::Fabric Shopping::

I went fabric shopping with my ONE and ONLY local quilting friend, Maura!  It's my favorite thing to do, EVA!  We were literally giddy with excitement on the one hour drive there.  And giddy with sewing and quilt talk too.  The store is enormous and we spent 2 hours roaming the isles and filing our carts.  Fabulous.  Heaven, I tell ya!

full cart

As soon as we pull into the parking lot, my mind starts racing with ideas and in my head I'm thinking, "omgomgomgomgomgomgomg."  When we get inside, I usually elbow Maura out of the way, grab a cart and start yanking bolts of fabric off the shelves.

tone on tone chevron from Riley Blake

My heart literally races and I zip around aisles trying to catch my breath.  The announcer from Supermarket Sweep is in my head urging me on.






I lose sight of Maura for a long while as we are both off in our own worlds.  Tackling the store in our unique ways.  I start right inside the front door on the left with the precuts and zig zag the entire left side of the store.  Then I head to the sale section in the back on the right hand side of the store and work my way back to the front.  Maura starts in the sale section and is usually waiting for me by the registers.

Noteworthy by Sweetheart

Sometimes we pass each other and peek to see what the other has gathered.  Some oohing and aaahhhing occurs and 'oh, where'd you find that?'

Lucky Penny by Allison Glass

She's much more thoughtfull and deliberate and sticks with her list of what she needs for a particular project.  Sometimes she'll show me a fabric she loves ( like the ninjas) and then SHE PUTS IT BACK ON THE SHELF!!

How does she have such control??  Ack! If I love it, I have to have it.  Even if it just sits on my shelf.  (I am still thinking about those cute ninjas and wishing I'd bought them.)

Ahoy Matey by Michael Miller

After two hours of adrenaline pumping, we sit in her car eating lunch and thanking the Quilting Gods that not one school nurse called us to come pick up a sick child.

Don't Be Crabby by Laurie Wisborn

miscellaneous stash builders

stash builders

more stash

On the long ride home, we talk all about the projects we want to work on and how we wish we had more time to sew.

novelty prints that I couldn't live without

florals

And when she drops me off at home, it's all I can do to drag myself up the front steps with my bag of goodies.  I'm exhausted, but the second half of my day is about to start as the kids are getting off the bus.

my loot

And then we text one more time.

Thanks, Maura!

 

::American Girl Doll Headband::

Ruthie shouldn't be the only girl with a headband!  Kit wanted one too and one that matched her dress.

Follow Flannery's original tutorial without the step of making a fabric tube.  I used a small Goody hair band and 11 1/2" of decorative elastic lace .

The rubberband fits snuggly under the hair.

Kit is so happy to get her hair out of her face!

::The Three of Us::

I was cleaning out some cabinets as I often never do and I came across a picture from Molly's wedding in 2008.  I probably have a digital copy of this somewhere but let's make do with a picture of the picture, shall we?  It's a lot easier that way and I have a ton more housework  sewing  Real Housewives tv watching to do.

So anyhoo, Molly was totes looking gorge in this picture, Flannery was laughing and smiling and apparently I was singing along with the band.  I look like I'm literally looking AT THE BAND and singing with them like I know them.  I mean, look at my eye contact for cryin' out loud.  (In my next life, I'm coming back as Stevie Nicks with billowy clothes, a tambourine, ribbons on my microphone and singing "Whenever I Call You 'Friend' with Kenny Loggins.  But that's a whole 'nother post)

This is such a telling picture... because Molly ALWAYS looks gorgeous (so say me and Flann),  Flannery is ALWAYS laughing and smiling because she's got the best sense of humor, and me? well, I'm usually doing something ridiculous and goofy.

Here's more proof if you don't believe me:

In this pic, Molly is IN LABOR and on her way to the hospital.  How cute is she?  Who looks this cute while IN LABOR?  Did I mention she was IN LABOR!?  And just stopped to talk to a little pup from next door.




Molly, looking pretty as ever, with her little nugget, Eamonn.




And here again on her wedding day.  Beautiful.  She had hot pink wedding shoes and a birdcage veil.  Just stunning.




Here's Flannery with her sweet, Ginger.  Always, always, always with a smile.

Flannery smiling at the pool.

Classic Flannery.  Laughing.  Telling a funny story and when she's really, really laughing, she always points her hand out like that during the punch line.




And last but not least, much to my embarrassment, the proof that I end up doing something ridiculous when near a camera.

Like the time I met Ann Curry on national television.

Like the time I was singing along with/stealing a tie from/flirting with the lead singer of another wedding band.  

(And no, my hubs is not worried that I'm going to run off with any lead singer.  In fact, he thinks it's quite hysterical and he TOOK this picture because he wanted to preserve my ridiculousness for all eternity.)

Or just like when I'm at home.

Hmmm, wonder what kind of pictures we'll take next week when we're all together?!

::Block 1::

Behold my pride and joy.  I'm smiling today.  Block 1 for Amy's Virtual Quilting Bee is done!  I was able to piece it without too many mistakes and am a little amazed that I was so accurate with all those points.

Choosing fabrics that go well together is hard and takes practice.  It's so much easier to start with a collection from a fabric designer~ and I've done that plenty~ but I wanted to take a risk and pull fabrics on my own.

The seam ripper is also my friend.  I sooo want to just leave a mistake if it's not too bad, but I always feel better when I rip it out and redo it.  I ripped out one of these seems 5 times.  It was worth it.

I'm so pleased with how it turned out.  I love the colors, the variety of scales and the placement of them. In looking at blocks that other quilters made, I was pretty sure I wanted the main square and points to be the focus with the background more muted and the corners to pop a bit.

What do you think?  Do you like?

::Virtual Quilting Bee::

I joined a virtual quilting bee.  My first one evah!  And I picked an awesome one for a newbie like me to do.  I've always wanted to join a 'bee' but was hesitant and unsure but this one is too good to pass up.  I'm totes confident I can do this.  Amy of Diary of a Quilter has started this one and so far it's been awesome.  I haven't even made anything yet, but that's beside the point.  Ha.

I trust Amy to guide me through the process~ her blog is the best around, plus I met her at Sewing Summit '12 last fall and she's sweet as pie.  I like to think I can call her a bloggy *friend* but not sure she even remembers me.  I'll have to ask her in September during SS '13.  'Cause I will be stalking her, for sure.

me with my friend Amy!

Want to know all about the Amy's Virtual Quilting Bee?  Go here to get the deets.

Want to get the information about Block 1?  Go here.

Want to get the actual tutorial for Block 1?  Go here.

Want to see blocks that the VQB members have made?  Go here.  I love seeing all the blocks that people have started.

I'm at step one, picking out fabric and here's what I've pulled.  Gray, lime green, yellow, turquoise/teal blue, orangey red and some pink.  What do you think?  I seriously need opinions, people.  No seriously.  Please jump in with your two cents.  

Wish me luck.  I'm off to make Block 1!