Hand-quilting Wonky Stars

Last night at FNSI I worked on some hand quilting on my Hungry Caterpillar quilt. It already has some stitch in the ditch and straight line quilting, but I wanted to try some hand quilting with some Pearl cotton around the stars.

Two stars down, two to go.

<3 Kelsey

MIA

Sorry I've been MIA for a while. Work was kind of crazy. Then after the work crazy was over, I had to take care of all the life crazy that built up while I was busy with the work crazy - during which I caught a cold, which Paul (my 4.5 month old) also caught, so we spent last weekend healing. But now things are getting back to normal around here.

New things that have been going on in the Prantis household:

(1) We bought a Subaru Forrester. This is our very first brand new car. We've had it three weeks now and love it! It makes it hard to go back and drive our other 14 year old Malibu, but really we should count our blessings to be able to afford to have two cars.

(2) Paul started eating solids. So far sweet potatoes and bananas are on his good list, and apples and peaches are on his "eww what are you feeding me" list. I have a couple videos to share about this at a later time (read: when I have my camera with me).

(3) I figured out what was wrong with my new frame/regulator/sewing machine setup. My LQS gave me the wrong stitch regulator and accidentally gave me the broken one that came in with it instead of the new one. Easily remedied with a quick trip back to the LQS, though I haven't had a chance to try out the new one yet. Also bought myself some new needles to go with it. Super excited to try it out again, but I've been making myself be a good girl and finish some UFO's with impending deadlines, and none of them have involved FMQ (yet).

(4) Not a lot of sewing been going on. I've been working on my mug rug for the Scrappy Mug Rug Swap here and there, but that is about it. That and a gift I can't share here yet.

(5) My company held our annual ice skating get-together this morning. A co-worker snapped this shot of my husband, me, Paul, and another co-worker. I rarely get in group shots that come out looking this happy. :)

It's good to be happy. I've been having some post-partum issues, so it's always nice to have a happy day. One good day at a time, right?

Tonight I am looking forward to working on a couple of gifts for my FNSI. It's pouring rain and freezing around here right now - a good night to stay in. Hope to see you there! :)

<3 Kelsey

Setting up my new Inspira frame

My dear hubs helped me set up my new quilting frame this week. Tonight I put my machine on it with some nice contrasting purple thread, assembled a test quilt sandwich, and installed the stitch regulator. I still need to iron out some kinks with tension, etc., but so exciting to have everything set up! ^_^

<3 Kelsey

PS. Setting this up was my One Week One Thing challenge for the last week. :)

Crafty Organization

In preparation for getting my new machine, I had started to organize my sewing stuff, which was split between being shoved in one side of the nursery closet in assorted boxes and bags behind the Rockband drumset, and the other half strewn all over my living room. The sudden appearance of my new machine and frame meant I had to finish. (And rearrange some furniture. :P)

So now, in my nursery closet I have all of the fabric not yet slated to a specific project like this:

The blue box on the right holds my non-quilting fabrics. Not pictured on the left are three neat boxes: one for patterns and templates, one for notions, and one with my yarn/crochet/knitting supplies.

Then in the living room, I have put together little bundles for each specific project I've bought the materials for. I also have a box for my fabric scraps, and an old comforter plastic thing (what are those called anyways?) for my batting scraps. It may not look as neat/pretty, but it's actually really great to have each project in a little bundle like that.

From top to bottom, left to right: My scrap bin. The first quilt I started that is still part way through being hand-quilted. This quilt has been done entirely by hand so far. Then a stack of fabric my dear mom bought me for Christmas to make a quilt for myself. I'm planning on doing the New Wave pattern from Oh Fransson! Then my apparel stack, including fabric for a Schoolhouse Tunic for myself and fabric for two sleepsacks for Paul. Down on the bottom I have fabric for a couple new receiving blankets, a half cut shirt I started before I was pregnant, but had to go on hold since it was sized for pre-pregnant me, some planned pillows, and some fabric for some curtains in Paul's Nursery. Yikes. I clearly need to get busy.

The right of this cabinet also has three drawers I used to store my frequently used tools: rulers, rotary cutter, scissors, thread, needles, etc. My box of thread makes me happy. :)

<3 Kelsey

Happy {Early} Birthday to Me!

Sew, I mentioned yesterday that I got distracted most of last week with an early birthday present from my husband. Without further ado:

And what is this hiding under here?

Now those of you who know me may be thinking, "Wait, but isn't your birthday in *March*?" Why yes, yes it is. "And isn't this January?" Yup. This wasn't always the plan. My husband is notoriously bad at keeping gifts secret. I almost always know what I am getting as a gift for any gifty holidays well in advance. So this is how it went down:

December
Hubs: So, for Christmas, I'm going to watch Paul so you can go to a quilting class.
Me: Ooo
Christmas passes
Me: I was thinking I might go to a Modern Quilt Guild meeting instead.
I go to the January meeting of our local modern quilt guild.
Later that evening...
Hubs: I still want you to take a class at our LQS.
Me: But I thought today was supposed to count for that?
Hubs: I want you to take it because I want you to get to try out the different machines they have. I'm getting you a new sewing machine for your birthday.
Me: flabbergasted
Hubs: I want you to get a nice one.
Me: Immediately gets laptop and starts researching sewing machines.
Me: Hey, look, our LQS is having a birthday celebration in two weeks to celebrate their birthday - all their machines are going to be 30% off.
Hubs: We should get it then then.
Me: Continue researching what I want all week. Long arm is out of price range, but looking to get something better than the 6.5" throat space my little Kenmore has. Also decide I really want a quilting frame and automatic stitch regulator. I see how much stitch regulators cost.
Me: I might have to get a stitch regulator for Christmas next year. ;)
Next Saturday
Hubs: I'm surprised you aren't going over to look at the machines and pick out what you want so you know for next Saturday.
Me: Gets dressed, goes to store to look.
LQS: You can get any of the machines at the sale price now actually.
Me and LQS: Go over what I'm looking for. I don't really want lots of fancy stitches. I just want a sturdy machine that can straight stitch with a bigger throat space. I don't mind loading my bobbins manually, etc. Two features I would enjoy: stitch up/down and a thread cutter. Keeping my Kenmore for clothing, zig-zags, etc.
LQS: Shows me Janome 1600, which is just about exactly what I want.
LQS: Calls shop owner to ask if there is a frame that came with it. There isn't, BUT, they just got a used 2 year old Viking that, I kid you not, is just about the exact same machine, with some different icons. Made by the same manufacturer. And it comes with a quilting frame AND an automatic stitch regulator for the same price as the Janome 1600.
Me: Falls in love. They place it on hold for me.
Me: Goes home, feeds baby, talks to husband.
Hubs: Go ahead and get it now, but you have to set aside some time to play Rift Beta with me next week. [a video game]
Me: Goes back to LQS and brings her home. :D

And that is how I got my birthday present two months early. :P

My husband is the best. ^_^

I used it to sew the Disappearing Nine Patch I talked about in my last post. It sews like a dream. ^_^

<3 Kelsey

P.S. And just to be fair, we got my husband his birthday present this week too. And his birthday is in { MAY }! ;)

Friday Night Sew-In Results

So, I fully intended to take lots of pretty pictures today while there was nice natural light, but the day somehow escaped me, so here we are with indoor night time photos yet again. Sorry. Again.

Last night I spent my Friday Night Sew-In putting together this quilt top. I started with a package of 8 Superman and Batman inspired fabrics, and added in some Kona Black for a 9th fabric.  This gave me the flexibility to cut whatever sized blocks I wanted for the 9 patch and my total number of blocks would still be a multiple of 9. :) Many of the prints were rather large and I wanted to preserve them, so I did a large 9"x9" square size, so each 9-patch block is 26" x 26", for a total top size of 52" x 52". Perfect for a little boy. :)

I did try to fussy-cut when I could given I only had a few inches extra to work with on the width of the FQ, and only millimeters vertically. This was favorite of the fussy-cut blocks:

The plan is to back it with a black minky, do some straight-line quilting, and bind it with some more of the Kona Black.

I'm thinking a nice little Superman cape may be just the thing to round out this gift. Or should it be a Batman cape? Hmmm, decisions, decisions....

<3 Kelsey

PS. Linking up to Fabric Tuesday and Too Cute Tuesday. :)

Friday Night Sew-In

Hope you are all enjoying your Friday Night Sew-In. I know I've been remiss in posting anything crafty much the last couple of weeks, but I promise to remedy that tomorrow. Last week I was busy working on my entry for Project Quilting, and this week I got distracted when my husband got me my birthday present early (which I will share tomorrow) and I finally got around to organizing my stash (which I will also photograph tomorrow, if only because it makes me so happy. :) ). For tonight, I'm going back to work on my latest quilt - my first disappearing nine patch, and my first quilt I didn't design myself.




<3 Kelsey