30 Days Of Gratitude in November

So, I've seen a lot of people are doing some sort of 30 Days Of Gratitude in November thing and writing down something they're grateful for every day this month.  Sounds nice, doesn't it?!  I only started on Wednesday, November 7 but better late than never, right?!  And I'm listing three things per day instead of one to make up for the missed days.  Kind of like interest on a missed payment.  I started doing my gratitude posts on Facebook but here's a "Weekly Gratitude Roundup" for all of my bloggy friends.

 Wednesday, November 7.....
-An 18.5 year old cat who's still spunky enough to play with a tennis ball.
-Dogs who think ice cubes are the greatest treat ever.
-Clean sheet day.  Seriously.....is there anything better?!

Thursday, November 8......
-Heated seats in my car.
-Adorable and affordable Christmas ornaments from Target (those were all $2 or $3).
-The fact that I GET to go grocery shopping.  Not that I HAVE to do it.  I'm lucky that I GET to do it because so many people can't.

Friday, November 9.......
-Getting to wear pajamas to work because I have a home based business
-My new schedule.  I seriously love that thing!  It has completely changed my life for the better!!!
-The seriously fun part of Illustrator class starts today.  We begin making patterns!!!  Polka dots, stripes and plaids.....here I come!

I should probably start trying to dig a little deeper and be grateful for more meaningful things.....but some days it's nice to just remember and be grateful for the little things in life!

So.....what are you grateful for today?

Hugs,
Jenny

Work In Progress Wednesday - Vote For Binding!

Just a few more squares to be tied and then it's binding time!  But I'm not quite sure which color to use for the binding - orange, brown or green.  And I flipped over that top left corner of the quilt so you can see the backing with the possible binding options.  Soooo.......what do you think? 

And as for the rest of my Works In Progress.......I hate to say it but I haven't sewn anything in weeks.  But that should all start to change now that I'm on my new schedule that has sewing time built into it!

So, here are my current stats.....

Finished Projects: NONE!
Active WIPs:  4  - That number is unchanged from last week!
-Living Room Quilt:  Just a few more ties to do!
-Hooterville:  Top is pieced.  Owls just need French knot eyes.  Then it's off to the quilter!
-Dollhouse:  No Progress.  Just sitting there all alone and unfinished.
-Zelda's Fancy Witch Hat :  Moving to the Back Burner Projects since I didn't work on it before Halloween
Next In Line:  Vintage Valentine!  I sooooo want to start on this one ASAP.
Back Burner WIPs:  4
Ready To Go:  22 - That number is unchanged from last week!
Must Make:  10 - That number is unchanged from last week!
New Projects:  ZERO!  Does my Illustrator Class count as a new project?  Then maybe it's one new project
Forgotten/Abandoned Projects:  Didn't find any last week - Yay!

Looking forward to see which binding color you "vote" for!

Happy Sewing,
Jenny  

 

My Next Work In Progress?

Happy Monday!  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  I wish I could say I got lots of sewing done this weekend but I didn't.  I don't really know what I accomplished this weekend......I didn't really do much.....I guess that means it was a good weekend, right?!  But I did have one little creative spark this weekend while I was playing in the fabric room.  How cute would this Avignon fabric be......

Made into this City Market Tote?

Sigh.....I think I just added another project to my "Must Make" list.

And is anyone else totally confused by the time change?  I woke up an hour early today at 4:00 a.m. instead of 5:00 a.m. but I thought I had woken up an hour too late!  And the kitterses and pupperses who were licking my face and chewing on my hair and walking on top of me would not allow me to get that extra hour of sleep we're all promised with "Fall Back."  Hopefully I'll have better luck with this tomorrow!

Happy Sewing,
Jenny

P.S.  The fabrics shown above are Avignon Green Main, Fly A Kite Green Dots and Avignon Green Damask.  All of the fabrics are by Riley Blake so the greens match perfectly.  The bag is the City Market Tote by Kati Cupcake.

Jenny's Top 10 Sewing and Quilting Tips

I have been sewing since I was about five years old and in that time I've learned that I like to ignore a lot of "sewing laws" but there are just some rules that you shouldn't break.  These would be my top 10 bits of advice that I would give to any new or experienced quilting or sewing friends.....

#1 - Always, always, ALWAYS press your seams.  ALWAYS!  First I press my seams flat to "set" the threads into the fabric and then I press them open or to the side depending on what the pattern recommends.  If you don't press your seams your pieces won't line up correctly and your work will look messy and unprofessional.  And it's usually best to press your seams without steam.  Steam can distort the shape of the fabric.  And remember you are supposed to PRESS, not IRON.  Don't slide the iron up and down along your seam like you would if you were ironing a shirt.....that could distort the fabric.  Pick the iron up and MOVE IT to the next spot!

#2 - Measure twice, cut once.  I guess this one is pretty self explanatory.  We've all heard it a million times before and that's because it's great advice.  You don't want to mess up and waste all that pretty fabric that you just bought, right?  So cut it carefully!

#3 - Get good scissors and rotary cutters and don't use them for ANYTHING but cutting fabric and thread.  Hide them from your family, put a threatening note on them or put an alarm system on them.  Do whatever you have to do to protect them.  Good scissors are worth the investment but will be easily damaged if they're abused.   And please, please, PLEASE be very careful with your new sharp toys.  This is what happened to me when I was in a hurry cutting with a dull rotary blade (My Very Unfortunate Rotary Cutter Accident).....

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#4 - Proper setup.  Put your sewing machine on a table.  Sit at a chair that's a comfortable height for that table.  Make sure you have good lighting.  Don't put the sewing machine on the floor and sit hunched over for hours on end because there's more room on the floor.  I could get away with that when I was younger but if I tried that now I'm pretty sure I'd be hobbling around for days whining about my sore neck and my bleary eyes!

#5 - If the directions say to baste something, DO IT.   I know it's boring but it's so important.  If your pieces are slipping around, nothing is going to line up properly and you'll hate the end result.  

#6 - Read through your pattern once before you start sewing.  Again, I know this is kind of boring but I find it really helpful to read through the pattern and visualize the steps in my head before I start sewing.  And if you mess it up in your head instead of on your fabric you don't have to get out the dreaded seam ripper!

#7 - We're not supposed to sew over pins.  They can break and pieces of needle will come flying at your eyes.  It can mess up the alignment and timing of your sewing machine needle.  It can cause a "wiggle" in your seam.  But I must confess I sew over my pins all the time.  But I do it verrryyyyyy sloooowwwlllly.  So, if you're going to sew over your pins please go SLOW.

#8 - Make sure that your sewing machine is threaded properly, the bobbin is installed properly and that the tension is correct.  Most of the time when I want to swear at my machine for not behaving properly the "problem" is fixed if I just re-thread it or adjust the tension. User error is the most common cause of a malfunctioning sewing machine.

#9 - To Pre-Wash or Not To Pre-Wash:  I Pre-wash fabric that's going to be used in a project that will be washed frequently after it's made such as clothes or baby blankets.  Most quilting fabric is 100% cotton and we all know what happens to 100% cotton in the washing machine.  I  don't pre-wash fabric that's going to go in things that will not be washed on a regular basis (or ever) such as purses or applique quilts and most pieced quilts.  I find it easier to work with fabric that hasn't been pre-washed because it seems to get a little "flimsy" after washing.  And I NEVER pre-wash Charm Packs or Jelly Rolls or Layer Cakes.  Your perfectly cut pack of pre-cut strips or squares will no longer be the same size or shape if you wash them. 

#10 - Take Breaks!  This one seems so simple but it's so important.  I try to set an alarm to go off every 30 minutes and I get up and stretch and drink some water and just give my mind a little break.  I find that I make the most mistakes if I'm in the middle of a marathon sewing session and don't take any breaks.  And I also end up with a really stiff and sore neck if I don't move for hours on end!

So, there you have it.  It only took me three decades to learn all of this through lots of trial and error.  I'd love to hear if you have any tips to add to this list!

Happy Sewing,
Jenny

Oink, Snort, Moo

Happy Day After Halloween (aka Candy Hangover Day)!  We celebrated Halloween by committing random acts of Dog Shaming at casa de la Sew Fab!

Emma was so happy to celebrate Halloween as a pig......

And Sammy was thrilled beyond words to be a holstein cow.......

And I am now trapped.....home alone.......in a house full of chocolate because all of the trick or treaters seemed to skip our street and go to the street where someone had basically set up a haunted house in their front yard.  They even hired "zombies" to roam around their front yard scaring people. It was seriously cool!

Now, I just need to summon all of my strength and will power so I can ignore the candy bowl.  If "Eating Massive Amounts of Chocolate" isn't on the schedule I can't do it, right?!

Hugs,
Jenny
 

A Tale Of Two Kitty Beds

As I'm sure you all know, today is National Cat Day!  What?  You had no idea???  Well, there's still time to rush out and get some fresh tuna and organic catnip for your kitties......assuming that you don't live in the Northeast in the path of Frankenstorm - Ugh!  If you're in the Northeast just stay home and you can make it up to them on another day!

Anyway, I decided to buy a really nice heated cat bed for my 18.5 year old, Cassi.  The ol' girl has been seeking out warm spots lately so I thought she could use a luxurious, snuggly, plush heated bed now that winter is almost here.  Aren't I a nice kitty Mommy?

Well.....the cat bed has been here for two weeks and here's how things have been going.....that's Cassi on the left in her ratty, old, sunken in bed.  And that's Bailey on the right in the brand new heated cat bed.  No matter what I do she refuses to get in the nice, new bed.   What's up with kitties these days?  You buy them something wonderful....something you know that they need.....and they just don't appreciate what you've done for them!  But at least someone is getting some use out of it.  And maybe Cassi will come around one day......

And to all of you in the Northeast....I'm sending lots of happy thoughts your way and keeping my fingers crossed that things won't be as bad as the weather forecasters are predicting.  Big hugs to all of you and just do lots of sewing to stay calm and pass the time!

Happy Sewing,
Jenny

P.S.  Daisy is doing great!  There's no picture of her in this National Cat Day post just because she's soooo camera shy.

My Newly Scheduled Life

I did something wild and crazy this week and I actually attempted to follow a schedule.  Crazy, right?  And what's even crazier is that I let Col. Sew Fab make the schedule for me!  You know I've been on my whole "get more organized and be more efficient kick" and this seemed to be the logical next step.  So instead of randomly floating through my day trying to follow to-do lists written on 10 different scraps of paper I'm actually following a very detailed schedule. 

Don't be too impressed yet.....there were some snafus along the way.  It's hard to get used to following a new schedule.  Especially when it has you waking up at 5:00 frickin' a.m. in the morning so you can get your daily run in before you start work at 8:00.  And there was the little incident on Thursday afternoon where I freaked out because I was sooooo off-schedule and instead of trying to re-group and carry on I did what any sane person would do....I made a bowl of chocolate chip cookie dough and ate it by the spoonful.   But overall......it's going great and I feel like I got twice as much done this week!  

And all these other miraculous things are happening too......the top of my desk isn't covered in piles of paperwork.  And it's not because I shoved it all in a closet somewhere.  It's because the paperwork is actually done.  And for the first time in....well....forever...I can actually say that I'm caught up on Quickbooks because there is a time slot for it in my schedule.  So instead of doing Quickbooks my normal way (avoiding it until the pile of receipts has built up for a year and just looking at the pile is giving me an ulcer and the accountant is asking me for my records because tax deadlines are looming) I dealt with Quickbooks in a new way - I actually did it when it when it was supposed to get done.  Wild, huh?!

And I've even scheduled in time for the good work stuff like Illustrator class and SEWING TIME!  Yay!

And Emma is adjusting to the new schedule well.  She's willing to wake up at 5:30 a.m. but not a moment before.....

Gotta run.....it's time for lunch on the schedule.

Hugs,
Jenny

Meghan Peasant Dress

Just in case you were wondering I still sew things on occasion.  It seems like forever and a day since I've had any sort of completed project or work in progress to show you because the last few weeks were....well....shall we say kind of chaotic and there wasn't much time for FUN!  But I managed to make this Meghan Peasant Dress (PDF Pattern) by Sis Boom in ONE AFTERNOON a few weekends ago and now I'm finally getting around to showing it off using a fabulous iPhone self portrait......

This was my first time making a Sis Boom pattern and I've got to say I'm in love.  The directions are well written, there are tons of diagrams, there are tons of sleeve length and skirt length variations and there are no zippers or buttons in this dress.  And you know how I tremble in fear when a pattern calls for zippers or buttons! 

But don't freak out like I did the first time you see that a Sis Boom PDF pattern has about 200 pages!  You only need to print off about 20 pages to get the right pieces for your size and sleeve length. 

And don't you just love the fabric I used for my dress?!  It's Seaside Madras Patch from the Shore Thing Collection by Michael Miller.  I feel like it's very preppy and nautical and studious all at the same time which is why I've been calling this my "back to school dress."  Because even grown ups who aren't in school should still get new back to school clothes, right?!  But wait.....I'm taking an intensive Illustrator class so I kind of am in school, aren't I?  And speaking of Illustrator.....we got into a huge fight yesterday so I'm kind of scared to take my next class today.  Fingers crossed that Illustrator and I will be on speaking terms again today and that our love affair can continue!  Wish me luck!

Hugs,
Jenny

All Hail The Illustrator Queen!

I am the Illustrator Queen!  I am one week into my class and I am constantly forcing asking Col. Sew Fab to ooh and aah over my art like a child showing off their macaroni and glitter craft project from school.  I was so flippin' excited when I was able to color in these shapes a few days into the class.....

And then I did a little happy dance when I was able to make this button.  I think I should make a Sew Fabulous superhero cape with this button on the back of it.....

And the day I was able to make this.....well.....I have nothing else to say except.....Holla!!!  Mind.  Officially.  Blown.

Maybe I should start taking commissions for Graphic Art work now - LOL!

I'll be making a ribbon in class today.  Fingers crossed that it will be worthy of going in my Ugly Macaroni & Glitter Art Gallery!

Hugs,
The Illustrator Queen

My Life Is A Country Western Song

Well hello there!  I've missed you all out there in blogland.  You won't believe what's been going on with me the last few weeks.....

First, my car broke.....

Then my iPhone broke......

Then I found out my cat has a large mass in her lungs (that was the last thing I mentioned before I "disappeared" for a while).  The specialist says it's a 50/50 chance it's lung cancer.  The only course of action is just to wait and watch and re-check her in a few months.  But I'll happily take that news and I'll happily take the 50/50 chance because at first it looked like there was a 100% chance it was bad news.  So 50/50 was like winning the lottery!

Then I got in a fender bender when I borrowed Col. Sew Fab's truck to do errands because my car was in the shop.  And FYI......it was 100% the other person's fault.  But more importantly no one was hurt.  But sadly my first thought after the big thud in the Hobby Lobby parking lot was "That was NOT my fault!"  Oh yeah.....if you're wondering, there's only a small dent in the bumper of the truck - no major damage.  Woo hoo! 

Then I ran 8 miles on Sunday, September 30.  That's the farthest I've even ran, thank you very much!  I had been training for my own little personal half marathon that I had scheduled for Saturday, October 20.  Have I ever mentioned that I'm a runner?  I fell in love with the sport about a year ago.  I used to love power walking and then I quit for several years and then I gained a few pounds....and then we went to Napa on vacation last year and I gained a few more pounds so I started walking again.  But one day I decided that walking was too slow and boring so I started running just to see what that was like and we (running and I) fell in love.  And all those pounds went bye-bye!

Anyway.....where was I?  Oh yeah.....I was well on my way to being ready for my "Run Bunny Run Half Marathon" when I came down with a cough, fever and body aches the day after my record breaking 8 mile run.  And that was around the point that Col. Sew Fab told me that my life had become a country western song - LOL!  But it gets better!  That was also the week that his family was coming to town to visit because his HUGE Colonel promotion party was the following weekend.  Talk about a bad time to get super sick!  

Soooo.....my little phlegm filled self carried on as best as I could and still managed to make FOUR homemade desserts for the party (we had caterers doing the rest of the food) and clean the house and do the party decorations all while entertaining his family and running my own business.   Yeah....I rock if I do say so myself!

And this is what Emma, my assistant hostess looked like at the start of the huge party.....

And this is what Emma looked like the day after the party.....

I thought those photos did a better job than words ever could of conveying how we all felt the day after the party!

And do you remember how I was on that kick to become a more organized,  efficient and productive person a few weeks ago?  Well, now that I'm starting to feeling better after TWO FLIPPIN WEEKS of being sick I'm getting back to it!  I'm still going through all the old magazines and keeping the daily log (sooooo beneficial) and I've got some great books to read and I'm taking a couple of awesome online classes (A creative business class by Kelly Rae Roberts and Adobe Illustrator with Laura Coyle) and I'm ready to take on the world again....I think.....

And I've got to tell you the Adobe Illustrator story before I go.....

Col. Sew Fab and I were enjoying cocktail hour in the hot tub a few nights ago (a.k.a. "The Think Tank") when the following conversation happened....or it happened kind of, sort of, a little bit like this......

Me:  "I wish I knew how to do my own graphics for my website and blog and other future crafty projects that might involve surface pattern design."

Col. Sew Fab:  "You DO have Adobe Illustrator on your computer.  It's been there for years."

Me:  "What's that?"

Col. Sew Fab:  Facepalm.  "It's what graphic artists use to make their artwork.  And you have it.  It's exactly what you're looking for."

Me:  "Wow!"  

Felt kind of stupid.....but also felt like I had just won the lottery again!  (The cat story was the 1st "lottery win."  I've never actually won the real lottery).

Soooo.....I immediately started searching for some online classes and I'm now learning Adobe Illustrator.  And all I can say is....WOW!  It's such an amazing program!!!  All I can do right now is make squares and rectangles and circles and fill them in with different colors but I already feel like a creative genius!

So here's my big question.....what else don't I know about?  I didn't know about running or Adobe Illustrator a year ago.  I also didn't know about Bento boxes before Pinterest existed.  So what else don't I know about?  Are there any other books or blogs or classes or things out there I should know about?  Anything about business or organization or motivation or surface pattern design???  Tell me everything you know!!!

Hugs,
Jenny

P.S.  The "Run Bunny Run Half Marathon" has been re-scheduled for the Saturday before Thanksgiving.  That gives me a month to finish training.  And it also gives me the opportunity to pre-burn off the calories I'm going to eat on Thanksgiving!

P.S. #2  Thank you SOOOO much to everyone for their kind words about Daisy in my last post.  And I'm sorry if I scared anyone with that post.  I just want to make it clear that screaming in the middle of the night IS NOT a sign of lung cancer in cats.  Lung cancer is EXTREMELY rare in cats so don't you worry your pretty little head with those thoughts!  But you should always get your kitty checked out by the vet if you're worried about anything that they're doing!