linques design speaks

fun day!

Working at the dog wash...

Today Derek and I helped out at a dog wash for Animal Outreach, a group that promotes spaying and neutering, as well as adoption programs. I found out about it through work, and we'll probably go each month to help. We brought Cosmo, which we had been debating, because it was from 12-4. But he was SO good! That's a long day for him, especially being outside the whole time.

This is Levi. He was so sweet. I'm the one in the green, and don't ask me what I'm looking at! I think his owners in the background were saying something. The wash is in a parking lot right outside of Starbucks, and they let the org hook up to their water, which was nice. There were maybe 12 dogs that showed up for it, but it was the first day this year with minimal promotion. Dogs are fun!

back and forth

I enjoy doing too many things. I can't focus on one activity or project. Right now I want to look at some Japanese craft books, crochet a summer scarf, sew a bag, finish a great book, and read blogs. Tomorrow it will probably be drawing, knitting, cleaning, and cooking. Eeek! I like doing it all, but I should probably be more focused. I bet I could get more done!

Doesn't that OJ look good? Fresh squeezed!

Pop on over to this cute little blog and enter a great giveaway!

pure and simple

I picked up one tiny skein of Rowan purelife (organic cotton) and immediately put it to good use. (Both of which are available here.)

I've got some more ideas for these pretty necklaces in the works too!

completed!

I finished my quilt yesterday! I Love it. I'm just waiting for the first of many Cosmo throw-ups to occur on it though...

I wound up quilting the gridline, and then also around the cream x's, which made nice little diamonds in the middle.

It wound up a bit short in the width though. It seems like the cream cotton shrunk more than the Swell prints. That's ok, I plan to keep another thin quilt under it anyways.

The back is pieced with the pink roses on one side, and then 3 other prints on the other. It shrunk and crinkled beautifuly. I'll get a better shot later, when Cosmo's not lounging.

I have to say that I'm glad it's done so I can use it, but it's a little sad I don't have it to work on anymore! I'm going to have to start another big project to take its place.

You can find a few more photos over here at Flickr. I normally don't use Flickr, but I'm going to try uploading my pictures there in the future. We'll see...

and so it begins

I pieced the backing for my quilt today and began quilting it. It took awhile for me to decide how to quilt it, but I decided to go with straight lines. We'll save the stippling for practice. Love the new machine for quilting; it's so great to have room to fit the rolled up bit into. BUT my machine seems not to like Gutermann thread!? It's fine on the top but makes little knots every now and then on the back. I did the first row with it, then switched to Madeira, which seems fine. I don't know why - I've always used Gutermann!! I might take the machine in to the shop and see if they'll adjust the tension, that might do the trick. I've got nearly 40 spools in lots of colors and it seems like such a waste to leave it sitting here.

Aside from the thread issue, the quilting is fine. I'm getting a few puckers on the back, but I anticipated that since this is my first time making something so large. I can live with that, especially after it's washed and dried.

I made these little pouches yesterday for a custom order. Why is it so satisfying to make a pouch? I love picking out the coordinating fabrics, and the embroidery stitch, and the little bead for each of them. So fun!

quilt along, week 1

Here's my first block for the Quilt Along! I chose a darker tan for the background, and the actual prints are really pretty muted ones in greens/blues/pale violette. It was fun to make because I've never really done star blocks before. My block is a tad small though- it's supposed to be 12.5 square, and mine's about 12.25 square. I know my seams are all 1/4", but maybe I cut some off? It seemed to go together well, so I don't know. I think I'm just going to keep at it, and see what my block looks like next week before I redo everything.

I finally found something for my front bathroom! I've lived here for 2 years and that bathroom is bare. I got this print from Yumi Yumi, and just love it. It's the perfect color for my towels. I got the frame and mattes at JoAnn's on super clearance, so this was some pretty inexpensive art; just the kind I like!

wow!

My mom was able to make a treasury! Check it out!

little things

Look what was waiting for me today! I got my little bitty Moo cards! These are the designs I picked. These will act as my business cards for Etsy, since I didn't have any before. I love them, and I love how little they are!

I'll be able to just keep some of these with me in case anyone ever comments on something I'm wearing!

I've been playing around with these little pincushins. I don't use them, but I do like to make and look at them! Plus I get to pick pretty buttons to use for each one.  I think I'll make a square one next.

It's weird being home on a Wednesday! I sewed a bit before the vet appt, and made another tote bag. I like this one too! It's got a little pleat.

I also boxed out the corners on this one. I want to keep it, but a girl can only use "sew" many bags...so I've put it here. Oh, and the vet appt went well. The 2 vets we saw pretty much think it's just a deep muscle strain that can heal with some rest. If not they'll just remove the 2 pins he's got in his knee and that should fix him up!

patched

Thank you for you nice comments/e-mails about my Etsy issues. So nice of all of you! Thank you thank you! I'll just continue to keep chugging away.

I told you I had some more to share, the main and most exciting being this:

Yes, my quilt top is done! Finally! It didn't hurt to be able to finish it on my new machine. This thing is huge! Just what I wanted. I don't think I'm going to put a border on it, but I haven't made the final decision yet. I have no idea how I'm going to quilt it yet either. In the ditch? Along the X's? Free motion? I don't know.

I also patched up some jeans for a coworker's children. They're just play jeans he said, but the knees were in bad shape. He has been kind enough to lend me many books, and said he could also suplement them with garden fruits and veggies this summer, so I happily mended! I've never patched jeans before, especially such itty bitty ones! I just used some old jeans and wonder unde. On the bigger jeans I also put a patch on the inside with some light, soft cotton since the holes were so large. I then shoved the legs under the needle and zig zagged it all in place. Worked perfectly!

Well today is beautiful out, so maybe I'll take a drive. I normally work Wed-Fri, but I was lucky enough to be able to switch that out this week and work Tuesday instead of Wednesday. I get the joy of taking Cosmo for an ortho consult Wed. His vet can't find anything wrong with him, but he's still limping. She said if ortho doesn't know then we can try neuro. Seriously?! I'll do it all since I'm not going to leave him uncomfortable, but he's a 9 lb little Chihuahua! I hope he appreciates it!!

etsy pitfall

So the other day I was super excited - my tote I put on Etsy sold right away. Except I didn't get payment notification. So I waited because I heard some rumors that paypal had been slow last week and sometimes even kicking back payment. Still nothing the next day either though. So I sent a friendly convo to the buyer, letting them know they could reach me with any issues. I still didn't hear anything, so I had to look up on Etsy what to do if you don't get payment. I found out there's a 3 day grace for payments and that you can file to cancel a sale. I emailed the buyer one last time to advise of this...and finally just got a response. All the buyer said was they wanted me to cancel the sale. Ick! So I'm bummed. I had to file an Etsy report and leave feedback. I left neutral feedback instead of negative because at least the buyer finally responded. Has this happened to anyone else? I had the impression it was very rare on Etsy, but of course it happened to me and my teeny little store.

On to happier Etsy news (for my mom anyway), Jen's Closet has become quite popular! She has sold WAY more than me in a very very short timeframe, and has more favorites as me too. Way to go! And she decided to start a blog too (on my account) to promote. Her ideas of promotion are a bit different then mine, but who am I to judge when she has me so obviously outsold?! And no buy and dash buyers either!

I've got more to share, but not now as it is midnight. I just wanted to vent a little for now!