Pictures...FINALLY!

I have been sewing...I promise. I sent out all of my March Swaps on time, and even with 8 days away from my sewing machine! I've made 2 hexagon quilties this month, and I think I have a new obsession ( cause I need one you know)!

This was for the STUD Japanese inspired quilt swap. I made this while I was home in North Carolina, and I love it. I don't always feel good about what I create, but this one makes me happy!

The above is yet another Hex mini. This is a scrap buster, and stress reducer. I hand pieced this top in the 24 hours before school started back after spring break. I even brought it to the movies with me :-) J loved that!

In other swap news...I received my final Fat Quarter from the Sew Mama Sew Fat Quarter Swap ( one is missing in this photo). The are great, and I can't wait to use them. They actually work well in 3 different groups...isn't it funny how that works out? Thank you to all of my swap partners. Each package brought a smile to my face!!!

Last but not least is this beautiful Weekender Bag from Angel. She and I were partnered up in the most recent We The People Swap, and we live less than an hour away from each other. I love my bag, and cannot wait to use it. She received her bag safe and sound, and has already taken it on a trip ( LUCKY)! It was a very difficult pattern, but well worth the effort!

I am working on 4 blocks for the virtual quiling bees I am a member of, 2 wedding quilts, and Easter Baskets for my senior leaders and advisees! More photo soon.

Happy Spring to you all. Peace be with you!

Fabric, oh Fabric...

Yes, I did some retail therapy while I was in North Carolina.  I spent a few dollars ( few meaning more than 2 :-)) at Thimble Pleasures my favorite quilt shop, and Mulberry Silks where I have been shopping since I was in middle school ( and they still know my name).  When I returned to MA there were several packages waiting for me.  One from my WTP Fat Quarter Swap, my most recent order from Z and S Fabrics, and a set of 4-patch squares from the My Favorite Quilters flickr group.

I've made 3 quilties for my Flickr swap groups...I can't post photos as my partners have not yet received them, but I promise to post all 4 ( yeah, swap-aholic right here) next week.

I finally finished the Amy Butler Weekender bag for the WTP Swap.  Whew- it is not something I plan on repeating again anytime soon!  And then, I just had to make a box bag to go along with it.  It was hard to put in the mail, but hopefully my partner will love it as much as I do!

Well, I  have many, many projects on my sewing table, and only 3 more days before the students return from Spring Break.  It has finally hit me that I only have 10 more weeks before my contract is up here...my home.  It feels a bit better after some time away, but it is still hard.  I have a few leads on jobs, and places to live, but nothing concrete.  

Happy Spring to you all!  Peace be with you.

Spring is here.....

Okay, it's not Spring at my house, but it has hit North Carolina.  The Shmoo and I are visiting my mother in Pittsboro, NC for 8 days, and boy are we enjoying the spring time weather.  We have spent more time outside playing in the last 3 day than we have in 3 months up north.  The crocus are out, the daffodils are blooming,and the tress are starting to bud.  Ahhhhhh Spring.  It truly does make all the difference in the world.  I have had 2 full nights of sleep, and feel that by the time we head home I may just be able to deal with life.

As I have no sewing machine here I have been forced to do some hand sewing.  There are few hexagons scattered around my mother's house, and I may just have a quiltie completed by the time we have to leave!!!

Will post pics tomorrow.  Peace be with you

Life happens

Yep, and while it has been happening I have not had the energy to blog.  What's been going on you might ask- well, I'm going to tell you wither you want to know or not :-)

J and I put a bid in on a house, it was accepted ( yikes), and then the loan we thought we could get from a family member for the down payment fell through.  So, we have spent countless hours and many many tears on my part realizing that although we " could" buy this cute house it would mean living a life style that would not be healthy for The Shmoo.  In desperation I turned to my current employer to see if they could help us out by allowing us to rent a house from them...lots of hemming and hawing later they say " we're not sure...we'll know more in a month".  A MONTH?  Did I mention that we will lose our housing in 3 months?  That we have a 2 year old son who needs a roof over his head?  

Well, as I said: Life happens.  The Shmoo and I will be heading to North Carolina on Sunday to visit my mom, and hopefully gain a bit of perspective on this mess of a situation.  I need some space between me and the school, and no where is better than home with my mom!  Let's just hope they have some sunshine, cause I am so over the snow!!!

On a crafting note I have been working on the Amy Butler " Weekender Bag", and all I have to say is---I will try anything once!!!!!  Never, Never again!

I wish you all well, and I hope to post a photo of the complete bag on Friday.  Peace be with you.

Spring, where are you?

I mean seriously...where is the sun?  I am so tired of being cold I cannot even talk about it.  So, I've been working on Spring swap quilts!!!!  

This one is paper pieced with my own added little creature :-)  I almost couldn't send this one in the mail.  It made me smile the whole time I was making it.  Hopefully is makes its new owner smile as well!

This one was also a paper pieced quiltie made for a Flickr swap.  I was able to use only scraps for this one.  The white and flower fabrics were left over from my Bushfire Quilt squares, the batting was from my mom's Valentine's Day quilt, and the backing was a piece I received in a scrap swap!  So, I would call this a" Green" quiltie :-)

I'm still working on my charity quilt for school, and one for our  bed :-)  The one that I made in the 9th grade  is not quite cutting it anymore.  

I have fallen in love with the RJR farmers Market line.  I have plans to make a star quilt with a different fruit or veggie for each star.  We'll see how it goes.

This week will be spent mostly working on the Amy Butler Weekender Bag for the We The People swap due March 7th...yeah, it's the whole " works best under pressure" thing again.

Hopefully I'll have some photos to post later this week.  Until then, Peace be with you.

Swapity swap swaps...

Today was a swapity mail day! I sent out all 8 ( yes, 8) fat quarters for the Sew Mama Sew FQ swap, and received 3 swap packages in the mail.

This one is a paper pieced quiltie for the STUD flickr group. I love the bright colors, and the polka dot boarder makes me smile!!

This cutie is for the 6"-12" Flickr swap group. The theme was children's literature, and my partner used " The little old lady that lived in a shoe" as her inspiration. I am a shoe lover, so it could not be more perfect.

And this final beauty of a package is from my swap partner through Katy's swapity swap. The fabrics are not only beautiful, but so very soft to the touch. I'm not sure I can cut them up! And, she sent a sweet card, and the loveliest buttons all wrapped in fine ribbon.

I feel totally spoiled today, and after the week I've had....I NEEDED IT! Thank you to each of my swap partners for making my day! Peace be with you.

Any UK readers out there?

I am looking for the Sew Hip magazine issue #1.  I cannot seem to find it here in the states, but would love to own a copy.  I'm happy to pay, or swap for some fab, mini quilt, or hand made bag.

Thanks in advance!!!!