Downward Dog

I think I may have to try yoga as I think this is the best bag yet!!  Surely I could score a few points for having a beautiful bag even if the only pose I could do is downward dog or tree (is that even a pose??!!).  This bag is headed off to my SIL's as the other two I sent were too small.  Hopefully this one will be just right. 

A few years ago I made a couple of quilts that I thought were pretty ingenous.  B. designed the pattern and it was my task to figure out how to put it together.  That was no small feat.  Here are a couple of pictures of the two quilts. 

This is the original quilt that was made for my great nephew.

This is the 2nd version of the quilt.

Friday Happenings

Wow!  The day is already over and it went by way too fast.  I did manage to get a trip to the gym in this morning and this afternoon I made some binding and attached it to a baby quilt.  Then I got after the new fabric that I'll be using for my next foray into the yoga bag making.  I'll be using a slightly different pattern (all in my head, of course) and therefore I'm letting it cogitate for awhile before I put the rotary cutter to the fabric.  I figure that by early afternoon tomorrow I'll be ready to tackle the project.  Stay tuned.

But first, B and I will be running the Conoco Rodeo 10k tomorrow morning.  We will be having breakfast at La Madeleine afterwards and then I have plans to go to Bed, Bath and Beyond and check out "The Bullet".  I'm thinking I need to get serious about this next half marathon in May and homemade smoothies sound like a quick energy drink.  Well, since I don't have a smoothie right now to keep me awake, I think I'll retire and dream about the PR I'll be setting tomorrow!  Just kidding.

One More Down . . . A Gazillion to Go!!

My three day weekend has gone by much too quickly.  I did manage to finish binding two quilts and I longarmed the latest quilt.  Unfortunately I ran out of time to work on the yoga bags, but hopefully it'll happen this week.  I have another three day weekend coming up as Friday is my 9-80 so maybe I can knock off a few more projects. 

I drew some more envelopes in addition to running 6 miles on Saturday and 4 on Sunday.  My good intentions of hitting the pool today went by the wayside, but that's okay.  I'll be back out there tomorrow pounding some more pavement and logging a few more miles. 

 Keep on creating everyone!

Weekend Projects

Here's the latest quilt top.  Luckily I have Monday off so I have plans to quilt this little number up in addition to quilting some more fabric for the latest yoga bags.  I also need to finish hand sewing binding on three quilts and I'm sure I'll be decorating some more envelopes.  Sounds like FUN to me.  Now if only I didn't have to work tomorrow.  Heavy sigh!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

It's been a nice weekend here in H. town.  Except for my back and not being able to run, it would have been a GREAT weekend.  Heavy sigh.  I've been out of commission for almost a week now, but I feel confident that tomorrow is the day that I will be able to lace up the running shoes and continue on my running quest.  Cross your fingers.

Saturday I pieced a new quilt.  I hope to get pictures taken soon.  And today I woke up and had this idea in my head and so I spent a couple hours executing it.  What do you think?

Front of the fabric postcard.

This is the back of the postcard.  I forgot to stamp the postcard markings on the back.

Inside the pocket is my valentine note to my sweetie.  I hope everyone has a lovely Valentine's day tomorrow!

So Many Ideas . . . So Little Time

I don't have much time today to get my craftiness on.  The creative hours are short when I don't get home from work until 6:30 p.m. or so.  Tonight B. and I went for a 3 mile jog after work and then we did some core work.  It is now after 8 p.m.  Dinner hasn't even been discussed so I think it's going to be fruit and crackers. 

I'm in the process of finishing up the brown/pink/green quilt.  I need to finish the binding and bury the threads, but it is almost complete and I'm loving it.  I think I will keep this one and use it on the sofa.  My niece did tell me she liked it, however, so it may find a different home.  Maybe I'll give her the new one I'm making that is similar, but different.

I saw these button pins on Andie Johnson Sews blog.  Aren't they adorable? I might have to get me some of them!

I've posted a few more envelopes under my "Envelope" tab.  I'm a little bit behind, but I hope to do a few more tonight before I pass out!!  Hope everyone's Monday has been a GREAT one!! 

Is It Just Me??

Yesterday I was on a mission.  I looked in my stash and came up with nothing.  I wanted the "perfect" fabric for my next go rounds of yoga bag making.  I'm sure I have plenty of fabric in the "right" colors, but yesterday they didn't speak to me.  So I was off to the LQS to ogle over their beautiful fabrics.  However, I just couldn't get excited.  What's wrong with me??  I think I was a bit disappointed that there was not one "discounted" table, shelf, corner in the entire store.  I asked about their sales and was told that beginning tomorrow there would be a sale.  Hmm . . . follow up question was "is the fabric going to be on sale and what type of percentage are we talking?".  This is the accountant in me speaking.  If I know that it's only a 10% decrease in price, then there is no point in not buying the fabric immediately, once you factor in convenience, gas, etc.  At 20% I'm still likely to purchase immediately, but if you're going to have a "real" sale with "real" savings, then maybe there's a way I can get to the store and purchase even more fabric and support my LQS.  As it were, there was no discounted fabric and no hint of what type of sale will happen tomorrow.  I still wanted to support my LQS so I found two lovely fabrics at full price and purchased 3 yards.  So, I'm torn between helping my LQS and spending unnecessary money.  Anyone else have this problem?  All I wanted to see was one measly stinking area with discounted fabrics.  I may not have even picked anything from such fabric, but I wanted to know that I had an opportunity to not spend full dollar on fabric I didn't even need.  Is it just me??!!  Well, that may have been my splurge for 2011.  I must get rid of my current fabric (I have a LOT) before I start another spending spree.  Looks like it may be time for another giveaway.  Stay tuned.

Here's what I started working on yesterday. No, this isn't the fabric I bought.  (Pics to follow later) I did prewash my new fabric so I can quilt it up today. Then I'll need to get more precise measurements before I cut into the rather expensive full price yardage. YIKES!! Does anyone pay full price for their fabric anymore?

Baby Blues Part Deux

So, there was no snow last night, but we did wake up to lots of ice . . . enough ice to shut down our freeways.  Not a pretty sight . . . four fatalities at last count and enough to make me stay home.  Well, actually, I couldn't go to work as my freeway was shut down.  Darn!

So, I had to get busy and fire up the sewing machine and see what I could whip out.  This was the result.

Pre-quilted

Post-Quilted



I had fun with this one as I put it on my longarm machine and went to town.  Even though this quilt is small it took over 2 bobbins of thread (and this was Bottom Line super thin thread).  I think it turned out nicely.  I just need to add binding to both quilts and then I 'll set them aside for Cheryll at Gone Stitchin' for the Blankets of Love project.  If you have time, go check it out.

Baby Blues

I started making a baby quilt on Monday.  Tonight I thought I would quilt it on the domestic machine thinking it would be a piece of cake.  I had forgotten how different it is from quilting on my longarm.  I ended up doing a really poor job of stitch-in-the-ditch and then I put it on the longarm and did a really poor job of finishing the quilt.  What can I say . . . it was an off night.  I will finish the binding later this week.  Maybe I can do it tomorrow as the weathermen are forecasting SNOW!!!  I know, SNOW in Houston???!!!  Seems insane.  I'll let you know if I wake up to a blanket of the white stuff.

My yoga bags made it to Kansas only to find out that they are too small for the type of mat that my SIL uses.  So, this weekend I will hunker down again and make a ginormous yoga bag for her.  I guess this time I should try to get the dimensions first.  Hmm . . .