February 28, 2009

Some small projects finished....

So today was a good day in the sewing room or as I like to call my little craft room. 

 I am addicted to the ideas highlighted on Sew, Mama, Sew! and this month has to be my favorite... fat quarters! They have all sorts of projects you can do with fat quarters and since I am addicted to fq's this was right up my alley.  One of the projects was a passport wallet.  I've always wanted one of these but never really found one I liked. 


  I actually stuck to the pattern for once, haha and it was pretty quick and easy to do.  If I were to redo this though, I think I would put a super heavy duty interfacing in between the outside and lining to make it hold up a little better.  

I also finished up my cow obsessed friend's pot holders.  I LOVE the way these have come out!

I can't wait to show her!!

Hope everyone has had a good Saturday!  
Take care mucho!
-Natalie 


February 25, 2009

Funny story....

So I have decided to start my own little "sign off".  From now on I will end all my posts with Take Care Mucho and here is the story where it all began.....

One night my friend was over when my mom happened to call.  I talked to her quickly in Spanish (both my parents are from Ecuador, and well to ensure we retained the language we had to speak to them in Spanish....OR ELSE, haha, so out of habit now my sisters and I still speak to them in Spanish)  

Back to the story ... so before hanging up the phone I say "te quiero mucho" (translated = "love you").  

Friend: Oh that is so cute, you say te quiero mucho 

Me:  (with a "what? " face) I always say that to my parents.

Friend:  I had never heard that before.

Me: Really??? It just means 'love you'

Friend: (with an ah-hah expression starts to giggle) I thought you said 'take care mucho' ...like take care a lot.

So after using it numerous times in phone conversations with this friend as a joke I thought it was a good unique phrase.  Plus I usually sign off all my e-mails and phone conversations with "take care" so it seems like a natural progression.  

And because I don't like to post without a picture I thought I would share something I do "take care mucho" my "kids"!


Hope everyone does take care mucho!!


February 24, 2009

I feel so productive today...

I have actually gotten a few things knocked off my "To Sew" list.... on a Tuesday.... after work!
Oh and seeing my tax guy and cooking dinner was somewhere in there too.  

First I pin basted my OP challenge quilt, though not after finding more cloud fabric and changing the border to the backing, haha.  I just didn't like the other blue as much.  The color was fine but I just love the clouds for some reason.  

this is the front

this is the back

Then I did  little project for a friend.  She is obsessed with cows and just moved in to her own apartment.  So when I saw the cow fabric I knew I had to do something for her with it.  I decided on pot holders.  I still need to hand sew the bias tape around but you get the idea.  It was the first one I have made and it was pretty easy.  The thing that took the longest was the quilting and it really wasn't bad at all.  I started and almost finished it tonight!  I have the second one cut out and I think I'll be able to assemble it tomorrow.  

Hope everyone had at least a somewhat productive day!  

February 22, 2009

I finally finished....

Oh NO! not the entire quilt.... I wish! I did however finish my quilt backing. 

This is the front.... in case you had forgotten.

 I love the way it has turned out!  It took longer than I had expected but still not too bad at all.  I now have to sandwich it and pin baste it.  I hope to do that and have it quilted by the end of the week (let's cross our fingers!)

I have had such a great time during the OP retreat.  I have met so many other quilters all around the world.  Thank you to you all for making my first virtual retreat such fun!!

I'll keep you posted on the finished OP quilt.


And the WINNER is.....

I forgot to post my winner to yesterdays apron, dishtowel and orange fabric giveaway.  

And (drum roll please!)
the winner is....

Melissa from Utah!!!

Melissa I just wrote you an e-mail so please check it out.

To everyone who participated, THANK YOU!!! for commenting and playing along this weekend.  It is so fun to hear from you all and see what everyone is doing.  I get so inspired by you all!

Keep sewing you orange fanatics :)

One project is done...


So this is the final day of the OP challenge and I do have at least one project finished this far.  I finishing sewing and quilting my coasters together and I really and loving the way the turned out.  I have to say I am addicted to the bright oranges now.  
Sarah if you are reading this, they are finished!! What do you think?


As for my original OP challenge quilt... I got inspired by the zig zag quilt Pat posted the first day.  As you all now know I have to put my twist to it so I am imagining a green center patch, and orange zig zag boarder and finish it off with a blue sashing all around.  I am sure that I am not describing it well but I am hoping to have a picture posted later today to show you.  

New goal for today is finish piecing the back and pin baste it al together.  Let's see how successful I can be :) 

Oh and don't forget to see who is part of Pat's blog hop today.  There are some more GIVEAWAYS!!! you can't pass up on that chance.

February 21, 2009

A little progress....

So I haven't been too productive, sewing that is,  today.... it ended up being quite a full day off errands that I didn't intend to run, haha.  Oh well I did finish putting the sashing on my OP challenge quilt.  I need to work on the back - that is tomorrows task...


As promised I worked on some more "traditional" square.  I was inspired by La Vie en Rose to make mini squares to create coasters.  These "sunshine" coasters are going to a friend who is always a fan of my hand made goodies.  


I will hopefully get pictures of finished projects tomorrow.... that is my goal, we will see what reality brings, haha :)

OH! and for those of you participating in my giveaway....
Please post a comment by midnight eastern standard time to be eligible for the give away.  

My OP Giveaway day!!!


Ok I am very sorry that it is so late in the morning before I post this but I just had to sleep in today because I was quite exhausted from my day yesterday.  I even decided to piece most of the top last night despite my posting.  What do you think?

I know it is totally different but I do love the way it turned out.  I also have to confess that I wasn't an orange fan but I have definitely converted!!! I loved going shopping for this weekend. I actually bought way too much so will be trying to make a more "traditional" top today since I went a little crazy yesterday, haha.  

Also I am part of Pat's blog hop so there is a giveaway in order, YAY!!!

As I posted before I am giving away an apron and dish towel, I know I know not at ALL orange.  I tell you it was totally out of my comfort zone.  
So, in the ORANGE spirit, I have added to my giveaway an orange fat quarter bundle from Sew Mama Sew to add to someone's OP.  Check out the link to see the fabrics you will be receiving!! I actually think I am going to order me one too, haha.  I think Pat has made me an orange freak now :)

All you have to do is comment on this posting and you will be in the running.  Let me know how you are doing with your OP challenge and if you are a weirdo, haha, like me and did something totally different.  I love to hear from you!

Happy Orange sewing!

February 20, 2009

First OP Post....

I can't believe that my first post for the OP challenge is happening at 9:30.  My day started off quite nicely, finding out that my first two periods of teaching today were cancelled due to a filed trip... then the afternoon hit and it was a whirlwind! I survived and got home as soon as I could to get started on my OP squares, well errrr.... it's more like my twist to the squares, haha.

So as I read Pat's posting at work this morning I had every intention to stick to her pattern and even created some templates on the computer and colored them in to see how I wanted to play around with the colors.  I did after all have an extra two periods of class to creatively think.  
Then I got home and started working and well I got inspired to stopped after step two of the block and started playing around.  This is what resulted.  
Ah... yeah I know totally  NOT what the block even looks like, haha. I fell in love with the cloud fabric and the brightness of all the colors together that I decided to make it childish and transformed what I thought would be a lap quilt into a play mat quilt.  I think the fabric is perfect for it!  It just screams a bright sunny day out in the grass.  I have to make one more- oh oops I should say half of one more of Pat's block (haha), to complete the right side and of course I have to actually sew it all together... though I think that is going to happen tomorrow ;)

Stop by tomorrow I am on Pat's blog hop and will have a giveaway!!  I have even decided to add to what was already posted so you have to come back and check it out :) 


February 19, 2009

Off to the post office...

It's a big post office day!  I have to say I don't think I have taken these many things to the post office ever.  I usually don't go at all, to tell you the truth, but every since I have joined this bloggy world I am using the good 'old post way more  I guess I can say I am helping out this economy in troubled times, haha.  

1st-  to go today are my nine dark blue color blocks for the Color Block Swap.    I am pleased with the way they came out and hope that my swap mates feel the same way.  I am very curious to see how all of them will look together.  I'll let you know when they arrive.  



2nd- I joined the spring fat quarter swap and these two Michael Miller fq's will be heading towards Linda in Florida.  I hope she likes and makes something beautiful with them.

3rd- I also joined the Sew Mama Sew! fq swap.  There is a team of us involved for this one so Michelle, Mona, Monica, and Nancy will get one of these.  Which by the way I would go and check out SMS all this month because they have the cutest projects to do with fqs!  

Can you tell I am having way too much fun with this swap business.  I am really excited to see what fq's and blocks end up coming my way.  Stay posted...


ps- I wanted to apologize for the awful pictures that I have had up lately but... I have my good camera back! So starting tomorrow much better pics will come your way :) 

February 16, 2009

It's been a while...

So I am a little disappointed with my lack of sewing this long weekend :( but my little companion always puts me in a good mood and wanted to share with everyone how he converted my OP "Orange Pile" as his pillow.  

Speaking of the OP retreat... It starts this Friday the 20th and goes until Sunday.    It is hosted by Pat, (you can read up about the retreat on my sidebar).  I am really looking forward to a WAY more productive sewing weekend.   Along with the retreat, different blogs/ businesses that are participating are giving away some goodies.  I have decided to give away the following

It's a cute toolbelt style apron and a matching dishtowel.  I love this pear print! especially paired up with the waffle weave white cotton.  I hope that the recipient will get some good use out of it.  

Now to change the subject a little bit this is the project I am working on for my friend.  She confessed to me that she's never had a quilt.  So of course I had to change that.  

I used my first Michael Miller fat quarter pack that I got from the fat quarter shop.  I have decided to add another row of 5 squares to make it a little longer.  I will keep you posted on the progress.
Hope everyone had a great Presidents Day Weekend!

February 10, 2009

giveaways and swaps.... oh how I love them!


So between yesterday and today I have joined a swap and of course put my entry in for a giveaway.   This picture really doesn't have much to do with either one of these posts but I hate to post without a pic.  So I thought I would show one of my bins of fabric, since the swap is all about fabric after all.

The swap is one of my favorite kinds.... a fat quarter swap, hosted by SewMamaSew.  I love their blog!! Please click on the link if you want to participate.  The more the merrier and it is really easy.  All they ask is that you get 4 fat quarters out and send it to 4 different people.  Those 4 people will then send you one each and you get 4 NEW fq's!  I am a huge fan of fat quarters as you may have picked up on from previous posts.  I think the creativity is endless with them.

Now to the GIVEAWAY....

Everyone always loves a good giveaway and Shey B is giving away one of her SUPER CUTE camera straps.  They are removable too so you can always buy one and put in your entry for another one to interchange them.  My Lily Eden is hosting the giveaway so head over to her blog and take a look around.  Don't forget to leave a comment and get an entry in there. 

I had to come back to my post and write what I just discovered.  I must have been so excited about the camera strap give away that I didn't realize that My Lily Eden was actually doing 7 days of different giveaways!!! Shey B was the third day but there is still a chance to win from days 1 and 2.  So remember to check back every day :)  

Happy swapping and givingaway!

February 6, 2009

A few things...

I have a few things to catch up on with my postings.  I have had such a crazy week that I haven't had too much time with my computer.  First I want to show off my Michael Miller fat quarter pack from the Fat Quarter Shop.  I signed up for the monthly mailings and I LOVE THEM!!  It took me a little time to figure out what I was going to do with January's fabrics but I finally made up my mind and have started cutting up the pieces.  I'll be posting about it soon.  February has brought beautiful greens into my stash.  I am looking forward to creating this quilt (whirrlywiggle) with these fabrics.  


I also finally finished the simple striped baby quilt.  It was an easy project with a nice reward at the end.  I really like the way this one ended up.  I have the pink one cut up and ready to sew.  



And lastly Karen (no blog) was my partner for a homemade toy swap and sent me these cute blocks that her 2 and 4 year old helped make.  I thought it was such a cute idea! I will be adding more blocks with different patterns to give to my nephew when he is a tad bit older.  

I think I am finally caught up for now.  Hopefully after the weekend I will have more finished projects to share.  
Happy Friday!

February 5, 2009

My OP


So I have joined in on the fun of the OP (Orange Pile) Challenge, hosted by Pat.  It is a little sewing retreat in the comfort of your own home.  If you want to join or read up on the challenge check out the link on the sidebar.  
The only thing we know so far about the challenge is that we needed orange fabric (obviously) and a "buddy" fabric.  I had so much fun at the fabric store.  I love the color combo and how bright they are.  I think we may need one more accent color which I am planning on making the green in the fabric at the bottom of the pile (hard to see, I know).  

February 4, 2009

Talking Stash....

Sew Mama Sew is having participants talk about their fabric stash and I thought that sounded fun since I just went fabric shopping (my favorite!).   So here goes....

What do you usually sew?
I love to make quilts.  Though I make a little of everything.

When you shop for fabric, what size cuts to do you usually buy? (i.e. If you see something beautiful, but you don't have a use for it right away, how much do you buy?)
I usually buy 1/2 a yard of fabric.  I feel like that is enough to create something of substance.

Do you buy on impulse or do you go out looking for something you need?
I usually buy things I am looking for since I don't have too much storage space, but if I am out and I see something I really like I grab a half yard.  

Are you a pre-washer?  If you are, do you wash your fabric before you need it, or only when you are ready to use it?
I never prewash my fabrics.  I always forget and haven't really had any problems because of it.  

Do you iron it?
I definitely iron my fabric before cutting.  It makes cutting much easier especially when using a rotary cutter. 

How do you sort it? (color, print size, collection, etc.)
I sort by color for the most part, but also by kind of fabric.  

Do you have any special folding techniques?
I don't have any particular folding techniques though I have read some blogs that share some easy ways to fold using your rotary cutter ruler that I am thinking of doing to makes my stash look a little better.

How do you store your  fabric?
I have elfa shelves from the container store that my folded fabric all goes in.  

What tips do you have for building up a well-rounded stash?
Honestly with time you stash builds no matter what you do.  I feel as though you really do have to buy small fat quarters and half yards as you fall in love with them.  

When do you say enough is enough?
When I have 10 unfinished projects waiting 

What are some of your favorite stash-busting projects?
I love lap quilts!  You can use so much of your fabric and come out with a great usable piece.  

Do you have a current favorite print in your stash? Let's see it!
I have so many that I love but I have one that I just got today.  I know you have seen it before.  


What's your definition of the perfect stash? (Consider sharing a picture or two of your stash & storage, or direct us to a pic on Flickr!)
A perfect stash is one that whenever you look in for a project you have stuff to work with.  This can be very different for many people.   I'll show you mine.... it still isn't ideal but last year I was on quite a budget so I couldn't contribute too much.  

February 1, 2009

my machine is back!!!


I got my machine back and it is looking great!! I was so relieved when I got the call only one week after drop off , and pleasantly surprised since they told me it would be two or three weeks when I dropped it off.  But she is all clean and working great.  


I even started some projects right away. 



This is a baby blanket I made from the Last-Minute Patchwork & Quilted Gifts book.  I didn't follow the size specifications but I did use their techniques.  I will be adding the decorative quilted bits hopefully this week.  I have had this fabric in my stash for way too long and I think it has come out SO cute.  I have the same fabric in pink and brown stripes and think I am going to make it with a white backing.   It is a pretty quick project too which I am always a fan of.  Instant gratification ... you can't beat it.  
I am holding true to my New Years resolution on finishing up projects and fabric that I already have.  I feel so accomplished and it's only the first of February!