Rosey Little Bee Quilt Block

About 9 months ago, I joined a virtual quilting bee organized by Jennifer Smith of Rosey Little Things. Naturally, we are called Rosey Little Bee. We have been super busy making all kinds of blocks: wonky houses, pinwheels, crosses to name just a few.

I have known all year which fabric I wanted to use. It's call "Eyes Wide Shut" and I bought it about 5 years ago when I worked at a quilt shop. It reminds me of everything that is an Oklahoma summer: HEAT. There's a lovely combination of teal, plum, gold, lime, forest green, and of course, a reddish-orange.

At first, I wanted to make a spider web block. But I found the perfect block: Little Miss Shabby's scrapbusting block! It uses all these tiny 1.5" squares that you sew borders around and around. I chose it because I'm still looking for that "perfect" 1/4" seam allowance quilters use. The directions ask for a "scant" 1/4" seam: not sure exactly what that is, but I tried to make my seams as tiny as possible.

I'm planning to sew a border around all the squares so hopefully, I'll have a lap-size quilt. The virtual quilting bee world is so inspiring! It's AMAZING what these women can do. I'm glad that quilting has become an acceptable form of self expression. Right now, there appears to be a resurgence in traditional blocks with updated color.

Time for me to pull out my vintage quilting books!

Baby Clothes Quilt Along

Bethany at Vermillion Rules is hosting a new kind of quilt-along: quilts from baby clothes. I've made several basic ones before and am going to participate to possibly learn a new pattern. Here are the ones I've made for friends:

Join me - time to get some quilts made from those sweet baby clothes!

WHOOO are You?

My classroom theme this year is owls. Every year my class t-shirt uses a very studious owl with the phrase "Caution: Curious Minds at Work." Of course, my class had to have their own owl to be our mascot. I think my students have named him "Hooty" which suits me fine. We pass Hooty each morning as we answer our "question of the day." It helps us stay on track and listen to the person who is sharing.

Inspired by PotteryBarn owls in their catalog, I researched free patterns and one night, late at night, I made almost 8 of them - assembly-line style in my dining room. Here are some of my free patterns:

Modern Mind, Vintage Heart

One Red Robin

My Tiny Star

Toad's Treasures

Each owl definitely has their own personality. I made one for a teacher friend for her class and then a few other teachers just HAD to have one for their class. I even sent some to Kate's little kiddos.

I admit, after making 8 of them, I'm a little done with owls for a while. But message me if you simply MUST have them. Each one is different, so you'll have to trust the process.....

Sew-Liberated Jersey Skirt

Jersey skirt
Originally uploaded by sdchimblo

One of my goals this summer was to update my work wardrobe into wearable, but stylish pieces. I teach first grade, which means that my students can be icky at times and in other times, come at me with markers.

This came from Meg McElwee's Sew Liberated book. When this book came in the mail, I immediately chose this project. Knit skirts, or yoga skirts, are super easy to make. Measure your waist, cut the skirt out at a diagonal, sew and you're done.

What makes this skirt go from "drab to fab" is the reverse applique. That takes a bit of a leap of faith for me. i've appliqued, but not like this. In fact, I messed up. Below is what happens when you get in a hurry and don't make sure that your fabric is in the right place BEFORE you sew:

See the holes? Ewww!

So what can you do when there's 2 holes in your skirt? You cover it up with another type of applique! I used heat n'bond lite and then sewed around it to give it a more finished look.

I think it's wearable-to-work..

I won! And Someone You Should Know

Yesterday I won my first giveaway - just by following her blog! Marcia of "Oh, Cock!" is a new blogger, like myself. She sews these cool wristlets as well as creates beautiful mixed media pieces and t-shirts. She's a mommy, negotiating the ever chaotic world of babies and finding balance in her work as artist, wife and mommy. I look forward to reading about her adventures from all the way in New Hampshire, and you should too!

Hats for Beth

Beth and I have been friends for about 4 years. When you meet her, you are immediately at ease and know that she is someone who cares deeply about her family and friends. The plans she makes for her kids' birthdays are absolutely amazing. I am so lucky that she lives just around the corner from me. Last summer, we walked with our youngest kiddos in the evening and her sense of humor is contagious.

She also is an amazing photographer and the scrapbook queen! She has all the latest tools and I can sit at her house and scrapbook for hours....

Why am I telling you this?? Well, in January, Beth had a massive brain hemorrhage at age 36 and had several surgeries to repair the damage. She has been in a rehabilitation facility since and is coming home today. I am so proud of her. Throughout this journey, she has been surrounded with thoughts and prayers and I think because of that and her strong will to work through this, she is coming home today.

Since her surgery to put a plate in her head, she is somewhat bald again and is requesting that me and my friend Janine make hats for her in pink. I've always thought that it is important to "think global, act local" and this one service project we can do together. I am opening up the opportunity to you. If you sew, crochet, knit, whatever. Please make a pink hat for our dear friend. Because "Pink is Cool."

Message me if you want to participate. I want to overwhelm my dear friend with lots and lots of pink hats. Because, she is, well, full of awesome-sauce.

Summer Crafting

Wow, I haven't posted since March? Well, it goes to show that time flies when you are having fun! The end of school is always so stressful to me. Not the beginning of school, that energizes me. I can't stop thinking about all the possibilities of a new start with new kids and this year, I'll be in a different building. So the end of school was spent packing on top of all the other things like grades, projects, etc. WHEW!

So this summer, between soccer camp and professional development activities, I have been crafting. And lots of it: spinning, sewing, quilting, embroidery and (gasp) jewelry making. The next few entries will show pictures of what I've been doing with all this free time. So let's start with ring making, shall we?

I'm making rings. Lots of chunky rings from vintage earrings. These are also called statement rings or cocktail rings. Basically, a large stone, button or vintage earring adhered to a ring blank. Where did I get this idea? From my dad....

Rich and I moved my dad to a "mature adults only" apartment complex a few weeks ago. Let's just say that my dad is anything but "mature" except for his age. He lives under the philosophy that someone will always take care of him and basically lives by the seat of his pants. No money for electricity because he blew it on "other" important entertainment is the life he chooses to live. But I digress...

So while I'm unpacking his randomly packed boxes, I come what's left of my Mamaw's jewelry. I pilfered some of that jewelry and turned it into rings.

After I figured out how to clip the wires and take the earring back off, I went a little obsessive about this little project, stalked an estate sale and made some more that are available in my little shop. I got lots of compliments about the one above. It's neat to take something and update it into something new! Have you tried that?