one shabby chick

Too many thoughts

Do you ever have those times when you are trying to do too much and end up getting nothing done at all?

That's how I feel lately. I think I just need to get a few things done for the craft fair next week and I will feel like I have done something.

I did finally finish my embroidery for this swap (I'm mailing a day late but at least it's done).

I don't like how her face turned out but I don't know how to make it look any different....I think I'm just bad at faces.

I also finished Rebekah's blocks for Common Thread 2.

 

I hope it's ok I made two - I had enough fabric!

I am still working on the October blocks for A Notion or Two (I just got my fabric the beginning of Nov.) - they are kicking my butt - I seriously have never had this much trouble with a block before! So I've put them aside until after the craft fair madness is over and I feel like I have some real time.

OK off to Bible study - I'm hoping for a very productive day tomorrow - sewing and laundry.

3 down

Ok so I've gotten 3 UFO's done - yeah!

2 baby quilts/mats....

and I finally finished this one...

for the back I used a Target curtain....

 

I also tried out this great tutorial and now know what everyone will be getting in their stockings for Christmas. These are so fun and fast to sew up - and who doesn't need a coin purse?!

Rainy

So it's finally raining here..and feeling like November instead of the middle of Summer. I've been reading all the blogs in my reader and there's all these wonderful pictures of beautiful trees and Fall and we have sun, sun and more sun.

I'm sure you can't believe I'm complaining about sun but a little cold weather is nice every now and then...I'm sure I wouldn't be able to stand it for too long though. The rain does make sewing more fun though - and it's way cooler.

I usually do 2 craft fairs every December - one is our church's annual women's Christmas dinner and the other is a local elementary school's craft fair - both are pretty low-key and I sell a few things.

I was thinking about what to make this year - and thinking I would have 2 whole weeks of sewing time while the older two are in NY...but turns out the school craft fair is a few weeks early this year - Nov. 21st! So I'm trying to sort out some good ideas without overwhelming myself in the next 2 weeks.

(this was a practice one in case you were worried about those big stitches on the ruffle)

I usually make aprons and they sell pretty well - I was trying to do a variation and do a ruffle (with a rolled hem) on the bottom - just think I need to make a smaller ruffle - can you tell I'm using all my AB Love fabrics? 

I also ended up taking this quilt top and ripping the seams to make it 4 smaller ones - I love the way they are turning out.

I doubled the batting to make them extra thick and soft and, instead of binding them, I am using this method and just tying them with yarn at the seams.

I also finished this quilt and Hubby is giving it to one of his co-workers who just had a baby boy...I don't have any good pictures since it's cloudy and rainy.

 

So I've been busy, busy as soon as school is done each day - and I haven't even thought about Christmas presents yet!

Coming Soon

So I've been stalking Fabricworm's website to see when the new fabrics are coming in...

and there are some sneak peeks of three of the new fabric lines...

Sandi Henderson's Meadowsweet:

  

 

Anna Maria Horner's Folksy Flannel:

  

 

and Little Folks:

  

 

  

These are only a few - there are more on the website. I cannot wait - they all look amazing!

Monday

Nothing like starting the morning off with a puking child right?! Luckily it seems to have been short-lived and she's fine now..and my floors and bathroom are all clean.

 I first of all have to apologize to all the winners of the stamp giveaway - still haven't gotten any of those mailed but I promise to do it in the next two days - sorry!

There are a few fun things in the quilting/blog world right now:

The Block Party quilting bee is about to become a book and is inviting all of us to be a part of it - and there's a giveaway to kick it all off -  such a talented group of ladies!

Sew, Mama, Sew's annual Handmade Holidays is in full gear - can't wait to see all the great things they have in store.

And finally Jacquie has a challenge for all of us - I still have to count how many ufo's I have but I'm going to try and finish some for sure.

Hope everyone is having a great start to their November!

Halloween 2009

Just some pictures from yesterday - Our church has put on a Fall Festival the past 3 years - this year's was pretty big.....

(I got pretty sun-burned at my son's soccer game)

(My sister and I - I had a big pettiskirt on but somehow didn't get any pictures of it)

 

(I had to beg him not to shave so he could go as a cowboy)

(Bela and her friend)

(discussing their dresses)

(there were a few rides - the kids had so much fun!)

And it was a little hard to watch her get on a ride without us - like she was a big girl!

 

(he decided he was too old to wear a costume)

But his friend sure dressed up.....

Hope everyone had a fun and safe day - I need a nap!

Pumpkin

It's not the real name - I really need to buy one of these - but that's the color orange it is.

And it's what I'm using to sash my Common Thread 2 quilt. I know it looks like a bizarre combo but I think it's going to work. I have to wait to get it all together to be sure but so far, so good.

And I decided on a different direction for my month (November) for A Notion or Two. I'm going to have everyone make wonky stars using pink and blue munki munki and Heather Ross fabrics.

I had to order a little more white but it's on the way and I'll be sending these out next week.

Can you tell soccer season is over? - (except for our oldest whose season just keeps going into Spring)

I do still sew

Just have felt overwhelmed and un-motivated lately but I think it's coming back.

I was playing around the other day and made up a patchwork clutch....

 

and a couple oilcloth totes....

a skirt (playing with AB's LOVE)..

and bunting for the girls' room out of vintage linens....

I really need to be working on my swap items - but think I'll go finish up the quilting on this quilt instead.

Have you seen this one?

or this one?

Drumroll

OK sorry I took so long to post these....

But here are the five winners of the stamp sets:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

19 Shelley
27 Christine
25 Julie G.
5 Anita
11 Grandma Shell

Timestamp: 2009-10-26 22:42:30 UTC

Congrats Ladies - I am sending you all emails!