Random defined....

Nothing major other than the Etsy Craft Party has happened this week so I'm going to tell about all the minor things in one post first. The Etsy Craft Party and Craft Fair will get their own post either later tonight or tomorrow evening.

Random Event #1

I decided that it is time for a new machine within the next year. My machine works well enough for now, but I've definitely "out grown" its abilities, and it is starting to seize up more frequently. The seizing could probably be fixed with a servicing, but I'm pretty good about keeping my machine clean most of the time, besides the machine just doesn't feed as smoothly or quickly as one a few steps above it.

Random Event #2

I learned how to match seams so I could piece the backing for my "Tula Pink Quilt". I sent this backing and all the other pieces to the quilter on Saturday. I should get it back in the next 2 months, just in time to get the binding on, have it photographed, and then submitted to the fair for competition.

Random Event #3

I've finally used the mini food processor that Lindi, Josh's mom, gave us when we moved in the apartment. Now that I've used it once I completely love it. My favorite thing to put in it right now would have to be croutons because I've been using them in a new "recipe" that is yummy...basically it is just home-made shake-n-bake. Either way, that thing is awesome.

Random Event #4

I went to the dentist and found out that I will have to have my wisdom teeth cut out. I also found out that they are not the cause of my bottom teeth shifting like my previous dentist had told me they would be, however, they need to come out because the one on the right is laying on its side. (I know, its crazy!) After I get them taken care of then I will get an appliance to wear to keep the bottom teeth straight because night grinding and clinching during the day is making them shift.

Anyway, I know this is pretty boring stuff, but I think x-rays are pretty awesome. Really, the technology is amazing. It took less than a minute to take the x-ray, then with in minutes it was up on the computer monitor, and now everyone who reads this will know what my teeth look like! (Technology is mostly wasted on useless things like this blog post, but I still have an appreciation for the possibilities. The idea of a fax amazes me too -seriously it is light traveling through a tube that ends up being printed, and 120 years ago we barely had motor cars!)

Random Event #5

I tried Veet, the waterless shave stuff. It didn't work as well as the bottle let on it would, but I think I know how to make it work better next time. The problem is that parts of my legs are smooth and parts aren't so I have to wait until it is all long enough for the stuff. Thankfully I wear pants most of the time. Here is the embarrassing part.... I decided while I was being so girly with my waterless shave that I would try the facial waxing strips. Really I didn't need to use these, but I figured if I had them it couldn't hurt that bad right? Wrong! It hurts so much worse than an eyebrow waxing, it didn't work, and now I actually notice the little hairs! Those things are just mean! Even if you get them for free do not use them - I'm afraid the trauma will be permanent.

Random Event #6

I attended the Downtown Advisory Board meeting on Tuesday to listen to the discussion about changing the street-scape of the Main Street. Most of the ideas are horrible, however I think adding bike racks, different lighting, and landscaping could be awesome, other than that the ideas were pretty bad. On the bright side, I'm going to apply to be a member of the Activity Advisory Group for the downtown area. I'm hoping that this will help my plans for the craft fair and other handicraft oriented ideas will come easier in the future.

So there it is the boring random details from my week. Hopefully this next week will be more interesting has the plans for the craft fair solidify. I will keep you posted.

Finished Four Patch Posy!

I finally finished my four patch posey quilt using Tula Pink's Marie Antoinette line of fabric! 

I also used the pink feather from "Plume". Oh and my setting triangles were "Plume's" main print, with the be flowers and birds! If fact, the only fabric not Tula Pink in this quilt is the little frame of dark pink between the feathers. For that I used Marcia Derse fabric, and it matched so perfectly I wish that I could put both in my drawer for them to make little beautiful babies! Okay, I realize how crazy it sounds, but I love it when my favorite designers make things that go together perfectly without even intending it!

In other news the winner of the Jennifer Paganelli Fabric is.... Andrea! She was comment number eleven so I will be contacting her to make sure she gets her beautiful new fabrics!  Speaking of beautiful new fabric... I received a package today, but I'm not going to tell you exactly what it is yet. I will show you tomorrow. :)  

And speaking of packages I should be receiving another package this week containing felt sheets. I'm pretty excited about it as well because it will mark the start of Christmas preparations! Can you guess what my theme is going to be?

Marie Antoinette! However, while I won't be using all of the bright colors in the fabric line, I did talk to Josh and he said it was okay to get a pink Christmas tree! I'm pretty happy, excited, and spoiled. I want our first Christmas in our own place to be out of this world fantastic!

A Bobbin, A Bobbin

Before I could sew anything this evening I had to clean my machine. My goodness, I don't remember the last time I did it, but as you can tell by the globs of lint, it was past time to dust it off!

After cleaning, searching for empty bobbins, and finally getting the machine threaded I was able to finish my four-patch posy blocks. I had planned on getting this quilt done last month. However, I put it in a project basket after taking it to demonstrate at the guild meeting in April, and out of site out of mind it went.

Since this quilt was just for fun anyway, I'm going to leave it on the design wall for a day or so. I don't like the distribution of dark pink in the quilt, so I'll spend some time staring at it tomorrow. It is to late to set it together tonight anyway.

Here is a fun song to wind up the evening...

Denyse Schmidt at Joanns

It took me a while to decide if I was going to purchase the line of fabric that Denyse Schmidt made exclusively for Joanns. I love Denyse Schmidt, however, I think that is was a bit of a sellout point. (Understand that I'm also partial because I work in a fabric shop, and favor keeping my job for a while.)   Either way, I gave in once I saw the fabric in person. My picture, as always, doesn't do it justice because it's so dark.  I bought 6" of three pieces just to play with, and then I bought 2 yards of this piece to make a shirt.

I've tried making a couple clothing pieces in the past, but I never loved them. I'm hoping I can make a shirt out of this fabric that I'll honestly look forward to wearing. To put the best foot forward I picked out this easy pattern to get started with.  I figured if I could make it well with sleeves then later this summer I'll adjust it a bit to have short sleeves.

In other news, I finally finished by grandma's apron. It only took a couple hours, but it was a long couple hours because I really hated the fabric.  I also picked out nearly all of the floss colors for the crib-quilt. Once I got it all home I decided that I would really like to start working on it so I basted it, hooped it, and started the quilting process. I figured that I could easily stitch on the inside and outside of each box for starters and the go back later to add cute pictures in each square.

Solid Investment

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I finished the main part of the solid sample for the shop last night.  Today I will go in and play with fabrics to choose a border.  I really think I should put a border on it is definitely a crib size (toddler) quilt, but I think I'll have trouble finding something that doesn't take away from the feel this quilt has.

One of my friends asked how I would quilt it, and I'm thinking about embroidering each square with an animal or something boy/baby related in the same color thread as the square. This is a bit ambitious, but if I do the backing in the same bone color as the sashing then the back will look just as amazing as the front when it is finished.

While I was digging through my stash last night I found a pretty big piece of the Lush paintbox fabric (on the right).  This looks so cute with the quilt that it is official, I really can't cut into this fabric.  It is going into my "hope chest" until I figure out what to make with it to match the solid quilt. (I really hope that, when the time comes, I have a boy first so that these quilts/fabrics don't go to waste.)

I pledge...

I've seen several people take the Progress Pledge and decided I would give it a try.

I, _Trina _, pledge to talk more about my processes, even when I can’t quite put them in the in words or be sure I’m being totally clear.   I’m going to put my thinking and my gut feelings out there. 
 
Really it shouldn't be that hard since I love sharing pictures of everything already.  You can visit R0ssie Blog for more information on the pledge and a list of other participants.

Right now I'm working on a sample for SewFlakes. I've been begging my boss for a while now to purchase more solids. Her "breaking point" was when I pleaded for the Bella solid jelly rolls from Moda and the Kona Solid charm packs from Robert Kaufman.  I swore that I would make the sample if she would just order enough to get started. Well the fabrics finally all arrived yesterday afternoon!

This is what I have so far. I'm only using one charm pack minus one of the squares. I'm not sure how big it will be because I haven't decided on the border yet. However, to make it useful I'm going to make it crib/toddler bed size, and put it away for my "hope chest". The last thing I need is (another) a purposeless quilt.

I was kind of hoping to get it finished tonight, but I lost momentum after Josh got home from work. Since I wasn't suppose to start anything else before finishing my grandma's apron I suppose this won't be done until this weekend., but either way it will be finished soon. I'm anxious to see the finished project, especially in real lighting.

Amazing Easter Egg Hunt!

I thought I was to old for Easter egg hunts, but apparently I was wrong. I received an email from Alex of Aurifil Threads today reminding me about the Easter egg hunt that Aurifil, Accuquilt, and The Quilt Show have pulled together.  It is super easy to participate and the prizes are awesome!

I've already completed all of the steps for myself. They are drawing a winner on April 25th, but I'm not sure off the date you have to enter by so enter soon!

Good Luck,
Trina T.