An Update and a Resolution

Happy 2014 everyone!!! I hope 2013 was a good one for all of you! For me it was full of ups and downs, but mostly ups which is a good thing. Many of you may or may not know, I moved in 2013 all the way across the country to Utah! As a result I took a bit of a hiatus from blogging to focus on my life and to get everything back to normal. Well 2 months later we're back to semi-normal and with the New Year I thought I would make a resolution and sort of promise to get back to blogging. Not only for all of you out there still interested in my crafty shenanigans, but for me. I enjoy blogging and hopefully will be doing more of it soon!

So where to begin.....Well we made it! Home sweet home. Moving is definitely not fun, but when its to your first house its kind of super exciting. I finally have a place I can call my own and I don't need to be rich to enjoy the amazing views! Its funny though. If you would have asked me a year ago if I thought I would be in Utah now I would have thought you were crazy. Utah was definitely not on the radar, but after visiting a few times we kind of fell in love. Such a change from New Jersey.

The house is slowly coming together. The first week we were here there was a lot of spending :/ New couch, new mattress, a washer and dryer, etc. We still don't have a dining room table, but its fine because the space is great for quilty projects! :D

Don't judge.

 Speaking of crafty spaces I finally have one!!! My very own sewing room!!! Its super messy and disorganized right now, but hopefully I can get it together soon and make it my own little sanctuary. For now I make due with the rest of the house though. And I kind of find it more enjoyable as I can sew and hang out with my honey while he watches TV.

Guess its just as messy!

 During Christmas I was very busy! I actually found time to make a tree skirt, finish a WIP from 2013, make family and friends little ornaments and gifts, and even start another project. I'm still working on binding my monstrous Swoon quilt and dreading quilting my Spanish Tiles quilt. But I cant wait to add more to the pile! I love that I can finally have the quilts out and in use! Makes it even more homey!

 

Ignore the laundry basket.

I'll leave you with my latest finish, its a quilt for the newest soon to be member of my boyfriend's family. His niece is having a baby in April so I figure I would get a jump on it! So here's to a productive and bloggy New Year!!! May you all have a happy, healthy and productive 2014!!!!

A Few More Blocks and a Great Tip

I have been a busy bee lately! I got a few days where I was able to sit down, relax and just sew. The product has been three more Swoon blocks and a fantastic new discovery!

Block #3

Block #4

Block #5

I'm now at a grand total of 5 Swoon blocks. That means only 4 more to go! Whoopie! These blocks are a little painstaking, but totally worth it! I can't wait to snuggle up under this one!

Now, I have always used blue painter's tape for sewing diagonals, especially blocks like snowballs or flying geese. You can even use it for making half square triangles(HST) like Camille of Simplify does here. I normally line the tape up with my needle so it gives me a straight line to follow through to the point.

 As you can see though, I have added a second piece of tape. Why you might ask??? By adding that second piece of tape a half inch to the left of my needle, I am able to make HSTs as I go! I originally got this idea from Allison Harris of Cluck Cluck Sew. She has such wonderful tips and tutorials!

It is an extra little step, but makes up for a lot in the end. So instead of having piles of cut offs....

 You get tons of HSTs ready to use for another project!

 

Obviously, the "sew as you go" technique is not a new one, but its new to me and I'm loving it!

Hexie Caddy

I am diligently working on my list....some what. I've actually already broken my rule and have purchased more fabric. Its flannel for some pajama pants though so it doesn't count!

But in the meantime.... there's this.

Isn't it sweet?!?!?! Its a Hexie Caddy! I made it for a friend using this tutorial. It is super cute and super easy. And since its hand sewn, it makes a wonderful on the go project. I really love how it turned out. I used Anna Maria Horner's Innocent Crush and some solids I had around. I absolutely love the warm palette. You can get your hands on some Innocent Crush here.

Now back to work!

WIPs 2013

Please enjoy our feature presentation:

Not the best pictures in the world but you get the point. I've got my work cut out for me. This doesn't even cover the stacks of fabric waiting to be cut up.  All in good time......

Meanwhile, I did manage to scratch one thing off my bucket list.

She got them crazy eyes! (And eyebrows in need of waxing sheesh!)

I finally finished my 2 year old neck warmer. Its super soft and super warm. I love it. Score one for me. To the projects listed and the ones I'm bound to add.....game on.

Resolutions

With the new year I have decided to take on some "resolutions" if you will. With the hectic season of Christmas over now is the time to really get back to what I love....

I have not finished a quilt in almost 6 months. Which is bad even for me. I have started a lot of things but have not finished any. There are piles of half made blocks all over my sewing space. It is getting to be a little uncontrollable. It is my goal to finish what I have started last year, this year! Which means no new projects! Ugh.....so hard to say.

And the whole not finishing things goes for all areas of craft especially knitting. It is my soul goal to get better at it and finally complete a project.

The other night I started this. I have been seeing the Herringbone Cowl all over. Christie from OCD made one which really spurred me to try it.

Being a crocheter before a knitter, I instinctively hold the yarn and tension in my left hand, Continental Method. But after about 20 minutes, my hand cramps, it gets super painful to hold and I start dropping stitches which normally for me means ripping the whole thing apart and starting over. This is why a picture of said Herringbone Cowl that I stared is MIA. Sad face.

But eureka!!! I finally figured out how to knit using the English Method, which means holding the yarn in your right hand, and boy has it made a huge difference. My hands don't hurt and the tension is just right. I can go hours knitting, which is fantastic! I decided not to restart the Herringbone Cowl until I finish a cabled neck warmer I started 2 years ago. That's right 2 years. Here's what I have so far. It is my first cabled anything with a pattern I made up myself.

Thank you Jenn for my sweet new stitch markers! Much better then earrings....and much safer then safety pins.

I'm also not going to buy any new yarn until I finish up what I have which might mean making some other cowls first....mainly the Honey Cowl. I really love this pattern :) Here we go again.......

To new beginnings and endings, I hope your new year is filled with excitement and productivity! Happy New Year!!!!!

So many Santas

The count down to Christmas continues! In a mad dash to make some Christmasy things, I whipped up these Santa ornaments this afternoon. They will be gifts for the fam. I received one of these guys as a gift from a co-worker and mocked up my own pattern from it. Here's the original.

In the haste of making, I learned a cutting mat does not double as an ironing board. Ugh.

My guys still need eyes, noses and stashes. But I'm pooped so they'll have to wait.

 Don't get alarmed! I am not an alcoholic. These have been collected from a friend....who is also not an alcoholic, he just actually drinks. I plan on turning them into a trivet. Another project I intend to wing. Wish me luck! After all the Christmas madness I may be able to supply my own bottle caps.....