If I could play a little trumpet fanfare right now I would, that's how excited I am about this.



Many weeks past my OPAM deadline, the master quilt is actually done!!



I am so happy with how it came out - it is by no means perfect, it has so many "learning experiences"... But I love it!!



And it goes so far to helping our bedroom look "finished" instead of just tossed together. Please ignore the concrete floor - we're getting there!

52 Nights Update - Night 22 - I discovered last night that the new quilt fits in my washing machine, thank goodness. Part of my plan had been to wash it fairly often, since it will soon be covered in fur and possibly footprints (downside of having a dog door when it rains), so I was worried I'd have to drag it to the laundrymat every time! In addition to washing the quilt, I went running, did some more laundry, and picked out fabric for a new project. Great night!

Labels: 2008 Quilts, 52 nights, homework, OPAM, quilting, sewing

Are you sick of me talking about this quilt?? Well, you don't have to put up with it too much longer!



The binding is on and halfway handsewn, so I plan to finish tonight. Progress is slow and my finger keeps going numb, but now that the end is in sight I feel the push of that "must finish" motivation.



So plan on a picture here Tuesday of my new and improved master bedroom, complete with handmade quilt!

Labels: OPAM, quilting, sewing, wip

The quilt is quilted! I still have about 5,000 safety pins to remove, much to my pricked fingers' dismay, and then the binding... But it's quilted!



And the cat couldn't even wait for it to be done before sleeping on it, so it gets the fur-baby stamp of approval. Right after this picture he starting attacking a safety pin and trying to pull it out with his teeth!

Labels: OPAM, quilting, sewing, wip

My cousin and aunt both live up in/near Chicago, and their necklaces are winging their way northward as we speak!

Megan got to pick out her beads, too, so this was a fun one to make. I was a little worried in the middle that I hadn't arranged it right, but it all came together in the end.



These monochrome necklaces with the wide variety of beads are so fun to make, but they are so hard to photograph!

52 Nights Update - Night 21 - I started to say I was half done with my 52 Nights but obviously I can't do math! I'm happy to report my no-tech nights are easy now, and I've pretty much added Thursday as a bonus no tech night each week. The changes are small - I get a couple more things done, actually complete my chores instead of surfing the web, don't skip exercising. I'm not cooking gourmet meals and living in a perfectly sparkling house like Martha, but I'm more satisfied at bedtime with what I've accomplished after work. And that's pretty cool!

Labels: 52 nights, jewelry

This is what I'll be looking at for the next few days...



I don't know how people talk about finishing the quilting on a project in a matter of hours! Just wrangling this huge quilt through the machine is giving me a workout. But I am making good progress, and the deadline is definitely helping my motivation!

Labels: OPAM, quilting, sewing, wip

Thank you for all the sweet thoughts about our kitty. Two days and many phone calls later, and we still haven't managed to get any confirmation about what happened to him. It's so hard not knowing for sure, just taking someone's word that he won't come back in the pet door.



Energy levels at our house have been low since we got the news, but that has prevented time-consuming exercise and promoted couch-sitting and TV-watching. Which is perfect for jewelry-making.



This necklace is for my aunt who visited in June, and picked out these beads. They are some of the same ones I used in a necklace for my mom, and I've always loved them. The clasp goes in the front, and I quite like how it turned out. I've also made my cousin's necklace, but haven't managed any good photos.



Now it's time to switch gears to quilting - my mother-in-law's friend who loaned me all the safety pins comes back next week so I need to be done with the master quilt by then! I always do work better with a deadline...

Labels: jewelry

Any plans I had for my 20th no-tech night were forgotten when we got some very bad news. Our sweet kitty Baxter had been missing for a few days, and before we put up signs we asked our neighbors if they'd seen him. Our next door neighbor saw him this weekend, he'd been hit by a car. He was only four, and he was the most awesome cat I've ever met. This sucks.

Labels: 52 nights, family

It's Friday! Today was fantastic. We got out of class early so I got to do a little shopping, then I threw my to-do list out the window and went to get a pedicure. A little pampering was just right after this long week!



My mom came over for dinner, and designed these earrings, too. I wouldn't even have noticed the orange in the lower beads if she hadn't seen it. All I had to do was put them together! They're a gift for a friend she's visiting next week. Love them!

52 Nights Update - Bonus! - I've mentioned I spend less time on the internet since I started 52 Nights but last night might be the first true bonus no tech night I've had! I went to the gym, spent some time crafting, did tons of laundry, and started a new book. Let's see if this can be a low-tech weekend...

Labels: 52 nights, jewelry

Thanks for all the comments on my bunting!

Sorry I've been quiet. We had a great 4th, then a quiet Saturday.

Sunday was one year since we lost my dad. I can't believe it's been a year. Life goes on, even if we don't feel like it should. I miss him.

I'm in class in the city this week, which means early mornings, long days, and a long commute. Thanks for being patient while I'm quiet for a little while!



I hate a post without pictures so I thought I'd share the results of my sister's play-doh party! Wait, I mean fondant. We had so much fun a couple weekends ago learning about fondant, we decided it was like grown-up play-doh.

52 Nights Update - Night 19 - Super productive last night but not on crafting - worked to make room for a piece of furniture my sis is passing on (she's moving back to Virginia, I'm so sad!), went for a run, made dinner, did chores. It was a great night! Now it's way past my bedtime for how early I have to get up! Back soon.

Labels: 52 nights, me, misc

I thought this holiday was the perfect excuse to make some bunting - nothing else on the agenda besides a picnic dinner and watching fireworks!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Fourth of July, if you celebrate it.


P.S. - This was one of my favorite projects I've done recently - quick, used fabric from my stash, and I think the icing on the cake...



It's two-sided, so I can pull it out again at Christmas!

Labels: sewing

A few weeks ago we added to the chaos of our house by dogsitting for our friends' bichon. Mix three territorial cats, a crazy terrior, and a new dog and it makes for an interesting week.

As a thank you, Kim brought me the conch shell bracelet seen yesterday. Conch is one of the main industries where they were vacationing. The shells are so gorgeous, but as she handed it to me she said it was huge and I'd never wear it, and of course I protested, said it was beautiful.



But the truth is I probably wouldn't wear it very often, so I carefully snipped the elastic and used the beads to make a few new pieces of jewelry.





The conch beads will see the outside of my jewelry box a lot more often this way!

Labels: jewelry

Those who can't do... Plan!


1. Use these conch beads to make some earrings and a necklace or two.

There are just never enough hours in the day to do everything I want to do. I'm sure we all wish we could get by on a little less sleep, skip (even more than I already do) the less pleasant daily chores, come home from work a little earlier...


2. Find some cute red gingham and pair it with these cherries for a new lunch bag.

But since crafting usually has to be a little lower on my list, behind, say, paying the bills, I spend a lot of time day dreaming about what I want to do next!


3. Make a wall hanging for my newly painted nook.

So I always have a lot more dream projects on my list than I will ever be able to get to.


4. Finish the nook project by cleaning and organizing all this wonderful storage space - this will be my July OPAM.

Above are a few I hope to get to get started on over the long weekend. What are some of your tricks for having time to do it all?

52 Nights Update - Night 18 - I made dinner right after work (super yummy), folded and put away about 5 loads of laundry from the weekend, and tried out the yoga class at my new gym. I haven't been to yoga in ages and man am I inflexible! I think I'll have to make that class a regular activity...

Labels: 52 nights, OPAM, wip