One of "Those" Weeks

The past week has been a no-production kinda week. I have been sick, but as a teacher it's more work to stay home then it is to actually go in and teach. So, I have been going to work, and then going to bed at 6 p.m. This little sick spell has drastically cut into my sewing and blog reading time.  Putting me very behind in everything.

Now, it's Sunday and I have nothing to blog about, so I sewed up my last two charity blocks for our guild. Minimal production, but something. If you are getting comments on your posts from two weeks ago, I am also trying to read through my Bloglovin' feed.  Can I read 300+ posts in one day??? It's going to be a blog marathon. Hopefully, I can get some sewing time in later so I will have projects to blog about later this week.  Being sick is the pits.

Also, how do you like my new background? They are super easy to make, just purchase 2 - 2' square boards (I got these at Lowes) and painted each side for a total of 4 different colors. I was getting tired of with my white backgrounds and this was a cheap fix.  I used up some left over paint.  This color is actually the Pantone color of the year! You can also see my new chalkboard, my old one is traveling. If you would like to host the traveling chalkboard let me know! 

- Patch & Chels

Very Pink

As part of my fabric fast this year, I also took on getting rid of many of my scraps from long ago. A while back I pulled enough charm squares to make two pink quilts. For this quilt I chose the pattern "Road to ... oh Damn" it was the perfect pattern. After sitting around for a few months, this little cutie finally got finished.  

Road to ... Oh Damn

48 inches by 48 inches

I used a simple double loop stipple pattern, it was quick and easy way to top quilt. The backing was also pulled from my stash, using some some left over charm squares and a pale pink chevron print. 

This quilt is super pink and very girly, good thing I happen to know a sweet little girl who might be in need of a snuggly quilt!  

-Patch & Giraffe

Farmer's Wife Quilt Progress

My farmer's wife quilt blocks have gone a long time unattended. The blocks were finished back in May. As I was making a perfect little stack of my new blocks, I realized they were not all the same size. Some where a whole half inch off. All the blocks created using the templates were small! I must not have hit actual size when I printed the templates. This created a huge problem, if I cut them all down to size I would lose most of my points. Quite devastated and frustrated I put the blocks away.  

Over the summer I did cut the sashing and the corner blocks, then remembered my error and once again put the whole project away as it was too painful to see all those pretty points that would be lost with the addition of the sashing. All that time spent on the project only to have it look bad in the end. 

Look at the edges near the sashing and you can see all my missing points :(

This last weekend I finally trimmed the blocks to the same size and started putting on the sashing. It was hard knowing there wasn't anything I could do about all my disappearing points, I just worked on through and tried not to over think the process. The top isn't as bad as I had envisioned but it's not my typical level of craft. Overall it looks ok.

Two of my favorite blocks on the right

The original plan was to hand-stitch the whole top, but that would be too slow and I would fixate on all the mistakes. For that reason, I am going to machine quilt the top instead. The backing is going to be an orangey floral backing fabric I was gifted a while back.

Has anyone else ever experienced this level of disappointment on a project that has taken so much of your time?

-Patch & Chels

Be ... Encouraging

Another month has passed already, where is 2014 going??  There are only 3 more blocks this year ... crazy!  This month Amy has picked the theme of encouragement ... 

She reminds us that our words have a huge impact on those around us. Even if we do not believe in what people feel is best for them, we still need to encourage people to follow their hearts. At times this can be difficult for me (especially as a teacher) ... but allowing others to learn from their mistakes, is sometimes the only way people learn. Other times, people prove me wrong. 

 She leaves us with the following questions, when talking with someone ask yourself ... 

• Will these words encourage this person?
• Will these words show love?
• Will those words set an example?
• Are these words that I'm proud of, and can stand behind?
• Are these words likely to stir, joy, peace, and strength? or the opposite?

We do a similar kid friendly version of this in school as a reminder of power of people's words. I am a constantly encouraging my students to be/become successful in school and, many of you know, I am also a huge cheerleader for my blogging buddies :). I would say, I am more the annoying over encouraging type. (Sorry, still need to find the balance on this one!).

So far all the months are looking good together! I cannot wait to see what the next three will bring.

What are some of your encouraging stories??

-Patch & Chels