WIP Wednesday - 5/14/14

After some help a few weeks back from a friend, I got 1 of 3 bins of my scraps sorted by color into plastic bins - - - and then realized I definitely needed more (bins... not scraps.....)

So I picked up more bins.... and this weekend I roped another friend (hi Mackenzie!) into helping me organize the other 2 (and a half..... because I had since made more scraps) bins.  We chatted, we laughed, and pretty quickly (relatively speaking, of course!) - they were sorted

Now what do I do with all these pretty scraps?!

{Not pictured: rainbow scraps from Maureen Cracknell's recent de-stash.... yes, I realize I *may* have a "problem"}

My hubby actually came up with one idea - - - and I'm going to give it a try this weekend for an upcoming auction.... but it definitely won't use ALL of these scraps (and I'm bound to make LOTS more).

Maybe once I FINALLY start cutting out my Avatrix Medallion Quilt I'll get on a medallion kick and make a scrappy version of that center block for a pillow?!  Hmmmmm.....

So I'd love to know what your favorite scrap-busting projects are!

Linking up with WIP Wednesday over at Freshly Pieced - can't wait to see what others are working on!

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!}

WIP Wednesday - Avatrix Medallion fabrics

Phew - Wednesday again?!

It's been a LONG week and a half around here - with my main sewing machine needing an unscheduled trip to the repair shop (boo!) and long days / nights of working for the hubby (double boo!).... it's been crazy!  Add to that a to-do list with lots of firm deadlines.... and well, it's been quiet on the blog!

But..... The beginning of this week has brought progress! {thanks to 4:30am starts to my days and sneaking in exercise that helps re-energize me!}

I am feeling a *bit* out of my comfort zone and will definitely be pushing my limits by attempting the Avatrix Medallion Quilt - but I'm excited for the tips & tricks shared by Oh Fransson! during the upcoming quilt-a-long.

I have been wresting with the color scheme / fabric choices.  As in spending HOURS upon hours on a bazillion {yep, that many!} fabric shop websites / blogs / pinterest.  Yikes.

I never work with solids.  Like never ever.  But I'm here to challenge myself.

So my fabric choices are {mainly} solids.  I just *had* to throw a few prints in there (one per color group).

I will be using the white-based "Confetti" in turquoise (part of the Minimalista line for AGF) for my white (because solid white still gives me the heebie jeebies!)

Then I have 5 fabrics in each color group: gray (the one in the middle will also be used for borders), turquoise, green, yellow / light orange, and dark orange / red.  The majority of the solids are Michael Miller Cotton Couture.  There are also a few Pure Elements solids - as well as Laura Gunn's Painter's Canvas (gray textured fabric), Violet Craft's Domino Dots (turquoise), Lizzy House Pearl Bracelet (lime), AGF Chromatics - Pointelle (yellow), and Denyse Schmidt's Dotted Leaf (red).

Want every.last.detail. about each of these fabrics?  Check out my Pinterest Board for this project HERE!

It took me FOREVER to make this decision.  A huge thanks to the friends & family that helped put up with my constant "this turquoise or THIS turquoise?!" questions!

I'm excited that one of my friends is going to split the fabric with me and we will be making matching quilts!  Yippee!  We. Can. Do. This.

My fabric should be here later this week thanks to the super fast shipping over at Hawthorne Threads.  I plan on giving them a look-over once they get here because it's SO tough to gauge colors online - and editing if needed at that point.

If I thought this step was hard I'm REALLY in for it when we actually start MAKING this quilt, huh?!

Care to join in?  You can read more about the sew-a-long HERE.

I am linking up with WIP Wednesday over at Freshly Pieced.  Can't wait to see what everyone else is working on!