Like a Good Dessert, it just called my Name

Friday - at rush hour - I had to run a business errand which took me right near (OK, still 15 minutes up the road) to a LQS that sells Kona solids.  I give them a quick check to see what is in stock whenever I'm in the area - or sorta in the area.  

I'm not a big Christmas fabric fan, I have 2 started Christmas quilts, who knows when I'll get back to them, and they don't even require much to finish.  I even cheated once, for my Mom, I put Christmas fabric on the back of a quilt I made her, and told her to just flip it at Christmas time.  Talk about lazy.

This Michael Miller fabric grabbed me the instant I walked in the door.  And even though I didn't want it, and I didn't need a new project, and I am on a Christmas time budget and the fabric wasn't on sale; so, logically I bought two yards.  For punishment I hacked off a chunk of finger with my new rotary blade that I was so enjoying how easily it sliced through fabrics.  Note to self, slices through flesh too.  

I only wanted to use this Christmas focal fabric and the solids.  I brain melded all day Saturday, flipped through books and magazines, looked at flickr, and nothing, not one idea.  But early Saturday morning, I could have held my phone above my head with the little lightbulb app and turned it on, for the idea that popped into my head.  I'm sure this pattern exists somewhere in the quilt universe in some form.  But I really didn't see one Saturday, but maybe I have somewhere, so that is how it came to my mind.

I did a quick drawing, because, this required quilter math, and even though I do books and accounting, quilter math just boggles me.  I still couldn't figure out how large the block was going be when finished.  I just made one and then measured the finished block to figure the final math.  

Preview, more photos later.  

Trudging through the November Bee blocks, not that they are a chore, I enjoy them immensely, I'm just so wanting to work on Christmas projects and the new top, but I know I need to get to these too.  So, I try to do one Bee's worth of blocks before starting something for myself.

Shana who blogs  HERE wanted 'Tripped Out Wonky Stars' for our Threadheads Bee.  I had to add a few fabrics to this second block, I wonked a lot and used up too much of the fabric Shana had provided.  Hope these are wonky enough for her!

Gads!

I have just spent the last 2 hours, and at 4 a.m. until 6 a.m. (and it isn't even Black Friday!) trying to redesign my blog.  I got no where!  Techno illiteracy is a definite handicap.  Can't get the photo smaller, can't get my gadgets on the new template.  Aarrggghhh!  Worse than a mental block trying to think up a quilt block!
I can't even get the blog design back to where it was.
Stay tuned......I'll keep trying.

Hello Loves

I was remiss, as usual. There seems to be, every month, just that one Bee Block that I didn't seem to get to.  Then I feel like I can't start the next months blocks until I get this one done, or not post photos, so I don't have guilt.  This time, or should I say, last month, it was for Threadheads Bee.  I must say I adore the members in this group, and this block wasn't even hard, I seem to make it harder in my mind.  Then when I get to it, I'm like, oh, well this was so easy peasy.  What exactly was the problem, me?  This purple one is from my stash.  See the little owl peeking out?  Loves!

She is making an I Spy quilt, with all the centers something to find.  Love the color in this one.  I'm a fan of REDS.  Reminds me of Where is Waldo.  

I feel guilty working on the next months blocks when that first one was still hanging over my head!  But, I've moved on.  Guilt can't just keep hanging around when there are more blocks to do.   This is the Spider Web block for Fall Bee, another awesome group.  I like the Spider Web block, it looks complex, but is fairly simple.  I think we should add a little spider in the centers.

I am making slow progress on Jesse's quilt.  I tell myself to make 2 blocks per night.  I did on Sunday, but it can't always be done.  I'm trying not to beat myself up about it, but I also want to finish and give this to his parents.  I also put together more of the grey sashings which will become stars where they join.  

See, progress.  The grey helped so much.   I have 50 projects I want to get to for Christmas,  but tonight I just want to read, so I will push the projects to the side and read my new book I've been anticipating for like 6 months.  Tomorrow the projects will all be calling again, no one else is going to finish them!  I could use one of those little elves that used to help the shoemaker.  Then I can wake up and go ohh, thanks little elves!  Here is a cookie, or whatever the elves got paid in.  It's been awhile since I read that story.    

My friends and I at Quiltapalooza in Houston, TX.  Victoria's Secret Feet (the pink ones with wings) won a prize.  But we are all winners in our own group!  

Do you have a special place?  A place you dream of being when you lay your head down on the pillow?  When I'm not thinking about my next sewing project, or the 50 that are on going, I dream of being here.

I also like fingernails scraping down a blackboard

These were the blocks from my Bee mates in Sew Modern Bee.  My SIL is well due a quilt, and she liked this one, so viola!  Quilt recipient.  She picked the fabric for the border.  But nothing can be THAT easy.

I decided to torture myself, I had an idea for the back.  So, I'm going to piece it.  I used to just throw some large swatches together and call it something, or a solid or something like that.  

Now, I really like the way this is coming together.

Now I want this to be a front.  So what to do?  Aaarrhhhggh.  Nails down a chalkboard feelings.

Block for Leanne in the Aqua and Orange Bee.  I had already made the orange one.  I loved her choice to do monochromatic blocks.

One of the blocks for Melissa also in Sew Modern Bee.  She was very creative and made her own pattern.  I made 2 blocks, the other one's photo came out all cranky.

A Perfect Pair

I told my husband about a month ago I want a new pair of Uggs for Christmas.  You know, so he has time to shop. HAHAHA!  I also needed to make a decorated pair of shoes for an event in Houston at the IQA show, and I just couldn't come up with an idea.  After showing my friend the Sam I Am costume, she suggested Thing 1 and Thing 2 for my shoes.

And I had the perfect pair of old crummy stained Uggs to paint and glue gun.

Attaching the yarn hair was a task, so I let my friend do the first one and work out the glue bugs.  Hot glue does stick to your Uggs, so don't do it unless you really want them to stay decorated.  

I tried markers for the face and body, but I ended up getting acrylic paint which worked fine.  

Side view, Rear view, for your viewing pleasure.  

They are so adorable!  I have worn them around the house, to make sure the yarn hair doesn't fall off.  Too bad I didn't have my friend think of these before Halloween!  But that comes around next year too.  And I definitely need a new pair of Uggs.  Just saying.