MItered Corners and All...

I think the brakes in my life just went out. The days are flying by and I don't like it. I can't seem to find the time to, well, just breath. Let alone sew. Which is what I really want to do. I would love to finish my Halloween table runner in order to use it some time before, oh, I don't know, HALLOWEEN? Is that too much to ask?

I did knock out my first mitered corner this weekend. Yup. One whole corner. I had to watch a You Tube tutorial 3 times before I figured it out. But-I did it.

I have since found the time to finish all four corners and  am getting ready to quilt. I don't want to jinx myself, but I'm hoping to sew a little this weekend.

I also discovered this really cool fabric from Micheal Miller. Look at those cute scissors! And buttons for the eyes! Might I say that this man is a genious? Quilt Pirates....Naturally I ordered a few yards, as I have several projects that need some 'tude.

This fabric makes me feel like the kick ass quilter I am. At least the one I think I am. Or want to be. Whatever.

I do so love this time of year, however. Check out my super awesome earrings and necklace! They were handmade by my amazingly talented friend Lisa. I may end up wearing my witch year round as it makes me feel a little like the pirate fabric-kick ass.

My kiddos are prepping for Halloween-which is almost better than the actual holiday. Samantha has been running around with a sword and an eyepatch all week, Rudy is a furry blue monster-complete with giant pink tongue, and Carly is rockin' Samantha's chubby spider costume. The very same costume Sam trick-or-treated in with my mom 6 years ago.

Everytime I see my Carly run by with the little spider legs dangling, I think of that Halloween, and wonder how it is possible to feel so much love and sadness all at the same time. I know life isn't fair, and that no matter what, it goes on. But for just one second, I would like to stop and show my mom her youngest grandaughter all dressed up as a little spider.

Samantha and Grandma Bonnie, 2004

“Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.” ~Robert Fulghum

Inspiration is a fickle mistress. I have a huge project list and I am accomplishing very little. We had such a great, relaxing summer that I long to be at home, sewing and playing with my kids. Work was a fun, inspirational place of sharing project ideas, coffee and wonderful conversation. It's a little different this year. I am trying to find my path, but a lot of unnecessary nonsense (at least in my eyes) is draining my energy.

But I don't want to write about that. I just had to get it out, so I can move on. I am still sewing a little every evening. Puttering away on my Halloween table runner and working on my pillow. I haven't gotten out of the petal cutting phase on my pillow, as every time I sit down to work on it, something weird happens. Not enough fabric for a certain petal piece, or just plain old confusion that leads me to turn on my TV and zone out. Fantastic.

Final block placement. I think.

I am looking forward to the next month, however. I love October! I'm hoping it brings with it some changes at work and home. More balance, I'm hoping. I found some really cool Halloween fabric at the Calico Whale. I think the spooky tree fabric would make an awesome pumpkin! Check out that fat quarter, too. Does it not scream "pumpkin stem"?

I "grew" my pattern piece on the copier. Heh heh.

I plan to teach a couple of classes at the Calico Whale and make some shop samples. I picked up some beautiful oilcloth and this cute tote pattern to do just that. Shelly has a ton of it in her shop-all different colors and pattens. And P.S.- they are food safe! Hello lunch sacks and sandwich wraps!

Just 2 of the many patterns. They were all so cool!

My copy of Sewing with Oilcloth came in the mail the other day, and it is a beautiful book full of fun, do-able patterns. It also came with a cute bookmark, so what more could a girl want? Kelly's blog, Oilcloth Addict, is one of my favorite places to visit.

I also want to start reading some books from a local book club and actually go to some meetings. Something I used to do, but life ran up and shoved it out of the way. Balancing what I love to do with my family and my job is certainly key to my happiness. I don't think I am in balance right now. I know it is close, as long as I don't get caught up in the unnessary nonsense.

Won't you take me to Funky Town?

All this rain is starting to put me in a funk. I don't like being in a funk. Apparently this funk is a family affair, as my toddler is also in some sort of baby funk, my kindergartner is not quite himself, my third grader is certainly out of sorts and my husband is acting like my kindergartner.

I just want to stay home all day and dink around the house. I have all these awesome sewing ideas for Celebrate Color, but I'm finding that I don't have enough time. I want to make a bold Halloween table runner for my kitchen table (as soon as I find it), and I actually did get started on it. So that's something... Oh, and I want to make a big fat stuffed pumpkin. I just love fat pumpkins.

Messing around with my Halloween fabric

I also want to make a new pillow for my sad, sad sofa. People will notice the awesome pillow and not the sorry state of my sofa, right? I bought all the fabric at the Calico Whale, and was just about to jump in when I decided that I needed a different red. So... I am now waiting for an order from Fabric Worm. This pillow is going to be my first entry for September in the above contest. At least, it will be, if I actually get started on it.

Ummm, yeah. Reading through intimidating directions.

When I get in these funks, it is usually because I feel like I'm doing a million things, and none of them well. Last night I had great plans-I was going to sew on this and cut that...instead I sat on the sofa and watched Teen Mom while eating a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Total Funk. And FYI-Teen Mom is not the most uplifting show. I should have just thrown in one of my Sex in the City DVDs.

I did manage to knock out a cute little Tooth Fairy pillow (get it? knock out?) for Samantha. She was worried about her tooth falling out of bed. A valid concern, as her room is so messy that it would never, ever be found again. I found this cute little tutorial, and an hour later I had the pillow hanging off her bedpost. Helpful for the Fairy as well, for she no longer has to teeter on the edge of the ladder leading up to the loft while precariously trying to slide a tooth out from under a pillow with the same hand that holds the Sacagawea golden dollar coin (cause it looks like pirate booty). 

“Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower...”

I need a stitchervention. I just totally made that word up and I don't care. I'm that tired. Rudy's first day of kindergarten did not go as well as I'd hoped. When the teacher comes up to you and asks if it is ok to be "a little stern," I take it as a red flag. OK, maybe not red, but definately a deep shade of pink. I'm hoping tomorrow is a better day for my little guy. It tugs at my heart and I don't like being sad and worried all day. I also have a sneaking suspicion that his Grandma is ready at any moment to sweep in and homeschool him at the School for Spoiled and Overfed Grandchildren. Now taking applications.


On a more uplifting note, I ordered a charm pack and some yardage in order to make this cute table runner. I can't wait for the fabric to arrive! Why? Because I'm also super excited about Stitched in Color's Celebrate Color contest! Yippee! Sewing and fabric and fall! Check out my super cute new button to the right of this post. Stiched in color says: "join us as we celebrate the colors of fall with inspiration, tutorials, contests and prizes during the months of September, October and November.  Because color inspires us all, Celebrate Color is for fiber artists of all kinds:  embroidery, crochet, knitting, quilting, home decor, clothing and any kind of wearable. Start thinking of what fall means to you, and celebrate with projects in full color!"


And because it seriously took me 3 days to finish this blog post (don't judge), I can show off my first fall project. Just finished him a little while ago. I have actually made this owl before, but I gave him away. I thought it would be the perfect fall project. It is very autumn-like outside my window right now, and I am loving it. This owl pincushion is for my swap partner, and I'm excited to get him in the mail.


On another positive note, Rudy is doing better as he transitions into kindergarten. Hooray for wonderful teachers and family support. Sometimes people ask me why we stayed in our little town. Above is just a couple of reasons...

Gold Rush Days and a Foray Into Applique

Well, it's the rainy season here in Valdez. I suppose that is one of the reasons I love living here. I enjoy the rain. I love the calming patters as it falls on my roof late at night. I love the smell and I love that we can finally relax after all those long, light filled days.

*Thanks for the better pic, Jess!

That being said, I do believe that we are on our second week of rain, and it does get a little old. We did get a reprieve for the 2nd annual Gold Rush Days Wine Walk. This might be one of the coolest Gold Rush Days activities ever invented. Locals get dressed up in their finest "Gold Rush" garb and wander the streets with wine glasses, going from business to business for a refill. For a little town, we had twenty-one businesses to visit! It was so wonderful to get to visit with friends and check out all the beautiful, hand made hats! Thanks to the Gold Rush Days committee, Marie Blood and Shelly at the Calico Whale, several classes on hat making were offered throughout the week.

Barb with her daughter, Katie

I had to steal these images from my friends, so the quality, for now, is pretty crummy*. I'll see about getting the originals.  I would have taken more myself, but did I mention it was a wine walk?

In between Gold Rush events, I have been sewing away on my last row for the Rockin' Robin Quilt Along. It is titled "Hexagons" and involves (gulp) applique. I tend to avoid sewing ventures that involve concepts that I haven't been taught. I need someone to show me (yup, I'm a "show me" not a "tell me"), so I was immediately bummed that I had made it so far in the Quilt Along, and was now done. Once I quit pouting I reread the tutorial, printed out the hexagon templates and jumped in. I finally got to use my fabric folding pen that Scott got me for Christmas, and it was really fun!

Hexagons with paper templates, ready to place

Top row finished, bottom row ready to sew

I am now stitching up my last row of hexagons on my Elna, and I am using the actual applique stitch. I feel so cool right now...

Check out the applique stitch! Oooooohhhhh, purty.

"Biographies are but the clothes and buttons of the man..."

Just had to share the cute "button" button I made at the Calico Whale today. Yup. The sun came out on this beautiful Alaskan day. And yup, I was ok with spending an hour at the Calico Whale putting this fun button together with Shelly. I got to go through all her jars of buttons and pick out whatever I wanted.

I always wonder where the buttons come from. Was it from someone's favorite jacket? What year? What decade? What story does each button tell?

Thanks Shelly, for a great afternoon! Ready for next Wednesday's button.

I went home with my kiddos and gave my oldest daugher, Samantha, her second lesson on her new inline skates. She was pretty darn amazing.

All in all, another great summer day.