May GOALS!

Well, as quickly as April FLEW by - we are somehow already five days into May and I think I finally have all of our calendars flipped to the new month!  Wowza!

April was crazy busy - and May promises to be just the same.  Here is a "quick" list of my goals for the month.

BOM's / QAL's
ViceVersa BOM - April and May blocks
Wishes QAL - April and May blocks
Aurifil designer of the month - April and May blocks
Project Quilting off season challenge #2 - "Can you measure up?"
{yikes.... I didn't get ANY of my blocks made in April!}

ALYOF May goal:
My May goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes is to get my fabric cut for the Avatrix Medallion quilt-a-long and the center medallion pieced together.  I need to schedule some cutting / sewing dates with my friend Kelly so we can get to work on this ASAP!

Blog happenings:
1 pattern review, 2 blog hops / tours scheduled {so far}

Eggo in the Oven:
And as always.... lots of custom sewing and scheduled participation in one When You Wish Designs Auction

Personal Goals:
Today, May 5th, is the start of the Bikini Body Mommy 90 day Challenge (2.0) - and I'm SO excited (even if I can barely breathe thanks to a nasty head cold or attack of seasonal allergies!).  My goal is to stick with the challenge - completing every single day - no excuses - just like the last 90 day challenge.  I can't wait to see the changes!  I'm also 4 weeks into a 9 week training program - couch to 5k - which is helping me not hate... and even LIKE.... running!  Keeping up with that for sure!

{Linking up with A Lovely Year of Finishes May goal setting party!}

Project Quilting off season challenge 1 & ALYOF April

Pheeeeewey!  Nothing like realizing - while still out of town visiting family - "the Project Quilting challenge ends in 15 hours"..... when for whatever reason I had it in my mind we had until the end of the month.  Whoopsie!

Based on my birthday, June 8th (6/8), I was to use a deep purple and gray for this challenge.  So..... we got home, got laundry started - and I quickly pulled out my purple and gray scraps to get to work!

See more about the challenge by clicking HERE.

April has been a super busy month - my blog has been quieter for sure - and I really have no idea where the month went???

I knew when I originally saw the challenge I wanted to make something for me - because it was based on MY birth date.

So.... today I decided I'd whip up a coffee sleeve!

I get up at 4:30am with my hubby most weekdays to get some work in before my kiddos wake up - so coffee is a MUST around here.  I have a few reusable cups that don't have built in insulation - so they definitely need a sleeve!

Purple + gray + coffee sleeve + ONLY using scraps = this!

I did a little bit of straight line quilting through all three layers (cotton / fusible fleece / cotton) along the seams.  

Decaf?!  Yah, right!

Perfect - ready to protect my hand from that delicious, hot, oh-so-necessary java tomorrow morning! 

I love making coffee sleeves - and sell them in my Etsy shop - I'm always willing to cut into any in-stock fabric to make one!

In true Project Quilting fashion here are the details:

This coffee sleeve was (quickly) created in my home sewing studio in Montesano, WA.  It measures approximately 9.5" x 2.5" and is three layers - cotton / fusible fleece / cotton with bits of straight line quilting in a light gray.  Oh... and I'll call it "quick and scrappy"! :)

Linking up with Persimon Dreams - Project Quilting Off-Season Challenge 1

&

A Lovely Year of Finishes - April

ALYOF April Goal

Phew - I've been in a funk for nearly a week - but it's time to get to work... and April is going to be a VERY busy month (we have plans all but one weekend in April..... and that weekend will probably involved the hubby working Saturday... so it will be a one-day weekend!)

Time to make my April goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes!

I'm sad that the official Season 5 of Project Quilting is over - but Kim from Persimon Dreams was quick to get the first off-season challenge posted - yippee!

This month's challenge involves this "calendar of colors"

We are to find the numbers that represent our birthday - and make something that features those two colors (we can add in other colors.... but it must be obvious the two colors our original inspiration came from)

It must be completed by April 27th and linked up over at Persimon Dreams - perfect!

My birthday is June 8th - 6/8 - so my colors are:

A medium / dark purple and gray!

I can definitely work with these :)

As I said.... April is going to be crazy busy - with custom orders, travel to visit family, events with people from Hubby's work, a blog hop, pattern testers and reviews..... phew!

Guess I'd better get sewing!

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Linking up with ALYOF at SewBittersweet Designs - can't wait to see what everyone else is working on this month!

Zoe's Quilt - a FINISH! {pic heavy}

Well.... it was a very productive weekend!  When I last left you, I had most of the rows of Zoe's onesie quilt sewn up.

This weekend - I FINISHED the quilt!

I sewed up the rest of the rows and the quilt top was done.  Then I pieced together the backing fabric - using an adorable mini flower fabric in greens & pinks - as well as a few "extra" squares that didn't make it into the front - and some pink & white polka dots, of course!

Then I made a "quilt sandwich" - - - backing, batting, top - - - and spray / pin basted it.

I had to move my sewing machine to the dining room table - to give me LOTS of room to work while quilting!  I used simple straight line quilting about 1/2" on either side of each horizontal seam.

When all the quilting was done, I basted around the whole quilt as close to the edge as I could - just so it didn't wiggle while I was trimming / binding.  This was my view for a few hours Saturday night after the kiddos went to bed {the hubby liked that I was busy - it meant video game time for him!}

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE the dual-feed foot on my Janome Horizon 7700???  Love it.  

Next, I trimmed it up and it was ready for binding!  Isn't the back adorable?!

{don't mind the front-loader photobomb!}

Originally I had a different fabric in mind for the binding.... but then I realized I didn't have anywhere near as much as I needed.  So I auditioned a few fabrics - and even got the hubby's input.  I think he made a good choice, don't you!?

Then I got back behind the machine and stitched the binding on.  LOVE using the foot of my table extension to hold onto that pretty roll of binding - perfect!  (I learned that trick from Maureen Cracknell Handmade - - - and honestly I geek out a little each time I do it because I am SO in awe of her work and I can't help but think "I'm quilting like Maureen!" - yep.... now you know how much of a nerd I am!)

And soon enough...... the quilt was DONE!

{It measures about 50" x 60"}

A big thank-you to the hubby who helped take pictures - even though it was POURING down rain! :)

How fun are those stripes?!  And the flowers?  Polka dots?!  So much girly fun in one quilt!

Then there are all the fun little details that I just LOVE!

Like a First Christmas onesie, little puffs of tulle on some adorable flip-flops....

Bows, ruffles, fan gear....

A special 1st birthday onesie...

Pockets!  LOVE the little pockets (there are a few on the front AND back!)

Each time they wash this, it will get softer and softer.

I hope Zoe and her family LOVE snuggling up under this blanket - and reminiscing about all the memories created wearing all these adorable clothes!

Today I boxed it up and put it on the porch - - - it will be home with their family later this week!

I am so honored to have been asked to work on such a special project - it was truly a joy to make!

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Want to read more about Zoe's quilt {this one took a while, for sure!}

Sort & Design

Cutting & Piecing

March ALYOF goal

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Linking up with A Lovely Year of Finishes - - as this was my March goal {finished well before the end of the month, SWEET!} - I'm entry #21 this month - can't wait to see what others have finished up!

Sharing on "Show Off Saturday" as well! :)

March Goals!

Why hello, March!  Funny how you snuck up on me!

I guess it's time to set some new goals - - - I'll check in on last month's goals soon!

Year-long goal: Do more sewing that is NOT paid orders:
I have decided on a "space" theme for little man #2's room / bedding - thanks to his love of my "Across the Universe" Project Quilting piece.  So I'm hoping to make a few things to go along with that - but that involves buying some fabric.... so I'll have to get through my 100 items first! (though the hubby says this one counts as a "custom order").

I also did my first foundation paper piecing today - thanks to some wonderful in-person, hands-on teaching from a friend's mom.  We did a small construction cone filler block.  She gave me patterns for LOTS of construction vehicles - - - so I hope to work on more blocks here and there to eventually put together a quilt, or wall hanging.... or????  For little man #1's room!

A Lovely Year of Finishes (ALYOF) March
Goal is to finish up Zoe's memory quilt!  Right now it is almost fully pieced - I plan on using a Quilt As You Go method - so I need to quilt the rows, then piece them together, choose (and piece together) backing, and bind!  Phew!  It's a nice big project - and I can't wait to get it finished up!

Project Quilting 
Challenge #5 - inspired by a trip to the grocery store - was posted yesterday (3/2)!  I've been mulling it over, and flopped between a few different pieces of inspiration - but I WILL be participating!  The last challenge will be posted on 3/16 - can't wait to hear what else we will be inspired by - and see everyone's completed projects!

100 item challenge
I made 54 of the 100 items during the month of January.  My goal for February was to get to 80.... I made it to 77!  But this weekend (the first weekend of March) - I made my way to 86!  Getting close!  I'm actually enjoying sewing through what I have and NOT spending as much time (and money) buying fabric.  The friend who roped me into this challenge (Alyssa from Keep Calm and Carrion) and I are considering allowing ourselves a little window to buy when we get to 100 items..... and then starting the challenge again! (are we crazy?!)

Vice Versa BOM
Can't wait to see what block we are working on this month!  Pattern / instructions will be emailed this Friday 3/7.

Wishes Quiltalong
This one posted early - and I've got it printed out!  Loving how the orange & black blocks are looking together so far!

Aurifil DOM sewalong
Another block, this time from Emily Herrick - looking forward to reading about her, drooling (I'm sure) over her quilts, and working on the block she has shared!

Blog Goals
I still have a few tutorials to share - and I need to fit in some time to share some of the sewing I do that ISN'T quilting!  Funny to me - I keep sharing all these quilting projects..... but I spend a good majority of my time sewing clothes! :)

Other Goals
Finish up my pattern organization (was a goal from February.... I got over halfway done with the patterns I already had printed.... but still want to print out more, and need to get tabs on pages, etc.) - I'm looking forward to this one as I KNOW there are sewing patterns (for clothes.... well, quilts too!) that I own and haven't sewn.... LOTS of them.  Time to dust them off!

Linking up with A Lovely Year of Finishes - March Goal Setting!  I'm link #91

ALYOF - February Finish!

I finished up my February goal - a pillowcase (and small blanket) for Brendan - before we left on vacation.  I was still trying to decide what "theme" to go with for his room... so I went with construction because both boys love all things tools / trucks / construction.

The pillowcase

The blanket

But then we went on vacation..... and the fourth Project Quilting challenge was posted.... and I found a really cute space-themed fabric.... and created a great kiddo-sized blanket.....

....and Brendan went to bed last night snuggled up in that blanket.

So I'm thinking his room theme might change - again.

But hey - I finished my goal item(s) for the month!

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Linking up over at Sew Bittersweet Designs for the ALYOF February Finish Party

January Goals Recap!

Hmmm... over a week into the month and I'm finally getting a chance to check-in on how I did with my January goals.... and I promise I have my February goals written up - will post those soon, too!

Main Goal: Do more sewing that is NOT paid orders
I think I did pretty great on this one!  During the month of January I sewed 57 items - and 9 of those items were "just because" / not for paid orders.  Yes, I realize that's only 15.8% - but that is a MUCH higher percentage than I have had in the past.  Included in those 9 items were BOM quilt blocks, some fun "add-ons" to paid orders that were gifts for a friend, and Project Quilting sewing!

A Lovely Year of Finishes (ALYOF) January
Goal was to make a stop sign pillow - and I completed the stop sign pillow on January 13th.  Colby has slept with his head on that pillow every.single.day since! :)

Project Quilting 
I completed challenges 1 and 2 during January - my "Bath Time" wall hanging and a fun construction wall hanging for Colby's room.  A fun bonus: I have won prizes both weeks so far - as one of the random winners!  Score!  Week 1 I won a sewing pattern, and week 2 I won a quilt pattern book.

100 item challenge
Oh gosh - this has been a "fun" one!  Actually - it's been great!  As of January 31 I had made 57 items - not bad for 29 days with a few days completely void of sewing!  As of this post, I have sewn 7 more items, bringing my total to 64.  Oh.... and have I bought fabric?!  NOPE!  I placed ONE order for two half-yards of fabric needed for a custom order - but I found a seller on etsy to buy from - not my usual "big box" online seller that offers free shipping after a certain amount spent (which would have made it REALLY easy to add to my order).  I bought the two fabrics, and that is ALL!  This has been a great challenge for me.  Since I am unable to buy fabric, I have to look at / use the fabric I have on hand.  It's interesting that there are fabrics I still don't tend to work with even when I can't buy a better replacement - - - guess I'll have some fabric to sell soon! :)

Vice Versa BOM
I recruited my mom to do this BOM with me!  I got my blocks sewn up on 1/7 - can you tell I was excited?!  It took me forEVER to decide on the fabrics.... but I'm happy with what I picked!

Wishes Quiltalong
This one was a "maybe" on the list - and I joined in!  I found a FUN quilt pattern that has football blocks - and after I saw that, I thought it would be fun to make a quilt using some of the football blocks as well as all sorts of black / orange / grey / white blocks from a few QALs / BOMs - the hubby and I are Oregon State University alumni and LOVE football - and the team colors are orange & black.  Should be fun and scrappy - and I'll be able to work on it throughout the year and finish it up during football season!

My January block!  These are big blocks - - - 14" plus seam allowance!

Mystery BOM
I decided not to join in on this one.  Didn't feel like my style and I had LOTS of other fun things I was excited about!

Additions
I added one more QAL / BOM - the Aurifil Designer of the Month sewalong.  Each month they're featuring a different designer, who will share a block of their choosing and we'll sew along with them.  January's block was "spools" - so I thought I'd make a block I could eventually make into a wall hanging for my sewing studio. {the fabrics coordinate well with my adorable ironing board cover, and the red face on my beautiful sewing machine.... and all the pink gear I have from my Susan G. Komen 3-day walks!}

For future months, I plan on using fabrics that will create blocks for the black / orange / grey / white / footballs quilt, too.  Oh.... and each month you complete the block you are entered to win a box of Aurifil thread (which I've heard is wonderful.... though I have yet to experience it!)

Phew!  Lots of sewing for January - - - feels good to have gotten so much done (including a bunch of custom orders for my shop, items to stock my Etsy shop (that sold out VERY quickly), and starting on a BIG upcoming project - Zoe's quilt!)

Oh - and one of my non-sewing goals is to find / make more "me" time and.... of course.... eat healthier / exercise more.  A friend of mine started the Bikini Body Mommy 90 day challenge and I saw it as an opportunity to have some measurable, attainable goals - - - Today is day 23 and I have only "missed" one day (and I doubled up my workout the next day to catch back up!) - Wahoo!!!!

I'll get a post written up about February's goals ASAP..... because there are only 20 days left in the month and 9 of those days we're on vacation!  Hahahaha.

ALYOF - February Goal!

February already?!

Since I made something for Colby last month, I felt it only fair that February goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes would be for Brendan.  So..... what do you make for a 16 month old?!

Just this past week I put a pillow in his crib for the first time.  He was REALLY congested thanks to a nice lil' cold - and since he moves around his crib SO much during the night, I didn't figure elevating one end would really help much {though now that I think about it..... how is the pillow really ANY different?!  I guess that's the quality logical thought process you get on wake-up #5 or so of the night....?!}

So... this month's goal will be to make a few fun pillowcases for Brendan's pillow!  While this may seem like a simple goal..... and it is a relatively simple one, it also will force me to think about what fabrics I want to use - - - seeing as I never made him a nursery set, I may take this as the jumping off point for a bedding re-do..... we'll see.... but if nothing else, it will get SOMETHING sewn for him!

Plus... we will be on vacation for 9 days during the month - so a "smaller" goal will be good!

Oh.... and even though we are only supposed to have ONE goal for the month (for ALYOF - I have LOTS of other goals in general.... like keeping my house cleaned up - not just when I know people are coming to visit - HA!  not happening!) - - - my second goal is to make another lovey / security sized blanket for him - cotton on one side, smooth minky on the other, satin binding - as he now LOVES the one I made back when I had the lofty plans of making him a custom dinosaur nursery.  But we have one blanket.  What happens if that blanket needs to go in the wash?!  So yes.... another similar blanket is a must!

Yup..... this little dude needs some mama-made bedding!!! :)

What are YOUR goals for the month?!  Share them here (I love to read your comments!) - join in ALYOF!

ALYOF January 2014 - finished!

As it was my first month of A Lovely Year of Finishes, I made my January goal fairly small / simple - making a stop sign pillow for little man #1's new "big boy bed".

Can you tell he likes it?  I went to take pictures and he said "Are you going to take the picture of the pillow with me??"  Umm.... how could I resist?!

The pillow is about 15.5" across.  I used applique for the letters.. and after consulting some pictures (and a quick chat with the hubby) determined the white band around the outside was necessary.  That took a little more time / effort - but I think it was worth it!

I didn't have enough stuffing (since I've been making some adorable plushies recently!) - but I did have an older throw pillow that we no longer use.... so I cut that sucker open and used the filling from it.  I didn't have *quite* as much as I wanted.... but it works!  

I purchased the red blender fabric from Marcia's Crafty Sewing and Quilting (it's not solid red... though it looks that way in the photos!).  The white is actually muslin (yuck, so thin... but it's what I hand and I'm not allowed to buy fabric until I make 62 more items.... so I made do).  I used two layers of the muslin (to help it be a *little* less see-through) for both the applique and the border.  

So excited to have sewn something for one of my little dudes - I'm thinking next month's goal will be something for Little Man #2 :)

This month's ALYOF is closed (goals have to be posted / linked up by the 7th) - but you can join in next month!

2014 "fun" sewing

I know, I know.... I already shared one goal / project for the year.... and while I tend to STINK at following through on resolutions, I have a bunch of sewing / business / creative growth goals for the year.... so I'm going to share them {and will likely add to this list down the line...}

I will try not to post updates CONSTANTLY.... but I'm thinking once a week or once a month I'll check in on these goals / projects.

One of my BIG goals for the year is to do more sewing that ISN'T paid orders.  I have said this every year since I started Eggo in the Oven {which just celebrated its 3rd birthday on 1/1/14}... and I've definitely gotten better at this over the years... but there is still LOTS of room for improvement.

So.... here are some of the quilting / fun sewing projects / sew-a-longs / etc. that I will be participating in to help with this goal and FORCE me to do some "fun" sewing! :)

A Lovely Year of Finishes
Make a monthly finish goal - and complete it!


Project Quilting - Season 5
Bi-weekly quilting challenges - I have a week to complete each challenge from start to finish - begins January 5, 2014



Creating 100 items or More
This is a group on Facebook that I kinda got suckered into {thanks to Alyssa at Keep Calm and Carrion}
The challenge?  Buy NO fabric until you have made 100 (or more) items.  Wait, what?!  NO fabric buying?  As one friend stated - "What were you thinking???  That's like giving up coffee!!"
**there IS a little caviat that I am allowed to buy fabric for custom orders - if absolutely necessary - but I can't ADD to those orders "just because"**
I committed to this challenge yesterday, 1/2/14, and completed items 1-5 by the time we went to bed!  5 down, 95 to go!

Vice Versa BOM
Excited to participate in my first BOM {block of the month} - this one looks like fun... and a good one to start with!  Each month we'll make two blocks - they are the inverse of one another!  Need to take a look at the fabric requirements and pull fabrics!


I'm also considering the following.... but will wait until at least mid-month to see how I handle all of these "fun" sewing goals mixed in with business sewing! :)

Wishes Quilt Along with Fat Quarter Shop
Another quilt block quilt along - that is also raising money for Make a Wish

Mystery BOM and Mystery BOM "petite" by Garden Path Quilts

There is no previewing of these blocks - they're a mystery!  The BOM is a standard one.... the "petite" creates mini quilts (that you can finish as-is, or you could put all those mini quilts together to create one large quilt).  The element of mystery is intriguing!!!

So..... that's the list so far.  Am I crazy for attempting all (or much) of this while also running my sewing business, being mama to 2 crazy boys and wife to the love of my life?  Yah, probably!  But I'm a "go big or go home" kinda gal..... so I'm going to give it a go!!!

Care to join me on any of these crazy adventures????  Let me know which ones you're participating in.... or if you have other suggestions to add to my list! :)

A Lovely Year of Finishes - January Goal

Do you make goals {or resolutions} each year?  I tend to go into the year with ideas.... but I keep them pretty general and usually they are continuations of goals I have been working on throughout the previous year.  I have a few that are sewing-related and I'll be sharing them here - both for help and inspiration from you.... and for accountability! :)

One of my goals for 2014 {okay.... ever since I started sewing for a business!} is to actually sew for my kiddos / family / friends / gifts - non-work sewing!  

I have seen link-up parties and other fun bloggy stuff.... but never joined in.  I figured with the new year and this new blog what's stopping me???  I came across "A Lovely Year of Finishes" through a blog I follow - Persimon Dreams.  I got hooked on Kim's sewing / blog / creativity thanks to Project Quilting {which I will be participating in again this year... and hope to complete the majority, if not all, of those challenges, too!}.

Each month I'll post my goal at the beginning of the month, and my completion by the end of the month.  Depending on the goal(s), I might post a few updates / "in-progress" posts during the month, too!

So... here goes!

January's goal:

A stop sign pillow for Colby's big boy bed!

When we returned home from visiting family for Christmas, Colby's new "big boy bed", bedding, and mattress were sitting on our front porch ready to be set up!  He picked out his bedding {no.... I didn't make his bedding, even though I wanted to - the decision to move him to a twin bed was a pretty quick one, and I didn't figure attempting to sew up custom bedding in addition to all of the holiday sewing I was doing was the brightest move!} - a bold construction-themed, oh-so-boy, bed-in-a-bag.  The photo online showed the blanket, some pillow cases, etc. - and of course, a really cool stop sign pillow (which I think was one of the main reasons Colby picked the bedding!).

We set up the bed, opened up the bedding, made the bed, and all was GREAT!  "So cool!" according to Colby.  But then came the question I was expecting ever since he picked out his bedding ("that one - I wuv that one!") - - - "Where is the stop sign pillow?  It is MISSING!!!!"

So.... I will be making a stop sign pillow!  We also took down his sports-themed pennant banner ("you make me new construction fabric flags???") and a couple days later I surprised him with this.... and was overjoyed by his truly appreciative and excited "ooooh I LOVE it!" response!

What are your goals for 2014?? {if you've made some!}  I'd love to hear them (and probably add to my list) - and if any of them involve sewing, you KNOW you'll have my support!

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Interested in participating in the "Lovely Year of Finishes" with me {and all the other fabric-loving, sewing junkies!} Come join in!