Proof

IMG_1807.JPG, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

That I don't feel well tonight. And no, not because I've not sewn the last 4 strips of blocks to the Fandango top. The wrinkles and bunched fabric are proof that my normally good dog has been sleeping on the couch. She only does this when I'm sick so house rules no longer apply.

I thought it was just a cough but now I'm starting to worry.

Sew Fresh Fabrics Scrap Bee

Sew Fresh Fabrics Bee, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

Hooray, my package of scraps for the Sew Fresh Fabrics Scrap Bee arrived today and I love all the fabrics! These are not little scraps either, I'll have no problem making a 12.5 inch block.

My living room

IMG_1787.JPG, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

Yes, Fandango is taking over my house this week. Here is my living room floor this morning. I'm trying to decide whether this should be 81 x 81 or 72 x 90.

And what should I do with the 4 (or 3) extra blocks. I'll have flannel on the back, of course.

My New Desk

My New Desk, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

Relatively little of my planned sewing got done today because I decided to trek up the coast to pick up a new desk. Just finished putting it all together. The glass top seemed like the perfect place to add some of the extra strips of Fandango. Of course, I had to include the cutest baby picture ever. If that picture can't cheer you up then nothing can.

No more organizing for today though. I am le tired.  Maybe I will manage to show my chemistry experiments later this week.  I will have printable labels, I will!

Saturday Stash #4

Orange and Gold Mum, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

On one of my birthdays way back when, I bought this fabric at a little shop in Oceanside (closed now). I wasn't sure what pattern to use so I held on to it. And found it some friends, more friends than it needs probably. I still like them all and still would like to make me a quilt out of them but I'm sorta burnt out on this style fabric after making the bento box (link to be magically inserted later when I actually write the post from last year) and then using up the bits on this quilt, so this quick view might be the only time they are seen this year. Who knows? I might find the perfect pattern that screams for an orange mum with shiny gold outlines. Mmmmm, shiny.

Orange and Gold Mum Friends, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

Chain Reaction

Chain Reaction, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

The top is done and only 5 inches wider and 10 inches longer than I expected it to be. Maybe a little large for a baby quilt but she'll grow. I did manage to complete the top with only fabrics I already had on hand. So even though I had a resolution exception to buy any fabrics needed for this quilt, I only had to pick up some green and white flannel for the back. In fact, I think the border was originally purchased for the first baby quilt I made. Hmmm, that one also ended up way larger than expected.   Although why did I buy 2 yards of fabric for an applique project?

I've got the twin size ticker tape on the frame right now so I won't be able to quilt this until the last 30 or so inches is done on that. Let's see if I can talk myself into working on it this weekend. I know I'm going to like it again once it's off the frame but right now I just find it tedious. Plus it doesn't warm up out in that room very quickly.

Here's a little closer picture of the feathery fabric I fussy cut for the little border.

Chain Reaction, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

And for those keeping track of my craziness, yes, I did consider alphabetizing the 4 center prints but managed to mostly talk myself out of it.

Butterfly Clutch

Butterfly Clutch, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

I did remember to try out the tricks I learned making the first clutch so made different mistakes on the second zippered pouch. It turned out well enough and has been sent off to a friend in need of a little bit of cheer.

Saturday Stash #3

Last Order of 2010, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

Today's stash is the last order I placed in 2010. It took forever to get here. Forever. This is my first and last order from eQuilter.com, their site is nice and they have a million fabrics, most of these were on sale. A lot on sale actually. And it wasn't the waiting for the order that I minded. They did respond to my email saying they would be late with the order since their clearance sale went much better than expected.

But here's the thing, I ordered two yards of the orange swirly flannel in the back. And they emailed that they didn't have it in one continuous cut. So they gave me the option of paying for an extra 12 inches. I chose what I thought was the option of 2 yards in 1 yard increments. Nope, they sent me an 18 inch piece and cut 12 inches off the 1 yard 30 inch piece. Surely, this is an error and they'll make it right? Nope, not even a real nice apology. Here's the thing, the shipping was sooooo late (and not that cheap) that a little give in the fabric cuts would have made me shrug and say "well, these things happen, no big deal". But without the customer service, it's just not worth shopping with them again. And I can be quite successful in the not shopping at places again, just ask Starbucks and Target.

Fandango Clutch

Fandango Clutch, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

It's my first finish of the New Year! It's a little gathered clutch from this tutorial. While I did struggle with it (and not just whether to cut up my Kate Spain Fandango yardage), it turned out really well. Also for once I took notes of the dumb things I did in error so I can skip them next time.

It's not really clear in the picture but the front is gathered. One of the things I'll try next time is to cut the front piece a little bigger (6 x 15) and then once it's gathered down I'll trim to the 5.5 x 9 side. Or forget entirely until I'm trying to link back to this post. One of the three.

The lining and the front dots are from a scrap bundle that I bought up in Northern California because one of the fabrics had colors that my sister was considering for her wedding. For the inside I pieced a couple of the strips together since I figured it would be mostly covered by the card holder and divider. It really isn't noticeable and I'm patting myself on the back for using the fabric I have instead of going out for more.

Also, I only had a navy blue zipper so I'm pretending that I used that color on purpose for some, um, pop? Contrast? Dorky homemade look? It's way more noticeable in the picture than in real life.

Fandango Clutch, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

A Reminder

IMG_3513, originally uploaded by shanleytulip.

No seriously, when I was looking back for some pictures for one of last year's quilts, I found this picture. That's right, people. I needed about 6 purple batiks and this is what ended up coming home with it. And then some of the purples were fighting so I had to go find new friends for them anyway.

Fabric can be so mean.