A Little Bit of Sewing

It seems like my entire life recently has been consumed with writing, publishing, and marketing my book. Now that it has been released into the wild I have been able to find a little bit of time to get out my grandmother's sewing machine (mine is broken) and fiddle around a bit. I had a bunch of half-square triangles that I had started when Iw as talking a quilting class about two years ago for my "first" quilt. I hated the pattern and didn't love the class so I never finished. I decided to take them and make them into pinwheels because I adore the fabrics.

I took the rest of the fabrics that I'd originally had picked out for this quit and started some Pinwheels in the House blocks as designed by Kaye Prince. I love the idea of these blocks. I kept my log cabin strips thin instead of sizing them to my pinwheels like Kaye did in her quilt, just because my pinwheels are huge and I'd end up with like four total blocks in a quilt. I still love how it looks.

While I sew I like to put on a movie - but it has to be one I've seen a lot so it doesn't distract me from what I am supposed to be doing. One of my favorite go to sewing movies is She's the Man with Amanda Bynes...don't judge! I love Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and I think this is one of the most faithful adaptation of it - and it's funny! And highly underrated.

Do you have a favorite go to entertainment while you sew?

Fabric Love

Looking for the e-book giveaway of Jennifer Becton's Absolute Liability? I am giving away 5 copies and there is still time to enter. Just go here or scroll down!

I've been thinking for awhile that I want to make Maddie and James quilts for their toddler beds. Having a young boy and girl in the same room presents some decorating challenges, but luckily Maddie is pretty tomboy-ish, so she doesn't insist on princess or pink. We are going with a sort of baseball/vintage/americana/country theme and I really want the predominate colors to be red and white (Go Angels). I've been looking and looking for a fabric line that I could use for both their quilts (as in not too girly), would coordinate with each other, and were predominately in red & white. No luck. But look what Sweetwater is coming out with!

This line is called Hometown and I think it is pretty much perfect! They have charm packs, fat quarters, and yardage for sale at the Fat Quarter Shop and I think I will be buying some! Cannot wait!

What I Did For National Quilting Day and a Giveaway!

March 19th was National Quilting Day (it is the third Saturday of March) and as I haven't done any sewing in months (gee, I wonder why), and I haven't had a chance to set up my sewing stuff here at the new place yet I thought I'd at least start moving my fabric bins into the correct location.

I am planning to use this walk through closet for sewing . . . isn't it cute?!

It is also the hottest part of the condo because the heater is in a secondary closet inside it - yes, a closet within a closet! It is basically the walk through area between our bedroom and the master bath. The bedroom has a regular sized closet, and I just do not have enough clothes to need a large closet. My other problem is I don't have a table to put in here yet to put my sewing machine on . . . however, I have now moved all my bins and other paraphernalia into the closet/sewing room.

(Maddie and James rifled through my bins, wasn't that helpful of them?)

And in the process I managed to break my toe! Yes! Note to self: bare feet + pushing bins of fabric + door jam = extreme pain! This is not the first time I've broken this toe - you would think I would learn!

I have not been able to put on shoes, or go anywhere, or sew (also missing in the move seems to be my rotary cutter) since the 19th.

Also, I feel like I haven't posted anything sewing or crafty related in ages, so to make it up to all you lovely sewing gals, I thought I'd have a little giveaway from my stash (partially inherited) in honor of my new soon to be sewing closet and the fact that it is spring!

Up for grabs I have 1 yard and 2 fat quarters of this lovely spring-like fabric. It is from a 2006 line from RJR fabrics called Bungalow. I think it looks very California Craftsman and really pretty . . . I have two fat quarters of the pink flowers (with some green and yellow designs) on cream, and 1 yard of the green print.

To enter just leave me a comment telling me where in your house you sew . . . or your favorite thing about spring . . . or pretty much anything you'd like!

If you'd like some extra entries you can leave one comment for each of the following:

1. Follow my blog.

2. Comment on another post.

3. Follow me on Twitter.

4. Tweet about this giveaway, make sure to include @narniamum and a link to this post, you can use this wording if you'd like:

Enter to #win the spring fabric #giveaway on @narniamum http://bit.ly/gEk8ad

5. Share another way (blog post, email or Facebook status) just leave me a comment for each that you do!

I will keep this giveaway open until Saturday, April 2nd at 7:00 p.m. MST, and it is open worldwide, so everyone please feel free to enter!

This giveaway is now closed, thank you for entering!

Vintage Sheet Freedom Bee

I don't get enough to time to sew because:

a) I work all day
b) I have two toddlers
c) I am too tired/lazy to stay up after said toddlers go to bed
d) all of the above

If you answered "d) all of the above" then you are correct!

Also, it is a bit difficult to sew when you turn around to iron a seam and turn back to find this:







I call him my little bobbin winder . . . not sure what will kill him first, me or the fall.

Notice his sister in the back looking on in approval. "You have learned well young Padawan."

So, I joined in the Vintage Sheet Freedom Bee that Deb from Works in Progress is organizing (um, this is my like fourth post in as many weeks that has mentioned Deb, I promise I am not a stalker). I sent out all my sheet pieces awhile ago, and have 11 little envelopes of sheets waiting for me it sew up into lovely blocks.

I decided to make a Bonnie Scotsman, which I have never done before but seems pretty straightforward . . . all of my "piecing," such as it is, has heretofore been basically just squares.

I couldn't find instructions in the size I needed (12x12 finished) so I was forced to do the math myself.

It was very truamatic.

Because I am a nerd I made a graph.








And because I am a nerd of the highest order I then made 12 copies of the graph so I could pencil in the fabrics I am using for each person's block, and write their name at the top.

My first test block was with my fabrics. I am pretty much running low on any of the pieces that match what I sent out, so I was kind of limited in what I could place where in the block. I am hoping to be able to do some more strategic fabric placement with the future blocks.

I will not even tell you how long it took me to do this between work, toddlers, laundry (two 8 load washers full, I kid you not), Jamie climbing on the table, various tension issues with my new machine (I think it's that I am using a 1/4 inch foot that doesn't fit right because I'm using the one from my old machine as the one they sent me with the new machine doesn't FIT!), etc. . . but it may have been two days.







(Please excuse the horrible lighting, my sheets are not, in fact, yellow.)

It seems to have gone ok except that I cut that side rectangle a bit too thin! You can see the top square extends out past the rectangle piece and is the right size! I may replace it with different fabric, we will see. It will most likely be fine when I sew all the blocks together (it looks bad but it's less than an 1/8 of an inch difference), but we will see . . . luckily I messed up on my own block and can correct in the future!


So, yeah. I got one block sewn. Um, I have 11 more to go . . . but I think they will just fly along now that I know what I am doing. . . . hope springs eternal in the heart of Jessica.

Nicey Jane!

I love Nicey Jane . . . really I do.

Or at least I think I do I have never ever actually seen it in person.

Seriously.

I have just drooled over pictures of it online.

And pictures of lovely, lovely things other people have made with it. People like Holly at Bijou Lovely who made this modern baby quilt:

Um . . . I think I stopped breathing there for a moment.

And this gorgeous quilt:

Oh, the prettiness! I want it.

Actually what I really want is to make myself a quilt using Nicey Jane and some of Kaye Prince's pieced center string blocks.

It might kill me with it's awesomeness, but really what a way to go . . .

. . . what was I saying?

Oh!

I ordered some Nicey Jane!

Oh yes, I did!

And you should too because Lola Pink Fabrics is having a sale. A really, really good sale!

You so need to check out their site, and their blog. They have piles and piles of prettiness just waiting to be bought by you. The sale right now is insane! It really makes it easier to justify spending money on my little sewing habit when the fabric is on sale . . .

So, um, I got 14 1/2 yard cuts.

14!

Fourteen!

Ten and four!

Wait a moment . . .

Ok, breathing again! Whew!

And if you are very, very nice . . . I might give some away! Oh my gosh, there I said it!

Check back next week and I will share the Nicey Jane love with you!

Giveaway Alert - PDF Patterns

Kerri of Lovely Little Handmades and Heather of A La Mode Fabric are giving away some lovely pdf patterns that Kerri will now be carrying in her shop.

Kerri will be now stocking embroidery patterns from Annie Oaksleeves in her shop, aren't they cute?

As well as patterns from Kate Conklin Designs like this lovely Sea Views quilt:

And patterns from Rebecca Johnson like Sand Castles:

To celebrate Kerri is giving away patterns! You can enter on her blog and then again on Heather's blog! Hurry, because the giveaway ends on Sudnay, August 15th! I would love to win some of these gorgeous patterns!

Birthday Month Giveaway Winner #4

The winner of Birthday Month Giveaway #4, the quilt pattern, quilt pattern book, and fabric is . . .

Anne of i heart giveaways.

Congratulations Anne! I have sent you an email to get your shipping information.

Don't forget to come back tomorrow for giveaway #5 . . . and the next day (Wednesday the 30th) for my Supa' Dupa' Happy Birthday to Me Giveaway!

Win a Vintage Sheet Quilt - Seriously!

The lovely Deb at Works in Progress is giving away a quilt she's pieced out of vintage pillowcases. Yes, a whole quilt. It is gorgeous, just look!

Be still my beating heart!

Deb is a super sweet lady, she sent me some vintage sheet charm squares all the way from New Zealand so that I could participate in a quilt along on her site.

Hop on over and enter to win this beautiful quilt!

Birthday Month Giveaway! #4

A fourth giveaway! Wowsa! I call this week's theme:

Quilting II

How extremely original of me!

For one lucky winner I have:

This cute quitling pattern by American Jane Patterns!

This pattern is intended to be used with the Look and Learn fabric line by Moda, but I think it could be easily adapted to any large horizontal print.

A book of lap quilt patterns! Eleven patterns all made using fat quarters!

And to get you started some fabric! Who doesn't love fabric? No really, who? Name me one person! I dare you!

Here are two lovely fat quarters, one is Buttercup from Joel Dewberry (love) and the other is a gorgeous stripe print from the Feelings Collection for Art Gallery Quilts.

So what must you do to win?

Simply leave me a comment, it can be about whatever you want!

For extra entries (and you know I love those extra entries), leave me a separate comment for each that you do:

1) Follow my blog

2) Leave a comment on any other non-giveaway post on my blog

3) Follow me on Twitter

4) Tweet about this giveaway and include a link to this post and @narniamum

Here is a sample tweet:

Win a quilting pattern book and two #fabric fat quarters on @narniamum #giveaway http://bit.ly/aqwZmp

I will close the giveaway on Sunday, June 27th at 11:59 pm, and post a winner on Monday, June 28th, just in time for next Tuesday's giveaway to start!

Good luck!

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for entering!

Birthday Month Giveaway! #3

It is time for another giveaway! Yippee Skippee! I am excited!

This week's theme is:

Baby!

I love babies! Ok, who doesn't love babies? But I, as a former infertle Myrtle have a special love for babies, I know how amazing it is that any are ever even born . . .

Do you know someone who is having a baby (maybe it's you!) Or maybe like I was for so long you are waiting to have a baby . . . or a grandbaby. . .

Here are two lovely patterns that I am giving away to one lucky winner!

The first is for a nursing cover. I never personally used one because I am kind of immodest. That may be a little harsh, let's just say I am not extremely concerned with modesty, more with getting my kid fed ;) But even though I have no personal experience with this, or any, nursing cover pattern, I realize this would be a nice thing to have, and a nice thing to make as a gift for a new mom.

I also have this cute and easy pattern for a baby quilt! The pattern is called Bouncing Borders and it can be made in two different sizes (crib or lap) and has two different options for the center.

Lastly, I have this small piece of fabric, it measures 8 x 44 and features bunnies and chicks, which could be used in an easter project, or very easily in your Bouncing Borders baby quilt (could definitely get a few charm squares out of it),

So what must you do to win all this lovely goodness?

Simply leave me a comment telling me your favorite thing about babies! My favorite is the post nursing/feeding haze trance new babies get, we call it being drunk on the mama juice ;)

For extra entries (and you know I love those extra entries), leave me a separate comment for each that you do:

1) Follow my blog

2) Leave a comment on any other non-giveaway post on my blog

3) Follow me on Twitter

4) Tweet about this giveaway and include a link to this post and @narniamum

Here is a sample tweet:

Win two patterns for baby (and mom!) on @narniamum http://bit.ly/bKNF1Q

I will close the giveaway on Sunday, June 20th at 11:59 pm, and post a winner on Monday, June 21st, just in time for next Tuesday's giveaway to start!

Good luck!

This giveaway is now closed, thank you for entering!

Birthday Month Giveaway #2 - Winner!

The winner of the Birthday Month Giveaway #2 - the Threaded Pear quilt pattern, Layer cake pattern book and fabric is . . .

Rafael's Mum of Adventures in Quilting and Sailing!

Ladies and gents, Rafael's Mum lives in Ramsgate, England, as in the very same Ramsgate where Wickham went to try to woo/seduce the young Georgiana Darcy into an elopment according to Mr. Darcy in the infamous letter to Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. And, did I mention it is gorgeous? Check out the photos on her blog. To die for!

Make sure to come back tomorrow for birthday month giveaway #3!

Birthday Month Giveaway! #2

Last week's birthday giveaway theme was Little Girls and this week's is . . .

. . . wait for it . . .

Are you excited yet?

I am!

Without further ado . . .

This week's theme is

Quilting!

Yay!

I have this lovely quilt pattern from Threaded Pear Studio called Bubbles on Blocks.

Isn't it cute? I bought two and am keeping one for myself, I am sure someday I will get around to making it. Funny story, I actually go to church with Stephanie, one of the lovely ladies from Threaded Pear (her son was in my Sunday School class one year). She is currently living in Switzerland with her family for a few years - I started quilting after she moved, so I haven't ever really gotten to "talk quilting" with her. When I saw that this pattern was on sale at Tall Mouse I jumped at the opportunity!

I also have this awesome book! It has seven quilt patterns all made from layer cakes! How cool is that?

Maddie is for some unknown reason in love with this book . . . it is blurry because it is an actual action shot, she is literally reading it!

Lastly, I have a fat quarter of this gingham fabric. It's got blue, red, and a really pretty, light bright blue.

Wow, I really need to get a battery for my actual camera . . . these phone photos are getting old!

So what must you do to win all of this yummy goodness?

Simply leave me a comment telling me how long you've been quilting. Maybe you are a newbie like me, or maybe you've been quilting for years, or maybe you've never quilted but know someone who does and you'd like to gift these lovelies to them! Just let me know!

For extra entries (and you know I love those extra entries), leave me a separate comment for each that you do:

1) Follow my blog

2) Leave a comment on any other post on my blog

3) Follow me on Twitter

4) Tweet about this giveaway and include a link to this post and @narniamum

Here is a sample tweet, feel free to use it, or write your own:

Win some lovely quilting patterns and fabric! #giveaway on @narniamum http://bit.ly/cLvjzW

I will close the giveaway on Sunday, June 13th at 11:59 pm, and post a winner on Monday, June 14th, just in time for next Tuesday's giveaway to start!

Good luck!

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you all for entering!

January, when the rains come

It was January, California winter time
Wet pavements shone like streetlights in the dark

1. Finish Maddie's coca-cola skirt.

I am sad to say that this skirt is currently still in pieces . . . I undid the part that went wrong, and cut out the pieces for the second ruffle, but it hasn't been completed yet. I am actually a little concerned that it might end up being too small.

2. Get some official pictures of the babies.
Done!

3. Add some length to the Zaney quilt to bring it closer to a twin size so he can grow with it.
This is another goal that is half way done, I wasn't able to find what I wanted the last time I went to the fabric store, so the pieces I had left have been cut to the sizes I want, but I still need to get at least another 1/2 yard. Here are the pieces that have already been cut, safely put away from Maddie in their Ziploc baggie.

Because I couldn't finish the Zaney quilt, I did do a lot of work on my "first quilt" that I started at quilting class. These are my first half square triangles - looking good so far . . .

4. Submit F&L to a publisher.
Done!

5. Have a garage sale and get rid of lots of stuff!
Done! Need to have another one though!

I am glad I got the majority of my monthly goals done, but honestly, January has been kind of a hard month. Here is to the rest of 2010 being a lot better!

And to this day the California rains bring memories of you
And to this day my heart remains always and only for you

2010 goals . . .

Well, now that I have actually completed my 2009 in review post I suppose it is time to think about 2010. . . yes, I know we are already two weeks into the new year, I am just a bit slow.

Here's the deal - my life is super unsettled at the moment, I can't even tell you where I will be living next month so I am going to make my goals for the year pretty short and then kind of do month by month goals.  That will allow me to modify my goals when we move, etc.  So here are my big goals for 2010:

1.  Submit my children's book manuscript to a publisher.

2.  The Catalina Marathon, I honestly don't see how this is going to happen, seeing as it's in 7 weeks and Liz and I have been off our training schedule for a few months.  But there it is.

3.  Read through the Bible - I have this goal every year, I have read Genesis so many times ;)  

4.  Start and Finish three quilts. 

5.  Christmas stockings for Maddie and James.

I will start my monthly goal list here - we are already halfway through January so it will be kind of short.

1.  Finish Maddie's coca-cola skirt.

2.  Get some official pictures of the babies.

3.  Add some length to the Zaney quilt to bring it closer to a twin size so he can grow with it.

4.  Submit F&L to a publisher.

5.  Have a garage sale and get rid of lots of stuff!

Here is to a great 2010!

2009 in review

When I think back on 2009 I tend to only think of all the stressful , unhappy things that have been going on . . . the economy tanking (not so great when you are a small business owner), financial issues, and our housing situation being up in the air . . . I was at first not going to do a year in review post, but when I really started thinking about it, we had a pretty amazing year! I guess it is all about perspective. So here is my month-by-month review of the awesomeness of 2009! ETA: This honestly turned out to be a much longer post than I originally intended (and there are lots of pictures missing, but I am posting anyway as it is getting a little too late into 2010 to still be doing 2009 in review posts). So glad I did it though, it has really been an exercise in perspective and thankfulness.

January

My wonderful husband, Ed, turns the big 40!

I make a seat cushion and pillows for my rocking chair, I also painted it black. This was one of my first sewing projects by myself. I had received my first sewing machine for Christmas and my Mom helped me make curtains while we were back east.

This uber cute picture of Maddie trying her first pineapple while watching the January premier of Psych earns her an honorable mention in the Psych fan picture contest and Season 2 on dvd . . . pic taken with my phone.

February

I finish my first (and to date only) Amish Knot rug, it looks great for a few months and then I ruin it by being overly-ambitious in the washing process . . . I learned a lot though - next time thicker fabric and thicker strips. Thankfully this was made with fabric I got in a bin on freecycle.

Maddie's first Valentine's Day, what a sweet pea.

Last but not least . . . on Valentine's Day Ed, Maddie, Liz, Daniel and I went in for a gender ultrasound and found out we were having a James!

March

Maddie stands!

I made some pants for my friend's son Zane.

April

Happy Resurrection Day! Maddie's first Easter! She got The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in her basket and a love affair was born!

I made this diaper cake for a friend's shower, my first one ever.

Maddie turns one and we have a huge birthday bash - complete with Daddy's band providing entertainment. It was quite a windy day, which is why the only pictures I have of her birthday sign some of the squares are flying about in spite of being stuck down with tape.

Maddie's birthday outfit (my first skirt of any kind since Junior Girl Scouts).

Maddie goes to Disneyland on her actual birthday.

May

Maddie takes her first step at Auntie Liz's house while Mommy and Daddy are out on a date seeing T4. I don't have pictures of course! But here is a picture of her walking a month or so later . . . it is an action shot!

We had some pretty maternity pictures taken at the beach. I made a skirt for me and a top for Maddie.

Mother's Day aprons for my Mom and Grammy.

We got 3d scans of James for my Mother's Day present.

June

We finished painting the nursery (not knowing we wouldn't be living here much longer, but I digress - at least they babies have a nice nursery while they are here), and they have this blessing from Aslan above their door: "Once a king or queen in Narnia, always a king or queen."

My "July baby" makes a surprise June appearance! James is caught by Auntie Liz as he makes a speedy entrance into the world! We then had to go to the hospital (boo!), but so glad that James was born at home!

Three days after James turns 0 I turn 30!

July

Well . . . July 4th happened . . . I have no pictures because we didn't do much for it! We were still coping with doubling the amount of babies in the house.

We did watch a lot of Angel's baseball though!

Oh . . . and we made it out of the house to a Carl's Jr!

August

I repurposed Maddie's Minnie Mouse high chair cover into a pillow that was meant to be for the floor, but she now sleeps with it every night. Shockingly it washes really easily.

I actually made out of the house and to Walmart with both babies by myself, aren't these shopping carts awesome? It was on this mad dash to Walmart before church on Sunday that Maddie acquired the infamous pink Pooh sneakers. This is also on the way to Jamie's first day at church. She does actually love her brother more than it appears in this picture. . . and one of Daddy and Jamie for Jamie's first day!

Liz and I decided to start training to walk a marathon (we had a month and half off there at the end of 2009, but we are now back on the wagon) follow us at Walking Away With Ourselves.

September

Maddie got a hair cut!

We took the kids to their first Angel's game, we adopted a Rally Monkey to bring home so we could unleash the power of the monkey while we watched games at home. . . there are pictures but they are currently on my old hard drive . . .

We also went to the LA County Fair, Maddie's second and Jamie's first. While there Maddie rode a pony called Dr. Pepper.

James made it to Disneyland for his first visit. He was so good!

October

James ate his first solid food! Avocado! Maddie helped him prepare for his first bite by hugging him around the neck.

Halloween - James was Mike Wazowski and Maddie was Boo, both from Monster's Inc. I made the Mike costume the night before, nothing like being prepared.

November

My Mom visits!

James gets baptized!  There are pictures . . . just not here

My good friend Sarah gets married, I am a bridesmaids and do the flowers. I also made her an apron, the same fabric as the ones for Mom and Grammy. The picture of all the bridesmaids (the girl in black stood on the groom's side actually) is of our "sexy face" bridesmaid's picture.

Thanksgiving (only a few pictures on my phone! oops!)

December

Ed and I celebrate our 8th anniversary on the 21st with dinner at The Grand Californian Hotel at Disneyland . . . we walk into Disney to buy Maddie's Winnie the Pooh at Pooh Corner, and make an unsuccessful attempt at locating a Mike Wazowski for James (again with the no pictures)!

So many projects completed during December. . .

Christmas!

So, in review, I think we had a pretty darn good year . . .