Listening

I'm actually not a great whistler, nor a great singer but whenever I'm sewing, I'm usually listening to something (I've also been known to have the TV on but I've been doing that less and less lately). I have a pretty eclectic taste in music so it could be anything from Otis Redding to Pink Martini to John Mayer.

Here's the deal with JM: yep, I know he's kind of a tool. But I still love his stuff. My freshman year in college I went to see him at this little venue on South Street in Philly WAAAAAY before anyone knew who he was (and before he slept with ditzy pop stars and got too many tattoos). My friends and I totally stalked him after the show and ended up getting a picture taken with him and getting him to sign a set list that I stole off the stage. Definitely one of my favorite college-years memories.

And I swear, this song will make you smile.

Lists

Are you a list maker? It's sort of absurd how much I enjoy making lists. I have a ridiculous amount of notebooks, all with old "To Do" lists, lists of fabric to get, books to read, etc.

This was today, fueled with plenty of iced coffee and homemade chocolate chip cookies:

1. Post office to mail off stuff to Leanne, Greta, and Laura, my lucky giveaway winner!
2. Library - new beach book on hold just in time for this weekend
3. JOB SEARCHING (this may as well be written with a permanent marker)
4. Erica's quilt
5. Stuff for my shop

Hope you had a productive Monday!

A special day

Happy birthday to Nelson Mandela, my hero AND to my sweet dog, Louie!

Lessons Learned

1. If you use colored chalk to draw lines for quilting, make sure after you're done quilting you wash the quilt as soon as possible. Leaving it to sit lets the chalk set in. (Hopefully a second washing with stain treatment will do the trick!)

2. Trust your instincts, but also do your research! I was determined to find two-sized fusible/interfacing to bond the tee-shirts for Erica's quilt to muslin - and I did! After spending too much time on the internet, I figured what the heck, I'll try Michael's and low-and-behold they had a 5-yard roll of two-sided fusible that's typically used for applique work but works PERFECTLY for this. I highly recommend it as the tee-shirts look awesome! I contemplated trying out just stabilizer and cutting out the muslin but I've used it in the past and not been happy with how the fabric moves. Now, bonded to the muslin, it has great movement and I think will be wonderful in the quilt.

3. Don't be afraid to try new things. Like embroidery, South African style (especially when you love all things South African).


Other things going on:

~ More baby quilts for the shop
~ FINALLY going to finish one of my quilt tops that's been lying around. My sweetie were talking about our vacation (about a month away!) and we were discussing the beach and how his uncle always brings a great beach quilt and wouldn't it be nice if we had one too? Well, soon enough we will! One of my quilt tops is slightly larger than a twin sized quilt which is PERFECT for the beach. We found cheap batting and backing and I'm going to baste/quilt it up lickity-split before we leave. Yay!
~ Loving my volunteer days at the refugee organization (hopefully job opportunities will come soon!)

If you’re going to be passionate about something, be passionate about learning. If you’re going to fight something, fight for those in need. If you’re going to quest something, question authority. If you’re going to lose something, lose your inhibitions. If you’re going ot gain something, gain respect and confidence. And if you’re going to hate something, hate the false idea that you are not capable of your dreams. – Daniel Golston

Call me crazy

As temps near 100 degrees (again!) here, I find myself craving some knitting. I know, I know, I must be completely insane thinking about heavy fibers in this intense heat, but I just can't help it! All this quilting (which I LOVE) has gotten me in the mood for my true craft love: knitting. As soon as the thermometer hit 70, I pretty much put my woolens safely away but now I'm regretting it. Seeing this gorgeous shop makes me want to pull out my unfinished projects and pick up where I left off. Not to mention, I have a pretty incredible collection of knitting books/magazines and there are some that I'm eager to try out. I'm also thinking that a knitting project would be a great thing to take along to Maine for my vacation (even though we're driving, lugging my sewing machine and all necessary accoutrements is out of the question).

So am I crazy? The dog seems to think so: he eyes me skeptically as I tell him I'm going to head into our storage closet and dig up some knitting. Then he sighs and lays his head back down on the cool floor under my desk.

Good thinking, buddy.

The only normal people are the ones you don’t know very well. – Joe Ancis

The Process

I hope that everyone had a great holiday weekend! We had a nice, relaxing few days here in NYC. It's been insanely hot (and it's still going...right now it's near 100!!!) so we didn't spend as much time outside as we would have liked (man, I wish I had a pool...). We did, however, venture down to check out the newly opened Brooklyn Bridge Park. Here are some shots from our spot on the lawn:
All this hot weather keeps me inside doing crafty stuff. My mom bought me some sketching pencils and a pad. As I've been quilting more and more, I feel like I'd like to expand my own creative endeavors. I think it would be really fun to design my own logo, labels, etc. Will keep you posted!

I've been commissioned by a coworker to make her a quilt! She has a whole bunch of old tee shirts from her college sorority that she never wears but can't bear to part with, so she's been wanting to turn them into a quilt. When she heard that I make quilts, she asked me if I would make one for her - of course I agree and I'm thrilled! We've gone back and forth, coming up with a simple but really cute design. She has 12 shirts, which I'm going to sash using a really pretty striped fabric from Dena Design's "Monaco" line after cutting them into blocks. I'm going to back and bind the quilt with matching fabrics too. I'm so psyched to get started on this! In keeping up with Rossie's Process Pledge, I'll try to blog about this along the way.

General design of Erica's quilt. Not sure what size the blocks are going to be but I'm estimating that the whole quilt will probably be about 60" x 60" (she wanted a large lap quilt.)

For the sashing!

For the binding...
For the backing. Yum! She's from Florida - doesn't this remind you of beautiful ocean waters?

I purchased all the fabric for Erica's quilt from Fabric.com. Usually, I like to buy from small, independent businesses but I got all of this for a great price. Aaannnddd.....I snagged some of Jay McCarroll's hard-to-find "Woodland Wonderland" which I LOOOOVE! Check out what I got (for less than $4 per yard!):
And last but not least, I've been admiring this line recently and decided to get myself a yard of my fave print from it:

So as you can see, I'll keep myself busy for a while.

Only 37 days til our Maine vacation!

On another note, I've seriously considering relisting all my bags that didn't sell last summer in my Etsy shop. They're adorable and I wasn't really advertising much. I'm thinking now that I've been out in the virtual community, I should try again (but my ego is a little bruised!). What do you think? I'm also going to keep making new bags, quilts, etc. Thoughts? Suggestions? Hugs?

Stay cool, everyone!

Why compare yourself with others? No one in the entire world can do a better job of being you than you. – Unknown

My very best favorite

Since I've been slacking on my end-of-post quotes, I thought I'd devote an entire post to my all-time favorite quote.

Some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity. ~ Gilda Radner

For those who live in the States, Happy 4th!

Where did the day go?

Why is it on the days that you don't have to work, time flies much faster? Seriously! I just looked at the clock and have no idea how it go to be 7:30. That's not to say I didn't get a lot done today, but still. I had many more things on the list, most importantly pictures upon pictures to show you all! But now it's late and the light sucks. Call me cheesy but it being the 1st of the month (um, we won't talk about how ridiculous it is that it's JULY), but I was doing a little reorganizing/cleaning/etc. including taking stock of unfinished projects (quilting ones, my knitting ones are too high to count...). I realized that I have 2 large quilt tops just hanging out in my cabinet! One would make a perfect picnic blanket. Too bad I'm not Wonder Woman (not to mention, out of batting and too broke to buy 5 yards of fabric for backing!) or else I would finish that sucker up and me and my sweetie would have a nice new quilt to use this weekend (which will hopefully be filled with lots of park time). Another one is made of all Kaffe Fassett fabric, featuring these big gorgeous purple flowers! I also have 2 baby quilt tops (but those were more recent so they haven't been laying around unfinished for that long) and more ideas cooking. Not to mention the never-ending hexagons that I can't seem to get enough of... Thanks to G and L for helping beef up my scrap stash! Who knows what those little shapes will become but I can't imagine myself sewing a whole stinkin' quilt of them by hand. Props to those of you who plan on doing that, though!

So now that it's getting even later and I've babbled on and not even shown you any pictures, I may as well go watch some DVRed Top Chef. And pick a project to work on... ;-)

And the winner is....

Number 50 is.....LJ! Congratulations!!! I'm going to shoot you an email in a bit here to get your address.

Thank you so, so much to all that entered. It's been so fun reading your comments and I tried to respond to all of you if you left your email address. For those of you that are new to my blog, I hope that you stick around. :)

That's all!

The giveaway has officially closed! I'll post the winner later today. Thanks to everyone who entered! :)

These could be YOURS!

Enter HERE!

Don't forget!

Julie has a weekly post of giveaways going on and this week she was kind enough to include me on the list! Check out her blog for more giveaways and be sure to visit my post here to enter yourself to win a great big bag of designer fabric scraps!

365 in a flash - and a giveaway!

How is it possible that I've been blogging here for 1 year!? Time flies! My life has changed in SO many ways - both good and bad. My crafting, especially my quilting, has come really far and I continue to love it. Here's to another many years of craftiness and fun!

Because it's my 1 year blog-iversary TODAY, I'm hosting a GIVEAWAY! Over the past year, I've been fortunate enough to learn a lot about fabric and accumulate a pretty decent stash. Here's what you get: one ziplock bag (the big storage size) STUFFED with usable scraps from my collection. Could be some Amy Butler, Kaffe Fasset, Tina Givens, Laura Gunn, and even Heather Ross! I'm currently in the process of putting the bag together so no pictures yet. But you all like surprises anyway, right? And I guarantee, it's a yummy bunch of fabric goodness.
Here's how you enter:

1. Leave a comment - anything! Your favorite book, summer vacation plans, inventive ice cream flavor, etc.
2. Become a follower - and leave a comment letting me know you're a follower of my blog! (If you already follow my blog, you can leave a comment to let me that.)
3. Follow me on Twitter - and leave a comment here letting me know you're following me there! (If you're already following me there, you can leave a comment to let me know that too.)

So that's 3 separate chances to win! I'll keep the giveaway open through 12 pm EST next Thursday, July 1st. You have a whole week! Make sure you leave a way to contact you when you comment (email is best). I'll use Random Integer Generator and pick a winner next Thursday or Friday! :)

To celebrate with myself, here's what I'm up to: new library books (these are just a handful - you should see the stack on my desk!) iced coffee South African style (with ICE CREAM instead of ice), and awesome fruit salad. Off to do some crafting and hide from the heat (which is approaching 100 degrees - yikes!). Psyched to work on some new baby quilts (pics soon!), the present quilt, and listen to Lush Life (hurray for free downloads).

Stay cool all - and thanks to those who've become my bloggy friends in this crazy large world of internets. You rock!



Watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in the magic will never find it! ~ Roald Dahl

93

It's gonna be a hot one. This calls for some soccer watching (go USA!), sewing, job searching (never ends), and generally hiding out from the humidity (my hair is very thankful). Mmm, iced coffee here we come.

Summer's here

Summer's here and it makes me crave being a kid. My summers were spent at camp where (much to the surprise of many of you who truly know me) I loved being outside, playing in the dirt, swimming in lakes, hiking, and drinking tons of bug juice (remember bug juice?!). I remember falling asleep on the bus ride home, skin all tight and prickly from a day in the sun, hair smelling like chlorine/lake water, and comparing my sandal tan to my friend's.

After the nightmare that was last week, this is a week of rest and recovery. Strangely enough, my work shifts (those that I didn't get covered due to illness) were canceled. It's actually not that strange and there's a good reason behind it (still figuring out payroll at the store) but it certainly came at the right time. Instead of making endless to-do lists, frantically trying to squeeze in errands/appointments/etc. I've been taking it one day at a time. I went to the doctor for follow-up on being sick (as per orders from the ER - see, told you it was bad) and I'm fine and she says all is well. But still - and I know I went on and on about this last post - I need to rest and regroup. So that's what I'm doing this week. I'm running errands here and there, doing little things around the apartment, and just generally trying to listen to my body and mind. It's been nice being home watching soccer (so sad SA is out) and sewing (HUGE relief that I finished all my June quilting bee blocks) and then being able to pop out into the park with the dog for a bit. I'm really trying to take it one day at a time.....

I decided that my hexagon quilt will be a gift. I can't tell you who it's for or for what occasion in case the recipient reads this but I promise I'll reveal once it's been given.

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Oh, hello

Hi all - sorry for the absence. Last week was completely hellish. Those early inventory shifts were a nightmare and then I got THE WORST stomach/intestine virus EVER. Seriously. Not fun. But now I'm feeling better and today is officially the start of summer. Hurrah!

Many other bloggers have been posting about taking time to relax. Maybe it's that summer mentality we all desire, but I too am joining in. I've been getting way to wrapped up in so many things and need to take time to relax, enjoy the little things, and just do things that are fun. It's been a very stressful time for me - and as seen from getting so sick, I realize that I need to just cool it. There are many things in my life that still feel (after a long time) out of control to me and I need to work on feeling balanced and in control. I need to focus more on taking care of myself and enjoying each day.

I may be around here less and less but that's only necessary. Besides, we should all be out enjoying the sunshine more!

I powered through my June quilting blocks and am feeling too lazy to post them all here. They're in my flickr photostream though, so go take a look.

I'm off for a walk in the park with Louie.

Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the question themselves, as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, some day far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer. – Rilke

Sick

...but on the mend. Be back soon.

Maybe I'm not a morning person after all

The past couple of days have allowed me to realize something about myself: maybe I'm not a morning person after all. We're doing inventory at work which requires coming in really early for 3 days and counting (electronically, phew) all items. The upside is that it never takes as long as they think AND there are lots of people there at one time. Downside: it's EARLY...yesterday we had to be there at 7 am (not so bad), today was 6 am (pretty rough) and tomorrow is 5 am (EGADS!). Fortunately, after tomorrow, we're all done and won't have to do inventory for a whole year. Which is great news for me since I won't be working there by then. Phew.

These past 2 days I've come home and tried to nap for a bit but have been unsuccessful. I guess it's OK since I plan on going to bed super early tonight. Oy.

Other news: yay for True Blood starting! Last night's premier episode was good. Woohoo!

Crafty stuff: I've finished my pillow for the Pillow Talk Swap and will post some pictures of it probably later today. I also budgeted very carefully these past few weeks and was able to buy myself some of Laurie Wisbrun's Tufted Tweets! Such cute fabric - it makes me wish I could draw.


Excuse my while I try to stay awake...

Moms...

...are the best!


(Recent score from this past weekend of LQS hopping with my Mom!)

Still here...

I'm still here, I promise! The last week or so has been SUUUPPPPERRR busy and I've barely had time to check email, let alone blog/sew/etc. Sorry for the lack of activity here and on Flickr. My creative juices have continued to flow - I just haven't had time to let them do their thing!

Last week I was able to work almost full-time (yay for the wallet) which obviously I'm not used to - meaning, when I got home after those long days, I basically crashed. This past weekend my sister moved into an apartment in Brooklyn, as she'll be here in NYC for an internship through August (yay!). My folks came with here so it's been a mini visit of sorts. We all went to dinner last week with some more extended family that I hadn't seen in a long time. It was lovely to catch up, despite the fact that we haven't always gotten along (I'm sure you all can relate). It's been ridiculously hot and humid here and this morning was the first time in about a week that I didn't feel miserable when stepping out to walk Louie. It's pleasant and cool and WAY less humid. I love summer but sometimes the heat in this city is truly oppressive.

My poor sewing table has been neglected for quite some time and even as I sit here and type, my fingers are itching to get to it. I've been receiving wonderful blocks from 2 of my quilting bee groups (my months were April and May) and I'm getting sooo excited to actually turn all these blocks into quilts. I think that I will actually attempt a queen-sized quilt for our bed out of the Bee-Stitched blocks. I'm not sure yet what will become of the Fresh Comfort Two ones but I'll keep you posted. I've also been working on my hexagon quilt though I haven't thought about layout much lately so that's sort of on hold. And finally, it's getting to be the deadline for the pillow talk swap and I'm STILL not 100% behind my design. Sigh. I think I need to stop worrying about it being perfect and amazing because this perfectionist attitude is silly (and all in my head!!!). It's great fabrics in a classic pattern and I think my partner will like it. I need to stop worrying!!!

Not much else other than work and family. My folks are still here - my dad is going to meet up with a cousin while my mom and I are going to go fabric shopping!!!!!!!! We're going to be good - just a few things. It's more about the fact that we get to shop TOGETHER than actually making the purchases, you know? Of course we'll hit up our 2 faves: Purl (she hasn't been since the new store opened) and the City Quilter. Probably have lunch at our regular place in SoHo and then who knows. Maybe some snuggling time for her with Louie since she misses her little guy terribly.

So that's what I've been up to. Hopefully I'll have some more crafty progress to report to you soon. Oh! And only about 2 more months until I go on vacation. Weeeeeeeee!!!!!

I exist as I am, that is enough. – Walt Whitman