A {Sewing} Year in Review - 2010

2010 Completed Projects:
Breath of Avaignon Quilt (Dec), Flat Megan (Dec), Shopping Bag (Dec), Rag Quilt (Dec), 10 Crayon Wallets (Dec), Cow Top (Dec), 4 Pillowcases (Dec), 8 one-yard-hugs (Dec), Gift Bag (Nov), Holiday Pillowcase 1 (Nov), Sock Monkey Flannel Quilt (Nov), Christmas Top (Nov), Firefighter Top (Nov), Tinkerbell (Oct), Arm Splints (Sept), Teddy Bear Aline (Sept), Fresh Cottons Baby Quilt (Sept), Plume Puppy (July), Fresh Modern Bee Block (July), Mini-Jelly Filled Quilt (June), Fresh Modern Bee Blocks (June), Migration Quilt (June), Toddler Two-Piece (June), Bird Talk Crayon Apron (May), Quilt For Kids (May), Urban Home Goods Swap (Apr), Crayon Apron (Apr), Pillow Case #7 (Apr), Pillow Case #6 (Mar), Pillow Case #5 (Mar), Faith Double Layer Top (rodeo) (Mar), Faith Double Layer Top (zoo) (Mar), Spool Birds (Mar), Pillow Case #4 (Mar), Pillow Case #2 & 3 (Feb), Skirt (Feb), Pillow Case #1 (Feb), Rag Flannel Quilt x2 (Feb), Valentine's Day Easy Fit Pants (Feb), Mobius Wrap (Feb), Siggy Blocks (Jan), Ruffle Butt Diaper Cover (Jan), Wrap Dress (Jan), Cookie Monday Scarf Along (Jan), Charm Twirl Skirt (Jan), Apron (Jan)


Stash Report
Added in 2010: 373.75
Used in 2010: 161.00

Net Used in 2010: -212.75

2011 Crafty Goals

I've been giving some thought to my crafty goals for 2011. Last year I came up with a long list of projects for 2010 - and ended up with 4 out of 24 items completed. So this year I'm taking a different approach. Rather than a list specific items, I've come up with a couple of categories:

1. Plus Quilt

I've admired a number of these on Flickr over this last year. And I think I've finally committed to what fabrics I'm going to use.


2. Schnibbles Time Two

Have you seen the Schnibbles Time Two book? I love every quilt in it! I really want to make a couple of these quilts this year. And you know what... there are 12 quilts in the book... 12 months in a year... wonder if it would be possible to piece 1 top per month...


3. Sewing Machine Cover

I've had my new sewing machine for a year now, and it is about time I make a proper cover for it.


4. Play with Color

I've been loving quilts made from solids. And I credit Cherri House and her book City Quilts for getting me to think about solids and color in a new way. And I think a square-in-a-square pattern would be perfect for playing with color.


5. Dresden Plate

I've had this in the back of my mind... a "someday" project... but now that I have some new dishes I think the dresden plate might work well for some new placemats.


6. Clothing for Me

I do lots of clothing sewing for Megan, but none for myself. I have patterns & fabrics, but just haven't gotten around to it. So maybe I'll make some skirts, a top, a pair of Easy Fit Pants.


7. Make Something For the Home

Some new pillows, a coupon organizer, a mail center, a new apron... the choices are endless.


8. Learn to Embroider

Those 2 cats in the upper left picture... the patterns are 2 of the 10 in a book published by Better Homes and Gardens in 1981. How do I know that? My mom used the patterns to make me a quilt. I have a copy of the book and I'd love to learn how to embroider so that I can make an updated version for my daughter.


9. Sew from my Fabric Stash

I could say that I won't buy new fabric in 2011... but we know that's not reasonable. But I will be making a point to work more from my fabric stash.

Click the pictures to go to Flickr and see the links to the original posters of all the pictures used.

Flat Megan

I finished Flat Megan just in time for her first trip... to snowy New Hampshire.

I can't wait to see all the places this little girl travels!

(Tutorial from Moda Bake Shop)

Happy Birthday Megan

Where does the time go?

Happy 3rd Birthday to my sweet, loveable, funny little girl!

Merry Christmas

Life Flight

My house sits less than a mile from a local hospital that is home to one of the area's Life Flight helicopters. Life Flight comes and goes so often that most times we don't even notice it. But there are times, maybe because of the approach path it uses, that it sounds like they are trying to land that thing in my backyard.

This morning I heard the helicopter approach... didn't think much about it... until I realized minutes later that it STILL sounded like it was on approach to the hospital. I peeked out the front door and saw this...

I don't know which neighbor was being transported, and I can only guess that they were being taken to the Texas Medical Center. My thoughts and prayers are with my neighbor and their family.

So in these last few days before Christmas... with the shopping, the wrapping, the sewing, the cooking, the to-do lists... take a minute or two to hug your loved ones.

Grocery Bag

I tried out the Grocery Bag from Keyka Lou Patterns this weekend.

It went together super fast and I love my new bag. I wish I had picked up this pattern earlier... these would be great Christmas gifts for some friends and family. Oh well, there's always next year.


We woke up this morning to find our elf Jake sitting at my sewing machine. I figure he was either checking out the Grocery Bag pattern or my cool new rotary cutter (Christmas came early thanks to my lovely hubby!)

Week 51 Stash Report

Busy... Busy... Busy... That's how I'd describe life right now.

My daughter's 3rd birthday party was yesterday. I made her this outfit:

{The party was at Chick-fil-A}

And made these Crayon Wallets for the guest gifts:

Next up are Christmas (still have some sewing I want to do for that) and Megan's family birthday party (and more sewing I want to do for that).


Week 51
Added This Week: 0.00
Added Year to Date: 373.75

Used This Week: 12.50
Used Year to Date: 157.00

Net Used This Year: -216.75

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Winner

Thank you to all that entered my Sew Mama Sew Giveaway!!

I had so much fun reading everyone's comments on their favorite fabric from my shop. There were some obvious favorites... Bliss (Moda), Dr. Seuss (Robert Kaufman), Bloom & Grow (Riley Blake Designs)... but there was also a lot of love for some of the lesser-known fabrics... Frolic Treasure Map (In the Beginning Fabrics), Sanibel (Henry Glass), and Opal Owl (Freespirit).


And now for what you've been waiting for... The winner is Becky who blogs at My Fabric Obsession. (Becky, I've sent you an email.)

Hope everyone had a great Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day and found some great new blogs (I know I did!!)

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day

Its that time of year again... Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!!! I love hopping around Blogland checking out all the new-to-me blogs.

This time I'm stepping away from offering a handmade item, and am offering up some fabric and Quilt Market goodies. I hope you enjoy!

First: A yard of fabric from my shop:

Second: Some Quilt Market Goodies:

A couple of quilt patterns, some Michael Miller fabric, and some goodies from Moda.


To Enter: Hop over to my shop, then come back here and leave me a comment with which fabric you'd pick if you're the winner.

If you'd like a second entry, become a follower of my blog. Just leave me a second comment that you're a new follower (or existing follower) and you'll be entered in a second time.

Entries will close at the end of the day December 17th. I'll draw a winner Saturday evening or Sunday morning, and everything will be ready to mail out Monday December 20th.


Have fun!!

Pillowcases

I was in pillowcase making mode last night...

...I'm now caught up on my weekly Holiday Pillowcase sewing (totally forgot about last week's!!) and I got a couple of gifts made.

And I made these with French Seams rather than using the serger. As much as I love my serger, I think I'm sold on French Seams for pillowcases!

Week 49 Stash Report

I added some fun out-of-print fabrics to my stash this week.

I found a couple of Flutterby Jelly Rolls on Ebay. And a trip to a downtown fabric shop ended up with a yard of Anna Maria Horner Chocolate Lollipop and 2 yards of an adorable Alexander Henry print. The Alexander Henry was on sale (50% off), which made the $11.99 price of the Chocolate Lollipop a little easier to bear.

Week 49
Added This Week: 8.50
Added Year to Date: 373.75

Used This Week: 0
Used Year to Date: 144.50

Net Used This Year: -229.25

One Yard Hugs

8 one-yard-hugs completed and ready for the NICU.

Feels so good to finally put some of this flannel to good use.

Fabric Gift Bag

I don't know about you, but I've gotten so tired of buying paper gift bags that just end up in the trash after the event. The time... the money... the resources... just seems like a waste to me.

We went to a little one's birthday party a couple of weeks ago, and instead of the usual paper gift bag I purchased one of the store's reuseable shopping bags for the gift... it was super cute (really cuter than any of the gift bags), and only $1.49 ... much better deal in my book!

Last weekend was my mom's birthday and I took this a step further... I made a gift bag.

A little fabric from my stash + a great pattern by The Happy Zombie and I had the perfect gift bag! And I think Mom was thrilled when she found out the bag was part of her gift and she got to take it home.

The pattern was published in an older copy of Quilts and More magazine. But if you don't have a copy of the original magazine don't worry... the pattern is also available online (you just need to register on their site before you can download the pdf.)