Savy Sewing Summary

I've had lots of time to spend in the sewing room over the last week.  Here's what I've been up to:

--CONNECTING THREADS FABRIC DESIGN CONTEST--

As Happy as a Hippo!!

To all of you who have voted for "As Happy as a Hippo," thank you from the bottom of my heart! With one week left in round one, I have received more votes than I ever thought I would get and I'm humbled. 

The top 5 designs with the most votes go to round two, I'm looking like a major underdog, but have learned so much from this experience!

If you like, click the image to vote, it's four rows down on the left.  Thank you for making this such a positive experience for me!!

--GETTING MORE ORGANIZED--

This may be the case with you too, but I have a lot of bent pins in my pin cushion.  I honestly think that all this time I have been using pins that I purchased in my high school years.  I shutter to think about how many moves these pins have made with me.

It was time for a change.  I removed all the bent pins and pinned them to a scrap piece of paper that I later folded up and put in the garbage.  Trying to do my best to not hurt anyone with them.  I put the other straight pins in a spare (and I'm guess handmade by me in my younger days) pin cushion.  The ones I left on my pin cushion jar were a few 'pretty' ones that had been pinned in fabric that was thrifted to me.

  

 I treated myself the other day to these beauties.  Just look at those popping Caribbean sunshine bright colors!!!

I ripped open the package and quickly stuck them all in my jar.  And my work space is all the happier to have them along for the creative journey!!  A pinning we will go!

--IN PROGRESS--

Big Blue

Yes, it finally has a name!!  Since this quilt is for my Giants football loving husband and it's all sorts of lovely shades of blue I shall be calling this quilt Big Blue.  And, I have nearly finished piecing this top!!

Backing up for a moment I should also mention that I started with Colored Bricks pattern from Stitched in Color.  I made the sashing a little wider.  The top a little bigger.  And instead of random placement of the bricks, I decided on an organized pattern to suit the mister.  You can see a bit more here and here.

X Marks the Spot

I laid out my backing.  Taped it down (with the clear stuff... masking tape was hiding somewhere in my closet -- don't laugh Mr. Happy)

Smoothed on the cotton batting.  I used Warm and Natural this time around and really really like it!  So smooth, no puckering, nice to the touch, not too stiff.  Pretty excited to see how it quilts too!

Then I laid out the top and smoothed smoothed.  Then pin, pin, pinned.  I probably don't use as many pins as others.  I'm a rebel that way.  So, the next natural question is how should I quilt this?  Any thoughts?  I have done the last few with free motion loopies... my comfort zone.. I wouldn't mind branching out to something else.

Yup, I'm falling hard for this one all over again!  Looking forward to start stitching... I bet I will be winding bobbins with peach thread tonight in anticipation!!

Oh, and here is a portion of the scrappy backing I made up using left overs and larger pieces. When I get a better shot... you will see there is a giant X on the back.  Too cool!

Color Wheel Charm Swap

I am cutting my charms for this swap!

I got the colors Orange and Orange-Red.  Looking forward to playing with all the colors of the rainbow shortly!

And last, but not least, I joined another quilt-a-long by Melissa at Happy Quilting. 

Remember the last one we did with her: Tribal? 

I am going to call this one Star Struck.

Star Struck

Remember those vintage sheet fat quarters?  I decided that I will be using them to make up the stars.  And because I never just go along with the crowd, I am going to try and use this light brown flannel as the background color.  Can't wait to make up the first few stars!!

--ON PAUSE--

{Insert Name Here}: Bottled Rainbows {ticker tape quilt-along}

I am looking froward to getting back to this one, but decided I needed a finish, so this one was put aside. 

Crewel Spring Flowers

Nada -- poor pretty flowers.

Katie Fiber Art

No action here.

You Can Sew-a-thon!!

You haven't heard of it??... check it out here or read about our first project (Strawberry Pincushion).

This Week's Work in Progress (WiP) Stats:

Last WiP Wednesday Total: 6
New Projects: 1 (officially added Star Struck)

Finished Projects: 0 (But getting closer on two)
Total WiP's: 7 (strangely still the same as last time)

Happy Hippo Coloring Pages {free}

I hope you are having a lovely Monday. 

I am camera-less today... so no origami bookmark tutorial -- that will have to wait another day.  Instead, how about some 'Happy Hippo' coloring pages?  Is there a point where someone is too old for a coloring page?  I hope not. 

 

So, print a few out.  One for you.  One for the kiddos or little's.  One for the neighborhood kids. 

Break out your markers, color pencils, or crayons and enjoy the freedom of creating!!

You can download a PDF file with all three pages here.  {for personal use only}

Shameless plea:  Please vote for my 'As Happy as a Hippo' fabric design at the Connecting Threads contest by August 31st.  I am four rows down on the left... hippo design; of course!  Your vote gets me to round two... and thank you for your continued support to reach my designing dream!!

Lend Me Your Votes!!?!

I did it.  I entered my fabric design in the Connecting Threads fabric design contest.  Here is a peak at what was up my sleeve.  It's called "As Happy as a Hippo!"  Wouldn't this make an awesome addition to a quilt? 

Hope you are nodding your head yes.... in order for my designing dream to come true I need your help to vote it to the top five so I can get to round two! 

Here is the link... 

I am on the first page, three four rows down on the right left.  

Thank you so much for your help and can't wait to crank out a few coordinating fabrics for round two!  Then it will be free fabric for all of us!!  Big party style!!

XOXO

Happy Moment #19: Quilt Designer

A Friday ritual with Soulemama.  A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary, happy moment.  A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments too!

“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.”

~Omar Khayyam

Straight from the Design Wall

Things are brewing over here.  Happily brewing into a criss-crossy loveliness!

Here's the re-arrangement on my design wall...

What do you think?  

I am still contemplating whether or not this is too much solid all at once... and at the same time I am tempted to bring in another solid. 

Still not really sure where this will all land, but I am so enjoying these quiet moments while the brewing happens.  Silly tv show on, dog at my feet, natural light bulb keeping the winter blues at bay.

Flowers and Mug Rugs

The Mr. brought me flowers. *swoon*

These are cyclamen and the color just perks me up every time I see them!

 Aren't the leaves pretty too!

I was working on some small mug rug projects for my brother and his fiance last night.  He got engaged this year and I thought it would be fun to make him a little memento of that memory. 

I will probably stitch in the date they picked to get married to help him remember when to show up -- I kid, I kid!

Designing these are fun.  My brother proposed under a full moon, so I was trying to depict a beach with a starry night sky and big round full moon.  Lots of fun!!

Hers corresponds with a big 'ole YES! and that white triangle will be fashioned into the diamond of a ring.  (excuse the lumpiness in this photo)

They have selected blues and yellows for their July wedding theme.  I think that makes these even more special since I'm using those colors!  I have already picked out the backing and binding and hopefully these will finish up easily tonight!

I think I will package these will a little hot cocoa to make these into a cute joint gift!

Pierre Announces the Little Birdie Winner!!

Pierre's regrets he could not make today's post (he was lost on my sewing bench somewhere, so missed out on the group photos), but he has instead sent his friends Basile, Cosme, Gustave, and Louis to announce the WINNER of the Little Fabric Birdie Giveaway!!

Aren't French names just wonderful for these little feathered friends?

Winner winner chicken dinner!!  -- don't you love saying that... quick... what movie is that quote from?

There were 15 entries.... and some very happy things shared...

... and the winner is...

drum roll please

... Congratulations to Seaweed and Raine who said:

The scent of summer in the air after a ripping summer storm, the giggle of my one year old son when he sees something that you or I would normally miss, and giving gifts to others makes me happy! :)

Whoopie!  Don't we all love a fun giveaway?!!

Anywho, I spent last night cutting more Fandango (shared the strip tease yesterday here).  The pattern I'm making up is starting to become more clear. 

Don't you just adore the aqua, pink, brown, and yellow combos here?  And there is even a splash of orange thrown in for good measure!  *adore!*

Here is what I am thinking for the blocks.  Trying to create a whole mess of "X's" or crosses... the name noodling around in my head is something like the "X" Marks the Spot Quilt. 

Tonight and tomorrow I am planning on a whole mess of block sewing!!  I think these will be about 6 1/2 inch blocks when finished... I'm still trying to decide if they need a border around them or if I will just make more blocks to reach my twin size quilt. 

No clue.  Just winging it.  And loving every moment!! 

Hope you are loving every moment of your day too!

Inspire me

You may remember that I have moved recently.

Which means I get to create some new exciting design for the room that will be my office slash craft room. I'm excited to have my own space. Mr. Happy has given me the green light to do anything I want (like a little out there paint -- squee!!) and I am drawing a total blank.

Total.

blank.

sigh

So, everything I have read has said that I need to start with a theme or something to design the room around. I was looking at the furniture in the room.. and it's mainly hodge-podge.. stuff from college... stuff that works.

I have had to think about where to get inspiration for a theme. I came up with a few ideas like an ode to hiking room, a clean line Japanese theme, or even something that lends to a huge mural on the wall.

I'm not really 100% sure which way I am leaning yet, but I was at Pier 1 Imports last weekend and saw all sorts of cool things. One of which was this painting...

"Follow Your Dreams" butterflies... orange... antique feel... inspirational!

I'm not sure if I am any closer, but it's still been fun to day dream about what I can turn the room into!