Minor Updates

Lately this blog looks like I win things all the time, which is not true. I just don't post that often. I have several UFO's and they get worked on as time permits, but posting is something that I seem to not have time for. (sometimes I just don't know what I want to say or I don't feel a project has enough progress to warrant 'look at me!")

The first update is for the lovely scenic applique quilt. I ended up removing the clouds and replacing them with more cloudy clouds =)

They are edged in a light grey blanket stitch for a cloud with a silver lining. (Please ignore the hair in front of the camera. hehe)

The revised 2x size Sweet Pea quilt is still in the cutting pieces phase. I have discovered that I will need 132 HSTs so this part is taking a bit of time. Particularly since I am also pairing fabric with fussy cuts at the same time. I ended up not grouping them with safety pins since they became a nuisance and I doubt the fabric pieces will travel much.

My last update is a counted cross stitch lighthouse. These come in kits and I love making them, they just seem to take quite a while to finish. I have one that remains a UFO and has been for at least 5 years. I also love the kits with scads of details, so that might be why they take awhile =)

I would love to say that my New Year's Resolution is to blog more. Unfortunately until my college semester ends in early May, finding the time to even work on projects is difficult. To give you an idea.. I enter my Senior year this fall for a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration, with the Individualized Option in Accounting. I am taking 5-6 classes a semester (for a total of 15-18 credits) to graduate next Spring. The Pennsylvania State University decided to add presentations to every class, which has increased everyone's homework. Hard to say by how much, but our usual homework is Read a Chapter and Answer a Few Questions or for english we may have a paper to write and for math a list of problems to solve. Normal homework. Presentations are a bit more complicated. They are akin to writing a report, usually require a powerpoint slide and that you talk in front of the class. These are not really a big deal, but they do take up more time then my usual homework assignments. Adding them to every class, even English and Accounting courses was not a welcome change. 

New Project

So here I am planning a new quilt. I love the quilt 'Sweet Peas' that was printed up in the Feb. 2005 issue of American Patchwork and Quilting.

I love the stars and the lovely sashing, but the finished size is only 38" and I want a close to bed size quilt. Now what I'm wondering is: can you 'double the recipe' like you do with cooking? I have 12" squares planned and I plan to grow the sashing from 2" to 4". Any one know if this will work?
To be clear, the original has 6" blocks, 2" sashing, 2 91/4" squares cut in an X, and 2 51/8" squares cut in an X.
I'm 'doubling' to: 12" blocks with 4" sashing. I'm not sure how to double the triangles.

You can see placement here for a better idea of how things go together. The 51/8" squares become the corner triangles and the 91/4" squares become the triangles on the sides.

A huge THANK YOU goes out to Alice @ The Pin and Thimble. I won this beautiful fabric in her first ever giveaway! 

She even sent a little postcard with it to congratulate me!

Another huge THANK YOU goes to Gretchen @ 120 Blocks. I won her scrappy giveaway!

I got 1 magazine and a bunch of scraps. Not sure why she calls some of them scraps. Some are almost a quarter yard! =)

These pictures I 'borrowed' off her website. I was enjoying playing with them and organized them and put them away before I remembered to take pictures =(

The last package that arrived was from Kristen @ Meadowbrook. I won her giveaway of an Olfa circle cutter!

I'm 'borrowing' this picture from her giveaway. So hard to not get glare on this picture. Must be a trick to it =) Can't wait to find a project to use it on! THANK YOU KRISTEN!

Lack of progress

I would love to say I have made some progress finishing this:

But the truth is, other then removing the lake this has not progressed any farther.  I have 6 classes this semester, so time is at a premium and finding time to do other things is difficult.

Pickles Garden

Mrs. Pickles Garden is running a Blog hop starting Monday (the 31st). She has rounded up several talented quilters to share their secrets with you.

Mysterious Presents

So I opened the door today and out side was a package. No label, no stickers, no name. Kind of odd, there are 3 people living in my house.... ok. Inside is this....

Ok... Not someplace I usually eat at. Love the top, bottom is meh. Needs to go. 1/2hr later, a little bit of work and presto!

A beautiful 2013 Chinese Calendar.

Managed to finish a few Christmas presents in between classes.

Mostly make ornaments, their my specialty. Larger projects require more time then I usually have.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I Won!

So right before school starts for the fall semester I won a few prizes. @ Leona's Quilting Adventure I won an awesome book on making fabric flowers.

Thank you so much Leona!

Right before that I won at Suz-A-Palooza!!!
SuzGuz Designs runs an awesome event and I won this awesome layer cake by Kathy Schmitz for Moda.

Thank you Susan!

Also I won the new Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazine at the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Blog Tour from Cirlique Creations.

 

She also sent along a lovely block pattern she created =)

Thank you so much Jennifer!

On the U R Priceless! Coin Purse Blog Hop I won a 4 FQ pack of random fabrics from The Desert Rat Chronicles. Thank you Sheryl!

Thank you to everyone for the prizes. I learn so much on the blog hops and I love seeing what everyone makes. Maybe I will have time over Christmas break to participate in one.

Cakes

Bumped into this blog today. These sound awesome. I love chocolate =)
Chocolate cakes