I have been quiet lately...too much travel for the J.O.B.  I am home for a few weeks and have LOTS of sewing planned.  I am suffering from withdrawals.

I did accomplish some learning while I was away!  I found this fabulous place in Indianapolis called The French Seam.  Lovely shop with fabulous fiber finds-from couture clothes to crafty goodness.  I also love that the shop is the dream of a mother-daughter duo.  They offer wonderful class selections and I would love to go back and take a couture dress "boot camp".  I was very fortunate to take some private classes with a teacher, Teresa.  She taught me English paper piecing and hand embroidery.  These are things my mom doesn't like and I had no experience at all.  I love hand work!!  How convenient since I travel all the time...

I am putting my new lessons to good use.  I decided to do the Easiest Sew Along Ever.  Love the idea of being inspired by something and using your stash to make something (ANYTHING!).

My inspiration is a quilt that I made several years ago with the Pop Garden fabric line that Westminster Fabrics had several years ago.  I am making lots of hexies from the remnants of this quilt to make a beautiful swatch of fabric. I am planning a really utilitarian little project that I wanted to complete...I will keep you posted! 

Covert Robin: Giving and Receiving

The gift I sent...
I might have mentioned before that my Covert Robin gift was giving me supreme anxiety.  I was excited when I signed up.  Then, I got my recipient's name and I freaked out a little bit.  She sells her purse patterns and is a prolific blogger and creator.  AAAACK!

Then, the Queen Mum and I were taking a free motion quilting class...and we found the cutest purse pattern.  The All Ruffled Up purse by Bella Nonna.  That was the ticket!  I went to one of my favorite purveyor of fine fabric, Quilts Plus in Indianapolis, and waited for inspiration to find me.  And it did!  I decided on the Art Gallery Fabric line called Rock'n'Romance in the Heartbreaker colorway by Pat Bravo.  Now, I just needed time to sew...

I travel for my job.  Monday through Friday, I am away from home.  I am on a particularly draining assignment right now and I was running out of time for my gift.  Queen Mum and I planned a big sewing weekend to work on the project together.  I cut the pattern out and she was coming over to my sewing room for the day.  Before we could sew, lunch was in order.  At Pei Wei, we received this awesome fortune:



We could not be stopped with that fortuitous advice!  I like this so much, I taped the fortune onto my sewing machine. :)

After many hours of work on the construction, here is the final product.





I love the ruffles!

This was an absolute dream project to make.  Very fun to sew and everyone is amazed by the complexity.  I was excited to send it off in the mail with a few little treats tucked inside. My recipient was Jennie from Clover and Violet.  She sent me a sweet e-mail and I think she likes it!

On to the best part...The gift I received!

When I arrived home Friday night, there was a package waiting for me from Megan.  YAY!  My gift was perfect...pink, large tote with LOTS of pockets! 

 

 

My Kindle fits in the end pockets perfectly!  I love this bag and will use it constantly!  Thanks Megan-you sent me the perfect thing!

 

The Covert Robin gift swap was fun and I enjoyed looking at all of the lovely projects everyone made.

 



 

And...it's off!

My box is ready to go!

After all the nerves and fretting...I am happy to announce that my Covert Robin package is in the mail!  Even a few days early.  I am looking forward to telling you all about this fun project and I am hopeful that my Robin will like it!

The suspense is killing me!

I can hardly wait to share this really cute project I am making for my Covert Robin!  (What's a Covert Robin?  See description here).  I was really stressed about it... but the Queen Mum and I found an amazing pattern and then I found AMAZING fabric from my favorite quilting store...and now it is all coming together!  Wheeeeee!  It is one of those times when I am really pleased with the progress and I think the final product will be fabulous!

Off to the Intergalatic Sewing Headquarters to finish up.

Freaking out about gift swap!

I signed up for the Covert Robin gift swap with Rachael of Imagine Gnats.  I was excited when I signed up.  I am now freaking out.

First of all, I got an excellent pick for my gift recipient, but it will be a little intimidating to send her something.  I have spent a lot of time reviewing her blog (she clearly loves aqua and red) and thinking about what will best highlight my crafting prowess.  I am coming up with a big ZERO.  What do you make for someone who designs patterns for all the stuff you like to make?  AAACK!

I can't wait for an epiphany or divine intervention.  This stuff is "due" in a few weeks and I am gone all week for work.  I have decided to go to my personal sewing mecca and hope that there is something fabulous that jumps off the shelf at me.   Short of that, I will be making her a dyed macaroni necklace.

Why do I love sew-alongs?

In the last six months, I have participated in several sew-alongs and gift exchanges.  People who know me well have asked me why???  Here are the many reasons why I love sew-alongs:

1.  I am very introverted and shy.  In an online sew-along, I have enjoyed meeting many like-minded people and sharing ideas/encouragement/frustration/etc... with everyone else making the project.  I have met people from around the world.  How cool is that?

2.  My schedule does not permit participation in many face to face classes.  I would love to sign up for more classes, but I can't make that work with my life.  Sew-alongs are like a class on your own time.

Easy As Pie Quilt designed by Jamie of Busy Bee Quilt
February 2013 Sew Along with 1choice4quilting

3.  I LOVE LEARNING!!!  I just finished this really fun quilt with 1choice4quilting (yes, I will be doing the March one, also!) and I learned so many phenomenal things.  Like pinning vertically and horizontally when attaching long borders.  Like how to make a perfect pinwheel.  I am thoroughly inspired by the amazing generosity of people teaching other people how to be awesome.

4.  Improving productivity.  Truth is, most people are more productive with a deadline.  I am motivated to keep on track with the project so that I can receive assistance if I need it, be eligible for fabulous prizes and finish on time.

Need some motivation?  Want to connect with other people who love to quilt and sew?  Here are the things I am participating in over the next few weeks, why don't you join me?

1choice4quilting HoneyHoney Argyled Quilt (designed by Quilty Habit)
Ellie Inspired Ruffle Halter Dress
Sisters Ten BOM from GenXQuilters

Follow your passion!

Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love.  It will not lead you astray. -Rumi

 

Packing for a recent business trip



My cousin recently posted this saying from Rumi and the meaning resonates with me.  My "career" consists of employment that is frustrating and leaves me feeling empty.  I work hard. I rely on that income to maintain my household. I may never be able to be a "stay at home" quilter.  To top it off, I travel frequently for my job.  All of these are reasons that I should not pursue a new business selling my quilted creations.  Except for one thing:  it is my passion.  It gives me reason to breathe and puts a lift in my step (when I know I am heading to the sewing room!).  I will be drawn by the pull of what I love and I will pursue that with zeal!

Packing for a recent business trip had me a little blue...a whole week with no progress towards a new quilt.  No sewing.   No fabric.  I actually started having delirium tremens.  I decided that was rubbish!  I pulled a bigger suitcase out of the closet and packed my 24X18 cutting mat, rotary cutter, ruler and several quilts to cut out.  I will not be deterred!

Learning new techniques keeps me inspired!

Laying out the rows for the heart design



The finished center

I LOVE LEARNING SOMETHING NEW!

 

 

The Queen Mum and I signed up for a class. We just needed an infusion of some new technique and inspiration.  This class happened to fit into both of our schedules-The Valentine Twister Quilt.  I read the pattern...wasn't sure that I was excited.  This technique requires you to put the quilt together twice.  That seems counterintuituve!

 

But the results are awesome.  We had a great time!  Mum and I were able to spend some time together, met some great new people and learned an intersting technique.  This heart will make a beautiful center to a quilt that will be available soon!

How do you discard your needles and blades?

After getting stuck more than once by pins, machine needles or rotary blades in the process of throwing them away...I decided to recycle a used Crystal Light container as a sharp disposal.  Not only am I finding another purpose for the container, but there are no needles or blades in the trash!  

Plotting and planning

I am planning a business.  Not to become wealthy...but hopefully to bring satisfaction and joy.  I am planning carefully and not rushing in headlong.  I want to carefully consider my options and make choices with thought.  I am actually savoring this time while I am plotting the launch of:

Tiara Quilts and Sewing.

So the other piece is that my trusty Bernina had to be repaired.  Although I had it on a surge protector, the circuit board was fried.  There is a backlog at the repair center and I wait.  I am looking at that as a good thing.  I have used the time to be mindful and determine my focus for projects.  I have also been taking in the landscape and checking out all of the other amazingly creative women who put so much of themselves into their craft.  I am in awe.

This is a positive and exciting thing and I am really looking forward to the creativity and success of completing beautiful projects.  So, if you have come by to see who I am...please stop back again soon!  Much more to come!