Sukie

Weeks are going by so fast. . . it’s May already!!!

The month of May is so crzy for me. . .I just celebrated my 13th anniversary with my hubby last night.

Then this weekend is Pepper’s 2nd birthday:

After that I have to get geared up to hit market. . .

Then it’s my son’s 13th birthday. . .

At some point I will crash. . . .

ha!

Last week’s Zakka sewing kits were just too adorable! If you’re looking to make something as a gift – this would be it! Here’s a small sample of my favorites:

This week is all about Mrs Kerry from verykerryberry and her awesome version of the Patchwork Pencil case:

p.s if you notice that I’m a little quiet in May. . . it might have to do with me going nuts. Just Sayin!

Without a doubt the folks that are doing the Zakka Sewalong are AWESOME!   I’m just simply amazed by all the finished projects each week and I love ppl’s personalities coming out in their projects.

Here’s a small sample of my favorite pincushions for week#3:

There’s a couple ladies I’m noticing that are doing every project so far. . . I THINK THAT’S SOO AWESOME!!!!

This week’s project is brought to you by a good buddy, Katy! If you have time go ck it out:

You know when you’re starting the quilting hobby and you go to the local quilt store. . or even shopping online, and those dang fat quarters are the best.

They’re good for many reasons:

1. Fat quarters give you a bigger chuck of the fabric.

2. They give you better options for patchwork or applique

3. They’re popular and stores make it easy to buy bundles

Here’s the reasons why I think fat quarters are A N N O Y I N G:

1.   I think it’s about $3/fat quarter and that’s crzy!!  I would rather buy half yards if that’s the case.  You’re saving a little $$$ depending on the fabric.

2.  Typical you can only buy a fat quarter online if it’s in a bundle pack and sometimes you don’t want the whole pack. . . but if you’re lucky then you can go to the local quilt store and pull it off the shelf.  You could contact the online store to make you a special pack too.

3.  Also after you buy just one fat quarter of the fabric you love and use it. . don’t you wish you had more of it?

I’m done buying fat quarters, I’m buying only half yards from now on!  (j.k lets just say I won’t buy fat quarters as much).  Check out my latest addition to my stash (all half yards/yards no fat quarters here!!)

So if you’re internet junk and you’re into quilting you might of seen this awesome quilt design done my Mrs Anne Maria Horner:

Well she’s offer the pattern for  F R E E! (download it here)

Do ya’ll need some motivation and group support to bust out this quilt?  Well don’t worry Mrs Bianca of Sweet Diesel is hosting a pretty awesome QAL (quilt along).  And when I say awesome participants have a chance to win:

GRAND PRIZE… Janome DC2012 sewing machine {a retail value of $699!}

Other prizes will include:

westminster fibers:

• one valori wells fat quarter bundle of her newest line, “cocoon,” that’s 30 fat quarters!
• one essentials charm pack
• one amy butler charm pack of “gypsy caravan
• one anna maria horner tapestry kit and embroidery floss

aurifil thread:

• five chances to win 10 spools of thread

the grand prizes to be awarded upon submission of your completed patchwork prism quilt will include…

• 3rd prize… $25 gift certificate to fat quarter shop
• 2nd prize… $50 gift certificate to fat quarter shop
• 1st prize… $75 gift certificate to fat quarter shop

I’ve been meaning to do something with all my charms I’ve gotten from Mrs Kati‘s Color Charm Swap and this is a great pattern to use all your scraps.

Join the flickr group!

The QAL starts on the 24th but if you’re anxious to start and get some piecing advice ck out Mrs AMH’s video: AMH Patchwork Prism

So a couple days ago we were teaching Pepper how to read properly. . didn’t you know there’s a right way to holding a book?? Well I hope you enjoy this video as much as we did:

I hate playing tag! I really, really, do. But I just can’t say no to Mrs Kim fr My Go-Go Life.

1. How machines do you/have you owned and what is your favorite machine?

I have a Pfaff Select 4.0 – so ole’ skool but eh I really only need it for straight line stitching. I’ve been debating on upgrading to a Janome Horizon 7700 but I get heartburn about the $$$.

2. What is your favorite quilt block? Please link up the pattern/tutorial I love adding to my to do list )

My favorite block is:

You can get the templates off Kelbysews blog. She’s such a rockstar.

3. What is you favorite fabric line {or two if you can just not decide}?

I think my favorite line would have to be anything Denyse Schmidt. . . I like 98% of her designs.

4. If you could live anywhere, where would you live and why?

I would lived near the beach or on the beach. I get super jealous of when Amber of One Shabby Chick post pics cause she lives in Hawaii. One day, I’m living on the beach!!!

5. Do you have any unusual talents?

Hmm. . . I can cuss like a sailor

6. What is your worst habit { I bite my nails}?

This is totally gross but I have a tendency of picking off my dead skin or scabs. Even thought it hasn’t healed all the way I’ll pick it til it bleeds again. Gross right?

7. What is your cannot live without sewing gadget? Again please provide a link so we all can see )

I can’t live without the iron. I’m sorry but I’m super anal about ironing. Maybe I should invest in a super iron and not a super sewing machine.

Wow another week has past and the little house pouches in the Zakka Style Sewalong are stinkin’ adorable!!! Seriously. . . here’s a couple of my favorites!!

And again Amy of Made During the Quiet time did a great job on hers.

This week’s it’s all about an adorable pincushion fr Mrs Ayumi (man! I love her work with a crzy passion):

Ah it’s time for the next quilt in the Practical to Patchwork project!  (wait, if you’re just tuning in, I’m making all the quilts in the book.  Yeah it’s kind of a personal quest)

What’s my fabric choices?  Well I’ve decided to do a little of Joel Dewberry and Prince Charming – what do think?  Their celebrity name shall be Prince Joel Small Plates.

I’m going with a dark grey for the neutral color. . bring in some Kona Coal.

The weekend was semi productive. I got my blocks done for my bee and I really, really, like how they turned out:

My colors for the bee is red, yellow, and grey.

(I’m missing a couple blocks that I’ve already received in this pic)

How big am I planning to make this quilt. . hmm. . . well the blocks are 12.5×12.5. After this quarter is done, I’ll have 15 blocks. I’m thinking of adding a light grey stashing between each block. Still how big. . hmm Some parts of me wants to do another quarter and get more blocks!!! Eek, then the other side of me is like – you’ve got a crzy ass schedule so you shouldn’t do it.  Maybe I’ll add the Summer Sampler blocks to this mix. . . ha!

I’ll make up a page on my blog to discuss more details on what the 4×5 modern bee is about . . soon.

So one of the best break-up songs of all time, right??

Like a small kid following a trail of gingerbread crumbs. . that led me to Kimbra

and who doesn’t love a good mashup (lyrics from one song placed on the tunes of another):

Get some of her tunes! It’s some good stuff

You know when it’s like a super hot day and you reach into the cooler and pull out your favorite drink (mine would be a coke) .  You pull that tab and hear that sweet sound of the carbonation being released into the air. . you take a good long swig. . .and a small “ahh. . .” comes out of your mouth, yeah I had that moment last night.

Yeah I actually designed a 12.5×12.5 paper pieced block for my hive this quarter. Here’s what it looks like:

(Debbie’s Block)

Yeah it’s super simple!!! And it took me one night to put the block together. . a couple hours because I had to figure out the math. I’m pretty sure I could bust the other ones out faster. I’ll do a tutorial on it and hope someone out there will make it.

I’m kind of under the gun with a lot of things in my life. . mainly it’s the end of tax season (oh yes, by day I’m an accountant).

So I’m in the middle of all these tax returns. . and I have other sewing deadlines. I blame myself really. . if I was more disciplined and organized. . . eh, once Monday hits, I’ll be a lot happier person ya know.

Quick Edit: just so ya’ll know. . I got my fix: