Back in the saddle....

Thank goodness for online challenges and goal setting linkies!  While surfing the net, (when I should be doing more productive things like cleaning, laundry, cooking or sewing), I've stumbled upon a few Hexagon fellow lovers blogs!  After seeing all of the wonderful hand stitched goodness, this inspired me to dust off an old UFO and start working on it again!  After a wonderful evening of stitching some hexies together while watching some adult tv (by adult I mean no kids shows lol) - some Criminal Minds and CSI, I really wondered why I had put them away for so long.

This is my first ever attempt in paper piecing.  After seeing the gorgeous Hexy MF Quilt Along by Katie Jones about to start up at Fat Quarterly, I knew I had to try it!  I immediately ordered the Hexagon templates and paper piecing Hexagons and pulled a recently purchased Fat Quarter Bundle of Paradise by Pat Bravo for Art Gallery Fabrics from Moona Fabrics to use with a wonderful Kona Chartreuse Green cotton as my hexy flower centers.

I tried hand basting my hexies for awhile and although relaxing, I found it a bit time consuming with everything else going on so I started glue basting instead (I hope I won't regret this decision when I go to pull  my papers out).  I am definitely hooked now on paper piecing now and hope to try some more different shapes and patterns!

So now that I've pulled my UFO out of hiding, I've been keeping it close to the couch so I can sit and stitch while watching some TV in the evenings and hopefully get this quilt done some time this year!!!

I only have 17 flowers stitched together and I need 68 full Hexy flowers just for the body of the quilt and another 6 flowers for the border ones on the vine.

Here's my beauties all stacked up:

And here they are spread out:

I'm planning on using a dark grey background just like the sample pic to really make everything pop!

So wish me luck on my adventure and any tips or comments would be greatly appreciated!!!

Linking up with Sarah at Sarah Did It for HeLP with Hexie-Aholics Friday! and Richard and Tanya Quilts for Link a Finish Friday!

January 2014 - Goal Party - A Lovely Year of Finishes

Well, now that 2013 is over, absolutely the worst year of my life ever, I've set some new goals and blogging regularly is one of them!  I contemplated starting a new blog, just for my sewing and quilting projects as that is what I'm doing most days now, but figured I didn't need the added stress of having another blog going.  I'll still post my papercrafts and art projects here on this blog too when I get back into the swing of things.

One of my goals this year is to definitely finish up one of the many UFO's floating around my sewing desk. This year I'm going to participate in a Lovely Year of Finishes with Melissa from Sew Bitter Sweet Designs and Shanna at Fiber of All Sorts!  You set a sewing goal for yourself that month and finish it!  I definitely need the motivation and love deadlines!

This month, I'm going to finish the applique and piecing of this quilt top, Late Bloomers, by Kim Diehl which was published in the April, 2012 issue of Better Homes and Gardens American Patchwork & Quilting.    I have only one panel left of the applique to finish then I can finish piecing the top together.  Sorry for the basement photos (that's where I sew and my design wall is).

I also joined a few (just a couple lol) BOM's and have two commissioned baby boy quilts to start on this month so lot's of sewing time for me (hopefully).

Claiming my blog with Blog Lovin

Just a short post that I'm claiming my blog with Blog Lovin since Google Reader will vanish as of July 1st. Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Blogger's Quilt Festival

 It's been about 8 1/2 months since I last blogged.  On August 25th, 2011, we welcomed the newest addition to our family, Julianna Gabriella Zito, weighing 5lbs 4 oz.  Life has been so busy but so wonderful with little Julianna!  I haven't been paper crafting very much but have been sewing up a storm! I may have to start another blog for that......

Today I'm sharing a quilt I made for the Missouri Star Quilt Co. Iron Quilter Contest.  We had to use a special ingredient in our creations - at least one charm pack of Moda's Summer Breeze fabric.  I used 3 charm packs, Moda Snow White and Summer Breeze yardage.  The the pattern is "Sparkle" by Margot Languedoc of the Pattern Basket.  The finished quilt measures  71 x 79 inches. I had a such a fun time putting together this quilt before Christmas and thank goodness baby Julianna was super co-operative during it all! The quilt was longarmed locally by Nancy Renaud of the Quilt Fairy.

I definitely learned how to quilt under pressure and strengthened my chain piecing skills while working on this quilt! The quilt turned out beautifully and is one of my favourites!  I even came in 2nd place for the contest!  I'm submitting my quilt into Amy's Bloggers' Quilt Festival - Spring 2012!

E.A.D. Designs Weekly Monday Hop!

Welcome to the E.A.D. Designs weekly Monday hop! You should have arrived at my blog from Amy T's blog, if not please start the hop at the E.A.D. Designs blog!  The hop officially begins today at 10:00 a.m. EST!

I'm still playing with my  E.A.D. Designs Good Company Stickerz set and inspired by this month's E.A.D. Color Challenge #15.

And here's my card:

Extra products used on my card:  Neenah and Bazzill cs, Cuttlebug embossing folder, u/k button, DMC floss and SU ribbon.

Inspiration for my card also came from this week's challenge CFC #16 (embossing) at CAS-ual Fridays.

I'm the last stop on today's hop! Don't forget to leave a comment on each stop along the way, including the E.A.D. Designs blog to be entered into a random drawing for a fabulous prize!

Have a great day!

E.A.D. Designs Weekly Monday Hop - GIVEAWAY!

Welcome to the E.A.D. Designs weekly Monday hop! I'm the first stop on the hop today - you should have arrived at my blog from the E.A.D. Designs blog!  The hop officially begins today at 10:00 a.m. EST!

Today my card uses the adorable E.A.D. Designs Good Company Stickerz set! And guess what, if you want to win this set of E.A.D. Designs Stickerz, be sure to complete the hop and leave a comment on each stop, including the E.A.D. Designs Blog to be entered into a random drawing! The winner will be announced next Monday!

My card was inspired by this month's E.A.D. Color Challenge #15 and uses the co-ordinating Good Company Stickerz set .

Extra products used on my card:  Neenah cs, MME dp, Prima and u/k bling, SU punch and button, handmade ribbon and DMC floss.

Inspiration for my card also came from this week's sketch #128 at Card Patterns!

Your next stop on the hop is Amy C!

Here's a look at today's giveaway set Good Company:

Have a great day!

Things With Wings Whimsical Art Dolls

I recently took an online art course at Willowing called Things With Wings! The class was super fun, the instructors Brianne and Anita are FANTASTIC and the dolls are adorable and come together easy with all of the awesome video tutorials, pdf's and instructions.

I made all 3 dolls, the Bee, Butterfly and Dragonfly.  My 2 girls Alexandra and Isabella have already claimed these dolls and have their orders in for another set so they each have one of each doll.

Willowing is such a fun and inspiring place!  Tam even featured me and my dolls this month on the site (Front page whoohoo) and Anita, one of the Things With Wings instructors has posted an article on her blog featuring my dolls!  Thank you ladies! These are the first dolls I have ever made and am so thrilled and honoured to receive such wonderful feedback from everyone!

You still have time to sign up and take the course!  You can get all the details here!  Also, Things With Wings #2 is currently in the making and if you take the 1st course you will be eligible for a discount on the 2nd course!

E.A.D. Designs Weekly Monday Hop!

Welcome to the E.A.D. Designs weekly Monday hop! You should have arrived at my blog from Amy T.'s blog, if not, please start the hop at the E.A.D. Designs blog! (The hop officially begins today at 10:00 a.m. EST).  It is also Amy T's birthday today - HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMY!!!!  Make sure you leave her some birthday love on her blog!

My card for today uses the adorable Baby Safari E.A.D. Designs Stickerz set.  Extra products used:  Neenah and Bazzill cs, Deja View dp, SU punch, u/k eyelets and Twinery Twine.

Your next stop on the hop is Amy C!

August Paper Makeup Stamps Blog Hop

Welcome to the Paper Makeup Stamps Sizzling blog hop! You should have arrived at my blog from  Shana's blog, if not, please start the hop at the PMS blog!

For today's hop, the team is featuring PMS images and sentiments released prior to 2011!

My card for today uses the images from the Color It - Summer set!  Extra products used:  SU and Bazzill cs, October Afternoon dp, Nestabilities, Distress ink, Memento Ink, Copic Markers and u/k twine.

Inspiration for my card came from this week's challenge #63 at Wee Memories, anything goes at Papertake Weekly and today's blog hop challenge from Paper Makeup Stamps PMSM03 -  Sizzling Summer Colors!

Your next stop on the hop is Tangii!

Here's a list of today's hop participants in case you get lost along the way:

Andrea Vernagus
Anita Hovey
Dawn Mercedes
Ginger Schwerin
Jackie Rakoski
Jami Bova
Janette Garcia
Jenn Cochran
Katie Cotton
Lisa Kind
Lisa McKinney
Michelle Van Patten
Randee Elsing
Shana Dahl
Stephanie Zito
Tangii Crain
Tina Hale

E.A.D. Designs Weekly Monday Hop!

Welcome to the E.A.D. Designs weekly Monday hop! You should have arrived at my blog from Amy T.'s blog, if not, please start the hop at the E.A.D. Designs blog! (The hop officially begins today at 10:00 a.m. EST).

Today my card uses the new August Paper Smooches Co-Branding E.A.D. Designs Love Sentiments Stickerz!  Extra products used:  Lip card template from Paper Crafts Magazine, SU cs, u/k eyelet, CM corner rounder, Cuttlebug embossing folder and Twinery Twine.

Your next stop on the hop is Amy C!  Have a wonderful Monday!