WIP Wednesday

I finished up a quilt a few minutes ago.  It’s a WIP from a few years ago…maybe three?  I let my oldest daughter Bea pick out the fabrics at Joann’s from their “snuggle flannel” fabric section.  I have to be honest, I’m pretty sure she didn’t pick out the backing since it’s purple and purple is my favorite color and has never been anything she likes.

A good striped binding is always my favorite.  I had this one in my stash.

I just did criss-cross quilting with purple thread (three different shades that were close enough to use together) and used up two whole spools from my stash!  Woo-hoo!

I’m also going on a fabric fast.  To keep my favorite shops in business and at the same time encourage you to use your stash, I’ll be giving away a $25 gift certificate to some online shops I frequent over the course of the next year, with a grand finale next August to see how much of a dent I’ve made in my stash.
Anyone who wants to participate can add a link to a finished project to my linky party starting August 7th.  You need to either have a blog or Flickr account and link back to this giveaway on either.  Open to US and international entrants.

To be entered for the prizes, simply look at your stash, then sew something—anything—from it. Past projects cannot be entered. Then either mention this blog post on your blog or in your Flickr description, then link it up. You can enter any finished project that uses fabrics from your stash.  You can purchase Kona white, thread, batting, basting spray, or notions, but no additional fabric.   I won’t be checking up on you, but you get the idea!
For myself, I will abide by the same rules but I can buy fabric needed to meet the requirements for the bees I am in—but nothing extra!!!  I can swap with others.  Also, I will continue getting my two monthly club fabrics.  I want independent fabric stores to stay in business!
What will nearly kill me?  Missing out on Sew Mama Sew.  But I’ve been living my challenge for the past week and it’s been a little tough but I’ll live.  When I decided to challenge myself, I made a frantic & desperate fabric.com purchase of a bunch of Kona solids, Laurie Wisbrun’s Brrr, and some Essex linen.  Now I will be only sewing from stash fabrics. 
I can’t wait to see what people make!  Are you working on a stash project now?  Link it up on the 7th thru the end of the month!
Linking up to WIP Wednesday.

I’m drinking a Sprite…

…which only means one thing.  I’m sick!  I don’t drink soda.  Ever.  Except two or three times a year when I have a cold.  And this is one of those times.  Luckily, my husband just finished up a real bender at work and will be home today and tomorrow.  Do you ever feel like your body “knows” when it can get sick, so it makes it to the very point where you’re about the get a rest and then shuts down?  Like vacation right after college exams. 

Anyway, that means when my medicine head wears off, I can head to the sewing room for some RNR of a different sort.  I just finished up my STASH BEE block to send to Sam.  (Confession:  I totally forgot about SB because I never added the blog to my Reader for some reason.  Thank God I saw someone else’s block on their blog or I would have been an absentee bee this month.)

This is a pineapple block and I had a little trouble with getting it the right size.  Sometimes I feel woefully inadequate when it comes to my sewing skills.  Things go right most of the time, but when there are so many pieces in the block, things tend to go wrong.

This beauty was my first block, but it weighed in at over an inch too big!  I will mail it anyway and maybe she can use it on the back.  The fabrics are some of the first ones I bought when I started quilting.  I know lots of people make the mistake of buying too much fabric before they figure out their “style.”  Guilty!  I do like them, but they don’t go with my house too well.

Both blocks are made with fabric from Blank Quilting, and the smaller block also has some Moda American Jane in it.

Trying New Things Thursday

I actually have three new things I have done in the past week:

1.  Made a quilt top from entirely stash fabrics blogged about here.

2.  Made my first ever felt flower wreath blogged about here.

3.  Had my first giveaway on my blog.  There is still time to enter here.

Wishing everyone a happy Thursday!  I plan on participating in the Friday Night Sew In tomorrow.  I have lots of projects I need to get finished up and get in the mail on Monday or put under the tree.

Linking up to Happy Quilting’s Trying New Things Thursday.