Design Wall Monday - 09/26/11

These are what's on my design table today (other than my cat).  I'm making more snapped coin purses that I had in last week's post to give away in class tonight.  The flat one needs snaps and hand sewing and then just one more to make.  I tried some piecing on them to keep them interesting.  Here's another link to the tutorial.  Once you've made one, they go pretty fast.  I probably took more time choosing fabric than making them!

Check out Judy L's blog to see what everyone else is doing!

Why Can't I Get Any Work Done?

Is it any wonder why I can't get any sewing done?

Mystery Mondays at This & That Blog

I just heard about Mystery Monday's created by Sherri Falls from This & That Patterns.  Now I know I have a lot on my plate right now, but it sure does sound fun.  She will post steps to mystery projects every Monday on her blog.  This past Monday was the first step of the first project - a table topper.  The steps are not extensive.  This week is just a supply list so far (next week cutting instructions).  What a great way to use of some stash!  She's got a great blog - lots of recipes and projects and ideas.  Go check her out!

Design Wall Monday - 09/19/11

The only thing I have left on my Design Wall (Table) is this little coin purse I made this weekend.  I had a quilt block there but it looks like I didn't get a picture of it.  I saw this on Pinterest and just had to try it out.  Here's the link to the tutorial.  I was just testing out the pattern and decided not to take the time piece mine, but I really like to look of the pieced front.  I think it turned out great, but the snaps I bought are really tight  It takes a lot of effort to unsnap them once they are snapped.  If I actually used it as a coin purse, I think the coins would go flying.  I don't have a lot of experience with snaps, so I didn't know which ones to get.  Perhaps a different style of snap would be a better option for this.  It can be used for anything - the tutorial shows it being used as a mini sewing kit.  Very fun!

Check out Judy L's blog to see what is on everyone else's Design Wall.

Stash Busting 2011 - Week 38

I've been so good lately.  I've hardly bought anything at all this year, and nothing in the past few months.  But then I went into Joann's to pick up something non-fabric related - and it was all over.  I had a 20% off coupon in hand - and it was for the entire purchase including sale items.  So first thing when I walked in, there was some Halloween fabrics, and they already on sale.  With the double savings I couldn't pass it up.  I got a yard of a really cute print that had replicas of vintage Halloween postcards.  Then I grabbed a half yard of the orange and black stripe.  No telling when that would come in handy!  I don't really have any Halloween prints in my stash, so you know, I had to remedy that.  Then after doing the rest of my shopping, I just had to get a yard of a print that I look at every time I go in the store.  It is a really nice wispy floral that just speaks to me for some reason.  I figured if I didn't get it now, it would be gone next time.  So there's my big splurge.  :(

I didn't do much sewing.  I started on a little coin purse that I'll show tomorrow.  I also made a block for my class tomorrow.  I can count those two things out at 1/4 yard total.

Fabric in this week:  2.50 yards
Fabric out this week:  .25 yards

Fabric in this year:  38.75 yards
Fabric out this year:  8.00 yards

Go to Judy L's blog to see how other people are doing!

Design Wall Monday - 09/12/11

I've been battling a bad head cold for a few days and I think I'm finally winning.  Unfortunately that means I lost most of my weekend.  I have the preview night for my quilting class tonight and I had to get the last of my projects and supply lists ready.  Above is the Disappearing Four Patch project that I sewed together on Saturday, but was unable to get the borders on yet. It came out a lot smaller than I had anticipated.  30 seemed like a lot of blocks, but they only finish at 8" square, so it's fairly small - I'd say smaller than a twin.  I can either put a few borders on it or make more blocks.  I haven't decided yet.  Maybe a pieced border would look good.  We'll see.  It's a work in progress!  I do love the look of this pattern.  If I make it again, I'll probably start with 6" squares instead of 5" squares and maybe make it less scrappy.  That way I can still make the same number of blocks, but it will come out bigger.

Check out Judy L's blog to see what is on other people's design walls!

Lunch Fun

Lance and I both happened to have the day off today, and we heard that there was going to be a food truck event in the parking lot of the Hiller Aviation Museum right here in nearby San Carlos.  Actually, they will be out there every Wednesday through October 26th.  We watched the Food Network show The Great Food Truck Race last year (Season 2 is currently running), and Nom Nom Truck was one of the finalists.  We heard they were going to be there, so we decided to head over.   

They served amazing looking Banh Mi on the show and I couldn't wait to try it.  And I was definitely glad I did!  The grilled pork was to die for!  It started at 11 am and we got there shortly thereafter, but the lines were starting already.  There were several trucks there, but Nom Nom was definitely the attraction.  The line got very long, but we got there before the worst of it.

We also got a Panini from Speedy Panini, which was also great.

And Lance got a fish taco from Streetz Eatz which he said was also good.  All in all, a fun little lunch excursion on a lazy day off!

Design Wall Monday - 09/05/11

I've been working on a Disappearing Four Patch quilt in an effort to use up some of the charm packs that I had in my stash.  These ones are more scrappy than the ones that I usually see.  I wasn't sure of the dimensions to use and I think if I made it again, I'd make the middle strips a little narrower.  Or else I would just start with bigger squares in the four patch.  Above I have nine blocks laid out, but the finished project will have 30 (five blocks across and six blocks down).  The blocks are all made.   I had set them aside because I couldn't decide how I wanted to set them, and was considering sashing with the same width as the strips in the blocks.  Today I twisted and turned them different ways and took pictures of each and when I viewed them it was clear to me that this was the best layout.  It also happened to be my first plan for the layout.  I ended up wasting a bunch of time not knowing how to proceed, and I should have just gone with my first plan.  Oh well.  I got my runner finished in the meantime.  And it will take less time to sew them together without sashing!

Check out Judy L's blog to see what is on everyone else's design walls!

Stash Busting 2011 - Week 36

I finally got my fall table runner finished.  Well, the top is finished.  I have some other things to work on before I can layer it up and quilt it.  But at least now I can count the yardage out of my stash.  This one was very scrappy and it was difficult to calculate, but I think conservatively I can call this two yards used.  It might be a bit more, but I can't tell at this point.

I am proud to say that I haven't bought any new fabric in quite a long time, so Zero yards added!!

I have another project that is moving right along.  The 30 blocks are already made - I just need to decide how I want to put them together.  This will be on my design wall post tomorrow.

Fabric in this week: 0.00 yards
Fabric out this week: 2.00 yards

Fabric in this year: 36.25 yards
Fabric out this year: 7.75 yards