4 Months?!?!?!

Wow!!  I didn't realize it had been so long since my last post!!!!  I really got swept up in getting ready for a craft show at the end of November and getting my Etsy store up and running.  Once that was all done, the Etsy store took off and I was swamped with orders throughout the month of December.  Really left not much time to sleep, let alone do much else.  Lol.  I've made a decision that I need to re-allocate time and bring back the stuff that I want to do as well as have time for the things I need to do.  I'm not making promises, but my goal is to start really blogging a lot more.  I forgot how much I enjoyed it and really miss posting!  I know I don't have many readers, but hopefully there will be more in 2016 :)

Now, with the holidays done and life returning to "normal," I've decided to take the month of January to get caught up on some personal projects, finish up all the Christmas gifts I didn't get a chance to do, and allow myself to "reset" a bit.

It's been a busy and productive first week of January!  I started the year off with working on some belated Christmas gifts.... particularly the one for my mom.  I felt terrible about not being able to give her more than a mere 2-piece set of embroidered towels due to lack of time.  I actually had purchased a kit for placemats from Keepsake Quilting months ago with the intent of giving them to my mom as her handmade gift for Christmas.  Alas, ran out of time.  Once I cleaned up the disaster my craft room had become, I got to work.  Love how they turned out and they only took me an evening to do :)

May I present... .my first completed project for 2016!!

Unfortunately, the kit is no longer available from Keepsake Quiliting, but I did manage to find it from a shop called Auntie Chris Quilt Fabrics.

Once the placemats were done, I couldn't wait to get started on the next project.  I've got a bunch of friends whom we don't traditionally exchange gifts with for Christmas, but this year they brought us gifts so I really wanted to return the generosity.  I racked my brain for ideas and remember seeing a great tutorial by Melanie Ham on YouTube a while back for some panel pillow covers with a zipper closure that I thought would be good gifts and be relatively easy to do.  I had a bunch of pillow forms in my stash that I originally intended on using for hexi pillow covers, however things got in the way and as of today, still haven't had time to do.  I did a little stash diving and found some fabrics that were going to work perfectly and then got to work.

First up was a pillow for my gal-pal who is a total bacon fanatic.  She'd put bacon on her bacon if that was possible.  Lol.  I had picked up this fabric from Fabric.com a while back as one of those "I just need $4 to get to free shipping" kind of things, figuring I'd find something to use it on.  Once I found the design on Etsy, I knew it was a match made in heaven.  Lol.  Here are the details...

Bacon Zippered Pillow Case

Started: January 4, 2016
Completed: January 5, 2016
Fabric: Timeless Treasures Bacon Black from Fabric.com
Batting: Warm & White scraps from stash
Embroidery Design: "Either You Love Bacon or You're Wrong" by ChicEmbroidery on Etsy
Pillow Form: 16" x 16" Pillow Form -  Fairfield Poly-Fil Soft Touch Square Pillow
Zipper: 18" Black Zipper from Wawak

I'm not going to see my gal-pal until the 24th of this month, so for right now it's wrapped and waiting.  Can't wait to see the look on her face!  If only there was a way to make it bacon scented... it would really be awesome!

I had so much fun doing that pillow that I couldn't wait to make another.  Next up was a pillow for Hubby.  It's been a while since I had made him anything other than a keychain, so I figured it was about due.  Ha ha ha.  Hubby is a HUGE Doctor Who fan, so while perusing Etsy for some cool embroidery designs, I stumbled on this one from a shop called TedandFriends.  They've got some really cool "geeky" designs!  Once I found the design, it was off to figure out the fabric.  Again, I turned to Fabric.com and found some Fox and Houndstooth Bowties fabric by Robert Kauffman.  Unfortunately, they were out of stock and the other colorway (blue and teal) just wouldn't work. After scouring the internet, I found some yardage from another Etsy store called Texas Susannie's.  Ordered right away and got it days later!  Great customer service!! Once the first pillow was done, I wasted no time in getting this one started!

I'm really not happy with all the puckering in these two pillows in the embroidery, however I've been doing some research and think I might have found a solution.  Will be trying some new things on the next one and see if that helps, but in the meantime... Hubby was ecstatic with his gift!  Here are the details...

Bowties Are Cool Zippered Pillow Case

Started: January 6, 2016
Completed: January 8, 2016
Fabric: Fox and The Houndstooth Bowties Black by Robert Kauffman from Fabric.com
Batting: Warm & White scraps from stash
Embroidery Design: "Bowties Are Cool" by TedandFriends on Etsy
Pillow Form: 16" x 16" Pillow Form -  Fairfield Poly-Fil Soft Touch Square Pillow
Zipper: 18" Black Zipper from Wawak

Feels so great to actually be getting back to my "roots" and doing a little sewing and quilting!  I didn't realize just how much I missed it until I started doing these.  I just bought a bunch of fabrics and have embroidery designs picked out for more, most likely going to be listed in my Etsy shop for sale.   Also have the stuff together to make a couple more as belated gifts, so most likely I'll be working to get those done here over the next few days.

I've got a couple more personal projects that I would like to work on over the upcoming weeks, and can't wait to get started!  It really kinda feels weird that I'm not under pressure, stressed, and sleep-deprived with trying to get stuff done for shop and show deadlines.  This little "reset" I'm doing is really helping and making me happy.  Don't get me wrong, the shop is still up and I have a couple of shows this year, but I figured that I can start prepping inventory come next month or so and spend some time just being creative instead of being an assembly line :)

Hope everyone has had a wonderful Saturday, and don't worry..... I'll be back and more frequently (I hope) with all kinds of fun updates!!

Linking up with Show Off Saturday at SewCanShe

Let The Fates Decide

This is the first time in over a year that I don't have projects with deadlines or on the "desperately need to do" list.  Totally feels weird!  Honestly, I've been so preoccupied with gifts and such that I haven't even made anything for myself :(

Hubby kinda demanded that my next project be something for me.... however, I have oh so many projects on "the list" that I had no clue where to even start!  So, I decided to let everyone else pick what was next on my list.  I posted a poll over on the Missouri Star forums with ten options, ranging from Etsy store stuff to a commissioned project, to quilts for my house.  I let my fellow quilters decide.

"Technically" the poll won't close until today, but I gave the deadline of 6 pm last night.  Whichever project had the most votes was the "Winner."  After 75 votes.... The "Charmed Spools" quilt for me looks to be what's next on my quilting table!  I actually bought the materials for this one back in December when Missouri Star was having one of their free shipping days.  I can say enough how much I LOVE this store!

Here's my "haul" from December for this quilt....

• "Fairy Frost - It's a Girl Thing" Charm Pack by Michael Miller
• "Fairy Frost - Tan" by Michael Miller yardage
• "Fairy Frost - Onyx" by Michael Miller yardage
• "Fairy Frost - Passion" by Michael Miller yardage

Most likely I'll just be using some plain white muslin for the backing, but we'll have to wait and see what "goes" with it. 


I'm going to be starting my quilt this weekend, but before I do, I want to finish up a smaller project I've been working on. Since getting "Pearl" last November and getting back into embroidery, I've accumulated quite a stash of stabilizers. Up until now they've just been thrown into one of the drawers in my filing cabinet. It is a pain to have to keep pulling them all out just to get to the one I need. Going in search of a solution, I turned to Google, scouring the web. I saw a bunch of blogs where people are using shoe racks, but unfortunately I have no room in my HUGE walk-in closet to hang one (I know... Cleaning it out is on my list for this summer). I then stumbled on this adorable pattern on Etsy and it was just what I needed!  I can hang it on the back of my door and it'll be personalized to my craft room :-)

After a trip to Joanns for fabric and vinyl, I was set. First thing I did right off the bat was make the bias tape. I can honestly say that's one thing I've never done before. Lol. The pattern author suggested the "continual bias tape" method (something I have never heard of).... So back off to Google I went. A couple of YouTube videos later, I was ready to give it a try. 

Now, the pattern said that 3/4 yard should be enough to do all the double-fold and single-fold needed. I'm thinking I did something wrong as I only got about half of what I needed out of that 3/4 yard :-(

ANOTHER trip back to Joanns to get more fabric. Made up another 3/4 yard of tape and hopefully that will be enough. I actually grabbed 1.5 yards just in the event it wasn't. Not that I have any problem with going to Joanns, but I just didn't want to have to run again as going in for "just one thing" ends up costing me a fortune. Lol. 

I've now got my holder to the point of adding the vinyl pouches and I'm determined to get this done today so I can empty out that drawer and use it for other goodies!

As soon as I get get this done, it'll be time to start my quilt and I'm so excited!!  It'll be so nice to actually have something for myself for a change :-)

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Saturday!

Linking up with Show Off Saturday at SewCanShe

Show-Off Saturday: Yet ANOTHER Bag!

I know, I know... I think I have an addiction!  I made yet another Bionic Gear bag.  However, this one wasn't my choice, it was a request by my mom.  She loved her bag so much that she wanted one to give to my uncle's wife for her birthday.  She was just going to give her the one I made her (and pay me for it) and then keep the sewing-themed one that I made for her.  Told her that was silly, and of course I could make another one for her.

Went "stash diving" and found an awesome FQ bundle I had gotten from Fort Worth Fabric Studio a little while back.

This was one of their "Friday Bunches" a few weeks back and think it was called "Silent Movie."  Loved the black and white prints together... so fun!

I used the chalkboard fabric for the outside and then bits and pieces of the rest of the bundle for the inside pockets.

Bag Exterior

Bag Interior

I'm SO glad I ordered a million zippers from Wawak the last time they had a huge sale!  Honestly thought I went overboard and bought way too many (close to 200 total!), but now I'm seeing how quickly the stash is going down with every bag I make :-)  May have to keep an eye out for another sale soon!

I also FINALLY have my "top secret" project finished and should be able to share soon!  Just need to get it to the recipient before I do, seeing as though I don't know if he/she reads my blog or not.  Don't want to ruin a surprise.

Trying to decide what project is next on the list... I've got so many, I don't know which one to choose!  No more secret projects (I think) or projects with upcoming deadlines, so it may be time I finally made something for myself.  We'll have to see ;-)

I hope everyone is having a fabulous Saturday!

Linking up with Show Off Saturday at SewCanShe

National Quilting Day

Happy National Quilting Day to all my fellow quilters out there!  This is my first one, and I'm totally excited!  I've got big plans for my craft room this weekend.

Before I get started on some quilting, I got a bit sidetracked trying out this "Eggie" design I got from over at Uncle Matt's Crib.

I bought a bunch of fleece remnants a few weeks back from JoAnns specifically to try these out.  Not only were they easy to do (only took about 20 minutes) but it didn't even use much fleece.  1 yard of the anti-pill fleece will make LOTS of these guys!  All the parts of the face are just plain crafting felt.  So incredibly easy!  This one is for my niece, Miss L, who is OBSESSED with Elmo!  Better yet, I stuffed it using an old bed pillow that was on it's way to the garbage :-)

Now it's time to get to doing some quilting....

First up this weekend is at least one Cuddle Quilt. This one is for my new "nephew" and his nursery is bee-themed. I love these little quilts and got so excited when I found them at JoAnns a few weeks ago. Fabrics are pre-washed and ready to go. 

Hoping I can get minimally the cuddle quilt done, and really hoping I can get started on another gift. This one I won't be able to share until it's done as I don't know if she/he reads my blog or not. Don't want to ruin the surprise and the theme of the quilt would totally give it away!!

Off to go play in my craft room for the day. Hope everyone has a wonderful Saturday!!

Linking up with Show Off Saturday at SewCanShe

SEWjo Saturday: Paid In Full

Being a little out of practice with garment sewing, this one took a little longer than I had thought, but I got it done and now Hubby is "Paid In Full" for our little road trip a few weeks ago.

It's a little "loud" for my taste, but Hubby LOVES it!  He wasn't home last night when I finished it, so I made him try it on first thing this morning to see if it fit. Like a glove! 

It is a small thing to check off my list of stuff to do, but it's a finish nonetheless. One down... Three to go. Lol. Once I told him I could make button-down shirts, he started putting in requests. I've got fabric for three more shirts waiting in the wings. They're great in-between projects, so I'm sure he won't have to wait too long for the next one :-)

Hope everyone is having a super Saturday!!

Meet "Rosie"

 Wow... it's been a while since I've posted!  I'm so sorry!!!!  Things have just been total chaos here at Chez Rosie.  Work, editing photos, work, hubby starting a 3rd job, oh... did I mention work?  Lol.

Anyways....  I've been in the market for a new machine for a few weeks/months now.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my Janome 525s, but she's just a bit too small to do the projects I have planned.  I have been doing A LOT of research on machines, and thought I had finally settled on one.  My first choice.. a Janome 6500P.  There is a killer deal on them on Amazon and with having glowing 5-star reviews everywhere I looked, I thought.. This is IT!  Well, that was until this past week.

I did something I NEVER do... check out our local Craig's List.  I typed in "Janome" to see what popped up and I was surprised to find a Janome 6500P for $600 (with loads of extras).  I messaged the gal selling it and she quickly responded that it had sold an hour after she listed it.. she just never took the ad down :(  Total bummer!  I went back to the one on Amazon and was ready to pull the trigger.  On Thursday I was ready to order it, but then decided to check Craig's List one last time.  This time, only searching "sewing machines."  It was then I fell in LOVE! A Viking Husqavarna Eden Rose 250C... practically brand new!  I immediately contacted the gal selling it, crossing my fingers it was still available.  She called me back within 20 minutes, and after chatting with her for a few... I was SOLD!  Now it was just to convince Hubby :-)

It didn't take too much to convince him, and he even agreed to go out there with me.  Hubby and I got up at 8 am this morning to drive about an hour and forty-five minutes to go pick her up.  Not only was she a great deal, but she's PINK and has a ROSE "tattoo" on her :D

We stopped on our way home at a Viking dealer store and picked up the Sew-Steady Table (the only place that actually had them in stock and didn't need to be ordered).  I also got the interchanable dual-feed foot and the 1/4" attachment, as well as a closed-toe FMQ foot!!  Hubby REALLY spoiled me today :D  I really wanted the regular 1/4" edging foot (I believe it's called) but none of the stores had them.  I dragged Hubby down to the JoAnn's by our house so I could get the 1/4" attachment foot and I went ahead and had her order the edging foot for me.  Oh, and to sweeten the deal even more, at the first store... the lady offered me FREE user classes at the end of August.  Even though I didn't buy the machine from them, because I had spent so much money (he he he... let's just say my credit card is hurting right now)... she let me sign up for free!

All-in-all, it was a LONG but awesome day!  The lady I bought her from was SOOOOOO nice and helpful!  She showed me how to use her, gave me some really helpful hints considering this is my first Viking, and was eager to show me [I]her[/I] sewing room... let me just say I'm SOOOO jealous!!!

I've got her all set-up and ready to go!  I'm starting the piecing on the Lattice Quilt for my aunt, and can't wait to give her a good workout :-)

Hope everyone has had a spectacular Saturday!

Linking up with SEWjo Saturday at My Go-Go Life and Show Off Saturday at SewCanShe

Also linking back to Sew Fresh Quilts' Let's Bee Social

SEWjo Saturday - Craft Room

Well, this weekend hasn't been as full of sewing as I had hoped.  I spent my entire Friday night and Saturday cleaning and re-organizing my "Craft Cave."  I went to Wally World and picked up some 2.5 gallon zipper bags, along with a plastic 3-drawer storage chest to house my newly acquired quilting treasures.  Here was my room before....

The picture is from a couple of months ago,  but has relatively remained unchanged since.  I had three machines with no homes, piles of fabric on the floor, and no room to move.  Since my room is home to two of my "major" crafts... sewing/quilting & scrapbooking, there is a LOT of stuff in a small space.

I worked all night last night and finally got my stuff organized and manageable. 

 

Wow!  How awesome is the panoramic mode on the iPhone!!  Lol  Here it is, all neat and tidy.  It's going to be so nice not to have to be tripping on everything all the time and to be able to do something without moving 10 things first.

Here's a quick tour...

 

The sign on the door to my "Craft Cave."  The Batman symbol is an inside joke between me and Hubby.  I always tell him I'm going to "the cave" and one day he asked me if that made me Batman.  Since then, he calls me that all the time, especially when I'm in a crafty mood.

 View from walking in the door

 My sewing station.  It's an old cubicle counter resting on top of two filing cabinets.  Multi-colored storage tower on right is full of scrapbooking paper scraps.

 My TV, wide-format printer and cart full of scrapbooking stuff in the dormer, and my computer desk

 My desk and my main working area.  White JetMax cubes are full of scrapbooking stuff and home to my two die cutting machines, but my embroidery machine and serger are now housed in the upper left hand shelf of the unit

Work station, ironing board, bookshelf (full of scrapbooks, books, and magazines), and my two overly-stuff closets.  Left one is scrapbooking mobile storage and my overflow sewing stuff, right one is FULL of scrapbooking stuff

 

 

My simple work station.  4' table with a cutting mat on top, white storage chest houses my notions, scissors, templates, rulers, extra thread, an the bottom drawer is full of my sewing machine supplies (power cords, foot petals, embroidery unit, embroidery hoops, etc.).  Two small containers in the middle are full of thread with my June Mystery Quilt kit resting on top.  The two tubs on the right - top one is my "project kits" ready to go, and the bottom one has what little "stash" fabric I have.

Sewing closet contains all my mobile scrapbooking stuff, along with a tub of pre-packaged batting, tub of yarn, tub containing finished projects, an a small tub of fabric scraps.  The two hanging ZipLoc bags contain all my muslin for backings as well as all my batting scraps.

Linking up with SEWjo Saturday at My Go-Go Life and Show Off Saturday at SewCanShe

SEWjo Saturday - Let The Fun Begin!

Well, here goes nothing!  Top is finished, backing is pieced, batting is ironed.... Time to get this party started and get to basting this bad boy!!

I took a lot of advise from the awesome gals on the Missouri Star Forums when it came to basting. 

It managed to fit nicely on my kitchen table with both the leaves in it. I used some muslin clamps I had from my photography backdrop rig to secure the backing, and I was on my way!  I did do some spray basting and then added some safety pins for some added security. 

Once it was all basted, it was impossible for me to stop there. Especially when it took about a third of the time that I thought it would!

Next it was off to my trusty old Janome 525s for some quilting. Let me just say, the walking foot I ordered for my machine was the BEST investment I've ever made!!  It was a bit of a challenge to get it put on my machine as it didn't come with any directions, but I figured it out :-)

I did simple "echo" stitching on the sides of the main seams and I was a nervous wreck to get started!!  Once I got the mechanics of getting the quilt thru the small throat on my machine, it wasn't so bad!

My stitching wasn't the straightest, but not too bad. I now know what to do for next time and learned a lot thru this whole process. 

Now it's off to get the binding made and put on, and then I'll officially have my first real quilt done!!  I'm so excited!!!

Stay tuned for some finished pics to come :-). Hope everyone is having a wonderful Saturday!!


Linking up with SEWjo Saturday at My Go-Go Life and Show Off Saturday at SewCanShe