1st Sunday in January

Another year has come and gone. It's time to sweep out the old and clutter up with the new! At least thats what usually happens in my sewing room!

Have you made resolutions? Have you broken your resolutions? I don't make resolutions...I find I break them very quickly...I set goals instead, some private and personal and some put out there for the world to see and hold me accountable for!

This year there are 2 goals. Number 1 is to learn to paper piece and make a Mariners Compass wall hanging. I love these things...but I have to learn to paper piece if I'm gonna make one...I put those together into one goal cuz the only reason I'll learn to paper piece is to make the Mariners Compass! Who knows, maybe I'll even enjoy it! Number 2 is to knit a pair of socks. Two complete socks..that fit..that I can actually wear..... good thing I have 12 months!

Didja notice that there's only 353 days left til christmas 2008?? Have you started your christmas gift list? Believe it or not I have !! I do this little thing I call the 25 weeks of Christmas. The first 25 weeks of the year I make lists and gather supplies and make small things and put them in a box... then the second 25 weeks...beginning July 5th this year..I go into full swing...one present each week... sometimes more...sometimes less... but by thanksgiving I'm under control...and by December 10th I'm done... bagged..and tagged!! That gives me two weeks to enjoy the season... bake cookies..relax....have fun! There'll be more about this little program that I do...it's my own invention even.....and of course there will be lots and lots of photos of my projects

I'm also continuing the ** what can I make from one fat quarter** project that started late last year....so far we have 10 chicken pincushions and 10 fortune cookies.....we'll see what 2008 adds to the project.

I guess that's it for today..... more next week.......and more photos too!!

Til then
Lish

The last of 2007

There's just one more working weekend left til Christmas......and I don't need it!!! I'm all done with Christmas 2007 and I even had time to make a CarrotSticks table runner for a class I'll be doing next March!!

I can spend next week baking, decorating, and just slackin' back and doing absolutely nuthin'!!!

For those who want to join in next years 25 weeks of christmas... we'll be starting on July 5th.

I've posted the last 3 pictures of 2007 at www.flickr.com/sewwunderful A Miranda College bag, the carrot sticks runner and finally a picture of my Buddy, Rowdy. I'll start again in February. I take the month of January to clean up the sewing pit.... organize my stuff, take stock of what I need...notions, interfacing, etc and also make a note of what I have way to much of so I can start using that up first. It also gives my creative juices a chance to build and as I see things or think of things I'd like to do, I make a note. My sewing and embroidery machines will go for their yearly checkups and I will step back and admire my clean and neat sewing room...cuz I know that in a mere few weeks it will once again turn into the sewing pit from hell!!

My main theme for 2008 is the Year of Less. I want to lose some poundage, I want to spend less time on the computer and more time outdoors, I want to spend less at the Quilt Shops and use up more of what I've stashed away.... I want to spend less time texting, and more time actually talking with friends.......I want to spend just as much time dreaming...but more time making those dreams realities.....

Some of my creative goals are to learn to paperpiece......make a Mariners' Compass wall hanging...learn to knit socks......and finish up all my UFO's, PIGS, and WHIMMS!!

The fat quarter challenge will continue...... send me your pictures and I'll post them in the challenge folder.... the idea is to make what you can out of just ONE fat quarter. You can see what's there already on the photo site.

I've already started my list of things to do for 2008 and I'm sure it will grow longer before January even gets here!

To all of my knitting, sewing, crafting, stashbusting and Lazy friends... I wish you all a safe and Happy holiday season....... Merry Christmas to all .... and a Happy, Lazy, Creative New Year

Lish, Ticker and Rowdy

The Count Down is ON!!!!

There are 3 weekends left before Christmas.... those of you who started in July with me on the 25 weeks of Christmas should be done and ready to relax and enjoy the Holiday.

I have to finish a pair of lounge pants... they need elastic and hems.... make the cats toys.....and make one tote bag and I'm alllllllllllllllll done!!!

With any luck, I'll meet my goal to be finished by this weekend.... Then I'll clean up the sewing pit... bake some cookies and get the house ready for Holiday entertaining....including the Motor City Bowl party... with any luck (actually with a lot of luck) Purdue will win and end the season on a high note!

Last post I mentioned a Fat Quarter Challenge... what can you make from just one fat quarter of fabric?? I've posted two pics in the photo section... the link is on the left.... you can make 10, yes! 10 chicken pincushions!!! ....and you can make 10 fabric fortune cookies from one fat quarter... you can also make 2 wonderwallets from one fat quarter too!! I'm going to continue on with this challenge...and will post pictures as I make stuff from just one Fat Quarter... should you care to play... send me a picture of what you made from just one fat quarter and I'll post it in my Challenge Folder. The rules are simple....... use just one fat quarter of fabric.... if you need to embellish..or need that tiny bit more ... you can use up to one 4" x 18" piece of extra fabric but that's all! The challenge will go on for awhile.......so think of something...be creative and send me pictures!! You can send them to sewwunderful@yahoo.com

The new pictures include the fortune cookies and chickens....as well as 3 aprons....4 ties......5 trees....2 thimbleberry pot mats, 2 thimbleberry candlemats, 2 purple ohio star pot mats to match one of the aprons, a chinese takeoutbox with cookies.....

The thimbleberry mats started off as a table runner... 4 Ohio Stars...which were supposed to then be sashed and put together for a table runner.... I put the sashing on the first block and it looked so pretty sitting there on the table....I decided to keep it that way.... so I used up the sashing to make 2 large candlemats and the remaining 2 blocks will be pot mats . They need to have the binding stitched down... that'll be done tonite

My binding stack was down to nothing.... for about 20 minutes... I quilted two more mitten wall hangings and added the binding....and then added the candlemats and pot mats....... seems like the binding stack is always there!!

Now remember!! Only 3 more weekends til Christmas!! So get busy!


Til Next time

November is Gone!

Now where'd it go?? I guess I've just been toooooo busy to notice........ There's a lot of pictures in the folders right now...and there will be more..... I've completed 3 aprons, another table runner, 4 mens' ties, 2 potholders, finished binding my bathroom wall hanging and 4 placemats, and made 6 more trees....all they need are ribbons and they are finished!

November has been a busy month! I have a bearspaw wall hanging,2 pair of lounge pants for the hubster to do, 2 nip mats for the cats and a couple of nip toys for them also and then Im all done and ready for the Jolly Guy to visit! I'll post pictures of the rest of the goodies this weekend....and the pants when they get done...

My goal is to finish EVERYTHING by December 7th..........then relax....clean up the sewing pit and bake some cookies!!

As I look back over the last month I realize I've learned a few things....... using fusible without a press sheet is asking for trouble.........letting the cats know where you keep the catnip is not a good thing......and with careful planning you can get a lot of stuff out of one fat quarter!

Hmmmmmmmmmm that sounds like it might be a fun challenge for the new year.... a contest.... to see how much can be made from just one 18 x 22 fat quarter.... hmmmmmmmmm

Ok Lazies.....Ok Stashbusterbuddies..........waddayathink?? Shall I issue a challenge for the new year?? Ok.... I will......... I challenge you all to take one fat quarter...just one....and see what you can make from it! This should be fun!!!!

Till the weekend
Happy Quilting, Happy Sewing, Happy everything!!

Lish

Stuff.

Yup...I know...it's been two weeks again since I posted...... I have an excuse!! I've been busy!!

I've been finishing up stuff to take back to PA over thanksgiving.... plus I we had small mini sale at work so I made trees.....20 of'em!! They are great little things and they go really fast!

I also finished a set of pillow wraps, 12 chicken placemats, quilted the mitten hanging and finished that up.... finished up an assortment of odds and ends that needed binding and little details added here and there........ made drawstring bags for the kids stuff........and cut some aprons and potholders which I'll sew when I get back.....

There's pictures on the flickr site.

Tomorrow I'll pack clothes and an assortment of knitting, and handsewing to take along so I have something to do on the ride......it's about 12 hours......one way........ I'll take the laptop too so I can keep up on things and read all my yahoo digests lol.

Oh....and my Wonder Cuppa was featured on the Checker distributors web site!!! You can see the wonderful article written by Jenny Stratton here http://www.checkernewsletter.com/?p=312

I just love making these and have a few others in mind.....once I find the perfect fabric!!!

Be sure to check the photos.....and don't forget to check the Santa Countdown so you know when the Jolly guy will be here............

Take care everyone and I'll blog again when I get back

Lish

Miranda and Gracie and other stuff

I finished up my Miranda Bag and My Gracie Bag....they are awesome!!! I also made an accessory set to go with them....... I think their first outing will be Thanksgiving week when I trek back to Pa to visit family. The accessory set is made up of 2 zippered pouches...2 wonder wallets.. a wide wonder wallet...and a check book cover......

I also found a fun thing on the net.... they're called Roly Nesters and they work like Russian Nesting Dolls... you know...those dolls that start big and you keep opening them til you get to the teeny tiny doll.... These are a set of 3 ... they have zippers and fit inside each other for storage and hold all sorts of wondrous stuff.... I think I may adapt the largest one to fit knitting needles... now that would be awesome!!

I also did up a bunch of poinsettia pins on the E machine.... the larger ones are done on organza and the smaller ones on fabric.... all of them will become either pins or package ties.... not sure... but probably mostly pins......

There's pictures of everything including Ticker on the photo site. Ticker is my sewing room guardian...along with her sister Rowdy...who was into the catnip and declined having her photo taken lol

This week starts full bore on finishing up quilting and binding and last minute goodies.... I'll be taking stuff back to PA with me so I need to get crackin! Actually I'm in really good shape.... I have a pillow and set of pillow wraps to do..... a lobster T shirt.... and the quilting and binding on two table toppers.... the mittens and snowmen......... when I get back...... I'll be working on stuff for the hubster.... trinkets for the girls at work.... and new catnip pads and toys for Ticker and Rowdy.....

Oh....and for those keeping track ( and you know who you are) Okie Dokie Duckie has updated her site.....

Next weekend those of us on DST will get an hour back!!! Outstanding!!! I can't wait! I've been waiting a long time to get that hour returned to me........ I thought when I moved to Indiana I wouldn't have to deal with the clock thing anymore.... but .... oh... we won't go into that......

Keep and eye on the counter.... the Jolly Guy will be here before you know it!!

Lish

It's the Middle of October!!!

How the heck did it get to be the middle of October already?? I couldn't have slept that long!! Or could it be that I'm so busy that time just flies on by?? Yeah... that's probably it.... lol

Over the last 10 days I got quite a bit done.... I got most of the binding work done... have to do the red/white/blue door banner and that pile is finished.... I got all of Marks pants mended...zippers replaced...buttons sewn on and buttonholes tightened up... I taught a class.......I made 3 Snowman Wall hangings.... they are all batted and backed and ready for quilting too! I made 3 Mitten/Heart wall hangings... they are also all batted and backed and ready for quilting. I found some free patterns on the net for strips.... I made 6 stockings nad 4 placemats... the placemats are quilted AND the binding is done! The stockings are complete too!

I have a class next week on Fabric Bowls.... I have a few samples at the shop.. but I made another one... it's a tuscany type wine fabric thing.....I dried several club rolls....then glazed them.... and put them in the bowl with some shredded basket stuff.... pretty cute actually... just something to show at class... I still have to finish up my handouts for class...and I better move it to the top of my list...cuz class is thursday!!

I made 12 coasters from pre printed fabric... I batted and backed them and then used them to practice my free motion quilting.... so they are all finished too! I did up two more pillowcases for halloween....and a checkbook cover and 3 wonder wallets.... all in plain black.....yeah.... there's a reason for it.......

I cut 6 small christmas trees... I have 6 more to cut and then I can start sewing them... they are 3 dimentional and stuffed.... only about 6" tall...they get ribbons and pompoms on their branches...they turn out pretty cute...... I haven't made any for about 2 years now so I decided this would be the year...

I cut out a pillow and a set of pillow wraps.... these will be for my niece for christmas....... speaking of which...didja notice the cool countdown counter??? Only 71 more days... 10 more working weekends!! Better get a move on tick tick tick

Next week the new Lazy Girl Bag Pattern should arrive!! It's the Miranda bag and you can see it on the Lazy Girl blog site... there's a link on the left...... I have the fabric and I've been chompin at the bit for months now!!! That will probably move to the top of the list for this weeks stuff...depending on when it arrives.......

Well..I'm thinkin' that's about it for this week........ next week will be the quilting on the 6 wall hangings... the 12 trees and Markies Shirts.... plus anything else I can get done...

Have a wonderful week!!

Lish