Purple

Contrary to what you're seeing in recent posts, I'm not really a purple person. I don't hate it, but it is down the list from yellow, red, and green as my favourite colour.

But I have purple fabric and I'm gonna use it!

Project #2 for the Stitched in Color curves class was a baby bib that I whipped up tonight. You know, after my marking was done.

 

I need a snap or some velcro for the closure. I might just put a button on it because it's not likely to be used by an infant anyway...there are none in my house or in my near future (right, OnlyChild?).

I used to make these types of bibs for the OnlyChild. I'd use up old pieces of denim and appliqué pictures on the front - hearts, apples, etc. I always used a button for the closure and she never once tried to pull it off and eat it. But maybe back in the '90s, parents were more negligent in general. Ha.

The next Curves Class project is a clamshell pillow. I thought about starting it tonight - maybe I still will. But it will also be nice to have something to look forward to for the weekend. That is, if I don't have yet more marking in my mailbox at school tomorrow...

Curves Class

I asked the OnlyChild to sign me up for Stitched in Color's Curves Class for my Christmas present. Registration didn't open until January 1 so the OnlyChild got me a different (and very lovely) gift. Since I still wanted to take the class, I decided to sign myself up for it!

Today we got the instructions for our first project - a cute little scallop bunting.

I planned to make mine in red and hang it in my sewing room. I thought it would look nice against the pale yellow walls. But...in order to make my bunting in red, I needed red bias tape, which would necessitate a trip to the fabric store. Normally this wouldn't be a problem, but I got about 2 hours sleep last night and wasn't up for a trek to the mall.

I had purple bias tape though.

 

Cute, cute, cute. This was an easy project...baby steps. I'm not a novice at sewing curves - I've made plenty of garments - but I enjoyed the simplicity of this pattern. I can't wait to get to some of the more advanced techniques and projects!

On Saturday, I finished up that stack of Dresden Plates and made all 12 of my circles. I used the Fons and Porter interfacing method, as suggested in the comments on my last post, and it worked like a charm. The template recommended in the original pattern is the Bigger Perfect Circle template that you can gather the fabric around and iron for a nice crisp edge. I didn't have that. But then, I didn't have the teflon sheet recommended for the interfacing method either. I used a piece of aluminum foil to put under my circles when I ironed them. They peeled right off. Ha! I am the queen of improvisation (mainly because I'm too cheap/lazy to buy all the little gadgets).

 

Next step in the Dresden process: sew them down to the white squares (which need to be cut).

I'm still hoping to finish the Christmas Strings quilt before the end of the month. The top is done, I have batting, so I just need the backing fabric. It should be an easy finish...

Working on the WIPs

Sew, sew, sew...Christmas Strings quilt top finished.

Uh oh - no backing fabric.

An Instagram friend is sending me some. Wait for backing fabric.

Sew, sew, sew...Sock Monkeys Postage Stamp blocks put together.

Uh oh - not enough border fabric.

Order border fabric from Fat Quarter Shop (along with some special backing fabric wink wink). Wait for border fabric.

Sew, sew, sew...Twelve Dresden Plates completed.

Uh oh - I don't have the fancy circle template to do the centres.

Tell me, have you made a Dresden Plate quilt? How important is the circle template? I know there are other ways of making the centres, such as the freezer paper template, but do these other methods make accurate, smooth circles?

Until I figure this out, I'm stuck.

I might have to start something new...and that's against the rules!

2013: Year of the Finished Project

Oooh, look at me...posting again and it's only been two days.

Today is a lazy, lazy day.  I don't even feel like sewing (Gasp! I know!). I guess Monday is looming over my head like a big, dark, ugly cloud. Tomorrow is back-to-work day. Ugh.

Oh well.

Yesterday, I put together the blocks for my Sock Monkey Postage Stamp quilt.

 

Slightly fuzzy picture - sorry about that (no, it's not your eyesight). I took this pic when I was laying out the blocks, but they're all sewn together now. I plan to put a border around it and I have some appliqué I'd like to add also. It should be cute when it's done, although I have no idea for whom or what purpose I'm making this. I just had a couple of jelly rolls hanging around.

In the spirit of getting these WIPs out of the way, I've joined Lynne's Year of the Finished Project challenge. This is a good one because we can make up our own rules. Here are mine:

• I will finish at least one WIP per month
• WIPs can be of any variety - quilting, sewing, cross stitch, knitting - and any size
• I can start one new project per month, provided the previous month's WIP has been completed
• Class assignments for the Curves Class I enrolled in do not count as new projects

First up on my list are the Christmas Strings quilt or the above Sock Monkey Postage Stamp quilt. I'll let you know how it goes. (Actually I'll throw a ticker tape parade if I finish one of them by the end of the month.)

New Year Check In

Happy New Year!

I was so ready for 2013 to arrive. How about you? It's always exciting to have a new beginning and look forward to and good things on the horizon. 2012 was hard, in some ways, so I'm glad to move on.

Today is my last day of "teacher vacation" and it might be my last teacher vacation day ever. I've quit my job.

Well, not really. That sounds a bit dramatic. I've taken a leave of absence for 1 year and accepted a job with the Department of Education beginning February 1. I need a change and, as I mentioned in earlier posts, there were some disturbing trends happening at my school and some bad decisions being made. I'm not sure if I'll go back after the year, but I'm glad I have the choice.

So, no more summers off, no more Christmas vacation, no more Spring Break (except that I'm still taking my students on our battlefield tour to England, Belgium and France this spring). But...also no more marking all weekend and evening. It's going to be an adjustment...

I have to say I've enjoyed this vacation time. I worked on a few projects, did some reading, relaxed a bit. You can see in the photos the Christmas String quilt I started a while back. The top is now done. And I've been working on another Postage Stamp quilt using sock monkey fabric. I have further plans for this one and can't wait to show you!

I've been trying to resist the temptation of joining the impromptu Scrappy Tripalong that cropped up on Twitter. It looks like fun, but I still need to finish my yellow and grey Dresden Plates, put together my red and grey Bowtie quilt, and make pillows to go with Swoon. Plus, there are a couple of other projects I haven't yet started, but for which I have already bought fabric.

I had a to-do list that didn't get done - and that's okay. All those household projects (cleaning out closets, painting the bedroom) can wait. I did get my marking done (almost) and I'll be ready for work on Monday (maybe), but I'm looking forward to the end of the month and kind of excited (and a little nervous) about the new job.

And New Year's Resolutions? Well, you know, the same old plans: lose weight, be more positive, read more books.

How's your New Year shaping up?

Christmas sewing

I guess nothing gets you in the mood for Christmas quite like sewing a few gifts. I've been spending a little time in the sewing room lately, making small things.

First of all, here are the Christmas aprons I sewed. I made two each of the green/white and red/yellow aprons and one of the black/red apron. They are gifts for four girls and one boy. A quick and fun project to make!

 

And, again on the small side, I've made two coffee cozies (they will be accompanied by Tim Horton's or Starbucks cards as gifts for colleagues), a gift bag, and two sets of Christmas pillowcases.

 

Nothing big, nothing exciting...but at least something Christmassy is happening around here.

Trying to get in the Christmas spirit

Oh, Christmas Spirit, where art thou?

We've had snow since October. Decorations have been up in stores for over a month. Christmas music plays on the radio.

I'm just not feeling it yet.

Too busy, I suppose. Too focused on other concerns. I told Mr. P not to buy me any presents this year. I don't need anything and I don't want him spending money needlessly. I'd rather go on a trip than have "stuff". We agreed not to go overboard with each other or the OnlyChild, but I think he ignored me. And the OnlyChild - well, she has a list as long as my arm. And on that list, among the requests for purses and face cream and clothes, is a trip too. I told her she can't have all that junk AND a trip. Sigh.

Anyway, I'm trying to find the Christmas Spirit.

I've made a couple of presents:

 

Aprons for my friend Kim's little girls.

Here's the reverse of them:

 

I have enough fabric to make one more of each and a friend at work wants me to make them for her girls. She says she'll pay me, but I have no idea how much to ask. I mean, my time alone would make them unaffordable. I think I'll just make them and give them to her rather than ask too much (or too little).

I've made a couple of other things too, but I can't really show them on here. You never know who's watching haha.

If you have any extra Christmas Spirit (or jolliness in general), send it my way please. I really want to get into this season!