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!

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!

New Items in the Shop

The Christmas bags are listed in the shop! I meant to last night, but I fell asleep on the couch instead.

Christmas is Coming...

Can you tell what I've been doing?

It never stops feeling good to sew. I actually can't believe I got so much done. Breaking it up into parts helps. I forgot my old process of prepping and cutting fabric at night while I watched tv beside my husband. Then sew the next day during spare moments (i.e. nap time). I loved it.

Look for updates in the shop soon!

Crazy...Green

I mentioned earlier that the green crazy blocks were done.

Well I finally got around to taking a picture of one of them for your viewing pleasure.

Now to start and finish the orange.

Fabric Stash Replenished

Well I finally went shopping. Patchwork Passions has a Fat Friday sale. Every Friday you can get 1 Fat Quarter free for every 3 you buy. I may or may have not gone over board. Didn't I tell myself this winter that I would try my hardest to not buy any new fabric? That I would instead whittle away at my current large overflowing stash of fabric? Oh well, my hardest wasn't enough to stop me.

I pawed through the basket of scraps and found enough green to finish my green blocks. 

UPDATE - they are now done!

There were some other scraps in there that I snagged for future projects. 

They were too pretty to leave behind and one sandwich bag full of scraps is only $2!

Who can resist? Seriously, who? Because I would like to meet you and shake your hand.

I also purchased my first supply of orange. I can't decide whether I want to eat these colors or bask in their summer time glow. Either way they'll help me start and finish the orange blocks for my future crazy rainbow quilt.

This is where I went overboard.

I don't need these fabrics.

I couldn't leave the store without them.

Besides, I needed fat quarters in divisions of 4 so I could take advantage of the sale.

The urge to make these into a baby blanket makes my womb ache.

Do you see that shadow falling over them in the picture?

That is my toddler, constantly underfoot and searching for destruction. That makes my head ache. 

love

I'll be honest, my green crazy blocks haven't made any progress. Unless you count moving the green scraps from my bedroom down to my sewing table. They've been sitting there for several days, waiting for me to sit and be patient with them. You see, I've been busy watching love instead.

My husband and I recently attended a wedding that really highlighted something for me. I know, we all expect to see love at a wedding. Everyone watches the bride walk down the aisle, her eyes transfixed on the groom, and he on her. Everyone gets a little weepy when witnessing such a proclamation, or at least I do. But when I was sitting in that pew watching two young lovers share their first kiss I was overwhelmed by their thoughtful and determined actions for each other. As they kissed I knew that if love could take a physical form, it would be this moment, right here, right now. Lovely, beautiful, magical...those are all adjectives I could use, but they feel small compared to what I witnessed. I don't even know if "overwhelming love" could do it justice. But it turned my heart all the same and I am thankful for that.

ps - dearest husband, when you read this, know that the one thing in my life I will always be sure of is marrying you.

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!

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.

I'm in Love

The internet was down. I had finished my book. There was nothing good on TV. With all this free time on my hands (i.e. no more excuses) I sat down and finally tackled something that has been scaring me. Do you remember this post? Even after I was inspired to make it into a purse, I was intimidated to try something new, especially since a zipper was involved. But I faced that fear and I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it!

Yes the seams aren't perfect. Yes the zipper needs work (next time). But I love it and I'm going to make more. That is a declaration and a promise. Right after I finish up a project that will debut later this week.

Spring Circle Quilt V

Dear Juleah,
Happy belated Birthday. When your birthday was fast approaching this winter I really felt the need to make you something. At first I thought something small, but as I spent more and more time with my fabric, these colors and this quilt just came together. I truly believe this quilt is meant for you. From my home to yours.

Love,

Sarah

Spring Circle Quilt IV

I better hurry up with this quilt before I run out of roman numerals!

Well I'm happy to say I've finished tying the quilt and I've moved onto hand sewing the back of the binding on. This is the part where I really feel my love is going into the quilt. This is where I put my time and energy. This is what makes the quilt personal for me. And this time around I'm motivated to finish this beauty very quickly. This quilt belongs in a different home and she knows it. She belongs to a dear friend and I can't wait to see the two together.

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...

Indecision No More

Remember my inability to cut into that brown square with the yellow ribbon edging? Well I didn't cut, but I did rip out seams and have an idea for a great little purse.

And what do you know...the yellow ribbon is turning into the cutest little flower. It reminds me of the blossoms you see on pea plants. I want to eat it.

Spring Circle Quilt II

I was sewing along last night with low light, tired eyes and a foggy mind.

So it was without much surprise that I found a mistake. A 3/4" mistake.

Where oh where did this missing 3/4" go?

I asked my measurements....


They spoke only truth and accuracy.


I asked my measuring tape...



It confirmed what the measurements said.



I asked my sissors...


They were hiding in shame.
Measure twice, cut once!

Spring Circle Quilt

Well the circles have been appliqued onto the blocks and the blocks have been sewn together. I pushed through a lack of desire to cut fabric last night and added the borders. By 9:45 PM my eyes were shutting down and so was I. Is it too hopeful to think the binding may be made tomorrow night and perhaps even basting the layers together?


This fresh spring quilt makes me smile. Yes, the bright colors help, but also because I can see so much improvement in how I sew now. My mistakes are less. My frustration is minimal. I enjoy more and more parts of this whole process and am really finding my style in all of this. I love sewing, but even more, I LOVE finding me!

Spring is Creeping In

Speaking of winter...

It's starting to look a lot like spring inside my house. Or at least that's what my husband said when he saw these fabrics laying out one night. I hadn't even realized it while I was sewing the strips together, but his fresh perspective has opened my eyes and mind to the way spring is slowly seeping into our lives, inside and out.

Don't worry, I'll be sure to keep taking photos of this project along the way so you can see the progress and final outcome. I'm so excited to do a circle quilt again. I just love them!