Happy Independence Day!

Hope everyone had a happy and safe 4th of July yesterday.  We went to see our little city parade, cooked hamburgers and steaks on the grill & watched the fireworks from our backyard.  We couldn't have asked for a better day, especially given the mild temperatures and cool breeze (usually it's an inferno here in Texas on July 4th).  

My daughter walking in the parade.

My sons playing Angry Birds Star Wars to pass the time until the parade started.

I have an exciting finish that I'll show on my next post, which should be later today or tomorrow.  Until then, here's some pretty fabric I got from Elizabeth's recent Instagram destash sale.

Secret Tote Swap Completed

I finished the tote for Lia's Secret Tote Swap for my partner just in the nick of time and got it mailed off to her.  I used Anna's Super Tote pattern, which I had been wanting to buy for some time now.  It is a great pattern and the bag came together very easily once all the cutting was done.  Please feast your eyes on my masterpiece...

My partner's mosaic had lots of orange, yellow & aqua and some pretty paper-pieced designs, so initially I wanted to try making kaleidoscope blocks for the pocket.  This is what I came up with..

It just didn't seem to be coming out right and paper piecing is hard, so I just switched gears and went with the pieced rectangles.  I did a circular quilting design, which has numerous mistakes personal touches.  

I packed it up along with some goodies and shipped it off to my partner.  I really hope that she likes it.

Today, I received my tote from my partner, Sue, who blogs at Curlyque Sue, all the way from Australia!  She did an amazing job with the colors and design (the other side has some strip piecing).  And let me tell you that this tote is huge!  I don't know anything that I couldn't fit in here.  She also included a beautiful card and that little fat quarter of selvage prints.  

I really had a great time in this swap and the good news is, I think there will be a round 2 coming up in the not-so-distant future, so keep your eyes peeled on Lia's blog.

New Blogger Blog Hop

I am participating in the The 2013 Let's Get Acquainted New Blogger Blog Hop being hosted by Beth of Plum and June.  It's a great way to find new blogs that you may not have ever visited and, who knows, a few might ring your bell enough to convert you into a new follower.  Here's the schedule and list for the blog hop:

Friday, June 7
Nancy @ Owen's Olivia

Amy @ 13 Spools

Ashley @ Wasn't Quilt In A Day

Casey @ The Studiolo 

Nanette @ Yeah, I Made That

Ange @ Heart Of Charnwood

Kim @ Robot Mom Sews

Erica @ Kitchen Table Quilting

Friday, June 14
Julie @ Jolie Maxtin

Melissa @ Melia Mae Quilting

Adrianne @ On The Windy Side

Molli @ Molli Sparkles

Laura @ Little And Lots

Sarah @ Duck Egg Threads

Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

Cari @ There's A Thread

Valerie @ Between Quilts

Friday, June 21

Leigh Anne @ Ella's Cottage

Stacy @ The Tilted Quilt

Sarah @ Quilt Candy

Jackie @ NW Patchwork

Liz @ Beadqueene's Bits And Baubles

Erica @ Happy Fabric

Stephanie @ Simple Sewendipity

Lauren @ Seraphym

Amy @ Cloud CouCou Crafts

Friday, June 28

Green @ So Sew Green

Gwendellyn @ The Rainbow Revolts

Jessica @ Stitched In Thyme

Amira @ Little Mushroom Cap

Kathy @ Kayak Quilting

Michelle @ Factotum Of Arts

Paula @ The Sassy Quilter

Kris @ Sew Sunshine

Camilla @ Faffling

Friday, July 5

Christa @ Christa Quilts!

Alyce @ Wonderland By Alyce

Anna @ The Crooked Banana

Rachel @ Sew Happily Ever After 

Stephanie @ Quarter Incher

Shayla @ Sassafras Lane Designs

Caroline @ Carolines Craftiness

Lisa @ Hilltop House Creative Works

Friday, July 12

Leona @ Leona's Quilting Adventure

Karen @ Karen, {Novice} Quilter

Anne @ PlayCrafts

Rachel @ Let's Begin Sewing...

Jan @ Sew And Sow Farm

Anna @ Quilting Along The Grain

Cath @ Wombat Quilts

Sarah @ {No} Hats In The House

Friday, July 19

Karen @ Little Birdie Quilting Studio

Kathy @ Kwilty Pleasures

Katie @ Snuggle Up With A Dish From Karma 

Alison @ Making Happyness

Ella and Nesta @ Ella & Nesta's Little Room

Adrienne @ Chezzetcook Modern Quilts

Nicole @ Modern Handcraft

Aylin @ AyliN-Nilya

Kelsey and Amanda @ Everyday Fray

Friday, July 26

Vicki @ A Quilter's Mission

RobinSue @ RobinSue Quilts

Elise @ Lovelea Designs

Elizabeth @ In The Boondocks

Jenny @ A Note To Follow Sew

Lorna @ Sew Fresh Quilts

Sonia @ Fabric & Flowers

Emily @ Sew E.T.
Em @ Sewing by Moonlight

I hope you'll take the time to click over to the different blogs each week, take a look around, perhaps leave a nice comment and enjoy yourself.  Thanks!

Progress being made..

So, I have completed the Star Wars quilt top and here's what we've got so far..

I was planning on using Crest in Lilac from the Shelburne Falls line for most of the backing, but will need to piece quite a bit to make it work.  I have some left over Star Wars fabric and then I will just have to see what I do about the rest.

This is a quilt top that I finished several months ago and it is for my oldest son.  He picked out this Riley Blake line, called Stars & Stripes, because he likes red & blue and the good ol' US of A.

I planned on backing it with this minky (I think that's what it's called) fabric.  I am a little intimidated to quilt it because it is really slinky and slippery and stretchy, but alas, forward I march.

Today I got in my fabrics from the Modern Low Volume Fat Quarter Swap.  Behold..

I also got in a fat eighth bundle of Happy-Go-Lucky by Bonnie and Camille for Moda from Knotted Thread's etsy shop.  This line is so pretty!  I already have several Thimble Blossoms patterns, like the famous Swoon, Juggle and Fireworks.  I'm thinking about going with Fireworks with this fabric stack.

I took advantage of some of Missouri Star Quilt Co.'s daily deals and landed a Glimma layer cake and a Happy-Go-Lucky layer cake (I guess I really like this fabric line, huh?).

My in-laws are flying in from Panamá on Sunday and I'm excited for their visit.  When they're here, I really don't have to cook, wash clothes or dishes or clean much of anything.  I don't ask my mother-in-law to do this, but she just does it anyway and over the years, I've learned to not get in her way.  There are a few disadvantages though, such as sleeping in the living room, since we don't have an extra bedroom, and, when they leave, none of my dishes are where they are supposed to be.  I think I still come out ahead on the deal regardless.

I want to make them a quilt to take back with them to decorate their bed with (it will not likely ever be used for covers since it's never colder than 75°F down there), so I've started trying to think about patterns and colors I could use.  Maybe I could make a table runner instead?  I already made my suegra (Spanish for mother-in-law; I'm fluent in Spanish fyi) an apron, so maybe some coasters and pot holders?  What would I make for my suegro?  Hmm... things to think about.  Any suggestions?

I joined another swap..

These are becoming a little addictive.  I'm currently involved in a fabric basket swap, modern low volume fat quarter swap, over the rainbow charms swap and now I am signed up for Lia's Handmades Secret Tote Bag Swap.  I resisted signing up all month long, thinking that I might be getting in over my head, but then I realized that I've already done my part on all the aforementioned swaps, so I typed and clicked my way into sweet participation.

In the flickr group, you create an inspirational mosaic so that your partner can get a pretty good idea of what you would like to receive.  Here's mine:

1. spring tote with grommets, 2. market totes, 3. Charley Harper Inspired Embroidered Tote, Simplicity 2685, 4. Flowing Dots Tote, 5. Jacqui's Tote of Many Colors, 6. Fabric Stack, 7. Scrappy Patchwork Weekender Bag, 8. navy teal coral, 9.Mosaic for 4x5, 10. Quilted Weekender Bag, 11. Sample Block ~ 4 X 5 Bee ~ 2013 Q1 ~ Hive 1, 12. Pretty little pouch swap finished... the back, 13. Wonky Bee, 14. Fairytale Forest quilt close up, 15. Pleated tote, 16. Tote Sewing

Deadline for sign up is tomorrow, May 29, so you still have time.

Summer break has started..

We finished up our home school year last Friday, so this past Monday, we had an end of the school year party.  We had pizza and cupcakes, watched a movie and did some fun science experiments.  We also made that gloopy Borax and glue mixture that should provide at least 3 months' worth of entertainment, right?  

The older kids will still have some summer reading to do, as well as an occasional math worksheet.  I am paying for a subscription to abcmouse.com for my youngest and so far I like it pretty well, so he'll be doing that frequently during the summer.

I have big and vague crafty plans for the summer.  Big because I want to get a lot done and vague because I don't know exactly what I want to do, but I'm sure that will resolve itself in time.  As for right now, I just finished my Easiest Sew Along Ever project.  I used this tutorial to do a QAYG pouch, but only followed it for the QAYG portion and put the rest together by myself.  I definitely learned some things, like how important it is to edge stitch on the sides of the zipper, since the lining fabric got good and stuck and I nearly ended up ripping it apart.  I did a little edge stitching after the fact, which looks ugly, but solved the problem.  Also, I learned that seam rippers are not indestructible.  I tried to pry out the corners of the pouch a little more and this is what happened.  

Overall, I like it a lot, especially the way it feels.

I have made progress on a Star Wars quilt I am making for my nephew.  I have all the blocks cut out and the center panel (see below) ready, so now I just need to sew everything together and baste and quilt and bind.  Easy peasy.

I got the idea for the center panel from this picture on flickr.  I love that Constellations print as the background.  The stars really seem to stand out and twinkle when looking at it in person.  I would really like to get a bundle of this line before it is hard to find.

  

Thinking about Oklahoma

Tornadoes are just a way of life around here in tornado alley for about 6 months of the year.  Just last Wednesday, the tornado sirens were going off in my town and there were a series of touchdowns in several local counties, including my own.  Several people died.

When these events happen, we stay alert and cram ourselves into the little closet under the stairs if need be.  Thankfully, we have never been through a tornado ourselves and we pray that we never are.

Today, Oklahoma suffered a catastrophic tornado that has taken the lives of over 50, including many children.  It doesn't matter if you are in a bathroom or closet if your house or building is ripped apart beam by beam.  I cannot fathom the terror the victims felt as it bore down on them nor the desperation of the parents while looking for their children.  I am praying that the peace of God, which passes all understanding, floods through the hearts and minds of all those affected by this tragedy.