Blissful Progress

I made some progress on items for the October bazaar!  I completed 4 placemats and a table topper.  The table topper was made using English paper piecing the hexagons, sewing them all together, quilting, then binding.  I used the red, aqua, and pink prints from a Bliss candy bar plus some I had left over from my Marmalade quilt.  The placemats used the same color scheme from a Bliss charm pack plus I added some linen, hand stitching with pearl cotton, and red ric rac.  This was my first larger project with ric rac and I'm pleasantly surprised how easy it went!  I'm a little stuck about what to charge for items like these.  What I would pay for them and what typical buyers of handmade items would pay are different (I'm cheap and I'm surprised how much stuff sells for).  If anyone has any suggestions, I'm happy to hear it!  For now, I'm trying to look up similar items on etsy and see what they go for.  

Ultra Special Wedding Quilt

Now that my best friend has received it, I can finally post pictures of my completed Bottled Rainbows quilt!  When I started this quilt it was for me and for fun (many thanks to Rachel for the QAL!).  I already had another quilt in mind to make my friend as her wedding gift, but as time went on, I didn't feel my original idea was special enough.  Then it hit me!  Duh!  I should make the Bottled Rainbows for her!  This is such a special quilt with so many special fabrics (not that she understands, but, whatever, I know they're special).  One block has special meaning for her (the pink one).  When my friend was getting back into the dating world after her divorce, she would journal about her dates and compare them to shoes.  I just KNEW I had to include some of the Heather Ross Munki Munki shoes in this quilt!

I opted to used a modified zig zag to quilt this one--mostly because I stink at straight line!  Since the blocks were quilt as you go, it didn't take long to do some minimal quilting over the seam lines.

I also machine stitched the binding down with invisible thread in the bobbin and light grey for the top--I sewed it to the back first then brought it around to the front.  I just started using this method for binding and I love how quick it is and how neat the binding still looks.  It's not as perfect as handsewing, but when I have a million projects on my plate, something has to give.

For the backing I chose an Alexander Henry butterfly print since the theme of her wedding was butterflies.  Really, that one was a no brainer!  The only downside I found was that because my backing had a light background, you can see the pressed open seams of the colored blocks.  I chalk this up to just one of the down sides to quilt-as-you-go.  It's still pretty from the front and I doubt anyone other than another quilter would be bothered by that. :)

10 Down, 20 to Go!

After much cursing, pricked fingers, and hunched shoulders, I finally finished these 10 wristlets for the bazaar in October.  I would like to make 20 more pouches--10 large boxy bags and 10 zippered pouches--so I still have a lot of work ahead!  These are from one of KeykaLou's patterns.  I chose the smallest size, but when I went to top stitch these, I regretted it!  Teeny tiny things just aren't my forte!

B*%$h, I Mean Beach, Photoshoot

I decided to drive to the beach today to take some pictures of the quilt I just finished.  I had the top done for some time, but I've delayed quilting it because I hate straight-line quilting and I HAD to straight-line this one.  I'm calling it Sea Glass because that's what it reminds me of.  Thus, I had to go to the beach for pictures.  Now, let me just say, I'm not a beach person.  I love the water, but I hate sand.  Ironically, I live near some of the most beautiful beaches (Destin, FL).  Well, today's photoshoot was a disaster!  I'll let you look at a few more pictures before I continue my story.

First off, I was coming from the gym so I was already a hot mess in long black pants and sneakers--not the best beach wear.  Also, I had to bring my youngest who is not quite 2 and loves the beach.  Imagine going to the beach with your kids and telling to stand in the hot sand and don't go near the water.  Yeah, that was fun.  Then, he proceeds to stick his hands in the sand and then rub his eyes.  FUN TIMES!  oh oh oh!  Let's not forget having to walk across the street and down the deck holding all my craft items and a hot, hungry kiddo.  Did I not mention it was lunch time?  Yeah, lunch time--it was freaking hot and we were freaking hungry.  Then, I put my pretty new quilt down on the dune for some texture with the plants growing in it.  MISTAKE!  The plants were actually weeds covered in stickers when then embedded themselves all over the back of my new quilt.  Lovely.

Here are some more pictures while you're laughing.

I also decided to bring some older project to get some better pictures.  I mean, I was already going, I might as well make the most of my horrific time, right?

This is my new pillow.  I love it.  I call it my Crush pillow since I have a complete crush on it.  Super soft voile and hand quilting...*sigh*

Anywho!  My kiddo screamed and cried the entire time we were there--did you know that sand really likes to stick to tears and buggers?  Just something I picked up today.  After a frantic 10 minutes of snapping pictures, dodging tourists, calming a screaming baby and picking out stickers from my quilt, I ran to the car with my crying kiddo.  After dumping my projects in the back I managed to shake about a pound of sand off of my kiddo's face, clothes, and feet.  Cripes!  Give me concrete and a chlorine pool any day!

Therapy Sewing

Sometimes, you just need to sew something you want to sew.  That was today's project.  I love It's a Hoot.  It's one of my favorite lines, if not THE favorite.  There are some prints I don't care for, but, on the whole, I love it!  This pattern is from Alison (Cluck, Cluck Sew) and is called Easy Bake.  It's one of those patterns where, after you read it, you feel like doing a *face-palm*  DUH!  So super easy like regular square patchwork, with a little twist.  This will probably be one of the quilts I sell at the bazaar.
***Update:  this is NOT a disappearing nine patch, but I can see why people would think it is.

Lightning, again!

When we first moved into this house two years ago, it was struck by lightning the second day we were here, effectively killing our TV.  Who says lightning can't strike twice?  This time, it fried our TV and our computer!  Now I'm going through the oh-so-fun process of an insurance claim.  We didn't wait to replace our items--the new TV was up after only two days!  I can't handle screaming kiddos in the morning without Sprout!  After some debate, we decided to purchase our first Mac!  I'm really excited and have my fingers crossed that the lightning stays far, far away!

In sewing news, I started working on items for a local bazaar in October.  I'm trying not to wait until the last minute to sew things.  My goal is in work on a WIP or custom order project, then work on something for the bazaar.  These will be Keyka Lou curvy clutch wristlets.  The fabrics on the left are exteriors, on the right are interiors.  I sort of chose fabric willy nilly. I need to get some more hardware to finish these, but it's a start!

Finishes and Loot

I finished this custom request Modified Bento Box quilt for my friend Sara.

I made this mug rug for my Pretty {little} Pouch partner since I chickened out on writing that on her pouch.

Then, I received all these wonderful goodies from Krista--who was my secret pouch partner.  Isn't my pouch fab?  I suggested maybe a pouch to put my kiddos' snacks in so I could keep crumbs in my purse to a minimum.  This couldn't be more perfect!

This is the back.

The inside has laminated fabric and is insulated!!!!!