Let the Fun Begin!

Okey, dokey . . . here's a picture of various wristlets that were made during the course of my 58 day challenge.  If you are interested in any of them, just leave me a comment with the one you'd like.  I would suggest stating what Challenge Day the wristlet was made on since a couple of them are similar.  If the number of comments exceeds the number of wristlets, I will have to do a random drawing and pick 15 winners.  If there are 15 comments or less, everyone's a winner (you just may get a different wristlet than you picked).  It's not a perfect system and I have no idea if anyone even wants the stuff I made, but we'll give it a go and see what happens. 

What's your favorite?

 

I'll pick the winners on Saturday and post another giveaway on Sunday.  Sounds like a plan anyway.



 

Let's Try This Again . . .

 

Oh, my goodness!  I can't believe it!  I'm finally able to load a picture.  WooHoo!!

 

This is what my days look like:

 

 

It's tax season and it's only going to get worse!  I do corporate taxes so the deadline is not April 15, but rather September 15 and then it can drag on until November 15 when the last state return has to be filed.  Usually everything is ready to go by Labor Day, but we've had some turnover the last couple of years and consequently I've had to work a bit harder than I'd like to!!  I had a nice 5 year run with a team that ran very smoothly.  For the past couple of years . . . not so much.  Every day is a new day with new problems.

Which is why I'd rather be doing this:

 

or this:

or this:





But, heavy sigh . . . for now, I must forge ahead with my day job and do my other fun activities when the sun has set and if I have any energy left.  My 58 day challenge was AWESOME!  Tomorrow I hope to post the first giveaway.  Today was Day 38 of my 2nd 58 day challenge.  I have run at least 1 mile every day for the past 38 days.  I don't think it was my most brilliant idea to start this challenge in the heat of summer, but I am enjoying the challenge of running in heat, wind and sometimes rain.  Hopefully I'll be primed when half marathon training begins in August.  Yowsers!

So, now that it looks like I'm back up and running, tomorrow I will take some pictures, post a giveaway and see if anyone's interested.  Thanks for playing along!

Problems with Blogger

It turns out I finished my 58 day challenge just in time.  I have not been able to add pictures on my blog for awhile now.  I'm going to see if just plain text will post.  Is anyone else having this problem???

How Did it End???

I know, I know . . . I haven't posted the end of the 58 Day Challenge.  Yes, I did make it.  Yay me! 

On the last day of the challenge I started off with making this:

 

And then I was detained for a bit while I played with the kiddos (great niece and nephew).  Later on that day I pieced together a very scrappy quilt top.  Sorry, I haven't taken any pictures yet.

It's amazing how much fun it was to either get up early in the morning or when I got off work at night to head off and do something creative.  I enjoyed the creative habit a LOT!  On Friday I started a new 58 day challenge, but I think I may have missed the mark on this one!!

I have decided to run at least one mile a day for 58 days.  Sounds easy enough, I know.  But, here's how it goes.  I like running, but my knees are wounded and therefore running is not the best idea.  So far I've completed 5 days and I've run more than a mile each day.  I'll have to do some planning on some of the days as I do longer runs on the weekend and the knees may not be ready for the increased pounding since I've been running on them every day.  Also, it's HOT here.  This morning would have been a good morning to go do my run, but I just ran late last night.  So, I'll have to do my run tonight when I'm guessing it will be hotter and possibly more humid.  I think I should have saved this challenge for the fall.  But, we'll see how it goes.

And that my friends, is how I did my 58 Day Challenge.  Stay tuned . . . as soon as I organize everything, I'll start the giveaways.  Unfortunately work is busy, busy, so I will probably have to do this on the weekends. 

Here's to "hump" day . . . Go have some FUN!!!

We're Almost There . . .

One more day and the 58 day challenge is over.  Just in time since I have to go back to work on Monday.  Ooh, sad face for sure.  Today I spent most of my time cleaning up the sewing space and putting everything back where it belongs . . . sorta.  There's just so much darn stuff.  I have a couple piles of "stuff" set out for tomorrow's project.  I don't know what I'm making yet, but I've got a ton of scraps screaming "pick me!  Pick me!!".  So, hopefully most of them will get "picked" and something wonderful will get made.  High hopes for sure!  That's how I'm rolling these day.

Nothing earth shattering here, but these bags sure are fun to make.

Challenge - Day 56

This challenge has kept me busy, but I haven't blogged everything that I've been making.  I've made a couple quilt tops and quilt backs this week and it's only Wednesday.  I've made more yoga bags that I haven't photographed and I've been busy painting and drawing in my art journal.   And, of course I've been making the last of my challenge projects.

Today (day 56) I quilted up a couple of fat quarters and made this lovely number.  It reminds me of those molded plastic suitcases that were made for Barbie doll clothes.  My version is smaller and made of fabric, but I think any little girl would love this.  And I'm sure there are some big girls out there also who would love to hang on their arm for a trip to the mall or out on a date.  Come on. . . I know you want one!

I found this little beauty on Etsy after I had already made my bags.  I guess I wasn't the first one to dream this design up!  Here's my version:



 

And that, my friends, is Day 56!  WooHoo!!

55 Down, 3 to Go!!

Three more days . . . are you excited or what??!!

The other morning I woke up and I had an idea brewing in my mind.  Today I put my idea into action and made this little beauty:

 

 It's just so darn cute.  I was limited in the size due to the size of the scrap material.  Now that I know the concept works, I'll make a bigger one.

 

There was also some art journaling painting happening and consequently it was a very HAPPY day!  Everyone - go CREATE!  It'll make you happy, I promise.

 

 

It's All About the Scraps!

This is what happens when you take those leftover charm pack squares that didn't make it into the original quilt.  I found I had several squares from various charm packs and it was time to get rid of them.  Hence the following:

 

Tomorrow I'll try to get it on the longarm and quilt this little "charmer" up.  I also spent a bit of time painting some art journal pages this morning.  I'm really liking my paints.  Hope everyone had a great Monday!

Challenge - Day 53

Today's project included working in my journals.  A few weeks ago I bought some new watercolor paints and today I tried them out.  Love them!  I also got the acrylic paints out and did an art journal page with acrylic paints.  Lots of fun!  Can I do this every day please?

The giveaway project for today (day 53) is the following:

 It's the opposite of yesterday's project.  Pretty, huh?

 

Inside

 

 I'm hoping when the 58 days are over, people will be interested in the giveaways.  What do you think, any interest out there?  Here's to a great week everyone!

Six Days and Counting . . .

I really cannot believe that this is the last week of my creative challenge.  Yippee!  It has been so much FUN!

Yesterday (Day 51) I made binding for the previously posted quilt (Days 29, 30, 31 and 38) and then sewed it on and hand stitched it to the backside.  I know some people don't like binding.  I know I didn't like it much when I first started making quilts, but now I find it soothing and relaxing somehow.

 

 I had previously posted that I thought I may wash this cute little quilt before I send it on its merry way to some lucky recipient.  Any thoughts on whether I should wash it so it'll get that crinkled look going, or should I just leave it as is??

little check binding

Day 52:

This bag is similar to the bag I made on Day 47.  I'm just using up the scraps that I have.  Plus I just like this fabric a lot!  I meant to line this bag in red polka dots and then I got busy and forgot.  Oops!

 

 I quilted up 2 fat quarters and made this little bag.  The inside is very pretty also.  You can see a little bit of it in the strap.

 

And then I made another yoga bag:

 

And added my label to the previous wallet shown on Day 48:

 

And that, my friends, is how we spend the rainy days here in H-town.  And even though I'm on vacation, I did go into work for a few hours today so I could avoid going in on Monday.  Yay me!



Home Stretch

Wow!  I can't believe that it's been almost 58 days.  I think it's been good therapy to make time each day to do something creative.  I kind of wish I had more of a variety of projects, but I had to go with something that I knew I could whip up rather easily each day.  I hope you guys have enjoyed the journey also.

Day 48:

Day 49:

 

 

Day 50:

 

 

So, it looks like I have 8 more days to go.  I really can't believe it has gone by so fast.  Thanks for hanging in there with me!

Challenge - Day 47

Wow!  The challenge days are flying by.  Who knew it would go by so quickly?  Yesterday I quilted up two different pieces of fabric and this morning I whipped out two more yoga bags. 

 

I wasn't sure about the chevron looking fabric as it is quite mesmerizing or nauseating depending on how you're feeling!  The girl who cut the fabric had to step away, put her hand to her temple and tell me it was making her sick.

But I digress.  This picture doesn't do the bags justice.  They are really nice and I'm sure they will find a good home.

So tonight I whipped up Challenge Day 47's project:

I think it looks darling!

 

And that my friends wraps up the holiday weekend.  Tomorrow it is back to the non-creative grind.  It was a fun weekend while it lasted.  

Challenge - Day 45 and 46

So, yesterday I finished a yoga bag that I made to sell and then made this little number (Day 45):

 I love the fabric used for the binding.  I wasn't sure about the green, but now that it's sewn, I really like it. 

 Perfect for cash and/or coupons

 

And then today (Day 46) this little number popped up and said "make me" and so I did.



 It's like a miniature bowling bag . . . sort of 

It's so cute. 

And now I'm off to go quilt some fabric on the longarm.  Time for some more yoga bag making.  I hope every  one is staying dry.  We've had quite the storms here.

But before I go and because I like this yoga shawl so much I'm showing off the front since I failed to do so when I originally posted.

Everyone needs one of these, am I right?

Challenge - Day 43 & 44

Last night I started the project and today I finished the project.  I have found that unless I make something from already quilted fabric, there isn't enough time at night to get my projects done.  I can say, though, it still makes me happy to sit at the sewing machine and piece the heck out of my fabrics.  I just wish the pile was going down faster!!  I think I'll have to continue on with the challenge until I make a bigger dent!!

Anyway, here's last night's and tonight's masterpieces!!  haha! 

 front

front & back

 

Those are placemats in case you can't tell!  I really like the bright colors.  If I could ever finish these projects in daylight, you'd get to see some better pictures.  I'll work on it!  But that would mean my day job would have to go . . . hmmm . . . not the worst idea ever!!

Challenge - Day 42

Last night I was able to finish the 2nd potholder:

I think they turned out nicely, but I wonder if anyone would want these colors in their kitchen.  I'm sure someone will, right?!!

And then I got busy with some of the other pieced jelly roll strips and made this little beauty:

 

 

Perfect for the summer!

Challenge - Days 40 & 41

Don't you hate it when there's an error in posting blog entries and the save hasn't been done?  Yep, that's what just happened to me.  So, here's the condensed version of what I was saying . . .

Monday night (Day 40) I only had time to piece together some jelly roll strips.  My intent was to make some colorful placemats.  (Does anyone use placemats anymore?)  But, I ran out of time. 

Last night (Day 41) I took a couple of those pieced strips and made these:  (this is where Blogger went awry last time so I'm going to save this first before I go any further!)

 

 

 

I ran out of time to finish the 2nd potholder, but you get the gist.  I'll finish it tonight.  I just hate it when the regular job gets in the way, don't you?  Yeah, I know, big bummer.  But, alas and alack, we must do what we must do.  Heavy sigh. . .

For everyone who doesn't have to leave for work now, ENJOY your creative day!