Day 159 - Yesterday's Sewing

I made a pillow yesterday. Fun, right?!

Day 73 - Autumn Improv Quilt Finished!



I've been working on this quilt for awhile. It's my Autumn Improv quilt. Really, it's a sampler of different blocks and techniques that I've been seeing and wanting to try my hand at. I've been in Photoshop world all day today working on a 40th Anniversary Party invite for my parents, so the lighting in this picture is not very good. It is not quite so yellow in person, but I plan to take a few better pictures when I have a minute to get out of my yard to do it. :) It's my most ambitious quilt yet. Really, only my sixth quilt ever, but still. It turned out better than I thought it would, especially when I didn't have a plan when I started.

 

Thanks for stopping by the blog!

 

Rachael

Day 68 - Quilt Hideaway

Changed about 20 bobbins tonight. Totally worth it though because I have a quilted sandwich ready for trimming and binding. Might have to wait a couple days though. Tomorrow is a full day of work, picking up my mom and sister from the airport and voting. Maybe I can squeeze in a trip to the quilt shop and pick up some fabric for binding...

Day 66 - Into the Evening

Quilting into the Evening...and enjoying every minute of it!

Day 65 - Still Quilting

Day 64 - Scrappy Maple Leaf

So, I've been quilting in my "in-between" times and I'm slowly and surely finishing this Autumn Improv quilt. My goal is to finish the top this weekend, but secretly, I would love to finish the whole thing! Not saying that that will be even possible, but you never know...

Day 58 - Fall Leaves and a Mug Rug

Day 57 - Soldier On

This is what I'm working on tonight. Still working on my Autumn Improv quilt and hoping it will be done this weekend. 

Day 49 - Improv Quilt Block

Day 30 - Better Late Then Never

So, I just realized that it is 12:15am and I forgot to post my picture before I got too involved in sewing. I'm working on an improve quilt and trying to put fabrics together. Ironing, cutting, sewing, ironing, cutting, sewing, ironing...you know.

Day 29 - Autumn Blocks

Day 25 - Not as Planned

Spent my day cleaning out closets. Not exactly a thrilling way to spend the day, but I've been meaning to do that for a long time! This is another mug rug I finished up yesterday.

Day 24 - Stormy Sky

Today has been all about getting a couple of mug rugs done. I'm working on some samples for an art night that I lead for a group of ladies. The topics change every time and this time is all about quilting and the project will be making a mug rug. Narrowing down the pattern and everything we will need is something I've been thinking about as I work on these today. Lots to do still, but it's becoming more and more clear the more I work on them. Of course, I popped out to run to the quilt shop and to get some groceries and a storm rolled through. Safe and sound at home now, but I think it's time to get back to it.

~Rachael

Day 18 - Mug Rug Finished

It's been a busy couple days with my niece and nephew over, but I did squeeze in a little time to play with some fabric. My niece is working on her very first quilt (not bad for a 9 year old), so I took her over to the fabric warehouse to get some fun new fabrics for it. I've been wanting to get a few mug rugs made and after my first idea was kind of a bust, I decided to do something a little more simple instead. If there are any quilters reading, please don't look too closely. This is my first time making flying geese blocks and was a little distracted while I was making these. All in all, I am pleased with the way it turned out and I'm starting to see why so many people are into making mini quilts. The immediate gratification of finishing a cute little quilt in so short a time is wonderful. Also, it gives you a chance to try out different ideas without having to commit to a whole quilt to do it. I see more mini quilts in my future!

If anyone is wondering what a mug rug is, well, it's like a coaster, but a little bigger. Bigger than a coaster, smaller than a placemat. You can put your beverage on it, and a little treat...pastry, toast, cookie. Who couldn't use an excuse for a little snack with your beverage?

Day 17 - Playing with Fabric

Playing with fabric today. Not sure how this will end up, so this is all I've got to show you so far. Maybe tomorrow...

Day 9 - Fabric Wonderland and Weekend Plans

Believe it or not, my intension was NOT to buy any fabric when I stopped by the discount fabric warehouse on the way home from work today. Really. Honestly. Do you believe me?!?

But...

You know how it goes. I found a couple fabrics that I thought were too cute to pass up and at this place, if you don't pounce on it, you might never find it again...seriously. I've been reading some quilting blogs lately and really getting some great ideas of things to try as soon as the home office/creative space is all sorted and put back together. It is a complete mess right now! And that is what I'm up to this weekend. I think I should give it a name like Project...Organization...(no)...Streamline...(that's terrible)...oh, I got it...Project "I am not a Hoarder". Perfect.

Last weekend was round one. I was able to go through quite a few boxes and tossed three garbage bags worth of stuff and have another three that are for either selling or giving away! The big shelf that was in there is now happily installed in it's new place in the basement and waiting to receive whatever boxes of things I need to keep, but don't need at my fingertips. I also was able to find a spot for a big cushy chair that was in the basement! Since I'm trying not to spend any money on this revamp (except maybe some paint later on) it's not all going to be "matchy-matchy", but more of an eclectic look, using the things we already have in the house. When I was looking at the room, deciding where everything was going to work the best, I realized that I have a lot of things that still need to go in the room, but I think it will be way more functional than before and hopefully, a little prettier.

So this weekend is round two. Finish going through everything and hopefully get everything where it needs to be. This is kind of an ambitious goal, but I'm up for a challenge. Painting and getting things on the walls and windows might not happen right away, but I'll get to that eventually too. Should I admit that I'll also hoping for a rug...eventually?

Wow, this feels like the longest post EVER! If you've made it this far, you're amazing! Thanks for sticking in there. See you tomorrow. :)

~ Rachael

8.30.2014 - Day 3

How can I get rid of things when I open boxes to find things like this? It's happiness in a little gingham box.