Scraps Galore

I made queen sized quilt for my sister last summer.

I may have a bad habit of over estimating how much fabric I need for projects. But that's okay because it keeps me knee deep in even more projects for way too long.

At first I made two table runners and a baby blanket with the left overs.

Then I STILL had all this left over.

So I even tried making an apron. But I still had scraps left over that I couldn't bear to throw away. And I just did not feel like making potholders. So.....

I caved into my ultimatum of "I never want to make clothes" and I made the most absolutely stinking adorable skirt ever. It doesn't hurt that the model was over the moon about it too!

So every last scrap went into a second skirt that's even lined this time. I am officially out of scraps from the original quilt and we are a very happy family indeed!

I Can't Believe I Finished!

Well this blog was started with the intent of posting sewing projects. So lets back up from mommy world for a moment, and take a gander at the latest finished project in my house.

This queen sized quilt is a graduation present for my youngest sister. I hope she enjoys it (and keeps it out of the dryer...hint...hint). I just can't believe I was able to start and finish such a large project with two kids in the house in just a couple months (to be fair I did the majority of the sewing on the days my mother in law was able to take one or both kids for the day).

I cut a lot of fabric for this quilt. A lot. So much that I had enough fabric to make a baby blanket, two table runners - all three are now assembled and pinned, waiting for a moment of sewing to finish them. I really need to get better at estimating my fabric needs.

There's probably another small project or two in the scrap pile on the stairs, but I'm starting to get sick of these fabrics and color scheme. Until recently the extra scraps were living in my preschooler's tonka truck, but they've been hidden (in the plastic bag) so I can stop picking them up off the floor every night!

Next on my wish list of projects includes some doilies. Yummy!

Tip Week - Tip # 2

The second tip for this week is:

Keep a consistent quarter inch seam

(or whatever width seam you're aiming for)

My first few quilts had blocks of all varying sizes because I would start out trying for a 1/4" seam and waver back and forth between 1/2" and 1/8" seam. I had one blue and pink quilt that I had to fill spaces in with extra fabric because the blocks were just so different in size that they would never line up.

Here is a horrible photo of said quilt, but you can see the pink strip on the bottom left hand corner. Yeah, that's a filler.



Beautiful color combo though, right?

Stay tuned for tip # 3 tomorrow!

Baby Blanket - Check

Look what I finished!

I've officially finished all the sewing projects I had set out to do before the baby comes.

And I thought perhaps this baby blanket would be a reach for me to finish on time.

But here it is in all it's glory and still no baby!

I did however skip the binding and just topstitched around the edge to save time.

As I approach the last week before my due date I get more and more physically ready to have this baby (i.e. cranky and achy).

On a sidenote Whirlwind keeps asking if the blanket is for her. I keep pointing out the beautiful quilt I made just for her, but she is in love with the stars on the back.

New Items in the Shop

The entire collection of rainbow purses are up in the Seamingly Sarah shop.

Take a look!

Off on Vacation

Guess what I did yesterday? SEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you tell I'm excited? I spent a whole day of my vacation jsut sewing. Well, alright, I did spend one hour exercising. Priorities people. But now all the rainbow blocks are done! Such a relief. Until I think about what to do with them next! Oy.

But now I'm off on a more "real" vacation while my husband and I celebrate five years of marriage. He's the best decision I ever made. I love you handsome.

I'll be back with pictures of upcoming projects. You know all those finished blocks have to be turned into something. And I've already got a couple ideas. Until then, enjoy these pictures.

Bye Bye Blue

Well I'm finally done with the blue blocks! Are you getting sick of going through this rainbow phase with me? Because I'm starting to get sick of it. Just purple left in order to make the quilts and placemats. But I must confess I have a pile of pink scraps and white base blocks already waiting to go.

Until then please enjoy the following from last night...

 This little bugger was hanging out on the grill when I went to put the salmon on. I do not handles surprises very well and therefore displayed little to no grace in the situation. He was finally convinced to hop down onto the deck, but he stayed close by the entire time.

Meanwhile my daughter was putting her face up in his business. I tried to convince her that he was probably very scared (especially after the ear wrenching scream from me) and just wanted to be alone. We went online and looked up types of frogs in an educational moment. I think he's a Gray Treefrog. She woke up talking about him, but sadly (happily) he was gone, off finding something else to suction his little toes to.

And just so you don't think I've given up on sewing completely...

Here is a fun party banner I put together yesterday. I needed something besides crazy blocks to sew and these triangles have been patiently waiting around for their turn. Fun, fast, easy. Just what I needed. Ahhhhhhh......

Ugh...I'm so lazy

I seriously haven't felt motivated enough to sign in to blogger, upload photos and type a few sentences. I don't even know how long it's been since I posted. But this blog isn't about filling it up with pictures and words unless there are pictues and words to be shared.

Which leads me to my point. I have actually gotten a "leeetle" (pinch fingers really close together) bit of sewing done in this summer heat. Typically I just show sneak peeks, but I feel like giving a full disclosure this time.Enjoy.

ps - I'm feeling so lazy that there will be no photo editting, what you see is what you get.

pps - I mistakenly took these photos in an ISO setting, therefore they are very grainy/pixelated.

pps - It has been so darn frustrating uploading these photos that I am now giving up on any further formatting and logging off so I can find my daughter and cuddle her to death.

I Think I Can...

Sarah?

Sarah, where are you?

I know, I know. I've left you sitting there a long time.

I'm already cut up.

bike shorts to mend...weeding the behemoth of a garden...entertaining a two year old

Everything is out, waiting...

Waiting for you.

Besides look how pretty I can be.

Okay. I can do this. I can sit down, buckle down and get this done.

Bye Bye

Never was I so happy to see two quilts leave.

I will be taking a break from sewing for a little while, but until then I am leaving you with a clue each day about my next project. See if you can guess what I'll be making...

Done Again!

The last quilt for the Feeder Canal Alliance Basket Raffle is done! Isn't it a cute little baby blanket? I suppose it could be a wall hanging too, but really, who doesn't want to wrap a bundle of joy in this?

Let's recap:

53 x 69" blue lap quilt

34 x 34" pink/green baby quilt

Each a basket you could win at the Basket Raffle on Sunday, May 2nd, from 1 to 3 PM at the West Glens Falls Firehouse on Luzerne Road in Queensbury, NY. An admission ticket is $10 for 10 raffle tickets. Each additional set of 10 raffle tickets is only $5. There will be over 40 other baskets there to try and win, as well as door prizes, baked goods and a silent auction.

Help support a wonderful organization. The Feeder Canal Alliance maintains and preserves miles of trail and canalway that are free and open to the greater community. And it doesn't hurt to try and win one of my quilts!

Done!

The blue quilt is done! Don't you just love it? I do. It's bigger than I anticipated, hence the intricate backing. I've always loved quilts that had just as decorative backs. It's like a reverisble quilt. I've just never made one until now.

Now to move onto the pink quilt. Any ideas on what clever pattern I should come up with? I am thinking the pink quilt will be a bit smaller than the blue quilt just to speed things up. Well lets be honest...I'm thinking baby quilt or table runner. I'm tired and pressed for time.

Perseverance

Procrastination

It's hard to work on this...

When there's so much of this outside...

Maybe I'll just clean the house instead.

Upcoming Projects

Another reason I needed to finish up the Spring Circle Quilt was to make room for two more projects on my table (or floor really). I'm trying a blue quilt with 6.5" squares, but in a diagonal pattern.

And of course I always have left overs from each project, so I'll be making another pink circle quilt, but with a bit of a variation this time.

Both these quilts will be donated to the Feeder Canal Alliance's Baske Raffle. It's on May 2nd at the West Glens Falls Fire House on Luzerne Road in Queensbury, NY. I'll be working the ticket table.

Spring Circle Quilt III

Can you believe I'm done with the machine sewing aspect of this quilt already? This one has really moved along, well at least by my standards. What are my standards you ask? Well lets just say the last circle quilt I did took me years. Yes YEARS! I couldn't find the right fabric for the border. I couldn't get the seams to line up. I had to learn how to embroider. Am I whining?

Well years later it came together and I absolutely love it. Every single inch of it. This is my favorite quilt...

Winter Colors

We've finally had a few good snow storms up here in Northern New York. In a family of skiiers and outdoor enthusiasts it is greatly appreciated. I personally adore a fresh blanket of white, fluffy snow, but after each snowfall the sun rises and so does the temperature. The white blanket eventually melts and leaves us with varying shades of brown. Today I took a moment to appreciate the vibrant colors my daughter offers to the world when she steps outside in her pink boots, blue snow pants and equally hot pink coat. She makes me smile even when the rest of the world looks drab.