Not Quite Vintage

2010 Sewing Calendar

Out of all the sewing projects I have included on this blog, one has garnered the most attention – my gram’s ice skate ornament. It started out as an effort to modernize one of my favorite childhood ornaments as a tribute to my gram. I thought it was fun and decided to share a tutorial because I guessed many of you would like it. I was right, my ice skate tutorial has been one of my most popular posts. It was posted on Craft, it was listed on Whip-Up’s mammoth list of holiday tutorials and more.

Then, early this year I even received an email from an editor named Megan Smith wondering if I might considering allowing my tutorial to be included in a 2010 Sewing Calendar... And of course I jumped at the chance. I only had to supply a few pictures, a link to my pattern and sign a form. So easy. In turn for all this I would receive a complimentary copy of the calendar.

This week the calendar arrived on at my door! I love it and think I may need to pick up another copy : )

The calendar is filled with more than 100 quick and easy sewing projects from many of your favorite crafters including The Long Thread, Skip to My Lou, Pink Chalk and Finny Knits. The list is way too long to include all of them in my list - can I just say I am honored to be included. There are so many names I recognize and many I don’t - I can’t wait to check their blogs for even more inspiration.

If you think you might enjoy one of these, they are already available for order on Amazon.

focus

Do you ever feel like the universe is sending you a message? For the past few weeks, it seems that I have been bombarded with a similar message. Whether while catching up on blogs, reading email newsletters, watching tv, looking at magazines or checking out links friends send me, everything is telling me to FOCUS.

I shouldn’t be surprised. I often try to do too much, too many things with my time. Sometimes the too much and too many things are important things, other times they are quite unimportant, spur of the moment things. When I try to juggle too much of both, the important things tend to suffer. And worst, sometimes I am moving so fast that I can’t even tell  what is important anymore. 

Enter my summer blogging vacation. I needed a break to free up some time. Not active doing time, but brain time – thinking time. I needed to put blogging and crafting on the back burner so I could unclutter some of my to do lists and free up my thoughts.

I have spent so much of the time since my Momma passed away and since my Pops got sick (no worries now, almost a year cancer free now) taking care of my family, trying to keep my emotions treading water above the depression line and working to keep my job. I fit in crafting when I could and did the bare minimum I needed to around the house and the yard. My social life was pretty much nonexistent. After more than a year and a half I needed to take stock and figure out where I go from here.

Goodness, I have to say the ultimate where do I go from here part is still a big question mark, but I have been able to make a big dent in the physical uncluttering of my world. I have gotten back close to my fighting weight, I have cleaned the house thoroughly, I have donated a lot of my old clothes and home goods, I have reorganized my craft space, I have started checking off home improvement projects from my list. I could keep going, honestly I can’t believe how much I have accomplished this summer. Little things really have added up.

The physical uncluttering has given me some freedom. The freedom to take some time to relax, to reconnect with an old group of friends I really, really missed and to start contemplating anything I want to. I think it also got my brain going so much about all the possibilities that I cluttered it right back up – just with different subjects, too many subjects. This is where my next phase of uncluttering comes in – mental unlcuttering. I really think that is what universe is telling me to do now. All those messages couldn’t just be coincidence.

So I start a new journey of reclaiming attention and focusing my intention. I am sure there will be ups and downs along the way, but I am actively inviting goodness and can’t wait to see where the journey takes me. 

Don’t worry, there is plenty of room in this journey for blogging. All of you make this worth while and help me feel connected, inspired and grateful. I missed you while I was on vacation!

benjamin's quilt

The first of two baby quilts I have been working on is finally finished! It is for a sweet little baby boy named Benjamin. The next will be for a gorgeous little girl named Cassidy. I am looking forward to Cassidy’s quilt, it is all green and white polka dots and cute little owls... But before I get sidetracked, Benjamin’s quilt is made from a long discontinued Moda fabric line called Johnny and Buck. I picked up a couple charm packs from Fat Quarter Shop years ago and have save them for just the right little boy. I know cowboys and indians aren’t really politically correct these days, but I still find the fabrics quite precious.

I paired the charm squares with a light tan quilting cotton. It was really pretty simple since all the squares were already cut for me. All I had to do was cut the solids strips with my rotary cutter (love that tool). I used the same light tan quilting cotton for the back.

When it came down to binding the quilt, I really had something else in mind. I waited till I had the quilt top finished, sandwiched and quilted before I bought binding fabric. I was envisioning some sort of pattern. Maybe a blue or a red mini dot or check. Problem was I chose to go to Hancock Fabrics because it was on my errand route. Bad choice. They really had nothing to choose from and since I didn’t want to run all around out of my way I settled on a coordinating brown. Now that I look at it all finished, I like it, but it just wasn’t what I pictured in my mind.

I tied the centers of the patchwork squares with embroidery thread for a little added detail.

You know what my favorite part of quilting is? When you are all done and you throw it in the washer and dryer. I love when it comes out all warm and crinkly. One of those simple, perfect moments.

catching up on the bee

After a nice summer blogging and crafting vacation, I am finally getting back to it. First up on the list was to catch up on my Pieced Together Quilting Bee blocks. Over the past week I have completed three and it really feels great to be back sewing.

First up was Allison's Drunkard Path block. I waited way to long to sew this one. Honestly the circles scared me. I had a mental block. Funny thing is once I got started it was pretty darn simple. History repeats itself once again - I really need to work through the fear of trying new techniques because each and every time I get a really nice sense of satisfaction after learning something new. It is empowering.

You know that sense of empowerment, it helped me face Michelle's block. She chose some patriotic fabrics and asked us to create a 12 inch block using a nostalgic, traditional pattern. I searched and searched for one that I thought would use the fabrics provided nicely and fit within my skill level. I found instructions for the School Girl's Puzzle on about.com and I knew I had found a winner. The instructions were well written and I didn't have any trouble following them. I really like how the block turned out - I think more triangles are going to find their way into my quilting.

My last block is a spiderweb block for Stephanie. This one was a breeze since we had already practiced spiderwebs for Sara. The fabrics Stephanie sent were lots of fun.

More quilt blocks on the agenda for this week... and I need to bind a little boy baby quilt I have been working on. I'll share soon.