100 Quilts, 100 Kids: Quilt 004 - XOXO

Four down, ninety-six to go. I have a couple of quilts I want to make as wedding gifts and decided on using the XO blocks with some hearts. I thought I'd enlarge the XO and give them a shot for this quilt here. I put it together real quick one night and then realized I didn't have anything for the back or binding so I hopped online and ordered a solid aqua and the pink and white stripes. I really like stripes for binding.


I didn't have enough pink fabric for the "O", so I had to fudge the block a little bit to make it work. I hope that everything stays where it needs to when it comes to washing this guy.


I like these easy blocks. I may make a couple more quilts with these blocks.



Quilt Stats:

• Size: Approx. 41” x 41” 
• Pattern: XOXO
• Fabric: mostly miscellaneous fabrics from Art Gallery Fabrics
• Quilting - wavey horizontal lines varying widths apart

Finished Quilt 010

100 Quilts, 100 Kids: Quilt 003 - BQA 2.0

And number 3 is complete too. I took the remaining 4 BQA blocks and made 5 more blocks to create this quilt. I planned to make it mostly churn dash blocks, but didn't have enough scraps to do it so I ended up with 1 extra churn dash block and 4 blocks made from 2.5 inch squares. Those 4 blocks are my favorite blocks from this quilt.

I forgot the binding for this quilt was the pink and khaki stripes when I added the border. I don't really like the binding with the border. Oh well.


There is a boo boo on the blue churn dash block where my block is square up and it's a little short and doesn't catch the white strip. I fixed it the best I could. You don't really notice it.

The backing is the same as Quilt 002.



Quilt Stats:

• Size: Approx. 41” x 41” 
• Pattern: leftover blocks from a BQA and 5 extra blocks made to go with
• Fabric: California Girl by Moda Fabrics
• Quilting -echo squares around each block and around the middle square of each block

Finished Quilt 009

100 Quilts, 100 Kids: Quilt 002 - BQA 1.0

Quilt number two complete. I finished this girl at the end of August. The blocks were actually from a Beginner's Quilt Along I did about two years ago. There were 13 blocks total. The BQA made me dislike HST, but now we're okay and I almost kind of like them.

I couldn't decide how I wanted them laid out and then couldn't decide if I wanted to finish the quilt for myself so I pulled 9 of the blocks for this quilt.


The backing is the blue floral found in the middle square of the bottom left corner block. Now of course I want to keep this quilt for myself...a larger version though. 


I might like to break the rules sometimes. 

Quilt Stats:

• Size: Approx. 41” x 41” 
• Pattern: miscellaneous blocks from a BQA
• Fabric: California Girl by Moda Fabrics
• Quilting - straight line diagonal and up and down through the middle of each block

Finished Quilt 008

Hello Kitty is My Homegirl and I finished another quilt

I love it. I love it. I love it. This bag is the bees knees.

This is the first bag I've ever made and I think I did a pretty good job. It's noodlehead's cargo duffle bag with a couple of modifications.

I made it my own by  removing the cargo pockets and adding a side pocket on both ends and then I also chose to line the inside instead of binding it and I even added a welt pocket. I've never  made a welt pocket before. It was easier than I thought it would be.

I have plans to make a few more of these, but I'm going to make some more modifications. I've seen a couple of solid bags and really like them solid. So far I like this one the most thought because well...Hello Kitty.

I am now the owner of a Hello Kitty suitcase, Hello Kitty backpack, Hello Kitty tote and now a Hello Kitty duffle bag. (I might also own some Hello Kitty Vans.) Addicted much?


Last week I finished the second quilt for 100 Quilts, 100 Kids. I didn't think I'd have time to do any regular quilting because I'm supposed to be packing to move and actually finding a place to live, but I just needed to quilt.

I will do a proper post after I can get this girl washed. She also needs a name.

Lots of procrastinating. Less than 100 days until Yelp's Bazaar and I don't have much made yet. I really need to get on that.

100 Quilts, 100 Kids: Quilt 001 - churn dash

This is the first quilt completed for 100 Quilts, 100 Kids. I finished it probably over a month ago, but I just got around to photographing it today. All it needs is a good washing and it'll be ready to be the first in the donate pile.


The backing is a solid pink. Nothing fancy. I had a hard time getting the quilt to stay up on the lion things rump. The wind was not my friend.  


 Quilt Stats:

• Size: Approx. 41” x 41” 
• Pattern: churn dash
• Fabric: Enchant by Riley Blake  
• Quilting - straight line quarter inch from the seams in each block

Quilt 006

fabriclust, labels and mother's day

This photo has nothing to do with quilting, but I wanted to share it anyway.  That's a bacon grilled cheese on Belgian waffles. Best sandwich idea I ever had.
I'm in deep fabriclust right now. I want all the fabrics so I can make all the quilts and all the pillows. Then I want to build forts with all the quilts and watch movies outside under the sky. I've been torn with spending money on fabric and depositing any extra money I have in my Disneyland and car funds. It's such a hard decision. Geesh money, why are you always keeping me from having fun, being great and doing good? Ha!

After many months of going back and forth about how I wanted to label the 100 Quilts, 100 Kids quilts I finally designed and ordered labels for them. I almost gave up because I couldn't come up with a design that I liked that would also be easy to attach and leave me space to add extra information.. I ordered them from spoonflower along with labels for my own personal quilts as well. They will hopefully ship by Tuesday. I'm looking forward to getting them so I can start finishing up this pile of quilts I have sitting in a tub.

100 Quilts, 100 Kids No. 7 (Sasparilla)
I've been using large prints for the quilts at this point, but have decided to switch to solid fabric for the backs because in the long run solid fabrics are less expensive. I even happened upon a source that sells Moda Bella Solids for $4.99/yd. That's about half the price of a print. Much better on my pockets. I'm also looking for a source for cotton thread. I totally forgot I'd need different colored thread for quilting. I've got a few spools of some basic colors, but I need a few more spools.

100 Quilts, 100 Kids No. 8 (Simpatico, I won this fabric in a giveaway a year or so ago)
The quilt holder strip that I had attached to my wall fell off a few weeks ago and I haven't bothered to reattach it just yet. I decided I want to repaint it before I put it back up. When it fell it was probably about 2AM and it scared the shit out of me since I have it in my bedroom. I thought someone was trying to break through my wall.


With all this quilting going on and knowing all the quilts I've been working on will be donated, I was getting a little bummed that I didn't have a quilt for myself. So I picked up some Honeycrisp and when I finish this next quilt top I'm going to work on a small quilt for myself. I suspect I'll have a good amount of scraps left and I'll be using those to make another quilt for 100 Quilts, 100 Kids.


Probably in the next week or so I'll be switching into card making mode since Mother's Day is coming up next month. My goal is to have at least 50 cards made. My goal is also to sell ever last one of them. I mean...everyone has a mother. So if you're looking for a beautifully made card for mom, send me a message. I'd love to make one for you.

WIP it - getting crafty

I don't think I did any sewing last week. I spent half the week hanging out and eating good food in Chicago and the rest of the week laying down trying to be still because I hurt my back. Not sure what the deal with my back is, but probably once a year it takes me out of the game for a few days to a couple of weeks. It's a pain.

I was perusing the internets this past week looking for plans to make an end table and a microwave cart and came across an kids art display. Once I saw it I knew immediately that it'd be perfect for holding quilts too. It was super simple to make and it cost me less than $3 in supplies to make. It's just a strip of 1 x 2 x 6 wood and some clothes pins. I painted it a dark teal to create some contrast and attached it to my wall with poster strips. That's apartment living for you. It holds quilt tops just fine, I'm not sure how it'll do with quilts. I'll find out eventually.

finishes:

• more texting gloves
• glasses display rack
• quilt holder display

in progress:

• 100 Quilts, 100 Kids: Quilt 001 - stacked coins
• 100 Quilts, 100 Kids: Quilt 002 - basket weave
• 100 Quilts, 100 Kids: Quilt 003 - stacked newspapers (my computer ate the picture of this one)
• 100 Quilts, 100 Kids: Quilt 004 - beginner's quilt along
• 100 Quilts, 100 Kids: Quilt 005 - beginner's quilt along and then some
• Telissa's napkins
• 100 Quilts, 100 Kids: Quilt 006 - under the stars

no progress:

• everything else

  100 Quilts, 100 Kids: Quilt 006 - under the stars
I'm still trying to figure out how I want to make my labels. I had one idea, but scrapped it. I have another idea to keep them simple, but haven't worked on the design. I really need to work on that this week. I think it'll go on the top of my to do list. I also need to work on some Valentine's cards since the blessed "holiday" is just over a week away. I've sold a few via my website already and I'm hoping to sell a handful more. They're usually a good money maker for me and I could use the extra funds right now.

WIP it - i'm a winner

I applied for a job at a handmade consignment shop here in town. I think the interview went well, though I could've answered one of the questions a little better. I'm normally not negative, but I don't think I got the job. I'm a bit disappointed. But, in other news, I won a $25 etsy gift card from another blog. I've already got a bit of fabric picked out for more quilts. A little bit of chromatics, hello petal and safari moon. I'm excited.
  100 Quilts, 100 Kids: Quilt 002 - basket weave

finishes:

• more texting gloves

in progress:

• 100 Quilts, 100 Kids: Quilt 001 - stacked coins
• 100 Quilts, 100 Kids: Quilt 002 - basket weave
• 100 Quilts, 100 Kids: Quilt 003 - stacked newspapers (my computer ate the picture of this one)
• 100 Quilts, 100 Kids: Quilt 004 - beginner's quilt along
• 100 Quilts, 100 Kids: Quilt 005 - beginner's quilt along and then some
• Telissa's napkins

no progress:

• everything else

The tops and backs of most of my in progress quilts are complete. I just need batting and labels so that I can sandwich them together, get them quilted and finished. We'll see how long that takes. I don't know the names of some of the patterns so I'm not sure what to call them. I might just start giving them random made up names.

I've decided after I finish making Telissa's napkins and maybe a few more for myself that I'll probably never make them again. I do not enjoy making such small hems. It takes me entirely too long and I lose interest quickly. Unless there's an easier way? Thankfully she isn't in too big of a hurry to get her napkins.

WIP it - snowmageddon

Due to snowmageddon that crept through the midwest earlier this week my 3 days off turned in to 6 days off so I decided to be productive and get things done instead of curling up in bed and watching Netflix all day. It was good to get back on machine to do some sewing after a long holiday season of tons of crocheting. I did learn a good lesson though, START EARLY.

  quilt front - stacked coins   quilt back

finishes:

• a couple pairs of texting gloves

in progress:

• 100 Quilts, 100 Kids: Quilt 001 - stacked coins
• 100 Quilts, 100 Kids: Quilt 002 - basket weave

no progress:

• everything else

I'm still doing a lot of crocheting. I have some changes I plan to make this year regarding my shops and holiday shops and craft fairs. I don't want to have to be super busy at the end of the year that I don't have time for anything else so I'm starting early. I'll post more about that later though.

I'm having fun looking up patterns and at fabrics for the quilts for 100 Quilts, 100 Kids. I thought that I was going to just choose a few simple patterns and make those over and over, but now I'm thinking this is the perfect opportunity to try out different things in a small quilt. The only problem is having to part with them all. I'm totally bummed that I hadn't found Robert Kaufman's - Blythe sooner so I could've hoarded some for myself. Oh well.

the end is near

Woo! I survived the holidays. I think this is a kind of a big deal when you work in retail. People can be mean. For the first time in my entire retail career (and I've been in retail since I was a teenager) I had a customer yell at me. Even though I know it wasn't about me...I got upset and had to take a break in the stockroom and shed a few tears. Stupid mean people. I'm super ready for a break from the hustle and bustle that is working at the mall during the holidays.

Word on the street is that my items sold really well at the Handmade Promenade Holiday Pop Up Shop this year. I was asked to provide extra items for a smaller shop that popped up on another side of town as well. And from the numbers I was given BEFORE Christmas I've done probably 3x as much in sales as I did last year. And those numbers were given to me with about a week left before Christmas, so there's a good possibility that I sold a lot more. Double woo!

I wish I'd been better prepared for the holidays so that I could've applied for another Pop Up Shop. I've definitely got some changes to make for 2014. I've been doing a little research and I'm having a hard time finding other pop up shops and handmade consignment shops. I know they're out there.

I'm looking forward to spending time with all the pretty fabric I've been collecting over the past couple of months. I'll finally have time to start working on these quilts (still trying to find some quick and easy patterns). I need to work on a time schedule so I can divide my time between making things for my shop and for these quilts. Even though the holiday season is over, it's still good selling time for me since the weather is cold and I want to get a real good jump for next year. I'm also planning on applying to a couple of craft shows next holiday season.

I hope the holidays have been treating you all well and that you're all nice and rested and ready for a new year. Hopefully I can my time better managed to start blogging here more often. Wish me luck. How do other people manage?

holidays are coming...

It's the end of September, SEPTEMBER. Where has this year gone?

I applied to be in the Handmade Promenade Holiday Pop Up Shop again this year and my application was accepted so I'm back in make mode again. I'm a crocheting and sewing machine. I've been thinking about applying to another holiday pop up shop, but I'm also in the middle of restocking consignment shops and working on 100 Quilts, 100 Kids. I might have spread myself a bit thin already and don't need to be adding to my list for right now. I have a week to decide if I want to apply.

Every year I say I'm going to make all year long so that I'm prepared for the end of the year and every year I don't. One of these years I'm going to get it right. Maybe 2014? I guess we'll see.

I need more supplies. Yarn, fabric, batting, zippers, etc. More things I could have slowly collected throughout the year.


The 100 Quilts, 100 Kids campaign has ended. And I raised about $360. I've also received some generation donations of fabric from a FB friend as well as a local fabric shop. I've also put in a few etsy trade inquiries and had a few etsy fabric shops tell me they'd be happy to trade and willing to throw in a bit extra. I appreciate the kindness of strangers.

Even though I'm gathering fabric and what not, my main focus right now are the pop up shop and consignment, so I'll be slowly working on quilts. I'll be using the proceeds from these holiday sales to buy more fabric. After the holidays I'll be able to spend more time putting quilts together. I'm looking forward to sitting down and making these quilts.

Hopefully I'll a) remember to blog more of my progress and b) find the time to blog more of my progress. Wish me luck.

Oh and organizing my craft space...I had a good start on it...then I got stalled. *womp womp*

full of good intentions

I keep meaning to blog, but I haven't really been working on anything crafty other than crocheting up a bunch of bear hats to send out to Wholly Craft out in Columbus, OH. I need to work on some dinosaur hats too.

My campaign has less than two weeks to go before it ends. I've had several people who will be donating fabric as well. I think I'll have enough to make about 10 - 12 quilts to start off. I plan to use part of the proceeds of all the hats and things I sell this  holiday to buy more fabric. I'd like to use all the proceeds, but I've got to pay some of these bills too. Why can't crafting be my job?

Do you remember my Pay It Forward post from about a year ago? Well guess what, I've finally started working on those items. I have less than a month left to get my items made and sent out. Talk about procrastinating. Yep, that's me. There's just something about waiting until the last minute. Funny thing is, in school I used to get my work done early. I don't understand why that didn't transfer over. Maybe it's because I'm getting older?

Weeding out my craft supplies and other stuff is going slow, but I am making progress. It doesn't help that my dad keeps sending me stuff from Germany that isn't mine. I've now got a whole box of random stuffed animals that he sent me. No idea where they came from or who they belong to, to the donation box they go.

Hopefully next week I'll have a proper post for y'alls. Maybe?

Campaign Update: 5.5 quilts

We're about two weeks into the campaign and we've got enough funding for 5.5 quilts. That's making a difference in 5.5 kids lives. I've also had a couple of friends say they are going to donate fabric as well. Also awesome.

I've had a couple of companies contact me saying they'd love to help me get my campaign more followers...but of course they want me to pay them. And they only guarantee followers, not donations or actual support. Ummm...no thanks. I'm trying raise money, not spend it.

I ordered some basic fabric and thread. I need to start looking for a few simple patterns to work from. I'm ready to get sewing, but I've got a customer quilt to work on first and I'm still cleaning up my craft stash. It's a slow process. I've got several boxes laying about and when I walk past something I don't have any current use for I dump it in the appropriate box.

Anywho, this week is going to be a long one. I'm working at least 9 days straight. My regular job, plus a temp job with third shift hours. I feel like I should be storing up my sleep so I can stay up for this late shift. I'm not a coffee or soda drinker so I'll have to find another source of caffeine.

100 Quilts, 100 Kids

So this happened...

My campaign went live on Tuesday and will end on September 15th. Feel free to share it across the interwebs.

I got this crazy idea one day and then thought...no...it's too much. But then my mind kept comping back to it and I started working on an Indie Go Go campaign.

I will be blogging about my journey here and my instagram.

I really gotta clean up my craft area now. Talk about a good way to get yourself motivated. This also gives about two months to complete some other projects like um...that Pay It Forward project. It's been almost a year now. I also want to get a start on some crocheted goodies for the holidays. It's weird to say that...get ready for the holidays...any who.

If you're interested in getting involved, click on the picture. Do it!!!