It's done! (FNSI Results!)

Well, my Friday Night Sew-In turned into a Saturday morning sew-in, due to some unexpected houseguests last night, but I have finished up all the goodies that are going along with my pillow for the Pillow Talk Swap!
There's the pillow, a mug rug, a drawstring bag (I used this tutorial--so fast and easy!), and some leftover triangles cut by my Go! Cutter for my partner to use however they see fit! Believe it or not, ALL of these were made using less than a fat quarter of each of the prints!

Now I am not sure if I am more excited to receive my own pillow or for my partner to receive hers! Making a trip to the post office on Monday! Should be a nice Christmas surprise for her :)

Pillowtalk progress, hexies, and more

I have all the blocks done for my partner's pillow. I wasn't completely satisfied at first, but the feedback I have gotten from the wonderful group members on the flickr group has been helpful!

The points don't measure up perfectly, and I have actually taken things apart more than once or twice. (Ignore the outside wonkiness... I haven't trimmed it up yet!) Normally, if it was staying here I wouldn't be such a perfectionist, but the pillows that come out of this group look so fantastic that I don't want my partner to be disappointed at all!!

I mentioned the boxy pouch I made that came out smaller than planned, right? Well it just happens to be almost the perfect size for my hexies:I printed the hexagon template from here. I am still waiting for my LQS to get the papers in. I know, I could just keep photocopying and cutting, but I'd rather pay for the convenience in this case!

Anyway, block two of the Layer Cake Quilt Along has been released! I would love to get it done today, BUT I do have work tonight, so we'll see. Plus, if I do it now, I'll be dying for the next two weeks until the next one is released! ;)

Make a List ... Tuesday?

Well, a day late, but that is better than never, right? I made a little progress this week:

1. Stitch up some quick cake stand covers for my sister 1/3 done.... *sigh*
2. Finish the owl pillow she asked me to make for her (all that is left is to stitch up the opening from stuffing it) If I say she doesn't want it until next month can I let this go a little longer?
3. Sketch up an idea for a new baby quilt for a good friend, and for my brown bag quilt Both done! :)
4. Make a bag with one of the patterns I have and have not tried yet Didn't get around to it, but I am going to try one of these boxy zipper pouches I have seen all over the place today before work!
5. RELAX! We're never really DONE with that, are we?

So, as I was typing, my doorbell rang, and guess who it was? UPS! With my correct Accuquilt dies! So excited! Last night I finally broke down and cleaned up my sewing area, and started cutting some 2.5in squares with the Accuquilt Go! Cutter... I am already head over heels! I love it, and can't wait to use it again. Turns out the 2.5in squares are the perfect size to use for some hexies, and I just so happened to ask Shaine to print some templates off for me from work (My LQS ordered a pack of die cut ones, but they STILL haven't gotten them in. I could trace/cut, but I worry that they won't be too accurate. Anyway, I then made my first two hexies and stitched them together. Not half bad! So then I got the fabric I was planning on using and made 7 more and put them together. Here is my --first ever-- hexie flower:

It is being dropped in the mail tonight and on its way to Jenni of Jenni Sews. It is the first hexie I am sending as part of the Inchy Flower Swap (see the button on the right!), and I also received my first one yesterday as well! I requested white/light centers and citrus colors for the petals (whether all the same, or all different didn't matter). I have yet to take a picture of it, but you can see it, and some of the others so far, in our flickr group here!

And now, for this week's list:
1. Make a boxy zipper pouch for my essentials at work (is it cheating to put this if I am already planning on doing it as soon as I am done with this?)
2. Finish the last two cake stand covers
3. Play with my new accuquilt dies (I know, hard to squeeze in, right?)

This week is a short list... Work tonight, Spurs game (woohoo!) tomorrow night, Shaine has class Thursday, and I work Friday, Saturday, AND Sunday. *Sigh* Things are much busier with Shaine working full-time, going to school, and me working close to full time! Oh well, it will all pay off eventually, right? Right?

I ♥ the mail lady!

Well, wouldn't you if she brought you all these goodies yesterday?

Okay, so my Go! got here last week, but I knew if I opened it there would be no chance of getting the costumes done! Besides, I am waiting on the correct dies to get here. I think I will take some of my scraps and cut them into squares tonight, though, just to test it out!

As for all the fabric, I have plenty of friends and family members who are currently expecting babies early next year, so I am going to be making quite a few baby quilts, I'm sure!

Another thing that came in the mail yesterday was part of my Christmas gift from my sister. It requires assembling, so I haven't taken a picture yet. What is it, you ask? Well, it's a shelving unit for fat quarters! And apparently it holds up to 300 of them! Considering I have nowhere near that amount, I think she's encouraging me to build my stash up a bit! Seeing as how I start my NEW JOB tomorrow, I think that just might be happening very soon! Also, our roommate is moving out at the end of this month, meaning that I will have my guest room/sewing room back! I can't wait!

Oh, and while on the subject of building up my stash, there are two giveaways going on right now with a sweet selection of goodies! First, Little Miss Shabby is giving away a NINE FQ stack of Summer in the City, with lots of ways to gain entries! Second, for a shot to win your choice of a jelly roll or a layer cake of Pure (like my charm pack up above!), head over to That's Sew Shawna and try your luck again :)

GREAT things going on!

Yesterday I nearly died.

Ok, not really, but when I laid down to feed Aubree, and decided to check my email while doing so, I got an email that sure made me think I did! It was an email from Ariane, of Ariane's Crafts, telling me that I won a giveaway on her blog. Not just any giveaway, but THE giveaway! An Accuquilt Go! Cutter and three dies!

I immediately called my sister, and made her get on the computer to check Ariane's blog to make sure! I have entered a few Go! giveaways, but I never realistically expected to win one. I can't wait to try it out! The dies I chose are the rag quilt die (so I NEVER have to snip those edges again!), and the apple core, and the drunkards path. I chose those last two because they are ones that I absolutely love the look when they are done, but I have been too intimidated to try. To even be slightly off while cutting could cause serious headaches and waste!

I also finished the binding of the quilt I was working on in my last post. It is now all washed and crinkly, and I love it! It's the first quilt I actually used FMQ to make a DESIGN, not just stippling or wavy lines... well, attempted to, anyway ;) It's not perfect, but it is cute, the hubby even says its awesome, and I can't wait until I get better at FMQ and can compare my progress. Its a nice sunny day out, but as we have just recently had a bunch of fire ants moving into our yard, I don't want to set it down, even for a second, so when Shaine gets home I will go outside and take a nice picture to show it off. Next on my to-do list is to baste and -hopefully- finish Shaine's memory quilt by Sunday, so he can show it off at drill and maybe get a few people interested in one of their own!

Today also marks the kick off of the Fall into Fall Giveaway bash. If you haven't heard of it yet, you DEFINITELY need to check it out. Well over 100+ bloggers are hosting giveaways. If I had heard about it sooner, I would have tried to get some stuff together, maybe some FQs and embroidery floss. Hmmm... I'll save those for when I have some more followers I guess! Anyway, grab yourself a snack, something to drink, and get over there to see if any are ones you would be interested in entering!

Another great giveaway going on right now is over at Spun Sugar Quilts! She is celebrating her 600th post with a fabulous giveaway and 6 winners. Fat Quarters, charm packs, pincushions, magazines, patterns and more could be yours, so head over there to throw your name in!