steph's stuff

Organizing Fabric

I spent part of the day organizing my fabric and it was just what I needed to end my weekend.

I realized that I have some fabric that I may simply never use because my taste has changed in the past two years and I probably need to sell it. I also realized that I have 3 quilts in progress and about 5 more that I can't wait to start! I had no idea that I enough fabric for the others on my list but I do!

I also picked up a couple new fat quarters in gorgeous yellows and blues at my local quilting store this afternoon. I'm thinking I may make some springtime pillows for our sun porch. I simply can't resist yellow. :)

The February Blues

February just seems to drag on and on, doesn't it? I know I just posted about it earlier this week but the days just seem to be in slow motion this year. March at least brings the promise of melting snow and 40 degrees for this part of the country.

Right now, we are still getting snow almost every single day and the skies are completely gray all the time. But last night, I caught just a few minutes of sun as it was setting. Totally made my day and I had to snap a shot of it coming through the front window with my iPhone!

And here's a layout I made about my plans for next February. ;)

 
Credits can be found in my DesignerDigitals gallery.  

Postage Stamp Quilt

I have two quilts in the works so what's one more, right? I posted 6 weeks ago about joining a Quilt Along for a postage stamp quilt but the fabrics I chose just weren't right for me. So, I put it off until I could make up my mind. I was going to use the Maison de Garance fabrics.

 
But I really wanted to go with something brighter and more modern. Modern quilting is really what I'm drawn to, even though I've been working on more traditional quilts lately.

I had been eyeing the new Kate Spain line for Moda, Central Park, for a few weeks and finally decided to use it for the Postage Stamp Quilt.

 
The fabrics are very modern and very graphic and I love the idea of combining them with a very traditional style of quilt. 

I've gotten some questions lately about how I find the time to quilt and scrapbook. And it's the same answer I've been giving for the past 6 years. You make time for what you love. I love photography, editing photos and quilting so that's what I spend my time on. I only watch three TV shows/week so I tend to scrapbook in the evenings instead of watching TV or even while the TV is on and others are watching it. I scrap on my laptop so it's a no-brainer activity for my evenings on the couch. And, as for quilting, I run into my sewing room maybe once or twice a day for about 30 minutes a time. Once a week, I might spend an hour in there at a time, but that's about it. But it all adds up.

Staying busy

I took this photo yesterday afternoon. It's taken from my backyard looking up the hill towards the front yard. And it is such a depressing image. Not because it's a lot of snow. It's not a lot of snow at all. Just two weeks ago, the snow was up to the middle rail of the fence. But, it's snow. AGAIN. And it doesn't seem to be going away. The sky is the same color as the ground and the air. Gray and blah. It's simply so depressing and cold.

This is the time of year that I neeeeeed to remember to make travel plans for next year. Because this time of year is just blah.

Everything feels cloudy and I struggle to stay sane during this time of the year. My only escape this month has been to keep really, really busy. Yesterday, I started shoveling snow at 8:15, shoveled for an hour, mopped some floors after that, worked on a quilt, and then shoveled some more. I grabbed a quick lunch, took a shower, and then ran three errands. After that, I went to the kids' school to watch a theater performance, took Libby to get her new glasses, cooked dinner, and then I was done. It's the only way that I can stay sane during these gray days - just never stop doing something so that the day passes quickly.

Luckily, yesterday was also a national holiday. An important one to a former parrot head. National Margarita Day! So, after dinner, I met some very good friends for the drink of the day.

Another wonderful way to chase away a gray day, but probably not a coping method that I can indulge in very often.  :)

Blue Belle Quilt

Finally finished my quilt top using the Delilah (periwinkle mostly) fabric from Tanya Whelan.

I love the simplicity of the 9-patch square and now just need to finish the backing and choosing some binding fabric. I think I may go with a bright red. Perhaps one of these from the same Delilah line.

 

A Justin Report

I have to admit that I left the movie with more than a little respect for this 16-year-old Canadian kid. He seems to be headed in the right direction.

And these girls left the movie more than a little in love. :)

Warning: Weekend Ahead

This is about how I feel. So tired that I could fall asleep before my head even hits the floor. Thank goodness the weekend is now here!

The only thing I have on my agenda that is not fun is taking 4 young squealing girls to the Justin Bieber movie. We're going this morning in hopes that the theater won't be very full. Fingers crossed that I'll still have some sanity and hearing left when it's over!

After the movie, it's family time, date night with some good friends, and some quilting. :)

Stolen moments

I've moved my sewing room around a bit and can now leave everything out all the time. And I can't believe the difference it has made. I run into the sewing room once or twice a day and just sew for 20 - 30 minutes and I'm getting so much more done.

I'm waiting for some backing fabric to arrive for the Line Art Quilt and can't do anything on that project until the fabric gets here, so I started another quilt while I'm waiting.

I've had this fabric for months and couldn't come up with a pattern that I liked for it so I made up my own. I cut 12 of the 15 fat quarters into strips first.

Once I had the cutting done, I sewed the strips together, adding in a strip of white in the center of every third group. Then, I cut them apart and the blocks were born.

 

A simple 9-patch with white centers and I'll add white sashing and maybe a blue border once it's done.

 

And now the other tech check

From the phone this time :)

Tech Check

Feel free to ignore this post. Just checking to see if the new Typepad app works with my iPad. :)

Photo from Christmas Eve because it's the most recent one on my iPad.