Holy Unfinished Projects Batman!

Happy Furlough Friday!  Well, I'm sorry to say, friends, that the Crafting ADD mentioned in this post is turning out to be a lingering affliction!  To further complicate matters, I'm on some new medication that makes me SUPER drowsy in the evenings and sadly, I'm usually out cold by 9:00pm.  So, teeny-tiny attention span + limited crafting time = too many unfinished projects!  It's definitely time for some spring cleaning!!!

First of all, I'm very happy to report some POSITIVE movement in the stash-busting efforts!

Weeks 8, 9 & 10: 2/18/10 - 3/4/10

Used: .44 ... yes, another point something report, but check out this next number ...

Purchased: Zero, Zip, Zilch ... Unheard-of!  Absurd!

Year-to-Date: +15.85

I finally managed to finish a project -- my cute little spring-y table topper, first introduced in this post!

Although, when I showed my hubby, the conversation went something like this:

Me:  Hey look!  I finally finished something!

Him: Nice placemat.  Are you going to make more of them?

Me: It's not a placemat -- it's a table runner.

Him: Hummm!  Maybe if you're a hobbit.

Alright.  So maybe it's more of a centerpiece or candle mat, but if you have a [small] table you think it would look great on, you'll be able to purchase it here by the end of the weekend.  Hopefully, the rain will hold off and the sun will stay out just long enough for me to take some pictures tomorrow!

As I have a number of partially finished projects sitting on either my cutting table or my sewing table (or hiding in boxes on the shelves, or hanging on hangers in the closet), I've decided that it's time to do some spring cleaning!!  The plan is to alternate working on new projects and spending some time getting reacquainted with some older [unfinished] friends.

This week's new friends are two coordinating patterns, inspired by Gypsy Rose by Fig Tree Quilts for Moda. If you love Fig Tree Quilts' patterns and fabric line as much as I do, check out owner JoAnn's blog, "Fresh Figs," listed under inspiring blogs.

Both of these new Poplun patterns can be made out of a single layer cake (or four charm packs) and some white-on-white print fabric.  Tentatively named, "English Rose Garden" and "Sweet Irish Rose," both quilts use classic block patterns to set off the brown, pinks, lavender, green, and cream of the fabric.

"English Rose Garden" is as precisely-planned as any English garden, with color-coordinated foliage in manicured planter boxes, framed by crisp, white walkways.  I finished the quilt top last week and all that's left is to decide on one of three possible borders, and to quilt and bind.

"Sweet Irish Rose" is more of a free form piece, unplanned piece, with [relatively] unplanned color-patterns arranged in a "Double Irish Chain" pattern around some rather sweet appliqued flowers.  While I had the concept in my head for this second quilt almost from the moment I started with the first, how to execute it in a quick, organized fashion took a little bit of planning.  Rather than sewing together over 1,000 individual blocks, the directions will show you how to assemble a series of larger, repeating blocks, making for a quicker (and probably more accurate quilt).

If you are interested in testing either or both of these patterns, please email me at: Poplun(at)gmail(dot)com.  I'll send you a draft of the pattern in .pdf format in exchange for your constructive feedback.

The old friend that finally saw the light of day ... after who knows how many years in the Ikea box on the shelf ... is this crib-sized quilt using the Robin's Egg Blue colorway from Moda's Allspice Tapestry.  

I can't remember whatever possessed me to make a quilt out of dozens of teeny-tiny squares, but over the last week or two, I finished assembling the last four squares, attached the last of the sashing, and got that baby layered, basted, and quilted.  As you can see, I'm in the process of removing the tissue-paper pattern that served as the guide for my free-form quilting.  

Hopefully this weekend, I'll have time to sew on the binding and list it in the store!

Sadly, not much has been done on the knitting front.  I'm still plugging along on my Embossed Leaves sock (#1) in a really nice light-blue bamboo-blend yarn.  The pattern is from the book on the left, which is the best sock book I've come across thus far.  They have so many beautiful patterns, but I knit so slowly that I'll be 109 before I get to try everything!

I've added my ravelry account information to my side-bar as well. My username is poplun if you'd like to add me as a friend.

Happy New Year

After two months of homework and finals, a week of Christmas festivities with friends and family, and a week of relaxing with my hubby and our two rug rats, I’m starting to feel ready to welcome in the new year … even if I’m a few days late.

This year’s handmade cadeaux de l'année were Amy Butler “Birdie Slings”.  The four pictured below were for my mom, and my three sisters-in-law.  There were five total, but the fifth sling was was shipped down south early, thus missing the obligatory Dec. 23rd group pictures.

If you don’t have this pattern already, I recommend getting it – it’s available through Amazon.com and number of other online quilt shops.  The bag is so handy, great to use while traveling, stylish, and easy to make all at the same time.  It also can be put together in a weekend, which makes it a quick, fun project!

The other handmade Christmas gift this year was a rather large quilt for my grandma, made from Moda’s Glace line – my absolute favorite Moda collection for Christmas 2009.  The quilt was made from a single layer cake, along with a ½ yard of a print from the collection for borders and binding, and some fabric I just happened to chance upon that looked like it was MADE to go with this collection.  I used a triangular pattern for the body of the quilt – which was frustrating for me since no matter how hard I try, they never line up like they’re supposed to – but all in all, I was pleased with how it turned out. … and Granny?  She loved it and even cried a little when I gave it to her.  It was just a very small way of saying thanks for all the blankets she’s made us over the years.

Speaking of my Granny, I will be continuing to carry her beautiful hand-knit scarves in my etsy store through the end of the cold weather season.  I’ll be uploading the remaining lists this week, but please keep checking back, as she has another shipment she is sending my way in a couple of weeks.

Other than that, crafting at my house has been a little on the slow side.  I’m still working on knitting socks.   On one of my lunch-time forays to JoAnns, I came across this book:

This book is really great.  It has flip pages for different cuffs, bodies, heels, and toes, and you put them together however you like - kind of like the “choose-your-own-adventure” books they had when we were kids.  

I officially finished my first PAIR of socks back in October. I’m not the greatest knitter, so I found the project a little frustrating at times and starting the second sock at the right place in the yarn so that the striping stayed the same was a bit of a challenge, but I was so happy to have them finished – and my mom was so happy to receive them as a Christmas gift!

I found my latest sock project on Ravelry.com.  My user name is “poplun” if you’d like to find me.  The pattern’s name is “Nine-to-Five” and is supposed to yield beautifully cabled socks, as pictured here in the author Nicole Hindes' blog:

However, after finishing the first sock and turning it right-side out, I realized that the stitch I thought was a “knit” stitch is actually what is really called knitting through the back stitch, which makes cables look more like neat little yarn tangles.  The finished sock doesn’t look bad … it just doesn’t look like I expected it too. I am going to persevere, however, and finish the second sock still knitting the wrong way, but I’m probably going to hit JoAnn’s big yarn sale this week, to pick up a new color for a pair of socks made the right way.

What's New?

Wow! I can't believe how fast the summer is flying by! Hubby, pups, and I have been super busy, which is probably the main cause of my "Crafters-ADD." Because we've been flitting all over the place, most of my larger projects have been sitting idle! I have managed to get some small, fun projects accomplished here and there -- and have some larger projects that are almost ready for their debut!

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Lately, on every trip into one of my local craft stores -- a (more than) weekly occurance, I assure you -- I've been stopping to thumb through the books of scrapbooking paper. While I haven't scrapbooked in years, I love all the textures, colors, and patterns. I finally had to bring some home and the results were ... greeting cards.

The cards are available for purchase at Poplun for $2.99 for a set of six cards.

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I've also been experiementing with knitting this summer. It's a craft that I've never really been too fond of, but while perusing the discounted items at JoAnn's -- p.s.: if you're not on their email list, you should be, as they email out great coupons (ie. 40% off an item) every week -- I came across Learn to Knit Socks by Edie Eckman.

Now, since I can barely handle knitting and purling on two large-sized knitting needles without excessive profanity, I have no idea what possessed me to purchase this book, some beautiful grey bamboo-wool sock yarn, and not two, but four itty, bitty, little knitting needles ... but I did.

And, I'm happy to say -- much to his delight (insert sarcasm here) -- I am knitting the hubby a pair of socks to "rival" his favorites from REI. Sure, mine won't have "REI" emblazoned across the toes, but they sure will be pretty. As of the end of my lunch break, today, I have about 2 1/2" completed, although I've already had to start over three times. If the knitting gods stay with me, I should be able to post finished pictures --for at least one sock -- next week.

I already have my eye on some beautiful multi-colored yarn for my next project.

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I've also started attending one of the monthly "Sew-In" nights at the Quilter's Corner here in Sacramento. The ladies were very friendly to me -- a newbie -- and it was so nice to be able to sit and sew for three hours straight! I'm definitely dragging Mom this month!

My first set of quilt patterns is almost finished, and I expect to be able to have the majority them available for sale at Poplun during the first part of September. Here's a sneak-peak of what's coming up....

In the meantime, two patterns from this collection -- the "Super Speedy Zig Zag Quilt" and the "Basket Weave Scarf -- a crochet pattern" -- should be available at Poplun by the end of August!