Our annual church auction is fast approaching, and I can't believe it, but I am already finished with my donations! Last year I made a baby blanket and a quilted purse. The purse was very popular, so instead of a blanket I made an extra purse.

One of them is just like the bag for the Relay for Life auction. The other one is the WIP from Sunday's post:



I really love the fabric - whenever I have an excuse like this I can't resist buying extra yardage, so luckily I have some leftover for other projects! I quilted it to some leftover fleece so it wouldn't be too bulky, and it has an interior pocket and magnetic snap. I am in love with magnetic snaps, I bought a big package of them on eBay and hopefully they'll last me a while!

I also had to make another one of Beki's awesome flowers since it really just adds that extra something.



These both will be in a silent auction... Hopefully I'll be able to keep myself from obsessively checking how well they're doing!

Labels: bags, quilting, sewing

Wow, where did the week go? Maybe it's under the pile of works in progress on my sewing table...

This weekend went by so fast. Friday night I went into the city to eat dinner with my mom while my dad had his third round of chemo... Early Saturday I went back into the city for the Rodeo Run 10k (which went so great). I barely got home when and it was time to head to soccer, then I showered and headed back out for our church dinner group... Phew! I spent today almost exclusively at my sewing machine, with little to actually show for it other than a stiff neck!

I love weekends like this. Time flew by, I felt really busy, I worried about little things like getting the laundry done and whether I would finish everything on my to do list... And then I'd stop and think about how lucky I am, that my dad is getting better everyday, that I have a whole room in my house to take over when I'm in the middle of projects... I know people dealing with so much right now, it really reminds me to appreciate my life.

It's a little late to count this for gratitude Friday, but I figured you would forgive me just this once!

Labels: gratitude friday, wip

I realized Friday that donations were due in three days for our work team's Relay for Life auction... Oops! I had picked up some fabric to make a handbag for our church's annual auction, so I made up two instead, that look like this:



I really like it - it has a lot of room, but isn't too big, and the pleats make it a little more interesting than my standard tote. And thanks to Beki's great tutorial , I was able to make a cute flower pin to dress it up a little.



I like that the auction winner can take off the pin and put it on a jacket or something, instead. Thanks for the idea, Beki!!

Labels: bags, sewing

I hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day!! I try to avoid the commercial side of this holiday, but I couldn't resist some caramel Kisses. Instead of buying gifts, we're going to sit down to a home-cooked dinner of scallop and crab stuffed fillet of sole, balsamic and garlic asparagus, and roasted sweet potatoes, with creme brulee for dessert. I'd better get cooking!

Labels: photography

Seeing that headband pic was getting old, I finally got around to finishing my 100 Things list. Find the first 50 here.


(See #92)

51. I read a lot.
52. Mostly fantasy.
53. Some science fiction.
54. Some "real books" when my mom or sister lends one to me.
55. Right now I'm reading A Farewell to Arms.
56. I just finished The Edge Chronicles, Book 2.
57. I love children's books.
58. I LOVE Harry Potter.
59. I type really fast.
60. I like almost all music.
61. Just not rap.
62. I love musicals.
63. I had the Les Mis soundtrack memorized in high school.
64. I know a little French.
65. I tried to learn Russian once.
66. Couldn't even memorize the alphabet.
67. I talk really fast.
68. And I talk a lot.
69. I love shoes.
70. But I don't like to wear high heels.
71. Because I'm tall.
72. 5'11".
73. Since my freshman year in high school.
74. When I wore glasses.
75. And had braces.
76. I was cool.
77. I've never broken a bone.
78. Or had to stay in the hospital.
79. (I hope I didn't jinx myself.)
80. I'm very gullible.
81. So I get teased a lot.
82. I don't mind.
83. I like making people laugh.
84. I like to cook.
85. I eat a lot.
86. I don't have a favorite food.
87. I have a favorite color.
88. Orange.
89. Since I was about four.
90. I love monkeys.
91. And owls.
92. And jellyfish.
93. And otters.
94. I love aquariums.
95. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is one of my favorite places.
96. I love office supplies.
97. Especially pens.
98. And post-its.
99. I love being organized.
100. I love to make lists!

Thanks for bearing with me! I couldn't handle knowing that list was only half done...

Labels: me

Sorry for the unintended radio silence! We've been having some computer problems. With three computers for two people you'd think I'd still be able to post, but I'm still going to use that as my excuse.

I can't post pictures of the baby quilt yet - I did finish the top, and I really love it, but I want to wait for it to be complete. Which might be a little while! In the meantime, here's a headband made from the awesome pattern by Heather.



Wow, it's hard to take a picture of yourself. I really love this headband, though - I already have the fabric cut for a few more, with minor tweaks of the pattern. Fun!

Labels: sewing

For once, I actually got done tonight what I had on my to do list! That on its own is reason to celebrate.

My WIP this week is a baby quilt, which I am so excited about. For now I just have a peek at the fabric, though I did get it all cut and arranged after I took this picture:



(Click to see my first attempt at a picture of this much fabric - but be warned, the shot includes my feet, which nearly 20 years of playing soccer have left not too pretty.)

For Gratitude Friday, I've got a few... My dad is feeling better everyday, my uncle is here to visit, I have an awesome camera that let's me take pretty good pictures even inside at night, and last but not least, I have almost all day tomorrow to spend on projects and then I get to go hang out with my whole family... It's looking to be a good weekend!

Labels: gratitude friday, wip

It is a lot easier for me to keep things straightened up if everything has a place to go. My craft room was such a mess because I'd just haphazardly moved everything in without paying much attention to organization. I spent a little time this past weekend cleaning up my shelves, and I'm already feeling a lot better!

I organized all my fat quarters:


This box makes me so happy - mostly Amy Butler and Denise Schmidt with a few others thrown in. Now if I could just make myself sew something with this...



I also organized my box of ribbon and trim:


I left what was on spools as is, but I took the loose pieces and wrapped them around pieces of foam board, secured at the end with a little pin.



Now I can see it all and it's not just a jumbled mess in the bottom of the box. And see how nice these shelves look now?



The red basket is all my zippers, purse magnets, handles, etc. Just seeing these pictures makes me want to go get to work!

Labels: craft room, sewing