Spring Break

It's March break around here - a whole week of no school. I don't know who is more excited - teachers or kids!

For the last 6 years I have gone away on March break - to the southern US - which I've loved. The trip didn't work out for me this year (too many house repairs on the horizon). And I'm actually glad to be staying around because I have things I want to do around the house (and my bum is happy for not having a 20 hour car ride).

On Sat I tried a new knitting shop and picked up these yummies

this is a much better red than it looks in this picture - it will make red and white mitts for me

this will make these slippers for me

this will make light weight mittens for me

On the sewing front, I've been working on my drapes. I really don't like sewing drapes - they are so cumbersome. I'll do them for myself to save money though. The front and lining are together for each panel and one side has the front and back attached

here is one side; a blurry puddle on the sewing machine table

I also need to clean and tidy my sewing room. Here are my before picts

this one is in progress. I got a bunch of these green boxes from ikea, which fit perfectly lengthwise.

Tomorrow I'm going on a shop hop here, with a male friend who doesn't sew or knit or do anything very creative. And he's not always patient. We'll see how it goes.

Mini Sewing Retreat At My House

On Saturday I hosted a mini sewing retreat at my house for myself and three friends. At first I wasn't sure we'd all fit, but it worked out fine.

We were scheduled to start anytime after 10. By the time we all arrived and quit gossiping catching up, it was nearly noon until we got started. Lunch was roasted red pepper soup - great for a chilly day.

K is working on a pillow case.

L had several projects on the go - she got the most done I think - amazing what happens when there aren't two little ones around.

One of L's many projects

C was tracing and cutting a suit for a body building competition

I made these

the top pair go with the low volume quilt (for a baby girl) and the bottom go with the knitted hat below (for a gender unknown) baby

I finished this quilt last week and gifted it to the parents (I work with both the mom and dad to be) on the weekend. They loved it (and the shoes too)

Here's a few close up shots

the quilting looks best on this, but the colour is awful

my helper

the whole idea

some of the back side

I also finished up this little hat this week - it's going to be gifted to the baby getting the elephant shoes. I work with the soon-to-be-first-time-mommy. She and her husband do not know the gender of the baby.

100% merino

The stripes came in this cute colour package

sunset by the lake

It's been a busy time around here. Spring break starts on Friday - I've got to get those drapes finished!

What I've Been Up To

I've been busy - it feels that way anyway.

I quilted the top I pieced last weekend. For a while it was called "the quilt of obligation" - now I really like it and I enjoyed making it. The baby shower is this weekend and I hope the parents love it.  I'll get some better shots over the weekend - if I lay it out to get good shots now my cat will roll all over it and I just washed it.

I finished these fingerless mittlets over the weekend. They are cashmere and yummy.  They are light pink - I'll get a better shot of those too - they look orange in this picture.

Finally here is my Dear Jane progress for this month.

All in all, I think I'm doing nicely.

I Pieced A Top Today

I'm pretty pleased with myself.  Here's my progress in pictures:

on the design wall this morning

starting to sew horizontal rows together

my cat wanted to sit in the sewing chair - so did I

horizontal rows in pairs

flower detail with bad lighting

fused down then free motion sewed around twice with a swirly centre

all done - my squares all line up - doesn't look like it here though

Design Wall Monday

It's Monday morning and I'm at home with a whole day to myself - we have Family Day here today so I've got the day off work.

Here's what my design wall looks like right now:

It's a low volume quilt with a few purple flowers - it's for a couple I work with who are expecting their first child together in May.

I need another flower or two I think - I've re-arranged them about 5 times and I'm likely not finished.  I have some small ones but took them out for this photo.

My goal is to finish piecing this quilt today - the shower is March 2 and I want it all finished by then.  I'll post my progress at the end of today.

Check out Patchworktimes to see what everyone else is up to.

Wishes

Recently at Chapters I saw a notebook with the phrase "A goal without a plan is just a wish" - or something like that. I'm sure some famous person said it, but I can't remember who.

I'm a great goal setter but not a great planner, so I end up with a lot of wishes.  One of my goals for January was to finish sewing my drapes by the end of January. Well, I started this weekend - better late than never, right?! (I also had to wash the kitchen floor too because I needed the floor space).

So far I have the fabric cut, sewn together into two panels, hemmed on the bottom, and header stiffener/tape (I don't know what it's called) sewn in. I don't sew drapes often - they are heavy and cumbersome - so I just kind of make it up as I go along. Honestly, I was afraid to start this project and that's partially why I procrastinated. At $20 a meter, I could make a costly cutting mistake.

on the kitchen floor, getting ready to cut

my trusty helper

My friend L finally had her baby a few weeks ago. I've been doing some sewing and crocheting for the little darling and now that she's here, and I've given the gifts, I can show pictures.

Size 0-3 months - Mommy picked the fabric

size 3-6 months - Mommy picked this too

size 9-12 months - I picked this one

all wrapped up

the babe in an owl hat I crocheted

I want to open an etsy shop to sell the shoes - that might be my March project - only if I have a plan though.

Design Wall Monday

I don't have much to say today - here's what's on the wall.