WIP Wednesday and a few winners!

Before we dig into what I've been stitching, I think I owe you some winners!  I'd like to first say thanks for all the love and positive comments about my pattern, it means alot, I was so so nervous to finally release this, and all the positive feedback was super comforting :-)

The winners of my Lucky Square PDF pattern are Sharon (#94), Lisa R. (#90) and Toni Anne (#54).  Congrats ladies!  I have emailed you with your winnings, enjoy!

Don't forget, if you didn't win a copy of Lucky Square, you can still purchase a PDF copy of the pattern for a discounted price of $6.50 from my pattern shop until Monday, January 21st.  After the 21st, the pattern will then be $8.00.

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In Progress

Scrappy Trip Along

Now onto what I've been stitching this week!  My main project that has been taking up most all my time, is my Scrappy Trip Along quilt.  I finished sewing up all the blocks last night, and had entirely too much fun arranging and rearranging the blocks on my kitchen floor.

I ran the picture through a black and white filter to check for color value placement, and am pretty happy with the result.  I wish I had included a few more darker prints when I was constructing my blocks, a few of them appear pretty light, but I think I've found a decent balance to spread the darker prints throughout the quilt.  This quilt is priority numero uno for no other reason than I am selfish, and want it finished to snuggle with!

Salt Water Starburst Cross

Before I got sucked in joined in the fun of #scrappytripalong, this was the project that had started as a birthday gift for a special someone.  I have been wanting to revamp my Starburst Cross block tutorial and turn it into a full (free!) pattern, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.  I am using my Tula Pink Salt Water fat quarter bundle, and have 8 of the 20 blocks needed complete.  The rest of the blocks are cut and ready to sew, so as soon as I finish up my Scrappy Trip Along quilt, this should be a quick finish as well.

New Projects

Diagonal Lace Socks

I have tried my hand at sock knitting once before, and just couldn't get into it.  I had taken a class at Joann's and actually got as far as turning the heel, but completely lost interest.  I'm pretty sure the mess of yarn and sock is still attached to those double pointed needles in a dark closet somewhere in my house.

In doing my usual blog reading,  I came across Amanda's post about all the socks she has knitted over the past year, and decided I needed to give it another go.  I purchased Wendy Johnson's Socks from the Toe Up, some pretty yarn from my local yarn shop, Addi turbo size 2 circular needles  and have been knitting away...from the toe up!  It really is great, I've been able to try them on as I've been working on them.  The lace pattern may have been a little ambitious for my first pair, but I'm embracing all their imperfections as uniqueness :-)  Hopefully more to come on these soon, I'm hoping the novelty doesn't wear off, as I have tons of other yarns and patterns picked out already for future pairs!

That about sums things up for this week, be sure to head over to Freshly Pieced and check out all the WIPing going on!

WIP Wednesday {10.10.12}

Ahhh it feels so good to be back.  I really want to commit to posting WIP Wednesday updates every week again, even when there's not much sewing going on, its like the one constant that keeps all the crazy out of control WIPs in check.  Kind of like stitchy inventory of sorts!

This week I've had a few quilty set backs, Bertha (my large and in charge sewing machine) and I almost came to blows on Saturday afternoon.   You see I was quilting away, happy as a clam, and all of a sudden, she decided that she wanted to break my needles!  I tried everything.  Threading my machine.  Rethreading my machine.  Changing the bobbin.  Rethreading the bobbin.  Changing needle size.  Changing machine settings.  Changing free motion feet. I even busted out my mini vaccuum attachment setting and cleaned out the bobbin case (helloooo lint.)  Alas, this was all to no avail.  That bitch my trusted stitchy side kick continued to break a needle about every 5 minutes.  Not only that, but she decided she didn't like the automatic needle threader, and that pulled stitches would be fun.  This was where I just. had. to. walk. away.  Bertha is now at the sewing machine doctor, so hopefully they can get her all straightened out and back to her quilty awesome-ness, and soon.  I'm missing her.  Terribly.

I've resorted to pulling out my back up machine to try and finish the quilting, but I realize I've been spoiled.  I sat behind my now seemingly mini machine, and it has absolutely no "get up and go."  How did I sew on this thing for so long??  Anyways, I'm not sure how much quilting I'll be able to finish on this quilt, as its pretty large (a generous twin size).  It feels a little bit like David and Goliath.  We'll see how it goes, I'm pulling for you David!!

In other news, the newest round of the 4x5 bee has officially kicked off.  I'm super excited, this bee always draws such awesome quilty peeps, amazing blocks are guaranteed!  In the midst of all the sewing machine drama  this weekend, I decided I'd work up a test block for my hive, that my little mini machine can handle.



I used Six White Horses Sharp Chevrons tutorial and I'm in love.  This block is paper pieced, I love the tiny detail and precision that paper piecing lends to quilt blocks.  So sharp crisp and clean.  I'll be pulling fabrics for the rest of my hive mates in case the quilting on mr. {mini} machine doesn't work out, I think he can at least handle a little paper piecing :-)

What have you been up to this week??  I'm hoping to keep myself nice and busy for the next few days to distract myself from the fact that I'm missing out on Sewing Summit this year.  Rest assured I'll be stalking/vicariously living through those attending via twitter and instragram!  Be sure to head over to Freshly Pieced and add your WIPs!

WIP Wednesday: 4th of July edition

Happy 4th of July everyone!  I'm guest hosting WIP Wednesday this week over at Freshly Pieced to help Lee out on her summer vacation, be sure to head over to Freshly Pieced, check it out and add your WIPs!

WIP Wednesday {6.13.2012}

I have to start this weeks WIP Wednesday post by saying this will be my last WIP Wednesday as a 20-something!  My 30th birthday is quickly approaching, and my 20's will soon be long gone.  I suppose 30 really isn't all that different from 29, but it seems the years seem to go faster and faster, and instead of fun and exciting things happening as you turn one year older...you just get older.  With that said, lets get on with the show!

Completed Projects

Purse Palooza  

I finished up this fun tote bag and reviewed the pattern over at Sew Sweetness for Purse Palooza, in case you missed it, you can check it out here!

New/In Progress

X Marks the Spot baby quilt

Remember way back when when I was looking at ways to arrange my leftover Swoon HSTs into pillows??  Well, in true indecisive fashion, since everyone had such awesome input, I just couldn't completely settle on a design idea.  I ended up setting the HSTs off to the side, and ignored them to work on other things.

Fast forward until now- my cousin and his wife recently had a baby girl, and I am super behind on getting them a baby quilt.  I came across  my Swoon HSTs and got the idea that maybe I could make them into some sort of a quick and easy baby quilt, seeing as how they are already sewn, pressed and just screaming to be made into something pretty.  After arranging and rearranging them on my design wall, I formed this sort of "X marks the spot" block, and think I am going to go with it.  I am thinking of adding some borders and sashing, as I only have enough HSTs to make about 4 of these blocks, but I think I can make it work.

EPP Hexies

I've been working away at hand stitching these little guys together.  I am really finding it quite relaxing to veg on the couch in the evening with the hubs hand stitching these hexies together.  I have the first 150 or so basted, and few flowers sewn together.  I am completely fine with this project taking eons to complete, as long as I can stick with it for that long!

MBS tutorial

These little elephants are pieced, basted, and ready to be quilted.  I'm hoping to have this finished in the next few days, stay tuned for a completed tute soon!

Kitchen Update

Were back at it in the kitchen!  After finishing the cabinets, we had decided to contract the rest of the work we wanted done (countertops and backsplash).  Of course we hymmed and hawed on deciding on the backsplash, that by the time we finally decided, it wasn't going to done by the date we needed it finished.  Left without many other options, we decided to just do it our selves.  I am super pleased with how this is turning out, we used these 3/4" glass tiles that came on 1 square foot sheets, which made it super easy for fitting the tiles around the outlets and such.  The hubs is off today, and is planning on finishing the grouting.  I'll be sure to post completed kitchen photos soon!

That about sums up this week!  While I'm relishing the last few days of being 29, be sure to head over to Freshly Pieced and add your WIPs!

WIP Wednesday {5.16.2012}

I'm still here!  I promise!  I feel like its been eons since I've been around these bloggy parts...I've been quite busy doing some behind the scenes work, working on my quilt for market (which I'll show you next week) and we were out of town for the weekend, so I feel like I'm just now settling back into normalcy.  There's not much to show, but heres a little bit of what's been going on!

Last minute new pillows

Pillow Back with Zipper Flap

As I was perusing Joann's last night with my coveted 60% scratch-off coupon (I ultimately bought them out of Kona white, and saved a bajillion dollars on it with the coupon), I came across some super pretty summery home dec weight fabrics that I thought would be great for new pillows in our living room.  I whipped up two last night, super simple slip covers.  It felt nice to just do some easy sewing with a quick result.  I accidentally bought regular zippers instead of invisible zippers, so I used Sew Mama Sew's zipper flap tutorial and am super happy with how they turned out.  I'm going to just work on a few here and there until I hopefully have 8 total.

SewCraftyJess Makeover

After creating a new blog header, I was inspired to order some new business cards, and some new fabric labels, with my new logo of sorts, and I couldn't be more pleased with how they turned out.  The business cards are from Vista Print and my labels are from Mommiemadeit on etsy.

Kitchen Facelift

Since finishing painting our cabinets, we've been stalled just waiting for the new coutertops to come in.  After  living like this for the past two days, I'm thrilled to report that the men are installing our coutertops, new sink and dishwasher as we speak!  Yippee!

That about sums up whats new in these parts!  I'm off to enjoy a rare day off of work Wednesday, and do a little sewing just because.  Be sure to head over to Freshly Pieced and add your WIP!

WIP Wednesday {4.25.2012}

Happy Wednesday!  Its been quite a week, completely aside from sewing, Mother Nature is playing cruel tricks on us in these parts, we went from 80 degree weather on Friday, to snow on Monday (real snow...like the local kids didn't have school snow) to mid 60 degree weather today.  Whaaaat??  Anyways, I've been sewing away, my aunt and I had a little sewing date last week to show her how to FMQ her quilt, and aside from that I've been scalloping away!  Here's whats new:

In Progress

DP Scallop Quilt

I sewed my little hearts out to get this top put together this weekend, and I couldn't be happier with how this turned out.  I'll be putting together a little tutorial when I finish up this quilt, be on the lookout if your interested.  More about Mr. Scallop here.

The other day I took advantage of my clean floors, had a little basting party, and then got to quilting.  I decided to branch out of my normal quilting pattern and try something new.  Ever since seeing Elizabeth's baptist fan quilting, I have been wanting to try it out.  I thought this quilt might be a good opportunity, but didn't want something quite so ordered and structured since the quilt its self is pretty ordered and structured.  I played around a little and settled on this design that I'm calling "Liberated baptist fans" sort of the same idea, but my arches go every which way.  It's taking forever to quilt it this way, and my arms and shoulders feel like they got a good workout after each quilting session, but I think it will be well worth it in the end.   

Granny Squares Baby Quilt

During my little basting party, I pulled out my granny squares quilt top, and let it join in the fun as well.  Granny will get some TLC soon, and be off to its new home hopefully in the next few days. 

Bee Blocks

No pics here, but I have bee blocks out to wazoo that are crying for attention this weekend.  Seeing as how Monday is the last day in April, nothing like waiting to the last minute :-)

What have you been working on?  Head over to Freshly Pieced and link up!

WIP Wednesday {4.18.2012}

While I was waiting for the rest of my Kona Aqua to arrive to start on my Owly baby quilt, I decided to dive right into a project I've had on my mind for some time now using my Drunkards Path Accuquilt GO! die.  Ever since appliqueing this pillow, I thought "hey I could piece this using the drunkards path die."  Its nice to finally see this idea coming together in fabric. 

Most of Saturday was spent pulling fabrics, and turning that crank to cut the pieces, while Sunday was spent designing the arrangement and finally beginning to stitch some blocks together.  I am so happy that I had no intentions of giving this one away when I started it, because I'm loving where its headed.  I really forced myself to step out of my comfort zone color-wise, and I think I must do so more often!  

Now that my Kona Aqua has finally arrived perhaps I'll give that owly baby quilt some love this week, but for now, it continues to sit in a pile, cut and patiently waiting to be pieced.

Before wrapping up this weeks post, I have to give a shout out to my Aunt Linda who just sent me a picture of her first completed quilt top!  We took our first Joann's sewing/quilting lessons together a year or two ago, and this is her first completed top all on her own.  I just love it to pieces, all those bright fun colors, and on point to boot?  Just perfect.  She says that the points don't line up, but from my view, its lookin' pretty awesome! 

What have you been working on this week??   Head over to Freshly Pieced and add your WIP!

WIP Wednesday {4.11.2012}

Happy WIP Wednesday!  I hope everyone had a very enjoyable holiday weekend, I know we certainly did (and got to enjoy a rare 3 day weekend, woohoo!)  I feel like I am now coming out of a sugar induced coma from all the chocolate and sweets that have been consumed...you mean to tell me that eating chocolate bunnies and peeps for breakfast is NOT healthy and nutritious??  Anyways, in the midst of running here and there doing the family holiday thing, I did manage some time down in my sewing room, here's whats new:

In Progress

Granny Squares Quilt

I finished up my granny squares baby quilt top, and am so so happy with it.  The quilt back is pieced, and will be basted just as soon as I can get to Joann's for more batting!  More on this quilt top here.

New Projects

Owl-y Chain Link baby quilt

While over-indulging on super yummy things this weekend, my aunt asked if I could make a baby quilt for a good friend of hers who is expecting a little boy.  Of course I said yes.  She told me the mom really likes "cute little owls" as the theme for the nursery, and when I said I had just the perfect owl fabric, she looked at me like I had two heads, and I believe she said, "you actually have fabric on hand that has owls on it??"  And to that I explained that it was just the benefit of being addicted to buying fabric, haha.  Anyways I cut my fabric pieces, and am planning on using Amy's Chain Linked pattern as my inspiration, with the size doctored a little to make it baby quilt size.  

That's about it for this weeks goings-on!  Elizabeth tagged me in her recent post with some super fun quilty and non quilty  questions, so look for a bloggy post coming soon!

What have you been working on lately?  Head over the Freshly Pieced and link up!

WIP Wednesday {4.4.2012}

Oh Wednesday, we meet again.  We've had quite a busy week running here and there it seems, so I'm surprised I've gotten as much sewing done as I have.  This was the hubs weekend off, so it seems we cram about  three weekends worth of stuff into two days, whew!  Anyways, here's whats new in the sewing room:

Completed Projects

4x5 Bee Blocks

I spent some time finishing up my bee blocks for my hivemates in the 4x5 bee.  I struggled a little this round on what block to make, and ultimately decided on taking Rachel from In Color Order's Wheel Quilt Pattern and shrinking it down to 12.5" block size.   Overall I'm very happy with how these turned out, and can't wait to make the pattern in actual quilt size!

New Projects

Granny Squares Baby Quilt

For starters, pardon the crapalicious cell phone pic here, bad lighting+cell phone camera in general= not good at all.  But, its all I could manage this morning before heading out the door to work.  Ever since seeing Jolene's granny squares quilt  way back when, I knew I wanted to make some of these little guys, but it seemed I was always in the middle of something else and couldn't get around to it.  I figured no time like the present, and this week got to work.  I'm doing mine a little differently, after seeing Michelle's granny squares mini without the sashing, I knew this was how I wanted mine.  I'm piecing them together in rows first, and then will sew all the rows together on the diagonal.  I'm itching to get this top pieced, as I can already tell it will be a favorite.  

I've officially lost count of technically all the "WIPs" I have going on, so I'm deciding to leave off the number count and focus just on what I'm working on this week.  Much less stressful, I figure I don't need reminding about all projects I haven't touched in 3 months (ahem, Farmers Wife QAL)..I'll get back to it eventually...maybe...

So, what have you been working on this week??  Head over to Freshly Pieced and link up!   

WIP Wednesday {3.28.2012}

It's been quite a busy week here!  I must be having an "on" week, as it seems one week I get a ton accomplished, and then next, zilch.  I'll take it though.  Here's whats new:

Completed Projects

Retro Flowers baby quilt

More on this quilt here.  But its done, and off to its new home as of this morning.

Painting our Kitchen Cabinets

It felt ah-maz-ing to put the last handle on the last cabinet door in the early hours of Sunday morning and stand back and admire our handy work.  We still have quite a bit more work to do, but we've just been enjoying the new and improved lightened up look of our kitchen.  A detailed post on this project can be found here.

In Progress

4x5 Bee Blocks

Nothing like waiting until the last minute, but I finally spent some time playing around with my block for the 4x5 bee.  I had purchased Rachel from Stitched in Color's Wheel Quilt pattern a few days ago, and thought "I wonder if I could scale that pattern down to a 12.5" block" so I tried it out last night, and it worked just like I was hoping it would.  I again used Leann's pinless curve piecing technique, and I'm officially a convert, pins be gone!   

This Weeks Stats:

New Projects: 0

Completed Projects: 2

In Progress:  I've lost count!  

Be sure to head over to Freshly Pieced and add your WIPs!

WIP Wednesday {3.21.2012}

Eeek!  Has it really been an entire week since I've last posted?  We've been hard at work on our kitchen project (who knew that actually rehanging the cabinets was going to be the hardest part??)  Argh.  The hubs is off today, and I'm hoping that I will come home from work today  to a pretty kitchen with cabinet doors!  The little sewing I have done has been on a few secret projects that I can't share just yet (bummer). Anyways, here's what I can share... 

In Progress

Retro Flowers

Have you caught the Retro Flowers bug yet?  If not, you should totally check out the pattern by Christina of the Sometimes Crafter, I am using her pattern, but cut my pieces with my Accuquilt Go! Baby, and its made quick work of the cutting step.  

I actually made my first Retro Flowers block way back in January for a dear friends newborn baby girl, and I am just making my way back to it now.  This is now numero uno priority, so there should be a quilt top to show in the next few days!  

Well, that's all she wrote for this week!  I have big plans for this coming week, including an uninterrupted sewing weekend (with the exception of a movie date to see the Hunger Games!!) as the hubs is working all weekend.  What have you been working on this week?  Head over to Freshly Pieced and add your WIP!

WIP Wednesday {3.14.2012}

WIP Wednesday, we meet again!  I have to admit, I'm honestly surprised I've found any time this week to get behind the sewing machine...You see it all started with the hubs and I wanting to get new coutertops in the kitchen.  And it's sort of snowballed into one of those "while were doing ___________, lets just do _____________".  Right.  Anyways, this line of thinking ended with us deciding to paint our cabinets.  Here's our kitchen before:

Not too bad, but I have despised those builder grade plain old oak cabinets since the day we moved in.  Five years ago.  Don't get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with them, they just aren't exactly my style.

The doors have all been removed, and are now inhabiting our garage, while our cars are living in the driveway.

Were not quite ready for a big reveal, but this is the progress we have so far:

I can't believe even with no cabinet doors yet how much brighter the kitchen is!  The doors should be reattached Friday with new brushed nickel hardware, and the new courtertops will be going in in the next few weeks, as well as a new over the stove mounted microwave (yay more counterspace!!) and a new backsplash. Whew!  I'm just ready for it to be done, and to have my kitchen back :-)

Anyways...back to the matter at hand, whats new in my sewing room...

Completed Projects

Baby Blocks Baby Quilt

In between coats of paint this weekend I did manage to finish up this little guy!  More on this quilt here.  

Thread Catcher

More on this great pattern here.

Hopefully this week brings a little more sewing time, and less picking paint from under my fingernails!  Be sure to head over to Freshly Pieced and add your WIP!