Eye Candy

Prepped hexies all lined up and ready to go.

The Quilt I Should be Working on

Remember this?

It's been an (off and on) ongoing project since June 2007! The last time I posted about it was in January 2011 although I have sporadically worked on it since then.

At the beginning of the year I promised myself that I'd finish it in time for our local guild's quilt show in November. Entries close on September 20th so, if I want to be at least 90% sure I can finish it by then, I'd better get a move on.

Much as I hate to, I think I'm going to have to put Daisy Chain aside for a bit.

A Strippy Runner from Above

When I was taking photos of my hexie progress yesterday, I had to climb on the dining room table to fit the whole thing into the frame.

While up there, I saw the Strippy Runner I currently have on the table from a completely different angle.

I made this one years ago but it's still one of my favorites.
Alas, those are the last of the Hydrangeas. Fall is upon us and I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Who Wants to Join Me in a Hex-Along?

No pun intended, although you will be doing a lot of "joining".

I've been making slow and steady progress on the hexie project.

It's a big project which may take a while in between all my other commitments (and unfinished projects). I always feel more inspired when I know that a few other people are working on the same thing, so I'm thinking about turning this one into a "hex-along". A mystery hex-along.

Every couple of weeks I will post a section of the quilt design over here, revealing the whole quilt in a couple of months.
I'll have signups so you can have a look at and be inspired by everyone else's projects.
And maybe a Flickr group.

Sound like a good idea?

Hexie Progress

I've been working on my newest hexie project the last couple of days. Keeping in mind that the completed quilt will have almost 5,000 hexies, I have a long way to go.

Boo!

The fruits of a couple of weeks' labor. 

Now, what to do with these. They're 8" x 8".

Any ideas?

The pattern is now in my brand new Craftsy store and will hopefully be in the Etsy store too.

Something New

I'm a little obsessed with foundation piecing right now.

I did forget that everything is mirrored when paper piecing and made this one in reverse the first time.

Free Skully Pattern

I've made progress on Miss Skully. Isn't she cute? I think she may end up with a bow in her "hair".

A store newsletter went out today containing the free pattern for the Skully block and pillow cover.
I was going to give everyone a heads up over here so you would have time to sign up for the newsletter but things have been a little hectic.
To make up for it, I'm providing a link to the PDF file, which includes the paper piecing pattern for the skull block.
It'll only be available for about a week, after which the block pattern will be up in the Etsy store.

There are now kits in the store containing everything you'll need to make your own pillow cover. You just need to provide the pillow insert.

CLICK HERE to download the pattern now.
The free pattern offer has expired but you can follow the link to a free tutorial for a 16" x 16" pillow cover using the "Skully" block or any other 9" block of your choice.

A Strippy Runner

I finally finished a Strippy Runner I started at a guild retreat way back in April.

I used the tutorial but accidentally cut the fat quarters lengthwise instead of in the width and discovered a whole new variation! Instead of 15" or 16" by 60"-ish, this one is about 18" x 45" in size.

There are kits in the store if you'd like to make one. (Or you can buy this one for instant gratification. It's in the Etsy shop.)

The Beginnings of Miss Skully

The "Skully" pillow cover is now up for sale in the Replayed & Handmade shop.

Today I'm doing final testing using these fabrics:

(Graffiti Abstract Dots in Pink)

The Skully Prototype

It's a week later and the Skully pattern is as good as finished. This is the prototype, which is very similar to the final design.

("eye" fabric: Graffiti Abstract Dots from Windham Fabrics, stripe: Itty Bitty Ric Rac from Lakehouse)

Just one more round of testing and it should be ready to go.
Since I have the Graffiti Dots in pink as well, I think the next one will be "Miss Skully".

(The prototype and the final test pillow cover will in all likelihood go up for sale in my Etsy store as soon as I'm done, because space is limited and I just cannot keep everything I make.)

Meet Skully

For the last week or so I've been obsessively working on this:

Designing patterns for foundation piecing is no piece of cake. Lots of trial and error. I'm hoping to have the pattern ready to go out into the world very, very soon. Hopefully before Halloween...

("eye" fabric: Graffiti Abstract Dots from Windham Fabrics, stripe: Itty Bitty Ric Rac from Lakehouse)

Craziness!

A couple of weeks ago, I found a whole collection of vintage crochet patterns at a yard sale. I'm slowly listing them in my Etsy vintage store because there's no way I can keep them all, but they are SO inspiring!

Yesterday I hopped on over to Michael's and aquired a skein of really, really, thin crochet thread.  Actually, it is size 10, which is nowhere near the thinnest there is, but it's quite intimidating.
I also bought a set of 6 really skinny crochet hooks and, unbelievably, the correct size is not among them. I'm just going to have to wing it because there's no way I'm going back into town today.

The booklet it's sitting on is from 1913! Not sure I'll be able to follow the instructions but stay tuned.

Oh, How I Love Striped Binding!

Getting ready to attach the binding to my latest strippy runner.

I'm making it using the Spring Trees kit I added to the store a while ago.

Spring has come and gone but I think this one will work for Fall too.

Success!

Finally! Something I can be proud of.

Here's a sneak peek.

Free pattern to follow soon.

(The "eye" fabric is Graffiti Abstract Dots from Windham Fabrics.)

Not Good

This is the result of yesterday's attempt...

...but I will persevere!

Today there will be Sewing!

I have a little Halloween project in the works.

(The "eye" fabric is Graffiti Abstract Dots from Windham Fabrics.)

Another Quilt Top on the Block

Sadly, the Patriotic Stars quilt top is up for sale today.

I love it but just do not have the room.

Made Something!

I managed to make something. Granted, it took a quilt retreat away from home to get this accomplished, but I made something!!



I hadn't made a pillowcase in so long, I had to consult my own tutorial!.

Since my recent move, I do not have a lot of room to store projects around the house. I love to make all kinds of things just because they're pretty, so I decided to open an Etsy store to offer my creations basically at my cost. I'm also listing my yard sale finds and items I love but do not have room for.

I  have kits in the main store, should you decide to make a pillowcase yourself.

(Fabric used: Circus Monkeys - Pink, Happier Stripe - Pink, Going Places Plaid - Pink)

Downsizing

I recently moved and, even though I still have a somewhat dedicated sewing space, it's small and I have much less room to store things.
With a heavy heart I have decided to try and find new homes for some of my WIPs.
The first thing on the block is the "Star Light, Star Bright" quilt top.

I made it using this pattern.

It is complete except for the outer border. I've listed it on Etsy.

I SO hope to get back to sewing again soon!

More Hexie Love

Trying not to get too obsessed.

I really need to be working on this one, seeing that I started it in June 2007!

Another New Project

I had the best intentions of not starting any new projects until I complete at least one or two WIPs but, alas…

2013 - The Missing Year

I only posted 6 times in 2013! It was a crazy year full of changes, some good, some bad.

No sewing. No knitting. No crochet. OK, a little bit of crochet.

2014 will be a year of more change, but I think it'll all be good.

There may be a few more store-related posts, because I've decided to kick it up a notch over there.

I will, however, still be posting mostly projects, tutorials and inspiration.

I'm SO excited to be back!!

The beginnings of a new project...

(fabrics: Happier Stripe - Pink, Circus Monkeys - Pink, Going Places Plaid - Pink)

Happy Valentine's Day!

The Striped Heart block. Originally blogged here in 2009!

Used in the Sweet Hearts quilt.

I wish I had time to make another one of these. I have a pretty stripe that will be PERFECT!

To celebrate Valentine's Day both the printed and PDF patterns are 20% off in the store just for today.

More Scrap Bags

Sorting, organizing, and blowing out fabric continues at casa twiddletails.

Pretty much everything in the store is on sale.

I'm also listing most, if not all, scraps on Etsy.

(I announce most Etsy listings and new markdowns on the Facebook page as soon as they happen.)

A New Round Robin - Winter Wonderland

Becky over at Patchwork Posse is hosting another row quilt Round Robin and I've been invited to design a row!

The theme is "Winter Wonderland".

Row instructions will be posted on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month, starting on January 28th and ending July 9th.
There will be a last post on July 15th with finishing ideas and prize winners!

If you think you may be interested, click on the button above for more information, a list of designers, and buttons for your blog.

Scrap Bags!

Major spring/moving cleaning has begun!

I've started listing scrap bags on Etsy and will probably continue doing so until I run out of scraps, which could be FOREVER!





 

2012 Books Read

Reading fell by the wayside a bit this past year.

	Dracula Bram Stoker
	The Winner David Baldacci
	Fall of Giants Ken Follett
	The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Stieg Larsson
	Under the Tuscan Sun Frances Mayes
	Resistance Anita Shreve

2012 Completed Projects

2012 was most definitely a better year than 2011. 2013 may not be as productive.  I have a lot of life changes planned, which are going to take up a whole lot of my time, but will be SO worth it.

1. Granny Square Afghan, 2. Geese in the Forest Quilt, 3. Sand & Surf Baby Quilt, 4. Challenge Quilt, 5. Cherry Love Makeup Bag, 6. 3 dresses, a blanket, and 2 headbands, 7. SewConnected 3 Quilt, 8. Heart Cushion, 9. 12 Days of Christmas Quilt