WIP Wednesday #3

I keep forgetting to do these, but I guess I do sneak peeks, just on the wrong days. :)

I finally finished quilting my Daisies and Dots quilt tonight and added the binding. Now I just have to stitch that down and throw it in the wash for it to be complete! 

Lovin' the dots!! :D

  Here is a peek at the back....more dots....

As you can see, more straight line quilting. I spaced these about an inch apart in vertical rows using a variegated yellow cotton thread. So far I like it...but final results and judging for likeness won't come until I pull it out of the dryer. ;)

Much Love!!!

Tidbit Tuesday #29

Let's talk about needles today. 

This was a topic that I was completely naive about when I first started sewing and I thought it may be some good information to pass on. :) 

How often do you change the needle in your sewing machine? 

This can definitely vary depending on what you are sewing and of course the type of fabric you are using. I sew mostly quilts using 100% cotton so I change my needle, most times, twice during my project. Once when I begin sewing the top and once when I quilt it. Granted if the top pieces together in a few hours, I won't change the needle. The standard time frame is about every 8 to 10 hours of sewing. Another rule of thumb is to change your needle after you go through 3 full bobbins. I think this is much easier to keep track of than actual hours of sewing.

Why do we want to change our needles so often? 

Mostly because the needle wears down and can make your stitches funny or your needle can bend and the needle could hit your bobbin case...ACK! That will create burs which will break your thread and then you will have to replace your bobbin case. A few needles will be much cheaper to replace than that!

The needle in your machine is definitely not something you want to keep using until it breaks. You will end up doing so much more damage than it's worth. Needles are fairly cheap, grab a few packages the next time you are at the store and change them often. Your machine will thank you for it. :)

Much Love!!!

Productivity!

This weekend I was REALLY productive in the quilting arena! 

I showed you the Daisies and Dots fabric. That quilt top is complete, sandwiched and I am about half way done quilting it! 

I also started playing with this fabric at about 10 am today...

And by about 4 pm, in between entertaining the kids, starting lunch and dinner, and doing laundry, I completed the top!!

I am loving this quilt. I think it's definitely one of my favourites so far. I can't show you too much right now, but I CAN tell you a few things! 

• It is made with a new line from Moda called Java by Deb Strain
• Yes, it is a Moda Bake Shop project which means ANOTHER tutorial for all y'all. :) 
• I'm pretty sure Leah over at Burgundy Buttons will have this in a kit for you! If you've never been to her shop, head on over there. She has a TON of inventory and lots on clearance too! Click HERE to head to her shop!
• Oh... when can you see this? Mark your calendars for December 30th! Not too far away...
• Until then...here's a sneak peek ;)

Not only did I do all that...but I also worked on my Pillow Talk Swap 4 pillow! I'm wishing I would have cut enough for me to make two of these. I'm really loving it! I was also ahead of the game this time and took photos along the way so I can do a tutorial for you if you want to make one yourself. :) 

Here's what I have so far...I just need to put the back on it and send it on it's merry way. 

Psheww... I'm pooped! LOL! 

I love weekends like this! It definitely makes my plate a bit lighter, which means I can work on things that I've been putting off. 

I have one last thing to show you. Can't have a post with out kitty photos, right? :) 

The kittens were born outside and spent the first 8 weeks or so of their life out there so they are constantly trying to get outside. Ugh! I wouldn't care, because they are fixed, but I'm afraid they might not come back and that would break my heart, so I try and keep them indoors. Except for today. 

My daughter and I thought it would be funny to see what they would do in the snow (we got our first *real* snowfall this weekend...boooo)  and maybe deter them from wanting to go outside!

Ummmm..

Odyssey checking out the snow, not bothered at all...

Sunny...she's got it all over her face and not bothered by it...

Well, so much for that reverse psychology bit...Sunny now meows at the door wanting to go out. LOL!

Here's hoping you had a productive weekend as well!

Much Love!!!

I'm Still Here :)

*waves*

Did you think I fell off the face of the earth? I know I haven't posted since the last day of November but I thought I'd give you all a break and to be honest, I needed a bit of a break too. Blogging everyday is a lot of work and I needed to catch up on a few things. 

I've been racking my brain for ideas for my Pillow Talk Swap 4 partner. I have a few ideas and I think I've decided on one of them. I think these will be the fabrics that I use....what do you think?

And remember this yummy stack of fabrics?

I have been working with these too! It's almost finished! Then again, I've had some help...

Odyssey likes to help me quilt. :)

Keep your eyes out for another one of my tutorials using this fabulous line, Daisies and Dots by Piece O Cake for Robert Kaufman! :)

Hop on over HERE for a chance to win some of this yummy fabric! :)

What have you been up to?

Much Love!!!

Tidbit Tuesday #28

It's finally the end of the month!! Blogging every day is always a challenge and I hope all of you hung in there with me and my babbling. :) 

How did you do with NaBloPoMo if you participated? Did you make it? I know a few of you did!! Congrats!! :D

Can't break tradition. Today is Tuesday and it's time for a tidbit. 

It's a bit off the wall, but still useful. 

When you are cutting your fabric, do you end up with long strips that are less than 1/2"  wide but really long so you usually just throw them away? I usually get these when I make the cut to straighten an edge. Well, if you do, don't throw them away. Let's use them! 

Aren't they pretty? :)

For this tidbit, I am using 9 pieces. You will want to be sure they are at least 12" long, I'd say. 

Group all 9 pieces together and tie a knot at the top. Like so...

Now separate them into sections of 3 strands and braid them till you get about 3" from the end or so. You want this fringy tail. Tie another knot to secure it.

Oh, don't forget to get your kids in on the fun...

Now you are probably asking why would I make one of these, right? 

Well....because kitties LOVE them!!!  That's why!! 

See...they are checking it out and testing it...

And they approve! :D

Sunny hogs the toys..lol!

Totally useful and then you don't feel so bad throwing away some of that awesome fabric! Win Win! :D

Much Love!!!

New Baby!!

Now now now.....not *that* kind of baby. Heh!

 

Remember yesterday when I said I did some shopping during my time off? Well Saturday I went shopping for a sewing machine. 

Lemme 'splain...

This is my baby...my workhorse...

She's a Brother Innov-is 2500D. I've had her for almost 4 years now, which is funny for two reasons. One being that 4 years ago, I barely sewed anything compared to what I sew now. Secondly, I got this machine because not only was it an awesome sewing machine, but it also was an embroidery machine, a Disney edition. You ask what is so funny about that? The funny part is that I've not taken one lick of an embroidery stitch on it...LOL! Maybe someday I will, but for now, she's a quilting machine! 

 

Wondering why I went shopping for another machine? 

 

This is the only machine I have, which is not entirely a bad thing, but it is if it ever breaks or if I take it in for a cleaning and they have it for over a week and I have nothing to sew on! It's also not very ideal for classes or dragging to the Stitch ~n~ Bitch once a month because she weighs eleventy billion pounds! LOL! 

So...I went shopping for a back up machine. I knew I didn't want anything fancy. I didn't need all the bells and whistles that my 2500D had. I just needed a basic machine that I could piece on. 

Meet my little Brother.. hee hee ;)

I decided on the Innov-is 40 which also happens to be a Project Runway edition. I can guarantee you this is not why I chose this machine, I've never even watched the show. I got her because she was pink, of course! ;) Noooo...just kidding! I do like the pink but I chose her because she a Brother and everything I already have is interchangeable, which was important to me. I didn't want to have to purchase all new accessories. She's very light, coming in at only 14 pounds! Wayyyyy lighter than eleventy billion. ;) Another reason is that I already know the basics of how the Brother works, so less to learn, and the salesman gave me a FREE case to go with it, which saved me $30!! The other reason was that the difference between this machine and the least expensive one, was that this one has metal casings on the interior, which means it will last a LOT longer!! I'm secretly hoping I can get my daughter to start on this machine, so I wanted one she can lug around with her if need be. :D Ulterior motives..hahaha! 

Well, there you have it...my babies! I love them both and I am so excited I will not have to lug my Big Brother up and down Sandi's stairs at our Stitch ~n~ Bitch anymore!!  :D

Much Love!!!

Sunday Sum Ups...

I've had 5 days off from the office and I haven't accomplished much, at least not in the sewing arena. 

I finished piecing a quilt and quilted it. Now I'm just tacking down the binding. I just can't show that to you yet, but I will...in due time. I will tell you it's made entirely of Kona Cotton Solids, mostly in purple! ;)

I played with this yummy goodness today...cutting out pieces for my next quilt...

Isn't it pretty?! I love this line!! It's Daisies and Dots by Piece 'O Cake for Robert Kaufman! Look for it in January!! That means start saving those pennies! It's so bright and happy and cheery! You can't help but smile when you work with it. :)

I also did some shopping this weekend. I braved Black Friday. I woke up at 4 am (that's a miracle in itself. Seriously.) and went and stood in line for an hour in 15 degree freezing my buns off weather. Too bad some of my buns didn't *really* freeze off...I could stand to be missing some...LOL! Anyways, I got what I wanted at that store and it's for my kiddos so it was worth it. I'd tell you where and what but my kids are nosy and will probably read this (**yes i'm watching you kids**) so I can't say. But I got a few good deals!

I did some more shopping yesterday, but I think I will tell you about that tomorrow. :)

I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and weekend!!

Take it easy the rest of the night...back to the office tomorrow. Ugh. **bangs head on desk**

Much Love!!!