Monday, May 31, 2010

Of Cutting, and Cakes, and Shopping, Oh My!

Alright, so I can't be the only one out there that absolutely hates cutting. Whether it be with a rotary cutter or an actual pair of scissors, I just can't seem to get the hang of it. My angles never measure up (even if I do measure a bajillion times)!

I have been reading these super awesome blogs about cakes, icing, fondant, and wonderful cuteness. So being the explorer I am, I decided to do such on my own. While it's alright, I think that the fondant will not be made again. I won't be putting the websites up for the fondant recipe and instructions up due to my uneventful-ness, but if anyone wants the site I'll be happy to give it to you! I think it just may have been a little too much for the cake I made, and I may have had it a *weensy* bit too thick. Maybe. Or positively. Either way it took more time for me than what I would readily have on hand for baking a cake. I will, however, give the link for the homemade buttercream icing! This stuff is insanely yummy. My mother actually took a spoon and cleaned out the mixing bowl! I will say it's definitely not your average icing, and I love it :).

Went to our local Wal-Mart (because that's basically all we have) to get some groceries and stuff. The whole time through the store I kept on thinking to myself that I was forgetting something, even though I remembered to get the elastic thread (shirring, anyone?). I get home and not ten minutes after I realize I wanted embroidery hoops. AH! This has to be the 5th time I've happened to forget them. I must tattoo this on my arm until next shopping day!

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Yet Another Day

So here goes to another post, bloggers!!

These past few days have been hectic, and - unfortunately - near quilt free. With the holiday weekend upon us, it's been hot days, cool nights, and shindigs that require my presence. I've gone to two birthday/graduation parties, and at 4 other peoples houses for a grill time.

Luckily today I was able to get back to my machine and supplies and get something done around here. I finished adding my third piece to each of my strips so now I'm totally ready to start cutting for my three in one quilt pattern. Wish me luck, guys!

Speaking of said three in one, I was thinking about adding a little something to make it my own, and then submitting one of those beauties for the mini quilt swap. What a way to kill two birds with one stone, right? Good times.

I found an old apron mom had hanging up decorating the kitchen. Yes, I've seen it a million times in the kitchen, but today I really looked at it. It's absolutely gorgeous, and I believe that I will make one for myself! I have so many new ideas to try out, but sadly my pocketbook doesn't have the same ambition ;).

Before leaving the house for said shindigs yesterday, I got my cakes in the oven and baked. They're sitting in the freezer right now, chilling out so I can get the ingredients to make the icing and fondant to decorate said cake. This is another new adventure I'm taking on, but the more the merrier, right?

Alright, enough time on here, it's back to the cutting board I go!

Thursday, May 27, 2010

It's Been A While

Okay, so I've come to the conclusion that no matter what kind of blog I have, it'll never be updated daily. I've tried LJ, and also Xanga. I think I also had one on diaryland or something like that when I was younger, and that didn't work out, either.

Big thanks to KarrieLyne at FreckledWhimsy for giving me a heads up on a mini quilt swap! I've not done this, and figured it would be an awesome adventure! It's called Another Little Quilt Swap 4 and if anyone else is interested, you can find the info here. As much fun as it seems like it would be, I don't know if I want another project on my plate :P

For my patriotic quilt, I got the binding finished, and washed and dried it yesterday. Now all that's left is to add the star applique on the sides, and I'm finished! Well that and the label :) i'm so excited for this, you have no idea. I'll post pictures probably tomorrow with the finished product (I'll be sewing tonight, ladies!)

i also have a quilt trio i'm still working on. it's, however, on a standstill because I wanted to get my other quilt finished in time for the ending of the bloggers quilt festival. I may just keep it on a current halt while i create my mini quilt for the swap. Who knows, I may have crazy amounts of projects at one time :)

Another thing to mention, is that instead of using yet another pattern to try to quilt, I have decided to come up with my own little design. I admit that I've seen quilts like it before, but I'll be putting a small twist on it to make it my own. I never figured that i'd be making my own creations! Especially at such an early stage in this project!

wish me luck!

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Spring 2010 Quilters Festival






Hey, yall!

I've never been to a quilt festival, market, or anything of the sort with a quilt of my own, so this is a completely new experience!

I apologize, because I have to enter the festival with a quilt that is not completely finished. See, this is my second quilt ever made and my first quilt was made for a gift. I have no pictures or anything of the sort from my first baby, but I have oodles of this one!!

I began this quilt in April (It's only a table runner) and will probably finish it before June - or at least I'm hoping I will! My first quilt was made because of pure interest. I bought a how-to book and taught myself. This quilt, however, was made because I wanted something for myself. I love the red, white, and blue pattern. It was made from a pattern from Pieces from my Heart - #335 Pride and Glory. When all is said and done, I will have appliqued two stars on it - one on each of the blue sides. I love the 'Americana' look, and I believe this will do fantastic on a coffee table or side table.

When quilting, I decided to try my hand at more than just straight lines - I trid adding wavy lines. I think I did alright, but I know it could've been better. I was just so excited to do anything but just stitch-in-the-ditch!

As of current, I have the binding sewn on the front of the quilt. I'll begin hand-stitching the back either tonight or tomorrow after work. The stars will be added once that endeavor is over :).

Hopefully by the fall I'll have a more interesting (and finished, to boot!) quilt to post for you all!






~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~EDIT~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As of today (5/27/2010), my quilt is finished. I finished the binding, and decided to not add the applique stars. Once I got all my fabric together, I thought the stars were just too busy, and I rather like the look of this already.

UNFORTUNATELY, my camera is being stupid (yet again) and refuses to work. I will post pictures as soon as I possibly can!

Yay for quilt # 2! This teaches me a lesson that no matter what pattern I use, I still have the ultimate decision in how the quilt is to be made. It's mine and no-one elses :)

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Ack!

Sometimes either there aren't enough hours in the day, or I am just too easily side-tracked!

I got off of work at 5 this evening, and got home from the gym around 6-ish. Probably a quarter after. Ate a little something, then just jumped on the computer for a 'quick check' of the new blogs, email, facebook. I'm still here. ACK! I didn't do anything sewing related today, and that makes me super sad :(. Tomorrow I get off work early, so I'll have a little time to make up for my lacking in sewing today and yesterday. I'll also get some new fabric for backing, binding, and the borders for four (yes, four!) quilts!

Hope yall's days were a tad more productive than mine :)
<3
My fabric in pairs
(Fresh by Deb Strain for Moda)

My quilt topper. I still have to applique two cream stars in the blue area. Was created with the pattern #335 Pride and Glory from Pieces from my Heart.



Curious Teigan!


Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Whew what a day

Today's been pretty hectic. I haven't even done a stitch, and now that it's 9 p.m. I don't plan on starting, either. During work I was itching to get home and finish sewing my three strips so I can actually start, but things got held up.

I did, however, get to iron my two strips together (that being 12 sets of two strips of a jelly roll which were sewn together yesterday). Also, I went to the store, bought some Heat n' Bond, and created some tags for my quilts. Thanks goes to Rachel from p.s. i quilt for the easy peasy tut!! After I get my paycheck and buy my backing fabric for my quilt top, I'll be able to test this out. I'm already excited :)

I hope you're all having a wonderful day out there in bloggerland. Hope the sewing's coming along just fine!

(even though it's generic, this background is actually REALLY cute!)

and while i'm thinking about it, who else rocks out to some tunes while sewing? please tell me it's not just me, yall!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Brand Spankin' New

I always associated that 'line' with brand spankin' new music. I guess it fits because music is such a large part of my life.

To be honest, I actually started this blog due to the finding of a few *ahh-mazing** blogs I've stumbled upon. I'm blogging at work, currently, so I can remember one being p.s. i quilt by Rachel, and another being jaybird quilts.

If you couldn't gather by the two blogs mentioned above: Yes - I am a quilter. Not seasoned, just barely with her first stitches under the belt. I began this endeavor in February, and finished up my first quilt in the beginning of April. I'm such a slacker! Twas a sampler quilt, and made a fine lap quilt. It took so long for multiple reasons: First and foremost, I was terrified of beginning something that I had to teach myself. (bought an e-book and taught myself quilting so far). Secondly, I was dreading adding the sashing strips and border. I have an older Singer model sewing machine set up on an old table that my mother refuses to move the tablecloth off, scared it'll get scratched. I wasn't looking forward to actually quilting my fabrics together, again due to the older machine. It took forever to find a walking foot to accommodate my poor machine, and even then I can only use straight stitches. No cute, fancy quilting for me :(. As I mentioned, that piece is finally finished, and I've finished the top for my second quilt. That was a project that I bought the pattern from my local quilt shop - Calico Patch. All I have left is to quilt it together, add binding, and applique the stars! I'll post pictures if I can ever remember to charge my camera, haha!

I've been rooting around trying to find some cute new patterns, and the jackpot has been found! Not only did the Calico Patch have a cute pattern for a 3-in-1 with a jelly roll, there are beautiful tutorials online that I'm just itching to dig my fingers into! I'm not sure how long I can keep my resolve to only have one project on the fire at once, they're all so cute!

NOW, after all that exhausting blubber, you might want to know a little about myself ;). If anyone (haha, right) has any questions I can go back and edit this thing, I presume. My name is Stephanie, but most people call me Steph or Steffi. Whatever floats yer boat :). I'm 23 ( a pisces) and engaged. I graduated college with an associates degree, and am currently living at home with my parents until we ( manly-man and I, i mean) can find a decent place to live. erm. well, my fav color is pink, but I'm pretty happy with all colors. I love LOVE paisley prints, and girly prints. I live in a small town in Kentucky, and talk like you'd probably expect me to - twang and all :). I love a good sweet tea, and baking. Sucker for animals - which I have three of. A massive cat, a yorkshire terrier, and a beagle/basset hound mix.

Hopefully I'll find some kindred spirits on here!