There's Something New Coming....

Hi, all!


Well, on Monday I asked if anyone would be interested in a Friday linky party to keep them motivated - and there was lots of interest!  So - - - tomorrow will be our first.......

"Can I Get a Whoop Whoop" Friday Linky Party!

Here are the guidelines:

1.  If you did something crafty this week that you"d like a "Whoop Whoop" for, blog about it or post a pic on Flickr, then link up on Friday right here!  It"s not always possible to have a finish, I know, but maybe you conquered something that was standing in the way of a finish, like finally getting that invisible zipper put in, or sewing that stack of blocks into a flimsy.  Here's where you can celebrate your accomplishment!

2.  Put your name on your link-up - that way we can get to know each other a little better!

3.  Try to visit at least the link-up right before yours, and leave a comment!  After all, this is all about getting some blog-love and encouragement from our fellow bloggers!!  The more linked blogs you can visit and comment on, the better, but everyone understands that life gets in the way sometime!

4.  Grab the button (over to the right in my sidebar!) and put it in your sidebar - you can copy the code from the box right under  the button, then paste it into an HTML/Javascript gadget.

Not this button, the one in the sidebar!! ;-)

Update to the update:  Thanks to Vicki from Dotty Jane Designs, we have a working button with html code you can copy!  Whoop Whoop!!

5.  Be sure to mention the party and put a link back to the linky post on your blog so other people can check out all the links and maybe even join in the fun!

I'll try to have the link set up starting at midnight Central Standard Time (US) on Friday, and run through midnight Central Standard Time (US) on Saturday, to give everyone time to link up!  

I'm excited!!  I hope you are too!!

Later!

Sarah

Toddlerless Tuesday #17! The early bird catches the worm.....

Hi, all!

Well this has been a productive day - a little weird, though!  Without going into the whole story, but telling you that there was a squirrel involved, I didn't get a whole lot of sleep last night, and my morning started early early early today because my hubby had to leave the house at 4:30 this morning to catch a flight for Chicago.  So, being awake and not wanting to go back to bed for another, too-short hour of sleep,  I decided to start my toddlerless Tuesday early and worked on one of the quilts I'm making for the quilt ministry.......

..... and finished this quilt flimsy!  I love the colors in this - it's peaceful, but just a little big perky and cheerful too.  Can't wait to quilt it - I'm thinking of using a vine design.  Soon!

On Saturday, we had our monthly sewing meeting.  Twenty-two women showed up - a record group for us!  I had planned for us to make some free-pieced scrappy blocks to put into a quilt for a teenager at our church who is having some pretty serious medical problems right now.  I hoped to make sixteen blocks - but we made forty-six instead!!  The fabric we used was donated - a box full of what appear to be salesman's samples of men's shirting fabrics that look to be from the early 1960's.  The pieces were about 2" x 4", and I just instructed everyone to piece together a large enough piece of fabric to cut a 10" square out of the center.  Once they quit trying to make it harder than it was, they had a lot of fun and got very creative.  This morning, after I dropped Lilli off at pre-school, a friend joined me at the house and we put a 1" border on each of 32 blocks - 16 each of two colors.  After Lilli went home, I put one set of 16 blocks together with a navy blue sashing.....

The second flimsy of the day!

A closeup of one block..

...and another.

So today, while toddlerless, I managed (with very good help!) to finish two flimsies and put borders on sixteen more blocks that are ready to be made into another flimsy.  A very productive day!!

My husband is currently sitting in the airport in Chicago, waiting for his plane home to arrive - they keep pushing the time back further and further.  Originally scheduled to fly home at 7:10, they're telling him  now his flight will leave at 9:50.  Will I see my husband tonight?  No telling!  Looks like another late night!

One last thing - does anyone know of a good way to get a squirrel out of your house?

The pitter-patter of THESE little feet
is NOT a good sound to wake up to.....

So - - - what did you do today?

Later!

Sarah

PS - Be sure to check out Jewel's giveaway over at Sew Jewelry!  She's giving away TWO charm packs of Sherbet Pips!!

Make-A-List Monday #30!

Hi, all!!

Our snow is finally melting away, and schools should be back in session this week - finally!  It's funny how quickly I got used to Lilli being in preschool two mornings a week, and how much I can get done during those few hours!  My sewing suffered from the loss of the time this past week, but Lilli and I had a lot of fun on those snow days....

So how did I do on last week's list?

1.  Add borders to the Jacob's Ladder flimsy.

Done.  I love the way this fabric works on the border, and can't wait to quilt this one!

2.  Work on UFO #2 - a Christmasy Around The World quilt.

Done!  I added enough rows that this flimsy is half done!

3.  Load up a practice quilt on the quilting frame.

I still haven't done this.  I'm going to have to just drop everything else and make time for this, I think.  No other way to get it done!

4.  Piece a back for my niece's quilt.

I did not get to this, but I have an outstanding reason - more on that later!

5.  Put together scrap bags for our Saturday sewing meeting!

Done!  Not exactly what I had originally planned, but exactly what we needed to make!

At our Saturday sewing meeting, we had 22 ladies show up and we made 46 blocks that will become three new quilts!  I had hoped we could get sixteen blocks done for one quilt - but we had a great crowd and they jumped right into making the blocks and had fun!!

I didn't get to some of the stuff on last week's list because we (the quilt ministry) had requests for six (SIX!) quilts this week!  I finished one Sunday afternoon, and have pieced about half of another.  

Here's a teaser on the finished quilt - more pics and the story after I wash it!

And here's a teaser of the one I'm piecing right now...

So - - - for next week, I need to....

1.  Finish the second ministry quilt (the one that's half pieced).

2.  Start on ministry quilts #3 and #4 (using the blocks from Saturday).

3.  Choose a pattern for ministry quilt #5.

4.  Set up and test drive the quilting frame!!

I wish I could say I would get to a back for my niece's quilt, but I don't think I'll get all of the above done, much less piece a back!  A friend is going to come over and help me with some of the ministry quilts this week, though - that will be fun, sewing with someone else for a change!

And now I have a question for you......

Amy Lou Who is changing her Sew & Tell Friday linky, having it only once a month (probably!)   I have relied on Amy all year to give me a kick in the seat of the pants and make me get stuff done, so I have something to post on her weekly link-up - but now that is gone!  Is anyone else out there feeling the lack?  Would you be interested (and participate!) if I start up a weekly Friday finishes linky of some sort?  Very low key, few rules - just a place for everyone to show off what they've done that week!  Please let me know with a comment if that's something that you'd be interested in!

Time for me to go get the Lillibug and start my week - let me know what you're planning on working on this week!!

Later!

Sarah

PS.  Be sure to check out the giveaway Julie's having on Jaybird Quilts - it's awesome!