Remember this quilt I was working on at the retreat in November? I finally found it (my sewing room is such a mess!), and got back to work on it. I've got all the vertical sashing done, and just need to add the top and bottom strips. And then, you know, just baste and quilt the darn thing. It's the biggest top I've made so far, and will be 96" x 70" when it's done. Some day...
I swore I wasn't going to start any new projects until I'd finished all my existing WIPs, but Mandy has led me astray! She has hosted a sewing afternoon at her house the last two Fridays, and it's just easier to bring a new project to piece, you know? So, here is last week's project - another vintage linen patchwork quilt! I know, I'm so boring. But this one is different - it's pink! It will be for a friend of mine who is battling breast cancer. I'm actually a little torn about the pink thing - I can't help but wonder if people who are dealing with breast cancer don't get totally sick of pink, pink, pink....
The "solid" squares are actually gingham, from a Pottery Barn sheet. I love those PB gingham sheets! I snap them up whenever I see them. They are so fine, and there's just something about woven gingham (as opposed to the printed stuff) that I absolutely adore!!
Last year, I went check out a Fabric Stash Purge Party in Seattle, to see if it might be something I'd like to participate in the next time it happened....
It sure was fun to look over all the random stuff, and I took home a few treasures! I thought it seemed well organized, and might be a good way for me to de-stash (and then probably turn right around and re-stash!). So, I signed up for the next event, which is the weekend of April 10-11. I think I'll put together some color-coordinated FQ bundles of vintage sheets. I have no idea if they will sell, but it's worth a shot!
If anyone else in the Seattle area wants to participate, give me a holler. There's a tiny referral bonus in it for me (the $10 consigner fee is waived if I get 5 other people to sign up), but mostly it would be fun to meet up there. Also, it would be great to carpool, as the parking was pretty scarce last time...
Just a little public service announcement... Jen over at Rosey Little Things is hosting her second Vintage Sheet Fat Quarter Swap! I missed it the first time around, but I'm definitely going for it this time. Come join us!
I've got some catching up to do! Very late but very sincere thanks to sweet Marguerite of Adventures in Quilting and Sailing, who sent me this lovely little xmas package. It had some chocolate in it too, but between me and the kid, it didn't last long enough to take the picture!! I adore the dutch fabric, and can't wait to make something from it. I'm thinking something for my daughter.... And isn't that heart ornament wonderful?
Thanks again, Marguerite! And I hope you're feeling much better soon (poor girl is recovering from appendicitis surgery - ouch!).
Next up, I wanted to show off all the ornaments I got in the FreshlyBlended annual ornament swap on Swap-bot. I really love them all! It's hard to pick a favorite, but maybe it's the little felted seal at the bottom. And sadly, I think mine were pretty crummy in comparison. Next year I'll do better, I promise!
Just because it's been the holidays doesn't mean I haven't been hitting the thrift stores! Here are some of the pretty linens I've scored over the last few weeks...
Man, I'm really looking forward to garage sale season! If you're looking for a vintage linen fix, I've started several more Swap-bot swaps - one each forJanuary, February and March. For each swap, you'll send (and receive) two packages containing 2 FQs each (for a total of 4 FQs). If you're new to Swap-bot and have any questions, let me know.
I wonder if January 1 is the most popular day for blog posting? It does seem right up there with writing down resolutions in a journal! I wasn't blogging last January, but if I had been, my goals for 2009 would have been:
Make an effort to reconnect with old friends
Teach myself how to quilt by making one Project Linus quilt each month
I did pretty good on the first goal. I took two trips (Nashville, TN and Ames, IA) with my daughter to visit two very dear old friends, and it was so wonderful. I'm hoping to continue with that this year. I'll definitely make the time to visit a couple friends in Texas when I'm back for the family reunion in October, and maybe a trip to visit another friend in Chicago. I'm really appreciating that it's getting easier to travel with my daughter as she gets older. Yay for potty training!
I did AWESOME on the second goal, if I do say so myself! I didn't technically complete it, but I'm still declaring victory in the form of:
Meanwhile, I did some quilting of my own! One doll quilt for my daughter, one quiltie for a swap, a quiltlet for my daughter, 5 thrifted/vintage linen quilts (3 given away!), and two quilt tops.
Add to that - starting a blog, doing some other crafty projects, a couple tutorials, a few fun giveaways, AND making some really awesome bloggy friends!! Whew - I'm glad I took the time to write that all up, because now I feel GREAT about all I accomplished last year. Sweet!!!
Here are my goals for next year:
Continue making Project Linus quilts, and attend as many monthly meetings as possible.
Lose the extra 15 (okay fine, 20!) pounds of "baby" weight I've been lugging around for the last 3 years. I haven't been able to wear my wedding ring since I was 6 months pregnant, and I miss it!!
Lose the frump. Working from home has made me so careless about my appearance. Time to update the wardrobe, get a haircut, get back to wearing a little makeup (at least on the weekends!).
Do better about replying to blog comments. I do appreciate every single one of them, I just generally suck at email!
Happy new year to everyone! Here's to a fabulous 2010!!
