Saturday, May 29, 2010

Things I Can't Make with a GO!

In an effort to be grateful for the things I have I decided to post things I can  make without a GO! Not that I wouldn't be grateful if one dropped from the sky and landed in my sewing room, but I need to remember the blessings I do have and  the creativity that comes from not using a GO!

My life is not the cookie cutter life, nor do I really want my quilts to be cookie cutter quilts, yet for some reason I have been hoping for exactly that a cookie cutter for my quilts.

So here are my unique things that nobody else in the world has, because there is not a die for them and they are my design.

First theses are some silly squares I made with my boys a few years ago.  They are their hands.  Nobody else has a copy of my boys hands, I don't think they make a die for that.   All hands are special and unique.  Little hands that play with toys, make messes on my clean walls and give love pats or high fives.  All mine.



These are some bird houses I made for a round robin, again, nope no die for my houses.  Each is unique and drawn by me and cut with scissors.  I know, very archaic, I think it does work.  Each one is one of a kind.  Not something everybody else is posting with different colors.


These are my Southern Bells.  It was a fat quarter challenge that I went overboard with.  I had so much fun designing and making my own Southern Bells after looking at other ones online.  I couldn't find ones I liked.  So I just made my own.


Then you have my Dear Jane.  Yes everybody is making it, but I don't think there will ever be dies for it!  It is just not a quilt you can make with a GO!  Here are my first 5 squares.


So while I am thrilled for my friends who have won a GO! and I would love to win one, I think my scissors, rotary blade and some pencil and freezer paper can turn out some things you just can't capture with a cookie cutter.  I am grateful for the ability to to cut outside the lines and find my own way of expressing things with fabric that reflect me!

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Go! Giveaway on Facebook

Accuquilt is trying to get 7,500 people to like them on Facebook and Splitting stitches is offering a chance to win a tumbler block kit.

So if you haven't already hop over to facebook and friend Accuquilt and post about it and let  Splitting Stitches know.  Tell her I sent you too!  Thanks.

I HAVE A NOTION ACCUQUILT GO GIVEAWAY ENTRY

IHAN GO! Fabric Cutter Giveaway  My entry!



Yep, count me in the number  of quilters that do crazy things for 10 entries for an Accuquilt Go!

I thought of showing my sewing room but not enough entries for me I NEED TO WIN!  So to maximize my entries, creating blocks it was. Besides who really needs to see another messy sewing/family room/library/leather workshop that has 3 energetic boys tearing it apart daily.  Really it is just a mess.  Especially with my youngest finding all the shiny objects to dump, or put in my machine. 

I choose to make the two blocks for 10 entries.  The one is simple I used the 1 1/2 inch strip and made a rail block.  A smaller rail than I normally would but with the GO! Fabric cutter it would be really easy to cut and finish this quilt!


The other is a hope at more entries.  I used the 6 1/2 inch squares for my background.  Then I used 2 inch squares for corners.  For the "I" & "H" &  "N" I used 1 1/2 inch strips.  For the beautiful A I tried to replicate the A from the BABY die.  Needless to say I really need the  GO so my A can look better.  So if you haven't all ready checked out IHAN website for all your quilting needs.  But please don't enter to win the Accuquilt Go Giveaway, it is MINE!


And to demonstrate why I need  GO! Fabric Cutter,  I was cutting pieces for my star quilt and wouldn't you know it I can't even cut right!  I  I was really pleased when I got done, I cut everything to 2.5 with no problem.   Should have paid attention, it was supposed to be 2.25! Guess who had to trim all the blocks and strips down to 2.25?  See my lovely scraps I made for no reason other than I can't tell the difference between 2.25 & 2.5!

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Yes I really have been sewing

I did two rows for my round robin exchange and you can see the posts here.

Then I made myself and apron for National Apron day.  I lost the pattern pieces to my Emmaline pattern so I winged it with just the instruction sheet.  I love it.   Now to make some more.

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Then I started Dave's laptop sleeve with my left over black and white.  No pictures till it is done.

Then I worked on my buck a block for this year.  I now have Jan-Apr done and Just need to assemble May's block.


I found myself at the quilt store with my boys today.  Wearing my apron so I could get my free surprise, which turned out to be a quilt magazine!  I am so excited, I don't know which design I want to play with first, I love them all, both the old versions and the new versions.

While at the quilt store I got scraps with lots of help from all three boys!  They picked up pieces I wouldn't have but look at the results.



All my boys love the car track and tote to take to when they have to be quiet at the doctors, dentist or at church.

I also stopped at the library today and since they were tearing up the carpet in the kids room I got browse the adult section, while carrying my 21 month old in my beco front pack.  He was not happy but I found the quilting section and checked out some books for me!

Then I found myself at walmart with a cute pattern of a shirt i have been wanting to make so I got the pattern and the fabric and sewed it up right quick.  I of course didn't really follow the directions but did my own thing and french seamed the seams.  I love it and have been enjoying wearing it.  Then I got a comment from somebody from Austria who had also made it!  Sewing really makes the world much smaller. Check out her blog.  She does block party friday with me and I need to get back to sewing my friday blocks.

As if all that wasn't enough sewing, I got some fabric and made a slip similar to vintage hems for a brown dress that is a tad to short.  I love it and saved a bunch, I only spent $8.20. 



Somewhere between my shirt and my slip I managed to make an apron for my mom for her birthday.  Kicking myself I didn't take pictures yet.
 

Oh and the most exciting news is my niece is getting married and I offered to sew her gown!  I love sewing dresses and haven't gotten to sew a wedding gown since mine.  And wedding gowns are so special you only get one in a lifetime (well hopefully only one!)