On the plus side, the backing is a neutral tan swirl, so it will work for something else.  On the negative side, this quilt isn't going to get done this week.

Linking up!

 

 

Happy Valentines Day!

A zoned-out-I-just-woke-up-from-nap kiss for you!  

:)

And here is something from yesterday...

a little video of the crazy monster truck driving that goes on in our living room...

Week 1 of 4x7 Challenge

So, I am doing this challenge over at Berry Barn Designs to sew everyday for 30 minutes during the month of February (hence the name, 4x7 challenge) and this is my progress report.  I am a little late posting this because I was waiting for nicer weather outside for pictures, but it has been dreary so the colors are off.  I guess you take what you can get during the winter!

First, I used up one set of half triangle squares to make this cute baby blanket.  I ordered some extra border fabric for the coordinating larger quilt, so this thing will get some borders and a scrappy backing as soon as I get figure out how to use the fabric up in the best way.  I am hoping to have this basted in the next couple of days.  I don't have any plans for this quilt, but it will be handy to have one on hand for giving.  :)

Second, I used up another pile of half triangle squares and made a lap quilt.  It is 36" x 42" which happens to be the perfect size for a wheel chair or a really small throw.  It is basted and ready to quilt, which will happen hopefully this week or next.

My swoon quilt is put together and bordered!  Since I took this picture, the border fabric came in the mail and I have it attached (I opted to eliminate the white borders between the blocks and add a colored one around the edge.  I love it!).  At some point I will get down on my hands and knees and get this thing basted so it can be quilted, too.  It is a big quilt (84"x84") so that is a pretty big undertaking and one that involves the moving of furniture to get a big enough space to lay the whole thing out!  Tigger is thrilled that I am invading her space.

Finally, a little clamshell pillow for my living room chair!  I have been following along on this challenge, but not really inspired to take on a whole quilt, so a pillow will do nicely.  You attach the clamshells one row at a time, so it looks a little funny now, but I think it will turn out super cute.  Don't mind the wrinkles, apparently I left it out in the living room and it was in Timmy's way, so he crammed it behind the couch cushions for a couple of hours.  :)

Not too shabby for a week, now on to week 2!  I have already made some good strides with the quilts above and I am hoping to get that baby quilt ready to quilt and then switch my machine and brain over into quilting mode.  I have a pile of quilts ready to go!

South Dakota Puddle Duck

...appears in the spring and sometimes during the winter thaw, when temperatures rise (73!) following snow and create large expanses of muddy terrain and puddles.

Garden update:  nothing is happening and hoping it stays that way!  We have a week of warmer weather forecasted, which is awesome, but I am hoping all the buds stay closed and I have lilacs this spring!

February Fun and Sewing Goals

BOO!

spider drawing (all of a sudden he is interested in drawing anything...only took 4 years!)

whistle pig pretending

February = half triangle square month

I save all of my triangle scraps from quilts and so far have made the effort to do the extra seams while sewing the original quilt.  I have 4 piles of squares sitting around that need to be used up!  I have 3 piles ironed and trimmed.  (I made myself a little pressing station out of a tv table, isn't it cute!?!)

Pile one (above) will be a baby quilt.

pile 2 = small winter lap quilt 

pile 3 = little stars (finishing at 6") that will probably be added to little zipper bags or pouches

pile 4 (still in the bag, untrimmed) = probably a table runner or two

February quilt goal = finish this Swoon quilt!  

I won the fabric 2 summers ago (yay!) and put the blocks together last winter during my quilt guild retreat (yay!).  They have been sitting in a bag since (boo!), can you tell?!?!  Looking forward to having this one out of to-do pile!  I am doing a bunch of piecing this week with the above projects, making a couple more knitting bags, waiting for some border fabric I just ordered for the Swoon and winter quilts, and then switching my machine (and brain) over to quilting mode and kicking out several projects.  I have joined a challenge to sew 30 minutes everyday during February.  It is supposed to be selfish sewing - projects for yourself - but honestly, getting my to-do pile will bring some serious relief as I sometimes stress about my self-imposed timelines.  

Yay for being Type A.  :)