Trial Quilt

My sister-in-law asked me to make a quilt for her nursery.  I bought the fabric awhile ago but have been mulling ideas around for the pattern.  I had an idea that I thought might look good, but I was a little unsure.  I decided I would make a trial run with the pattern and see how it went.

I think it went pretty well!  I'm a fan!  I'm really happy with the colors too- so bright and cheery.

Unfortunately, the pattern highlighted my inability to sew that perfect 1/4" seam.  I  usually sew with a scant 1/4" seam because I figure I might as well make it a little smaller and trim my blocks down to size.  Not really thinking this through, I cut the solid pieces at the top and bottom first, and they ended up shorter than the following two rows.  For the center patchwork section I decided I was going to really try to sew that 1/4" seam properly.  I even pulled out the 1/4" foot.  I was serious.  So I went along sewing away- even measuring occasionally.  Somewhere along the way something went awry and that patchwork section ended up smaller than the top pieces.  Apparently I need some additional practice. 

All in all, I think it turned out pretty nicely.  Even if it is narrower than I had planned!

New Career Possibility?

Shortly before I left for vacation I was laid off from my job.  Now that I am back home I have been contemplating what my next step should be.  Do I find another engineering job?  Are there even any structural engineering jobs in my area?  Do I find a job in another field and change careers?  What on earth would I choose?!  Or do I embrace the job of housewife and volunteer somewhere?

One option might be to become a professional contest entrant.  You see, lately I have been pretty lucky in the giveaway department and have won again.  Maybe I could also win us a new car, ice cream for a year, and some cash.   That doesn't sound too bad to me.

Originally uploaded by Crafty Vagas Mom

This is the loot from the giveaway from Crafty Vagas Mom for the Friday Night Sew In.  It seems a little appropriate to have won Christmas fabric given the challenges I had with my own Christmas quilt on Friday.  This line of Christmas fabric is beautiful but I never would have purchased it for myself since I have plenty already.  I look forward to making something fun with this! 

Hexagon Update :: Travel Report

Traveling to Hawaii was good for my hexagons!  

I made 185 hexagons...

... and 16 flowers.

I have been admiring how they look laid out like this.  I think they look great! 

On a side note, does anyone else feel awkward about admitting they think something they made looks great?  It makes me feel self-focused and awkward.  I don't know why.  I know it's ok if I think I did something well, but there is this voice inside telling me I shouldn't.

 Don't they look so cute all stacked up together?

Friday Night Sew In Results = Dismal

Last night I have a handful of friends over for some sewing.  I had grand intentions of making this a "Christmas in July" event (at least for myself) and was hoping to make some serious progress on my Christmas quilt. 

I had already sewn some squares onto my pieces to make more flying geese and went right into cutting them.  I had quite the stack growing and I was applauding myself for my work and had visions of glorious rows of green flying geese.  Unfortunately, once I went to start ironing them I realized I had sewn the entire stack incorrectly!  This means I need to spend a lot of time with the seam ripper and that large glorious stack now.  Had I not been sewing with friends who lightened the mood, I may have shed some tears.  I am really bummed. 

I then proceeded to wander aimlessly throughout my home to find a new project to work on to no avail.  Not due to the lack of projects in the works, but because I couldn't find all of the pieces to any of them!  At the evening all I have to show is this, a teeny little stack of squares for hexagons from fabric I purchased in Hawaii. 

Leaving on a Jet Plane

This morning I am leaving for vacation- to Hawaii!  My bags are packed and I have plenty of books and hexagon goodies to keep me busy on the plane. 

 Originally uploaded by Haiku Heidi I am SUPER excited! 

Hexagon Update

There has been a fair amount of progress on the hexagons around here.  I have been trying to take them with me whenever we're going to be in the car.  It has paid off because I am now up to 465 hexagons.  Thankfully, it makes my storage box look less pathetic.  Except for the purple, that still looks pathetic.  :)

I have even been able to start piecing them together as well.  I decided on the "organized random" layout for now.  I like the randomness not only because it looks great but it also allows me to piece as I go.  Another bonus is that if I change my mind again I can always rearrange the flowers into the color wave pattern.  It seems win-win at this point.

July is for me

July is my month for both of my quilting bees. You see, I planned it this way since I am leaving for vacation on Wednesday for 13 days.

Since I am lazy, I decided to have both bees make the same thing for me- scrappy spiderweb blocks.

I'd like to make this one a big quilt. I think it would make a nice picnic blanket. I really enjoyed making these two blocks. I think they come together pretty quickly. Or maybe since I can just see the progress so well all along I feel really productive. Whatever the reason, I really like them.

On a separate note, last week my demo version of Adobe Lightroom expired and I'm really missing it. So sad for my photos. :(