Thursday, April 28, 2011

WIP Wwww...Thursday.

I wanted to get this up for yesterday, but alas -- I did not.

Remember my cutting project last week?

Tanya Whelan HST

I got started on it.  Just simple half-square triangles, arranged loosely by value in what I think is called a broken dish arrangement (maybe???)

I think they're sweet and pretty (maybe too sweet, like give you a tooth ache sweet). ;)

I also got a late bee block done for my friend miss Katie.

VIBee block for Katie


I modified my chubby stars block to have mitered corners... because I didn't have a lot of contrast to work with for the cornerstones, and I wanted to make it a little different.

Oh -- one more WIP!

16 weeks today... but this lovely self portrait is from last week.

just over 15 weeks

I was trying to focus here... this one cracks me up because my husband often makes fun of my focus face.



If you'd like perspective -- here I am at 15 1/2 weeks with Steiger... just looking a little chubby. :)





Oops... apparently I'm too late to link up to Lee's linky party...  ;)

Monday, April 25, 2011

A birdie in bliss for miss B

Finishes are to be celebrated. :)

Bliss diamonds

Steiger headed up to his grandma's Friday night, and I got to sewing.  Back in October, I bought a pile of the Bliss blenders.

bliss blenders

I cut them up, and got a little top done.  I had wanted to try diamonds... so I did.
And then it was just a top gone in to my pile of "to be quilted"

An online friend wanted a custom quilt a while back, but I was swamped (and it wasn't looking any better any time soon).  So I told her about a few tops I had finished that I could quilt up for her.

She liked the Bliss diamonds.

Her daughter's nickname is "Bird," and she asked if I could add a bird to it.

So I did.

little bird detail

She also wanted her nickname on the back -- so I added that too.

back of Bird's bliss quilt

I have to tell you about the back -- it is flannel... and oh so so soft (and oh so pink). :)  (Moda's flannel really is amazing though). 

So happy with how it turned out, and can't wait to see pictures of the little Miss opening it for her second birthday party this weekend! :)

Bliss diamonds

Full tutorial coming soon -- I've already got the pictures for it ready. ;)

Linking to "Sew Modern Monday"

{Sew} Modern Monday at Canoe Ridge Creations

and AmyLouWho's Sew and Tell!




Friday, April 22, 2011

does cutting count?

Steiger wants to live outside these days.  Since it has been pretty nice, and I have been home this week with him, and I know what's coming this summer (big belly in 100 degree plus weather) -- we have spent many hours.
I should probably set up my sewing machine... but I haven't yet, just my small cutting board, and a little table.

May is my month for VIBees, but, like always, I had trouble deciding what to do for my theme.  I had originally thought I was going to do this block...

But I decided that I wanted my Bee friends to still like me at the end... and they might not after all those set-in seams.

So then I pulled this pile of fabric.

I've been collecting Tanya Whelan for quite some time, with it always in the back of my mind to make for a little girl I might have one day.  But it didn't seem quite right for my "petals" theme.  

Then I remembered a Dresden I had made for Jessica, and went a new direction with my fabric.




I went with a pink, fuschia, chartreuse, and aqua palette -- inspired by Jessica's Dresden, this picture from design-seeds, and this gorgeous hot pink peony I picked up at Costco last week.



My bee friends will be getting a stack of charm squares, and a nice big piece of white background.





I was happy with my change, but I still loved the Tanya Whelan fabric.  I just think it needs to be half-square triangles (that's what I've always envisioned.)  So that's what I'm doing.  Lots of cutting, and sewing has commenced on a second "if it's a girl quilt" -- but this one will be made entirely by Mama.  



The irony here is that I think we're having boy #2.


Friday, April 15, 2011

I wasn't going to miss this round.

I came to quilting too late to be able to get Flea Market Fancy for a reasonable price... and I wasn't going to let that happen again.

I signed in to flickr the other night, and saw people talking about the "new DS fabric," at JoAnn's of all places (that really did surprise me -- I too am a JoAnn's snob -- I go there for notions and batting, not fabric), but the stuff was too cute to thumb my nose at.

So in between my two appointments yesterday, and while Grandma was graciously watching Steiger, I snuck away to JoAnn's, and was thrilled to find 20 of the bolts from the DS Quilts Collection.

new DS quilts fabric

Sadly, I missed one of the blues -- I don't know if it wasn't there (sold out), or if I just missed it somehow...


Please don't tell my husband I went a little overboard.

You can tell him that I've got a couple of the Fairgrounds colorway listed in etsy if you're interested (SOLD).  (Sorry if the price seems high; the fabric is $10/yard, (I only had a couple coupons) -- + there's enough to cover the etsy fees.)

I do have all nine of this colorway.

Fairgrounds colorway

Here's the bundle.  And don't worry -- when I was cutting them, I compensated for JoAnn's scissor cutting ways, so you get the full eighteen inches width.

Fairgrounds FQ Bundle

There are two available at the moment, and I hope to cut more of the Picnic colorway (minus one sku) tonight or tomorrow.

Picnic colorway

But between finding this fabric, my big box of Pirate's Booty, and hearing a healthy little heartbeat yesterday, life is pretty good.

Oh, and it's Spring Break -- LOTS of make-up sewing to get done, and Spring cleaning!

Sunday, April 10, 2011

you're 2 today

yesterday, we took you to "ride big trains!"  ♥

family picture

You ordered your father around all day -- "over there," "see that," "go see that."

big grin with Daddy

Your mom and dad still rock you to sleep many nights.  At Grandma's house, you climb on the big bed, and fall asleep while she's reading your story.  We have to trick you in to your room, because you're often telling us "No Nigh-night."  It's how we know when you're tired.

on the big bed

You're a lovey little guy... often giving us hugs, or putting your arm around us.  You like to "hold hands" in the car, or walking... though of course, sometimes you tell me, "Stysto do it."

You refer to yourself as "Stysto."

You're chatty -- and life with you is a constant running commentary... birdie flying... big truck coming... Daddy fix sprinklers... Stysto fall down... Stysto running fast... Mommy get that... baby over there... ride big train...go see it...
You're also very inquisitive.




Actually -- you want to go see everything, and go ride everything. Go ride big tractor, ride four-wheeler (which sounds like fo-feeya).

Mr. Engineer

Whenever you see a ditch or body of water, you say, "Frow rocks in dere" (throw rocks in there).  We throw a lot of rocks on walks.

You contradict yourself often -- saying you want one thing, only to negate it the next second.  This drives your father and I batty, and we have not figured out how to quell this habit -- other than by ignoring you.  You can be rather persistent though.

You love popsicles, jelly beans, and most kinds of sweets... though, you'd probably take a "berber (burger) and fies" over those on most days.  In n' Out are your favorites.

always laughing

You love trains, cars, tractors, bikes, stickers, books, and are learning puzzles.

You know all your grandparents by name, and talk about them often... and do wonderfully when you're with them.  You've spent the night at your Grandma Shirley's a couple times, and I'm pretty sure you're better for her than for me.  You remember your Aunt Sharon and Uncle T -- even though you only see them a couple times a year.

with two of your grandmas

with Grandpa Rich

You get shy initially, but then warm up.  Yesterday, you shook your head "no" whenever the train blew its whistle, because it was "too youd!"

getting brave on the big train

You talk about the baby "growing big and stong" a lot.  Sometimes you pat mommy's tummy, and say "baby in dere." :)

big smile with Mommy

One of your most commonly used words is "heavy."  It is a synonym for anything big, tall, or awkward to maneuver.

You like things to be in order as far as whose item belongs to whom -- you get upset, for example, if Mommy uses Daddy's phone, or Elli (the dog) goes near anything that's yours.  You are also very concerned with who does what.

studying the balloon man work

Steiger, I remember when you were five months old, and taking a bath... I looked at you, while you were grinning and kicking and swinging your arms in your little bath, and told you that I wanted to memorize you.  I still feel like that every day.  Last night, after I told you about your train adventures and adventures with Alexander on the bleachers at the softball game, I rocked you while you tried to fall asleep.  I was remembering two years earlier -- in the hospital.  My happiest memories from the hospital were when I would hold you and you would sleep on me.  I remember I would turn my face so that I didn't steal your air.  Last night, I couldn't help but get drippy eyes as I pictured that tiny little body and face, while you were draped over the chair and my lap last night.  I can't wait for you to meet your little brother or sister (you say sister) -- and share your bright, inquisitive, possessive, tender, gracious, and funny little heart with a new person of our family.  You've already got your daddy and I completely and utterly in love.

Happy Birthday my sweetest boy.  It has been a most wonderful two years so far.

2 years

Sunday, April 3, 2011

and she's all basted...

I would like to be proud of my (quilting) accomplishment for the weekend.

I turned on my sewing machine (first time in a month or so!)

Pieced a back.

And got my husband's Urban Lattice quilt all basted.  
It was nice to be able to bend at the waist without wanting to puke.

all basted

I quilted half a line, stopped in the middle and decided I needed a nap.

But it was a start, and definitely progress. ;)