progress

We are housesitting, which is wonderful. It's nice to have space (and electricity). I made my bias tape the first day we had electricity. (the iron requires it, since I don't have a "williamsburg" model) I like how it turned out, I cut it wonky, so the pattern runs in 2 directions. I don't think I have enough of one direction, so I will probably use each with its parallel.... but maybe I'll pair it to make 2 corners. What do you think? I am not to worried about it... you live you learn. I did put a white boarder on the front and back pannels, I thought it looked better sitting on the white than trying to match it with all the colors.

I am thrilled with how the back patchwork turned out. I am almost sad it's the back, since I am planning on hanging this on my future "doll quilt wall" in my crafting studio. Doesn't studio sound so much more hardcore :) ? I used the same 25 colors from the front, I really tried to use scraps, think I did well. Plus, I made 2 more kartwheels from my new heather bailey that I love and some totally great firework fabric I got in Vegas out of the cheap fat quarters. I ADORE fireworks, and wasn't sure how I was going to use it. I am sure it will pop up again but I like how it turned out. (I added white around the edge, post-photo)


I realized I hadn't shown the front together.

Finally I found this tute, from Crazy Mom Quilts about making a message board and made my log cabin squares to make one for my bedroom. I totally made them up as I went and love that I didn't screw it up :) I almost just want to use it for a 8x10 black and white or something. A pink and orange one could be really cool with my wedding pic. What a fun wedding present.... Sorry thinking outloud :) Anyways I don't have the board and linen, so it's probably on hold for now.

I am really trying not to spend any money and just use what I have... so I don't think I am going to finish my quilt because I don't want to spend money on batting... we'll see how long I can hold out. I wish money didn't stress me out. Hope you are having a wonderful first week of fall!

decor and excuses

So, I said I would post more pics of the decor from Lindsey's party. I had some random coasters from a wedding shower. I just messed with the photoshop invite and created a smaller icon. Then I cut strips from the same paper I used to make the invitations. I modge-podged them :) and they turned out lovely. :)
Then I made flowers using this tutorial. I made the gobes and the flowers. The larger pink flowers are extra leftover strips. The multicolored flowers are following the tut. In the next pic, you can kind of see the globes made using the same tutorial (by the pillars). I really liked them and will probably make some kind for Christmas decor. They would be cute halloween in black and orange.

I had some left over scrapbook paper in the pink and orange, I made some old-school paper lanterns (no light) and hung them over the bar. They looked cute.
Here is the last glimpse of the crazy pink puff balls. I bought them for 90% off 50 cents- for 4 so 1.25 cents each. I didn't know what I was going to do with them. I ended stringing them on VERY thin pink yarn from the Mexican swap meet :) They were ridiculous but worked perfect for the occasion.

So, I showed you the decor... now for the excuses. I was quite uncrafty all week :( Louisville was hit by a category 1 hurricane... how crazy is that!!! Ike left TX and came through the Ville, the 'natti, Columbus, etc. And left hundreds of thousands without power. (Ours was out Sunday early afternoon until Thursday (yesterday) late afternoon.) It was a little crazy. Restaraunts (even fast food) were packed and Gas stations were nuts, because they were all either without power or out of gas because of the extra traffic. We did just fine. My friend Melanie loaned me a bunch of books (and I read all of them), but the LGSM requires power. :) It was also frustrating because the school district ended up taking the whole week off which is frustrating when I am anxious for them to process my paperwork so I can sub or offer me a job! Tonight I finished the bias tape, added a white boarder to the quilt top, and made coffee sleeves for Holly and Lindsey. Here is Lindsey's. It's been kind of a crazy week. How about you?

1 done, 1 wip, lots of decor

I finished Olga's friend, her name is still being debated. Kelly likes Galina, Britton thinks Anya. I haven't decided. I love the colors. It took me awhile to find the yellow fabric, but I love it.
I did my first chain piecing.
f I am making a kartwheel doll quilt. I was inspired by this. I do like how it turned out. I want to put white around the edge, because I don't want to cut into the colors. I picked out my binding, but I haven't cut it yet. I think I am going to piece the back some too. I decided I am going to make a few doll quilts, to get better at quilting and maybe eventually to hang on the wall in my craft room.

I spent today decorating for Lindsey's party. I had bought all these puff ball things at work and spent today stringing them and hanging them up and decorating. I made a bunch of other stuff that turns out really cute, so I'll post it later.

bedroom...

I made Britton put photoshop on my computer and have been attempting to learn out to use it, so I can make design/inspiration boards like the blogs I stalk so frequently. I made this one last week, it has lots of components of our vegas bedroom, but some additional color, etc.
We have the bed, the tree art, and the side tables. I want the rug, lamps, etc. I think yellow is going to be my accent color. (I already have a "gold" chair from my grandma that I adore)
These are fabrics I think I am going to use. I need to cover the lampshades I have or paint the lamp bases... I haven't decided.... Its weird planning for an unknown space. I keep picturing everything in the vegas apt. I think I want a black shade with yellow curtains, but I haven't found any fabric for curtains that I like. (this is all in theory for awhile, I can't spent $) :)

Birthday Bag :)

Tuesday was super productive, after I finished Olga I got started on more fun. For my birthday (in may) my inlaws gave me a gift card to buy fabric. I went shopping on Monday and used my card to buy fabric I love! I got my idea for the bag from a quilting magazine, but I decided it would be too small, so I just kinda made it up. I used interfacing that I had instead of buying batting, and I think its a little to limp, I might go back and add batting when we have money. I LOVE THE Fabrics and how they turned out together. I love all the pockets (6) on the outside. I have been going crazy trying to stay organized living out of a suitcase and my purse....

Then I finished my SIL birthday invites! She decided pink and orange. I think they turned out really cute! (I cropped out her address and #) This was also my first attempt to use photshop for fonts....

Olga

My newest project was a pillow modified from the previous pattern I used. Her name is Olga and she is for Kelly too. (Kelly just came back from Russia) I totally just eyeballed it and cut a pattern from newspaper. She turned out really cute. I finally found some fabric that will match my gold chair, so I am going to make one for me soon. She is very cuddly and I love her.