WIP: writing a pattern

I finally decided to try writing a pattern.  I've thought of it for awhile... But I decided to go for it!  I spent 3.5 hours this morning typing up directions, trying to make them very clear and concise.  The most difficult thing for me is consistency.  I have a touch of random in my personality so being consistent is a challenge.

Now I'm ready to make some illustrations for it.  I thought I could use my new EQ7 program, but I'm not very good at it yet.  I HATE learning new computer programs!  Ugh.  I know it'll be useful... But it takes so long to learn!  I could be sewing!

So, to complicate matters, I'm making a bag pattern, not a quilt pattern, so I really couldn't figure out how to diagram it using EQ7.  Lame.  Tomorrow I'm going to draw diagrams using graph paper.  Not fancy, but it should work.  

I emailed a class form today to Material Girls where I hope to teach some quilting classes this winter.  Since I've modified the pattern that I'm teaching, I realized I need a new pattern.  That has led me on my wild pattern making bonanza today!  Wish me luck!

P.S. 
if anyone would like to be a pattern-tester let me know and I can send it to you to try out.  All I ask in return is that you give me constructive criticism so that I can make a better pattern!  First 5 people to request it will get a free pattern.

Kindergarten start up

Jessie and Claire Best Friends

Kindergarten has begun.  It's been a challenging adjustment. It's been hard for both the girls to be separated for so long each day. They are best friends and play together so much!   The first few mornings were filled with tears for Claire.  After dropping her off, Claire would get very quiet, then exclaim, "I miss Jessie!  I need my sister."  It was so hard, she was inconsolable!  My heart broke to experience her sorrow and nothing I did made it better.  She was morose.  However, Claire is getting used to it now. Jessie has done very well, much better than I expected.  She has only cried twice.  I am very proud of her!  She is so brave.

Claire and I are on our own

I had prayed for a teacher that would fit Jessie's personality and God has answered my prayer!  He gave us a great teacher!  She is very experienced, kind, and no-nonsense.  She is even left landed like Jessie!  She also loves nature, and takes the kids out frequently.  They've gone on field trips to Creamers Field each week.  Claire and I have gone along on two of the field trips, which has made both of them so excited!  Claire even got to spend an hour in the classroom with Jessie while I was volunteering/ helping with picture day.  They were both so ecstatic to be together in the classroom!  My heart sang to see them sharing the new experience of playing in a classroom together.

Lots of hugs

Some of Jessie's highlights have been recess, gym, and the classroom bunny named "Blue".  The first few days all she talked about was recess.  All the kindergartens (3 classes) get to play at recess at the same time without the big kids.  She has a friend, Anastasia, that's in a another class and she gets to see her at recess. They run around like a little gang with several other little girls.  In gym she has learned how to do the hula-hoop!  Very exciting stuff.  I remember when I learned how to do the hula-hoop!  I used to practice for hours with my brothers.  He he... boys doing the hula hoop.  Enough about me.

Jessie's classroom pet Blue gets to hop around the class sometimes.  She loved it when he got turned loose for the first time.  The kids got to follow him around the room, playing Follow the Leader with a bunny.  How delightful!

Blue the classroom mascot

So, we're adjusting.  For me, I've been playing, hugging, and reading a lot to the girls as they've needed some extra love lately.  I have volunteered for an entire morning once each week.  It's very busy.  I joined the PTA... And survived the first meeting.  Yuck.  I hate meetings.  Next time I'll bring my knitting!

I'd love to hear any beginning school stories from you.  Sorry it's been so long!  I should be able to do more regular notes now.

Cutting Update

Cute fish quilt

Hey all.  I thought you might be wondering... did I succeed in my crazy quest to cut 5 quilts?  No.  However, I did get 2 quilts cut and the fabric picked out for the other three.  I was distracted by a good book and (of all things!) work.  It was somewhat busy so I didn't have time to do it all.  LOL.  But, it was a good day. 

Now I'm ready to make the blue and white Celestial fabric quilt and a cute fish quilt for my girls.  It's a jelly roll quilt.  I'll keep you updated!

WIP: Scrappy Quilt Kits

Today I've decided to spend a few hours cutting fabric to make my own stash scrappy-quilts-kits.  I hope to have 5 quilts worth of fabric cut by the end of work today. That does sound ambitious, doesn't it?  Hmmmm.... 

I do have some strips cut to start one out. It's going to be a blue and white celestial theme quilt.  The others I haven't really decided on yet.  I have two fabulous quilt books that use jelly rolls, so that's easy to cut.  I also have some fun quilt quilt patterns that I've been thinking of making lately.  Here's an example of some of them.

Since I haven't actually sewn anything, I'll show you pictures of quilts that I have made in the past and I'm going to cut fabric to make similar quilts this winter.  With the cutting done, I should be able to get out a kit and make a quilt pretty quickly.  Cutting can be tedious, but it can also be fun as I imagine how all the fabric will work together.  I love color!  It's my favorite thing about quilting... matching the colors up for a stunning quilt.  :)

 I am going to share my quilting stash with you.  WARNING: don't panic.  It is kinda messy.  I've tried having it neatly organized into color ranges and such, but that doesn't fit my style.  I love to root through a pile of fabric like a dog joyfully digging a hole.  So, now I keep each color  or theme fabrics (like Celestial fabrics or outdoor fabric) in it's own bin so that I can freely paw through it.  It feels like Christmas to me... searching for just the right fabric can be messy and fun!

theme bins: sailing, fall, fruits, fall, flowers, blues, finished blocks, coffee, etc

Precut strips: 1.5" in bag, 2.5" out of bag

color bins: red/orange, black/brown, blues, yellows/whites

WIP: Athena's Puzzle

This week I've hardly been sewing because it's been beautiful outside!  Hurrah!  I love the sunshine in August.  Yesterday it was 82 degrees here.  Delightful!

So, I haven't been thinking much about quilting.  I dug out an old project to work on today while I'm at work.  (Yes, I get to sew at work!)  It's an Athena's Puzzle quilt.  I have 6 blocks done, 3 blocks started and many more to do.  It's in lovely fall batiks.  So, I didn't feel like working on it until it was nearly fall.  :)  You know how that goes, right?

Here's the picture of what I've got so far.  I hope to get several more blocks done today.  Wish me luck!

FAF: Doug of SDI Woodworking

I have had the privilege of trading and buying kid's spinning tops from Doug, the owner and creator of SDI Woodworking on Etsy.  He does a magnificent job with the wood!  I loved his work so much, I just had to share with you all.


I have a neighbor that has a 4 year old boy.  He seems to have a ton of toys already, so it was difficult to know what to get him for his upcoming birthday present.  I leisurely scanned through the wood section of Etsy looking for gifts.  When I saw the picture above my search was arrested;  I marveled at the beautiful range of wood.  It is so perfect with the natural glow of the wood grain shining through!




We arranged a trade for an equally priced handbag from my Sew in the Snow shop on Etsy.  I eagerly awaited the gift in the mail.  It was so smooth and perfectly balanced!  It also came with two little tops as well.  I love these tops.  My kids were with me when I opened it, so we had to test them out.  We spent over an hour playing with all three tops.  It was so much fun.  Even my 3 year old could spin the little one!  We got a big one (about 5") that has a pull-string on it.  It is difficult to manage for the kids, but I think they'll learn how to balance it soon.



We decided that we had to keep the tops we ordered.... so I ordered another set for the birthday party.  That arrived today!  How exciting!  I thought I was getting 3 little tops, but he gave us 5!  What a delightful surprise!

Doug is a very talented craftsman. I highly recommend his shop to anyone looking for well-made wood products.  You won't be sorry...  I sure wasn't!

No WIP Visiting with Dad

Hi all!  I have had the rare pleasure of my Dad visiting us in Alaska this last week.  So I haven't had much time to sew this week.  Instead we've playing outside, riding bikes, and cooking up a storm.

We've had great homemade food from salmon chowder and fresh Sourdough to double-decker tacos, to grilled steak with corn on the cob and ratulie.  Splendid food!

Tonight he leaves on th "red-eye" back to Denver,  it's been a good visit though.

Hope your week has also been good.