Bits of Time

I had a delightful 'visiting time' this weekend. On Saturday my daughter and the grandbabies came out to spend some time. As well as my oldest boy (mom's laundry room got a work out). And Sunday my youngest son stopped in to spend some time - my fridge got cleaned out (by his eating). So I had to spend bits of time for sewing. AND a visit from one of my followers - hi Denise - who spent some time in our shop.

The finished flimsy for Marcia's Scrap Challenge. I know she is offer ing a free quilting with her challenge winner, but I think I will use this as one of my projects for the FMQ Challenge and do this up myself.

Some minutes here and there and these little houses got built. I see in reading some blogs (and being personally e-mailed) that people are having trouble with this pattern. Tiny sometimes doesn't suit people - but the pdf offered is not true to size. It is a smidge too small and the seam allowances are only an 1/8". You can try to re-size, I just leave over-lap of fabric and trim to the needed size and they are coming out fine. Also, I hear a problem with getting them 'flat' - a damp pressing cloth and hot iron will smoosh those babies down!

A little time stolen to do up this cross stitch ornie. These are only 3.5" squares, so the stitch space is small making those work up fast. Soon I will have enough to do a bunch up into the final ornament with stuffing, backing, and hanger. I prefer to use my time to assembly line that task.

I love my early mornings - time for that first cup of coffee and the sun rising to the new day. It gets the juices going to spend some real quality time on a project. So I used it to assemble all those blocks into the flimsy for the Scrap Along Challenge. I'm thinking at least two borders for this, and then it's ready for quilting. **Linking up with Judy's Monday 'Wall'.

And these two made me change my time use plans. Moe camped out on one mini quilt and Bella is on the other - that's when I stitched the ornament. Then some paperwork and then to bed myself.

The 12 Days of Christmas Sampler done in the Blueberry Crumb Cake left over charms. I only 'out-of-order' assembled and a muslin skinny border, but I have time to change my mind because.......

I love the sashed look done with the bright sampler. How different the look between the two!

TRAVELING STASH

Box #1 - is moving on to Karen's Sewing Room

Box #2 - Ali should announce this week for comments. She also is hosting the Tangerine Tango Challenge (button on side bar)

Box #3 - Miki has comments open to end of the 10th - so hurry and pop over for a chance. She also has a cool blog!

I have to remember to make some time to post some of my Water Dragon New Year luck with you all - a lot of winnings and surprises already for 2012. And my 200th post is coming up soon - so you all know that means a give away is in the making.

CLOSING THOUGHT

I get a lot of comments about how do I manage to get so much done. I usually only have my furry friends to interfer with my time. BUT, time is a choice - use bits of time to acheive those big goals.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Building More Blocks

My grandsons love playing blocks as much as I do. I get to build, they get to play. Well, I guess I get to play too!

I've added more to my 'building blocks' for Marcia's scrap challange. You have until Jan. 17th to get your project finished to enter for a free quilting. It can even be a pot holder, mug rug, table runner - largest is baby quilt. And since it's scrap play, you could even enter it into the Scrap Along.

A couple more little house blocks. Done with whimsy - fish and cats. When I finish a project, I am putting my scraps into a baggy and that's my play material for these. I like to chain piece these, so I work 2 blocks every other day to equal the 'block a day'. These will be linked up with Marcia's Minutes for Me fun.

I know - it is a strip not a block, but this is for the Color Pallette Challenge (and a circle challenge). This is being used in building some new blocks. Also, using a new technique learned (from my MOM) and I have been documenting so I can share with you all.

The 12 Days of Christmas sampler blocks are all done. I think I will sew these together with 2 skinny borders as a finish. I think everyone has enjoyed these little treasures - a quick bit of play with a charming finish.

See - told ya, did a second one up of this cute little pattern. These I think are left over charms from Hoopla. This one I think I will sash with white to break up all that bright. And then a scrappy binding with the rest of those charms to use them up. Linking up with Sarah's Whoop Whoop.

Progress on the Scrap Along quilt. I have all the blocks pieced and now need floor space to start laying them out so the top (flimsy) can be done. This is a perfect SQUARED UP project - just one 4.5" block with two 2.5" blocks - easy peasy and soooooo quick. And after my practic FMQ leaves are a little better - I will use that on quilting this one up.

Remember I set a goal to get one ornament a week done. Love these Santas. I think I need to add some 'Ho Ho Ho's' around them.

So a lot of the challenges and block/quilt alongs I am doing are in great building progress - some of them doing double duty - love when you can 'kill two birds with one stone' - so to speak. And I am enjoying my NEWFO for the year already.

CLOSING THOUGHT

'Ideas are the building blocks of ideas'
- Jason Zebehaty -

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Sew Scrap Along

You may have noticed a lot of new buttons on my side bar. I may not be doing all those projects, but like to offer them as a 'window' into some fun things going on that may interest you. But this one does peek my interest. I took part in the Sew Scrap Along last year and made many fun projects.

It just happened that I had just pulled this pile of plaids and camping fabrics from a bin - scratching my head what to do with them. AND ta-dah, Nannette is the first guest at Pleasant Home with the perfect project for these fabrics.

So I have all my squares cut and ready for some power sewing tomorrow. Check into Pleasant Home as there will be various guests with some scrap projects and tutorials that just might inspire you to 'Scrap Along'.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Year of the Dragon

Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. In China, it is known as "Spring Festival," , owing to the difference between Western and traditional Chinese methods for computing the seasons. The festival begins on the first day of the first month in the traditional Chinese calendar and ends with Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day. Chinese New Year's Eve, a day where Chinese families gather for their annual reunion dinner, is known as "Eve of the Passing Year."

The Dragon - one of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar, and the only animal that is legendary. The Year of the Dragon is associated with the earthly branch symbol --- Wood - Fire - Earth - Metal - Water . 2012 is the year of the Water Dragon. In Chinese element theory, water produces wood, which signifies growth and is the natural element of the dragon. The dragon governs east/southeast, wealth accumulation & the hours of 7 a.m. - 9 a.m. Associated with thunder, lightning and arousal, the Water Dragon personifies creativity at its best. The energetic high point of the year is the Dragon Moon, which is May 20.

I made fabric fortune cookies for our next quilt guild meeting program. There are several tutorials out there, but this is the one I used and it is so easy. We will be stuffing them with some 'items' for the next challenge. I can't share that, as some guild members read my bog! So, you will have to wait for later in the month.

And I played a little with those tiny houses. Yes, I mixed things up a little but maybe I will leave them. Not everyone's house is the same and I do have some other small house block patterns, so I may play with more than one small house - even thinking of using a NYBeauty block for the center instead of the large house.

These blue beauties came from the 'swap mama' herself. Sue was my partner for December in the 6" Australian Block Swap. I think another year will give me lots of pretty blocks to mix with mine to make for a super special spool quilt.

Like so many of you, my few Christmas decorations have been packed away for another year. A new kitchen tablecloth with snowmen with the January mini on the Ackfeld Wire frame sets off a new look. It's been unseasonably warm and only a dusting of snow so far. BUT, it's the Northeast and you know it is going to come.

The next block in the Blogger's Block of the Month. I am just playing out of my pre-cut scrap barrels with this one. I don't do brights, solids, more modern - but that's where this one is going and I like it. If you look close, you may be able to make out the black fabric is the map of Manhattan - some scraps given to me by one of our students. I think she picked it up when the guild went to the Red/White show in NYC.

A little more progress on the scrap challenge with Marcia - remember, this is about trying a new technique not about finishing or size. A mug rug will do. Although I'm thinking mine will be a crib quilt.

This is the 12 Days of Christmas mini. Using the left over Blueberry Crumb Cake charms and just loving this. These are quick and easy blocks and they work up so fast, they wet my appetite for more sewing. I could kick myself, one of my followers (wave your hand) said she was doing two of these - one for herself and one for a gift - what a wonderful idea. I may just have to make one up in some brights for my daughter.

TRAVELING STASH

Box#1 - Becky is ready to move the stash on - she has just posted (click on her name to take you there) and will hold comments open until Jan. 7th.

Box#2 - Ali will be posting the move next week, so I will remember to update you all

Box#3 - Barbara is announcing winner today - Miki Willa is the new home!

CLOSING THOUGHT

I don't make resolutions, I've done the 'word' thing, and in the 'winter' of my life I don't do lists of changes. In having Irene thru a curve ball into our community, I have learned even more to take each day as it comes, make the best of it, and charish what you have. I will keep my Gr.Gran's 'extend both hands' to those in need as our community continues to try and recover. Hopefully with the year of the Water Dragon - luck, prosperity, creativity, and harmony will flow.

It’s very sad that Dragons are extinct,
Just a Myth or a Fairy-Tale,
Kept alive only with pen and ink.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon