Beejeebers September Block

I finally feel like I am getting caught up!!! Yea!!

Today I made our September block for the Beejeebers Quilt Bee. It was SUCH a fun block to make! I love everything about it!!

So fun, isn't it?! The tutorial for the block can be found HERE.

So, I missed the WIP Wednesday post yesterday, so I thought that I would take a minute to at least list my current WIPs to help me continue to get caught up with everything...

In order of importance (or, at least the order in which I am going to do them, lol!)

1 - Repair Bottled Rainbow.

Sadly, my BR has seen better days. It is amazing how fast a quilt can get beat up when it is used every single day. A few of the pieces are in need of restitching, and a few places on the binding need some repair. It really shouldn't take too long. I hope not, because I miss snuggling with it every night!

2 - Halloween Costumes - it's that time of year again! My kids are completely into Star Wars this year, so watch for C3PO and Princess Leia costumes soon! I still don't know what I am going to be...

3 - M's Quilt. This is a super secret project that I am SOOOOO excited about! More to come! This quilt shouldn't take too long to finish! :)

4 - Skill Builder Sampler

I need to cut the sashing (still) and sew the top together. It has been waiting for weeks now. Sad. Soon, though!!

5 - Apron - my little man's old apron is way to small, so I will be making him a new one. In Star Wars fabric, naturally!

6 - Game Night Quilt - waiting to be basted and quilted!

7 - Dress #1 - Navy blue/lace. I am super excited for this dress. The pattern is awesome and I LOVE the fabric I got for it! Can't wait to start!

8 - Dress #2 - Grey/black. I bought the pattern for this one about 3 years ago. I have all the fabric. It's been waiting a long time. I suppose it can wait a little longer...

So that's what's on tap for the next... little while. Or long while. We'll see... :)

Toy Hammock

Is it just me, or does every one's kids stuffed animals seem to multiply nightly?

Well, my son was experiencing severe toy storage control issues, so yesterday I decided to make a little toy hammock.

I looked at a few ideas and tutorials on Pintrest, but to be honest, I looked at the pictures and then just did my own thing - only loosely based on what I saw.

This is what I came up with...

I made a 37 inch square using jersey knit scraps from various Maxi skirts that I have made/am making for myself and my daughter. Then, I folded it in half diagonally to create a right triangle.

Then, I bound the end using bias tape (interesting aside - I bought the bias tape because I liked the color. I didn't realize it matched that blue fabric perFectly until I started pinning it on! And just now, I looked over and realized that the color I bought weeks ago for sashing on my Skill Builders Quilt is the same too. I must really like that color...). I created little loops at the corners for hanging.

And TaDa!! It works!!

I really am happy with how it came out! I am going to make another for my daughter's room...

Baptism Dress

I finished my niece's baptism dress!! Yea! It turned out beautifully, and - thank Heaven above - it fits her perfectly! **sigh of relief** (It's nerve-racking making a dress for someone 100s of miles away!!)

So, here it is!

I used Simplicity Pattern #4647, view D, but with sleeves added.

For the sash flower, I decided to make a fabric rosette. I had never made one before, and my practice attempts weren't the best. However, after reading several tutorials - and tweaking all of them - I came up with this and I am so so pleased with how it looks! I will probably post a "my way" tutorial on this soon. They are actually pretty easy and fun! I will be doing them again. And again... :)

So, yea! to a great finish! It is such a relief to have it done!! :)

Redemption is Made (a triathlon gets completed!)

This post is totally NOT about sewing... sorry. :)

REDEMPTION IS MADE!!! I mean, I am sure you all remember THIS EPIC FAIL, right?

So, last Saturday, I participated in the 2012 Kokopelli Olympic Distance Triathlon. It's the exact course as the Epic Fail, but in the Fall rather than the Spring.

Anyway, the Olympic Distance Triathlon goes like this:

1500 meter - Swim
20.4 mile - Bike
10 K (6.2 mile) - Run

Obviously, I had trained a lot harder and a lot smarter for this one. It was fun, and I was so happy to have my family and my parents there to cheer me on!

Let me break it down for you...

The Swim

I'm not going to lie. I was just North of totally petrified before the swim. I even used some colorful words to describe how I was feeling to my hubby. I almost cried. I almost bailed. But, redemption had to be made, right? So, I swallowed the near paralyzing fear and got in the water.

It was a wonderfully warm temperature. And I had the right wet suit on. ;)

The swim went okay. It certainly wasn't the best swim of my career, and I found it very difficult to "spot" the buoys. I should say - to spot the right buoys. There were many in the water that didn't apply to us... but, the important thing was - I finished. I was pretty grumpy when I got out of the water, though. After reflection, I think it was the anxiety that I was feeling beforehand that really caused me to not enjoy the swim. I also need to practice in the lake more than I did. And for longer distances. Oh, well... live and learn. BUT - I finished! It took me 39 minutes, which was about average.

The Bike

The bike portion went well. I felt good the whole time and finished it in about 1 hr and 27 min, which is pretty good for me. I repeat, FOR ME. I learned quickly that I am a s.l.o.w. biker. I did pass exactly 3 people while riding, and all three of them were while we were going up "The Hill." Yea me. Uphill passing feels great! However, the rest of the time, I was passed by everyone else. lol! But, FOR ME, it was a good ride.

The Run

I felt like I was the last Olympic Distance athlete to pull in on the bike. I don't know for sure, but it really did feel that way. So, onto the run. It was great. I ran the 10 K in 1 hr and 5 minutes, or a 10:30 min/mile pace. That's a decent pace for me anyway, but at the tail end of a triathlon - it was great!!

It did start to get a little hot, and I was in the back of the pack, so it was a little tiny bit lonely. I tried to make jokes with those around me. I hope I wasn't just obnoxious...

As I was coming toward the finish, it seemed as though everyone was leaving. Finished, awarded, and heading home. Didn't help the ego. But, I did feel a great sense of pride as I (finally) crossed the finish line! My total time was 3 hr 17 min. Not last place. In fact, I came in 9th in my age group... out of 11. :)

I am very happy to have conquered this one. The Hubby says he might do it with me next year! That would be cool! I'll have to start biking faster, though...

WIP Wednesday

Finally!! After 3 long weeks of not having my sewing machine, I am back in business!! She has been home for 2 days now, and I have a few things to show for it! Yea!!

First - a finish!! The Life baby quilt! See the post HERE!

Next up - a maxi skirt!

I love them. I made one in grey too! Tutorial found HERE!

Next - I managed to finish the bodice of my niece's baptism dress! Yea!

Last - Skill builder's Sampler!

Sorted, pressed and ready to cut the sashing! This quilt has been so long in coming! I am glad to finally be moving on it again!!

Be sure to check out all of the WIPs over at Freshly Pieced!!

I'm alive!!!

And I finally got my sewing machine back! It took 3 weeks to get fixed and serviced. I fell into a sort of hollow depression there for a while... But now the hole in my life has been filled. I missed my machine SO much!!! I was so happy to bring her home yesterday!!

And I also have a finish to share too!! I finished the Life baby quilt!! It was wonderful to quilt and bind it yesterday! Today, it's in the mail!!

Sorry for the craptastic pictures. We had the rain storm of the century today, so I had to take them inside. Blech. But, at least the quilt is cute!!! :)

Check in tomorrow too for WIP Wednesday!! (Because, obviously - I've been on a sewing gluttony spree now that she's home!!)