Goodbye Taneytown

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind.  We unexpectedly sold our house in 9 days and then settlement got moved up.  So this is the current view of my sewing room - filled with boxes.

I am excited to be starting my first quilt along - Across the Sea.  It is being hosted by Jennifer at Ellison Lane Quilts and Sarah of FairyFace Design.  I did manage to find my stash and choose the below fabrics.  Follow along with our flickr group or join in.

I know, I know

It has been a couple of months since I last posted, they have been an interesting couple of months to say the least. Quilting has helped me get through them. I have a couple projects going; I finally finished my Amy Bulter Birdie Sling, my road trip quilt is ready for quilting and I have started a new wave quilt. I will post pictures soon. To be honest I've had more fun reading other quilter's blogs then writing my own.

The birdie sling - I used home decor weight fabric, when I make it again I don't think I will. Don't get me wrong it turned out nice and is heavy duty, it just is a little bulky. The fabrics look nice together and it will store all my stuff.

My road trip quilt, I love, love. I took the idea from Cluck, Cluck Sew, but then changed it up. I'm just afraid to quilt it. I have never machine quilted before. I taught myself ( made some quilt sandwiches and started playing) and it's fun and I think I can handle the walking foot. Its just that I spent all that time laying out the quilt and sewing it, I would hate to mess it up. I know, I know...I should give myself more credit and it's the little imperfections that make quilts perfect. I'm still nervous.


So, I started another quilt. I'm trying Elizabeth Hartman's (www.ohfransson.com) new wave quilt.
I'm using batiks and I love it so far. It is in my favorite colors - blues & greens. Cutting all the blocks was not fun, I did a couple every evening for a few days. Now I am adding white sashing.
















That is what I have been up to, quilting/sewing wise. It has been too hot to really bake anything, other than maybe some zucchini bread or cake.

This week is also fair week. I helped judge in the clothing department and was sad to see so few entries. I need to convince my mom to help me teach a workshop.
Tonight is the sheep show and tomorrow the pigs. Brooks and I will be there to cheer on Madeline(my oldest niece).

T-Shirt Dress

Before photo - Jilly & Rayni in t-shirts, along with Brook

So last night my youngest niece, Rayni, spent the night with us.  She loves the the Pixar movie "The Incredibles."  My husband happens to be a big Pixar fan and loves "The Incredibles" too.  During past sleep- overs Rayni has enjoyed wearing Brooks' t-shirts from the movie.  Of course they are way too big.

So after some brainstorming and simple sewing, the t-shirts became dresses.  I basically took the dress she had worn that day and traced it onto the t-shirt.  I folded the t-shirt in half and ended up cutting off the sleeves, side seams and length off the bottom.  I then measured around Rayni's arm to make the arm hole.  I used my serger to finish the the hems on the bottom and sleeves, as well as, to sew the side seams.  It took no time at all.

After photo - Rayni loves her new dress!

First Entry

So almost a year ago my husband convinced me to set up a blog.  I made one entry and never looked at it again until a few weeks ago.  I've recently been visiting numerous quilting and cooking blog sites - both are hobbies of mine.  And I thought why not start using my blog to showcase my work and document my experience.  So here is my attempt.

Growing up my brothers and I were always in the kitchen with my mom; canning items from the garden, making bread, cookies, cakes, chicken, spaghetti sauce and  whatever else happened to be on the menu.  I have always loved to cook.  I remember being in the 7th grade and my mom being on a 4-H volunteer trip for nine days;  I cooked dinner every night for my 2 brothers and dad.  As a 4-H member, I entered items in the fair and loved trying new recipes along with the blue ribbon favorites.  I've never stopped cooking and baking.  My favorite items are baked goods; cakes, breads, cookies.  My dream would be to one day open my own coffee & pastry shop - one like that of Meryl Streep's character in the movie "It's Complicated."  For now, my husband and my co-workers get spoiled with the scrumptious goodies.

Besides cooking my other hobby is sewing.  My mother started teaching me to sew when I was 7 years old.  I remember it was on an old Kenmore machine.  Through 4-H I participated in Fashion Revue and entered items at the fair.  As I got more involved and developed my skills, I began sewing with wool and combined my sheep project with sewing; participating in Shepherds Lead and the Maryland Make it With Wool contest.  To me sewing is relaxing.  I love the creative side and knowing that a garment I make is unique, going to fit and be just what I want.  I made my first quilt at a 4-H workshop while in middle school.  It was the Trip Around the World, quilt in a day. My mom still has the quilt and my niece Jillian has claimed it as hers.  Over the years I have made several more.  Now that I am finished with college and graduate school, I have more time and have begun to explore machine quilting and expanding my quilting techniques.

I also enjoying knitting, another talent my mother shared with me.  As a 4-H prize, I received lessons at a local yarn shop.   In  middle & high school I spent many Saturday mornings hanging with my mom and her friends at a knitting circle.  It was another way for me to incorporate my sheep project.  Wool from my sheep would be spun, dyed and then I'd knit it into whatever.

So I'll keep you updated on projects...