Sewing update

So I've been meaning to do a sewing post for a long time ... I have really gotten into sewing recently, I guess it was just natural that sewing capes all the time would get the sewing bug going with me causing to want to make more personal things, too. Sewing capes is great and everything, but it's difficult to see all that hard work go mailing out every week and nothing tangible left to show for it! :)

I've started a few quilts, and I made a few handmade gifts for Christmas gifts - like those baby beach balls, and the crayon rolls, and a few other things I can't post yet because they STILL haven't been given to their recipients (yes, I KNOW it's almost February!!) and I really liked making things by hand to give to the most special people in my life. Here is a sneak peek of the quilt I am making for my mom, it's almost done now, this picture was a few weeks ago:

Here is a sneak peek of a quilt I am making for myself -- this is the Thorn In My Side quilt, because I couldn't decide what pattern I wanted to use -- scratch that, I am terrible at following patterns and would much rather just make it up as I went along, so I started cutting squares and piecing them together, which is cool because it looks very random, but it is a pain in the butt to sew together! All those different sized squares (well, there are only 3", 6", and 9" squares) when sewn together, cause all sorts of weird seam allowances and shrinkage. So, this quilt has been put aside for a little bit and will be pulled out again when I can stand to look at it! :)

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Another thing I've done is joined some quilting bees online. Basically there is a group of people that all commit to making one or two blocks a month for someone else. When it is your assigned month (everyone take a turn), you send out a few swatches of fabric to everyone in the group, they make a block for you, and then send it back so you end up getting 16 or 17 blocks made with your fabric that you can then turn into a quilt. It's a fun way to meet a lot of other fun quilters online and get a quilt out of it that is really a collaboration. I've joined these three:

Cottage Quilting bee, hosted by Tina at Little Blue Cottage.

Pieced Together Quilting bee, hosted by Katie at See Katie Sew.

Sew Connected 3, hosted by John of Quilt Dad.

My first month out of the three of these is April, I need to get thinking about what fabrics I'm going to send out!!

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So speaking of sewing, I've been meaning to post forever about my best friend Darci's new sewing blog, Stitches and Scissors. She started a sewing blog separate from her personal blog because she's been sewing up a storm and is just getting TONS of cool things done.

Look at this adorable little quilt she made for her daughter - I love the red and aqua:



And I love this green and brown one:



She also does embroidery -- look at how cute this little sign is she made for me, I've got it hanging up in my sewing room already, even though it's not framed yet!




I love all her stuff! She is so quick at getting things done and keeps me inspired and encouraged to keep sewing stuff for myself.

Remember

Remember this little chub that was born on August 25th, 2006:

(That would be Mason)

Well, on August 25th, 2009 (or thereabouts) he's going to officially become Big Brother Mason.

Yup, I'm pregnant.

Yup, my due date is Mason's birthday.

& now you know.

Happy Birthday, Mee Maw!

Today is my mom's birthday and I wanted to tell you just a few reasons why I think she's great. If you know her, you'll know this list is far from complete (feel free to add your own in the comments!)

1. She is unselfish
2. She loves Mason very much
3. She is funny
4. She is smart
5. She always says yes to helping anyone out
6. She is witty
7. She never complains
8. She doesn't take anything too seriously

And some reasons why I know Mason loves her:

1. She always has a treat or present for me
2. She takes me fun places when she babysits me
3. She always reads books with me
4. She plays blocks with me
5. She plays cars with me
6. She watches Pablo with me
7. She tickles my hair
8. She lets me lay on her lap
9. She likes to go to lunch
10. She knows exactly what I like (CARS and books!)

We love you, Mom, happy birthday!

Sundance 2009

So I really don't like posting to my blog without pictures. And my camera and I haven't been in the groove lately - so I haven't been taking hardly any pictures. BUT -- I do have a new best friend that is with me 24/7 and I'm finding myself more and more happily surprised by the quality of pictures she takes ... so for this post you get pictures from my iPhone.

Today I started my volunteering at the Sundance Film Festival again. I did it last year and had a good time so I figured I'd do it again. It's only a minimum of 24 hours volunteering over 10 days and you get a free parka and all sorts of other cool perks - so I figured, why not?!

I am working this year at festival headquarters which is just a madhouse. It's located at a hotel, so most people stay there, and it's where the offices are for all the press, the filmmakers, the staff, etc, etc etc.

I got my free Kenneth Cole parka today, along with a Nalgene bottle and a free trial lipstick from Lancome. (They are all sponsors). I had my training and met my manager and the other people I'll be working with. I am trying to memorize the film guide tonight, because as an "information liasion" I will be answering peoples questions on everything from the films, how to get tickets (good luck), where to park (even MORE luck), where to grab a bite to eat, and where to hang out after hours.

I had to go through a check in line and sign/initial about fifty places and show two forms of ID to get my credentials and free movie tickets ... I have to protect those with my life as I fully intend on using all my insider's edge to get into the premier of this film:



All because he:



is the director and will for sure be at the premier. This is my #1 goal of the festival.

And free swag.

Oh, and to enjoy wonderful Park City and maybe see some cool films.

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p.s. I think my super-extended blogging hiatus is over. I think. I have some cool sewing projects I'm involved in that I want to post about soon, so keep a look out for those.

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p.p.s. If you want to follow my days at Sundance through my pictures, I'm automatically updating them to Flickr through my phone. Look at the set here.

More handmade gifts ...

I'm working on a new blog design (you may already be seeing it!) and getting this blog updated with Christmas posts ... but for now I'm just going to share a few more handmade gifts that I made for some of my family members ... super easy patchwork dish/hand towels.

These were super quick and easy to make. I mostly just used scraps of fabric I had left over from previous projects - and cut into a few new fat quarters to round things out. I used the tutorial at Sew Mama Sew for inspiration - but as usual I improvised and added different steps to make it work for me.