WIP a bit WIP-less SS'12

WIP-less Wednesday - I can get on board for that.

foundation piecing class

Here are a few of my Sewing Summit projects fresh from the suitcase.  I will be posting an official recap for the link upbut here's a few pictures from my trip until then.
edit: SS recap post the Pictorial Novel here and Blast & a Blur here

Don't you love how all the colors go together? I used the pallete builder at Play Crafts - it was fun to hear the buzz about them last weekend. Check out their flickr group.

I don't know how it's been an entire week since I posted the WIP from the airport waiting to board the plane with my newly finished tote in hand.

Here I am with Lee - in person - yeah!  She was sweet enough to pose for a picture before class and even posted an instagram of my Supernova Bag.

Embroidery Basics in the Lobby

Rachael at Imagine Gnats brought together a wonderful group and lots of great supplies - embroidery in  the lobby of Little America.  I made my pin cushion an orange pumpkin instead of the traditional red tomato.

Rebecca, Karen, Me = Seger Success

Using Frippery by Thomas Knauer purchased at Material Girl during the shop hop, my metal frame is a favorite. I didn't make it into his lecture but he was able to meet him anyway because he was in several of my classes. Not only did Kelly of Kelbysews create an extra metal frame class on her own time, she set up during open sew to help us all finish - thank you - I love mine.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced and Sew Modern Monday at Canoe Ridge Creations.

Finished:2

Metal frame Frippery
Serger Washi case
Progress:1
Retreat Goodies

New Projects:1

Embroidery project
Create with my SS Swag

No Progress:

Everything Else

Happy Quilting, Karen

Sewing Summit It's a blast and a blur

Too busy to blog, how sad it that? I'm having a blast and it's flying by.  Trying to cram it all in.  Just finished a zipper pouch swap after a full day of classes and winning FQ bundle from Emily of Crazy Old Lady Quilts  Now I m headed out to SLC MQG's mixer but thought I'd post something since the last was at the airport.  More to come..

Emily, Me

Lucky Me bundle

Deb, Me, Whitney

Tsoniki, Kristen, Me

Amy/Sukie, Me, Elizabeth

Me, Leigh, Shawn

Me, Nydia

edit: SS recap post link here and projects here

WIP - On My Way

At the airport - waiting to board

Just HAD to make a Travel Handmade

I'm here at the airport waiting to board with my new Travel Handmade - now that's better!  It just didn't seem right to arrive at Sewing Summit with just my luggage. Besides, my hubby hooked me up with his computer so that I can stay in touch and post on my blog like this - thanks honey :) Linking up to Lee at Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday.  Another finish for FAL Q4, yippy!

I agonized over what fabrics to bring from my stash. Although we'll be shop hopping,  there's so much in my buckets that I truly love. After way too much thought and time I'm pleased with my choices.

Pre-cuts for class

Still typing without my index finger but it has healed enough to participate fully in all of my classes which was my goal.  

Traffic was a hassle over Hwy 17 but he got me here safe and sound.  Quick post to link up with WIP and I'll try to add more pictures later from the hotel when I can plug in the camera. 

Last night I got together for another sewing session to prepare for our MQG Retreat. At first it felt like one too many things to commit to but it was so much fun and just what I needed.  We made the most adorable Swag Bags and got them all done- they will remain secret until after the event.  Trust me, they're better than what I had pictured in my head.

Finished: 3

Double Bar Supernova Tote

Swag Bags for Quilt Retreat

Black/White Swap

New Projects: 4

Sewing Summit Class Prep

No Progress:

Everything Else

Happy Quilting, Karen

   

Tick Tick - Time to Pack and FAL Link Up

and yet so much to do - it's crazy.  The daily posts from sponsors of Sewing Summit have my head in a spin- like today's Opening Mixer with Craftsy (newly discovered by me and totally hooked) and other all time favs like Art Gallery, Olfa (despite my recent boo boo) and Pellon - which I've used more of lately with bag making... just to name a few.

All this time to prep and I just now added my flickr/blog name to a name tag - it's not even new - I'm using the one I made at one of our first MQG meeting. My pre-cutting homework isn't done and I haven't even chosen fabric for my serger class. I want to pack my entire collection of buckets.

clothes shopping haul

I spent the last couple of days clothes shopping after a momentary freakout about what to where.  Two new pair of shoes last night - out of control I tell you!

Before I forget - I'm linking up to Q4 of FAL at Quilter in The Gap because despite the frenzy I know I really want to be part of that fun and finish.

FAL Q4

 Keeping it real with four - upping my odds I figure.

Tonight is my Quilt Guild meeting and tomorrow I get to sew with friends again making Swag Bags for our MQG Retreat. Fun Stuff.

Yikes - excited but out of control - Karen

WIP Wednesday + a FQ Win

Wednesday and Friday in the same Post?

Happy Wednesday. Linking up to Lee at Freshly Pieced where my blogger friend Debbie from  A Quilter's Table is guest hosting. I'm also linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts finish it up Friday since I did manage to complete my Pillow -wish I'd installed a cool zipper like Amanda Jean did on hers.
Edit: I added this picture so you can see the lovely bulky white dressing on my finger and to explain why Julia looks like she's sporting a Pippi Longstocking hairdo in the photo at the end of this post thanks to the garland on the wall. SueDee's October show is appropriately themed Day of The Dead.  I've also added some pillow details pics because I'm not good at leaving well enough alone - thanks for indulging.

me and my boo boo

The biggest work in progress for me is getting my injured finger healed so that I can get back to quilting. It's been two full weeks since I sliced a chunk off with my rotary and although it's better it's not good enough. I can iron, I can sort of cut and kind of sew. It's in a bandage instead of the bulky dressing... but I'm getting anxious about how awkward things continue to be.

The Big Reveal

Secret Pillow Swap I made for Tina

Shot cotton was a bit tricky to quilt on

The backing fabric from my stash - thought it matched well

Thank goodness I hadn't procrastinated too many projects and was able to keep on track despite the rotary mishap.   Organizing our MQG's first swap was a lot of fun and I think a successful with positive feed back. 

In August participants  brought a brown bag of scraps that I randomly and secretly distributed.  To make the reveal entertaining, I called up the first person and they told a story about their creative process, presented the completed pillow to their partner and posed for a picture... then that person did the same thing and so on. It wasn't seamless but went pretty smoothly.

My Pillow from Julia

You might recognize the fabric from my Tassels tutorial post. When I finish my F+F=AMSB quilt I'll have a coordinating pillow to go with it. Julia did a great job, I love it. We had 14 participants, about half the Guild.  You can see all of them here.

Since this was our first MQG swap I thought a prize was in order. A matching set of Fresh Fabric Treats books for Pam and Anne who happened to have been the only two paired up with one another - what are the odds? I'm already tossing around our next swap and am inspired by LAMQG's reusable grocery bag exchange done in the style of white elephant as blogged about by their Pres Latifah.

I won't post the zipper pouch photo I made until after Sewing Summit but I'm pretty please and hope whoever gets it like it. 

Same thing goes for our Quilt Retreat Swag Bag goodies partially completed this week - attendees should be surprised and that would spoil it.

Joining 4x5 Bee once again after a bit of a break. My hive mama Sarah  will be at Sewing Summit so we'll get to meet. Here's my inspiration mosaic (links to each item here):

4x5 Hive #7 Mosiac

WIP Weekly Status Update:

Finished = 3
Sewing Summit zipper pouch swap
Secret Partner MQG pillow swap
HTABQ's Japanese Charm Swap
Progress = 1
Quilt Retreat Goodies and Bags
New Projects =1
4x5 Bee sign up
No Progress = +
Sewing Summit Black/White swap (fabric purchased, pics posted)
Project Bag or Needle book for ME @ Sewing Summit
ModPop QAL
FMF Charity Quilt (top done)
Luminaria (center complete)
...and endless others..

 a Wonderful WIN

I was reading the CraftBuds post announcing the Craft Book Linky Winners yesterday when all of the sudden I spotted my wristlet clutch in the mosaic.  All the prizes were great but I've made a lot of my MQG seriously jealous with the FQ bundle that I have won ... V&Co.’s new collection “Simply Color".  Lindsay even offered to hand deliver it to me at Sewing Summit - how great is that!!

Happy Quilting, Karen

Fresh Sew Day and Psyched 4 Summit

I love how a good weekly or monthly linky party like Fresh Sewing Day at Lily's Quilts makes me feel a tad bit less scattered. I can look back at the previous mosaic and get a feel for the time-line since really I have no natural sense of time (or direction).

September

The Old Italian Block quilt made an appearance as a top and a back last time and since then, it was completed, hung in the SBAMQG show and is ready to be given away.  Last time only one set of Granny's were finished and now it's almost time to get my swapped blocks back in the mail.  Yes, this linky love feels like I'm moving forward. Plus... two items are secret and couldn't be included so maybe I'll bend the rule for October and include them then.

Psyched 4 Summit

The heat wave is making Fall very unreal. We have typically nice weather in October but not 90s.  Sewing Summit is finally close enough to project the 10-day forecast and I just might get away with my California wardrobe there too!

 A spot opened up last minute for the advanced foundation paper piecing class with Lee of Freshly Pieced and Elizabeth of Don't Call me Betsy (two of my favorite bloggers) so now I've just got to get my injured finger to heal quick enough to not be a fumbling dork! 

And huge news - Joel Dewberry is one of the key note speaker's!!
Happy Quilting, Karen