SewingCategory Archives:

Swap box and Friday Night Sew-In

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Well, my partner (and new friend) for the Simply Notable “Make a Crafty New Friend” swap on Ravelry received her package today. I think I was just excited packaging everything up for her as she was to get it.

Swap Package

Lots of Goodies

There were a few skeins of Caron’s Spa yarn, an infinity scarf knit in Caron’s Spa in a taupe color, a set of four coasters made with Liz Scott’s Domestic Bliss for Moda, some crochet stitch markers I made when I couldn’t find any pretty ones to buy for her. She was hoping for bamboo crochet hooks, so I found some of those, a yarn/needle gauge, a few things for embroidery, the Doodle Stitching book (one of our favorites here), some note cards, a bag full of spiced pecans, and a dozen hand rolled truffles that I had a seriously hard time parting with despite being able to make more any time I feel like it.  She loved her package and I can finally stop being a bundle of nerves about it!

Now that that’s all wrapped up, I can start working on a couple other projects…perfect timing really, since tonight is this month’s Friday Night Sew-In hosted by Handmade by Heidi. There’s still time to sign up for tonight’s sew-in if you want to head over to Heidi’s and sign up. It’s fun, and you could win a prize for participating. And the rules…yeah, they’re super easy. Sign up, participate, and blog about it tomorrow. It’s that simple.

I’m not entirely sure what I’m going to be working on tonight. I want to work on something fun and for me…I had planned to make a blouse for myself tonight, but my material did not arrive in time. :( Sadness. Instead, I’ll either work on knitting one of about four scarves I owe people, a crocheted scarf, my February feathers FMQ challenge for Sew Cal Gal’s Free Motion Quilting Challenge, or maybe work on the blocks for the Craftsy BOM Course. I’m seriously behind on the Craftsy blocks because I’m not entirely certain I want to spend the time learning to make these blocks because I just don’t love them. I am probably going to attempt it anyway, because, as the ladies in my quilting club pointed out, even if they look horrible on their own, they may look really lovely once they’re all pieced together and you see the quilt top as a whole.

Anyway, feel free to pop over and sign up for the Craftsy BOM Course (free) or join in with the Friday Night Sew-In tonight.

I’ll be back tomorrow to update on what (if anything) I managed to accomplish this evening.

Have a fantastic weekend! :)

 

 

So much catching up to do

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I’m up late tonight trying to carve out a little peace for myself. I’ve had a busy day. You’d think cold, winter days would be a little slower than they have been lately. That just doesn’t happen here. Everyone gets sick at once with a flu that has them down with sore throats, runny noses, coughs, terrible headaches, and aches so bad they feel like they got steam rolled. Thankfully, I barely got a touch of whatever it is, but I’m still trying to get all my babies (including the biggest baby of them all–hubby) back to feeling 100%.

One of these days I’ll have a nice, slow, orderly life. And my laundry will be caught up. And pigs will fly.

Until then, I’ll just keep plugging along at the trillion and two projects I’ve got on my plate right now.

I finished up my swap package for the Simply Notable Crafty Friend Swap on Ravelry. It’s been so much fun getting to know my partner during the past month or so. I can’t wait till she receives her package because I’m dreadful at keeping gifts a secret. Once she receives her package, I’ll share pics of some of the goodies. :)

We bought a Kindle Fire this past week. Punky has been doing great (and even saying some new words) thanks to a couple of autism/non-verbal apps that are helping her learn to say new words. I’m thrilled about it. All the kids love  the Fire…and for half the price of the iPad, I can afford to get more than one if I really want.

Since we have this gorgeous new Kindle, of course, it needed a place to live during the few seconds someone isn’t using it.

I used a few squares from Hometown by Sweetwater (from the charm pack I won from Cherise at Sewingly Along), a little bit of Spring Buds in Mustard from the Echo line, and some linen look material from my stash. As a side note, NEVER think that quilting linen look material will turn out well or be an easy task. It won’t. It goes all wonky. Anyway, it turned out pretty well for winging it, plus it’s a cushy home to keep the Kindle from getting all scratched up.

Kindle Sleeve

Quilted Kindle Sleeve

 

Today I played chocolatier. I made some hand-rolled dark chocolate truffles. I coated some with white chocolate and rolled the others in cocoa powder (because that’s MY personal favorite). They were delicious. I had to try one  or two…fine, it was two and a half, but seriously, who is counting? 

Truffles

Dark chocolate truffles in cocoa powder

 

Truffles

Dark chocolate truffles with white chocolate shell

This ganache smells so delicious (especially when it’s warm from stirring in the cream) that I wish I could gulp down the entire bowl. It’s chocolate silk pie on crack.

 

Anyway, I’m about done in for the night. I’ll be back soon with some more fun projects…like the closet which is in the process of being turned into a mini sewing/craft room.  It’ll be a long-ish project that I work on as I feel like it, so don’t expect a totally grand finish until about 2020…or ever.

 

 

A Sunday Finish

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Not much to tell today. It’s been a nice, slow, family day. There have been games, sewing, prepping for household projects, TV, and turkey noodle soup. It’s been a nearly perfect start to what promises to be a rather busy week.

I finished the first mug rug today and I’ll probably be doing several more tonight…except binding. That can wait. I hand stitched the back of the binding while curled up watching Sherlock with Kearsey.

Mug rug

It’s been washed and dried, as I’m sure you can tell from the crinkly goodness. It’s now been claimed by hubby. Strange, huh?

That’s all for tonight. I’ll catch up with all of you tomorrow, provided school with the kids goes to plan.

 

 

Friday Night Sew-In and some of today

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Last night I tried to work on a little sewing for FNSI, but really only got a little more of this mug rug quilted.

Grey/Red Mug Rug

Mug rug in progress

Fridays are movie and/or game night at our house. Half the kids wanted to battle each other on the computer. The other two wanted movie time with Mom and Dad. So I ended up putting away the sewing for the evening and working on the circle scarf I’ve got on my knitting needles right now. I was really too tired to do sit at the kitchen table all night anyway, so it worked out.  Well, there, you have it. My first FNSI was sort of uneventful and didn’t quite go to plan, but what in my life ever does?

We were up till 4:30 this morning though. I was T.I.R.E.D. But I was back up at nine anxiously waiting for the delivery of Bessie 2.

She is all that and a bag of chips, I tell ya. I’m loving her, but holy crap…free motion quilting when done properly is TOUGH. Like really tough. My shoulders are tired and strained and my test piece for setting the tension on the new machine looks like a thread store had sex with a knot company and their baby barfed all over the material. It’s that bad. But I did get my tension set properly for quilting, I cut apart a darning foot and rigged it to quit bouncing and I practiced. And practiced. And practiced. And it still looks like shit, but I’m going to call it a night for FMQ.

 

FMQ Take 2

FMQ take 2 on Bessie 2

Anyway, I’m getting surly, so I’m going to go shut up, set up Bessie 1 and get back to stitch in the ditch quilting. It’s comfortable and right now, my shoulders need a little comfort (plus I feel like I’m cheating on Bessie 1 with Bessie 2).

 

Last, but definitely not least, today is my loverly hubby’s birthday. He turned 35. I truly enjoy razzing him for being almost 4 years older than me. I told him today that if his life expectancy is 70, he’s half way to dead. I also told him I’m thankful he’s still alive because that means I get another year to torture him. He wasn’t really impressed with either of my birthday remarks. I am not sure why. 

So much awesomeness

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First things first, I’m getting a new sewing machine. It will be on my doorstep sometime tomorrow thanks to Amazon’s super fast shipping options. There’s no need to say it, but I’m going to anyway: I’m totally freaking ecstatic. I’ve wanted a new sewing machine for ages. I love my old sewing machine. It was hands-down the best wedding present ever and it’s saved us tons of money in uniform alterations over the years, but Bessie 1 is a finicky broad sometimes. Here’s hoping that Bessie 2 will have a slightly more even temperament.  She’s certainly got more capabilities out of the box than Bessie 1 had, but that doesn’t exactly mean she’ll perform well. Either way, I’m thrilled because it’s the first sewing machine that *I’ve* bought, and I’ll probably love her forever just for that reason alone.

 

Bessie1 and Bessie 2

On the left, Bessie 1, on the right, Bessie's pretty daughter, Bessie 2

Did I mention that I can’t wait till Bessie 2 shows up here tomorrow?

If that wasn’t enough awesome for one day, I got a few Kiki Comen (of Kiki Creates) prints in the mail today. I can’t wait to get them framed and gifted! The light here today was deplorable, so I’ll try to get some decent pics to share tomorrow. Kiki & Company is her new store, and to make me happy (OK she has no idea who I am, but I love her prints anyway) she’s got an overstock sale going on as she transitions to the new store. Head on over. The overstock prints are 50% off, so you can’t beat THAT. Especially for a print that is going to make someone have a brighter day!

And, last, but not least for the day, this evening, I’m participating in the Friday Night Sew-In hosted, this week, by Crafty Vegas Mom. I’ve got a few mug rugs in the works that need some more attention because, although I planned on sewing earlier today, that did not happen. I’m snuggled in my comfy sweats with a glass (or three) of wine, and hoping like hell I can still stitch straight by the time the wine gets me all warm and fuzzy.

That’s all for today, folks. I’ll be back around tomorrow to squee about Bessie 2, and, possibly, show off my prints. That last bit all depends on if it’s another dreary day tomorrow.

Happy weekending!