Doctor Who *bouncy bouncy*

I am so excited about these. So excited. I have been working on and off on these embroidery blocks for what seems like forever. And I realized that I don't have any photos of those blocks here. Bad AJ. But, of course, now I do!

Really, truly back

So over the past month, I have started and not finished quite a few posts about moving and trying to get back to quilting and all that jazz. Yah. It just didn't happen. I moved out of my old place, which was infested with mold, into a new, much brighter space that has, gasp, a craft room! It is still in a state of major mess, but this weekend I finally got to my sewing machine and was able to work on some sewing for the new Project of Doom Quilt Along.

I'm super excited and it has been a lot of fun to watch everyone work on their quilts. It started the first week of January, but I haven't been able to get working on the blocks until now! I have been working on designing patterns requested by other quilters, so I have been participating, just in a slightly different manner. I will be blogging about those in the days and weeks to come, so stay tuned! But, I do have pictures of some of what I was working on this weekend for you, but, as I have been writing this and fighting with the photos, they don't want to do things properly. I won't torture you with sideways pictures, so I will have to retake them tonight and add them later.

And so while this post is woefully lacking photos (the best part of blogging land in my opinion), I am glad to have gotten started back on these blocks and blogging. Can't wait to enjoy the process!

Black and White and Read All Over!

Next up are the squares I have been working on for my black and white quilt through swaps. As I said in my previous post, I make sister squares to everything I send out. It's a great way to add to my black and white quilt.

I do think I am going to have to make sure I intersperse my squares with other ones so that I can break up the fact that I use a lot of the same fabrics. I mean, it makes sense. I have these and I don't go buy new fabric each time, but I should at least not put them right next to each other. 

Productive Weekend!

Hey there,

So, I am really excited that I am slowly starting to get through all of my projects. This is my project board.

I know, it's crazy. And it doesn't even start to list the non quilting projects I have in mind or need to finish. Yes, I know. I'm a little addicted. I am reminded of the regularly.

But I did finish up a dog bed this weekend for my baby. I haven't been letting him have his rug in the living room because I have been using it to cut fabric quite a bit, so I thought I owed him something soft to lay on when he wants to whine at me.

I also finished up the second of the three quilts from the first group of children rescued from slavery in Ghana by Mercy Project.

This one is going to the director's family. I'm really excited to have this finished and can't wait to get it over to the family. While it isn't the best job of quilting I have done, I do like the back.

It has signatures from all different supporters, children and adults, of Mercy Project at our church. I really like it. I would have been able to give it to them today, but the mom and dad just got to spend a few days with their adopted son in Ghana while they wait for paperwork to clear. It has been kinda crazy for them with everything, but they are praying that they get to bring their son home in the fall.

I also got all the color fabric cutting done for a new quilt I am starting with my yellow and blue batiks. I'm calling it "Night Sky" and it is based off of the Sparkle Punch pattern by Elizabeth Hartman found in Fon's and Porter's The Art of Quilting. I'm going to expand the pattern to fit a queen sized bed, as well as try to make it a little more random. Yes, I love the random. I'm using a black background, which I haven't started cutting. I also am going to use a blue and yellow scrappy binding for it. I really do love scrappy bindings, so it will be fun, especially with the black. I kinda want to work on getting some of the items on that list of doom up there cleared off, especially since I am going to be moving soon. This quilt doesn't have to be finished right now, just finished sometime.

The next quilt I started this weekend (yes, I know, addict) is the Aiming for Accuracy quilt. I am using my pink, orange, and purple batiks for this one and found this awesome dark chocolate fabric to go with it. Unless it's held next to black, you can't tell it is black, which is awesome. It just is a little softer than if I had gone with black. And mind you, I drug all of these fabrics to the fabric store to find the best color. I think I am going to wait until the sale in a few weeks to get the backing fabric for this, which I would like to be the same color. This quilt might end up being a present, so the idea that it is all fancy and such is nice.

And if all of this isn't enough, I also worked on gridding and cutting shirts for a t-shirt quilt I am donating to a school I worked for this last year. It isn't anything super fancy, but I am lining it with bright yellow flannel and putting both sides of the shirts in the quilt.

The fronts of the shirts will make up the front of the quilt, and the backs will make up the backs. It is very similar to my sweatshirt quilt that I made for myself. It's a three by three quilt, so I got a third of them done today. I am trying my best to make sure that I have each image centered as much as possible on the shirt, so it's taking a little more time. I like it well enough, but I am glad to get it off my board. There will be some trimming after I get everything cut out and X quilted, but right now, each block is 15" x 17". We'll see what it finally works out to be.

And yah, I was busy this weekend. I left the house for the dog park and to go grocery shopping. I know, cloistered away, but I feel really productive. I actually am working like I feel like I had thought I would be working all summer. I really want to get a lot of those projects on the list off before I leave. That way, I know that I am moving quilts, rather than lots of pieces of fabric that could get strewn from here to Seattle.

FINISHING!!

Okay, so I am really excited to say that I have finished one of my quilts that I have been needing to finish.

This quilt is going to be a part of the Mercy Project's Annual Art Auction. Funds will go to help the organization provide economic development to villages in Ghana in exchange for the release of the children they own as slaves. I talked more about this when I first introduced this group of quilts here. I have been working on and off on these quilts for a while, so I am excited to finally be finishing up, at least on one. I still have two more to finish: a surprise one for the program director and his wife who are adopting the only true orphan in this rescue and then another one for me. I had the opportunity to visit these children last summer before they were rescued, so I wanted to make one for myself. Also, I have a few extra hand prints, so I am going to use those to make a table runner for one of the other staff members. I had wanted to make her a quilt as well, but they didn't bring back enough hand prints.

So, some of the details about this quilt that I am really proud of are the corners of the binding, which actually look mitered correctly and my back. While it isn't perfect, I have incorporated a hanging pocket, which is a first for me. I'm proud that there aren't any huge buckles in the fabric. Now off to finish my other two quilts, as well as another quilt that needs to be assembled right quick. I really would like to have all of these off my board this week. Here's to hoping!

If you are interested in purchasing this quilt, click through here! Auction closes at 5pm central on 6/11/2013

Blargh

Hey there,

So, today really doesn't have much of anything, be it that I had a weekend-long wedding I was at and a day's worth of suffering  through the flu/food poisoning/allergic reaction or whatnot. I finally made it in to work today, which I am starting to think is no small feat. One hour in and all I have been doing is sitting and I'm about ready to nap. This might be a shorter day than normal for me, but at least I showed up. That's my biggest concern, that I don't get in to work because I only work part time during the summer so every hour counts.

But, even besides getting sick, the weekend was wonderful. One of my good friends got married at a beautiful and wonderful ceremony and then we all got to hang out and have lots of fun.

As for quilting and such, I have mostly been working on my Auction quilts. I think I will only have one for this auction, but I feel that is perfectly fine due to the fact that the other quilt I had been thinking about doing for the auction is less of an art quilt and more of a very fun, goofy, tee shirt quilt. Unfortuantely, there are not any pictures right now. I did get my second (and last) borders finished up, so as soon as they are attached, basting, quilting, and binding must be done and then I am done! So optimistic, aren't I?

And that doesn't even begin to list out all of the other quilts I have going. Maybe one day, I will have my footer be an update of where I am on all my quilts or digital copy of my quilt board. I think that might be something for a future post.

Also this last week, I delved into the world of designing my own paper piecing quilts. I really need to learn how to make big pieces first, because I have quite a few pieces for my blocks (try like 15 different small sections on one. I can't remember on the other). I just need to keep practicing. But that really was for my modification of PoD pattern. I'm adding and modifying quite a bit, but that's part of the fun!

Also, I am starting to think through the process of making a Firefly Quilt Along quilt. Not one of those light up bug quilts, though I have a love for them as well, but one based on the ended-before-its-time, one-season-long TV show Firefly. It might also have some pieces of the movie Serenity as well, just because, well, it would be a good idea... We'll see. I'll keep you up to date on that as things progress.

Almost there

** Written Last week**

My students. I really should have just a blog to keep track of their antics, but I guess I will just mention today’s entertainment here. As an ESL support individual, I am here to help them in their regular classes, specifically English. Right now, we are prepping for finals, which include an essay during their testing period. I had to have a conversation with one of them telling them that if they don’t finish their essay, they won’t get a chance to finish it. This was after telling the same student that their activity for the day was to write a practice essay. I had to tell him about a dozen times. Only then did he put his computer away. Yes, this is my life on a daily basis.

But, that aside, I was able to finish up some wonderful things yesterday, one of which being a test for my licensure in Washington. I am still waiting for my scores for my writing portion, but I passed everything else. Yay! One step closer to being a productive member of society in Seattle!

In addition to my test, I also have finished up a gift quilt for one of my friends. I’ve been working on this one for a while now, trying to get everything put together with this. Handprints and verses were done by other members of the small group I am in, but assembling it and finishing it has been on me. 

Also, I have more finished blocks to share. I didn't do all of these in the last day, but I am excited to document them. The two starburst stars are from this tutorial which I really like. I might just have to make more of these in the future. 

And, as always, there are blocks for PoD. These are blocks two and three. Slowly working on it. 

It seems to keep getting backburnered with everything else going on, such as quilts for the Mercy Project art auction, my random desires to clean, and such. Such is life though. That's why I have started it so early. That way, I know they will be finished. 

Is it over yet?

Hey world,

So, I am back. Or I think I am. It has been kind of crazy around here. Teaching and what not means that there is this thing called graduation. And they kinda like teachers going to all the stuff for seniors. Yep. Well, and then there is family. Even though they are a few thousand miles away, still doesn't mean they don't shake things up. And then there is the process of getting up to Seattle and everything that goes along with that. I'm moving in August, so I've been trying to get my teaching license and everything transferred  That equals lots of testing. Blah. So yah. I have been busy with that and cleaning and napping and quilting and vacuuming. All that to say, I have my reasons for not being here. There are going to be some quilts coming out of the crazy, I promise, but for now, I'll just show what I have been working on.

Not a lot of pictures of what I have been getting in my swaps, just because things became so busy, but I have continued to do swaps. And I have picked up doing quilt alongs. I'm having fun with those. I even am going to try my hand at embroidery for one. Yes, I know, just a little crazy. I'm happy with it though.

So, in looking at my photos, this is the only current quilt along that I have a picture of. I am working on an old quilt along called a Project of Doom quilt. Well, that leads you to the hosting website, but you get the idea. Lots of fun.

And before you say anything, I do know that two of them look somewhat similar. Trial and error. Playing around with paper piecing. I actually started this project before I did the TARDIS one. After doing that one, I have no complaints whatsoever about the PoD squares. So much easier.

Also in the midst of everything, I got to help a friend of mine make her first quilt! Isn't she adorable! Yes there are some issues with it, but she made it pretty much on her own. I coached, but she did everything from fabric shopping, which was an adventure, to quilting and binding!

Last, but not least, would be my squares for my swap-bot swaps. I only have pictures of one round right now, but I will get up more as I can. I do different square swaps and to memorialize them, I also sew a square in my colors, which are black and white (yes, I know, let's just not talk about how many quilts and sewing projects I have going). 

The blue and white one went to my swap partner and the black and white one stayed with me! I really love how it turned out, especially with the white on white prints I used. I don't think they really show in the picture, but I like them. 

And that's it. There will be more to come in the coming days, I promise!

And we are back!

**Edit: I wrote this on Monday, but just now got around to putting pictures in and posting. Just so you know.**

Hey world,

I had meant to get another post finished last week, but life just got going a little to quickly with the holiday weekend.

Tuesday finished wonderfully after my post. Because I had taken some time to nap, I didn't feel exhausted when I got home from work. I even got to sew! It is such a crazy concept of having that time in the evening to myself. I got to cut and put together the first of three quilts that I am making with hand print squares from a non profit with which I am associated.

The non profit is Mercy Project, and they are working in Ghana to free child slaves who have to work 16 hour days on the main lake, fishing for their masters.

The idea is to focus on improving the villages with business knowledge and the start up for cage fishing, something that is sustainable and will supplement (not replace) the village fisherman's income enough to not need the children to work. Last summer, I had the opportunity to travel with the program and visit quite a few different places in Ghana.

The hand prints in these quilts are handprints from the first group of children rescued through the fish cages from the village of Adovepke.

The first group of FORMER child slaves!

Leaving the village for GOOD.

While these are not all of the children rescued from the first village as some had already been integrated back into their original families, these represent the first children accepting freedom through the program.

It is exciting. The first quilt will be going to the Mercy Project Art Auction early this summer, with the second going to the family that runs Mercy Project as a surprise. The third will be sticking around my house for me :-). I know, kinda selfish, but I really enjoy being a part of this organization, both through traveling with them and supporting them here at home.

In addition to working on the quilt, there have been lots of swaps coming in! Yay for swaps!

In addition to working on my swaps, I finished all of the assembling of the squares for my 2.5" Royal Squares quilt. Woohoo! (It was sometime last week, but who really cares as long as they are finished?) Now comes time for all of the quilt as you go stuff before I can finally assemble it and then sew together the back and bind! It feels like it actually is getting closer to being done. I can't wait!

And last, but certainly not least, is Easter! It was a good, if challenging, time for me. My father was in town, which led to some tension, but I was able to say what needed to be said on my part. I got to dye eggs with my "adopted" family on Saturday.

Yes, we are all adults. And we are dying eggs. We have to get like six or seven different egg kits just for the fun of it. We ended up dying five dozen eggs. It was so much fun. These were the ones I did! Yay!

And of course, we had to have an Easter Egg hunt on Easter. There was only one person under 25 (who was 3), but it is the tradition. It was lots of fun. The guys hid the eggs, and then walked around the property while the women hunted.

We found all but three, two hard boiled and one plastic, but out of 95 eggs, that's pretty good!

I hope your Easter went well and you are starting to recover from the holidays!

And it's Monday again... How did that happen?

***I wrote this at work. While at work, I referenced pictures on my phone. I then proceeded to leave my phone at work. Yep. Pictures will be posted tomorrow.***

***Edit #2: I decided to go back to work and get my phone. Now there are pictures.***

While I was on Spring Break, I just got caught up with what was going on. Well, that and sleeping. I love breaks when I can sleep as much or as little as I want and whenever I want. But the downside is I don't post. Such is life. There was a lot of adventures that were had and a lot of sewing that was done. Even some cleaning too!

Tuesday I went with some "family" (I call them family. They are all but) to Moody Gardens in Galveston. It was a lot of fun. I realized I'm finally at the place in life where I don't care if I look like a little kid or not, I am going to oooh and aaah over everything, point at stuff, and get excited. I took lots of pictures (just haven't uploaded them yet), made smash pennies to commemorate the trip, and even brought home a friend.

His name is Porter after my favorite seal at the exhibit. I know, I'm a dork. But he is just so soft, and the real Porter had such a wonderful story.

Thursday was quite the adventure as well. I handled the most cash I ever had handled to buy a car by myself (mostly) for the first time. E and I drove to Houston where we met her dad and the owner of the Jeep I ended up buying. So nerve wracking. Long story short, I had to buy a car before today (which successfully happened), which ended up happening! It has its own little quirks, but overall, she is a better rig than the one I lost.

And then came the cleaning. I have been considering taking in one of the international students at my school for the summer (which means I would lose my craft storage room), and for that to happen, I need to get my house in good condition (I am not the most organized person in the world). It is slow going, but I am starting to see the makings of a clean house! Yay!

Cleaning necessitated a trip to the dollar store (which is quite dangerous), which means I acquired quite a bit of smaller storage items, as well as some stuff to spruce up the place.

And of course, I have been sewing! Yay for sewing! I'm actually surprised that the end of this quilt is coming together as quickly as it has been. It is my first 2.5" square quilt. I started collecting these a little over six months ago due to Mary of The Curious Quilter running a PSQ swap that I stumbled upon. It was really cool, I learned lots of things, and then I became hooked!

This is what I have assembled so far

And these are what I have been working on

Hopefully they will be finished here soon so I can start on the hand stitching of the backs and then bind it. The end is in sight! How wonderful.

Last, I have been receiving swaps! So exciting. Saturday, my dog went bazerk at the postman when he came to drop off my goodies. I received five bandannas and five Easter eggs! So exciting. My offerings for these are either waiting in my mail crate or are already in the mail.

And then today, when I came home, I had more packages in the mail! Lots of green for the day!

To sum it up, lots of swapping and lots of quilting happening, which is really exciting. I didn't get around to working on the projects I had actually planned on completing, but I'm okay with that. I still have some other aspects I need to finish on one of my gift quilts before it can be finished, but I feel like it will be finished fairly soon as well. At least, that's what I hope!