WIP Wednesday--New Sewing Machine!

That's my big announcement for this week.  I got my new sewing machine.  No, it's nothing expensive or fancy.  In fact, with the state fair half price special and 20% off of the 3 extra feet that I ordered it was just $260!

It's a big step up from the little Brother that we bought one Black Friday at Walmart for $60.  I never complained though, and I sewed for over 4 years straight on the cheap Brother.   I will still be sewing on it too, at least if the measurements aren't the same.  I have to check that out, but have the one quilt top that may need to be finished on my old machine.

I'm loving the automatic threader and the thread cutter.  I can't wait to play with all the extra stitches that I now have too.

In other news I've not gotten much done in the craft area.  I sat last night and I wanted to finish my block for sampler but it got too late.  I do have to have it finished before sampler on Saturday, and have worked a bit more on it this morning.

The quilt shop printed out a photo of the square for us since we are using a bit different colors than what the book does.  My first time making the square in a square.  I just finished that and it looks pretty good.  And, the reason the sampler excites me because I will be learning new things.

Otherwise I have crocheted and crocheted granny squares this past week.  I didn't get anymore put on to the blanket as I am trying to see what I can make with what yarn I have left.  Again I am running low on variety of color.  I don't have many colors left now.  I will be adding to the blanket over this next week and then again making more squares.
This is just a picture of the squares I have made at the moment.

That's it for this week.  I do hope, with my new machine that I have a lot more to report next week.

I am linking up with the following blogs:

WIP Wednesday--Back to Work

I am trying really hard to get into a routine where, no matter how busy my day is, that I make it in to my craft room each day.

After crocheting and crocheting granny squares, I realized again that I do not have enough yarn to make all the squares needed to finish out the challenge for the year.
I picked up some yarn from church yesterday.  I'm knitting one prayer shawl and will crochet another one.  I will then have the left over yarn from those for my granny squares.

Here is my granny square a day 2012 challenge blanket---day 242, August 29:

 
Here is what I got done on the knitted prayer shawl so far.  Knitting is not really my thing.  THe pattern states to knit 3, pearl 3 on each row.  I tried that 3 times and all 3 times I just ended up with a confused mess.  I thought it would be easy, but I gave up.  I am just doing it totally in knit.

I completed my block of the month block.  About time since Sampler is this Saturday.  Nothing like last minute for me.
This is called Clay's Choice:

I did get my quilt pieces laid out for the quilt I am making for sewing club at church.  I didn't do anything past get my lines for half square triangles on that pile of smaller squares that you see.

At quilt guild this week the speaker showed us a super cool pattern.  I'm itching to start in on it.  I do NOT need to start something new with still so many UFO's hanging around, but I will do it anyway.  I even bought my middle fabric yesterday.

Off the top of my head I know that I have 3 sets of bibs to complete, 2 table runners, a child's quilt, the Halloween bags, and of course my crochet and knit projects as well.  IF I can stick with my plan to work in my craft room every day no matter what, things will start to get done.

I am linking up with the following blogs:

 

WIP Wednesday-A Granny Square Week

I actually did make it in to my craft room for some sewing 2 days this past week.  I had bought my daughter a small tv with built in dvd player at a yard sale.  I put that in her room and took the tv with built in vcr and put it in my craft room.
I realize that most of you would prefer to not have a tv in your craft room, but here is what I did.  Also while going to yard sales one day I was able to buy 20 VHS movies for just $1 at one sale.  These added to the full shelves we already have, and what we can still check out from the public library will keep me busy in my room.  I found it worked really well for me to turn on a movie and sew until it was over. (I watched Michael and Charlie's Angels).

I was able to finish the flower quilt, which you can see in my TGIFF post (right under this post if you are on my home page) I also finished my first block for the sampler I am doing at the quilt shop.  We are doing Every Barn Tells a Story.  This block is the Ohio Star.  This is my first time doing a sampler, it's a 20 month one, and this is the first block:

I completed a fabric bag that was for an order.  I also worked just a bit on my new quilt for sewing club at church.  I didn't work on it enough, however, to warrant taking a photo.  I have to get all of the materials laid out for it and really get back in to the groove.  I hope to get that much done this evening.

I had gotten behind on my granny square a day challenge.  Well, not really, I had the squares done, just didn't have them on my blanket.  I am now caught up on putting squares on the blanket up to July 31, day 213.

I have a bit of a dilemma now.  I am down to just a few colors of yarn left, and only small balls of those.  I am going to have to start crocheting on a prayer shawl for church so that I can see if I have yarn left from that for my granny squares.  I have 110 more granny's to crochet to complete the blanket, plus the squares needed for a pillow.

Here is what my blanket is looking like so far:

 

I am linking up with:
 

TGIFF--Flowered Quilt is Done!

I almost can't believe it.  The flowered quilt is finally done, faults and all.  I intended for this one to be completed in February when I was privileged to have the chance to host the TGIFF linky here in my blog.

Ok, so most months the only work it got done on it was at the monthly sit n' sew at the quilt shop.  That was after I kind of got tired of working on it.

Also, I am taking part in my first sampler at the quilt shop.  This one is a 20 month sampler.  There are a couple of months when it's cancelled due to other things going on at the quilt shop, so the last square won't be handed out until February 2014.  That seems so so far away.
It's Every Barn Tells a Story.  The first block is the Ohio Star, and here is my completed block:

 I do look forward to each month learning how to make yet another block.

 

TGIFF--Let's Play Catch Up on Finishes!

OMG!  How many Friday's have gotten by me and I've not shared my finishes?  I really have lost count.
Tonight is sit n' sew at the quilt shop.  It's a crying shame that I have not done any sewing since the last sit n' sew.  Sad that I have to take my machine and go away from home to get any sewing accomplished!  At least I don't remember sewing anything in the last 4 weeks.  Surely it's not been 4 weeks since my last finish?  Yep, this is how my days have been---so busy that I don't know which way is up!

I am now on the board of our quilt guild.  I am the historian and I'm already wondering what I've done.  It's not much more than taking pictures, getting them printed and putting them in the photo album with a description.  I should be able to handle that and I do enjoy taking pictures.  Also anything in the newspaper about our guild will go into the book.

I've signed up for the Sampler at the quilt shop.  This block of the month club goes for 20 months.  I'm excited to learn new techniques.  IF I remember, I will share my newest completed block each month.

Not sewing related, but I also discovered a local facebook group for couponers.  That has really got me motivated to keep my coupons in order and look for, and take advantage of, the good deals out there. 

Ok...let's move to my finishes (can I find the one photo since I've gotten a new computer since completing it?)   Yay!  I found it in a folder dated 4/18.  Has it really been that long since I finally completed this scrappy quilt for sewing club at church?    It turned out great and has been labeled and donated to the Domestic Violence Center along with 4 polysester quilts that we finished up (the tops were done and donated to us)

Here is a better photo I am finding in my 4/24 folder.  You can see the design much clearer in this one....as well as out 2 cats thinking they need to check it out.

And a close up of the binding and the material I chose to use for the backing.

I had a request to make a plastic bag holder for an order.  I found out they are easy and fun to make.  I actually made several and have more cut and ready to make.  Some are up in my etsy shop.

I attended my first ever workshop.  It was great fun and great learning.....and very expensive!  The technique is called Fusique and was taught by Linda Everhart of quiltingamongfriends.com.
Here is my completed table runner.   Since I have chosen fabric for another one.  I am using the pattern, modified a bit to make a wall hanging for my kitchen.  I need to do a lot with it considering the money put out to learn to begin with  :)

Last but not least on my catching up to post is the quilt that I made for Quiltsforkids.org.  This was my first time trying to machine quilt.  I am not happy with it at all, but I am assured by others that I did well for my first time.  The biggest problem is that the quiltsforkids do want them to be perfect for the kids.

Thanks for taking the time to check out my finishes.  Off I go now to add to this weeks TGIFF post and check out the finishes of others!  Click the button at the top of this post to see everyone's work.