The Sewing Gods work in mysterious ways.

A pipe broke in my basement last night. No water today.

Hmmm.

No dishes.

No laundry.

No cleaning the bathroom.

:) oh yeah! Sew baby!

The willy nilly quilt blocking I started has evolved into an actual design.

In between dealing with the water thing ("Is it on yet?" "No!" "How about now?" "NO!" I swear I was ready to charge him a helper's fee) I got some more blocks stitched up. I don't really know how big it will end up because I've not considered the borders yet, but the block on the paper is 36" x 36" and I think I'll piece 4 of those together. Again, all suggestions welcomed. Maybe I'll do this for a Mother's Day present...

I'm beginning to see why people get into quilting. Put on an ipod and you can really zone just zipping out those 1/4" straight lines.

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And Etta James is going to have to come and open up a can of whoop-ass on me, because I belted out At Last at the top of my lungs when the mailman came by today!!

If you and I have had a face-to-face conversation in the past year, then you know I've been in agony waiting to make a Betty Shopper. I searched high and low, but time after time, shop after shop- no Betty Shopper. Sure I could have just gone online, but I really dislike internet shopping unless I absolutely know I'm getting a kickin' deal. I waited for the stars to align, and Pattern Review came through once again! I didn't even read the whole email before I clicked over and snagged these three. I could really use the Weekender and a weekend babysitter and I just adore that Sophia! I might coordinate the three and feel all princessy :) Hurry up, President's Day Sales!!!

I'm borrowing my mom's takes-a-lickin'-keeps-on-tickin' White tomorrow. I love that thing. It rolled end-over-end down a rocky cliff and landed in a knee-deep mud puddle, cracked the case and all- still works fine. I don't think the needle has ever been changed. I'm going to use it for the Amy Butler bags and this leather skirt on my UFO list.

no lingerie.

Horseshoes and Hand Grenades

I came theeees close to having both dresses done in time for the Karate awards dinner.



It only needed the zipper finishing and the bottom hem, but it just wasn't physically possible in time. I'm sensing a disturbing trend. I ended up wearing the galaxy dress instead, so all was not lost.

Boopina was super excited about her dress and was telling anyone who would listen that she made it.


Here she is in her "I don't yet know I'm Student of the Year" glow :) She's so awesome.

I finished her dress about an hour before we left. Here is an in process shot:
Notice all those little pieces? If you try this pattern, make sure you label them clearly. Trust me.
My machine suffered a mysterious, but thankfully brief, total loss of bobbin thread tension during the evening.

I tried everything. I actually took this picture to post a "help me" on the message boards, but when I tried my machine again an hour later it was fine. I am at a loss.

I'll finish up my dress and post reviews next week, sometime after I dig out of the filth that has become of my house.


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Because of the awards dinner dress making frenzy, I've been neglecting my quilting. I did manage to get a a real square made:

Or is that a block? I have to admit the quilting lingo escapes me. And I have no idea what kind of pattern this is - I just cut strips and pieced them in rows. I figure after I bore of this pattern I'll just mix in whatever else comes to mind. I'll have a few small quilts made before I get all the materials for the memorial quilt.

This quiltmaking thing is going to be an exercise in precision for me. Notice my uneven end strips? I'm usually a willy-nilly sewist, and this will be some much needed practice.

coming soon: a sewing backstory...

...but not forgotten.

Even though I've stopped working on the Vogue jacket because of kid-priority, it's still on my mind. I did set the challenge to finish my UFOs and I plan to return to it next week, when the Awards Dinner will be a happy memory.

I happened upon these buttons in JoAnn* the other day on a zipper run. I tempted fate by waiting to get my coupons for them- I couldn't justify $8/ea.- but there was something about them. They have so much depth in the coloring. Check out the rings in them, they are very Saturnesque.

*and what is up with old BigBox lately? They've actually impressed me the last 3 times I was there.

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Boopina has been away, but her M5380 muslin is assembled and awaiting her return for a final fitting. That girl has a travel calendar that some jet setters would envy.

I was not loving all those lower bodice panels, but I think they will look cool in the finished product. I can't wait to do a summer version in cotton for myself and do something fab with all those pieces.

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As many of you know, I'm taking on a quilt-making project. It kind of takes sewing to a whole new place for me.

Anyone with anything to offer in the way of quilting advice, please feel free. This is my first attempt at making blocks:

No, your eyes do not deceive you- nothing is pressed. My trusty iron began mysteriously leaking water from where the cord connects to the iron. Now, I've been known to push the bounds of usability on a product or two (duct tape anyone?), but I'm thinking I'll just wait till I get a new iron. I'll be soooooooo relieved to finally get an auto-shut off. So will my husband! :) Maybe I'll also get a Clover Mini-Iron , I've been wanting one for a while.

Hopefully I'll get 2 reviews posted this week!

Calling all Quilters

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much lovE