Quilt Festival

Amy over at Park City Girl is hosting a Virtual Quilt Festival! She hosted one last spring, but I was out of town so I couldn't take part in it. I'm thrilled to show off the favorite quilt I've made.

This was a wedding gift made for a good friend and his now wife. It made it in 2007 for an October wedding. The quilt block is called "Peace and Plenty" and is made from Teresa Kogut's "Williamsburg" fabric line. The groom was a year ahead of me in college and we met through several activities we both participated in. He really served as a great mentor and big brother figure in my life, and I was thrilled when he got married. Since he and his wife met in college, and we all went to school in Williamsburg, I couldn't resist when I found this Williamsburg related fabric. Now, I will admit - it took me a little while to hand quilt it, so while they were married in October, the gift arrived in November to them.

Well, that's my quilt! I'm looking forward to seeing all the others out there!

I'm Back!

It's definitely been a while - I'm not quite sure where the two months have gone! Wait, I take that back - I do know - work and wedding planning. Working at a college, work really kicks into gear starting mid-August and only winds down starting around this time. Add in a visit from the future in-laws, as well as a very quick trip up to our wedding location (6 hour car ride one way), time has flown.

However, I am pleased to say that we have gotten quite a bit accomplished - at least on the wedding front! We have a chapel, a reception site, a caterer, a photographer and a DJ! So, almost all the big decisions are made. I'm wedding dress shopping next weekend, and then it's just a ton of smaller details!

But, with some big decisions made and work winding down, it means I get back to blogging and sewing.

Next up on the blogging front? Participating in the Quilt Festival hosted by Park City Girl (see the button on my sidebar!)

Oh My!

It's August already! And not even just the start of August - we're eight days into it! I can't believe how quickly the summer has flown by. I had such grand plans: reading, sewing, cleaning, getting a tan. But, I'm still pale and no better read. My sewing room has been sorely neglected.

But, no worries - all of these grand plans have taken a backseat to the excitement of wedding planning! At the end of July, I made a trip up to Williamsburg where the htb and I will be married. My parents came down from NY to meet me and we hunted for some reception locations. We think we've found one, but now it's just waiting on trying to confirm our wedding date with our officiant. Once that comes through, we'll reserve the chapel and reception site and we'll be on our way!!!

People keep asking me all different questions like, have I picked out a dress, or do I have attendants yet? I keep telling them that the only thing I know for certain about my wedding is who the groom will be! But, that's not entirely true, I also had a chance to visit a LQS a couple of weeks ago and picked out some fabric for a quilted wall hanging I hope to make and use instead of a guest book.

Much to most people's surprise, we picked out green and pink as our colors (I think everyone was expecting something darker from me), but I think it's lovely and very spring-like. So, while at the LQS, I found these fabrics from Moda's Nature's Chorus...what do you think?

I'd love your honest opinion - I've now had two people say "REALLY?!?" when I told them these were the colors I picked out, so I'm starting to doubt myself.

Well, it's a beautiful day here in SC, so I'm going to enjoy it before it gets too hot! It's my last weekend of freedom before work kicks into high gear, so I'll probably continue with my trend of reading, and not posting blogs! Enjoy your Saturday!

WIP vs. UFO

Last night, I had an evening to myself that I finally decided to use to work on a WIP. Here's the progress I've made on my Quilt-A-Long Quilt. Yes, that event held by the Old Red Barn Co. has come and gone, but I'm slow (and apparently didn't accurate read the directions to see that each block was supposed to be different -I guess I really like consistency and even if not, the thought of ripping out my rows entered my mind for about a half a second).

But anyways, as I was working along on this project, I started thinking about the terms "Works in Progress" (WIPs) vs. "Unfinished Objects" (UFOs). Now, I know a lot of quilters use these interchangeably, but I feel like there's definitely a different.

A WIP gives a connotation that you're still working on it - you've visited it fairly recently and while it may not be on the top of the pile, it's still got a shot of getting completed sometime in the foreseeable future.

Whereas, a UFO, well that poor little project has been shoved in a back closet somewhere again - just hoping to see the light of day and the sewing machine. A UFO may or may not be remembered by me, and may have lost my interest so much that I can't even fathom finish it.

So, I guess my question is, when does a WIP become a UFO? Is there some point in time that any illusion of making progress on that project should be given up?

Week In Review

I can't believe it's already Thursday! Where has the week gone? Oh, yeah - most of it was spent in a medication induced stupor thanks to having two wisdom teeth removed. It was a bit of a whirlwind decision - went in for the consultation last Wednesday and on Friday morning I was having them removed! Not so much fun, but glad to have it over and done with. I'm finally up and about again, and trying to get caught up on dishes, laundry, cleaning and a bunch of organizing!

I hope everyone's Fourth was delightful. Mine was spent on the couch watching TV, though did manage to get to the fireworks display in town the night of my wisdom teeth removal. Don't remember much, but I did have a sno-cone...yum!

We did try to celebrate here...

...this was the celebration at my house while watching the Boston Pops on TV. I just love the Boston Pops. The HTB (husband-to-be...we'll try it and see how I like it), and I were able to see the Boston Pops play on the fourth when we lived in Boston. We also had the chance to visit the barge where they set off the fireworks in the Charles River, which was a really neat experience. (A little scary too when you think about how much firepower you're standing on).

Anyways, now that I'm up and running again, I'm hoping to get some sewing done again. However, having your wisdom teeth out does allow you some time to catch up on blog reading. One of the blogs I follow, Green Fairy Quilts, is having a great giveaway, as well as doing some real great things - so you should go check it out!!! Tell her I sent you!

We Have a Winner...er...Winners!

Finally my week has slowed down enough that I'm able to pick a winner. My best friend and her husband were here for an overnight visit on Sunday. Monday was full of work and a migraine, and last night was a bachelorette party for a colleague (very tame - we painted pottery!)

I'm killing a little bit of time until another friend comes over tonight to watch So You Think You Can Dance. Has anyone else seen that show? I love it - been hooked since season 2!

Anyway, the real reason you came was to see who won. As you can see below, I used a very technical method to choose my winners. And the winners are...

Congratulations Amy (no blog) and Katie! Amy, since your name was out of the hat first, you won the quilt pattern. Katie, the fat quarters will be on their way to you! I'll e-mail each of you as soon and I'm done posting here to get your address info!

Hope everyone's having a great first day of July!

When You Fall Asleep at 8:30 pm...

...craft night becomes craft morning. I had all of the best intentions to spend last night crafting, but I was just so tired and worn out, that after taking a hot shower, I just fell into bed.

Well, that meant I woke up early today (well, at least early for me - 8 am...yeah, if you do that math it means I slept for almost 12 hours, I guess I was tired!).

Since then, I've spent the morning crafting. Here's what I've been working on:

Cutting and piecing the strips of fabric for the Old Red Barn Co.'s quilt-a-long. I'm pretty far behind, but I'm making a push today to catch up! This is one of the fabrics I'm using from a line called the Power of Healing!

Nametags for next year's staff. I supervise six wonderful women and I try to make them nametags for them to post on their doors. This year, I decided to go with fabric.

It's getting to be lunchtime, so I'm going to find some food and then maybe visit a brand new indoor flea market in the area. Hopefully I'll get through some more sewing later today!

And don't forget about my giveaway! Leave a post there to be entered!