Time Flies When You're Having Fun!

Cotton + Steel selvage birthday coaster.

Here's the back. I'm still fussy cutting this hilarious fabric. I think I'm about out of it, but I kind of hope I have a hunk stashed somewhere.

Our guild's BOM. The economy block, or square in a square. I got carried away and made four. They're pretty fun.

This is the charity quilt made for Quiltcon 2016. Our group consisted of seven ladies throughout the US. We communicated via email and came up with this traditional sampler quilt with an improv spin. I love how it turned out. It will be donated to a firefighter's organization. Our guild made a beautiful quilt as well, so I was able to participate in two of the charity quilts.

This little ditty is vacationing in Utah this month. Actually, it's getting quilted. I sent two others too.

 The backing came from my stash.

 Cool selvages.

Finally finished this hot pad at Sew Day yesterday.

And a quickie baby top using donated embroidery squares. We're making quilts for charity.

Found a cute way to use some hexies. I think I'll use mine for a coaster, but I might have to make some hot pads too!

Sunday Fun Day!

Finally found a way to hang my temporary design wall (aka flannel backed vinyl tablecloth). I've tried painter's tape, packaging tape, duct tape, and push pins. Seems that heavy cans of tomatoes and iron toy sewing machines are the best solution. Now I have no excuse not to vacuum my studio. I usually put my blocks on my design floor.

I attended World Quilt Florida right here in Orlando a few weeks ago. There were some interesting quilts and I had a little fun with the fabric vendors. I found some deals at the Pineapple Fabrics booth. Kaffe Fassett shot cottons and woven stripes on the left and a bundle of fun retro, novelty prints.

Charm squares!

Caught these in a sale.

I made a quilted planner cover for the quilting calendars our guild ordered. This is the outside. I fell in love with this retro comic book fabric. It's from Alexander Henry and called "Home Sewing is Easy." There's a second version, too.

Here's the inside. Skull and scissors crossbones and polka dots. Of course. The orange biz card holder is too small, but my cards fit in vertically.The polka dots are pockets.

Thats a zipper there! Easy peasy. I can cram all kinds of writing instruments in there.

Here's the planner installed. Now to schedule some sewing time!

I acquired a few books over the holidays.

Just look at that paella! We went to a paella party at Rene's house. Lots of fun company! Not only was the paella delicious, but th chef made appetizers and desserts to die for. We rolled ourselves out of their house! So fun and so good!

I have a Hungarian mushroom soup planned for lunch. It's so cold here. I'm changing up the recipe and adding in some celery, carrots, and the white wine I steeped the oyster mushrooms in. I'll use white mushrooms too. I'm in a cooking mood today, so no telling what gets made. 

Finished 20 Purse Strings blocks in pinks, yellows, and oranges. I wish I had made the 15" blocks, but I chose 12". I loved My Quilt Infatuation's color scheme, so I stuck with that. It's a fun and easy block and now I have 320 half square triangles from the trimmings. And yeah, I'm sewing those together. Scrappy, crazy, goodness.

On to more projects! And food! Have a great week!

Sunday Stash #91

Puttering around with the scraps again. I thought this random railfence block looked like a lot of fun. I might have to make a few more blocks today. They were quick. Where did I get all that pink?

May's Kona solids delivery. Tomorrow is already June! I wonder what colors June will bring?

All these beauties were on sale. I love a good fabric sale!

Have a great week friends!

Sunday Stash #90

Oh hey! That was a quick April! May Day is Friday. Need to break out the May pole. Ha!

I've been busy with my first Corporate 5K. I only did it for work. Peer pressure. It was kind of fun. I liked watching the people. I think 18,000 people showed up for it. I'm no athlete, although I did bike 5.5 miles this morning with the Inspector. All this extra calorie burning means I can eat more, right? Isn't that why you exercise?

I tried this honey buttermilk bread. The recipe said to put a pinch of ginger into the yeast mixure. Boy, did it make the yeast bloom. Wow.

Here they are at the second rise. These babies rose like crazy. Tall bread!

Here they are all baked off. It was a good recipe and solved our out of bread problem.

A guild mate was collecting tulip blocks for twin girls. I'm not sure I like the purple one, but maybe she will. They were fun to make, so there's that.

The Inspector stopped by the seafood shop Friday and bought gigantic shrimp from Argentina and a huge filet of mahi mahi. I used some of the shrimp and fish to make ceviche. I could eat ceviche every day. Inspector Gadget had leftover a ceviche, hard boiled egg and mayo sandwich this morning. He's odd.

Here's the stash part, finally. Kaffe Fassett's 2015 collective. Swoon. I just bought them to pet them. I love his use of color. There are some fish in this collective. And his signature big blossoms. So pretty.

Saturday Solids

I'm stuck on solids at the moment. Simple sewing that soothes my soul. Happy weekend!

Linking with Made by You Monday over at Skip To My Lou.

Sunday Stash #88

Gifted fabric is the best! Judy knew I'd love these fun bugs.

Alejandrina gave me a favorite in orange.

My cabbage for St. Patrick's Day didn't turn out great, so I turned it into soup. The soup is really good. I've always liked cabbage soup.

I took a workshop on paper piecing spirals. The technique was new to me. Lots of fun.

Anyone watching "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" on Netflix? I just started it this morning and it's made me laugh out loud several times. I'm on a "House of Cards" break. It's hard to keep up with those plots while I'm sewing. I may or may not be up to the 9th episode. *cough*

Guild Blocks of the Month

I'm caught up with the OMQG's block of the month. This friendship star is April's block. In dreamy blues with low volume background(s). I need more low volume fabrics. I had to use plain ole white this time.

This Circle of Friends block was fun to make. This was the March block, but I didn't have time to do it before the meeting. I'll have to see if Marge needs another block or add this to my pile of orphan blocks. I thought it was too pretty not to try. It's a bit wonky, but loveable.

I received my first (and only) Kickstarter product. Can't wait to try it out on cold butter. It grates the butter to make it spread easier. Genius, right? I also love the peeps that just keep butter on the counter. Apparently, it doesn't need refrigeration. I'm not brave enough, but I want to be. Eggs can be kept on your counter too. If I implement these practices and we all die, you'll know why. LOL!

This improv is getting larger and wilder. I may call it a day and surround it with big solid borders. And pass out sunglasses. It got a bit out of hand. You should have seen the wild cuts I made at Sew Day. Like drunken cuts. Elbow city. I bet you know what I'm talking about.

The Perfect Day

In your pajamas, preferably. I made it until 10 am Saturday in pj's, and then Bones decided he needed to go outside. I was up early and dressed today, but I'm hoping to nap later when the rain starts.

My perfect day also includes cooking. I made this Panzanella salad using an old baguette. I never thought I would like this salad because I thought the bread would get mushy and fall apart, but since you toast it, it holds its shape and texture. Yummo!

Since the baguette went stale, I baked a loaf of bread for dinner. I messed up the yeast amount, but it still turned out okay.

Homemade bread has no preservatives, so you have to use it quickly. Cinnamon toast (the right way) for breakfast and possible grilled cheese for lunch.

New Orleans inspired barbecued shrimp. The sauce was perfect to dunk bread in. It has been a carby weekend! I'm making more bread later today.

Meet Lisa, my new Featherweight. I've been stalking eBay for eons looking for the perfect affordable little Featherweight. I used to see these at estate sales for next to nothing, but of course I didn't want one then. Lisa runs beautifully and is one of the last Featherweights made in the late 60s. She came from a machine repair shop, had a tune up, and runs like a dream. Quiet, too!

I used my spider web blocks to get to know the new machine. I'm piecing rows together and hope to finish the top today. It's high time for a new project.

Happy Sunday! Hope you're having fun.