Fabriholics Anonymous

So, as some of you may know, I like fabric. *ahem* I mean, I REALLY like fabric! Sadly, neither my storage spaces nor my bank account feel quite the same way. My friend Amy had a post about joining a group planning on curbing their spending and I decided I would join in as well :)

GOALS:

1) To use the Stash I already have!

2) Finish UFOs without distraction by shifting to other new beautiful fabric.

3) Stop the insanity of constantly buying the latest and greatest fabric.

4) Save the $$ I spend on stashing. I really would like to go to Europe this year for my 40th as well as have some more money in savings.
5) to not buy every magazine or book out there!

6)DESTASH the fabrics that I realize I am never going to use. Why keep them when someone else can love them? Plus, more money!

FABRIC FAST RULES:

1) No fabric purchases for 6 months beginning January 1, 2014.   

2) At 6 months reevaluate status and decide whether to keep going for full year.  Evaluation July 1, 2014.

3) Create a UFO list and complete them!

4) Exceptions

- Notions that are needed to continue using my current stash
- Buying Quilty magazine
- Solids needed for projects on the go
- Echino Bees - I have promised myself that I can have these and I will :)

In addition, I will be cutting down HUGELY on swaps... Canada Post is upping its rates in March and I would rather send things to people I already am friends with, than finding new ones :) It will be hard but I must be strong!!

So, want to join in?
 

Final Finish Post for the year!!

So back at the beginning of the month my goal was to make a quilt for the OMQG quilt show. I did complete that, but it isn't going in the show.

What you can't see from this carefully chosen distance is the incredibly bad paper piecing and even worse binding job. I don't know what went wrong, but I do not want it to be representing me lol.

I still wanted to enter for the quilt show, so in two very fast nights I came up with this, which I call "Liberty Roundabout". (name courtesy of Kathyems on Flickr)

I am completely in love with this mini quilt!! I have decided to put a price on it, but if it sells I will have to make myself another one for sure :)

So although the end result was different, I did complete my last goal for 2013! I am going to be joining again in the new year.

Check out all the links at ALYOF!

Introducing...

...ME! And my friend Anne :)

I met Anne at Sewing Summit and we got on like a house on fire! (which is a horrible expression btw). Anne is super awesome, funny and kind, and amazingly talented! She also knows her way around computers (like REALLY). I recently drew up my paper piecing pattern I showed for my monthly goal. Anne offered to pretty it up for me... and did she ever!!

She also re-did the pattern all professional-like lol. And then!! She agreed to tidy up my Boston Block which was my first ever pattern.

So now we are collaborating on designs :) You can buy our patterns from Craftsy (button to the right) or at this link... only $1.50!!

Mosaic Tiles Quilt Along!

I am super happy to announce that I will be a guest blogger for Craft Buds Mosaic Tile Quilt Along!

This pattern is from Lindsay Conner's amazing book Modern Bee. I was lucky enough to buy my copy directly from Lindsay at Sewing Summit and I am so happy with it. It gives you everything you need for running a successful bee, but even if you know how to run one, you will still feel you are learning something. Plus, the quilts in it rock!

 

You can go here to Craft Buds and read all about it!

 Here's the schedule:

Monday, 12/9 Kickoff! Announcing our sponsors, guest judges + prizes

Monday, 12/16 Guest post: Holiday project and guest post with layout options with Amy of 13 Spools

Wednesday, 12/18 Guest post: Holiday project inspired by block with Sarah of Fabric Seeds

Monday, 12/30 Guest post: Mosaic Tiles layout options with Katie of ChooChoo Skadoo Quilts

Wednesday, 1/1 Happy New Year: Still 6 weeks to sew along!

Friday, 1/3 Guest post: Mosaic Tiles bag by Katy Cameron of The Littlest Thistle + Halfway mark: Link up your progress!

Monday, 1/6 Guest post: Mosaic Tiles project by Marni of Haberdashery Fun

Monday, 1/13 Guest post: Mosaic Tiles project by Darcy of Modern Cozy

Wednesday, 1/15 Guest post: Mosaic Tiles bag by Kim of Kim's Krafts

Monday, 1/20 Featuring other projects from "Modern Bee"

Wednesday, 1/22 Guest post: Mosaic Tiles quilt by Katy of Lethargic Lass

Friday, 2/14 Happy Valentine's Day! Deadline for entries at midnight, EST.

I have added my own affiliate link with The Book Depository above in the post. I buy all my books from them, free shipping! Lindsay shares some other places (including from her) on the Craft Buds post.

Grab a Button!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.craftbuds.com" title="Mosaic Tiles Quilt Along"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3679/11139787605_60c7779dcb_q.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="Mosaic Tiles Quilt Along" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

December goal

Wow... my 12th and final goal for this year... it seems like it happened way too fast LOL!

My goal this month is to enter a quilt into the OMQG's first quilt show! Mine will involve a little of this...

...which also happens to be the pattern for the outside pocket of a Super Tote I am making for my SSM4 partner. It's a good thing it is simple so I won't get bored making it twice LOL!

Linking up with ALYOF!

It's a Craftsy blow-out!!!!

Craftsy is having a 65% off sale on their fabrics and you can shop there by following this link!




65% percent off means you can buy 65% more fabric!!!! (I told my teacher's I understood math, now I'm showing them LOL)

Sale ends December 2, 2013.

November finish!

Well, after my busy month of November I am happy to say that I did indeed finish my table runner for my friend Whitney.

I do realize that this is on a door, but as I sew on my dining room table I didn't have anywhere to show it off LOL! I designed this and am happy to say that it came out just like I planned! The leaves are five different colours of Kaffe Fassett's shot cottons. I didn't bind it as I wanted it to end with the blocks, so I simply turned it inside out and top stitched. This is probably my favourite item to date that I have made.

Thanks for reading and check out some other finished at ALYOF!

Giveaway winner!!

And Mr. Random Number came up with

and accounting for no-reply bloggers (only 8!) it is:


Tiffany has left a new comment on your post "Quilter's Blog Hop Party Time!!":

Ooh! Great giveaway. My sewing machine is a Bernina and it's called "the sewing machine." Sorry, I'm kinda lame. :)

Congrats Tiffany, I will be emailing you for your address!

BTW, it is pretty evenly split 50/50 for naming a machine and not naming one :)

Quilter's Blog Hop Party Time!!

*GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED*

Today marks the start of another amazing Quilter's Blog Hop Party! After you leave here check out the link for a whole bunch more giveaways :)

I'll share some photos on things I have been working on lately. Mostly they are small items as I have a craft show coming up this coming Saturday.

These are just some small key chains. I like having something small and affordable for little kids to buy for their parents, babysitters etc. Plus, they are great for using up small scraps of fabric and batting!

These are sets of mini facecloths, good for a quick nighttime cleaning.

And these are some more tea towels (before I stitched them down)

But now... you want the giveaway!!!! Here you go!

FIVE half yards of Patty Young, Textured Basics!!

All you have to do is let me know if you name your sewing machine(s) and if so, what are their names? Mine are Jennie Janome and Pfilomena Pfaff. I won't include you if you ignore my question, and/or if you are a no-reply blogger! I will announce the winner on November 26th :)

Now go forth and enter many more giveaways!!

A lab{el} of love

This is my label I made for the table runner I made for my friend Whitney... Can't show the runner until she gets the package :)

I am telling you, Philomena Pfaff knows what is what!

Happy birthday Daddy!

Today my Dad would be 71 years old. I still think of him 24 hours a day... there isn't anytime I am not wishing he could still be sharing in everything. I miss him so much.

This picture is on my computer at work... it is my Dad and my niece Maddysen about 4 years ago.

I love you Daddy, and miss you every day!

November goal-setting

Can you believe how close we are to the end of the year? Yowza!! So here is my second-to-last goal for 2013.

I am going to finish a table runner for my friend Whitney. Whitney also lost her Dad recently and so we were emailing each other and sending virtual hugs. At the same time we had both shown interest in an Autumn swap on Flickr that filled up before we could join. Whitney suggested a side-swap to help with the healing process, to which I readily agreed.

I am making her a table runner and she will make me a hanging for my office (basically a table runner without a table LOL)... we just moved office digs and it will be nice to have something quilty there everyday.

I thought I could attach an in-progress picture but I took it with my Mom's iPad and so don't have it on my computer (yet another strike against extra technology lol).

So once again, I present Opie :)

 

I am linking up with ALYOF!

p.s. Opie is sleeping on the amazing quilt my friend Teri surprised me with for my birthday! Love it!

WINNER!!

I am so sorry!! I completely lost track of time and forgot to pull a winner, but now I have!! And it is Barbara!! I will pass your email on to Cheryl so she can send you the PDF pattern.

AND, for all of you who didn't win, Cheryl is having a celebration sale at her Etsy store and you can take 20% off everything with the coupon code celebration. That makes the pattern only $6.40!

Thanks so much for joining in, and for being such good sports I will let you gaze upon Opie in all her glory :)

October ALYOF finish!

For the month of October I wanted to finish some applique tea towels for my craft show next month. I am happy to report that I succeeded in making several!

I am happy to report that I have 10 finished... I had 12 but 2 sold already! (Thanks Mel!) Right now I am trying to finish some mug rugs, trivets, covered journals and various other items. Just hoping I can be well stocked in time :)

I am linking up with ALYOF!

Finished scrap cards

So here I have all 20 of my finished cards. This really is a quick and fun little project, BUT! Do not do like me and glue them to the left side of the cardstock as this will make your cards open backwards. I did fix this with mine... and you don't really need glue, just hold them as you sew.

Arrows All Around - Pattern review and giveaway!

Hello!! I hope you all remember my friend Cheryl from the last time I reviewed a pattern of hers. Well Cheryl has a new pattern out called Arrows All Around.

Not only is this pattern fun and easy, Cheryl has written some seriously amazing pattern add-ons! Not only does she give you the pattern for three different sizes, she gives you a break-down of how to use all of your pre-cuts for this!! You can use all charm squares, or jelly roll strips, or layer cakes, and then... she even tells you have to mix and match them!!

When I first read this pattern I was giddy with excitement! I have *SO* many pre-cuts... and I also have *SO* many partial pre-cuts... this to me is the best thing to happen to pattern-writing since sliced bread!! (pay no attention to my poor comparison there lol)

I am uber busy nowadays so I knew I wouldn't be able to get a whole quilt done, but I did make a cushion cover and her steps were beyond easy to follow. I haven't quilted it yet, but once again, uber busy.

Cheryl has generously donated one pattern to give away free!! To enter, tell me in the comments all about your pre-cuts situation... for instance, I have 7 jelly rolls, 4 layer cakes, 9 mini candy packs and something around 200 million charm packs!!

I will close the giveaway and announce a winner Saturday morning when I get up... so get your entries in soon!!

scrappy card swap

I was asked recently if I wanted to do a private swap of cards made with fabric scraps. This is so much fun to do as you get to go through all your favourite little pieces and actually use them! I still have to sew these down, and cut them and fold them... as well as make five more, but I thought I would share.

I hope I may have tempted some of you to try the same :)

Some eye candy

I have finished up some more bits and bobs these last few days, so for your viewing pleasure, I present the following :)

This last picture is actually a belated birthday parcel from my dearest friend Synn. She made the dream catcher herself and it has selvedges on it... love it! And the puppy has been named Synti :) I am truly blessed by my friends.

Pfilomena Pfaff love!

So I just used Pfilomena for the first time and I am in heaven! (in case you didn't read yesterday, she is my new sewing machine)

 

One thing I had been craving from my sewing machine was blanket stitch... I just love the way it looks, and finally I have been able to use it!

 

This is one of the appliques tea towels I am making for my Christmas show/store. In addition to blanket stitch, she is so quiet it is unreal! And her lights are so bright, as well as having speed control and needle down! I am in pure sewing bliss :)

Long and overdue

I feel like I have been neglecting you and my blog, but I have had a million things going on. I'm going to inundate you with photos now, so if that is not your thing you have been forewarned LOL!

Eraser carved stamp for my friend Leila

Slippers for my friend Monica

Serger cover for a swap item

nap blanket for the store

side 1 reversible skirt

side 2 reversible skirt

mini Aeroplane bag for my friend Anne

nap blanket for store

name tag for Sewing Summit and guild meetings

Our Aeroplane bags together at Sewing Summit

Sleeping bag pouches for the store

Appliques for tea towels to be finished this month

And finally, Pfilomena Pfaff, my newest addition to my family :)







So a lot thrown at you all at once... and believe me, there were many more things lol... I am going to try and get a bit better about posting.

Thanks for sticking around!!