Sunny On The Bottom

Oh, Spring!

 This lovely weather leaves me just itching to pull out some spring clothes. While wading thru the sale swatches at Jo Ann Fabrics yesterday, I got a little sunny inspiration for some spring DIY.

High five for elastic skirts!

I whipped them up using this tutorial from the Fall.

I swear, elastic skirts make up 80% of my spring/summer uniform. Throw them on with sandals and a T, and you are good to go.

And the best part of it?

  Both prints together were not even $5.

Booyah.

I must admit it has been a month or two since I've touched my sewing machine. Stopping cold turkey has made me really miss it. I want to kinda ease back into sewing again- I want a chance to make some boo-boos before the quilting resumes.

Speaking of quilting...

That fluffy white blanket, my friends, is NOT part of Santa's snow village. Just my batting, patiently waiting for some lovin'..

 

Back in the Saddle Again

Cue Gene Autry.

I'm jumping back in the saddle. The sewing saddle that is.

Yee Haw.

I was able to knock out the top to my 1st quilt just before the holidays.  

But shortly after?

Pfffffffffffff.

All that hot air fizzled from my over ambitious balloon.

(Yes, I did hear you audibly try to make that little balloon noise)

So, now? I'm back. 

I think.

Before I can wrap up my blanky, I have to decide on 2 main things:

1) I have my choice in hand-quilting or machine quilting the quilt layers. Since I am NOT Betsy Ross, a pioneer woman, or aiming to be cross-eyed, I'll be relying on modern technology to aid in assistance. So, machine quilting, here I come. And from what I gather, it might help me to have a "special foot" to feed the fabric layers.

THIS monster is a walking foot. It intimidates me. It has weird claw arm- thingys.  Do I really need one of these? I 'm not going to be doing intricate back designs. I'm not entering my blanky in a county fair. I just want a simple zip-zip-zip over the pattern.

Perhaps I need to research this more.

2) The second thing I need to decide on is a backing. I need to choose a fabric that will be the underside to my chevy pattern. I'm looking for it to be more white with a black print, as my actual chevy stripes are more black with some white.

Clear as mud??

Hahaha...

Here are justa few of my "maybes" for the backing. These are all from fabric.com. Who knew they had such great choices??

This cowgirl has some work to do.

Gitty-up.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race..

Hooray for Halfway!!

Remember my latest super adventurous project? Did you guess what I'm working on?

Yes, a quilt.

Yes, I'm under 30.

Yes, this is only like my 5th sewing project EVER.

Move over Maw- Maw.

Alllllllll last month I painstakingly cut, cursed, screamed, sewed, and ironed the 504 pieces for the top. Now that I have all the pieces, I've started to lay everything out.

Here is another sneak peak

('Scuse the upstairs lighting)

And my other lofty goal?

I'm REALLY hoping I can knock it out by the end of the year.

Yeah, the WHOLE quilt.

Chevy

Is it just me, or is there an INSANE amount of chevron popping up in stores and in home projects?? Maybe I'm just dreaming it, but I see it everywhere. Beautiful, crisp, clean, classic stripes.

For your viewing pleasure, take a look at some of my recent faves:

Fully jumping aboard this chevron train, I've recently started a "chevy" project of my own.

(chugga- chugga- choo-chooo)

 A HUGE project.

Something that seems WAAAAAAY beyond my skill level.

It might take a few weeks. 

Or even months, depending on how much reality TV I watch patience I have.

Needing a smidge-of-a hint?

Well, ok.

Just a quick looksie.

Have you guessed it?

That's all you get, friends!