Resolved to Sew 2012

Very Berry Handmade has set forth a challenge question: What are bloggers resolving to sew this year?

I’ve been giving this some thought, and here’s what I know:

B of Sweet Limes and I made a pact. She said that she is going to start jumping: “Each and every opportunity that is presented to me I am going to jump on it.  Not just that though, I plan on making opportunities for myself.”

I said I wanted to come along and so we’ve agreed that this year is going to be one heck of a ride and we’ll be like two friends, riding bikes, yelling back and forth about all the wondrous creativity in our lives.

From this our motto for the year was born: “No Hands!” Not only are we going to be fearless, but we’re also going to let go once in a while and let the wind carry us.

Here’s my translation into sewing terms:

a.     Force myself to make a design of my own. Maybe just a block. This terrifies me.

b.     Use the fabric I have before I become a finalist on the “Hoarder” TV show. I’ll start with a baby quilt to keep the tears at a minimum.

c.      Try a fiber-arts project. More terror.

d.     Make more charitable items. It lifts my soul so I’m going to sew more and give more away this year.

e.     Write a tutorial. (This is in the works!)

      The biggest challenge?

f.      Embrace the aberrations and Just. Keep. Sewing.

Now git Ye Wee Hiney o'er to Very Berry Handmade and enter the contest by telling e'eryone what ye sewing resolutions be!  Oh, you're supposed to say what you'd like if you won so I'll say it's a toss up between the Erin McMorris and Amy Butler fatties. Both yummy.

2012, I'm going to eat you!

Dear 2012,

So far you’re not being very kind, especially yesterday, but that’s okay because I’m learning resiliency. I asked a lot of 2011 and here’s what worked:

1.      Lose weight: 30 pounds, baby! Oh yeah!

2.      Opera singing lessons: I was proficient in 3 octaves within 3 months. My teenage son told me one day that I sound good. Yeah, that’s a serious compliment!

3.      Find balance: yoga, school, home, work. It’s not perfect but certainly supportive and encouraging intermingling going on there.

4.      Continue being lucky: I won so many awesome quilting things it’s bizarre.

This year’s resolutions are:

1.      Lose about 15 more pounds and gain strength. Weight training here I come.

2.      Go on a date.

3.      Finish quilting projects that have been sitting around. One per month would be nice.

4.      Simplify: Throw/give things away, unsubscribe from emails, etc.

5.      Diet: Eat tasty, nutritional, protein-rich meals at home.

6.      Travel somewhere interesting.

7.      Continue being lucky.

Seeing as this is a quilting blog, I’m going to start with #3. Quilter in the Gap is hosting a FAL (Finish-a-Long) for those of us who need a freaking audience or kick in the arse inspiration. And there’s even prizes for the partygoers who get their shitake mushrooms together and finish something.

Item #1: Across the Sea QAL. I love this quilt so far, but it’s been in this condition since September. It needs a back, quilting, and binding.

Item #2: Hollyhocks and Lemondrops quilt. This was started, oh, 2008 maybe. Needs petals, backing, quilting, binding. All those flowers cut by hand. Which is why I’m not giving up on it, even though I’m not quite so in love anymore…

And it looks like this is my 100^th post so I’ll need to give something away here pretty quick (oh, that counts as resolution #4, right?)

What the?

So, all of a sudden it's Christmas? My mother was right--don't blink. I've been busy getting ready for Christmas while working my tootsies off at school. I'm happy to report that I've finished my Christmas sewing, and I'm a doctoral candidate. finally! and finally!

I made peek-a-boo bags for everyone on my Christmas list. These pouches are highly addictive and after some pattern finagling, pretty darn quick! They measure about 9 X 10 flat, with a vinyl window. I made tissue holders with the leftover fabrics--that's what you see inside the bags here.

I also made a few stockings using a fabulous free pattern from fabricworm; I will throw in a pic of my favorite one--bras and pink polka dots.

One for Mom and the other for her sister, my Aunt Bunnie (being sisters, I had to make them exactly alike, don't you think?)

One for my Aunt Maureen and the other for my boss Sonya--both dog lovers (click on the pic, this print is too cute!)

One for my sister Jen and the other for me!

a matching stocking for Jen--she's going to get a kick out of this!!

HaPpY HoLiDaYs!

May the coming year be full of happiness, laughter, prosperity, balance, and plenty of Chinese takeout!

UPDATE: I will be doing a tutorial for a bag similar to this over at Madame Samm's http://www.sewwequilt.com/ on February 8th!

winner!

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:3Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Here's the random number generator--I hope it stays visible on the post! At any rate, #3 is our winner

sweet limes said...3

Tried to use the coupon but it said it could only be used for the software. :(

November 13, 2011 10:02 PM 

My Memories Software Giveaway

My Memories Giveaway: Free Digital Scrapbooking Software

I have something very special to share with all of you today! Liz Gardner at My Memories has asked me to host a giveaway. My Memories is giving away their actual scrapbook software to one of my lucky readers! If you want a chance to win, here's a few ways to enter:

1) Go to www.mymemories.com and pick out your favorite paper pack or layout--then comment here.

2) Follow my blog.
3) Send a friend over to comment.

4) Check out My Memories on Facebook and let me know you've visited/liked them.
5) Use the Coupon Codes Below to get a $10 Credit in the My Memories Store

If you do any or all of these, let me know in the comment section below! Each one counts as an entry, so you have five ways to win! 

Make sure to leave a way for me to contact you-- leave your email in the form of:
you (at) mail (dot) com. Winner will be notified by email on November 20.

My Memories Suite is simply amazing! I have tried it out and used it to create various digital scrapbook pages. If you've been around much, you know how much I love to change my blog banner. In the past it took me a lot of time, now it takes half the time. To say I'm thrilled is an understatement!

Here's the first page I made after about 15 minutes of working with this software--that's user friendly!

Liz is going to sweeten the deal for all of us...

"And as a special for ALL of your readers, we give you your very own coupon code (STMMMS16810) that provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value!"

Please note that you must buy the software to receive the bonus $10 for the store.

Okay, so simply copy this : STMMMS16810 and go pick out the scrap pack you love and enter it in the promo code box at checkout! You can literally walk away with scrap packs for FREE! 
You do NOT have to buy the software to grab the $10 code for the scrap packs. You can also use their scrap packs in your own editting software. 
Now that I have an account, I receive newsletters with new information as well as links for free pages. Seriously, I downloaded 9 new freebies today--there are tons!

Want to learn more about My Memories Suite, the #1-rated scrapbooking software you can win?

Create in minutes:
Fast, and easy to use. Simple enough for beginners, yet powerful for serious scrapbookers.
Not just looks:
Take your scrapbooks beyond traditional photo albums with interactive features.

Go ahead, show off!

Your extended family will appreciate receiving the latest pictures without either one of you having to leave the house!

Once you have made your My Memories scrapbook album, you want to share your creation with others, right?  Print your pages and share them as a traditional scrapbook-or use the one-click share option to turn your album into professionally-printed and hardbound book. 

You're not out of options yet...Take advantage of a full suite of sharing options and turn your scrapbook into a movie to watch on a DVD-or view on an iPod. My Memories Suite allows you to share an interactive album on a disc (DVD or CD) that will automatically play on a computer (PC or Mac). Viewers can interact with your scrapbook by clicking on video, playing narration or navigating through your scrapbook like a website. You can even place in web links for them to visit or embed hidden files like Grandma's secret cookie recipe.

With My Memories Suite you can even create and share professionally printed and bound calendars, send greeting cards to all your friends, create blog headers and buttons, make posters or trading cards for your son's soccer team, share your scrapbook on your Facebook page-all with the click of a button. 

This pic is in the software. After you finish making your scrapbook, click on one of these and  the rest is done for you! yes, that easy!

My Memories is a lot of fun to play with and hey, this is your chance to score one free!

One good bag deserves another!

I was itching to make something the other day so I started (and finished) this beauty, another Grand Revival Flea Market bag. Perfect for fall and available for purchase here:


Made with Coquette by Art Gallery Fabrics.
outer: flower bed in blush
sides: mod rings in slate
inner: Feminine Flair in Pear

lovely! click for a closeup.

4 pockets and a key fob. this bag rocks.

While digging through myriad bins for some fabric recently, I came across an alarming number of Lakehouse fatties. I put them all together and I think I might just hop on the Across the Sea QAL bus hosted by Ellison Lane Quilts and Fairy Face Designs.  

springy, yes, but by the time I actually finish...

Kona in Lemon for the background fabric and two choices for binding.

Here's what it will look like: (both images from Ellison Lane Quilts blog)

front. 

back

Goodbye my friend!

My friend Tina is moving next week. She's my walking buddy--at least 15 miles per week we strut our stuff down the country roads and through the golf course. Oh, sad day to lose my walking buddy and yoga instructor in one shot. I asked if she wanted a going away gift and she decided that my bag, in different colors, would be just right for her.

My bag came from Vicki at Accio Fabric! She had made it to test a pattern, and I thoughtfully reminded her that she hadn't given me a birthday gift. We don't exchange gifts so this was my way of extending a means for her to give me the bag before I outright stole it. She acquiesced ♥  BTW, she is a finalist in the Riley Blake contest so go vote for her UPSY DAISY quilt! You can see all the finalists and vote here: http://www.rileyblakedesigns.com/cutting-corners/contest/ or here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Riley-Blake-Designs/217428743660

The pattern is Grand Revival's Flea Market Bag. It has 2 sizes and a few strap/closure options. The one I made is about 12.5 X 12.5:

The bag on the left is mine; Tina rummaged through my fabric stash until she decided on Kaffe Fassett's Lotus, Lakehouse dots, and Kona in stone (interior) for her bag.

I added a key fob (yes!) and lots of pockets for stashing. Then, a sentiment so that she would be reminded every time she went in her purse (the bright spot is the sun):