Project DUFUS 01/2012

When I first mentioned my goal to de-stash (oh, so long ago~ was it yesterday?) I think I mentioned my first project was going to be something from the bin of pre-cuts. I found this jelly roll at AC Moore. It was out of it's original packaging although it was still rolled 'jelly' style. All it had on it was a discount sticker with a reduced price for damage, I guess. If you recognize this line of fabric, please let me know what it is! Here's the loosened pile of 2 1/2 X 44 strips. I think there were two strips each of ten prints in blues and greens.

I paired them up, one light/one dark and sewed the strips together; opened and pressed. Then I cut them into 2 1/4 X 2 1/4 squares.

I played with the arrangement until I had a zig-zag pattern I liked and sewed the squares into strips; then strips into rows. When done the top measured about 33 X 37 and looked like this:

I headed back to the stash and found a blue polka dot I had originally bought for a costume. The blue exactly matched one of the blues in the pieced top so I had my backing. I had a leftover piece of batting that just about fit, too~ I just had to piece a strip about 2" wide on one side. I sandwiched, pinned and machine quilted the top in about two hours. I left a 1" border of backing around the edge to bind the quilt; first by folding in 1/2" and then again over the top and topstitching down. I didn't pin it. I just folded and sewed all around in one move. It's a little messy but it'll work.

Project DUFUS 01/2012 is done! Summary: Project 01/2012- Baby or lap quilt Used from Stash- One jelly roll and yardage; piece of batting Bought for this project- Nothing! What's it for?- For now it will go into the future gifts pile

Project DUFUS!

So my not-really-a-resolution-it's-a-goal project has been dubbed "Project DUFUS". Yup. De-stash, Un-clutter, Finish, Use, Share. De-stash by only using what I already have; un-clutter by keeping projects organized; finish UFOs already begun and not leaving new projects until they are done; use patterns, buttons, zippers and trims I already have, and share stuff I won't use with people who will. This will include selling on Etsy or Ebay, giveaways and Goodwill. Let the merriment begin and by 2013 I will be a full-fledged 'DUFUS'! Oy. I'ma start here, I think...

It's NOT a resolution, okay?

I don't make New Year's resolutions but I have decided to set a goal for myself this year. I casually mentioned to #1 that I hoped to give everyone a quilt for Christmas in 2012. It made me think about all the quilts I had set aside fabrics for, bought fabrics for and all the magazines and patterns I've collected to do it. Then I looked at the fabric that was bought for a specific garment that was never made and all the plans I had to sell on Etsy and Ebay. It has gotten out of hand. I haven't done a quarter of what I hoped to. So, this year I will not buy fabric unless I need it to finish a project. I will not buy patterns unless I really need it for a show. I will continue to buy Fons & Porter's magazine because it is my crack. So far, the only fabric I bought this month was for a show and it was killing me because I kept seeing so many cute things... anyway, I hope to chronicle my year of clean-out sewing here. If you read me at all you know how good I am at keeping my blog promises. That is; I'm not. But I'll try. Here's some of what I'm dealing with:

And:

And that's only part of it. I've already started some. After a quick clean up of all the felt from Kal-El's felt food Christmas present I reached into the bin of pre-cuts I've been hoarding--- I mean collecting--- and pulled out a jelly roll. First project begun. I'll report back later. Happy New Year, y'all~

FNSI success!

Finally managed to get something done and it wasn't felt food~ I finished some Christmas I Spy bags! Two will go to Kal-El for his birthday this coming Wednesday; might save the third to see how these two hold up!

FNSI~ take two!

Okay, so signing up for a FNSI when I knew I'd be running a rehearsal and I still had a set to finish wasn't the best plan. Fortunately, there are two sew-ins this month so let's try again! I'm in the middle of a felt food frenzy that began last month when I started making felt food for Kal-El's Christmas gift. He's getting a play kitchen and his mommy wanted some felties for him to play with. She's a little swamped, having just had a baby and all, so I asked if I could make them. They are a blast! I started with a sandwich but quickly went to cookies because, well, yes. They're COOKIES!
A few so far:



Orange slices:


Two slices of bread:




Chocolate sandwich and chocolate chip cookies:




Since taking these pics, I have added apples, cheese, lettuce, bacon, two pastas and cinnamon rolls, which I may re-do because I put waaay to much icing on 'em. Today I have to put the food aside so I can work on pj's for him and Leia. Do you love Christmas sewing as much as I do?

FNSI December

If ever there was a month that needed a Friday Night Sew-In it's December! Who's done with all their gift-sewing? Oh, you are. You ARE? Well, ppthhhht. Then you can take some time for yourself (hmmmf!, make yourself some cocoa, and sew some holiday stress away at a Friday Night Sew-In tomorrow, December 9 OR December 16! Yes, Heidi and Bobbi, the super hosts of the Friday Night Sew-In, are having two FNSIs this month to help get those projects done!
Visit Heidi at http://handmadebyheidi.blogspot.com/ ( click on the title of this post) to sign up. And have a cup of cocoa for me!

'tis the season to be jolly. And busy.

Even when I'm not working on a show; I'm trying to catch up on all the stuff I wanted to do when I was working on a show. And then I run out of time and it's time for a new show! In the midst of Christmas crafting and gift-making, cleaning and decorating, not to mention putting together the Christmas program for church, it's time to start working on "A Flea in her Ear", a wacky farce set in the 20's. Should be fun!
I never showed the finished bathroom project, did I? I told you (somewhere, some post) I never remember what I say I'm going to post in the future. Let's all agree I have enough trouble keeping up with the present; I must stop saying what I think I will do with this blog and we'll just go with that. Rambling.

Anyway, the bath. Tore off paper- resurfaced walls. Didn't plan to deal with the floor but really had to.

Before: the worst wall:




After:


The window wall:

After:

(The curtain wasn't done yet but it is now!)

Behind the door:

After:


The floor-please forgive the stubby toes!
Before; with filler where tiles were damaged:

After:


Fresh paint and wallpaper scraps livened the vanity:



I din't take a picture of the tub area because I didn't do anything to the tub area, except some trim. The shower curtain is anchors and sailboats; it nicely matched the curtain and decorative towels we hung on the back of the door. And it faded it it's first wash so it has already lost it's fresh, clean, new look. C'est la vie. I like my new bath! But I kinda miss the rubber duckies.


Or maybe not.