Bottled Rainbow Progress

While I was sorting some scraps for the upcoming Bottled Rainbows project, I was wondering how I would keep this project organized in my tiny cave space. I will have a wedding gown and a big show going on at the same time but I wanted to make sure I didn't put it out of sight. In the cave, out of sight is definitely out of mind. So I re-arranged and put up some of the projects in the UFO door bag (seen here: http://theworksofourhands.blogspot.com/2011/01/needle-cases.html ) to make room for my scrap rainbow. I sorted one container that was more 4" squares than true scraps but I don't save tiny scraps so it's what I'm going with! I did a quilter's shop hop last week and picked up the Konas I will need as well as Kona 'snow' for my background. I still plan to go through FQ's and the rest of my stash to pull more color and maybe have enough to share with others doing this project. I'm so excited, I can't wait to start! I want to play with a block now! But first, I have a costume parade this week so I guess I have to go to work. :(

Reagan's quilt-

I was able to make good progress on a new little friend's quilt because she decided to show up-- little Reagan Olivia arrived last week to our friends Amy & Jeff's house and she is beautiful. I made a psuedo I-Spy quilt top for her but had to wait 'til she got here to add her birth info. I got the info on the quilt top, sandwiched, basted and stitched in the ditch. When I went to meet Miss Reggie I tried to outline her little hands and feet to add them via embroidery but she was NOT happy to be bothered. So I got a rough outline of her feet and we'll just wait on the hands for now. Reagan's mom doesn't really like the little girl pink and ruffles that is so common, so you see I used black for the borders and black/grey roses for the backing. I'll work on the binding this week and deliver it soon to this little sweetie. Hopefully, I'll catch her in a happier mood!

One update-- Jude finally got his quilt, too. I promised his mom he'd have it before he left for college so hey! This may be a record for me and definitely a stride toward ending my procrastinating habit!

Rainbows and weddings

I posted a couple of days ago about "Bottled Rainbows", a new quilt project by Rachel Hauser I'm excited to try. She has posted the first supply list over at her blog, http://www.stitchedincolor.com/ , if you want to play! My own stash is light on solids so I'm going to start collecting now. I won't be able to get all the Kona FQs at one time but a few here and there are doable! Are you going to join in? Do you have extra of the needed colors? Maybe we can trade!

I also had my first sit-down with my bride yesterday and we mapped out her dress. I am super excited to help her get the dress she wants! There is a ready made dress she loves that is the go-by but it isn't made in ivory so that's where I come in. The wedding is in July but I have so much going on there will be NO procrastinating on this! I swear! I promise!

Off-topic/useless opinion: I Netflixed "Finian's Rainbow" because I remember loving the music as a child. What a disappointment. What a long, horrible movie. No wonder community theatres don't do 'Finian'. *sigh* Sorry, Fred and Petula. Love you guys, though. Also, is "Netflixed" considered a verb?

FNSI Results

Well, the day didn't turn out to be the powerhour of sewing I experienced the first time around. I was a bit distracted throughout the day and had trouble settling on which project I wanted to work on. Then, since I slept poorly the night before, I was super sleepy as the night wore on. The best reason was I had spent the day with special visitors, Ashley and Kal-El! And really--- who wants to be tucked away alone in the cave when the 13 months old grandbaby is clamboring up into your lap for Nanny hugs and kisses? And sips of her iced tea? I did manage to finish off a couple of UFO smocks for the Etsy store so it wasn't all for naught! Bring on March!

Oh, and HAPPY 12TH BIRTHDAY, JACIE LYNN!

Because...yes.

Spring means two things around here. First is Jacie's birthday-- my youngest baby will be 12 this year and I have no idea how on God's green earth it happened so quickly. Then it's Philip's and how is it possible he's 15? But since Ashley is now a wife and mother, Corey is graduating with his culinary degree-- time has truly passed and they are all no longer babies. *sigh* B's birthday sneaks in right between them-- he gets to catch up to me for a few months until I pull ahead again! ;)

It's also time to get serious about the spring show for the community college. This spring they're presenting "Leaving Iowa"; a funny but touching comedy about family vacations and saying goodbye. I like it. It's going to be fairly simple to costume but lots of little detail pieces to keep track of. No biggie; I tend to do better with bigger casts. And I'm helping with props a bit. Yesterday I made a huge Rice Krispie treat for the show. I'm actually not sure it is big enough but it'll do for rehearsal!

While that is going on, I'm starting to pull together the next show for my Little Theatre, "Into the Woods". This is the second go-round for me and this show. I have quite a lot of what we'll need in my collection already but I will have to make some new pieces. This is not, unlike 'Iowa', a thrift-store show. I love it. It is my second favorite show ever and I'm so happy to be a part of this one.

Simultaneously, it will be time to start summer Shakespeare...

So, with schooling, home, and theatre work I guess I'd be nuts to take on something else, right? Well... I was poking around and found this great blog ( http://www.stitchedincolor.com/2011/02/bottled-rainbows-ticker-tape-quilt.html ) and she's got a really cool sew along project starting in March. It's expected to go through June-- just like my shows! Truth is, I'm not sure if I'll be able to keep up but I'm going to try. I'm always drawn to fabric collections presented as 'rainbows' and this certainly fits the bill. We'll see what gets done!




Holy Krispie treat, Batman!


Oh, yeah, did I mention I have a request for a wedding gown, too?... *faints*

Hibernation Day 2011 #1

Today is not an actual day I get to hibernate--- it's one of two days of the year when I wish I could hibernate. I am anti-Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and my birthday. I know, I said two and that's three but since I get my way on my birthday I don't count it. Thus I can hibernate on my birthday if I so choose. But enough. I won't drag the world (or both of you reading this) down with my diatribe against Valentine's Day. I want you to enjoy yours. And I want you to know that my loathing of this day has nothing to do with "it's because you don't have a Valentine you feel this way..." as some have accused. Far from it. I do. He sleeps by my side everynight and always says 'good morning, sunshine' when we wake. He works long, sometimes unpredictable hours at a job that does not not appreciate him--- but I do. He keeps tabs on the finances, the schoolwork, the laundry. He is not selfish with hugs and kisses. He. Loves. Me. And I do not need Hallmark to tell him how to tell me. He tells me every day. I wish I was as wonderful.

Time for FNSI!

Not much blogging, too much doing... stuff. School, house, sew, show. Busy time. I am looking forward to the next Friday Night Sew In! I had such a fun (and productive!) time last month and it was really neat to see all the projects folks are working on. The next Sew In is February 18th, which might be tricky for me since the 19th is the bug's b-day but we'll see what happens! Join in here, 'get 'er done'!

http://craftyvegasmom.blogspot.com/2011/02/friday-night-sew-in-signups-for-21811.html

The Day the 'puter Died

No, it's not as dramatic as all that and Don McLean isn't going to sing about it. But we were cut off for awhile while we first waited on repairs and then the death certification for the old machine. It's been around a long time; it was time. So now we have a nice new CPU and keyboard and I've been playing catch up. Had some good sewing time where I worked on older stuff, started new stuff and cleaned house (not that it lasts for very long). We had a great visit with some family and A & P brought Kal-El to visit too. A wonderful full house for a few days! We really got a kick out of seeing our niece's girls as they grow so big! CJ took over the kitchen with them for some baking lessons and it was fun to watch them work together and better to eat the yummies they made! Check out CJ's blog about their adventures in pate a choux!

http://coreyjoseph.blogspot.com/

Still working out pictures on the new machine--- I saved a lot of my library but I did lose some. I have no doubt we'll replace 'em soon!