WIP Wednesday #2

I'm linking up to Freshly Pieced's WIP Wednesday. So Head on over there to get inspiration from other crafters! (You can also use the button that is in my side bar ... again, this may be at the bottom of the page - anyone know how to fix that??)

So time to shamefully admit my ever growing list of new projects .... as soon as I start one - another one comes up!!!  So here it goes.

1. DWR Quilt-Along
Progress: Fabric selected, arc fabric cut out, 20/80 arcs sewn ....

As many of you know, this is an intense quilt with lots of small pieces with the added bonus of sewing curves!!

Luckily The Plaid Scottie is hosting a quilt-a-long to give encouragement, answer questions, and is providing very detailed directions with pictures!!  This will prob. be on the WIP list for a l.o.n.g. time, but I'm ok with that!

2. New Wave Quilt in Hope Valley by Denise Schmidt

Progress: Pieced and basted ... ready to hit the machine for quilting this week!!

This was intended to be a wedding present for my friend who got married in May 2011!!  Good thing you have a year to give a wedding present ... ?? right?? 

I have had a really difficult time getting this quilt done for so many different reasons - it ended up put away and in the WIP drawer for several months because it was so frustrating.  But this week I brought it back out and have had a lot of fun finishing it up.

Bonus: This quilt is BEGGING (is that possible?) for straight line quilting - so it shouldn't take that long, right?? Of course, I think it measures out to be a twin size bed quilt!! Ahh - how did it get so big?? Wish me luck!!

PS: More pictures to come once its quilted and gifted!

3. Black Sundress
Progress: minimal ...

I thought I'd try making a garment and I also wanted to practice making something w/a knit fabric.  The intention was to sew this dress and bring it with me to Italy .... but instead, it sits in my "WIP Drawer".  The fabric is washed and ready and the pattern pieces are cut out, too ....  At this point, I'm going to wait until the inspiration and motivation to work on this type of project hits me before I begin to work on it again ....

4. "Summer Quilt" ....

Progress: minimal ...  

no progress to report... no picture to show.  This will be a Summer 2012 quilt .... hopefully ;-)

5. MY turn to host a fabric Bee - - Oct 2011

Progress: Fabric ordered and it has just arrived!! 

I want to do a snow-themed quilt.  My goal is to make a test block in the next couple weeks ... Hopefully I'll have more to report in the very near future.

6. August Bee Blocks - it's the last day of August, so I guess I better get on those!
Progress: I received the fabric .... hopefully these come together quickly!!


ooo ... maybe that list wasn't so bad after all .... only 6 projects!  And one quilt that is almost done?? hmm - time to start a new project, {wink, wink}


~Laura

PS: I should also mention, that I have big scrapbook plans as a present for a VIP in my life .... last scrapbook took 5 years (well, if I'm going to be honest with myself, I didn't really WORK on it for 5 years, hehe) ... this one will have to get done in 3.5 months!  Ready, set, go! 

Fabric Tuesday & My New Fabric Obsession!!!

Yay! It's Fabric Tuesday and I have a post to share!!!  I almost never get a post written in time to share .... today, as luck would have it, I have the day off.  It is bitter sweet, of course ... I have the day off because of the aftermath of hurricane Irene.  Luckily, my home was not really affected.  But many of the other Baltimorians cannot say the same thing.  Many down trees and power outages have forced the schools to close.

For me, though, that means lots of time to sew, blog, and other fun things!! =) =) 

Today, I wanted to share my new obession - ribbon blankets! 

Stats:
Fabric: "Bermuda Little Birds" from the Urban Zoologie line, lined with aqua fleece
Size: 14.5"x14.5"
Bonus: lots of fun ribbons around the outside.

Why am I so obsessed???  Ohh -- for so many reasons my friends!
1. So many people are having babies, I just can't make everyone a quilt.
2. They are Q-U-I-C-K!
3. The possibilities are endless!!  flannel, fleece, black & white, rainbow ... oh my!
4. They are relatively inexpensive to make!  Which means they are great for people at work - because there is always a baby shower at work!
5. They are C-U-T-E!!!

Since I don't have any little ones of my own, I offered this one up to a friend who has a new addition to her family.  I asked her to be my tester ... for size, shape, number of ribbons, durability, etc. etc.  That way I can be sure to perfect this new found love!

I'm linking up to Fabric Tuesday. You should head on over there yourselves to check out what all the creative people have to show off today.  The link is in my side bar (which may be at the bottom of the page since I'm not an expert in Blogger just yet ....)

Summer 2011 - Sewing Updates I

I can't believe it - I have so much to share that I can make this a multi-part post!!!  And to think that a year ago, I didn't even own a sewing machine!  Crazy times.

Part 1: July Bee Blocks.
So as I mentioned in my post yesterday, I was very busy in July and August -- needless-to-say I got a little  behind in my bees!!  I just got around to making my July bee-blocks  <insert bashful face>.  Luckily they both came together pretty quickly!  I plan to put them in the mail tomorrow!!  Here are the results!


Sew 2 Speak:
This month Melissa asked us to make a block from the Moda Bake Shop - "Sunkissed Squares".



I have to admit, at first I wasn't that excited to make this block.  I thought that there wasn't much room for creativity  since all the fabrics were picked for us and the pattern is very specific.  Let's me say, though, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I really enjoyed making this!!  I'm thinking that this pattern will go on my list of project ideas for future baby quilts and pillows.  And that my friends, is why I joined a bee - to be exposed to new patterns, fabrics, and ideas!


Twelve Month Quilting Bee:
Cassey asked us to make a string block.  This block has been on my to-make list for a long time.  And the fabrics she sent were so bright and beautiful!  I can't wait to see what this whole quilt looks like all put together!

Don't you love these colors?? I think this has been my favorite color scheme I have worked on so far during this quilting bee process.

On other bee-related news .... my month to be the "Queen Bee" for Sew-2-Speak is October - which is right around the corner!  This means it is go time for planning!!  I'm thinking I want to have an improv snowflake quilt ... I just put a fabric order in today  so that I can make a test block soon. I can't wait for the goodies to arrive!!  Once more details are clear in my head I will share!

Sewing Updates Part 2 coming soon.

Bittle Bear: ** HUGE GIVEAWAY **- Blog and Shop LAUNCH!

Bittle Bear: ** HUGE GIVEAWAY **- Blog and Shop LAUNCH!:

Erin is hosting her first giveaway to celebrate her blog and her newest etsy shop. Go on over and check it out! There are LOTS of goodies up for grabs!

~Laura

Ciao Bella!!!

As some of you may have noticed I took quite a long break from blogging!!!  July just got away with me!  I was busy with life, fun, family, and adventures (and maybe a little bit of sewing).  And then at the beginning of August I packed and got ready to head off to Italia with my husbands family.  We just got back from close to 2 weeks in one of the most beautiful countries!  But now, back to reality!

I have much to share in the sewing world - some highlights include: a few baby quilts, my first attempt at free motion quilting, my new sewing machine, several bee blocks, among others ... so stay tuned.

In the meantime - while I recover from my vacation, here are some pictures of Italy to hold you over ;-)

Trevi Fountain, Roma, Italy (my hubby's waving!)

Colosseum, Roma, Italia 

city shot Roma, Italia

Arriving in Sorrento, Almafi Coast, Italia

view high up from Capri, Almafi Coast, Italia

On our way to Da Adalfo restaurant for lunch
Positano, Amafi Coast, Italia

View overlooking Positano, Italia

action shot - setting up for dinner in our Tuscan Farm House
*note: the town we stayed in had a permanent population of 3 people,
 and only 8 houses total, no joke!

conferring between cars, b/c we were lost in Tuscany - - a frequent occurance....
....but one that made the trip more of an adventure! =)

countryside of Tuscany, Italia

Momma & Daughter
(my MIL and SIL)

some local Italians sitting around chatting in early evening
San Gimignino, Tuscana, Italia

Venezia, Italia

Italian Sunset in Venice!

Those are just a few of the highlights from the trip!  Bring me back to where the pasta is wonderful, the water is more expensive than wine, and you can eat pastries for breakfast every day!!

I'm.in.L-O-V-E!