Summer wrap-up

Oh man! I can't believe it's been more than a month since I last posted! Time seems to get away from me. Here's a list (in photo form) of all the shenanigans I've been up to:

Experimenting with blackwork.

Also experimenting with hexies and English Paper Piecing.

Finished my second pillow sham (not before ruining my seam allowances of course!)

Designing a new cross stitch piece.

And a gross baby for good measure.

Don't forget all the planning for the upcoming holidays (costumes and presents! And a 1st birthday too)

What have you been up to?

Like I said…

I might be gone for a while, sorry! Running a pool is a rough business during the summer, and even though I'm not top dog this year I'm still running the place (helping the boss man that is). So I've been working at the pool during the day and hanging with my lady in the mean time. I also had family in town, and will be helping move my grandma in the coming weeks so I'll be pretty busy.

However, I have managed to squeeze some craft time in now and again (mostly thanks to my stitchin' pal Robin). 

I made this nifty earbud pouch for my mans birthday. I used this tutorial, and I have to say it was easy! And let's go ahead and pretend that it's a perfect circle shall we? I'm still working on my curves… speaking of which:

I started my next pillow sham (used this tut' kind of. I may have traced it form my lappy screen because it refused to print. Maybe.). That's it in all it's pieced glory waiting to be quilted. I'm liking these blocks that turn into things. I may make a whole quilt on day. We shall see. 

I also have got some sock knitting in. These are Little Minx in Rock Candy Sock Ease. It's my first attempt at 2 at a time, and they have since been moved onto different sets of needles because I could just bit come to terms with the side seams. COULD. NOT. But besides that I am liking the pattern very much!

This week I went on a craft date (with the previously mentioned friend) sans baby! It was only for an hour or so, and it was a new boba shop that we're not sure we'll go back to, but had fun none the less!

And lastly I joined my first swap! Oh yes I did! So depending on how this goes I may decide to join more. I was able to snag a spot in the CuppaKim Mug Swap 2014! I'm totally stoked on it, and am enjoying the challenge of what to get my partner and what goodies I should put in her mug! I will hopefully keep you up-to-date, but let's be honest: there are 3 more weeks where the pool owns me, so you probably won't hear from me until then! (PS: Shout out to my swapper! Hope this blog o'mine helps you out!)

Hope your summer has been as fun as mine! :)

Hello Summer!

Goodbye free time!

Why do I say that? Because I work at a pool, so summers I work full time. And use my spare time to go beaching. And with an active 6 mo old, that leaves little time for crafting. Not that my crafting will end, it's just going to be sporadic. (Although, I have a lovely long list of projects I wish to accomplish...)

So I'm not abandoning this blog, I'm just getting my tan on and teaching some kids to swim!

The Getaway Pillow

So this past week I finished my first ever quilt project! I have pieces in the past (remember my sewing machine cover?) but I've never actually gone the extra mile to actually quilt it. I did this time; with batting and a backing and everything!!

I used this pattern/tutorial from Art Gallery Fabrics blog, and I not only enjoyed it but found it easy. 

It looks a little old fashion for my personal tastes (the fabric is vintage; I snagged it from a friends grandmas stash ages ago) but I love it all the same. And it helped me go through my unused stash of fabrics, so bonus there!!

I still needed to wash it to get rid of the marks I made to help me sew a straight line (I stitched in the ditch/ echoed the lines of the design) but I've gotten several complements on it this past week as it sits on my couch! Whoo!

Now I only have 3 more pillow shams to go to cover my throw pillows for the couch!

FO: Ziggy

Finally, after starting these in October I have completed my chevron socks! 

I love the way they look, but oh my can you see the difference in my tension! The first one is nice, not too tight(on the right), but the second is WAY too tight, causing some of the side stitches to pull. That's fair isle for you, have to watch your tension. (Alternatively the seams in my heels are too loose)

And they even look neat on the inside (but let me tell you weaving in ends was a bit tricky with all those floats)

Anything you put on the back burner looking to get finished? I have many…but the list is dwindling!!

This is the project that never ends…

Yes, it goes on and on my friends. (Anyone remember Lamb Chop? I used to sing that at the top of my lungs!)

Anyway, the parts that go on and on have finished! Sweet! All I have to do is find a dram, then put it in there (after a brief wash that is!). So I'm a little ecstatic. I can't wait to get this thing up on my wall!

What do you think? Have you finally finished something that you thought would never end?

Looking to improve

Hey all! Quick check in, seeing if indeed it is "all" and not "you." My stat tracker says there is more than one, so I figured I pose a question or two to try and improve traffic here:

1. Are you a drop-in or follower?
2. What is it that would (or does) keep you coming back?
3. Is there anything you'd like to let me know?

Please take a moment to drop me a line, I would love to get to know who my viewers are! :)