Fun Friday

It's almost 60 degrees here so I'm about to head outside to the park with Louie but wanted to post some crafty stuff first. I spent the morning doing other productive things so once Louie is sufficiently walked (and his paws are super muddy...awesome...) I'll be back in to do some sewing.

Next month is my turn for Quilting newBEES (my other 2 bees have both finished and this one will only have one more month after mine). In light of my StashPact11 promise to not buy any unnecessary fabric, I'm focusing on a scrapbusting block. I made this block for Greta way back for another bee and have decided to use it for my month.

I'm going to supply my fellow quilters with some squares that I specifically want to be used un-cut (2.5") and others that can be used for the half-square triangles (3"). I'm trying to decide what neutral I want to use. I love the gray that we used for Greta's block but I already have a fair number of quilts that I've used gray in recently and I'm thinking I'd like to try something different. I love my Kona Color Card - so helpful! I am also considering some quilter's linen, or grunge.

grays

whites/creams

3" squares - for half-square triangles

2.5" squares - to be kept as they are

I only have one more block that I'm delinquent on so I'll probably work on that this afternoon.

My mom sent me a bunch of stuff this week and I had also ordered a few books online so now I have a selection of crafty reads to enjoy!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Perfection is overrated

I have never been a perfectionist. I am someone who appreciates meticulous and thoughtful crafting (and general approaches to other things) but am by no means the kind of person who gets bogged down in making things perfect.

Behold the beauty of imperfections, seen in the slightly wonky piecing of my solids quilt.

I totally love this! I think the quilting will be wavy horizontal lines.

I've been crafting here and there over the past few days. It's been quite cold again (sigh) so a lot of time has spent snuggling on the couch with Louie and in front of the sewing machine (me, not Louie - he's not really a quilter...heehee). I ended up powering through a whole bunch of (late!) bee blocks and realized that I only have one active bee right now (and will finish up in April). I've really enjoyed the bees but am pretty much over it, at least for now. I also have been working on my projects for the Spicing Up the Kitchen swap. I made this cute little mug rug in addition to the pear potholders.

Today will be pretty low-key. Laundry, some more sewing, the usual job stuff, and some reading. Almost the weekend!

Reflections - Part I

If you're a regular reader of my blog, then you know by now that I'm pretty reflective person. In general, I try to be as self-aware and aware of the world around me as I can. I look forward to milestones, holidays, and other moments that invite reflection and positive thinking.

The ultimate cliche of New Year's reflection is one that I always make sure to note. It's been one crazy year (and really, for my own personal reflection purposes, I'm including a few months of 2009 too since so much happened at the very end) and I feel like there are many ways that I want to look back on the past year (and change) in order to get ready for 2011.

I plan to do a series of posts about reflection, some of which are craft-related, some of which are not. Pick and choose which ones you'd like to read. And be sure to drop me a line if you plan to write about your own reflections!

Firstly, this has been an enormously crafty year for me, in part due to my limited employment (look for employment/job-related reflections in another post coming up soon). While obviously I would have preferred gainful employment in a degree-using job, I am thankful in a way that I've had the time and space (and the resources thanks to a generous support circle and very forgiving roommate who lets me take over a corner of our tiny living room - thanks sweetie!) to create a serious bunch of quilts!

I have compiled a list of all the quilts I've finished (including all the way back to June 2009, when I finished my first quilt!), as well as the bee blocks completed (see this pic - it's missing a few still but it'll give you an idea of how busy I've been in the virtual quilting world!), and also unfinished projects and random projects.

In looking back, I'm very proud of how much I've made. I feel like I have a definite "style" when it comes to quilting, and have gained a lot of knowledge about the craft itself.

In light of that, my knitting has sort of taken a back seat. I've been knitting for almost 12 years now and I don't think anything will comfort me like the sound of clicking needles and the feel of a handknitted garment in my lap. All the hats I wear are my own handmade creations and I have a number of sweaters that I treasure. We also have a cozy lap blanket knitted up that has recently made it's winter debut on our sofa (brr, chilly temps). Part of the lack of knitting is due to my newfound interest in quilting, but also to the simple fact that knitting is expensive! Yes, yes, quilting isn't exactly cheap but I would argue that through various means, it's cheaper to make a quilt (and build a fabric stash, at least for me). When I knit, I usually buy wool for a specific project. I'm also kind of a yarn snob (haha, big surprise, I know) so the skeins I covet are typically on the expensive side (hello, my newest love, Madeline Tosh Pashmina!). While I have a number of unfinished projects (2 gorgeous sweaters) as well as a handful of ideas for new wares, I've definitely focused more of my creative energy (and my wallet) on quilting. Knitting is like an old friend - I know that we can always pick up where we left off, even if we spend time apart. I do plan to get back into knitting after the new year. In fact, I've just dropped my sewing machine off to be serviced and plan on taking this "quilting break" (haha, except for when I head upstate at the end of the week and will most likely be using my mom's machine!) to focus on knitting, embroidery (another new skill gained this year - check out my first completed project) and some hand sewing (yay hexies!). I finished my quilty holiday gifts and will post pictures of them after they make their way to the recipients!

So in general, I've had a very good year, craft wise. Now, for the lists/numbers/descriptions:

Quilting Bee Blocks
I'm a member of 3 different virtual quilting bees. One is ending this month (though I still have to finish the blocks for it...) and the other two will end early next spring. In total, I have completed 41 quilt blocks (with 3 currently waiting to be worked on). I've done log cabins, string blocks, ticker tape blocks, and so many others. I've loved being part of each woman's creative process and look forward to assembling the blocks I've received for my months (2 out of the 3 bees so far). Be sure to check out this set to see all the blocks I've worked on. Thanks to Erin for all her hard work organizing and running a big part of the virtual community related to bees! Check out Quilting Bee Blocks for pictures, interviews, links to Flickr, and more.

Swaps and Quilt-Alongs
I've jumped on the swap train that is currently taking over Flickr. Thanks in a large part to Heather and Kerri, swap mammas extraordinaire, I've participated in the last 2 rounds of The Pillow Talk {Swap} and am definitely hooked. I've received 2 gorgeous pillows and can't wait to get more (though my sweetie may roll his eyes - we'll need more furniture to hold these pillows! Haha). A number of blogs have held quilt-alongs and serve as fun, community-esque places (albeit, virtual) to work "together" on projects. I finished the quilt top for Julie's Hexagon Quilt-Along but it has yet to be basted or quilted. Stay tuned in 2011 to see it pan out.

Etsy
I've gone back and forth about my Etsy shop. Ultimately, I haven't put as much time or effort into it as it really needs. I will probably close it down soon. I'm not really that upset, since I'm still having a blast quilting!

Other crafty connections
People have definitely been able to see my work. A colleague commissioned me to turn a handful of her sorority teeshirts into a quilt. It was my first true commission and I look forward to many more! The amazing virtual world of quilting has definitely drawn me in. There are a whole handful of incredibly talented crafters whose blogs are my go-to ones in my Google Reader. I've learned so much and been inspired by so many of you - thank you! Special shout out to John, Greta, Leanne, and Brooke, as you've all been great pals through instruction, creative process, and just general life. :) But seriously, you ALL rock! And to my readers, whether or not you're quilters, sewists, knitters or none of the above, THANK YOU! I read all your comments and am profoundly grateful that you check in here to my little corner of the virtual universe.

Here's the total break down:

Quilting Bee Blocks: 41
Swaps: 2 pillows sent, 2 pillows received
Quilt-Alongs: 1 (quilt top completed)
UFOs (unfinished objects): 10 (some completed tops, some need to be pieced, etc.)
Other crafty/quilty projects: lampshade, embroidered quote, a ridiculous amount of handsewn hexagons
Finished quilts (since June 2009): 20!!!!! (check out most of them here)

Stay tuned for more reflection posts before we ring in 2011...

Crafting adventures

Woo, it's been a while since I blogged. Sorry about that! Busy, as always. Elections, planning for holidays, new job hours, etc. But all the while I've managed to squeeze in some crafting.

I spent an afternoon a few days ago catching up on my bee blocks...

These are for Susan (Quilting newBEES)

This is for Anita (Fresh Comfort Two)

And these last two are my first paper-pieced blocks! Made for Mary (Bee-Stitched). They were tricky (the second one is definitely filled with flaws) but I had a lot of fun learning this new technique. I've been meaning to try it for quite some time. I'm not sure I'd have the patience to do a whole quilt this way but I definitely like the end result!

A few days ago we were assigned our partners for the Pillow Talk Swap Round 4. I've been playing around with some fabric ideas and patterns. We have about a month to complete our pillows and my partner has great, fun taste. This is going to be a joy to make! Here are some fabrics that I've been playing around with...

I've also been working on my holiday projects (though haven't made nearly as much progress as I would have hoped by this point). They always manage to get done, some how. I've been trying to decide what I want for Hanukkah but can't really seem to make up my mind. My birthday is pretty soon after (in January) so I need to think about that too. In these economic times, I'm trying to think practically so I have a few ideas (but that's for another post).

I'll be heading back to my folks' place for Thanksgiving in about a week and a half. I can't wait! My mom got an AccuQuilt Go! Cutter that I'm excited to try out.

I'm done working until Sunday (when I have a 12-hour day - eek!) and am worried I'm getting a cold so Louie and I are just chilling out for the rest of the day. We're both pretty content to hang out on the couch (especially since Louie loves bogarting the quilt!). It's tea and snuggling for us! And maybe a little sewing, recipe reading (mmm, soup anyone?), job searching, etc.

What are your Turkey Day plans?


Fortune favors the brave. – Virgil

Home

Even though I'm a grown-up (well, supposedly, right?), going back to the house I grew up in always feels like "home." I'm here, in Upstate NY, for a few days, relaxing and being taken care of in only the way that parents could (especially when you're only a few years away from 30...)

While the weather leaves less to be desired, it's still so comforting and nice to be home. I know where all the dishes go, I can make daily (or even more) trips to the local grocery store, and things don't seem to change (which both frustrates and comforts me - go figure). My sweetie will be heading here tonight and we'll finish out the weekend at our respective family's houses - 3 blocks from each other!

Louie is having a ball, playing with Winston, my parents' dog who happens to be Louie's younger brother. The two of them fell into their old routine from last summer within about 5 minutes. I've been here less than 24 hours and have already laughed my butt off at the two of them.

For those of you who celebrate (we do in a minimal way), l'shana tovah (or Happy New Year, to those of you not familiar with the Hebrew). The Jewish New Year is rung in with apples, honey, and warm cozy favorites. I'm off to that wonderful grocery store to pick up some brisket and other goodies. Then it's time for haircut/hair color. Yes, even though I live in one of the most stylish places, I still come back here to get my hair done. These people have known me forever and it's wonderful to be able to catch back up with them. Not to mention, they know exactly what I like when it comes to my crazy, unruly hair.

I'm also looking forward to taking advantage of my mom's sewing room - yep, she has a whole room for sewing! I will try to get all those bee blocks finished (sheepish head drop) and have some other little crafty things to work on.

What are you up to this weekend?

Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart. – unknown

Playing catch up

Why does everything always feel more chaotic after you return from being away? And I was only gone for 4 days! After a LOVELY time escaping reality in South Carolina with my fam, I came back to the big city a week ago and have been busy since. Fortunately, I'm leaving again for my REAL vacation (10 whole days!) a week from Thursday. Is it too soon to pack? (Only half kidding...)

July some how got away from so I was a little bit behind on my quilting bee blocks. But this afternoon I finished up all of the ones due for July.

These blue and green wonky pinwheels are for Lynette in Bee-Stitched

This patriotic star is for Linda in Fresh Comfort 2

These fun pinwheels will become a classroom quilt for Brooke in Quilting newBEES

How are your projects coming along?

Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. – Goethe

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

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

Shamless self promotion

I'm featured by the guest writer, Allison, on today's "Pick Five" post over at Quilting Bee Blocks! Check it out here. (The blocks were made for Rachel for her month of Fresh Comfort Two!)

Woohoo! :)

Bentos

Oh bento boxes. Clearly, you and I don't get along. Even though I lined you up, followed directions, etc. you still didn't come out the way you were supposed to! Blame it on my lack of spatial comprehension (or something...)

These were done for Alek for Quilting newBEES. She sent awesome Kaffe Fassett squares to be surrounded by a load of Kona Cotton strips. She wanted modified bento boxes (which are basically log cabins, quartered, and reassembled). No matter what I did, these never really came out right. Sigh. Oh well - maybe they can be used on the back of the quilt...

Sunshine

Spring is back after a few days of hiding (cooler temps and cloudy skies) so I'm off to take my buddy to the park for some play time. But I wanted to first show you some goodies:These blocks were done for Shelly for her month of Fresh Comfort 2. They sewed up easily and I love her fabric choices!
Also, one of my favorite quilty bloggers, John, is celebrating his 2 year anniversary of his blog! He'll be hosting a giveaway soon and invited other members of the virtual quilting community to offer up goodies. I'm donating this awesome pile of scraps. See anything good? Yeah, I thought so. Be sure to check back at John's blog soon for details.

Happy spring!

I hope that you're all having a wonderful weekend, especially if you're spending time with family and friends. Happy Easter, Happy Passover and Happy Spring! Buds are definitely blooming here in the Big Apple and I'm itching to get out my dresses and sandals. I think that's next weekend's big project.

This past week was very busy for me. I spent a lot of time working and the store is really coming along. In fact, it's coming along so well that they didn't need me to come in today. I'm taking advantage of the free time to run errands, clean, and do some crafty stuff. My sweetie had to work for a few hours so I'm playing domestic while he's at the office. Looking forward to a nice relaxing evening of dinner together and......BASEBALL!!!!!

For those of you who don't know me probably don't know but I LOOOOVE the Yankees. I'm totally nonathletic (well, that's not really true but I wasn't one for team sports very much) but once April comes, I'm always so psyched. It's in my blood, what can I say (my mom was born in the Bronx). My grandpa used to sit glued to the games, screaming at the umps and cheering on Bronx Bombers. I'm sad that a few of my faves aren't there (Matsui!) but I'm still excited for the season. Tonight they play the Red Sox (BOOOOOOO) so it should be a great start.

As you can probably tell, I'm generally an optimist and look for any opportunity to embrace new beginnings. Hence, here are few things that are on my Spring to-do list:
1. My sweetie and I are going to start composting and plant an herb garden out on our patio. Woohoo!
2. Continuing with the green theme, I'm going to make cloth napkins (and probably placemats to match) as well as reusable sandwich/snack bags.
3. The usual sorting/giving away/selling of clothes that I try to do after each season...
4...purchasing only what I need and will last in terms of wardrobe staples.
5. Going back to running and yoga on a regular basis.
6. Learning more about mindfulness and meditation (and getting REALLY excited to see the Dalai Lama in May!)
What are your fresh start items?

One last note - I finished Sarah's blocks for Quilting newBEES. Such cute log cabins that she's going to turn into a picnic blanket. Can't wait to see the finished product!

Busy-ness

Woohoo, things sure are busy around here! After a wonderful (but too short) weekend with my folks, I came back and am now on a full-time schedule at work. As many of you know, I'm currently working retail while I continue to search/apply/interview for full-time jobs where I can use my master's degree. This retail job is surprisingly pleasant. Right now, I'm part of the staff that's opening a new store so because there's so much work to be done, I'm able to pick up more hours. This is great (financially) but I'm completely exhausted! In addition to the fact that I'm not used to working full-time in general, we've been doing almost all physical labor. I'm in pretty good shape but 8 hours of moving stuff, unpacking boxes, etc. leaves me totally BEAT at the end of the day. Needless to say, I haven't had the energy to do anything crafty - or much else for that matter. :)

However, I'm always thinking of projects, gathering supplies, etc. While I was at my parents' house, I pilfered a whole bunch of fabric from my mom (thanks, Mom!) and she was kind enough to pay for a few more goodies. Aren't moms the best?

I've also been getting a steady stream of library books. Mostly quilting/sewing but the occasional non-fiction book and even cookbooks (saw the one in this pic on someone else's blog and I'm such a sucker for desserts...).


Speaking of cooking, we went to a Passover seder on Monday night at my sweetie's friend's parents' house and the food was excellent! Smitten Kitchen has the yummiest looking recipe for brisket (made in a slow cooker - who knew?!) that I may have to try, even when it's not Passover (obviously, because who doesn't love brisket!)

So creativity is still happening, my friends! Not to mention, I mailed out my fabric today to all the ladies of Bee-Stitched! Can't wait to see the blocks they make.

My turn

Next month is my month for Bee-Stitched. I'm so excited! I've known for a while what fabric I wanted to use but only just decided on the TYPE of blocks this week. I'm going to have my bee buddies do 2 blocks: one with circles and one with triangles. I couldn't decide so I figured why not do both! (More instructions soon to come, ladies.)


In other news, I've got a nasty change of season cold. I'm a whiny patient so even though it's just a cold, I make it seem like the plague (much to my sweetie's frustration). We've had crazy weather this past week or so but I definitely think we're moving toward spring (at least I hope so!)

I'll be heading home this weekend (it's funny, I don't live there but I still think of the place where I grew up as home) for a little break to spend time with my folks. Louie is coming with me (even though I'm mad at JetBlue for charging me more for his reservation than my own ticket!) so he and Winston will get to play together.

Next week will be a busy week for me. I'm still working in retail but the company I work for is opening a new store and I'm part of the team that will be working there. For the next 3 weeks, we're helping set up the store so they need all hands on deck (read: pretty much full time - yay money!). So I apologize in advance if I'm a little more hands off next week. I'm still here. :)

For me

It's almost my turn to send out fabric and instructions for Bee-Stitched. I keep debating about what kinds of blocks to make. At first I wanted triangles; then it was circles. Today I realized, why not both?! I'm not 100% certain but I'm leaning toward asking the ladies to make one triangle block and one circle block. I'll be using Jessica Levitt's "Timber" and Denyse Schmidt's "Hope Valley" in blues, greens, grays, etc. I'm going to have a white background (Kona Snow). I created a mosaic for inspiration.

I've been scribbling away, actually using that high school math (ugh, painful) and trying to figure out how much to send, how big to make the blocks, etc. Hopefully I won't goof up the math!

Heading to work for a few hours. Hope everyone is enjoying their day - especially if you're having as nice weather as us!

More bee blocks

This afternoon I finished Rachel's ticker tape blocks for Fresh Comfort Two. I've never made these before and they were a lot of fun! I especially like making tiny squares.

Before the day begins...

...I just wanted to show you what I finished last night! Here is Greta's block for Bee-Stitched.

I LOVE it. Seriously. It looks like it was a lot of complicated work but honestly, it wasn't! And trust me because I'm new at this. I'm seriously considering this for one of my other bees. It's definitely something that would take a long time to make by myself and it would be fun to have blocks from bee buddies that included bits from their stashes.


On another note, look at my boys asleep together last night!

So innocent...

I'm off to tackle my to-do list. Unfortunately, crafty stuff will have to wait until this afternoon. It's a gross, rainy day here in NYC. Hopefully that means I'll be productive (ha, yeah right...).

Happy Friday!

Today

Assembling pieces for Greta's block (Bee-Stitched)


Can we go outside now?

Take a deep breath

It definitely feels like spring today here in NYC. The past few days have been positively lovely - sun shining, warmish temps, low wind... New Yorkers are out in full force - I couldn't believe how packed the park was today!

We don't typically get much of a spring up here (read: usually goes straight from cold to hot) but it really feels like winter is on the way out. Something about spring makes you want to start fresh, you know?

So it being Monday and all, I decided to embrace the start fresh attitude and attacked my to-do list, including a number of phone calls I've been putting off (ugh, being a grown up sucks sometimes). Feeling good after checking off my list, I went for a run. Over the course of last summer and into the fall, I had gotten into a steady routine of running at least 3 times a week. I was up to 3 miles in the fall and then when all the craziness of moving happened, I sort of fell off the wagon. But now I'm back! I took it easy today, only running 1 mile and was so surprised how good it felt (I was so worried it'd be a BIG struggle). I'm so lucky to live half a block from a park and be able to enjoy the scenery. I know I'll probably be a little sore but you gotta admit, it feels good.

Crafty news update: received fabrics from 2 out of my 3 virtual quilting bees. Sooo excited! Rachel wants us to make ticker tape blocks and Greta is looking for blocks like this (I was a little intimidated but once you break it down, it's not that bad). They both send bundles of beautiful, bright fabrics. It seems spring is everywhere!

I'm off to enjoy the breeze through the open window for a bit longer (before it actually gets chilly) and feed the dog, who keeps poking me with his nose. How does he know it's dinner time?!

A good start

I woke up in a good mood this morning. I think mostly because it's Friday! My sweetie and I don't have any specific plans for the weekend but he doesn't have any work lined up so that's good. It's supposed to warm up here a bit which means a trip to the dog park is probably on the agenda (Louie is wagging his tail as we speak). What are your weekend plans?

I'm not sure how it got to be March already! That means we've been here in the Big Apple for over 3 months. It feels both way shorter and way longer than that (funny how that happens, huh?).

I may be going into work this evening (on call) so I don't want to make the day TOO busy. I do plan to do some crafting this afternoon.

In light of the economic times (ahem, my sad little bank account), I've been trying to be thrifty. I'm a total book-lover, the type who loves to OWN my books, but I've been so good lately and haven't bought anything in months. One of the many benefits of living in New York City is a fantastic public library system. This week I requested a whole bunch of books and they're slowly making their way to my local branch. Yesterday I got a copy of Sublime Stitching and after a quick trip to Michael's (embroidery has to be the cheapest hobby - spent only $5!) started to work on stitching. It's easy! I'm definitely going to keep this up and integrate into my quilts.

Speaking of quilts, I've been steadily making baby quilts to sell on Etsy. I know that there are many more experienced quilters out there but I like to think that I have good taste and a decent ability and people will want to buy my quilts! I'll post some pics later. So far I have two completed quilts, one quilt top, and one other top in the works (squares cut, ready to sew).

I've also decided to make my first quilt gift! I have a dear college friend getting married this summer...in Hawaii! Unfortunately, my sweetie and I won't be able to go - it's just too expensive - but we still wanted to give a meaningful wedding present. Will keep you updated on the progress (though maybe not too many details in case she reads this...)

And I still promise to post about my knitting. This week somehow got away from me.

Oh! And yay for a new month for quilting bees! Can't wait to get fabric in the mail!