Rebecca has a problem...I'm just saying...

So last night I told Rebecca how I would need a men's XL orange shirt to make a bias binding for her name quilt...once it is quilted.  She bought this lame story and we headed to Goodwill.  It wasn't a sale day, who goes on full price day???....Anyhow, you know I'm not buying any more fabric...in fact, I spent much of the afternoon sitting on the couch patting myself on the back about my mature decision to not buy any fabric.  So I'm feeling really proud of myself as we enter Goodwill and head towards men's shirts--completely bypassing the jeans for booty bags.  Not even looking at them!

Then we get to men's shirts and we find an orange shirt right off the bat.  But still we keep fondling the shirts like perverts....I happen to spy two XXL Christmas plaid shirts...never been used--still new.  Rebecca decided these would be a good purchase to make a holiday quilt.  Then there were a couple of white/blue plaid shirts.  I was speculating that they were also twins...but alas, different manufacturer.  But very close...anyhow, after touching them they became ours as well.  And then, the coup de gras (did I spell that right)...the red "Made in Sri Lanka" skirt...100% cotton...

Then, she keeps groping the black and gray shirts...asking if I need anymore for my Halloween quilt...seriously, she has to be stopped.  Because I had to be the grownup and say "No dear, I think I have enough and I don't want to overbuy because what would I do with lots of leftover black vintage shirt fabric???"....out of my mouth, I actually said that and put the smackdown on the idea of more shirts....

Anyhow, here I am trying to "manicure my stash" and Rebecca is shopping like a mad woman.  She dropped $31 at the Goodwill...and had the nerve to ask for a sale calendar for August.  What...is she nuts?  See, I cleaned up so well that she imagined that all my fabric was gone and I needed more....LOL!  I just crammed more into Alli's closet!  We are our own worst enemies....

On a side note, I just saw my neighbor lady heading off to the gym.  Her husband told her she was getting a little fat (maybe 15 pounds overweight) so everyday she heads to the gym.  At these moments I don't mind cleaning my own pool filters and doing my own yard maintenance....LOL!  Screw that....hahahaha.....how does she fit in crafty time will all that driving to the gym, working out and driving home--easily wasting 3 hours of her day!  OMG Carol....stop the madness!!!

Fabric buying moratorium....;-(

Moratorium definition


1) A period of time in which there is a suspension of a specific activity until future events warrant a removal of the suspension or issues regarding the activity have been resolved.

So I started cleaning my sewing area...which has been an embarrassing disaster all summer long.  And not only was that area horrible...I let my sewing take over the living room as well.  And Alli's room...and on top of the dog's kennel...and the bench near the door...and the kitchen table.  Seriously.  It is out of control.  So I'm not going to buy any fabric (or vintage shirts)....for a year.  Or until next summer.  Maybe if I make all my quilts in the queue I can celebrate and buy something next summer....

Exceptions to the rule
1.  I can get gifts of fabric...like from Santa at Christmas....hint:  Bliss....
2.  If I need backing, or something to finish a quilt, then (with Rebecca's approval) I can buy fabric to finish a project.  But not for stash building....and not any more than I need.

I want to make a point of telling you all (all 3 of you) that I have donated several large trash bags of fabric to the high school home ec teacher for her textile/fabric design class.  And I do actually make things...I'm not a total hoarder....but I'm real close!!!  I've been thinking that maybe I could open an Etsy shop and make little baby quilts or something to use up some of these fabrics....maybe.  But with school starting I don't know about it...but it is on the back burner.  Anyhow, this means NO FABRIC SHOPPING WHILE ON VACATION NEXT WEEK.  OMG....how sad.  But it has to be done.  And while I'm at it, I need to diet as well.  But why kick myself when I'm down??? LOL...one thing at a time!!

A fun Monday....

So I worked most of the afternoon on Rebecca's name quilt for her office.  Here it is, pinned and ready for some wonky hand quilting...look it is on my design wall...LOL...that would be the tile floor ;-)  Someday, when the kids are gone, I'll have a sewing room again with a real design wall ;-)  And an exercise room....where I can store more fabric!!!  LOL....

Another good thing...Joyce returned from her travels with my Dad and she picked up some fabric....batik candy!!  I think I might make a French Braid quilt using these strips...with black in between to make the braids pop!!  Thanks, Joyce....;-)  I also got a couple button lanyard kits from the Stitchin' Post....she actually got to go to Sisters....

As I mentioned in my previous post, Nancy's Quilt Shop is going out of business.  ;-(  Anyhow, everything was 50% off...fabric, patterns, templates, books....so I picked up some backings.

I found enough yardage to back a quilt from the Fresh line from Moda (to match a layer cake I ordered) and some orange from Fresh for the binding.  And the purple flowers is to back a purple and aqua quilt I have in mind.  And the beige plaid is to back a buggy barn quilt I plan on making for my bed.  And the Kaffe is to back a Kaffe quilt that I have stewing in my mind (I already have the fabrics for the top) and the cherries...well, I don't know.  They were just cute and inspiring.  The gray on the end is to back the Halloween quilt ...with the vintage shirts.  And the Kaffe book is perfect for my classroom....talk about integrating geometry and quilting!!  I spent $250 which means that it was really about $500 dollars worth of fabric.  OMG....I was on fabric restriction...but how could I miss out on this opportunity?  I want to go out again today but the darn pool guy is supposed to come by and fix a few pool tile....darn it!!

Anyhow, Rebecca is working on cutting up some of my vintage shirts so I can pack them away neatly and then I can clean up my sewing room.  In fact, that is what I'm supposed to be doing right now.  I'd better get something done....I hate when the summer starts to come to an end!!!  Work sucks....it really gets in the way of my quilting!!!

What a day....Rebecca's rag quilt!

So Rebecca finished clipping her quilt for school...remember, her colors are orange and black--The Chaparral Cowboys.  Here is her raggy quilt....it measures over 5 feet long and about 2 1/2 feet tall...

And here is an up close picture...even the letters were flannel-backed and ragged....All the fabric is from vintage shirts....except the white, of course!!

On another note, a local quilt shop, Nancy's Quilt Shop in NW Las Vegas, announced that it was closing its doors.  The 50% off sale started on last week...that is 50% off of everything!!  I made a point of buying lots and lots of fabric for backings....I'll post pics tomorrow.  ;-)  It is sad to see one of the 5 quilt shops in town close down (due to retirement).....

I've been busy...

Well, I noticed I hadn't blogged in a while and I didn't want anyone to think I was being lazy and taking lots of naps or anything like that....LOL!  So I've been wrapping up a few projects....a big one is Rebecca's Chaparral quilt--you might see finished pics today or tomorrow.  I also made myself a little booty bag from a toddler's size 3 jeans and a vintage red/white/blue with a silver streak vintage shirt for the lining.  The pic isn't so good, but here it is...with a little pouch for cards/cash...

I also finished Rebecca's floppy frog that I started in June and then set aside...

I'm also working on her matching name quilt for her office at work...it will also be in Syracuse blue and orange....I have two letters done!  I plan on quilting it when we are in the car in New York visiting her family...

Today I need to go in to work and set up my classroom...hopefully.  And work on the name thing....and watch a bunch of TV at the same time ;-)  Happy quilting!!

Joyce's Quilts...

OK, I didn't make these but I'm not ashamed to post other people's work on my blog!!  LOL....So this first one is a HST quilt made from a layer cake for a charity auction.  My Dad's girlfriend Joyce made it and we had it quilted by Jade at Quilted by Jade in Las Vegas, NV.  The panto is double plume and the quilt looks just fantastic!!!

Very nice texture....LOVE IT!  And this next one is a rail fence quilt made from a jelly roll that has been gathering dust in Joyce's stash....Romantique, by Fig Tree, I think.... It is now with Jade waiting to be quilted...it is also for the charity auction.

And here is Rebecca (and Buddy under the quilts) madly clipping the boy rag quilt for the auction....She says she has a system now so it goes easier....

In the background is the new couch....turns out chocolate brown couches show everything...every kernal of popcorn, spare hair or thread, dog hair, dog drool....etc.  ;-)  We need to stock up on lint rollers now....Anyhow, now I'm going to cut orange fabric for a Chaparral quilt for Rebecca's office.  The school colors are orange and black (heinous)....anyhow, we will do what we can!!!

UPDATE:  the baby quilt is washed and dried....here it is!!

OK...still cutting orange squares for Rebecca....

Lazy Sunday....Moda Charm bag

So I didn't get much done today.  Alli got all of her squares sewn with an "x" for the baby rag quilt.  I did get together the fall leaf quilt and it turns out that I don't need a border or it will be too big for the wall.

I washed a bunch of new shirts from Goodwill.  Buddy thought they looked comfy....I have so many shirts and ideas but I lack the time to implement them.  And then I get sidetracked with making little bags...

And I mean little bags...This is a pattern from the Moda Bake Shop...a little charm bag.  Little.  Really little.

See how big it is relative to the rotary cutter.  The base inside is fabric-covered cardboard measuring

2" by 5".  Seriously.  Maybe a lip gloss for Alli...or a little sliver of a library card (but not both).and then it is full!  LOL...But I learned a new technique for holding the inside and outside of the bag together.  I've done reversible totes, but this method actually sews together (??) the inside and outside.  Anyhow, well worth the time...and I liked putting on the the little pleated cuff...super cute!  It is Alli's now....but I'm going to make it bigger and try one for myself.  Bigger.  Much bigger.  ROTFLOL.....;-)  On a side note, my rude and completely unsympathetic ex told Alli she can't bring home (to her other house) any more purses.  I, of course, disagreed with this and told her that this one only counted as 1/4 of a purse so I could make at least 3 more for her before it became a problem.  ;-) 

I guess math teacher trumps P.E. teacher any day!!!