For Beth in the KC Scrappy Bee

, originally uploaded by nkiblueeyes.

Color Wheel Swap & A Swap of My Own

A couple months ago in a moment of weakness, I signed up for a layer cake swap hosted by Distant Pickles.  A RAINBOW layer cake swap.  This was really one of my very favorite swaps because I am a sucker for rainbows and for pre-cuts.  We were assigned two colors (I got green and blue-green).  Before I knew it, we got these beauties in the mail.

I played around with them some.  The top picture are the squares we got in the swap. 

I added & subtracted some and am almost happy with the layout.  The top right and bottom left corners look much better in real life.  I do want to tweak those sections, though.  I may add another green or two.  I'm pretty heavy on the yellows & blues.  I like it that way, but adding some greens might balance it out better.  It's still on my design wall, but I am certainly itching to get it together.

In other news, Wyatt decided to start branching out with his wardrobe choices.  Since mid summer, he has insisted on only wearing red.  I gave up arguing about it a long time ago, but with St. Patrick's day coming, we worked on changing his attitude by talking to him about how everyone would pinch him if he wore red.  Now I can put him in most any colored shirt without too much argument.  Next up- We will argue about pants vs. shorts.

I have a hard time keeping clothes on Owen.  He is my little free spirit, always shedding his clothes, even in mixed company.  I won't comment on which side of the family tree this particular trait came from.  (grin) 

I've decided to host my own little Flickr swap of 2.5 inch squares.  It's by invite only, so if you're interested, let me know soon.  No repeats (all different fabrics) in increments of 10 squares.  Deadline for getting me the fabric is May 15.

Today's Sewing

We have been out of town visiting family & got home late last night. I'm still having allergies, so I took it easy today & spent time sewing.

I decided to make my hexies into a cover for my seeing machine. I've not seen another one made quite like I'm envisioning. Hope I can pull it off!

I caught up on my bee blocks tonight. Made 3 for Andrea & enjoyed them! I don't know why I was putting them off.

Later tonight, I'm going to work on blocks for Beth.

There's been some chatter going on in my old vintage sheet bee (bee vintage) about starting a new round up. My vintage sheet stash is really out of control. Would love to use some of it up! I'm not sure what I want to ask of everyone, but I have a couple ideas floating around...

It's good to be back home. I'm hopeful that I can get back into the swing of things.

One more wip bites the dust

Years ago when my youngest son was new, my quilting friend, Mary Gall gave me a stack of fat quarters to make something for my boys. I'm ashamed that it took me this long to finish it. But this weekend I tacked the binding down on it. One more for the books. :)



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Quilts of Valor Sewing Day With My Friends

Myrna's

Shirley's

 Shirley's

Shirley, Myrna & Kaye's

 Della's

Janie's

From the Greater KC Guild

 Closeup of quilted eagles (quilted by Judy Masur)

Ray's 

Elaine's 

 Closeup of quilting by Jill Dawson

Back of quilt 

Elaine's 

Elaine's

Elaine's 

Mine

Pam's 

Ray's (she made 3 of these) 

Lynn's 

A productive day for such a great cause!

Back into the swing of things

This block was made out of vintage sheets for Jenny in Bee Vintage.  Our bee was over last summer, but so many people flaked out & she didn't get enough blocks for her quilt, so I made an extra.

Then I got out a project I started with my Free Spirit Solids 1/2 yard pack.  I had grand plans for these, but decided to turn them into mug rugs instead.  In about an hour, I had 3 nice ones finished.  One of these will be traded in a mug rug swap at KCMQG next week.  Can't wait!

WIP Completed

Once upon a time (at least 6 years ago), I went shopping in Derby, KS and found this beautiful collection of 3 Sisters Moda fabric.  Always a sucker for Moda, I bought a bundle of fq's and decided I'd make a quilt of flying geese.  Imagine.  A really big flying geese quilt.

Well... I chopped it all up (mistake) and made a bunch of flying geese.  Even sewed some together.

And it sat.  In a heap.  And when I looked at it, I felt guilt.  I knew it would never be finished...

So instead of perpetuating that guilt, I decided to re-purpose my project.

My Memaw recently asked me if I could make something to cover a little rolling island in her kitchen.  This fabric is JUST her style.  In a few hours, I had this baby pieced, sandwiched, quilted and bound!

 (forgive the bad hair/no makeup...)

I have fabric left over, but I still feel like I've accomplished something and plan to mark this off my to do list. :)

Stashbusting

This month in the KC Scrappy Bee, Mary Anne requested string blocks.  She used white as the center stripe and I really loved that it unified the blocks.  Here are the ones I made for her:

She used paper for foundation piecing, which went ok.  My machine was a little testy, but they turned out really nice.

So nice, that I decided to make some for myself.  I've been stashbusting lately.  I've cut up some of my solid greens into 9 1/2 inch squares and used them to foundation piece some string blocks for ME.  Here's what I've got so far:

I'm not sure how big my quilt will be but I plan on using various shades of solid green for the foundation blocks.  I've got lots of strips already cut from my scraps, so I'm good to go for a while...

Blog Neglect

So I've been neglecting this blog.  Sorry, folks.  It happens from time to time.

I went to visit my grandfather in Arkansas for his 92nd birthday.  He's had some health scares lately, so this trip was extra special.  We're actually going again for spring break in a couple weeks.

During our trip, Owen got sick & by the time I brought him home, it had turned into a touch of pneumonia.  Lots of school was missed last week.  Both boys got sick. Then I got it.  We're still sniffling some, but I think we've recovered.

I moved my sewing operation (minus the design wall & ironing board) downstairs to my office so that I could have some measure of sanity by creating when I could get away with it.  I found a 2 x 6 board in the basement that was about 1 1/2 feet long & covered it with a layer of batting & flannel leftover from Owen's quilt.  It's serving as my mobile pressing station.  I have 3 or 4 rotary mats of various sizes, so cutting wasn't a problem.  Times like these, I really, really wish I'd bought myself a featherweight already.  I could and would use a portable machine.  However, it's hard for me to justify right now.  Perhaps this summer for my birthday?

I've been sewing some.  Made Mary Anne's bee blocks & some more for myself.  They're string blocks (I will add a picture later when I sync my phone).

This weekend is our monthly Quilts of Valor sewing day.  It will be nice go get away to sew.  I have a top that I will likely finish.  Some scrap fabrics were donated from our LQS for Quilts of Valor, so I'm making a block with stacked bricks.  Should be a nice one.  Very scrappy.

In other news, I've got a new TV addiction.  Downton Abbey.  If you haven't started watching yet, get busy!  It's a good one.  PBS series.  I watched 2 episodes last night and 2 1/2 more today.  Hooked.

And I recently fell in love with the series Parenthood.  It cost me a good 3 weeks of quilting time to catch up in the series.  I'm hopeful that there will be a new episode tonight.

Am thinking sewing might need to take a bit of a back seat soon.  I need to spend (and have been spending) time learning more about Autism & making plans for Wyatt's therapies.  An important doctor's visit and conference are coming up that I need to be extra prepared for.  Wanting to make plans for the summer for the boys.  Classes or lessons or something to get them out of the house & keep them active (and to keep me sane).  I will still sew (how could I not?) but I really do need to focus on real life more & be more proactive.  Plus, gardening season will soon be upon us and I have high hopes for my garden this year.

Today, Wyatt and I pruned out Rose of Sharon bushes & tied up all the limbs to put them on the curb.  Took us a couple hours.  We both enjoy yard work.  Owen is less diligent about finishing jobs, but Wyatt sticks to the task until it's completed.  We also trimmed up some of our bushes in the front yard, making a giant mess that has yet to be bagged up, but I have it all raked into a couple piles.  Must tackle it tomorrow.  This spring-like winter has been really enjoyable.

My sewing room is upside down & I don't think there's much of a way to fix it without removing half of the contents.  So... the door is shut & I try to not think about it.  For now, it's too overwhelming.

I think I'll go have a cookie.

Vintage Sheet Fat Quarter Swap

Vintage sheet fat quarter swap, originally uploaded by nkiblueeyes.

Come join me in the latest vintage sheet fat quarter swap.

i've closed my Etsy shop, chopped everything up and am sharing the wealth. I'm sending in 80 fat quarters, but could easily send in 3 or 4 times that amount.

I've decided to create my own vintage sheet fat quarter stash & box it up until I get some WIPs done around here. Then I'll open up the box and enjoy them.

So come join me! Here's a link: http://www.flickr.com/groups/792015@N22/ The deadline is soonish, so don't delay!

Go Visit My Friend, Judy's Blog

Check out my friend, Judy's Blog.  She's having a giveaway...

If you need a longarmer, I highly recommend her.  She's located between KC and Lawrence and she has some immediate openings, so hurry!

Wyatt's old crib quilt

Now we use it for wagon rides.



Wild geese variation block. 30's fabrics.

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Tumbling along

Tumbler blocks...



These are from a swap I did on Flickr. Such fun! I didn't mean to start sewing them together tonight, but I couldn't resist. I cut out more from my stash & made it bigger. I may go even bigger. Not sure yet. I love it, tho!

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True confessions

I see the gym not as a place to work out, but as a method of getting extra mental health time by putting the kids in childcare while I sit in the sauna or cafe paper piecing hexagons.





And I feel ZERO guilt.


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Swapping like crazy

So I know I swore off swapping, but I think I might need to clarify that statement...

I'm swearing off swaps/bees where you make something for someone else (except for my KCMQG KC Scrappy Bee).

Instead, I'm going to participate here and there in swaps for charm squares, layer cakes, tumbler blocks, etc.

Here's my latest swap:  Distant Pickles Rainbow Layer Cake Swap. If you want to play too, hurry because there aren't many spots left.

My choice for the MM I Spy Swap

My choice for the MM I Spy Swap, originally uploaded by nkiblueeyes.

I Spy Charm Square Swap

Join me for a fun 5 inch charm square swap of I Spy fabrics.  1 yard of fabric.  Quilt shop only, non-smoking, etc.

Here is the link...  Hurry!

Another finish!

Another finish!, originally uploaded by nkiblueeyes.

This baby quilt is for my newest neighbor, 1 month old baby Kate. :)

Sewing with kcmqg

Today we sewed for 4 hours at Harper's (our lqs) & I have a finish!




These pillow shams are for my spare bedroom daybed. They will match the quilt that's on the bed. Very fun!

And I also needed a backing for a batik quilt I'm making, so I used a table runner wip along with a baby quilt that was never finished. They're now a backing!




My new approach is to work on the projects that are closest to completion first.

Next up: bento blocks.

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Go hogs go!!!

Go hogs go!!!, originally uploaded by nkiblueeyes.

Tonight, my alma mater (the University of Arkansas) is playing my husband's alma mater (Kansas State).

I've been gently reminding the kids today that razorbacks are good and wildcats are bad. We're practicing calling the hogs and saying GO HOGS, GO!

Tonight we'll have friends over (did I mention that we live in Kansas and all of our friends are Wildcats?) and we will sit on opposite sides of the room and cheer for our teams. I've informed everyone that I will only let people wearing red thru the door...

Go hogs, go! Woo Pig Sooie!


***** Edited*****
We won!  My hubby and most of our guests were disappointed, but they all took my obnoxious behavior well.  I had a bottle of champagne.  Oops!  Go Hogs, GO!