I conquered!

My anxiety over working with something new, that is!

 

Ran out of spray adhesive 1/4 of the way through. And then ran out of safety pins. No the project isn't huge, I just don't normally use a lot of pins so I don't have many. Ran to a local dollar store to grab some more pins....yeah, shouldn't have done that. They kept bending on me. Oh well. It is done at least. And when I head back to Joann's to get the binding fabric (yup forgot all about it) I will restock my spray adhesive and better safety pins. Sigh

 

No pics yet. Sorry. 

 

 

One of those days

I found this blog today. Honest Mom. There is so much to it. It is amazing. She tells it like it is and seems to have no fear to tell her story. At times, I felt like I was reading about myself. And it is nice, no - more like...comforting, no - hmm, not sure how to describe this feeling, to know that I am not alone. Others go through what I go through. Have the same struggles from time to time.

 

When I had the idea to start this little blog, I struggled with a name. I wanted it to be a quilting and sewing blog and felt the name should fit that. But I wasn't really into the craft yet so I put it out there on my facebook page for ideas. To my surprise, that is how I got the name. An old friend suggested it. I thought...how perfect. Putting the Pieces Together. That was what I would be doing after all...sewing fabric together. But it also left the door open to make it about more. About life, kids, work, love.

 

Isn't that what life is about anyways...putting all the pieces together?

 

Like tonight. I sat on my computer reading blogs, and procrastinated basting my latest project. My anxiety was high. I bought a fabric this morning that I have never worked with. It is a super soft fleece-like fabric. What if I do it wrong and mess up the project? I am sure it will be fine, but it is taking that giant (ok, not so giant, but it sure feels that way to me right now) leap into something new.

 

So here I am, quilting away (except on anxiety filled nights like tonight) and trying to put the pieces of my private life together. I guess I thought that by this point in my life they would be together. Will they ever be together? Are your pieces together? I have shared a small amount about my family here. Only a few pictures of my kids. And yet there is so much more to me. And so many more pieces that I am still trying to figure out. Will I be able to step out of my box and share more, like Honest Mom does or will I stick with my pieces of fabric? Only time will tell. 

 

After feeling pretty defeated, I am obviously back on my computer (I seem to hide in front of it often) and sharing with you a little more about me and my thoughts. Is this even something that you want to read, or should I just stick with my sewing projects?

Yup.

 

And this too...

 

 

I miss it.

 

 

 

 

 

   

Check these out!!

 

The colors are so much prettier in person. Guess that is what I get for taking them at night instead of in the natural light.

 

Can't wait till the washer is done...then the dryer...I want to get to cutting these beauties.

I am linking up with Quilt Story today. And these beautiful fabrics will be my next project for week. I only have a few days to complete it and don't want to give away what it is for (in case the recipient of it is looking) so you will have to check back next week for more pictures. Follow me so you don't forget. :)
(Plus I would love to know that I am reaching more people in the wonderful blog world. Hehe. We all want to feel loved, right?)

Update: 11pm Tuesday night...I cut all the fabric and completed the top of the quilt today!!! I can't believe it. I am absolutely amazed that I did it so fast. I forgot to buy batting so I will be off to the store tomorrow to do just that...and a backing fabric too.



Discovery

I follow a lot of blogs. Love looking at all the amazing projects that people around the world are creating. They inspire me to do more. To try new things. They introduce me to a whole different world. One thing I have had a hard time understanding (keep in mind that I am new to sewing/quilting), is how people have so many projects going at once. Some that sit for months, even years. I have only finished 3 quilts, and only have one in the works. And with the expectation of stopping one quilt to make another for my son's teacher's baby, I have started a project and worked on it till it is complete. I was feeling very guilty about putting aside my son's fabric and making  something else actually.

 

But after several months off from sewing, I started back, making my son's quilt. And I have made a discovery...I understand now why people have more than one project going! As much as I love the fabric my son has chosen, I am getting a little bored with it. Would love to work with something else for a bit of a change of pace.

 

I have so many ideas in my head of things I want to make. So many fabrics I want to buy (wish money grew on trees...don't we all wish that). What do I do first though? And I don't really have a big enough fabric stash to start a new project. Well I do have this lovely bundle of fabric for my oldest's quilt.

 

 

I love the jungle theme. Just hoping by the time I get to it he still likes it too. But I can't really do anything with it yet. You see the pattern he chose is for a baby quilt and I am making him a twin sized one for his bed. So I have some figures that need playing with so I can cut the right sized pieces. Never done that before so it may be a challenge. Any suggestions that may make it easier are more than welcome.

 

Yesterday I came up with a new project, however. A friend just had a baby girl the other day...about 6 weeks early. It is her first child. She is a beautiful little girl and both mom and baby are doing well. She is in the NICU to make sure her lungs develop however. Sooo...I have a few days, maybe, to make a quilt for her. A tall order, I know. But I am up for the challenge. And it means I get to go buy fabric!!!  Mom's favorite colors are pink, orange and green. I have been looking online all morning...found a few I like that should fit the bill.

 

Like Savanna Bop, or Hello Sunshine, or even this one - Enchanted Garden. I would even love to pick some fabrics from Bonnie & Camille's Marmalade . I would love to order something but unfortunately then I would have to wait for it to be shipped. And there is now way I could get it done before she goes home. (Not even sure I will be able to do that buying fabric locally)

 

So this evening I am off to my local fabric store to hopefully find the perfect fabrics to make a beautiful quilt for a precious little girl.

 

Wish me luck!

 

 



FNSI

After cleaning much of the week, and not getting so much done on Friday like I had wanted to, I decided to still uphold my commitment of FNSI. Other wise my Little Man's quilt will never get done, and neither will my oldest son's. I am 2/3 of the way done his blocks. Got started on the final 1/3 on Fri night.

Not the greatest photo, sorry.

 

Boy will I be glad when these are done. I think there will be 72 total once they are. Wish I had a design wall to put them on, maybe someday. But for now the floor will have to do. I am looking forward to laying them all out and trying to make sure now two like fabrics are next to each other. Should be interesting.

 

The difference in each set of blocks are the green rectangles. I used three different fabrics. The first set looks like this and the second set like this. And the final set...

 

 

I know, I didn't put a full one together so this is what you get.

 

I didn't get as much done as I would have liked but at least I went to the basement and sewed.

 

 

 

 

Wow...

...where has time gone?

I really need to get back to blogging. I miss it.

So much has happened in the last 4 plus months...

Haven't touched my sewing machine.  :-(

Haven't scrapbooked. :-(

Ran the Adventure5K and had a blast. What a rush that was. Signed up for another one in June.

Played lots of soccer. Got injured, thanks to a girl who likes to play dirty. My back of all things.

Had to stop running. Hurt the back too much.

Read some good books.

I very much dislike shopping but have learned that I love retail therapy. My newest obsession...shoes, heels to be exact. What am I thinking? I am a jeans and sneakers kind of girl.

Heck, I have even made a few new great friends.

Trying to make some progess on the homefront. Throwing lots of things away, donating as much as possible, and passing on what I know others can use. When we finally buy a house rather than this townhouse, I am not moving all this stuff. I have a lot of things in our storage that are from the past. One thing I have learned from a great friend is that you can't live in the past, what is done - is done, move on and don't look back. You only live once. So this yr, I am throwing the past away, moving on and doing what makes me happy. Decluttering my life. Being happy.

Here is a pic of me just about over the 14ft wall in the Adventure5K

 

(Well I will have to add it later...Blogger isn't allowing me to upload for some reason.)

 

Worked that time. :)