Batiks: What's Not to Like???

So when I started quilting, I must admit that I wasn't a huge fan of batiks, but as my skills grew, so did my appreciation for batiks.

I'm not sure why, but many modern quilters don't care for batiks. I just don't get it. Look at this quilt my mother-in-law just made. The pattern is called "grandmother's windmill". I love it. So vibrant, don't you think?


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A Potholder for Lady Marmalade (Tammy)

I always call her Marmalade Tammy because she's the one that owns Marmalade Fabrics.  I made her this potholder as a little thank you because I needed just a few lime green and orange fabrics for an upcoming potholder swap, but hated to buy much of either color because they're at the very bottom of the list of colors that I like.  However, it turned out pretty cute, if I do say so myself.  Tammy gave me some "scraps" (though in truth, there were at least 4 whole fat quarters plus other strips, too) to use.  I am having fun with these!   I quilted them with my roller foot and I used some vintage fabric on the back but forgot to take a picture.  I have 4 more that are ready to sandwich and quilt... Maybe we can have another early bedtime tonight!

Toooooo Busy

Playing with bento blocks, originally uploaded by nkiblueeyes.

Hey, everyone. :)

I've been too busy to sew. Too busy to blog. Feeling stressed.

These are some of the blocks I got in the mail last week from my Bento Block Online exchange. It seemed to take me For.Ev.Ah to get my blocks made, trimmed, quartered & squared up to send. I didn't particularly enjoy the process, frankly, but I'm really happy now that I've got all of these fun blocks to play with.

If only I had time to play! Since my retreat over Labor Day weekend, I haven't completely moved back into my sewing room. My ironing board cover (it's 5 feet long) is still in the garage and my design wall isn't back up yet. It's a really cool one that breaks down and fits into a bag, but two of the pieces broke, so I really need to order replacement parts. It still works, but it doesn't stand as well on it's own.

My life is a little busy lately & I'm feeling overcommitted in many ways. My Etsy shop has been terribly slow this month, so I don't have as much $ to play with. I've ordered some new fabric that'll be coming out in October, but just barely have enough quilting funds to cover what I've ordered. Not a fun feeling.

Hubs has been home a lot more since July but starts traveling again tomorrow. 4 or 5 days per week on an airplane. It's not so bad, but I'm craving routine. Ready to get on with it.

I've started taking a class through my church that is helping me shape an idea I have for a new business. It's not craft related, though. It's related to the education field & I will be able to work for myself doing consulting work. I can't see how to make enough $ for my time with crafting. Quilting for others is not something I particularly enjoy, although I'm going to take on two commission projects soon. One is a memory quilt and the other is a t-shirt quilt. For the amount of time invested in a quilt (or even a bag), I have a hard time selling things for what people will pay. I feel insulted. I'd rather just make something and give it away.

I still spend a fair amount of time on Quilts of Valor & I am in 2 bees. One of those bees is almost over & I don't think I'll re-commit. I'm trying to resist the temptation to do more swaps. I did a bow tie block swap last month and may make a few more to send in to swap. Will see.

I'm just feeling a little burned out and scattered. Needing to take a breath.

Still working on (and enjoying) my hexagons. Love that they're so portable. Enough rambling for one day. Thanks for reading this far & listening to me grumble. Will try to get out of this funk & back into my fun routine soon.

Hexagon progress

I got a little time yesterday afternoon to work on my hexagon quilt.  The kids were playing outside after school & it was so nice outside.  60's & sunny.  I sat under the umbrella on my patio and whipped out a dozen or so.  Took them with me to church last night & sewed a few more together.  See at the top of the picture there's a pile of unbasted hexies?  I'd like to get those basted today & tomorrow.  This weekend I can spend some time going thru my scraps to get more ready to baste. :)





In other news, I got back my Bento Blocks from a swap I participated in this summer.  They're a lot of fun!  I need to get my design wall back up in my attic (took it with me to my retreat week before last) so that I can play around with them.  So many possibilities!  Maybe I can work on that tonight.  If you'd like a sneak peek, here's my Flickr photostream.  There's a pic of some of the blocks laid out there.



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The Start of a New Quilt

I've fallen back into the relaxing habit of making hexagons.  In the past, I've had aspirations of making a whole quilt of these.  Not a small one, but something I could really snuggle up in.  After experimenting with different sizes, I've decided 1 inch hexagons are the best size for me.  This quilt will be 100% hand pieced.  It will take years to complete, most likely, but I'm enjoying the process.  Hexagons are so portable.  I have no design plan.  Just that I'm not going to repeat fabrics.  Sound a little insane?  Then you haven't seen my fabric stash, people.  My plan is to use only fabric that's already in my stash or scraps that I get from friends.  I might splurge on something really fabulous for the backing, but that's so far down the road that I'm not even going to worry about it.




Many thanks to my buddy Jennyweldingcaps for these and other awesome scraps.

I also have some scraps from the ever so generous Paula that I haven't even sorted out yet, but they're destined to be incorporated into this quilt and my quake quilt.

I'm always floored by the generosity of other quilters.  Thank you very much, my friends!  Let me know when I can return the favor!

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Retreating

Can I just tell you that I am a big proponent of getting away. When you're short with the ones you love. When your toenails have chipped away paint from months ago. When your lists are full of work and no play. When the city life is cramping your style. It's probably time to get out of Dodge.

First stop: trader joe's.





Then the liquor store. ;)




A 30 minute drive to this





Then this




Lots of nature





A labyrinth





A cozy cabin





Some unfinished projects















And a couple new projects











The Sex and the City DVD Boxed set, coffee, bailey's, wine, comfort food & solitude.

Priceless!





Then I met some of my KCMQG peeps for lunch











And made it home in time to celebrate dh's birthday with the in-laws










Hubs was exhausted & I feel appreciated & loved.





Clean house, new headboard for my bed. Loving kids. Can't ask for more.








Here's where I went if you'd like to get away, too!

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