The Year of the UFO

Posted on May 4, 2010 by ginabean • 12 Comments
This year I have made it a point to try and get many of the projects I have started finished. I have a bad habit of starting things and then moving on to the next project before I get things finished.
I started a Spiderweb String Quilt last year and made about two rows before I set it aside and never looked at it again. This past weekend I went on a quilting retreat at Montreat and I decided it would be the perfect time to work on getting this quilt to the next step.
I worked like mad on it and I got 80 triangles pieced. That is what I needed to make to add 4 more rows to this quilt. Now that that is done, the next step is to get all these sewn together. It’s getting closer and closer to being finished. I am excited to see how it turns out. I had such a good time at the retreat, too. The group of ladies that go are so nice and fun to be around. I spend as much time laughing as I do sewing. I can’t wait to go back again in the Fall.

I also was able to cross two baby quilts off my UFO list.

This one is going to a friend of mine that is expecting. This summer, I plan to get down to business and really get a good amount to things done. There will be some miles put on my sewing machine!

Filed Under: quilts, sewing

Show + Tell

Posted on April 26, 2010 by ginabean • 12 Comments
It’s Finished! I put the final stitches in the quilt for the Rally for the Cure yesterday. I also got the raffle tickets ordered today, so we will be harassing everyone to buy them soon. Like last year, all the proceeded for the quilt raffle will go to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The drawing will be October 6.
This year, they are having a garden theme so I used a Brick Path pattern and added a flower and bunny applique to the top. I also used Joel Dewberry’s Modern Meadow fabric line. I’m really digging that fabric line.

Fletcher is going to a birthday party on Saturday so I made this little art tote for the gift. (I’m thinking this would be a good tutorial. I’ll have to work on that.) I’m always weary of how people will react to “handmade” gifts, but that’s what they’re getting. Hope it goes well. I can’t go to the party because I will be at a quilt retreat in Black Mountain, NC,(YEAH!) so the hubbers has to take Fletch. He is not exactly thrilled to have to take Fletch without me, but he’s gotta do it. Hopefully, some of the other daddies will be there.
And finally, my Sunday sewing project was this Barcelona skirt in Modern Meadow fabric (of course.) I have never put in an invisible zipper before now, but I did it and it turned out pretty good, so there will be more invisible zippers put in things from now on. Actually, I would like to make another skirt since it went together so quickly.
There is a ton more things to get done before I head off for a long weekend with my quilting peeps and I need to start thinking about what I am going to take to work on, so I’m off to get more things checked off my list.

Filed Under: applique, quilts, raffle, sewing

Borders On…Check

Posted on April 22, 2010 by ginabean • 7 Comments
Okay, so I have the borders done. Guess what? No white border. Yeah, something new. Now to quilt and bind it. Wonder when that will get done?!?

Filed Under: quilts

Crack-a-lackin’

Posted on April 21, 2010 by ginabean • 4 Comments
Yesterday when my husband came home and saw the sewing machine set up on the kitchen table and fabric draped around the living room he said, “I wondered how long it was going to take before you started another quilt.” Not long, honey, not long! This is my latest, but it is turning into an oops! project. It was on my UFO list for last month and I was supposed to have gotten it done, but with everything going on…that did not happen. I had planned on making it a throw size quilt, but I goofed on how much yardage I bought, so it looks like it’s going to be a crib size. (I guess I could buy more yardage, but I’m being cheap, especially after having to pay taxes this month.) I am just going to add borders and be done with it. I’m having a little trouble deciding on the border. I usually would use a solid like Kona Snow, but maybe I should use something besides a white/neutral border. What do you think? Should I break out of the box? Ahh, decisions, decisions.
Oh yeah, for everyone that asked, the purses from the last post were made using Heather Bailey’s Marlo Bloom pattern.

Filed Under: quilts

Some Sewing Has Taken Place

Posted on April 18, 2010 by ginabean • 6 Comments
Things have been busy here, but I did get these made before I started working at market. I always just love the way these purses turn out. They are one of my favorite things to make. I have a few more cut out and ready to sew. I have a whole list of little sewing projects I want to make. Hopefully I can pick back up on the sewing momentum I had before market started and got some things made.

Filed Under: purses, sewing

State of the Union

Posted on April 17, 2010 by ginabean • 3 Comments
April 15th is tax day, but it is also my anniversary. This tax day my hubby and I celebrated our 10th anniversary. It wasn’t exactly how I would have wanted to celebrate my 10th. No romantic dinner or quality time spending the day together. Not because we both didn’t want to, but because I was working. Working late into the night. I work twice a year helping set up a showroom for the International Home Furnishings Market and this year’s market set up happened to overlap with the big day. The showroom had to be done by Thursday night and that meant our anniversary dinner had to be postponed. (This is also why I haven’t been posting any lately.) Market set up has consumed my life for the past couple if weeks. But, the showroom is done. It looks beautiful. The market opened today and my job is over and I cannot tell you how glad I am that it is. I love working it, but it is hard work and very intense. I’m exhausted. My house is a wreak, my normal life was put on hold and I’ve missed my family. Oh, and you would not believe how bad my feet hurt. Now that I’m back, the hubby did take me out for a great dinner and we had a bonus. Our little guy, Fletcher, tagged along with us. It goes without saying, but I married him 10 years ago and I would marry him again and again.
Filed Under: life

Eggs & Applique

Posted on April 5, 2010 by ginabean • 9 Comments
One of my favorite things to do this time of year is to color Easter eggs. We spiced things up a little this year by marbleizing our eggs. I am pretty excited about the way they turned out. Fletcher said they were AWESOME. (his new favorite word)
Remember the Joel Dewberry Modern Meadow I got a couple of weeks ago? Well, it is starting to come together into something.
It is going to be the raffle quilt for this years Rally For The Cure to benefit breast cancer research. I made one last year to be raffled off and it went well, so we thought we would try it again this year. I am very excited to be doing it. I feel honored that they would ask me to make another one.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

What I Love About Spring

Posted on April 1, 2010 by ginabean • 3 Comments
Okay, it is kinda hard to narrow it down, but let me tell you a few things that I love about Spring. First, I love tulips. They are my favorite flower. My super hubby planted them all over the place for me and everyday I see new ones popping up in places I never expected all around our house. They are like little surprises and it makes me happy. Also, I got married in April. So the spring always makes me think of weddings and how everything was budding and turning green when I was getting ready to walk down the isle. That makes me happy, too. And Fletcher was born in May, so it makes me think about how life is renewed and how I had that little cutie in my belly just waiting to join us. And that makes me really happy. Happy Easter! Take some time to smell the tulips.
Filed Under: life

Time Flies

Posted on March 28, 2010 by ginabean • 5 Comments
Has it really been two weeks since I’ve posted? Man, where does the time go?
I have tons of crafting going on and lots to show you, but I probably should takes some pictures of it all first. This is one project on my list that I have been really trying to get completed. It is the border for my appliqued quilt. The quilt top took me a year and I had in my mind that it is going to take me just as long to do the borders, but I am ready to get it done. I have been making a real effort to work on it as much as I can. I also picked up these great needles that are fab-u-lous for applique. (Clover Black Gold #10 Sharps) A friend suggested them and they are worth the money. (about a buck a needle) Maybe it won’t take me another year after all. Here’s hoping it doesn’t.

Filed Under: applique, quilts, sewing

Weekend Stash

Posted on March 13, 2010 by ginabean • 3 Comments
I am loving Joel Dewberry’s newest collection, Modern Meadow. I’m planning on making something special with these.

Filed Under: fabric