Lauren's Quilt

it's done. I finished it in a few days before and after our trip to Vegas. Lauren helped me baste it and commented that she didn't realize how much work it is to make a quilt. I wish everyone knew how much time, sweat, (and love!) goes into them...

Anyhow....here are a bunch of pics, and not very good ones. I free motion quilted it in a spiral. Actually 2 offset spirals in orange thread.

80's shawl

My lovely 80's neon shawl is done. Sucks that I finished it at the beginning of summer and I'm only able to wear it when we visit Ventura (cause it's always cold at night!). I love it. A lot.

I'm making a second one right now for my sis Lauren....in her new school colors! Go Sam Houston State Bearkats! Orange and blue! woot woot!

Also, I have finished her quilt top.....so the hard part is done! Just need to get it basted and quilted! it's roughly 85"x85"

Mitting

I've moved my sewing space from the kitchen and into the master bedroom....which gives me some 'personal space' when I'm sewing and allowed me to take my fabric out of plastic bins and onto shelves so I can be inspired and see all of the beautiful fabric everyday! And I'm sad to say that I haven't been doing much sewing....I've slowly been working on blocks for my sister's HS graduation quilt. But THIS is why I haven't been sewing.....I've been knitting! As Avery says "mitting". This is the reason I was so hesitant to learn because I knew I would have to spread myself even thinner with being a wife and mom, sewing and reading. I'm making a Cardigan....this one...to be exact. I know, brave of me for my second project to be a friggin sweater! And I'm also making this shawl.....and absolutely love it! I hope I can get it finished during my flight and layover to Texas next week for sister's graduation ceremony! I should be taking her finished quilt with me...but...I did buy her a LARGE Coach bag to use away at college next year to carry her laptop/books. And I think that in lieu of a quilt (which I'll give to her in July when she and my brother are here for the summer) a Coach bag is pretty sweet.

Honey Cowl!

I have officially finished my first knitting project! It is the Honey Cowl...which is a free pattern on the Madelinetosh website. I used the Madelintosh DK yarn in Citrus. It was an extremely easy pattern to follow for a newbie. I did need to watch a few youtube vids about casting on and off and a slip stitch....and it took me three weeks to finish! maybe my next project will be faster! Here are a few pics of it in process and finished. I followed the pattern to the T, but my cowl is a lot more tight than the one pictured on the pattern. I wonder what I did wrong....or if the chick's neck is smaller than mine...ha!

And yes, bacon is good for me.

Retreat cont....

Just a few more pics from the retreat!

pic from chris @ www.izzyinspired.blogspot.com

pic from chris...

On the design wall....

My king size top that I was able to finish.

And plenty of snow!!!

1st Annual LAMQG Retreat

Ok. First I thought that being in a guild and having all these amazing and inspiring women around me was awesome....until we all went away together for a retreat. THAT is the best. ever. (to quote Alissa...she is sooo right!) I want to do it again...soon. We all had an incredible time. We escaped from sunny LA and went up into the mountains...and experienced record snowfall. It was beautiful and cold outside and we were warm and cozy inside.

The amazing Lori taught me to knit....and I think I might be in big trouble. I just place my first order last night for Madelinetosh yarn and circular needles....cowl, you are soon to be mine!

Absent

Sorry, I've been absent from this poor blog for a few months. The holidays were busy, Avery turned 3, and our family had the flu and I had pneumonia the whole month of January. Excuses, I know! But I have been sewing! The pics below are from my phone (cause I'm blogging from work...shhhh!) and they aren't that fantastic, but I will post 'real' pics soon! Also, this weekend is the retreat into the snow laden mountains just outside of LA for the LAMQG! This is going to be an alcohol and coffee fueled till 3am sewing marathon weekend...I'll take pictures of that too!

First up...a dress I whipped up using a tee and a tutu. I appliqued Moono on the tee...this was for Av when we took her to see Yo Gabba Gabba live! We had pit tickets, which was cool ( and Gwen Stefani was sitting behind us with her boys, and yes....she looks fucking amazing in person), but was weird considering just a few years ago the only concerts I had pit tickets too were ACTUAL concerts.

Hubby bought me a Kindle for Christmas and I love it...but it needed a cover! So I whipped up two and mailed the Mendo one to my lil sis in Texas. BTW, she graduates HS this year and found out yesterday that she has been accepted to Sam Houston University!
This is just a crappy pic of the layout. Made this for my MIL. And it turned out so cool that I was tempted to keep it. I gave it to her before taking a pic - but I'll get some next time we're over.
Pebble quilting my Flickr bee quilt. It's a bit larger than a twin. Pebbling was super easy, but takes a ton of time and used 5 spools of thread and about 12 bobbins....
See my skin for my Bernina??? love it! Little flowers with skulls....