Making the same mistake twice...

Making mistakes is normal and human and expected.

However, making the same mistake twice is downright excessive!

I was working on this little jacket for my 18 month old for Halloween.  

No pattern, just tried to cut around a jacket she has.  All fine until we got to the sleeves.  I did the right one first.  It's cute.  Even a little gather at the top to make it puffy.  

That's when I got cocky.  And set in the other sleeve.

And.... well, what would you call that?  Inside out?  Backward?  

"Grr."  I muttered and got out the seam ripper.  Cursed myself for not basting it first.  Cursed myself for the short stitch length I used.  

Got it all apart.  

Then I really thought about it.  Carefully put it together.  Sewed it again. 

And did the exact same thing.

"Grr.  Grr!"

So now I think that I have perfected that mistake.

Side note:  anyone want to guess what my youngest is going to be for halloween?  

(that is, assuming I can manage to set in a proper sleeve?)

Hoping your day is seam-ripper free!

Participant is home!

Remember this one?

Well, I entered it in the fair.  It's the first time I've ever even considered such a thing.  A big step for me.

And I am glad to report that I won a....

purple ribbon that says "Participant."

But here's the thing.  I'm really quite proud of that.  I'm proud that I created something that was interesting and exciting and original.  And it was, for me, a stretch.  And I'm proud of myself for working hard and outdoing what I thought I could do.  

So in saying that, I'm proud of my little purple ribbon.

You know, it reminds me what I want to teach my girls about competition.  

We don't compete to beat other people.  

We compete because it's a good way to challenge ourselves to be the best we can be.  

Which is, after all, what matters, right?

And so now, my roses are hanging where they belong.  Over my sewing machine!

And yes, I'm going to post soon about my AWESOME quilt hanging system that Mr. WendyCity built me.  It's amazing and I love it!!  Stay tuned....

Pillow talk!

Remember this pillow?  I made it for my bed. A while ago.  

I decided it needed some friends.

So I made up this one that used an extra block from the quilt, 

And then I made one with my last initial on it.  I love piecing letters!!

All in all, a quick fun project!!

Bow time!

Today I had a non-sewing project, and I thought I'd share it!

I love when my younger daughter takes a nap and I get to spend time with my older daughter.

It's just special time!

Today she made a macaroni necklace and helped me with hair bows I was making for her and her sister.

I love when we can sit across the table and work together!

So we made some pumpkin clips.  I purchased the pumpkins as is at hobby lobby for $1, and so it was just a swipe of glue and a clip and those were done.  

Then we made some princess-y bows.  Around here we like to have a big bow (for single ponytails) and a set of 2 small ones (for pigtails).  And since I always end up buying a roll of ribbon, it works out ok.

Then we made some clips with flowers and feathers.  She's super excited about these. 

Then I got brave and deconstructed some flowers so that they would not be as tall on the clips.  I like these better!

Then we made some more....

and more....

And a couple of clips that mommy will borrow occasionally.

You see, once you get out the giant mess and heat up the glue gun, you might as well make a few!

Desperately Seeking Solids

Well, maybe not desperately...

But I am seeking solids.  All hues.  Small sizes.

I'm starting a project, and I am wanting to use all solids. And teeny tiny pieces.  But I don't ever work with solids, and thus I have almost none in my stash.  And my source for solids here is JoAnn's.  Which is a rather limiting supply of colors.....  Can you help me?

Would you be willing to put a couple of squares of solids in an envelope and mail them to me?  I'm looking for pieces about 2.5" square, so Very Small.  A couple could travel via postal mail in a regular envelope with a 44 cent stamp.  And I would be very, Very appreciative!  Would you comment if you would be willing to part with some scraps?  Or send me an e-mail (address on the right).  And is there something I can send to you in return?  I'd love to raid my stash for you!  

Thanks so much!

Blue is wrong for roses

Finished and bound.  

Boy, do I love this quilt!

Here's the links to some "in progress" pics on this one.....  early and medium-finished

I quilted the roses in a swirl pattern, each in a thread matching pretty close.

In the green, I quilted leaves and loops in a medium green color.

I am thrilled with how it turned out.  

The backing is a green and blue batik that I think was once my cousin's sarong (thanks, Monica!).

The binding is a Moda swirl. I like how it frames the quilt.

and it even got a label.

I'm linking this one up to Quiltstory's Fabric Tuesday -- click through and go see some of the other fabulous projects!

Let's choose a quilting thread color, shall we?

Remember this good start? Here's what it looks like now.

I added green onto each rose randomly.  Then I trimmed them to rectangles.  

On the advice of my brilliant, talented and beautiful sister-in-law, I trimmed them with some plan.  

Just a little bit, to avoid a giant messy puzzle.  

I trimmed them so that every rectangle had one side that was either 8", 9" or 12".

Which provided enough randomness to keep me happy, but enough order to put it together without pulling all my hair out.  Thanks, Mer!

I added a green-on-green viney border to kind of calm it down a bit.  

This is my favorite block/rose/area.  I love the white rose.

Love that dark one as well. 

This quilt has a name.  

"Blue is all wrong for roses"

I absolutely love it.  But now I'm stuck.  On quilting thread.  And binding too (we'll get to that in a minute...)

I plan to quilt the green areas separately from the roses.  

So should I go with a medium green?

And on the roses?  Should I quilt each one in a somewhat matching thread?  Maybe choose a light blue and a medium blue, a white and a yellow and do everything in one of those?

And binding.  What do you think?  I have enough of the green border to use it for the binding, but it might be boring.  What other ideas do you have?  I've been staring at this project for what seems like forever, and so I think I've lost objectivity.  And need your help!

Some stuff I really like right now.....

The small ironing board I rescued from my sister-in-law's garage sale pile.  

It fits perfectly next to my sewing table and I love it!  I don't have to set up the giant ironing board and the cord to the iron runs safely behind furniture where little hands can't reach.

the perfume I bought with my birthday money.  After spending a weekend trip with a friend who wears this scent, I decided to get some for myself.  Everywhere we went strangers commented on how intoxicating she smelled. {It was true} And so happy birthday to me!

yellowbox flip flops!  They really ARE that comfortable!

Activity books out of the Target dollar section!  My daughter loves them, and they're a dollar!

They are color inside as well.  So awesome.  Did I mention they're a dollar?  I've also seen some nice ones at Dollar Tree, if your Target is already sold out.

jeans.  I've been on a search for really great jeans for a long time.  I finally found some.  

And so I want to share.

Cause I like you!

I found these at a resale store nearby.  

They are thick denim to camouflage flaws and stuff, 

but still have a little stretch.  

They fit well and don't gap in the back.  

They are cute, but still age appropriate.  

In fact I think they would be age appropriate on anyone!

They are Citizens of Humanity style kelly#011 stretch.  I've since found a second pair on ebay for $12.  

{happy dance}

You know, I want to have fabulous jeans.... but I only want to pay about $12 for them, don't you?