Getting my Sew On and Wait for it . . . A Giveaway!!

I've been looking at my stash and thinking "Wow!  How am I ever going to use up all this fabric???  I know it's crazy, but I want to buy more.  I want more modern stuff now and I have an entire room full of fabric.  (I bought the fabric from a store going out of business - what was I thinking??!!)

So, it's time for a giveaway.  Leave a comment.  Tell me your color choices and if you're the lucky winner, I'll send you some generous cuts of fabric.  Easy peasy.  Comment away!

A few weeks ago I decided to just start with a color, get out the GO cutter and start using up some fabric.

Chain piecing

Didn't cut enough for the center square . . . oops!

Just need to add borders (and take a better picture!)  There are no solid fabrics in this quilt - hard to tell, I know.

Started this quilt before Christmas as a gift to my nephew for his "man cave".  Needs a backing and is waiting to be quilted.

This piece of fabric is gorgeous!  It was given to me by my nephew's wife and it comes from Japan. 

Since there was only a 1/2 meter, I was limited in my choices on how to use it. 

So, I made another bag. 

And I pretty much utilized every scrap of fabric to make it.  Did you notice that the handles are different colors.  Not enough fabric to make the same, but I think it turned out fine

 

I added a nice purple lining and voila, ready to go!

 Washi tape . . . need I say more??!!

Project Life - "Cultivate a good life and record it"

My version of Project Life.  I had no idea when I bought this album that Project Life was such a big deal.  Apparently it is.  I like the photo plus journaling aspect of it.  No rules for me, just having fun recording bits and bobs.

Project Runway makes me want to sew clothes again.  I have all this fabric so I was just experimenting with this.  I'm not finished with it yet.  Does anyone like it so far?  Just curious.

And my sewing day would not be complete without my trusted sidekick.  He's exhausted from helping me with all the decision making that goes on around here!!

 

So, kids, it's time to leave a comment now and let me know what colors of fabric you want.  I'll leave this giveaway open for two weeks.  

Commitment

A new year . . . more commitments.  Yes, I feel it will be a great year. 

January is never a good month for me.  My job is such that January is the cruelest of months, but this year it has not defeated me.  Granted, the year end close went smoothly for a change and there were only a couple of days where I wanted to throw up my hands and say "Uncle".  So, overall the month has gone well. 

On January 1, I started the year off with a 5k Commitment Day run.  The run was held in 30 cities and in my city it was cold, rainy and windy.  But, we soldiered on and got the year off to a great start.

On January 12, I did my second 5k of the year and ran it with friends and family.  This 5k was the prelude to the Houston Marathon and Half Marathon on January 13.  I was lucky enough to "high five" Meb Keflezighi at the start of the 5k.  I was sure touching hands with the great Meb would give my legs some extra "OOMPH".  Um . . . still working out the kinks due to months of no running and bad back, so my Meb mojo failed me.  Not to worry, just meeting him was worth it.  I was also lucky enough to see him, Ryan Hall and Abdi A. win the 2012 US Olympic trials along with a host of other super incredible athletes.  Call me awestruck!!

And yesterday I completed my 3rd 5k of the year.  It was a beautiful January day, perfect for running and I managed to shave one minute and 50 seconds off of my time from just two weeks ago.  Yay me!

It's good to once again feel relatively strong and getting back into shape.  I had a rough go the last four months of 2012, but that was then . . . now I'm training for a marathon relay in OKC in April with my family, and the following weekend I will be running a half marathon in Wichita (again with my family).  I have a possible 4 miler this weekend in Wichita (must remember to pack cold weather running gear!) and then the Conoco Rodeo Run 10k on February 23.  I'm totally committed to making 2013 my best running year yet.  Oh, crap, what have I committed to??!!  Well, in my head, I'm fast and amazing; now I've got to work on the synapses between my brain and my legs.  Uh oh!!

And yes, I know this is my creative blog and I have been doing tons of stuff so here's a project I started January 1.

I love this project.  This is an old Rolodex and I have written something every day since January 1.  Eventually I see myself getting out the paints and making this project a bit more beautiful, but for now I am documenting my life one day at a time.  I am also doing a similar project that I started in 2012, but you'll have to stay tuned to see what that is all about.

I found these envelopes in our trash at work.  This is the beginning of my project.
 

 



This envelope is huge (too lazy to go look at and measure, so probably 15 x 17).  I'm going to paint the entire outside of the envelope and since it has no glued sides I am going to write a letter on the inside directly on the box.  I'm thinking it will turn out pretty cool.  Of course, I'm either going to have to write extremely LARGE or I'm going to have to write a dissertation!  I'm sure I'll find the appropriate amount of words to use!

There has also been a fair amount of sewing so I'll post about that next time. 

So, until then, let's make a commitment to pursue our passions!

Another Year . . .

2012 is almost over.  I'm not ready!  It's gone by so fast.  It was an off year for me in my athletic endeavors and I only managed to run one half marathon and one half marathon relay.  There were plenty of 5k's and 10k's though.  The last half of the year was replete with surgery, back issues and bronchitis.  I'm not complaining; it was all totally manageable.

2012 is also the year that I purchased a serger that actually works and I've been having a blast with it.  Sure, I'm only doing the basics, but it is super fast and really very quiet.  I like that aspect of it.  I should have kept better track of all of my projects, but maybe that'll be a goal for 2013! 

Here are a few of the end of year projects:

 I really like making these bags.

 

 I gave this one to my niece at Thanksgiving.

 

 I made this apron with just the serger.  It was just a test project, but my niece liked it so it was hers to keep!

 

 This quilt is now finished and quilted, but I haven't taken any pictures of the finished project.  It includes an additional 1 red and 2 blue borders.  It's for my niece who spends part of her summer with me and goes to horse camp while she is here.

 

 Do you ever have ideas in your dreams?  I do all the time and so this is the execution of one of those ideas.  I cut out a little girl's skirt pattern and then layered strips of fabric on it. 

 

 I sewed them down about 5" or 6".  Some of the shorter strips were left free.

 

 I cut the strips to the edge of the skirt.

 

 Added a pocket to the back.  The strips are also only sewn down a couple of inches.  There's also some detailed sewing lines from the pocket to the bottom of the skirt.  I don't believe I took any pictures of that.  The skirt was finished off with a red elasticized waistband and several rows of topstitching at the hem.  All in all I was happy with the end result.  I wish I could find a little girl to model it for me.  Since it was a pie-in-the-sky idea, I did not use very good fabric for the base skirt.  If I were to do it again, I would definitely use a better and a more fun fabric for the base.

 

 This bag was a test project also as I attempted to put it together with just serging.  It is also fully lined, but at the end of the day, I like making the bags without serging them. 

 

 These bags were all requested by my SIL and I made them for her to give as Christmas presents to her coworkers.  I've heard they were a hit!  Yay!

 

 I got together with Donna for Christmas dinner and these are all the goodies I went home with.

 

 She even made me a handmade snow globe.  I love it!!

 

And my final charity project for the year included making 31 pillowcases to give away.

 

So, 2012 is ending.  I'm not sad.  I wish it could have stayed a little bit longer, but it is what it is.  Here's hoping that 2013 arrives smoothly, without any hitches and brings each of us much happiness and lots of laughter.  Oh, and gobs of creativity!! 

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Cutting a Rug

Another crafty project:

 It all began with t-shirts destined for Goodwill.

 

 But wait . . . what if I cut them up into nice little strips . . .

 

 and sew them onto a sturdy fabric . . .

 

 all the while creating another nice pile of scraps . . .

 

 but ending up with a beautiful rug!  Ah!  What do you think?

 

Another completed baby quilt to be delivered at Thanksgiving time.

 

 

 

While I was off from work a few weeks ago, I went out and bought this little gem to test drive for my 9 year old niece.  My conclusion is that it's a totally respectable machine for someone who has never sewn.  However, I couldn't get used to the take-up lever being on the inside of the machine instead of the backside.  So, every time my left hand automatically went to the back of the machine it would find there was nothing there to lift up.  Oops.  It was annoying to me, but again if you've never owned a sewing machine, I assume this is what you'd get used to.  The stitches were nice and even although there aren't many choices.  The machine ran smoothly and overall I'd say it's perfectly fine for sewing. 

 

I got the machine on sale and then I got another $10 taken off at the cash register because their in-store sign had the incorrect price on it.  Another added bonus!!

 

At the same time that I purchased this little guy, I also purchased a Janome serger.  It too, was on sale and let me tell you, I am completely head over heals in like with it!  This could be due, in large part to the fact that my top of the line (i.e., expensive) Bernina serger never worked and I've been using it as a large cone thread holder for my Bernina sewing machine (which I LOVE). 

 

So, there you have it . . . this once "Bernina" only girl has opened her eyes and accepted another brand.  Oh, no!!  At the end of the day though, all I really want is for the machines to function no matter their brand name.  Right now my studio machines are purring just fine and for that I am delighted.

 

Tie One On!

Here's the other project I was thinking of when I finished the latest bag.  It's a cute little apron and I think it would have also made a cute little dress.  Hmm . . . back to the sewing room!!

 

Goodies, Goodies and More Goodies

Recently I met up with Donna from Donna's Lavender Nest and she surprised with me some birthday goodies.  My birthday was quite awhile ago and no goodies were necessary, but if you know Donna, you know what a kind and giving person she is.  So, I was the lucky one on this particular day!!  Thanks, Donna!!

 Isn't this apron adorable??!!  Donna repurposed a pillow sham and made this little beauty for me.

And then, she gave me all of this beautiful fabric that is from her Etsy store.  Go visit her blog and store; you won't be disappointed!!

 

I see some sweet little quilts or dresses in the near future being made out of these little gems!

 

My heart is full, Donna!  Thank you!!

Bag It

Everyone needs bags, right?  One of my nieces is a certified yoga instructor and I thought it was time I made her a yoga bag.  

 

 The coordinating fabrics were pulled and then quilted together.

 A zipper was added for the opening;

 pocket with buttonhole closure perfect for storing keys and wallet;

 quilted strap added and circular ends attached.

 A lovely peek at the insides

 and voila!  The finished product.

 2nd bag for another niece.  I love these colors.

 The first bag was made using the plate as a template.

 Then I remembered this awesome circle rotary cutter that I have.  I highly recommend this little gem in your arsenal of creative paraphernalia!

 Finished bag

 with inside peek.

 What happens when you go to the store to buy zippers and thread???

I know, right?!  More fabric jumps into the cart and the next thing you know you're home admiring the loot.  Then reality sets in and you get busy making stuff.

 I thought these fabrics were perfect for another yoga bag, but then I decided to go with a simple grab and go bag.  I added an outside pocket

 and an inside pocket with magnetic closure at the top.

cute cute cute 

 These fabrics are heavy duty cotton so they're perfect for carrying groceries or books or anything really.

While making this bag, I had a really great idea for my next project.  Stay tuned . . . hopefully tomorrow I will draft the pattern and get to work sewing it up.  Can't wait!!