WIPocalypse Update #1…

I joined up with a lot of lovely ladies for this SAL. I don’t know if my definition of it is exactly the same as theirs, but that’s okay. I have decided that if I stitch it (cross stitch, embroider, bead, machine sew) that it applies as long as I am getting through my works in progress. Sounds reasonable…right?

Here goes…

First up is something actually done!!! I made a quilt top about 3 or 4 years ago and hung it over the window of my living room. Well, there it stayed. So… since I have officially turned my living room into my sewing room, I needed curtains for my french doors so that my lights wouldn’t bother my husband while he was watching TV in the family room. I cut the quilt top in half, backed it with pieced material left over from when I made the top (plus a little extra material as there wasn’t quite enough of the leftovers), added some fringe to the bottom and voila! New curtains!

Now to the more “traditionally understood” meaning of this SAL . I have this lovely etui pattern by Twisted Oaks Designs that I purchased a couple of years ago:

I started it last year, just after becoming very ill.  BIG mistake…I messed it all up! Used the right colors…in the WRONG places!!!  Never start a project while you are sick!  What you see here represents my frogging of stitches and reworking them the proper way:

I will be listing in my sidebar the items I hope to finish this year by participating in this SAL. My daughter says I won’t finish them, but at least I’ll be trying…that is until I find something new I just HAVE to make!!!

Mystery Quilt Progress and a Tag

I have been wanting to get started on Helen's Mystery Quilt ever since the first installment was posted Sunday night (Monday in Aussie land!) I had set a restriction on myself, however, of cleaning up my sewing area. Well, I can never do anything easy. I won't bore you with ALL the details, but suffice it to say I filled a couple of trash bags! One thing I haven't liked is that I just didn't have enough room to work. Soooo, I took the fold up table we weren't using, slapped it on top of my much too small sewing table and voila! I have a sewing corner! It's not perfect. The table wobbles a little when I sew too fast (note to self: slow down!). Other than that I am pretty happy with it.

Here is my progress on the Mystery Quilt:

It went together very easily. I just had a little confusion in her instructions where she will say something like 10 x 6 7/8' squares. What she means is (10) 6 7/8' squares not a square (rectangle) that is 10' x 6 7/8'. Other than that the instructions were very clear.

I was tagged by Patty over at Pip Stitch to post the 4th photo in the 4th folder on my computer. So, shhh...don't tell my boys (Baby Girl wouldn't mind) but here is a picture of my younger three hamming it up on Halloween.

I am looking foward to starting on another one of the many BOM's I want to do. What are you working on?

15...My Sewing Tutorial Roundup

Days to go...

Here are a bunch of the tutorials I have saved in my favorites. I really want to make these up! I have so many WIP's though, that if I don't start finishing some of those first, there won't be any more room in my house (read: places to stack each of my different projects that I am working on!). If I make one more pile, Spartan will leave me...of course that would allow for more places to put more works in progress...

Just click on the pictures to go to the site where the tutorial is posted!


Fabric basket



Covered measuring tape



Hair clips (these will be in Baby Girls stocking this year!)




Cutest little monkey

CD coasters (My parents will be getting a set of these!)

Travel Doll House (Baby Girl...need I say more?)

Sparkle mittens (next year...)

Checkbook cover

Ode to Binding

Oh dearest binding...

You who hold everything together...

You who finishes...

You who completes our projects.

Why is it I hate you so?

Could it be how you ALWAYS jump out of the way when I am going around a curve?

Could it be how you NEVER line up properly at a corner?

Could it be how you INSIST on sliding on the bottom so that my seam runs off?

Could it be how you DEMAND that I use my seam ripper on you?

I could decide never to see you again.

I could decide to leave my projects unfinished.

I could decide to give up sewing so I could avoid you altogether.

Istead, I'll just get out my needle and thread and hand stitch you into submission!

For, after all, many of the best relationships are based on the whole love/hate thing!

Back to work...

Busy, Busy, Busy!

I can't believe that the week is gone by already! It has just flown by! On Wednesday, I took a braided quilt as you go table runner class with my Mom. It was really fun! I am still in the process of hand stitching the binding down, but as soon as it is done, I will post a picture.

I did manage to complete a couple things for my stitchers angel. I am going to post pictures, because as many other's have said, with 250 people participating, the chances of my angel finding out who I am are slim to none!

Here is the armchair caddy, one of the free projects that has been posted over at Hugs from Helen. I really love the way it turned out. The embroidery took me the longest. Great project! The other is a pincushion that I made out of coordinating fabrics.

I used a button from my Grandma's button jar for the pincushion. Here are a few closeups.

Now I have to decide what I want to make next to include in my package! This is fun!

A Pixie and a Tote

Okay, so I admit that I am an absolute terrible blogger. I know this. I don't know if anyone else knows this... I don't even know if anyone comes to see my "stuff." I had a blog on another site (http://360.yahoo.com/loralynnann). I'm going to try here now.

Here is a pixie I just completed:

She is a creation available from here: http://www.peggytoes.etsy.com/

I also made (today) a teaher gift for my Daughters 1st grade teacher. It took about an hour to make (with a little help/interference from Daughter). I think it turned out cute!