A Lovely Win!

While we visited the City Museum in St. Louis recently, I sat myself down on a bench to collect my wit's and take a breather. Have you ever been there?  Oh my.  I am not sure how to even describe the place.  You will have to Google images of it to get an idea, and even that may not come close.

I was on sensory overload, separated from my family who kept ducking into places and disappearing, and generally feeling anxious and alone.  I pulled out my phone to text my husband and daughter to say I would be staying put , there by the whale skeleton, for a while.

That's when I got a lovely e-mail from Mari of the Academic Quilter ,  letting me know I'd won a giveaway she had sponsored on her blog.  Yay!

Her lovely package arrived a few days after we got home.  Here's what I won!

I love these Moda floral prints,  And, thanks for the bonus needles, Mari!

If you've been to City Museum, I'd love to hear what you thought of it!  And if you have an opportunity to visit, do!  It wasn't my cup of tea, but my family loved it.  And it's something you have to see to beleive.

Back to Blogging

I am finally back, after a month away!  What a month it's been!  My time has been mostly consumed by rehearsals, costume construction,  miscellaneous preperations and two weekends of performances!  My girls and I had a fantastic time sharing the stage in a local production of The Music Man!  New experiences were had, good friends and fabulous memories were made.

My youngest daughter, in particular, is all set to do it again next fall, and I hope she does, but, for my self, I'm not so sure.

I love these two so much.  One of the teensemble in the show snapped this back stage picture and sent it to me.  Not great quality, but it shows all the love and goofiness they share.

I loved the experience, and being back on stage for the first time since high school felt good...but I realized how much I value my time!  It's hard to give up weeknights, Sundays and two "show" weekends!  Not much, err...NO sewing (except for costume construction) has been done in the last month.  And that makes me sad.

I had high hopes that I'd get back in the sewing room as soon as the play was done, but instead, I've spent my evenings this week at 4-H meetings, choir concerts, basketball practice and a much needed and well deserved outing with my co-workers..  But that's OK.  My girls had to put their regular activities on hold for the play, too, and we all need to get back into our routines.  We have a day off of school on Friday, (ooooh, I am so ready!!!) and I have some quilty plans!

The universe seems to be sending me little signs that it's time to get back to my sewing machine too! Or, maybe it's just the position office. I've received fabric in the mail twice in the last week!!!  How fun is that??  One package arrived from the west coast, and the other from the east coast!  Perfect!

The first package contained a Patchwork Christmas Table Runner Kit from Jordan Fabrics in Grant's Pass, Oregon.  I must confess, when it arrived, I was a bit confused.  I hadn't ordered anything (too busy for even THAT!!).  It wasn't until I opened it that I remembered I'd won a giveaway hosted by  Kathy at Sparkles, Sprinkles and Everyday Crap!    I love Kathy's blog, and I ALWAYS enjoy exchanging emails with her after one of us comments on the other's blog.  She makes me laugh, and I appreciate her candor.  I know for certain we would be great quilting buddies if we lived close together!

I think that this table runner will be a gift for my mom.  I've never worked with a kit before, but the idea of having everything measured and cut is VERY appealing.  Sounds like the perfect way to get back into the swing of things!!!  There are A LOT of options for runners at the Jordan Fabrics site. Take a look. I'll bet you'll find something perfect for someone on your holiday making list!  And, with the hard stuff done, you can finish one before Christmas!

Thanks Jordan Fabrics, and Thanks, Kathy!!

From the east coast, came another package, that once again had me scratching my head at first!  I guess the benefit of being toon busy to remember the details is that sometimes you end up with fun surprises!!

Back in early September, I signed up for another Book Exchange, organized by Bernie at Needle and Foot.  Bernie is another blogger that I feel a real connection to.  She is generous, kind and so very encouraging to other bloggers and sewists.  She is ALL about making connections.  She hosts Book Exchanges, in which she selects a book, reads it, and sends it to another quilter.  She includes a few fat-quarters that relate in someway to the book.  The second quilter reads, choses fabric, and sends it along to the next person on the list.  I participated in the first Exchange this summer, and I'm excited to announce that my second book arrived today!  Gloria, who lives in North Carolina, sent me a collection of GORGEOUS fabrics along with The Double Bind, by Chris Bohjalian.  I read the first few pages last night, waiting for the choir concert to start, and a few more today in my lunch break.  I'm already hooked!

Oh my, it feels good to be back here in this blogging space!  Now I just need to get some fabric in my hands!  Stay tuned!

New Fabric!

New fabric!  Isn't that one of the best phrases in the English language?  I'm not much of a stash builder.  I try hard not to buy fabric as my mom did when I was growing up.  She very often bought a yard or two "just to have it."  Those words are ingrained in my brain, and there was a time, in my teens when I found her habit annoying and senseless (which was probably the case for most of what she did).  For this reason, probably, I try to avoid purchasing fabric that I don't have an immediate need for.

I try to buy for a purpose, and stash the left overs.  But sometimes things happen.   It's been happening a lot, these last few weeks, and I LOVE it!

Such pretty packaging from BrewStitched.  And it arrived so quickly!

I was thrilled, last week, to win a give away offered by Bernie of Needle and Foot.  I won a selection of fat quarters provided by Sheryl of BrewStitched!  I enter  giveaways from time to time, but have never won, and let me tell you, it made my week!  So fun, and what a treat to receive some lovely fabrics in the mail.

These are the four provided by Sheryl.  Aren't they pretty?

As soon as I heard that I won, I popped over to BrewStitched to say thanks, and couldn't resist being a few treats for myself.  Cheryl was able to send all of my new lovelies together.  They came beautifully packaged and she processed my order really, really quickly!  Like, almost immediately!

I need to work on fabric photo shoots...

I am really excited about the Art Gallery print on the bottom.  Aqua and navy is one of my favorite color combinations, lately.  The selvage says, "Feel the difference," and, BOY! can you ever!  So soft and rich feeling.  I don't have any firm plans for any of these, and that's kind of exciting. So many possibilities

The cream with gold metallic pattern (second from the top) was a recent on-line purchase with a plan. It's secret sewing so I'm not going to reveal the plan, yet.  The others in this stack were either discovered during the quest to find and purchase that fabric, or ordered WITH that fabric to qualify for free shipping.  You do that, too, right?  Isn't it better to pay for more fabric to use, than to pay more to be sent less fabric?  That's logical, right?

I really like this.  It just makes me happy.  I think it works on its own in large pieces or cut up as a low volume.

And when you can achieve free shipping with something this cute, well, why not?  I have a graduation quilt on a very near future to do list.  This will find its happy place there.

Oh, it's fun to build a stash. "Just to have it!"

Linking up this week with Sew Cute Tuesday.

    

Progress and a Win!

We are halfway through our Spring Break, and I'm happy to say I've made good progress on the goals I set here.  My daughter is proudly wearing her karate patches, the zipper pouch has been finished, and the Little Letters quilt is done, label and all!  It came out of the dryer all crinkly and soft and wonderful!  I can't wait to gift it and get a picture of its young owner enjoying it. Hopefully very soon.

Coffee and quilty goodness.  Perfect for a rainy afternoon!
Check out those vintage self threading needles.  They were in a box of sewing things
a friend gave me when her mom moved into assisted living.  They are wonderful!  They
don't shred my thread like the ones I bought recently.

The owl baby quilt has gone together with amazing speed this week!  Its quilted, and I have been spending odd, short stretches of time sinking threads.  There is a chance it will be bound before school starts on Monday!!!

The most challenging of the tasks I've accomplished has been shortening that beautiful prom gown.  What a learning experience that was!  Garment sewing is not my favorite thing, and it is VERY nerve wracking cutting into someone else's beautiful and expensive dress.  There were two layers of organza  (or something), two layers of a stiff crinoline type netting, and 4 layers of fine tulle that all needed measuring, and cutting.  The tulle and netting did not get hemmed, thank goodness, but oh my was it a challenge to cut that stuff evenly.  The other two layers were easier to cut, but time consuming to hem.  The skirt was nearly 200 inches around the bottom!  Holy cow that's a LOT of fabric! It was a challenge just to maneuver it on my sewing table!  I practiced a new technique -couching over a cord and then turning up at the couched line - for the top layer and was very pleased with the way it came out.  I spent the better part of Easter afternoon and evening in my sewing room working on this dress, but, the young lady was very pleased with it, so it's all good.  Plus, I had a steady supply of Easter candy (no chocolate near the dress!) and sewing podcasts to keep me company.

Truly, this Spring Break has been just the right combination of productivity and relaxation and fun and games with my girls, so far.  I've had opportunities to just slow down and enjoy them, and our time together.  I keep thinking, "My heart is just so FULL!"

And to top it all off, today I got an e-mail letting me know that I was chosen as the WINNER of a giveaway on Bernie's blog, Needle and Foot.  How exciting is that???  What a treat! I will be receiving four lovely fat quarters provided by BrewStitched.  

This is the photo Bernie shared.  Aren't these just so pretty and spring like???  That blue!!!

There are some really wonderful fabrics available at BrewStitched.  I'm
going to treat myself to a few things, in appreciation of the giveaway.  Can't wait to show them when they all arrive! This is the first giveaway I've won, and it's just so much fun.

I hope spring is finding you, where ever you are, and that you are finding joy in surprising places!

I'm linking up to
LET'S BE SOCIAL at Sew Fresh Quilts
CAN I GET A WHOOP WHOOP at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
FRIDAY FINISHES at Crazy Mom Quilts