• Blog - Crafts - Creativity

    A second look: quilt time…snuggle time

    I can’t stop sewing!!! Likely because I know I’ll be completely worthless for the next week or so until I acclimate to my new school schedule.

    Since I’m currently completely obsessed with paper foundation scrap quilting once again, I thought I’d share the quilt that came before this one.

    Take a look…

     

    1/15/2017

    Don’t you just love that feeling of satisfaction when you’ve completed a big project!?! I know I do. Not only do I have the finished product in front of me but I get to put a checkmark in the box on my perpetual list. Yes, it’s an actual paper list. It’s never-ending which really is a good thing. What would I do with myself if I didn’t have a project?

    quilt time snuggle time | Halle's Hobbies

    Do want to know a secret? If I complete a task, chore or project that failed to make it on the list…I write down, draw a little box and proceed to “X” through it. So satisfying!!!quilt time snuggle time | Halle's Hobbies

    This quilt started as a stash busting project. Just a loose idea of what I wanted or hoped it would look like in the end. Over the course of sewing, my idea evolved a bit which I personally think is a good thing. We need to be able to be flexible and learn from our mistakes. Or even just adapt when the moment presents itself instead of being so set on one path that we can’t change. This is true in life as well. Adapt or be flexible when needed as long as your end goal remains it’s ok to change little things along the way.quilt time snuggle time | Halle's Hobbies

    One of the changes I made as I neared completion was the type of binding I wanted to use. I was originally going to do a sort of “cheater” binding where you wrap the backing around to the front and stitch down. I’ve used this method before with Mini-me’s quilt. I decided I wanted to do a scrappy binding as well continuing to use up my stash. The quilt really needed a quiet place in between the busy central pattern and a scrappy binding so I added a white sashing all the way around.

    quilt time snuggle time | Halle's Hobbies

    The scrappy binding went together quicker than I thought it would. Of course, I didn’t follow the “rules” and cut everything on the bias. I’m not much a rule follower. quilt time snuggle time | Halle's Hobbies

    Isn’t it pretty a rolled up like that? Like a colorful flower.

    quilt time snuggle time | Halle's Hobbies

    After much agonizing about how to label my quilt (for the very first time), I decided I’d use wing it and hand embroider the info. Let me first say that I suck at embroidery. I think embroidery was the first craft I ever learned…and I never liked it. I’m always sticking myself with the needle, its tedious and boring.  I know there are plenty of people who enjoy it and find it relaxing…have at it. It’s a means to an end for me. I do have a decent size stash of embroidery thread though in the same tin my mom used half a century ago or more ago.

    quilt time snuggle time | Halle's Hobbies

    After a few pinpricks I finished the job and was able to stitch it onto the quilt back. I am glad I took the time now that it’s finished. I can never remember when I made most of the other quilts except for the two I made while J was napping as an infant. Those I do remember.

    quilt time snuggle time | Halle's Hobbies

    This turned out to be more than a stash busting quilt. It became a labor of love with a bit of frustration mixed in. But what love doesn’t have some frustrating times.

    I had originally planned to heavily quilt in a funky random pattern but as I began I realized it would end up a bit stiff. I went back and pulled out every stitch…hence the frustration. I ultimately ended up stitching random wavy lines only along the white sashing. My thought is that I can always go back and do some more quilting if I feel it needs it.

    I’ve been snuggling under it every free moment I have. It definitely helps with the extreme cold we’ve been having. I did hear we have a warm-up in store….hooray! I’ve about had it with below zero temps.

     

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    Thanks for stopping by for Second on the 2nd!

  • Art - Blog - Creativity

    T Tuesday: randomness abounds edition

    I’m not going to lie…this post might just give you motion sickness from how all over the place it will be.

    I guess we’ll go with chronological. Mr. G was tasked with creating some trophies that he’d 3D print at work for the company go-kart racing day. He said I could paint them up so we got to go shopping at the craft store!

    These were printed on a resin printer so they are quite smooth and would take spray paint really well.

    They turned out pretty darn cool if you ask me.

    I got this in the mail from my friend, Sandy.  When we were at the cabin in Idaho, we had a few drinks and she said…gosh I better quit cause I’m slurring. To which I said…You’re not slurring, you’re speaking in cursive! 

    On Friday we loaded up the van to bring J to college for his second year. Mr. G picked up the horrible virus mini-me and I brought back from our trip…likely from the airplane. He was completely out of commission for nearly 4 days so Mini-me came with to help out and be my home travel companion.

    Since we were in Duluth with no boys after setting J up at his apartment…we did what we love…look for seaglass.

    We found a very small amount of very tiny glass. It was still fun but bigger pieces are definitely more fun.

    I sat down to do a bit of art journaling yesterday. I was really feeling the need to play with paper, paint, and glue. I’m not in love with this page but it certainly felt good to play.

    Today was yet another step back to the reality that summer is nearly done. I had a work meeting. It was nice to see all those faces again. After my meeting I ran to the grocery store…

    Had my name tag on the whole time…duh. No wonder people kept looking at me somewhat oddly.

     

    What are you doing today?
  • Art - Blog - Creativity

    T Tuesday: JJJ part 5 edition

    Typically I have this post up long before now. I was suffering from a migraine yesterday and wasn’t able to get much accomplished after the onset. So here we are late for the party or the after-party that is. T stands for Tuesday just celebrated its 6th anniversary. I raise my glass of water… “cheers”.

    Without further ado, I’ll dive right into JJJ show and tell.

    Day 14: postcard

    I used washi tape to add a fold-out with this postcard. I cannot remember where I picked it up but I loved the colors and image so much I wasn’t able to send it out to anyone.

    I used the back of the postcard to journal about the card.

    I also couldn’t choose between vintage or modern so I added a glassine bag for a vintage card from my collection.

    I decided on this one because it was sent to Walnut Grove, MN. A nod to one of my favorite shows when I was growing up. I read a few of the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen every single episode of Little House on the Prairie at least twice.

    Day 15: Lyrics

    This one was hard for me…don’t get me wrong…I can sing along with pretty much any song out there but thinking about lyrics…ugh. Not my thing. I decided on You are my Sunshine because my mom used to sing it to me.

    before

    after

    Day 16: sketch

    Kinda fun right?!?

    This is how I made the watermark for all my photos on the blog.

    Day 17: mail theme

    I used a mish-mash of current and vintage for this one.

    before

    after

    Day 18: hidden

    I used a tag in a pocket to go with the theme here…I also expanded on the theme by adhering a photo of just my eye to the tag as well. I don’t often share my image online unless you know where to look. Yes, it’s out there but I’m definitely not the selfie queen. 

    Day 19: stamps

    The day before this prompt I’d been cleaning purging in my art space and found a small tin of old postage stamps. It was the perfect fodder for this prompt. 

    before

    after

    I have one more set of pages but I think that’s all I can muster for today.

    What are you doing today?