linques design speaks

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!

my first project

This was my test run of the new machine, which works perfectly by the way! I LOVE this fabric!

And it's reversible too!

And it's got a matching pouch!

And I liked them both so much I made two!

Next up for the machine is to try the new stippling foot. It's not spring action like my other one. And try the alphabet embroidering! Fun!

Thank you for the sweet comments on my dress the other day! Looking at that picture of myself I can see how people mistake me for being so young! I've gotton carded (more than once) when buying instant lottery tickets!!! Come on! And if I'm out with my little brother (little by 8 years), people assume we're on a date. Yikes.

here's the dress

Sorry the pictures are kind of bad! I wore the dress to work today so it's wrinkly, then the sun was setting, etc etc. And the picture's a little crooked. But you get the idea. Used the Amy Butler pattern w/some of her fabric. I loved the pattern - easy and pretty. I could've probably taken it in a bit, but it's nice with the belt. I did make the fabric flower to match but I don't have any pin backs so I couldn't wear it.

The button closure is nice, I usually don't like them. It helps that I had some pretty vintage buttons that matched nicely! Speaking of matching, you probably can't see them but I wore some cute kelly green shoes too!

(My hands are in fists! Maybe I was tense? And the hem is perfectly straight)

Also, I don't think my picture was very clear from yesterday. My new machine is the Viking Sapphire 870 Quilt. It's an amazing machine...and I've barely sewed on it! I got it pretty late yesterday evening, so I've mainly been going through the manuals first. So exciting!!!

welcome

small things

Thanks to some help and info from LeeAnn and my mom, I just made my first chicken broth and then chicken noodle soup. Yum! I'm turning into a little baby chef. Small steps, right?

I also sewed up that dress I mentioned yesterday. I didn't get any pictures of it today, so I'll try to snag a few tomorrow. It wound up very cute. I also made a little pleated wristlet. This Ginger Blossom fabric is adorable!

What I love best about this bag is the zipper. It's a vintage zipper with metal teeth, and it's mint green! So cute. Why did they switch to plastic?  Oh, more inexpensive and longer lasting? Who needs those!

mmm...chicken

Have you gotten your May Martha mag yet? I made the chicken dish on page 76 today. It was very yummy, especially since I used a fresh chicken. It's so easy too; you just need a little lemon and thyme.

Here's the bird pre-cooking. You can see the lemon slices under his skin - poor guy!

That skin was so delicious - except for the slightly burned part where the lemon was. It was nice and salty. The meat was fall apart tender too. I'm saving the leg/thigh meat and the carcass to try to make soup this week, which I've never done before. I've got a soup cookbook, so might as well give it a try!

I finished this up the other day and popped it here before I could change my mind. This is my kind of bag. I love roomy sizes. I just told myself it will be mine if no one snatches it up! I mean, who doesn't love a good elephant print?

And I finally made a necklace for this pendant I got. I used some peridot and glass, and like the way it turned out. I kept the red out to make it a little bit more of an accent color. I love the pendant!!

And poor Cosmo's feeling a little under the weather again. I can't tell if it's his knee or hip, or hopefully just a muscle. Derek said it might be because of the weather change again back to cold. Fingers crossed. He's an old man now - just turned 3 yesterday! I told him - and yes of course I talk to Cosmo - that he's falling apart. I do NOT want to make him have surgery again, but will if he needs it. I just got a call from my friend with a chihuahua (while I was writing this post!), and poor Giselle's got to have surgery this week. Ick.

Off to cut out some fabric for a new dress!